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AQA A Level History Notes, Edward VI, Government
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How Successfully was England Governed During Edward’s Reign?The Rise(s) to Power
Somerset Northumberland
- Edward Seymour - Son of Executed Edmund Dudley,
- Political rise dates from sister’s John Dudley
marriage to Henry VIII in 1536 - Became Viscount Lisle upon death of
- March 1537 became privy councillor his Step-father (Sir Edward Guildford)
- Became Earl of Hertford after - Earnt military reputation in 1540s
Edward’s birth against Scotland and France
- Experienced diplomacy and the - In Feb 1547 became Earl of Warwick
battlefield in France and Scotland and Lord Great Chamberlain
during 1540s - Aug 1549 he crushed Kett’s rebellion
- Elected as Protector after HVIII’s - Oct 1549 he planned Somerset’s
death on 31st Jan 1547 removal
- On 4th Feb 1547, Ed VI and 13 - Jan 1550 he became Lord President
executors signed a document giving of Council
him sovereign authority until Edward - Oct 1551 he became Duke of
was 18 Northumberland
- Became Duke of Somerset 16th Feb - July 1553 he tried to change the line
1547 of succession to his own advantage
- Oct 1549 was dismissed from offices - Aug 1553 he was tried and executed
and imprisoned - Died 22nd Aug
- April 1550 was released and returned
to Privy Council
- Jan 1552 was tried and executed
Policy Considerations 1547-1550
1547
Policy Area Considerations
Foreign - Somerset bound by HVIII’s wish for Ed to marry MQS and need for
Policy warlike nobility’s support
- Periodic invasions of scotland was ineffective and expensive
- Garrisoning plans instead
- Ending war with Scotland unpopular
Economy - Country bankrupt
and Finance - Inflation extremely high
- Effective reform would be unpopular
- Sale of crown lands was short term gain
- If gov borrowed money, interest could be very high
- Sale of chantry lands raised money and followed HVIII’s policies
Religion - Catholic Act of Six Articles (1539) still in force
- Reformers pressured country towards protestantism
, - Edward, Cranmer and Somerset protestants
- Mary very catholic and supported by some at court and Charles V
- Neutrality would satisfy neither side
Social Order - Growing concern about poverty
- Enclosure blamed for many economic problems but commission would
raise potentially unattainable expectations
- Acting against vagrants quelled fears of the poor
1550
Policy Area Considerations
Foreign - Garrisoning failed and was expensive
Policy - Aristocracy looked to war as way of gaining status
- Holding Boulogne had become symbol of maintaining HVIII’s legacy
- Wars need money so ending them would save lots
Economy - Debasement was known to cause damage to economy and war
and Finance against Scotland had been expensive
- Selling crown lands posed same problem as before as did gov
borrowing
- Reforms would require cuts to expenditure and changes to structure
and efficiency of Crown finances, arousing suspicion
- Tax might cause unrest especially during peacetime
Religion - First book of common prayer (1549) had established moderate
protestant position but had provoked rebellions
- Pressure from reformers was increasing
- Radical protestants were gaining influence in London and other areas
- Neutrality posed same problem as before
- Return to catholicism would be supported by Mary, Charles and some
leading figures at court
Social Order - 1549 rebellions raised fears amongst elites
- Northumberland played key role in crushing Kett’s
- Somerset’s anti-enclosure policy seen as cause
- Somerset’s policy against vagrants seen as too harsh but belief that
poor led to disorder
- Harvest of 1549 bad and 1550 even worse
Social Policies
Somerset: 1547-9
Vagrancy Act
- Number of poor increasing and poor were moving more due to expansion of key towns
such as London
- Vagrancy Act (aka ‘Slavery Act’) 1547 was unpopular as it involved an attack on
vagrants looking for work
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