1. Edward VI and Mary
Government and Opposition

2. Edward VI
• Remember that though Edward was a child he was expected
to become King in his own right and in fact would have done
so had he lived another four months.
• G. R. Elton described him as ‘easily swayed by cunning men,
he exercise such little influence’. However, more recent
historians like Jennifer Loach argue that Edward needs to be
viewed as more than a boy-king.
• Edward’s diary – written from the age of 12 – reflects his
position as a monarch who though young was very well
informed about the day to day business of government
• However, this chronicle must be viewed with caution
because it is likely that it was not intended as a private
document and therefore may have been written with an
audience in mind.

3. Edward’s upbringing
• Like his father he spent his early years largely in
the company of women.
• Only Catherine Parr had any relationship with
him.
• Henry saw him infrequently and Edward’s tutors
reported to the king’s ministers rather than the
father himself
• He had a large retinue along with a personal
protection detail (8 men)
• He was not permitted to engage in hunting,
jousting etc

4. Edward’s personality
• His own chronicle points to a cold, distrustful and times vindictive
individual – he had little contact with his sisters and few close
friends
• Edward was a serious, studious child with only glimpses of the
natural enthusiasm of youth
• He was well-educated with knowledge of history, geography and
the scriptures – he was also expected to read Greek and Roman
classics. In addition he was expected to learn six languages
• His education was a reflection of the times. His humanist teachers
schooled him in statecraft and government as well as religion, the
economy and knowledge of the main members of the nobility and
gentry (down to their religious beliefs)
• The myth that Edward was always a sickly child emerged from his
early death but beyond typical childhood illnesses Edward’s health
was generally good. He rode and enjoyed outdoor pursuits (albeit
as a spectator)

5. Edward’s Government
Needs to be seen as two periods of time:
• 1547-1549 with Somerset as Lord Protector
• 1550-1553 with Northumberland as Lord
President of the Council
Edward Seymour - Earl of Hertford (1537) and
later Duke of Somerset (1547)
John Dudley – Earl of Warwick (1547) and later
Duke of Northumberland (1551)

6. Edward’s first government
• Somerset ignored Henry VIII’s intentions to create a regency council to rule
and had himself declared Lord Protector
• During Somerset’s years Edward had little direct involvement with
government (he was only 12 when Somerset fell from power) but he still
had influence.
• When Somerset retreated to Windsor Castle in 1549 as power slipped
from his grasp, he took Edward with him. Support from the young king
could have restored his authority but Edward chose to abandon him,
complaining of the cold conditions in the castle.
• Edward actively damaged his uncle’s position, claiming Somerset had
threatened riots were he to lose his position. Somerset could not defend
himself against such accusations - the word of the king could not be
questioned. The result was his swift fall from power
• Somerset had been strict with his nephew and failed to establish a
relationship with Edward - Edward complained about a lack of pocket
money.

7. Edward’s second government
• After 1549 Edward assumed a much more significant role in government.
• By 1551 Edward was attending some privy council meetings and was
preparing memoranda for those meetings
• Edward’s had a thorough understanding of politics. He was beginning to take
the lead in some matters and had opinions on most others.
• This level of awareness was reflected in the council’s decision to bring
forward Edward’s maturity to his 16th birthday.
• Northumberland consulted Edward and ensured that he was more involved
in government. (not Lord Protector)
• However, Edward was allowed no role in foreign policy and Northumberland
made sure that the privy council contained men who shared his views.
• Despite being able to manipulate those surrounding the king,
Northumberland was also constrained by Edward’s opinions – the
government’s ongoing commitment to Protestantism was as much Edward’s
doing as Northumberland’s, if not more so and Edward himself was heavily
involved in the decision to choose Lady Jane Grey as his successor.

8. Comparing Somerset and Northumberland
SOMERSET’S POLICIES: NORTHUMBERLAND’S POLICIES:
• Continue military action in Scotland to • End expensive and unsuccessful war with
break apart Scottish-French alliance France and improve relations
Costly - £600,000 spent with little or no return. Reaction to increasing hostility from Charles V
Mary still went to France to marry the dauphin
• Pursue cautious religious policy – • Advance the Protestant faith in line with the
weakening Catholicism and introducing aims of Cranmer and the reform faction
moderate Protestantism
More decisive statement of national beliefs
Enquiry into sale of church lands
1552-3 new legislation, new prayer book and
Treason Act repealed Act of Six Articles statement of national faith all drew heavily on
Act of Uniformity (but not till 1649) ideas of European reformers
accompanied by new prayer book [amibiguous] • Resolve economic problems and restore
• Deal with social and economic problems government finances.
through enclosures. Abandoned challenge to enclosures.
Chose not to tackle problem of inflation Tried to revive royal finances (with Sir Thomas
because it would have meant tax cuts which Gresham) cut government spending and more
would have reduced revenue for Scottish war. efficient system of collecting government debts
Set up commission to look into enclosures – Attempts to restore value of currency
promised change but failed to deliver which
1552 Poor Law - greater responsibility on parishes
cause more discontent.
to care for deserving poor

9. In summary
• Edward may have started out being awed by his
uncle and lacking involvement in government but
by the end of his six year reign he was confident
and assertive and had used Somerset’s fall to
increase his own involvement in government.
• He was well-trained, well-educated and well-
suited to his role.
• W.K. Jordan, in his biography of Edward said “Few
monarchs in history have been as well equipped
for their task as was Edward VI”

10. Opposition in Edward’s Reign
Opposition to Somerset – why were people opposed to him?
• Poor leadership – high-handed management, lack of
delegation, bypassing the council etc
•Mishandling of foreign policy – failed Scottish campaign and
French declaration of war in 1549
•Favouritism – key positions packed with own men.
•Money-making and extravagance – accumulated revenue
through fees, salaries, offices and lands. Added £5000 to his
income. Spent a fortune on lavish building projects
•Social policy – unpopular views on social justice upset
aristocracy and contributed to Western and Kett’s rebellions in
1549
•Religious policies – opposed by Catholics like Arundel and
Southampton

11. The Year of the Many-headed Monster
How much threat did Edward face in 1549?
The Western and Kett’s rebellions were the two
major rebellions of 1549 but the year saw many
minor rebellions as well
The rebellions of 1549 played a major role in the
downfall of Somerset
The rebellions did not pose as much danger as they
might have – there was an absence of significant
involvement on the parts of the nobility and gentry

12. The extent of the threat
• In some cases, notably Norfolk, Devon and Cornwall,
the local gentry failed to deal with the uprisings and
the central government had to intervene.
• Raising troops was expensive and difficult. This was
normally done through the local militia but the
government was reluctant to use the peasants. Russell
in the southwest had to bring in troops from distant
counties and the government also paid foreign
mercenaries.
• Somerset was forced to bring troops back from the
garrisons in the north (intended to deal with Scotland)
to assist in the crisis.

13. The extent of the threat
• Coordination between rebels was limited to local areas –
Devon and Cornwall joined forces and Kett gained some
support from small groups from Lincolnshire and
Cambridgeshire – but there was no cross-regional
cooperation. This would have been much more dangerous
for the government.
• The rebellions were not directed at the government or the
monarch.
• There was not attempt to march on London.
• The government was always in control of its forces and was
never in danger.
• There was a significant lack of leadership from nobles or
gentry.

14. Mary I
• Unlike Henry VIII and Edward VI, Mary I’s accession to the
throne was not unchallenged.
• Edward and Northumberland had tried to keep Mary off the
throne. Mary had to gather a force to enable her to take the
throne.
• Albeit temporarily, the Tudor line was broken and Mary’s in
the same way that Mary’s accession had not been automatic,
nor was it fully secure.
• While Mary had gained the support of many noble families,
there was some uncertainty about her suitability to rule –
Mary was not only a women, but a 37 year old unmarried
women.

15. How would Mary’s background affect her
rule?
• Mary was the daughter of Catherine of Aragon
• She had been bastardised by the Act of Succession in 1534 (although
Henry restored her to the succession in 1543)
• She was prevented from having any contact with her mother between
1531 and Catherine’s death in 1536
• She had been brought up as a devout Catholic and represented the best
hope of those who hoped to see the restoration of Catholicism in England.
• Mary spent years resisting the oath of Supremacy only relenting in 1536
under the threat of execution.
• Mary had briefly been betrothed to Charles V but even after 1536, when
she was once again allowed to attend court, Henry VIII made no real
efforts to secure a marriage for Mary.
• During Edward’s reign she had openly flouted the prohibitions on Catholic
ceremonies, putting her safety at risk to the point that the Emperor’s
ambassador in England organised an escape route for her.

16. Mary’s experiences informed her aims
at the beginning of her reign
Mary wanted to:
• Convince the Privy Council of her right to be Queen
(effectively restore her legitimacy)
• Restore Catholicism
• Marry and have children
• Increase her security
In the initial stages she also wanted to make the decision on
how to deal with Northumberland and his supporters. She
also wanted to choose her own privy councillors.
• Mary also needed to take care of her health which had
been poor during the difficult years prior to her accession.

17. How secure was Mary’s reign?
• Support for Mary was a consequence of general acceptance of her position as
the legitimate heir (N’ land went against Henry VIII’s will when he changed
the succession)
• Mary was a Tudor and the dynasty was still relatively popular.
• Does not mean that Mary’s support was a result of her personal popularity.
• Historians often view Mary in a rather negative light – this may in part be a
result of comparisons with her more successful sister (made more striking as a
result of Elizabethan propaganda) – however there are also contemporary
accounts that are unsympathetic to Mary.
• Mary was in the unenviable position of being the first woman to be crowned
queen. The last female ruler of England had been unable to keep control of
the throne.
• While there were sections of society who greeted Mary as the spearhead of a
catholic revival, there were an equal number who were fiercely opposed to
such a restoration.
• Mary’s policies caused significant tension in the country at a time when poor
harvests and epidemics increased public discontent.

18. Opposition to Mary
Mary faced opposition as a result of her religious, and
dynastic policies.
• Mary’s decision to marry Philip of Spain was one of the
main causes of Wyatt’s rebellion – there was real
concern at the prospect of a foreign husband who
might undermine England’s interests
• There were also those who took part in the rebellion
who were partly motivated by a desire to avoid a
Catholic restoration.
• In addition, it can be argued that economic tensions
were also involved. Kent, the starting point of the
rebellion, had been undergoing an economic slump.
• There was also an element of local political instability.

19. Mary’s Reaction
• 90 rebels were executed including Wyatt who
became a martyr.
• Lady Jane Grey and her husband were
executed – the rebellion provided the excuse
Mary needed.
• Princess Elizabeth survived only because there
was no evidence that she was involved with
Wyatt and the rebels.