Stability of the Monarchy

• When was the First Act of Succession?

  1534
• What did the First Act of Succession state?

  It vested the succession of the English crown in the children of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, effectively setting Princess Elizabeth as first in line for the throne and declaring Princess Mary illegitimate
• When was the Second Act of Succession?

  1536
• What did the Second Act of Succession state?

  It overrode the First Act of Succession and made the children of Henry and Jane Seymour first in line for the throne, declaring Henry's previous marriages unlawful and both Princess Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate
• When was the Third Act of Succession?

  1543
• What did the Third Act of Succession state?

  It adjusted the line of succession to Edward and his heirs, then Mary and her heirs, then Elizabeth and her heirs, making the two princesses legitimate again
• When did Henry VIII sign his will?

  1546
• What did Henry VIII's will state?

  It correlated with the Third Act of Succession, but also stated that Mary's marriage had to be approved by Parliament
• What were the problems with Henry VIII's will?

  • The will was viable to change since Denny was in control of Henry's dry stamp
  • It appears that details concerning the Regency Council were added only when Henry was close to death and unable to prevent further changes
  • Denny and Paget kept the news of Henry's death quiet for a few days, allowing the reformists to consolidate their power over the conservatives, leading in Edward Seymour (Duke of Somerset) becoming Lord Protector and Regent
• During which years was Somerset Regent for?

  1547-1549
• During which years was Northumberland Regent for?

  1550-1553
• How was Somerset made Lord Protector?

  He was granted quasi-royal powers by Letters Patent in March 1547
• How did Somerset rule?

  Autocratically and through proclamations
• How many proclamations did Somerset use?

  70, from 1547-1549
• What did Somerset not use?

  Parliament
• What did Somerset attempt to insist regarding Edward's signature?

  That the King's signature was only valid with his counter-signature
• How did Somerset use the Privy Council?

  He used his own household servants as government officials, which were nicknamed the 'New Council.' He bypassed the actual Privy Council
• How much did the campaigns in Scotland cost between 1547 and 1549?

  £580,393
• How much money was raised from debasement during Somerset's regency?

  £537,000
• What lands did Somerset continue to sell?

  Crown lands and monastic lands
• What did Thomas Smith advise Somerset?

  To re-mint the coin to reduce inflation (which Somerset didn't listen to)
• What did John Hales advise Somerset?

  That enclosure and greedy landlords were the cause of inflation, so to introduce a tax of a penny per sheep (which was unpopular and didn't work)
• When was the Vagrancy Act introduced?

  1547
• What did the Vagrancy Act state?

  Able-bodied people who had been unemployed for 3 days would be branded with a 'V' and sold into slavery for 2 years
• What did the proclamations of June 1548 state?

  They enforced all statutes against enclosure for grazing
• What tax was introduced in March 1549?


  A 5% tax on personal property and a special tax on sheep
• How did Northumberland ensure he did not rule as regent overly autocratically?

  By naming himself Lord President of the Council, not Lord Protector as Somerset had done
• What was the result of Northumberland's reforms of the Privy Council?

  He operated an effective government with Paget drawing up guidelines for a more efficient operation of the Privy Council
• How did Northumberland deal with inflation?

  • Proclamations were issued to reduce the value of the coinage in 1550, but the decision to end debasement was not taken until April 1551
  • Northumberland didn't call in the debased coinage and replace it with the coins containing the correct amount of precious metal
• What happened in 1551/1552 economically?

  The collapse of the Antwerp market
• What economic policy did Northumberland's government decide on?

  Retrenchment
• How much money did Northumberland raise from crown lands?

  £100,000
• How much money did Northumberland raise from chantry lands?

  £110,000
• How much money did Northumberland raise from church lands?

  £336,000
• Who paid off debts to Flanders?

  Thomas Gresham
• How were the debts to Flanders paid off?

  £132,000 was paid to Flanders by 1553, with all the Antwerp debts paid off in 2 years and a new lower interest rate of 12%
• When was the Treaty of Boulogne?

  1550
• What did the Treaty of Boulogne state?


  Boulogne would be returned to France for £133,333
• When was the Vagrancy Act repealed?

  1551
• What was the timeline of Somerset's fall?

  • In September 1549, Somerset's plan for the creation of the New Council was opposed, and the conservatives mobilised 2500 troops, with Somerset making an unsuccessful appeal for Lord Russell's army
  • On the 30th September 1549, he ordered all soldiers to leave London.
  • On the 6th October 1549, he moved to Windsor Castle with Edward
  • On the 10th October 1549, he surrendered, and was imprisoned on the 14th October
  • Northumberland did return Somerset to court, but continued to try and regain his power so was executed in January 1552