Security of Edward VI's reign

• Legacy of Henry VIII

  • Ensured Edward's succession was law, set up a Regency Council with 16 men.
  • Council thought the Regency Council was too ambitious and unusual to work.
  • Earl of Hertford and Edward Seymour as Regents
  • Seymour promoted himself to Duke of Somerset and became Lord Protector.
• Edward's background

  • Henry VIII rarely saw him, only received reports on education.
  • He was intelligent, could write Greek, played sports e.g, archery and horse riding.
  • Serious child, self-disciplined.
  • Somewhat cold towards others, e.g, his entry on his uncle's death being terse and without emotion.
  • Died at 14, measles and smallpox, then chest infection 1555, fatal septicaemia.
• The Mid-Tudor crisis- Historians views

  • Came in between two very strong rulers, so it is easy to exaggerate the weaknesses of government.
  • Traditional historians share the idea that, during Edward and Mary's reigns, English government and society were on the verge of collapse.
  • Result of weak rulers, economic pressure, rebellions and religious upheaval.
  • Revisionist historians turn the opinion around, asking why the Tudor state was so strong in this period that it avoided disaster.
• The state of England 1547

  • ^ in population, pressure of food supply, jobs, rents and inflation.
  • Farming change from open crop production to enclosed sheep farming.
  • Resentment at the growth of governmental interference on decisions e.g faith and religion.
  • Financial instability due to over-ambitious foreign policy, led to debasement of coinage and sale of crown lands.
  • Religious debate ^, Protestant influences taking root in some places.
• Edward strengths upon accession

  • Once crowned king, he could not be ignored or contradicted.
  • Healthy upon succession
  • Highly intelligent, mature, confident and opinionated
  • Broad knowledge of the nobility and gentry.
  • Uncle was Lord Protector
• Edward weaknesses upon accession

  • Only 9 years old when he became king
  • England suffering a wide variety of problems e.g. Poverty and religious upheaval.
  • His father had depleted the coffers by spending £2m on war with France.
  • Growing discontentment over issues e.g enclosure and break down of traditional village communities.
• Henry VIII's religious legacy

  • Severed relationship with Rome and Catholic Church only in name and authority
  • BUT, remained faithful to the teachings of rome, had them embedded in the foundation of the Church of England.
  • Monarch was now head of Church
  • Monasteries dissolved, land sold which could not be recovered.