Mary I's Government

• What was Northumberland's Devyse?


  Attempt to change the succession so that his son's wife (Lady Jane Grey) would become Queen. A protestant on the throne and his grandchildren Kings.
• Why did Northumberland's Devyse fail?

  He had little support, but Mary had mass support from all classes due to her desire to restore Catholicism and the church to its former glory.
• What was Mary's priority in Government?

  Restoration of the Catholic faith
• What were some of the issues facing Mary on her ascension?

  There was a religious divide, with a Protestant majority in court. Mary wasn't educated for the role of Queen. Her supporters were inexperienced in government and therefore had to depend on Edward's Protestant ministers, which introduced reforms that moved away from her main objective.
• Who were Mary's new councillors?

  Bishop Gardiner, churchmen and conservative councillors such as Lord Paget.
• What was the issue with Mary's councillors?

  She appointed 50 new ones which suggests her government was faction-ridden.
• Why did Mary have issues with some of her councillors?

  She didn't trust Gardiner due to his lack of support for her mother. And she lost confidence in Paget due to his opposition to her religious reforms.
• Who did Mary replace Gardiner with after his death in 1555?

  Cardinal Pole who never fulfilled Gardiner's indispensability.
• What was the relationship between Mary and Parliament?

  It was a cautious operation, with opposition to Crown policies over religion, property rights (governors tried to stop ex-monastic land being restored to the church) and the issue of succession.
• When did Mary marry and who?

  Philip II of Spain in 1554
• Why was Mary desperate to marry?

  Needed an heir to secure the religious reforms in the long-term and Mary was 37
• What was the domestic impact of Mary's marriage?

  Both Parliament and the public didn't like the match.
• What was included in the marriage treaty?

  Phillip had the title of King but no power, Foreigners couldn't hold office, if Mary died before Phillip he couldn't claim the throne.
• What happened to the succession when Mary overthrew Northumberland?

  Henry VIII's will was restored so Elizabeth was next in line if Mary died childless.
• What was Mary's issue with her half-sister?

  Elizabeth was a protestant and personified the break down of her mother's marriage and was therefore an illegitimate heir
• What were Mary's two options to get rid of Elizabeth?

  1. Overturn the 1554 Act

  2. Disqualify her through treason
• Why was Elizabeth imprisoned in the Tower after Wyatt's Rebellion?

  There was speculation that Elizabeth had been involved in the plot
• Why did Mary release Elizabeth from the Tower?

  She had no substantial proof of Elizabeth's involvement in Wyatt's Rebellion
• When did Mary formally announce Elizabeth her successor?

  6th November 1558