Government 1547-1559

• What type of government replaced Cromwell's?

  Conciliar government
• How did Henry's marriage to Catherine Howard Impact government?

  It led to the conservatives (catholics) having greater power at court as the Duke of Norfolk (Thomas Howard) became the leading figure at court, along with Stephen Gardiner and Thomas Wriothesley.
• How did Norfolk try to get rid of Katherine Parr?


  He tried to have her accused of heresy
• How did the Catholic faction fall?

  The Duke of Norfolk's son, Henry Howard, threatened the King's throne as he suggested he had a claim. This resulted in both Norfolk and his son being charged with treason.
• Before Henry VIII died, why did people consider the Earl of Hertford as the leader of court?

  He was Edward's uncle.
• When did Henry VIII die?

  28th January 1547
• What was Henry's plan for government after his death?

  He had planned for there to be a regency council that would rule on behalf of Edward until he turned 18.

  This would consist of 16 members, balanced between 8 catholics and 8 protestants.
• Give an example of a protestant on the regency council

  Earl of Hertford
• Give an example of a Catholic on the Council.

  Earl of Southampton
• How did Herford seize power?

  1. Hertford kept Henry's death a secret for 2 days.
  2. Hertford befriended Sir Anthony Denny who possessed the King's dry stamp. He used this to promote himself to the Duke of Somerset and appoint himself Lord Protector. This effectively made the regency council redundant.
• How did Somerset rule?

  Somerset governed largely with members of his own household despite only one (Thomas Smith) being a member of the Privy Council. He was also able to control the King's council by appointing Sir Michael Stanhope as Chief Gentleman.
• What factionalism existed in Somerset's government?

  Somerset's brother, Thomas Seymour, sought to turn Edward against his brother and plotted to work with Southampton to overthrow Somerset. Thomas Seymour was charged with treason after being denounced by Southampton. This also secured Southampton's readmission to the Council.
• Why did people turn against Somerset?

  He was arrogant and had a dictatorial manner; this led to him being resented by Southampton following his earlier imprisonment.

  The Earl of Warwick had been alienated by Somerset's feeble response to the 1549 rebellions providing him with an opportunity to strike.
• What happened in the 1549 coup against Somerset?

  Warwick and catholic noblemen Southampton, the Earl of Arundel and Lord St John decided in August 1549 to launch a Coup against Somerset.

  They tried to gain the support of Princess Mary but she stayed clear of any conspiracy.

  In October 1549, there was a standoff between the conspirators in London and Somerset at Hampton Court; Somerset and Edward retreated to Windsor where he was arrested on orders from the Regency Council.
• Why was Somerset not charged with Treason?

  Cranmer brokered a deal.
• What were Somerset's successes in government?

  • Somerset was able to get the Privy Council to submit to him and name him as Lord Protector.
  • He won the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, defeating the Scots.
• What were Somerset's failures in government?

  • By using his household to govern, he became resented by those in the Regency Council who had been excluded from government.
  • His policy of garrisoning forts in Scotland was an expensive failure. He didn't capture important castles in Edinburgh and Dunbar and failed to blockade the Firth of Forth allowing MQS to escape to France.