1st Succession Act 1533 (passed '34): Named Elizabeth as successor, and Mary a bastard
2nd Succession Act, 1536: Declared that Elizabeth was also a bastard
3rd Succession Act, 1543: (confirmed by HVIII in 1546) if EVI died without heirs, Mary and Eliz. could succeed, with approval of the Privy Council (illegitimacy not reversed)
What factors contributed to Somerset's fall in 1549?
- Unrest and rebellion in the countryside in summer 1549 (successfully crushed by Northumberland and others) - Personal style of Somerset's rule caused resentment and led to an anti-Somerset faction, inc. Dudley, Earl of Warwick (motivated by political ambition); Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton (motivated by dislike of religious changes; and William Paget, who disliked Somerset's style of rule)
What were the key events that contributed to the fall of Sst in 1549?
· Somerset lost authority following rebellions, and retreated to Hampton Court. He summoned loyal subjects to defend him and the king (5th Oct) · Sst moved to Windsor Castle, taking EVI with him (6th Oct) · EVI fell ill and complained of the cold. He abandoned his uncle, claiming Sst had threatened riots in the streets if he was removed from power. · Sst was arrested within a week (13th Oct)
How did the Earl of Warwick (later, Northumberland) seize power?
- The Council had a religiously conservative majority who did not trust Warwick
- Warwick brought in allies and removed opponents to secure a Protestant majority
- Rumours of a Catholic plot in early in 1550 to remove Warwick gave him the opportunity to dismiss key enemies on the Council, esp. the Earl of Arundel and Southampton
- Warwick was made Lord President of the Council - Warwick had placed supporters in important positions around EVI
Context and dates surrounding the Devise for the Succession?
Early in 1553, EVI's health began to decline; by summer of 1553 he was dying
Succession Act and HVIII's will stated the throne should pass to Mary
During Spring and Summer, a plot developed to exclude MI, known as the 'Devise for the Succession', first issued in May 1553
'As Lady Mary and Lady Elizabeth are both illegitimate... the crown shall... come firstly to the eldest son of Lady Frances Grey or, secondly, to the Lady Jane Grey's heirs male'
Articles were drawn up and councillors and other notable people were forced to sign them so that they were committed to the scheme
Philip of Spain details in potential marriage to Mary
Supported by Paget o Son of Emperor Charles V, cousin of Mary, heir to throne of Spain.
Spanish (Parliament was concerned that England could become a colony of powerful Spanish Empire. Charles V certainly wanted to use England in his own wars against France)
Staunchly Catholic
Politically experienced
Habsburg alliance could strengthen trade with Netherlands, GB's main trading partner
Rebels planned to marry Elizabeth to Courtney o Scheme to instigate four-pronged rising (Devon, Leicestershire, Welsh borders and Kent) was disclosed to Gardiner, forcing Wyatt to raise a rebel army (3000 strong) in winter
A royal force was sent under the Duke of Norfolk to confront the rebels, but instead they deserted and joined with the rebels
Wyatt's cautious march on London gave the gov. time to prepare defences
Mary defied her Privy C's advice and remained in London
Rebels halted at London Bridge, then at the Tower and forced to cross Kingston. Rebels finally stopped at Ludgate and Wyatt surrendered
Fewer than 100 commoners were executed
Wyatt, LJG and her husband were executed; Croft was imprisoned; Carew fled to Fr.; Elizabeth and Courtenay were interrogated and imprisoned, but later released
Chantries were places for masses for the souls of the dead.
- Read as an attack on superstition and purgatory.
Had a theological justification, but had a financial motive too: to raise money for the Scottish war - closure yielded £610,000 (c.20% of monastic closures, £187M in today's money).
2500 priests were affected but 2000 given secular benefices or regular pensions.
Details of the Repeal of the Treason Act? Impact? Government response?
1547
Meant that radicals now free to discuss and demand more radical reforms as restrictions were lifted.
60 editions of an English Bible were printed in the reign and between 1547 and 1549 ¾ of all books published were religious, and ½ of those Protestant.
Evangelicals used printing to their advantage.
Unleashed even more radical views and unrest; iconoclastic attacked on images and altars; pamphlets attacking mass
Government response: Series of proclamations issued btw Jan-Apr 1548 to restore order and limit those who could preach. Second proclamation in Sept banned all preaching
The Gov hoped these changes would satisfy at least moderate reformers
The clergy were forced to use the new service and could be fined or imprisoned for refusal
The laity were not punished for not attending church
There was opposition to reform at grass roots level, with reforms breaking out in Devon, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire (1549).
Government continued with a policy of educating the laity in the new religion:
Bishops instructed to carry out visitations to test whether the laity knew the Ten Commandments, or the Lord's Prayer.
- Bishop Hooper later discovered in his own diocese of Gloucester that out of the 311 clergy, 10 could not recite the Lord's Prayer and 171 did not know the Ten Commandments