Edward somerset and Northumberland

Somerset relationship with Edward VI

• The Duke of Somerset was strict with Edward VI

• The boy had no direct involvement in government and limited pocket money but a thorough education

• Edward VI is often remembered as a weak and sickly boy

• It is difficult to tell how much influence Edward VI had in governing the kingdom

• He was particularly interested in England’s religious settlement

• The reformist faction was in the strongest position when Henry VII died

• Somerset was popular in 1547 after his victories against Scotland. Soon after Henry’s death, the Regency Council gave it’s power to Somerset.

• Somerset rapidly took control of Edward and made himself Lord Protector

• Somerset rapidly promoted his own supporters to the Regency Council. Somerset’s supporters included: Thomas Seymour, John Dudley, Earl of Warwick; Archbishop of Canterbury Cranmer; Sir William Paget; Sir Thomas Wriothesley; and the Earl of Arundel.

• The Regency council met in somerset’s home, Somerset house. So he was able to control who had contact with his government. His retainers guarded him.

• Somerset ruled England using the dry stamp (Research this )

• In Henry VII’s last years, dry stamp had been used a great deal so this was not a sudden change.

• The 1539 Proclamations Act said proclamations had equal force as statute Law

• Somerset had a tricky balancing act to please reformists and traditionalists, Protestants and Catholic .

• The Book of Common Prayer and the Act of Uniformity of 1549 were vague in the hope of being all things to all worshippers.

• Some key protestant steps were taken:

• Dissolving Chantries (Financial need)

• Acting against ornaments and images ( Protestant pressure in London)

• Clergy were again allowed to marry (enabling more protestant clergy)

• Somerset’s downfall was largely due to his failure to deal with the 1549 Rebellion (Kett’s rebellion)

• Somerset had also alienated many in the Regency Council

• Somerset’s foreign policy was costly and ineffective

• Somerset’s power declined following  1549,with the duke of Northumberland gaining power and influence in his place.

• By 1552, Somerset was arrested, tried for treason and executed.

• Northumberland took religion in a much more Protestant direction.

• January 1552: Treason Act- Questioning either the Royal Supremacy and the beliefs of the English Church became an offence.

• January 1552: Second Act of uniformity- Attendance at church of England services became compulsory.

1552 Prayer Book- All traces of Catholicism and the Catholic mass removed, including transubstantiation( a core Catholic belief about Holy Communion)

• Northumberland used Catholic/ conservative support to become Lord President of the Privy Council. Those men then lost their positions.

• Northumberland oversaw Protestants changes though confessing himself to be a catholic on the scaffold

• Northumberland was governing in the name of Edward VI, who was a strong Protestant. Northumberland was being a good servant

• Arguably, Northumberland’s most important priority was to stabilise England after the turmoil of Somerset’s rule.

• Northumberland tried to pay off England debts. This was through selling off chantry lands (owned by priests before the Henrician Reformation)

• Ending debasement

• Increasing Crown revenue through trade expansion and raising custom duties.

• Northumberland wanted to stabilize the economy

• Northumberland tried to pay off the country’s debts.

• Northumberland raised customs duties.

Key dates in John Dudley’s life:

1550: Becomes Lord president of the Privy Council

1551: Became Duke of Northumberland