Government under Somerset

Somerset's Foreign Policy

Somerset's aggressive approach to Scotland= determined by strategic objective of reasserting ancient claim of Edward I to suzerainty over Scottish throne, to enforce marriage to Mary QoS & unite crowns of England & Scotland.
Chosen strategy to defeat Scots in battle, build and garrison a number of forts in borders of S. Scotland & force Scots into submission.
+ Defeated Scots in Battle of Pinkie, September 1547
- Forts proved difficult & expensive to garrison- English couldn't capture stratigically significant castles @ Dunbar & Edinburgh- failed to bloacked Firth of Forth properly, enabing French to relieve Edinburgh.
Paid for war by debasing the coinage which considerably heightened inflationary pressures already evident & added to social distress.
Deteriorating relationship with France led to threat of war & prospect of French invasion of S. England- heightened resentments of Privy Council about his style of government.

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Somerset took power & established himself protecterate despite King's wishes of Regency Council rule.
Members of Privy Council felt resentment & there was no guarantee of wider public acceptance of Somerset's Protecterate.
Widespread feat about breakdown of law and order.
Cranmer formulated Homily on Obedience intended to be read in parish churches- stressed moral, religious and legal need to obey lawfully constituted authority.

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Somerset's regime soured by factional rivalries.
Thomas Seymour (originally angered being left out of Privy Council) was placated by Somerset by granting membership.
Seymour not satisfied- used death of wife to further career by seeking to marry Elizabeth & sought to turn Edward against Somerset & plotted with Earl of Southampton against Somerset.
Somerset brought treason charges against Seymour.

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