Mary I

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  • Created by: slytherin
  • Created on: 16-05-17 11:19

Mary's ascension

  • Well received and celebrations.
  • Restoration of Catholicism was anticipated in many parts of England.
  • In some places masses were said and altars rebuilt.
  • Servicebooks in Latin were bought quickly and altars/images/crucifixes returned.
  • This was all spontaneous and illegal.
  • This was not universally expected.
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Issues

  • England had fundamental religious division.
  • Mary had not been raised to rule - little political instinct.
  • Had to rely on those who served Edward and had condoned the reform.
  • Bishop Gardiner was appointed councillor.
  • By the end of her reign she had appointed 50 councillors.
  • Her government was faction ridden and and inefficient.
  • Working council was much smaller and dominated by Gardiner, Winchester and Paget.
  • Mary was never at ease with her councillors - lost confidence with Paget, never trusted Gardiner.
  • Mary mainly took the advice of Philip and Renard.
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Spanish Marriage

  • Mary believed marriage to be essential so she would have a Catholic heir.
  • She was 37 so sheep needed a quick marriage.
  • The English candidate was the Earl of Devon - this would bring the threat of factional rivalry and he lacked courtly skills! But a foreign marriage would have upset public opinion. 
  • Mary preferred Philip II - Spanish, Catholic and political.
  • Charles V was keen on the marriage.
  • English reaction was hostile.
  • A detailed treaty was drawn up - Philip was given the title of King but no power and no foreignerswere entitled to English offices. And if Mary died, Philip would not claim the throne.
  • The treaty was created to calm English fears but it failed to prevent rebellion.
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Wyatt's Rebellion

  • Planned in 1553
  • 4 simultaneous risings in Devon, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire and Kent.
  • Plans were leaked and they were forced into action.
  • Kent experienced a serious uprising - Sir Thomas Wyatt raised 3000 men.
  • The motives were - wanted Elizabeth on throne, many came from Maidstone (Protestant, religious motive), xenophobia and decline in the local cloth industry (socioeconomic grievances).
  • Rebellion was significant - showed Protestants couldn't be ignored, demonstrated suspicion towards Philip, Jane Grey was executed, Elizabeth was arrested and Wyatt came close to success.
  • It came c!ose to securing London but failed. 
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Marriage p2

  • Philip avoided travelling to England for months.
  • When he arrived things were different - Renard (his main English supporter) had fallen into disfavour and Renard was no longer close to the centre of power.
  • Philip's experience reinforced his prejudices - bad weather, hostility between English and Spanish courtiers.
  • He was marrying a prematurely middle aged women who was 11 years older than him.
  • Philip resolved to spend little time in England.
  • At a political level the marriage failed - Mary failed to get pregnant, England was drawn into Spanish disputes and the new pope was anti-Spanish.
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Restoration of Catholicism

  • It was a given fact that Mary would restore English church to Papal jurisdiction.
  • Despite the widespread support of Catholicism she still faced issues - Protestantism had attracted followers in London and other parts, Church of England was in statute law, the political elite had benefitted financially from the monastic land, 80MPs voted against the reapeal of Edwardian religious law and 800 people went into exile.
  • Legislative attack on Protestants began with Mary's first Parliament.
  • The matter of legal status was not resolved in Mary's first Parliament.
  • Legal changes enabled her to take action against protestant clergymen - clergy who had married could now be deprived of their livings (some were reinstated when they officially gave up their wives).
  • Status of the church was resolved in Mary's third parliament - process delayed due to issue with the land, Pope and his legate were told that the land couldn't be returned to the Church.
  • 3rd Parliament also reversed the Henrican Act of Attainder.
  • The fate of the Church remained unknown as there could be no final religious settlement.
  • Debates between Pole (who felt that civil rulers had no right to dipose of church property) and councillors (who beleived that no foreigner should have a say in English property).
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Restoration of Catholicism p2

  • Mary sympathised with Pople and threatened to abdicate - bluff.
  • A compromise was reached.
  • Pope Julius died and wsa replaced with anti Spanish Pope Paul - Mary would now be on hostile terms with the Pope.
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Treatment of Heretics

  • In Foxe's Book of Martyrs the burning of Protestants was recorded.
  • 298 Protestants were burnt - Most victims were the average people but Cramner and Latimer and 21 other clergymen also suffered.
  • Impacts of the executions included - it evoked sympathy in the public, humble status of the victims icreased their martyrdom, certain groups were banned from attending the burnings and it ruined Mary's reputation.
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Other religious policies

  • Resources of the church needed to be restored.
  • Quanitity and quality of priests needed to be improved.
  • Most of the new bishops appointed took their roles seriously.
  • Reforms may have worked with more time.
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Religous impact

  • Most of the country remained Catholic in sentiment.
  • With more time and resources, England could have become Catholic again.
  • Mary could have achieved more but the delay of restoring the church and the tension between England and the Pope hindered this.
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Financial Reforms

  • Some of Northumberland's reccomendations from Edward's reign were implented.
  • Financial administration was competent.
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