The Protestant Party and the King

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Henry's Will and Edward's Inheritance

H attempted to ensure that E would not suffer the same fate as EV, heir of EIV. To prevent this H had employed 3 key strategies:

  • 1) E would be crowned king shortly after his accession
  • 2) The goverment of the country would be placed in the hands of a balanced Privy Council
  • 3) To ensure the continuation of the separation from R, E had been educated by tutors with P sympathies

EVI was crowned K of an independent soverign state and E was seemingly more stable than it had been during the Wars of the Roses. Within weeks the gov of E was in the control of ES. Even if there was no tensions or factions its unlikely a Regency PC of 16 could've governed successfully. ES was able to secure leadership of the council for 'the better conduct of business' as early as 1 Feb 1547, by end of Feb he had secured the support of the majority of the councillors and was made Lord Protector.

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Henry's Will and Edward's Inheritance 2

Weakness of the conservative faction (after disgrace of DON and execution of EOS) clearly contributed to the ability of the reformist faction to take control. Decision to create a Lord Protector was a result of ES's personality, the support of William Paget and the need for a strong military leader as E was still involved in a way on two fronts. E was crowned as H wished, but vesting of power in the hands of the Duke of Somerset was far from what he wanted.

EVI K from 1547- his death in 1553. At his coronation CM preached a sermon drawing similiarties between his reign and that of K Josiah; his remit to rebuild the C and the country as a new Jerusalem. Sermon envisaged a long reign in which P could be established + embedded. E's early death not anticipated; until last sixth months of his life he was healthy and increasingly involved in gov.

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Edward VI's Childhood

Was a boy being trained to be a K. At an early age he was taught Latin, Greek and French. An early essay, critical of Catholicism written in French survives. E wrote plans for an economic development of E which would have established a form of bureaucracy not developed until the 19th century. His notebook gives a detailed account of state affairs including an unemotional account of his uncle's execution.

Its unlikely at age 9, E did anything more than observe state affairs; but by 1549 he appears to have taken a more active role in gov. The tipping point for this was the failure of the DOS's support within the PC

Gov administration during 1st 2 years of E's reign followed the pattern established by H as the personnel were very similar; PC used the same methods and machinery of gov. Difference lay in the leadership of DOS. Opinion is divided between those who view him as the 'Good Duke' and regard Northumberland's policies as tyrannical and those who regard N as leader who rescued E from near anarchy in 1549 which was rhe result of DOS's failures.

Both followed v. similiar religious policies in pursuing the construction of P C in place of Catholic doctrine of H

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Duke of Somerset

Somerset = 'Good Duke' (a leader who sought to establish a P commonwealth, or in a more extreme view a leader who wanted to establish a lin between commons and the K as can be seen in the surviving communications with rebels in 1549) OR Somerset = incapable of dealing effectively with the scale of problems inheritied by H. Undoubtedly, legacy of H8 was almost impossible to maintain.

Short-term problems:it was imperative that national pride was maintained through the continuation of the wars with F+S. The war with S was regarded as the means by which the marriage between E+MQOS could be achieved and the succession secured. 1547- a joint land and naval invasion was launched and the Battle of Pinkie was a decisive victory for DOS's troops. But occupation of the border strongholds was a limited success; remainder of S remained unoccupied.

Any further military activities would have to be conducted in straightened financial circumstance. H had spent £2,100,000 on his wars (funded by loans and sale of monastic and crown lands). E's revenue was insufficient to pay for ordinary expenditure, let alone finance a war. 1548- DOS issued an appeal to the Scots proposing a union between the two countries. Rejected by the scots

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Duke of Somerset 2

DOS's response to financial crisis was to increase taxation and to debase coinage. This exacerbated the long-term problems of popualtion increase, inflation and poverty. DOS initially attempted to gain support and impose his authority on the problem of increasing crime by passing the Vagrancy and Public Order Act in 1547.

Under the new law any able-bodied person who was out of work for more than 3 days was to be branded with a V and sold into slavery + their children taken from the parents and set to work as apprentices. Was regarded as widely unpopular and barbaric, but seems to have found support from the able-bodied 'hard-working heads' of families.

DOS believed that the main problem was enclosure. By issuing proclamations against the practice+ increasing taxes on wool, DOS exacerbated the economic problems of the countryside and lost support of the landed elites who viewed enclosure as a way of increasing their wealth. Resulting social unrest + DOS's failure to contain attacks on property lost him the support of the PC. This loss of support can be seen in a letter written to him by William Paget in Spring 1548

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Duke of Somerset 3

1549- DOS had also lost support of EVI. Desperate to maintain his control of E, he effectively kidnapped E and held him at Windsor Castle. E's journal shows how affronted he was by this action + he asserted his authority.

This led to the withdrawal of support from a coalition within the PC and his ultimate replacement by the Earl of Warwick (Northumberland)

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Northumberland (Earl of Warwick)

John Dudley - Duke of Northumberland- Earl of Warwick: During H's reign was a member of reformist faction, equal military strategist to DOS but was a better politician. EOW able to overcome opposition from Earl of Southampton + Earl of Arundel to gain control of the royal household and PC.

EOW demonstrated considerable political skill in masterminding DOS's downfall in PC by simultaneously plotting with the conservatives + CM. Having gained E's trust he ensured the conservatives were expelled from the PC and himself made President of it. EOW was well used to shifting religious allegiances during the 1540s. Using greater political acumen than that shown by DOS, EOW increased the size of the PC to 39 and selected councillors on whose loyalty he could rely. To make council more efficient he created an inner working committee to conduct day-to-day business. This saw the return of gov by the PC.

Those who favour DOS suggest EOW success in governing E was the result of learning from DOS's failures. Had DOS followed EOW he would have had the freedom to make decisions not possible at the time. This is a matter of conjecture, but there is no doubt that with increasing cost of the war and lack of resources, there was support for end of hostilites towards F+S

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Earl of Warwick

Jan 1550- a deputation went to F to negotiate peace. In return for ceding Boulogne, they demanded a ransom to be paid by the F and support for the marriage between E+MQOS. E's position was weak + the F pushed their advantage. Treaty of Boulogne was signed on 28 March 1550 required E to withdraw from Boulogne in return for 400,000 marks. At the same time they had to withdraw the garrisons from S. Further humiliation as MQOS betrothed to French Dauphin and E was promised to daughter of H2.

EOW demonstrated greater political skill in terms of reversing the financial problems experienced by DOS. Ending of hostilites with F+S ended the military drain on resources but a more systematic approach to revenue was required. Initially, EOW ordered a further debasement of coinage and borrowed from foreign bankers which jointly brought in £357,000

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The Treasury Problem

William cecil and Thomas Gresham from the Treasury tackled the problem though 7 key strategies:

  • Chantry lands, church lands and Chruch plate were sold off to pay off short-term loans
  • Strict economies were made in government spending
  • A contingency fund was eastablished: the 'privy coffer'
  • Gresham was sent to the Netherlands with £12,000 per week to manipulate the stock market and restore confidence in sterling
  • In March 1552, all coinage was called in and the silver content restored to that which it had been in 1527
  • A commission was appointed in 1552 to review the organisation and practicess of the Exchequer to make the collection of revenue more effective and to reduce corruption
  • A revision of Custom and Excise rates was recommended

Unlike Somerset, who had attempted to control everything personally, Northumberland was able to delegate authority and used people like Gresham with clear expertise

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Warwick

Northumberland did little to tackle the underlying social and economic problems which contributed to the Commotions of 1549, the ending of debasement did check inflation and the restoration of confidence in sterling helped to stimulate the cloth trade especially in East Anglia.

Northumberland was very shrewd in targeting his actions to prevent social unrest and to gain popular support from both the labouring poor and the middling sort. The unpopular Vagrancy Act and enclosure commissions were withdrown and the unpopular tax on sheep was repealed. Further support was gained by acts passed in 1552 to protect arable farming and to protect the excessive charging of interest on loans

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