England: Age of Queens

11/6/14

Edward VI

28 January 1547 Henry VIII dies; Edward Seymour (Somerset) elected Protector; Edward crowned February 20

10 September Battle of Pinkie, Black Saturday, the last pitched battle with Scotland. Queen Mary of Scotland escapes to France to wed the Dauphin

1547 Treason Act requires two witnesses; Act of the Six Articles repealed.

19 March 1549 Sir Thomas Seymour executed

9 June Act of Uniformity requires that all churches use Cranmer’s New Book of Common Prayer

Act for the abolishing and putting away of diverse books and images 1549 requires the destruction of other religious books and images. Act permitting clerical marriage is passed.

10 June Western Prayer Book rebellion begins in Devon and extends to Cornwall. This is a reaction to the imposition of religious changes and also to a poll tax on sheep. It was put down using German mercenaries.

8 July Kett's rebellion, Norfolk, begins. It is in response to land enclosures. Put down in August.

October Fall of Somerset. Dudley and the council issue proclamation denouncing Somerset; He is arrested but released in February 1550 and readmitted to the Council in April

France under Henry II declares war on England; Agree to peace in 1550

2 February 1550 Dudley (later created Duke of Northumberland) appointed Lord Great Master and Lord President of the Council

2 July 1550 Princess Mary gives up plan to escape to the continent.

I7 March 1551 Edward confronts Mary over her continued hearing of the mass

16 October 1551 Somerset arrested; tried and convicted of felony in December and executed in January 1552

1 November 1552 The 1552 Act of Uniformity required use of the Second Book of Common Prayer and imposed a fine for unexcused absence from church.

1 March 1553 Edward opens Parliament

21 May Lady Jane Grey marries Dudley’s son, Guildford

21 June Edward’s ‘devise’ to give the succession to heirs of Frances Grey

4 July Mary travels towards Norfolk

6 July Death of Edward

2 Henry VIII to Edward VI England: Age of Queens

Assessments of Henry VIII If you find pleasure in seeing fair pictures of heroes Look then at these! None greater was ever portrayed. Fierce is the struggle and hot the disputing: the question [is] Does the father, or does the son – or do both – have the preeminence? One ever withstood his enemies and his country’s destruction, Finally giving his people the blessing of peace; But the son, born to greater things, drove out of his councils His worthless ministers and ever supported the just. And in truth, the overweening power of the Pope bowed to his resolve, When the sceptre of power was wielded by Henry VIII, Under whose reign the true religion was restored to the nation And pure doctrine began to be held in honour. Whitehall Mural of Henry VII, Elizabeth of York, Henry VIII, James Seymour

Little one, emulate thy father and be the heir of his virtue; the world contains nothing greater. /Heaven and earth could scarcely produce a son whose glory would surpass that of such a father. /Do thou but equal the deeds of thy parent and men can ask no more. / Shouldst thou surpass him, thou hast outstript all kings the world has revered in ages past . Richard Morison (propagandist and member of the privy council) Inscription on Holbein portrait of Prince Edward, 1539

“For many centuries there has never been a Christian Prince or an infidel who has ordered so many executions, as well of his immediate relatives, as of gentlemen, clergy and other persons, for having spoken against his proceedings.” Duke of Najera, to Catherine Parr 1544

“I will confess he did many evil things as the publican sinner but not as a cruel tyrant or pharisaical hypocrate.” William Thomas The Pilgrim, 1546

‘Even as the king was ruled and gave ear sometimes to one, sometimes to another, so one

while it went forward, at another season as much backward again, and sometimes clean

altered and changed for a season, according as they could prevail, who were about the

king. ’ J. Foxe, Acts and monuments, 1563

Henry “was very knowing in the art of governing and cut out as it were for a king; for he kept all inexact obedience; and had his passion been as subject to him as his people, he had been the absolutist of kings . . .”

Edward, Lord Herbert, The Life and Raigne of King Henry VIII, 1649

“Kings is kings, and you got to make allowances. Take them all around, they're a mighty ornery lot. It's the way they're raised.” Huckleberry Finn

Reference MacCulloch, Diarmaid. The boy king: Edward VI and the protestant reformation . Univ. of

California Press, 2002.