Reactions to Mary’s rule
-Tudor legitimacy
-HVIII’s will
-Northumberland unpopular
-Catholicism was popular??
Mary believed she was wanted because she was catholic
worries:
-1st ever queen -Matilda? given bad stick
-not got the political or military education
however
overall more positive than negative
Mary’s background
- daughter of Catherine of Aargon-Spanish upbringing
- Henry divorced Catherine: Mary loses her status, lost her engagement, lost her legitimacy and separated from her mother.
- health wasn’t good
- disliked Eliz more than Ed
- the more protestant England became the more awkward her position
- not the most attractive
what were Mary’s aims and priorities?
- restore RC
- marry Philip
- have children
- rearrange gov
- deal with Northumberland
negative interpretations of Mary
ELTON:”positive achievements which were none” “sterility was its conclusive note” “lacked the essentials”
POLLARD”arrogant, bigoted, stubborn and stupid”
“bitter and narrow minded”
positive interpretations of Mary
ERIKSON:”met the challenges”
what is the traditional view of Mary’s system of government?
- privy council=centre
- too large to conduct business effectively
- members don’t have political ability or administrative experience
- regardless they were never fully in the queen’s confidence
- clashes between Catholics: Gardiner and moderates: Paget
- Mary didn’t show any leadership
- used her Spanish advisor too much RENARD
- parliament obviously opposed her policy
- ignored wide spread dislike of the Spanish marriage
what positives can be seen in Mary’s system of government?
- privy council remained at the centre of administration
- kept many of the talented members of Northumberland’s council and although they were never fully in her confidence they provided the experience which was lacking
- although there was a clear divide between moderates and Catholics the two cooperated and restored effective government
- state affairs were handled by an inner council made up of experienced councillors
- support of the clergy
- the house passed everything even if there was debate
what does Guy say about Mary’s marriage?
“her piety and unmarried state gave her the intensity of a nun”
why does Mary want to marry Philip rather than the preferred English Courtney
- alliance with Spain (super power) and the Netherlands
- wants to marry a proper Catholic
- wants to get married and have children-sort succession. Philip has already fathered children
- she liked Philip
- Charles V had huge influence
what did you council think about the marriage?
talks begin in late 1553
- most were against the marriage because Philip was Spainsh
- Gardiner was against Philip and in favour of Courtney (Courtney has royal blood and says he is catholic)
- Paget was pro marriage
what year was the marriage treaty?
1554
what were the terms of the marriage treaty?
jan 1554
- Mary would only entire into conflicts eg the Habsburg-Valios war if she chose to
- Only M’s children had a right to the throne, other E is the heir
- only Mary can make appointment and act as Queen-Philip is there for his sperm only.
what was the result of the marriage?
jan 1554: rebellion Mary very in love Philip very not no children Spanish are unpopular big language barrier
what year was the Wyatt rebellion
jan 1554
what was the motive/cause of the Wyatt rebellion
- announcement of the marriage in jan 1554 was v unpopular- xenophobia
- didn’t want catholic restoration, they were protestants however they tried to underplay this in case it isolated anyone.
- rebellion started in Kent: decline of cloth, social discontent industry and economic hardship-more liable to rebel
- yesterdays men, why? because they were Northumberland’s men and protestant
when was the Wyatt rebellion
jan 1554 when the treaty for marriage had been finalised
this was earlier than the rebels had intended
also had to rebel earlier because someone-Courtney spoke to Gardiner
was originally going to be spring
who was involved in the Wyatt rebellion?
-Thomas Wyatt, Sir, landowner, protestant: yesterdays men. LJG’s father. Men of the old regime. Support of the French-they don’t like the alliance. Wider make up was “good honest English men” men with something to lose-ex army men. was meant to be 4 pronged with all the counties near London.
where was the Wyatt rebellion?
isolated to Kent other counties collapsed-embarrassing.
why kent? kent was close to the continent increased xenophobia
what did the Wyatt rebels do?
Rochester-capture the castle
government sends men-they join the rebels side
should have gone directly to London
but
loose momentum
London prepares, Mary made a good speech and they lose.
however they did get all the way to london before anyone stopped them
why did Mary win?
- the rebels fled-they weren’t prepared to die for their cause
- Mary exaggerated the protestant element
- the protestantism put off many people
- no one wants to be seen as a traitor
- marriage treaty showed that the marriage wasn’t actually too bad
- Mary was queen-she knows best
- her speech was very good and inspiring-showing leadership
consequences of the Wyatt rebellion?
- Mary is seen as the queen with authority
- no more rebellions
- marriage is unpopular but it goes ahead
- Elizabeth is placed in the tower.
- showed loyalty to the Tudor dynasty
useful quotes for the western rebellion
Fellows: “link between the rebels religious grievances and their attack on the gentry: it was after all the gentry who gained from the reformation”
Loach: “religion was clearly the main driving force”
Fletcher: “people’s fears that government was deliberately destroying traditional spiritual ways and from rumours of new taxes”
useful quotes for the Kett rebellion
Fletcher: “based firmly on a mixture of social, economic and religious discontent”
Heard: “the major cause of the popular unrest in 1549 was the hard economic conditions”
Cornwall: “in Norfolk religion was not an issue… protestantism was firmly established among the rebels”
useful quotes for the Wyatt rebellion
Fletcher: “opposition to the royal marriage”
