MARY I: 1553-1558
MARY I AND HER MINISTERS
-reign commonly viewed = sterility and stagnation – BUT = capable administrator, aided Cromy reforms 1530s
-attempt to restore full papal Catholicism ultimately failed
OVERVIEW -LOSS OF CALAIS: Eng only remaining possession on continental mainland = legacy of pro-Hasburg FP
FACTION:
M = determined to fill PC with loyals BUT could not prevent rivalry between Gardiner (Lord Chancellor), and
Paget (to become keeper of Privy Seal): emerged in discussions over royal marriage in 1554
-GARDINER: M Eng relative Edward Courtenay + PAGET: Philip of Spain
-HOWEVER PC REMAINED UNITED FRONT ON MANY MATTERS EG. WYATT – despite doubts over burnings
(poss G) = kept to themselves
FACTION
MARY’S AUTHORITY:
AND -M = success in obtaining support for 3 controversial steps: return to Rome, Philip, + war against FR with SP
POLITICS -M = influenced by: Renard (imperial ambass = represents Philip’s father CV), CV at Eng court, + Philip
(infrequent visits to Eng made views plain)
COOPERATION OR CORRUPTION?
-Relative lack of division in highest ranks! – continuity from EdVi + future eg. Winchester = L.Treasurer 1550-
1572 – legacy of Cromwellian reforms?
-Some opp eg. proposed Church land settlements, crowning Phil + removing Eliz from succession BUT NO
SENSE OF MOUNTING OPPOSITION
- “GENUINE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE AND COOPERATION” – MPs viewed P as forum for rep of local interests!
1 OCT 1553: Mary crowned by Gardiner according to old Catholic rite.
2 AIMS: marry/ bear child, keep prot half-sis Eliz from throne – under SucA 1544: succeeded by E if childless
THE TWO CANDIDATES:
EDWARD COURTENAY (Gard): English, impressive credentials = great-GS of Edward IV + father Henry =
Catholic + confidant of M BUT PROBLEMS: danger of reviving factional rivalry, not equal = subject
PHILIP OF SPAIN (Paget): heir to HRE CV, regent of Spain since 1551, Catholic – with Spain + LCs to his name =
better position to counter-balance power of France as KoE
10 OCT 1553: Renard (IA) presents Spanish proposal – M accepts at end of month …
ISSUES WITH SPANISH MARRIAGE:
M failed to anticipate furore that SM stirred up in Eng = seen as threat to Eng liberties + commercial interests
THE = growing sense of nationalism
SUCCESSION NOV 1553: Parliamentary delegation tried to dissuade BUT M disregarded all opposition to her plans
PROBLEM DEC: Council accepted
APRIL 1554: Parliament accepted
MARRIAGE TREATY CONDITIONS:
England would not be expected to join Spain in a war against France
title = King so to some extent joint sovereign but NOT FULL PREROGATIVE
The eldest child of the marriage would succeed to both Eng and the Neth
If Mary died before Phillip, he would have no further claim to the English throne
If Don Carlos, Phillip’s existing son, died childless before Phillip, marriage child inherits SP empire
Philip = less enthusiastic, never crowned king, called Eng “land of barbarous heretics’ – meant to arrive in FEB
but didn’t marry until JULY 1554
AUTUMN 1554: declared pregnant = desperate for Catholic child – false symptoms – humiliated
-eventually forced to accept E = successor = named 6 NOV 1558
SM = responsible for one major disturbance = WYATT JAN-FEB 1554: “attempt to join in the debate about
what FP should be = new” – alarmed by potential centralisation of power under Spanish-influenced monarchy
DEC 1553: plans for simul uprisings on MARCH 18 in Kent, Leics etc – French amb promised naval support
JAN 1554: scheme = awry = gov heard of plan - DoSuffolk (LJG father) only rallied 140 supporters in Leics, all
others failed – ONLY LEFT KENT = forced Wyatt into premature action
WHO WAS WYATT? Large landowner = worried about advancement of M, improve personal wealth + status
JAN 1554: force of 3000 – created anti-Span sentiment by playing on fear of war on Spain’s behalf, posed as
MARY I AND HER MINISTERS
-reign commonly viewed = sterility and stagnation – BUT = capable administrator, aided Cromy reforms 1530s
-attempt to restore full papal Catholicism ultimately failed
OVERVIEW -LOSS OF CALAIS: Eng only remaining possession on continental mainland = legacy of pro-Hasburg FP
FACTION:
M = determined to fill PC with loyals BUT could not prevent rivalry between Gardiner (Lord Chancellor), and
Paget (to become keeper of Privy Seal): emerged in discussions over royal marriage in 1554
-GARDINER: M Eng relative Edward Courtenay + PAGET: Philip of Spain
-HOWEVER PC REMAINED UNITED FRONT ON MANY MATTERS EG. WYATT – despite doubts over burnings
(poss G) = kept to themselves
FACTION
MARY’S AUTHORITY:
AND -M = success in obtaining support for 3 controversial steps: return to Rome, Philip, + war against FR with SP
POLITICS -M = influenced by: Renard (imperial ambass = represents Philip’s father CV), CV at Eng court, + Philip
(infrequent visits to Eng made views plain)
COOPERATION OR CORRUPTION?
-Relative lack of division in highest ranks! – continuity from EdVi + future eg. Winchester = L.Treasurer 1550-
1572 – legacy of Cromwellian reforms?
-Some opp eg. proposed Church land settlements, crowning Phil + removing Eliz from succession BUT NO
SENSE OF MOUNTING OPPOSITION
- “GENUINE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE AND COOPERATION” – MPs viewed P as forum for rep of local interests!
1 OCT 1553: Mary crowned by Gardiner according to old Catholic rite.
2 AIMS: marry/ bear child, keep prot half-sis Eliz from throne – under SucA 1544: succeeded by E if childless
THE TWO CANDIDATES:
EDWARD COURTENAY (Gard): English, impressive credentials = great-GS of Edward IV + father Henry =
Catholic + confidant of M BUT PROBLEMS: danger of reviving factional rivalry, not equal = subject
PHILIP OF SPAIN (Paget): heir to HRE CV, regent of Spain since 1551, Catholic – with Spain + LCs to his name =
better position to counter-balance power of France as KoE
10 OCT 1553: Renard (IA) presents Spanish proposal – M accepts at end of month …
ISSUES WITH SPANISH MARRIAGE:
M failed to anticipate furore that SM stirred up in Eng = seen as threat to Eng liberties + commercial interests
THE = growing sense of nationalism
SUCCESSION NOV 1553: Parliamentary delegation tried to dissuade BUT M disregarded all opposition to her plans
PROBLEM DEC: Council accepted
APRIL 1554: Parliament accepted
MARRIAGE TREATY CONDITIONS:
England would not be expected to join Spain in a war against France
title = King so to some extent joint sovereign but NOT FULL PREROGATIVE
The eldest child of the marriage would succeed to both Eng and the Neth
If Mary died before Phillip, he would have no further claim to the English throne
If Don Carlos, Phillip’s existing son, died childless before Phillip, marriage child inherits SP empire
Philip = less enthusiastic, never crowned king, called Eng “land of barbarous heretics’ – meant to arrive in FEB
but didn’t marry until JULY 1554
AUTUMN 1554: declared pregnant = desperate for Catholic child – false symptoms – humiliated
-eventually forced to accept E = successor = named 6 NOV 1558
SM = responsible for one major disturbance = WYATT JAN-FEB 1554: “attempt to join in the debate about
what FP should be = new” – alarmed by potential centralisation of power under Spanish-influenced monarchy
DEC 1553: plans for simul uprisings on MARCH 18 in Kent, Leics etc – French amb promised naval support
JAN 1554: scheme = awry = gov heard of plan - DoSuffolk (LJG father) only rallied 140 supporters in Leics, all
others failed – ONLY LEFT KENT = forced Wyatt into premature action
WHO WAS WYATT? Large landowner = worried about advancement of M, improve personal wealth + status
JAN 1554: force of 3000 – created anti-Span sentiment by playing on fear of war on Spain’s behalf, posed as
