Mary I Government
Succession –
Lady Jane Grey was named queen in 1553, however popular
support for Mary was soon to appear.
Mary was able to quickly support Catholic nobility. She
benefitted from the loss of support for Northumberland
following the Devyse.
Government under Mary –
Mary return was greeted favourably, though this may be more
the result of the return to Catholicism, rather than her
legitimacy.
Mary’s priority was the return to Catholicism; however,
England remained a religiously diverse country with a
significant protestant population.
She had not been brought up to rule, and her most trusted
advisors, such as Edward Waldegrave and Robert Rochester,
had little political experience. Government was reliant on
Edward’s supporters, whom opposed Mary’s religious policy.
Mary never developed a solid relationship to her key
councillors. For example, she never came to trust Lord Paget
due to his opposition to religious policy, yet his death in 1555
left a gap in government that was never filled.
Her relationship to Parliament would prove to be one of
cautious cooperation. A substantial number of MP’s (around
80) opposed the reversal of Edward’s religious policy.
Succession –
Lady Jane Grey was named queen in 1553, however popular
support for Mary was soon to appear.
Mary was able to quickly support Catholic nobility. She
benefitted from the loss of support for Northumberland
following the Devyse.
Government under Mary –
Mary return was greeted favourably, though this may be more
the result of the return to Catholicism, rather than her
legitimacy.
Mary’s priority was the return to Catholicism; however,
England remained a religiously diverse country with a
significant protestant population.
She had not been brought up to rule, and her most trusted
advisors, such as Edward Waldegrave and Robert Rochester,
had little political experience. Government was reliant on
Edward’s supporters, whom opposed Mary’s religious policy.
Mary never developed a solid relationship to her key
councillors. For example, she never came to trust Lord Paget
due to his opposition to religious policy, yet his death in 1555
left a gap in government that was never filled.
Her relationship to Parliament would prove to be one of
cautious cooperation. A substantial number of MP’s (around
80) opposed the reversal of Edward’s religious policy.
