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Edward VI: Somerset - Coggle Diagram
Edward VI: Somerset
Religious reform, 1547-9
somerset had personal sympathy with key prot ideas, but recognised the implication of religious change and tried to adopt a moderate approach. cranmer (archbishop) supported him in this.
however, cautious approach wasnt easy and pressures were building up
when h8s death reached continent, exiled prots who fled persecution in 1530s and 40s began returning: their radical demands caused frequent clashes in the community.
reform faction in control and keen to see reform, but english bishops split on whether to see further changes.
relaxation of press cencorship led to massive increase in prot propaganda, specificallt by martin luther and john calvin.
to stall for time, gov launched inquiry into C o E with commissioners sent out.
measures introduced to repeal 6 articles and rules for bible and services to be in english were repealed.
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the chantries act abolished chantries: main practice of chantries was to pray for souls of the dead (a catholic practice). however, was done more to raise money for war.
when war was over gov felt strongly enough to take firm action over religious confusion: act of uniformity passed in 1549
act designed to impose single standard of worship and end religious confusion that had been growing since h8 broke from rome. terms: services in english, congregation should be bread and wine during communion (prot). but it didnt go so far as to create a prot church. priests dressed and behaved as always
cranmer introduced a new prayer book setting out form worship would take: however, very vague. didnt deny central catholic idea that the priest transformed the bread and wine into the real presence of christ, but gave the impression the priest was commemorating an event.
while somersets religious changes somewhat caused rebellions, it was quite impressive how he managed to appease both catholics and prots.
Western rebellion; 1549
causes: when gov sent its agents out to check on state of church and limited reforms in 1547, there was signs of resistance. agitation often instiagted by concerns over religious change. also concerns over gentry gaining church land after reformation for their own use. this was coupled with more general social and economic discontent about inflation, inreasing population and enclosure.
in cornwall, william body was killed by a mob as he attempted to order removal of traditional catholic images from churches.
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many riots were ill focussed and reflected a sense of desperation from poorer classes: religion provided the focus needed. leaders of cornwall revolt demanded restration of catholic doctrine and practices, including mass in latin and banning english bible.
western rebellion grew out of these riots in cornwall, and when gov ordered new prayer book should be used, groups formed and a full scale rebellion happened.
rebels gathered at crediton, where they were met by a landowner who was unsympathetic. they then advanced past exeter and set up camp.
they didnt advance towards london, but waited for gov to come to them. news of rebellion travelled slowly and somerset almost certainly underestimated the seriosuness of it at first. difficult for gov to respond, as needed troops for scot and coast against france, and by the time the rebels gained control of land around exeter, another rebellion was forming.
Foreign policy
bound by H8's will which involved arrangement of a marriage between E6 and MQOS. however this wasnt wanted in scot and somerset had to deal with twin threats of scot and france. he hoped to isolated scot by agreeing to an alliance with france, but the new french king (henry ii) was keen to assert himself and renewed french and scottish alliance. he sent 4000 troops to scotland.
somerset had to intervene and launched a naval and land invasion, using berwick as a base. 16,000 infantry and 40 warships.
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however, success was limited as somerset didn't have enough troops to occupy scotland.
as french troops continued to arrive in scot and scottish nobles united against england, mqos moved to france to be later married to francis ii.
somersets costly f.p (600,000) cemented links between france and scot. by 1549, he was focussed more on domestic issues.
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Ketts Rebellion, 1549
In Norfolk, there was a similar situation with widespread economic and social unrest from bad harvests and price rises, with the mistaken belief gov ministers were profiteering from it.
some of their demands, such as dismissing inadquate clergy, were prot, but this wasnt the main motive.
gangs emerged in may and june 1549 to break encolsured. robert kett was one of the landowners whose property was attacked, but he agreed to end enclosure on his estates and offered to lead the rebels to secure their rights.
rebels set up camp at mousehold heath, and ran a rather peaceful campaign to end enclosure, improve local gov and secure better quality clergymen. at the height, there were 15000 men according to kett.