Duke of Somerset -DOS (Edward Seymour)

Duke of Somerset -DOS (Edward Seymour)

1. The reign of Edward VI, 1547-53

   • DOS seized control of the government, allowing Edward to have a trouble free accession
     • Relied on the support of brother, Thomas Seymour, Archbishop Crammer, Viscount Lisle and Sir William Paget
       • Awarded them with promotions and land
     • Overthrew the Regency Council and governed with members of his family
       • enforced control over Privy Council
   • Rivalry with brother
     • angered for being left out of Regency Council
     • Tried to plot against Somerset with the Earl of Southhampton
       • Somerset pressed treason charges and T.Seymour was denounced
   • Wanted to unite England and Scotland by marrying Mary Queen of Scots to Edward
     • Defended the Scots in the Battle of Pinkie in September 1547
     • Built forts on the borders
       • The forts= expensive to garrison
         • Failed to understand the cooperation between Scotland and France
         • Failed to blockade the Firth of Forth properly, enabling the French to take Edinburgh
           • Somerset engaged in a military strategy that as too expensive
             • Paid by debasing the coinage
               • Heightened inflationary pressure = increased social distress
   • Deteriorating relationship with France --> Threat of war and prospect of invasion made Somerset vulnerable and heightened resentment in the Privy Council of his autocratic style of government

2. Religious Policies under Somerset

   • Welcomed radicals such as John Hooper and Thomas Becon into his home
   • Under Edward, policies moved in the direction of Protestantism
   • Proved cautious under Somerset as exemplified by the moderate Book of Common Prayer written in 1549 by Crammer
   • Much more radical approach taken despite public's opinion to embrace religious reforms
     • Sustained attack on popular religious practices in London
   • Injunctions issued by King (exercising royal supremacy)
     • Backed by Cromwell in 1538
   • Denunciations
     • Ash Wednesday: denounced images of saints and the use of holy water
       • Acts of iconoclasm: the destruction of images within churches
     • 1547 denunciations of images in London
     • 1547 Injunctions of 1538 reissued
       • New book of common prayer in English
         • Act of Uniformity --> book is only legal form of worship
     • Dissolution of the Chantries
       • To get money for foreign policies and as purgatory was no longer in the doctrine
         • However Chantries were also places of social events, charities and feasts and were now limited

3. The fall of Somerset

   • Gained enemies due to his dictorarial style
   • Earl of Southhampton was against Somerset being the Protectorate and was removed from the council
     • Later Southhampton was re-elected in by Somerset
   • Opposition due to his running of the government and policies failing which annoyed his supporters
     • Earl of Warwick believed he was responsible for the 1549 rebellions
       • Also, Earl of Arundel and Lord St. John
     • Tried to get Mary's support but she did not want to be a part of the scandal
     • They were ready to plot by October with most of the council and Crammer (who had influence over the king) on their side
       • Somerset ordered Lord Russell and Sir Herbert to send troops to protect him but they did not
         • Somerset's followers arrested (Sir Michael Stanhope and Sir Thomas Smith)
           • The king and Somerset were at Hampton Court but the King left for Windsor and Somerset surrendered as he was promised to not be charged with treason
             • Northumberland took over
               • Allowed Somerset to rejoin the council but he tried to direct a coup and was executed

4. Background

   • Joined the court in his teens
   • Experienced soldier
   • Brother to Jane Seymour who married Henry VIII
     • Political prominence
   • 1536 became Viscount Beauchamp
   • 1537, Member of the Privy and Earl of Hertford
   • Uncle to Edward VI
     • Became Lord Protector following Henry VIII's death
       • Named himself the Duke Of Somerset

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