After the death of Edward VI in 1553 his sister Mary Tudor succeeded him after the very short term of Lady Jane Grey. She was crowned Queen Mary I of England and Ireland and reined for a total of five and a half years. Mary I became known for restoring the papal authority over the English Church and the cruel Protestant persecutions which gained her the nickname Bloody Mary. This paper will explore Reformation among both Edward VI and his half-sister Mary I and will deal with the question whether Edward’s religious reforms or those of Mary’s were more successful/left a greater impact on the English church.
The list of cited works is going to include A.G. Dickens with his renowned book The English Reformation who provides detailed accounts of the religious perception of the clergy and common people. Also I would like to mention Amos Blanchard’s account of John Foxe’s Actes and Monuments as he was a Marian contemporary who collected the accounts of executions of Protestant martyrs and published them in the Elizabethan era. Also I will draw on works by Lehmberg, Haigh and Doran. Some scholars, like W. R. D. Jones and Geoffrey Elton, claim that the reigns of both Edward and his sister Mary were also characterized by a mid-Tudor crisis. However, I decided to omit this topic as it offers enough material for a separate paper.
The first chapter deals with Edward VI’s reign over England. Therefore the chapter is split into three parts dealing with the three different Protectors during the under-aged king’s reign. A special focus is set on the significant religious changes which they evoked during Edward’s time. The second chapter concerns itself with the religious reforms during Mary’s reign. Again it is divided into sub-chapters which tackle the difficulties with restoring popish authority over the Church of England and also the political resistance Maria experienced by the Council Members. As a conclusion I will then collect and reflect on the gathered data and assess that the reforms during Edward’s reign had a greater impact on further religious development than Mary’s. By the end of this paper I will have established the view that the reforms during Edward VI’s reign were more successful than those of Mary I.
For the future development I hope that further events of that time can be uncovered and that future leaders learn from these past mistakes.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Edward VI’s Reign (1547-1553)
2.1 The Regent Council under the Duke of Somerset
2.2 England under the Duke of Northumberland
2.3 Success of Edward’s reforms
3. Queen Mary I (1553-1558)
3.1 Restoring Popish Authority
3.2 Persecution under Bonner
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the religious reformation during the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I to determine whose reforms were more successful and exerted a greater lasting impact on the Elizabethan religious settlement and the English Church.
- Comparative analysis of Protestant reforms under Edward VI and Catholic restoration under Mary I.
- Evaluation of the political and religious strategies of the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland.
- Assessment of the impact of Marian religious persecution and the restoration of papal authority.
- Investigation into how these conflicting reformative eras influenced the subsequent Elizabethan Church.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 The Regent Council under the Duke of Somerset
Edward Seymour, uncle to the young Edward VI became Lord Protector in February 1547. He put himself ahead of others in an absolutely unstable time and developed a well structured plan along with William Paget, a secretary of State since Henrician times, how to proceed with releasing news of Henry’s death. It was decided to make the King’s will public only piece by piece and they kept the monarch’s death secret for several days. From the very beginning of these new times, Seymour plotted a coup d’état to seize sole power of the country. He was supported by Protestant popular reformers in the Council and eventually resisted conservative resistance as they had been in disfavor with Henry and therefore the Protestant part of the Council was supreme. With the only opposition flattened Seymour was made Lord Protector of England and given kingly authority to practically rule without the need of a Council.
After he made himself Duke of Somerset he was able to rule by issuing proclamations. The Act of Proclamations from 1539 allowed the Crown to pass proclamations which should ensure an effective government in dangerous and unsettled times. He was a vigorous reformer and strove to change the English religious belief fundamentally.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the research comparing the religious shifts under Edward VI and Mary I and establishes the thesis that Edward's reforms were more foundational.
2. Edward VI’s Reign (1547-1553): Details the rapid shift toward Protestantism under the Protectorates of Somerset and Northumberland, focusing on doctrinal changes and the dismantling of Catholic practices.
2.1 The Regent Council under the Duke of Somerset: Analyzes the early Protestant reforms, including the Treason Act and the use of the Book of Homilies to push the English Church toward new theological groundings.
2.2 England under the Duke of Northumberland: Examines the later, more radical Protestant developments, such as the introduction of the new Prayer Book and the 42 Articles.
2.3 Success of Edward’s reforms: Synthesizes the long-term changes to the English Church's identity, highlighting the abolition of transubstantiation and Purgatory.
3. Queen Mary I (1553-1558): Explores the challenges Mary faced in attempting to reconcile England with Rome and the resulting political and social friction.
3.1 Restoring Popish Authority: Discusses the legislative struggle to repeal Protestant reforms and the complexities of reclaiming monastic land and wealth.
3.2 Persecution under Bonner: Evaluates the role of Bishop Bonner and the impact of the Marian persecutions, noting how they contributed to the Queen's historical reputation.
4. Conclusion: Reflects on the comparative success of both monarchs, arguing that Edward's foundational reforms proved more resilient and impactful for the subsequent Elizabethan era.
Keywords
English Reformation, Edward VI, Mary I, Protestantism, Catholicism, Book of Common Prayer, Duke of Somerset, Duke of Northumberland, Thomas Cranmer, Bloody Mary, Bishop Bonner, Elizabethan Religious Settlement, Church of England, Papal Authority, Religious Persecution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the religious reforms during the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I and evaluates which monarch's policies had a more significant impact on the English Church and the subsequent Elizabethan settlement.
What are the primary themes explored in the text?
The text explores the transition from Henrician religious policies to the Protestant radicalism of the Edwardian era and the subsequent Catholic reaction and attempted restoration under Mary I.
What is the main hypothesis of the author regarding these reforms?
The author argues that the reforms during Edward VI's reign were more successful and exerted a greater impact on future religious development in England than those implemented by Mary I.
Which historical research methods are utilized?
The work employs a historical-analytical approach, drawing upon primary accounts like John Foxe's "Actes and Monuments" and secondary historiography by scholars such as A.G. Dickens and Christopher Haigh.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The body is divided into an analysis of Edward VI's administration under the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland, and an analysis of Mary I's reign, focusing on the restoration of papal authority and the Marian persecutions.
Which keywords define the research?
Key terms include the English Reformation, Protestantism, Catholicism, the Book of Common Prayer, and the impact of the religious settlement of the mid-Tudor period.
How does the author characterize the role of the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland?
The author portrays them as instrumental, albeit sometimes fiscally and politically motivated, agents who successfully shifted the English Church toward a Protestant identity during Edward's minority.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the "Bloody Mary" moniker?
The author suggests that while Mary was indeed responsible for aggressive religious persecution, her reputation was also significantly shaped and propagated by the subsequent Elizabethan era to justify the shift back to Protestantism.
- Citar trabajo
- Katharina Schumacher (Autor), 2008, The English Reformation, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/193095
