Somerset
- Real name Edward Seymour
- Appointed Lord Protector and Governor of the King’s person (Jan 1547 – 31 Oct 1549)
- Feb promotes himself to Earl of Somerset 1547
- 1549 (14 Oct) Somerset imprisoned
- Execution – decapitation
- Incompetent and makes the English situation worse
- Debased the coin twice
- Creates an autocratic government
- Promotes his household to key positions
- Factional rivalries threaten him as he’s not the real monarch
What Somerset did:
Wrong (Ineffective)Debasement of the coinage
o High cost o Threat of France
o Falling living standards
o Control over the dry stamp o Self-promotion o Makes himself Lord Protector |
Right (Effective)Patronage – rewarded his supporters with land and promotions
Good at helping with social problems o No burning and torturing o Heard cases from the poor o Criticised the wealthy |
Fall of Somerset
- Warwick, Southampton, the Earl of Arundel and Lord St John decided that Somerset’s control should be put to an end and would instead try and secure support to Princess Mary
- Cranmer (who had personal influence to the King and was a religious reformer) supported this idea
- Somerset found out about this plan and ordered Lord Russell and Sir William Herbert to raise troops so that they would be at Somerset’s disposal. The troops never arrived
- The Council arrested Sir Michael Stanhope and Sir Thomas Smith (key supporters of Somerset)
- Somerset retreated to Windsor (taking the King with him) where he surrendered so that treason charges would be dropped