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A Mid Tudor Crisis 1536-1569

Succession and Marriage

Succession of Edward VI

Henry VIII was succeeded by nine-year-old prince Edward, his son by his third

wife, Jane Seymour. This was a problem in itself because Edward was too young

to rule, and periods of minority government were often times of potential

political unrest. To avoid any possible disputes Henry made a final settlement of

the succession in his will of 1546. This replaced the Succession Acts of 1534,

1536, and 1544, although the terms were similar to the Act of 1544. In the event

of Edward dying without heirs, the succession was to pass first to Mary, the

daughter of Catherine of Aragon. If Mary died without heirs her sister Elizabeth,

daughter of Anne Boleyn, was to succeed. The major change to the previous

settlement was that if all Henrys children were to die without heirs, the throne

was to pass to his niece Frances Grey. This final clause meant that the other

possible claimant for the throne, the infant Mary Queen of Scots, was excluded.

Although the will had replaced the earlier succession settlements, the Acts of

1534 and 1536, which had made Mary and Elizabeth illegitimate to remove them

from the line of succession, were not repealed. Henrys major concern in his will

was to secure the peaceful succession of his son and safeguard the royal

supremacy. By 1546 it had become clear that the surest way to achieve this, andso prevent a power struggle, was to give authority to Seymour and the reform

faction. A Regency Council was nominated consisting of Seymour and 15 of his

most trusted allies. Members of the Council were to have equal powers, and were

to govern the country until Edward reached 18 years of age!

Northumberland Changes the Succession

By 1552 Northumberland seemed to be firmly in control, but his power depended

on the support of Edward VI. By the end of the year the Kings health wasdeteriorating quickly, and the problem of the succession became a central issue

once again. In accordance with Henry VIIIs will, Mary was to succeed if Edward

died childless. However, it was feared that because of Marys strong Catholic

sympathies she might replace Northumberland and renounce the royal

supremacy. To prevent a return to Catholicism, and to retain power,

Northumberland, with the full support of the King, planned to change the

succession. Lady Jane Grey, the protestant granddaughter of Henry VIIIs sister

Mary, was chosen to succeed. Unfortunately for Northumberland, Edward VI died

before the plans for seizure of power could be completed. Queen Jane reigned for

only nine days before being removed by Mary. A potential crisis had beenavoided.

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Marys Marriage

The Privy council was divided on the issue of Marys marriage and the issue

coming early in her reign highlights her political inexperience and stubbornness.

There were two realistic candidates for Marys hand;

Edward Courtney, Earl of Devon, who was favoured by Gardiner (Catholic)

Philip II of Spain, who was supported by Paget (Moderate)

Courtney was a descendant of earlier English Kings and such a marriage would

have strengthened the Tudor dynasty, but Mary favoured a closer link to theHabsburgs through Philip. It was not until the 27 October that Mary raised the

matter in Council, and then only to announce that she was going to marry Philip.

Mary disregarded all opposition to her plans. On 7 December a marriage treaty

was drafted and presented to council. It was ratified at the beginning of January

1554. The terms of the treaty were favourable to England. Philip was to have no

regal power in England, no foreign appointments were to be made to the Privy

Council, and England was not to be involved in, or pay towards the cost of any of

Philips wars. If the marriage was childless , the succession was to pass to

Elizabeth.

In spite of these safeguards Marys popularity began to ebb, as many people

thought that England would be drawn into Philips wars and become a mere

province of the Habsburg empire. By the end of January 1554, anti-Spanish

feelings led to rebellion. The rebellion was led by Sir Thomas Croft, Sir Peter

Carew and Sir Thomas Wyatt. These men had all held important offices at court

under both Henry VIII and Edward VI. Although they had supported Marys

accession, they feared that the growing Spanish influence would endanger their

own careers.

Elizabeths marriage and succession issue

Elizabeths foreign policy, her possible suitors and the succession were all closely

linked. Her marriage might determine Englands relationship to Europe, as it

most obviously had done in Marys case. Also, it would be a useful diplomatic

bargaining counter t be used with potential suitors. The naming of a successor to

the throne might have similar repercussions. In the eyes of her councillors, and

to her early Parliaments, Englands security depended on Elizabeth contracting a

suitable marriage. If that could not be managed, then at least a successor should

be nominated. What they feared above all was that, in the event of her untimely

death, the realm would be plunged into strife between rival contenders.

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Elizabeth, on the other hand, was always reluctant to commit herself in either

respect.

Many reasons have been advanced for Elizabeths unwillingness to marry.

Psychologically, Elizabeth may have recoiled from marriage for the following

reasons.

She was aware of the fate her mother had suffered.

At the age of eight, she was made aware of the execution of Catherine

Howard, Henry VIIIs fifth wife.

At the age of fifteen, she had experienced the amorous attentions of

Thomas Seymour 9uncle to Edward VI), which were described by onerecent biographer, David Starkey, as bordering on child abuse.

It is possible that she was physically incapable of having sexual relations,but no firm evidence of this has been found.

More plausible is the suggestion that she enjoyed power and was unwilling

to share it with a consort.

Whatever her motives, Elizabeth refused all opportunities for matrimony, thoughit was not until 1580s that the impossibility of her marrying was finallyrecognised.

Succession

Elizabeths refusal to name an heir had a more specific explanation. Elizabethsadvisors were convinced that Englands security rested on there being anassured successor. However, Elizabeth saw the absence of a known successor asthe best guarantee of her security. In the first eight years of Elizabeths reignthese issues played a significant part in her foreign and domestic policy. In 559,Phillip II made a tentative offer of marriage. Clearly he could not marry a heretic,as Elizabeth pointed out, but she did not dismiss the offer outright and wasclearly anxious to retain Philips friendship. Among other foreign suitors to beconsidered was the Archduke Charles Philip IIs cousin and heir to the HolyRoman Emperor, Ferdinand. Charles IX of France was also briefly in the frame.

In 1560, Robert Dudley, future Earl of Leicester, appeared a likely candidate, andhe retained Elizabeths affection until the end of his life. But the death of his wifein suspicious circumstances put paid to any thought of marriage, so far asElizabeth was concerned. The marriage was also strongly opposed by Cecil , andpotential rivalry between the two men was thus avoided.

Parliament and succession

This issue of succession came up twice in Parliament, in 1563 and 1566.Elizabeth suffered an attack of small pox in 1562, and the commons implored herto name a successor in the next session of Parliament. They renewed their pleain 1566, and even tried to tie the voting of subsidy to Elizabeths compliance inthis respect. But she refused Parliaments wishes in magisterial terms; It is

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monstrous that the feet should direct the head. From then on , her wishes wereunwillingly respected , and even on her deathbed she hesitated to name hersuccessor.