WEBVTT 1 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:24.320 Hello and Welcome to Western sev Episode two hundred and eighty two. The New 2 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:30.160 Josiah. As I mentioned last time, Henry the Eighth's death would usher in 3 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:36.359 a new period of English history. While Henry may have started the English Reformation, 4 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:43.280 his son and his son's supporters would finish it. Under Henry, the 5 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:49.880 Reformation proceeded in fits and starts. Henry's desire to break with Rome was never 6 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:55.359 driven out of true religious conviction, but out of the desire to secure the 7 00:00:55.399 --> 00:01:03.280 succession with a new wife. Henry maintain gained many Catholic practices that were still 8 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:10.079 anathema to Protestants and Evangelicals. Today, we will begin to see how life 9 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:15.239 would change under the young Edward and critically the men who ruled in his name. 10 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:38.719 Henry's body lay in state for ten days. From there it was transferred 11 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:45.560 to Windsor. We're on the fifteenth of February fifteen forty seven. One of 12 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:52.799 England's most impactful kings was laid to rest. That night, the lords surrounding 13 00:01:53.239 --> 00:02:00.920 Edward hastened back to London. There were more important ceremonies to prepare for the 14 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:06.599 next day. These men around Paget and Seymour gathered in the Tower of London, 15 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:10.879 where they all received their rewards for agreeing to Seymour's place as protector. 16 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.840 Seymour himself was elevated to become Duke of Somerset, which is how he will 17 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:24.479 be referred to from here on out. Dudley and Riversley became the Earls of 18 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:34.080 Warwick and Southampton, and Catherine's brother William Parr the Marquess of Northampton. There 19 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:39.360 were peerages for Sir Thomas Seymour, Sir Richard rich Sir William Willoughby, and 20 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:46.000 Sir Edmund Sheffield. At the same time, Dudley was granted the staff of 21 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:52.879 Great Chamberlain, while Thomas Seymour replaced Dudley in his former office of Lord Admiral. 22 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:58.199 To finish the day, Edward attended his first chapter of the Order of 23 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:02.680 the Garter. On Saturday, the nineteenth of February, the day before his 24 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:09.479 coronation, Edward made his procession from the Tower of London toward Westminster. It 25 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:14.319 was to be the main occasion for Edward to be shown off to his people 26 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:20.240 and for his subjects to catch a glimpse of their new king. Crowds gathered 27 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:24.879 along swept and freshly graveled streets as Edward left the tower at around one o'clock, 28 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:30.199 riding on horseback and dressed in a vivid white jerkin of velvet to make 29 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:37.840 sure he was easily recognizable amongst the mass of thronging people. His gown was 30 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:40.639 a fine mesh of gold with a cape of sable, while the horse he 31 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:46.840 rode upon was draped in crimson satin and beaded with pearls. By now, 32 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:53.800 preparations for Edward's coronation had begun in Earnest On the fourth of February, a 33 00:03:53.879 --> 00:04:00.639 proclamation had been issued demanding quote all the nobility and other subjects claiming to do 34 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:06.840 service at the coronation should make their claims to accord. At Whitehall on the 35 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:12.919 seventh of February. These were debated among the council. Many of the ancient 36 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:19.560 nobility expected to perform tasks at the coronation that they had always performed that their 37 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:27.879 ancestors before them had performed. The Earl of Shrewsbury, for example, was 38 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:31.160 to provide the king's right hand glove and support his hand while he held the 39 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:36.639 scepter. The Earl of Oxford, as Great Chamberlain, to serve the king 40 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:42.720 water in order to wash his hands and face before the coronation, while the 41 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:46.199 Earl of Arundel, the nobleman with the oldest lineage of all the lords, 42 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:53.399 was to act as chief butler at the coronation feast. The reward for such 43 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:59.480 service was more than just honor. Arundell would be given all the wine left 44 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.720 in the barrel afterward, in addition to the best cup served to the king. 45 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:09.439 Oxford would be given the silver basins and towels once Edward was finished with 46 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:15.680 them. The officers at Westminster Abbey received one hundred loaves of bread and eighty 47 00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:20.360 eight gallons of wine. At nine in the morning, Edward was taken by 48 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:26.759 barge to Whitehall. At Westminster Abbey, he appeared before the representatives of his 49 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:31.600 kingdom. Cranmer read the first part of the coronation aloud to the three estates 50 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:38.000 gathered. Each time, those present were required to swear in some way or 51 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:43.959 another to uphold Edward's rule and authority so long as he lived. To each 52 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:49.000 pronouncement, the audience replied, perhaps a bit mechanically, quote yay, yay, 53 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:56.399 yay, God save King Edward. End quote there was something new here. 54 00:05:56.560 --> 00:06:01.839 However, Grandmer cleverly tipped his hand a bit when he decreed that church 55 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:09.120 reform now came from the crown directly, not from the people. The people, 56 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:15.959 not the king, had to consent to new laws. Granmer explained these 57 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:21.360 changes in a sermon he provided Thereafter he addressed the king. The oaths given, 58 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:26.160 he told him, were not to be quote taken in the Bishop of 59 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:32.639 Rome's sense end quote. The clergy had absolutely no right whatsoever to hold English 60 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:41.480 kings to account. The archbishops of Canterbury had crowned Edward's predecessors, but once 61 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:46.240 God's anointed, they had no right to reject them. Indeed, the coronation 62 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:51.120 ceremony itself had no hold over Edward, who could act as however he wished. 63 00:06:53.519 --> 00:07:00.439 Nevertheless, Grandmer reminded Edward that God required from kings and rulers quote religion 64 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:06.079 and virtue end quote. He was a messenger from the Savior Jesus Christ, 65 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:13.439 and he reminded Edward of his princely duty with a direct comparison from the Old 66 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:19.639 Testament. Quote, Your Majesty is God's vice regent and God's vicar within your 67 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:27.000 own dominions, and to see with your predecessor Josiah, God truly worshiped an 68 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:31.720 idolatry, destroyed, the tyranny of the bishops of Rome, banished from your 69 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:39.000 subjects, and images removed. These acts be signs of a second Josiah, 70 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:44.480 who reformed the Church of God in his days. You are to reward virtue, 71 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:48.519 to avenge sin, to justify the innocent, to relieve the poor, 72 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:55.639 to procure peace, to repress violence, and to execute justice through your realms. 73 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:01.480 For precedents, on those kings who performed not these things. The old 74 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:07.879 law shows how the Lord avenged his quarrel, and on those kings who fulfilled 75 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:13.920 these things he poured forth his blessings in abundance. For example, it is 76 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:18.959 written of Josiah in the Book of Kings, thus like unto him, there 77 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:22.079 was no king before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart. 78 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:28.639 According to the Law of Moses, neither after him arose there any like him. 79 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:33.799 This was to that prince a perpetual fame of dignity, to remain to 80 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:39.320 the end of his days. End quote. This image of Edward as a 81 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:46.360 second Josiah, a reforming Josiah, was very powerful, and it was one 82 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:52.639 that those around Edward would cite frequently during his reign. It was an expression 83 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:58.559 both of Edward's supremacy, of course, but also the critical mission that lay 84 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:03.720 before him. The genesis of Cranmer's argument had already been expressed in a royal 85 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:11.159 proclamation issued previously on the thirty first of January. This declared that Edward had 86 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:16.440 come to the throne quote fully invested and established in the crown imperial of his 87 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:22.799 realm end quote. Technically, Cranmer was arguing there was no further recognition or 88 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:31.360 legal action required to confirm his authority. A striking coronation medal, produced in 89 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.440 gold and silver, also reflected this idea, showing the young king clad in 90 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:41.399 armor and girded with the Sword of Faith. Inscriptions on the opposite side in 91 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:48.240 Latin, Greek and Hebrew all stress Edward's supremacy over his realm and the church 92 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:56.080 therein. What all this amounted to was a powerful message Edward was not going 93 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:00.879 to be like any other English king that had gone before him. He was 94 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:05.639 the first king to be born with the title Defender of the Faith, the 95 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:09.279 first to be crowned with the powers that the royal supremacy brought with it. 96 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:18.879 No king before or since, was ever given such an unequivocal mandate for rule. 97 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:26.679 Aside all this religious messages, there were, of course the usual trappings 98 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:31.519 of a coronation. Over the following two days there were royal jousts, and 99 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:35.240 Ward watched from the galleys. Six challengers, including his uncle Thomas Seymour, 100 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:41.399 ran six courses against twelve defenders, and an extra two for their ladies. 101 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:48.960 The banqueting continued together with another play. This one was about Orpheus. Everyone 102 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:54.240 seemed very impressed, except for the imperial ambassadors. The ambassador to Charles the 103 00:10:54.279 --> 00:11:01.039 fifth, vander Delft, who despite not having been invited to attend the coronation 104 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:07.200 banquet, complained that the entertainments were unremarkable. He had heard that other ambassadors 105 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:11.480 were not treated satisfactorily, and had found it difficult to find a seat in 106 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:18.320 the confusion. What Edward thought of the occasion, his diary entry reveals little, 107 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:24.720 recalling the ceremonies that encircled him. He merely remarked that he set next 108 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:31.120 to his uncle and Cranmer quote with the crown on his head end quote. 109 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.320 At this point it was clear the Somerset and Paget had won the game. 110 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:39.639 They had dictated the terms of the transfer of power, and their supporters had 111 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:48.000 been rewarded. Even Charles the Fifth's ambassador recognized how Somerset governs quote everything, 112 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:56.960 absolutely end quote, acting only on Paget's advice and counsel oddly enov However, 113 00:11:56.600 --> 00:12:05.679 Somerset's legal authority remained poorly defined. There was no legal or constitutional justification for 114 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:11.519 the Protectorate. It had just kind of come into being because those in the 115 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:18.279 Privy Council had accepted it, most of them having been bribed. But there 116 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:24.720 were some cracks already forming in the evangelical faction. The same Imperial ambassador, 117 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:31.679 who had been so impressed by Somerset's authority, noted that Lord Dudley was already 118 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:37.879 growing jealous of the Lord Protector's authority. For the moment, however, Somerset's 119 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:43.399 attention was drawn elsewhere toward the Lord Chancellor Rislely, for though he had agreed 120 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:50.000 to support the Protectorate, the Imperial ambassador considered that Risley had done so out 121 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:56.240 of fear, perhaps believing that Somerset's ambitions could be reigned in. The Earl 122 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:03.679 would later tell the same ambassador resist any further changes that went beyond the provisions 123 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:09.480 set out in Henry's will, claiming that he had prevented Somerset from gaining even 124 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:16.240 further powers, and despite his reward of an earldom, Rithslely seems to have 125 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:24.120 been determined to resist Somerset's further plans for advancement. As Chancellor, Risley was 126 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.559 the keeper of the Great Seal, this needed to be affixed to every patent 127 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:35.759 for its authentication, giving him, in effect a veto on each royal patent 128 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:43.600 and commission. This point was never lost on Somerset. Rithsley would need to 129 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:50.279 be dismissed if he hoped to further establish his powers as Lord Protector, and 130 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:56.159 by the way, he didn't wait long to seize the opportunity. In fact, 131 00:13:56.679 --> 00:14:01.879 Risley played straight into Somerset's hands. Two days before the coronation, he 132 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:07.279 had commissioned four civil lawyers to hear cases in his absence in order to concentrate 133 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:15.240 upon his business and council, importantly, without the new King's warrant. A 134 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:22.039 team of common lawyers declared this action to be quote the great hindrance prejudice and 135 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:28.919 decay of said common laws end quote, demanding as well let Risley be removed 136 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:35.519 from his position as Chancellor. The council examining the charge felt that they could 137 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:39.320 not pass judgment. This at least was the case according to a draft of 138 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:45.399 the proceedings. However, when the final version of the indictment was copied into 139 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:52.080 the Privy Council Register, this fact was curiously omitted. Risley was charged on 140 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:58.919 the fifth of March. While under examination the final indictment read quote, he 141 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:03.200 had not only met anist drivers of said learned law, but he had also 142 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:09.679 used unfitting words to me the said protector, to the prejudice of the King's 143 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:16.840 estates and the hindrance of His Majesty's reign. What danger might ensue if the 144 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:22.159 Great Seal of England, whereby the King and realm might be bound, should 145 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:28.840 continue in the hands of so stout and arrogant a person as Durst presume at 146 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:35.120 his will to seal without a warrant end quote. The upshot of all of 147 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:39.279 this, the Great Seal was taken from Risley's hands, and he was placed 148 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:46.200 under house arrest. Hence, even those of the Conservative faction which had initially 149 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:52.879 joined with Somerset were bitterly disappointed. Now by Risley's fall, but before they 150 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:58.799 could do anything about it, Somerset acted again. Somerset had the most important 151 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:04.480 one among them, including the powerful Bishop Stephen Gardiner, confined to their homes 152 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:12.159 and watched. Risley found himself detained in London, likely to prevent him from 153 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:21.000 meeting up with Gardiner. Meanwhile, Somerset moved to consolidate his power. On 154 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:26.600 March the first, fifteen forty seven, the executors of Henry's will, the 155 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:33.679 almost certainly forged will, were amalgamated to create a single Privy Council. On 156 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:40.639 March the twelfth, these men requested a new commission, granting the board full 157 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:47.840 authority during Edward's minority. As a result of all this, Somerset got huge 158 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:55.519 new powers. He could now add or remove counselors, convene the Council whenever 159 00:16:55.559 --> 00:17:02.759 he wanted, and even if he chose act without any approval. In effect, 160 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:10.759 Somerset had become de facto king. Indeed, it was not long before 161 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:17.160 Somerset started to behave like one. He granted himself an annuity of eight thousand 162 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:22.519 pounds per year. When he wrote to Francis the First, he addressed the 163 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:29.400 French king as brother as English monarchs are wont to do now. Francis rebuked 164 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:37.000 him for that slight and quickly reminded him who he was. Then that summer 165 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:41.759 he had the family arms changed to resemble the royal ones. By May of 166 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:48.400 fifteen forty seven, the Imperial ambassador wrote to Charles the fifth that Somerset was 167 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:56.000 now basically king. All state business was conducted at his home. Soon Somerset 168 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:03.160 would be controlling the entire English government by himself. He even signed official warrants 169 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:11.000 on Edward's behalf. This wasn't without surprise. Regencies are always opportunities for ambitious 170 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:17.559 men to step in and seize control. In fact, during the last days 171 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:22.480 of Henry's life, a conservative preacher preached a sermon at Saint Paul's Cross, 172 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.799 hinting at the troubles to come if a boy king came to the throne. 173 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:32.400 Quote what a world it shall be when they shall have the rule. For 174 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:36.279 if they have the swing, it would be treason shortly to worship God end 175 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:41.519 quote. This conservative and ominous message would have struck a chord with everyone in 176 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:47.359 the audience. For thirty eight years the country had been dominated by Henry eighth. 177 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:52.000 I few honestly could remember a time before now no one knew quite what 178 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:59.480 to expect, but this preacher was proved right. The world would be a 179 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:07.920 very different place very soon. Henry's death had removed the greatest obstacle to further 180 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:11.839 unimpeded reform of the church. But when he was urged to press on with 181 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:17.880 the reformation, Cranmer was already worried about the speed at which events had begun 182 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:22.480 to progress under Henry. Saints' images had been condemned, but they had been 183 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:26.200 allowed to stand, provided that they were not the focus of the worship. 184 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:33.279 For religious evangelicals opposed to any form of religious imagery, this did not go 185 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:38.599 far enough. They wanted them smashed and broken up, so that there would 186 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:44.319 be no distraction observing the true word of God as set down in scripture. 187 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:49.759 Even before Henry's body had been laid in the grave, the parishioners of the 188 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:56.640 City Church of Saint Martin in London had ripped out their church interior, replacing 189 00:19:56.680 --> 00:20:04.000 these figures with royal arms saints im with biblical text declaring quote thou shalt make 190 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:11.359 no graven images, lest thou worship them end. Quote now examined by the 191 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:15.480 Council, these same people alleged that the roof was in need of repair, 192 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:21.640 the crucifix and images quote being so old. They were so rotten that they 193 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:27.640 felt a powder end quote. At the time they received reprimand for this arrogance, 194 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:34.000 but only because they hadn't taken this action before they had gotten royal approval. 195 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:41.880 But now, according again to our imperial ambassador, who's a great chronicler 196 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:45.359 of the events of Edward's reign, by the way, events started to take 197 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:52.640 a turn. Now the evangelicals were unrestrained. Quote, the people are beginning 198 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:59.759 to adhere strongly to the sex end quote. And the council started to order 199 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:04.640 evangelical preachers to give daily sermons before Edward at court, where they seemed to 200 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:10.000 vie with each other about who could just simply heap more abuse on the old 201 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:17.240 Catholic Church. On Ash Wednesday, one such preacher denounced the images of saints, 202 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:22.759 and others quickly followed. There were plays condemning Lent performed before Edward, 203 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:30.119 all the time, provoking protests from Stephen Gardner to the council. He wrote, 204 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:37.319 Lent remaineth still, my Lord, and shall God willing. Somerset replied 205 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:42.240 to this, somewhat sarcastically, he wrote that he was so earnestly addicted to 206 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:48.039 the new faith that he was perfectly content for the reformers to continue their attacks. 207 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:53.079 Historians today still very much debate the nature of Somerset's own religious beliefs. 208 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:59.519 Certainly, he was a patron of several Protestant ministers, which suggests that he 209 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:03.160 was more than a moderate reformer. But beyond that, honestly, there is 210 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:10.839 little evidence that he supported major reform. Determining the religious leanings of those who 211 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:17.519 lived hundreds of years before is always a difficult task. This is unfortunate because 212 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:22.119 Somerset was King Edward's tutor and instructor in the ways of government, and so 213 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:30.440 Somerset's religious beliefs are very relevant, certainly for the evangelical faction. Somerset was 214 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:36.599 quote bound in conscience to set forth God's lively word, and ordained by God 215 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:40.920 himself to make so godly a ready way in the hearts of all end. 216 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:48.039 Quote, God's temple was to be restored. England must become a new Eden. 217 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:55.240 Nothing less would suffice. Still, at least officially, for the moment, 218 00:22:55.640 --> 00:23:00.799 nothing had changed. Edward continued to hear mass in his chapel. In 219 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:06.480 fact, on Easter Sunday alone, he heard four Catholic masses. When Francis 220 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:10.799 the First died that March, he was mourned in the Catholic fashion in Saint 221 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:17.200 Paul's. This, however, would be the last time that Catholic funerary rites 222 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:22.359 would be used in an official state service in England. Sensing the direction the 223 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:29.160 kingdom was moving, Catholics began leaving England in droves, usually heading for France 224 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:34.640 or Italy. Their worst fears were soon confirmed. In June, Somerset announced 225 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:41.079 a royal visitation of the entire kingdom that would begin in July. This was 226 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:48.559 intended to ensure everyone was following the new religious directives. These included the old 227 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:53.160 reforms under Henry, like encouraging the laity to read scripture, but they also 228 00:23:53.240 --> 00:24:00.839 included prohibitions on centuries old practices like rosary beads and the us use of candles 229 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:07.440 on altars. Even stained glass images of saints were to be destroyed. It 230 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:12.440 was an all out assault on traditional Catholic practices in England. Nothing was left 231 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:18.599 a discretion anymore. Priests across England had to follow the new rules or get 232 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:26.200 out. End of story. With risly destroyed and the Conservatives firmly out of 233 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:33.640 power, Somerset's authority was now unquestioned. The Council, owing their places of 234 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:41.079 power to Somerset, effectively worshiped the man. But not everyone was so content 235 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:48.359 to allow Somerset's powers to continue unchecked. Since his disappointment at the council Chamber, 236 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:52.799 his brother, Sir Thomas Seymour, had refused to come to terms with 237 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:59.720 his brother's appointment as protector. He wrote once, quote, why was he 238 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:03.279 made protector? There is no need of a protector. It was not in 239 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.720 the King's will that dead is that anyone who should have both the government of 240 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:15.559 the king and also the realm end quote? Looking at the chronicles history showed 241 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:18.920 that in the minority of Henry the six the offices of protector and governor of 242 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:25.480 the king had been kept separate. Why couldn't he be governor and his brother 243 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:32.079 be protector? So Seymour decided he would try to trod an old path toward 244 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:37.960 power. Marriage. He would seek to marry Henry's widow, Katherine Parr. 245 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:44.400 Catherine had dutifully watched Henry's funeral, clad in black but in reality, his 246 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:48.279 death had come as a relief. She was now free to practice her Protestant 247 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:55.599 faith and live as she wished. She soon realized Seymour was interested in her 248 00:25:56.200 --> 00:26:02.240 and saw the potential for a new beginning. According to one report, Seymour 249 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:07.319 was making romantic overtures the very day after Henry's death. That's not likely, 250 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:14.119 but the two soon became lovers. Catherine moved into a house in Chelsea, 251 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:19.000 a secluded spot where the two could easily meet. Catherine soon divulged the affair 252 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:23.640 to a friend, Lady Paget, who urged Catherine to marry Seymour without delay, 253 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:32.400 but Catherine, mindful of public opinion, was hesitant. Soon, however, 254 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:37.440 rumors of the affair leaked out by may or perhaps June. The couple 255 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:45.000 had wed in secret. Catherine was playing a dangerous game by moving so quickly. 256 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.519 If she became pregnant, there would be no way of knowing if the 257 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:59.440 baby was Seymour's or the deceased Henry's. Still, Seymour needed allies, and 258 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:04.119 he knew precisely who to turned to. He had maintained regular contact with the 259 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:08.720 young King Edward through a gentleman of the Privy Chamber, whom Seymour gave a 260 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:17.200 bribe about ten pounds shortly after the coronation. This man was in his regular 261 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:22.079 pay. Despite being almost continually in the presence of other gentlemen in the chamber, 262 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:26.240 this gentleman was soon able to converse with King Edward directly and struck up 263 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:30.839 a close relationship with the King. Speaking to him alone, it wasn't long 264 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:36.960 before Seymour was calling in favors. At the end of February, he met 265 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:41.359 with this man over a drink and asked whether Edward had mentioned him, and 266 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:45.000 in particular, whether the King had ever wondered why he had remained unmarried, 267 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:48.559 would Edward be happy for him to marry, and who should he take as 268 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:55.440 his bride? Without asking too many questions, this gentleman approached King Edward a 269 00:27:55.440 --> 00:28:02.319 few days later and somewhat unsubtily repeating Seymour's query. Edward's first reply was to 270 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:06.319 suggest Anne of Cleaves, another, of course, of Henry the eighth old 271 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:11.599 wives, but then giving the matter more serious attention, he answered that he 272 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:17.799 thought Princess Mary would be the best choice. When Seymour heard, he laughed, 273 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:22.039 he said, I pray you if you may soon ask his grace if 274 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:26.839 he would be contented I should marry the Queen. He also wanted to know 275 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:32.799 if Edward would write a letter on his behalf in support of this marriage idea. 276 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:37.640 It was shortly after this that Seymour dispensed with the intermediary and began secretly 277 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:45.440 writing to King Edward. The King seemingly encouraged the relationship. He appeared also 278 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:51.119 to give Catherine Parr assurances he would protect her should Somerset turn against this proposed 279 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:56.559 marriage, which he would surely, given that it would increase Seymour's prestige at 280 00:28:56.599 --> 00:29:03.240 the Protector's expense, and of course worse, Lord Somerset did find out. 281 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:08.119 When he did, he was enraged, but so was his wife Anne. 282 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:12.720 She was the wife of the Lord Protector and demanded that she be given precedence 283 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:19.799 over the queen. Unfortunately, this rivalry between Catherine Parr and Lord Somerset's wife 284 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:26.319 Anne would only increase the animosity between Somerset and his brother. Catherine to an 285 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:33.160 extent, had reason already to be miffed at Somerset. She probably had expected 286 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:37.200 to be named Edward's regent. She was the closest one to him after all, 287 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:41.000 though not his biological mother, she had done a lot to raise him. 288 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:48.440 Catherine was not pleased when Somerset was named Protector, making matters worse. 289 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:53.920 When Somerset later demanded that Catherine return the jewels Henry left her in his will, 290 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:59.000 she balked. At first. She tried to remain patient, but soon 291 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:03.680 the duke's be behavior proved too much even for her. When Somerset began to 292 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:07.400 grant leases on her dower lands without her prior consent, leasing a park to 293 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:12.720 a gentleman who subsequently refused to grant her any rights to her own property, 294 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:19.079 her temper finally boiled over. She wrote to Seymour, her new husband, 295 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:23.279 quote, my Lord, your brother hath this afternoon made me a little warm. 296 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:26.839 It was fortunate we were so distance, for I suppose else I should 297 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:33.839 have bitten him end quote. For the moment, Somerset's thoughts lay elsewhere. 298 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:41.000 The diplomatic situation remained tense, with England dangerously isolated. In August fifteen forty 299 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:45.519 six, William Paget had prepared a memorandum outlining the problem. France would soon 300 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:51.000 want to revenge the loss of Boulogne, recently captured by Henry the eighth, 301 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:56.640 the Emperor under the influence of the papacy to recover its quote usurped power and 302 00:30:56.680 --> 00:31:02.079 tyranny over this realm end quote could not be trusted. These fears were realized 303 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:04.759 upon the death of Francis the First, when the resumption of war with France 304 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:08.680 became all but inevitable, since the new king, Henri the Second, was 305 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:14.920 determined to win back Belongne. His ascension also saw our return to power of 306 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:19.000 the powerful Geese family, who at the same time recovered their strengths in Scotland, 307 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:23.000 where Mary of Geese, the widow of James the Fifth and mother of 308 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:29.960 Edward's supposed future bride, Mary Queen of Sconce gained ascendancy over her rivals and 309 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:36.000 looked to ally her country closer to France. And that is where I want 310 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:40.480 to stop it for the moment. We need to introduce some of the revolutionary 311 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:45.200 changes going on in France, as those will dramatically impact affairs in England. 312 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:53.000 So next week we turned to France and its new king, Auree the Second. 313 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:57.119 As always, if you're looking for ways to support the show, check 314 00:31:57.119 --> 00:32:00.759 out links in the show notes. 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