On the 11th of October 1549, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset was arrested and brought before King Edward VI at Richmond.
The events leading to the civil unrest of 1548, such as Kett's Rebellion and the Prayer Book Rebellion a year later, were
laid firmly at Seymour's door. Edward Seymour was in favour of religious reform and against the system of enclosure which affected the livelihood of those living and working on the land, however Seymour's ideas for social reform were frowned
upon by the likes of John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, who gave his support to the wealthy landowners.
In the July of 1549 Seymour received a letter criticising the way he had dealt with the problem
"....would to God, that, at the first stir you had followed the matter hotly, and caused justice to be ministered in
solemn fashion " however the letter went on to state "there was never man that had the hearts of the poor as you have!"
Although William Paget, the author of the letter was understanding and sympathetic, and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was on Seymour's side, there were few others who would stand up to be counted. Three months later, Edward VI's council, the very same council who had made Seymour Protector of the Realm only two years before, laid the foundations for a take over by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.
laid firmly at Seymour's door. Edward Seymour was in favour of religious reform and against the system of enclosure which affected the livelihood of those living and working on the land, however Seymour's ideas for social reform were frowned
upon by the likes of John Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, who gave his support to the wealthy landowners.
In the July of 1549 Seymour received a letter criticising the way he had dealt with the problem
"....would to God, that, at the first stir you had followed the matter hotly, and caused justice to be ministered in
solemn fashion " however the letter went on to state "there was never man that had the hearts of the poor as you have!"
Although William Paget, the author of the letter was understanding and sympathetic, and Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was on Seymour's side, there were few others who would stand up to be counted. Three months later, Edward VI's council, the very same council who had made Seymour Protector of the Realm only two years before, laid the foundations for a take over by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland.
Dudley was chief puppeteer, pulling the young kings strings in order that England dance to his tune.
Within a few months, Dudley took his place as head of the kings council and within four years Dudley would place his
daughter in law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne of England.
Seymour was eventually released after spending just a few months in a cell of the Tower of London, he made an attempt to overthrow Dudley without success and on the 22nd January 1552, Edward Seymour found himself on the scaffold on
Tower Hill.
Within a few months, Dudley took his place as head of the kings council and within four years Dudley would place his
daughter in law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne of England.
Seymour was eventually released after spending just a few months in a cell of the Tower of London, he made an attempt to overthrow Dudley without success and on the 22nd January 1552, Edward Seymour found himself on the scaffold on
Tower Hill.
In June 1553, Edward VI's Devise for the Succession was signed by over a hundred nobles and members of the royal council,
in it he named his cousin Lady Jane Grey as his heir, and disinherited his half sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
John Dudley's plan had come to fruition.
meanderingthroughtime.weebly.com/history-blog/the-duke-of-northemberland-and-the-devise-for-the-succession
in it he named his cousin Lady Jane Grey as his heir, and disinherited his half sisters Mary and Elizabeth.
John Dudley's plan had come to fruition.
meanderingthroughtime.weebly.com/history-blog/the-duke-of-northemberland-and-the-devise-for-the-succession
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