The First Period of the Reign of Edward VI (1547-1549) : the Protector Somerset

Henry had made a will, sanctioned by act of parliament, establishing a body of executors, of whom Edward Seymour was the chief, to govern during the minority of the young Edward. This arrangement was set aside by the executors themselves, who chose Seymour to act as protector of England and governor of the king's person. Seymour, already earl of Hertford, was then created duke of Somerset.

As compared with Henry VIII, the Protector was a moderate and conciliatory statesman, who honestly desired to bring peace to the kingdom that had been excited and stirred by Henry's excesses. He refused to continue Henry's persecutions for heresy and treason, and made few changes in the ecclesiastical organization. In matters of doctrine he seems to have been equally tolerant. The First Book of Common Prayer of Edward VI recognized the doctrine of transubstantiation, allowed prayers for the dead, authorized auricular confession, and made obligatory the practice of fasting during Lent.

In constitutional and social matters Somerset was no less liberal. He believed in the full recognition of the powers of parliament and refused to interfere in elections. He allowed freedom of speech and debate, and it is significant that the journals of the lower house begin with his period of government. As we shall see, he favored the cause of the people against the wealthy and parvenu landlords. There can be no doubt that be was ambitious and eager for popularity, and was often avaricious and arbitrary; but relatively these were minor faults.

EDWARD VI.

From a Braun photograph, after painting by Hans Holbein, in the collection of Sir William Farrar.

Somerset has been charged with incompetency because he failed in nearly every one of his undertakings. Such a charge does not take into account the difficulties that confronted him, or the fact that the age was one of persecution and not of moderation. Henry VIII left a legacy of problems relating to foreign, religious, financial, and social matters, many of which could be solved by time alone. Probably no man in so short a time could have done anything else than fail.

Religious Changes

In two sets of instructions, issued in 1536 and 1538, Henry VIII had sought to regulate the religious practices of the people. In 1547 Somerset carried out these injunctions and began a general visitation of the kingdom for the purpose of remedying abuses. His agents, aided by some of the radical reformers, performed their task with ruthless completeness and a lack of reverence that exasperated the people and drove them to reprisals and insurrections. Images were torn down, stained glass windows were broken, and many carvings and works of art were ruined.

Of equal importance were other measures authorized partly by decrees and partly by acts of parliament. The use of ashes, palms, and candles on Candlemas Day, and of holy bread and holy water, was forbidden. The First Book of Common Prayer, compiled in English by Cranmer, was introduced, and Latin was abolished. Parliament, in 1547, swept away the treason and heresy laws, abolished the Six Articles, ordained the giving of the wine to the laity in the sacrament, and suppressed all chantries, gilds, and fraternities of a religious character. In 1548 parliament passed one act allowing priests to marry, and another imposing penalties on priests who refused to use the Book of Common Prayer or spoke against it.' Here again the correction of abuses was too often accompanied with a disregard for the customs and traditions of the people.