England 1553

1553, roughly the mid-point of the Tudor Century, was no ordinary year. Three monarchs, two religions, two rebellions, the execution of a chief minister, a suspected poisoning, death sentences on a royal couple, and the intervention of two of the most powerful rulers in Europe were just part of the drama. And as a backdrop, and perhaps even a cause of all this mayhem, the accession of England's first queen. At stake was not just the survival of the Tudor dynasty, but the souls of all English men and women, and the continuing existence of England as an independent nation. Yet, when the dust had settled, the Tudor ship of state sailed serenely on, arguably even stronger than before.

This book charts the course of that remarkable year, and re-opens the story of England's first female rulers: Jane Grey and Mary Tudor.

At the start of the year, England was firmly under the control of the duke of Northumberland and the Privy Council while King Edward VI was still a minor. The duke continued his efforts to restore the country's financial stability, at the same time as bringing in a Protestant Reformation. But Edward's illness, and subsequent death, meant that the Catholic Mary Tudor was next in line to the throne, with the likelihood of her reversing the religious changes and punishing those who had brought them in. Before he died, Edward and Northumberland hatched a plot to disinherit her and install a Protestant, Lady Jane Grey, in her place. Mary fought back and managed to win the throne. She began the process of restoring the Catholic religion, and chose Philip of Spain to be her husband and, at least in name, king. This provoked a revolt by Thomas Wyatt that came close to toppling her, but for the second time in just six months the majority of the country stood behind her and she survived.

The causes of the turmoil are examined in detail, including the issue of Mary's gender, but the conclusion is that the failure of both revolts was a sign of the strength of the Tudor dynasty, and of how much had been achieved over the previous sixty years.