Editing Edward VI (section)

=== Council of regency ===
[[File:Ed and pope.png|thumb|upright=1.3|right|''Edward VI and the Pope: An Allegory of the Reformation''. This [[Elizabethan]] work of propaganda depicts the handing over of power from Henry VIII, who lies dying in bed, to Edward VI, seated beneath a cloth of state with a slumping pope at his feet. In the top right of the picture is an image of men [[Iconoclasm|pulling down and smashing idols]]. At Edward's side are his uncle the Lord Protector [[Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset|Edward Seymour]] and members of the Privy Council.{{Sfnm|1a1=Aston|1y=1993|2a1=Loach|2y=1999|2p=187|3a1=Hearn|3y=1995|3p=75–76}} [[National Portrait Gallery, London]]]]
[[File:Edward VI sign his First death warrant by John Pettie R.A.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|''Edward VI signing his first death warrant'', by [[John Pettie]] R. A.]]

Henry VIII's will named sixteen [[executor]]s, who were to act as Edward's council until he reached age 18. The executors were supplemented by twelve men "of counsail" who would assist them when called on.<ref>{{Harvnb|Loach|1999|pp=17–18}}; {{Harvnb|Jordan|1968|p=56}}.</ref> The final state of Henry VIII's will has been the subject of controversy. Some historians suggest that those close to the king manipulated either him or the will itself to ensure a share-out of power to their benefit, both material and religious. In this reading, the composition of the [[Privy Chamber]] shifted towards the end of 1546 in favour of the reforming [[political faction|faction]].{{Sfn|Starkey|2002|pp=130–145}} In addition, two leading conservative Privy Councillors were removed from the centre of power.

[[Stephen Gardiner]] was refused access to Henry during his last months. [[Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk]], found himself accused of treason; the day before the king's death his vast estates were seized, making them available for redistribution, and he spent the whole of Edward's reign in the Tower of London.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|2002|pp=130–145}}; {{Harvnb|Elton|1977|pp=330–331}}.</ref> Other historians have argued that Gardiner's exclusion was based on non-religious matters, that Norfolk was not noticeably conservative in religion, that conservatives remained on the council, and that the radicalism of such men as [[Anthony Denny]], who controlled the dry stamp that replicated the king's signature, is debatable.<ref>{{Harvnb|Loach|1999|pp=19–25}}. In addressing these views, Loach cites, among others: {{Cite book |first=Glyn |last=Redworth |title=In Defence of the Church Catholic: the Life of Stephen Gardiner |publisher=Oxford |date=1990 |pages=231–237}}; {{Cite journal |first=Susan |last=Brigden |author-link=Susan Brigden |title=Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and the Conjoured League |journal=Historical Journal |volume=xxxvii |date=1994 |issue=3 |pages=507–537 |doi=10.1017/S0018246X00014862 |s2cid=159477777}}; and {{Cite journal |first=Eric |last=Ives |author-link=Eric Ives |title=Henry VIII's Will: A Forensic Conundrum |journal=Historical Journal |date=1992 |pages=792–799}}.</ref>

Whatever the case, Henry's death was followed by a lavish handout of lands and honours to the new power group.{{Sfn|Loach|1999|pp=19–25}} The will contained an "unfulfilled gifts" clause, added at the last minute, which allowed the executors to freely distribute lands and honours to themselves and the court,<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|2002|p=142|loc=describing this distribution of benefits as typical of "the shameless back-scratching of the alliance"}}; {{Harvnb|Elton|1977|p=332|loc=calling the changes to the will "convenient"}}.</ref> particularly to [[Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset|Edward Seymour]], the new king's uncle who became [[Lord Protector of the Realm]], Governor of the King's Person and [[Duke of Somerset]].{{Sfn|Loach|1999|pp=19–25}}

Henry VIII's will did not provide for the appointment of a Protector. It entrusted the government of the realm during his son's minority to a regency council that would rule collectively, by majority decision, with "like and equal charge".{{Efn|The existence of a council of executors alongside the Privy Council was rationalised in March when the two became one, incorporating the executors and most of their appointed assistants and adding the now [[Duke of Somerset|Duke of Somerset's brother]] [[Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley|Thomas Seymour]], who had protested at his exclusion from power.}}<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|2002|pp=138–139}}; {{Harvnb|Alford|2002|p=69}}.</ref> Nevertheless, a few days after Henry's death, on 4 February, the executors chose to invest almost regal power in the Duke of Somerset.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacCulloch|2002|p=7}}; {{Harvnb|Alford|2002|p=65}}.</ref> Thirteen of the sixteen (the others being absent) agreed to his appointment as Protector, which they justified as their joint decision "by virtue of the authority" of Henry's will.<ref>{{Harvnb|Starkey|2002|pp=138–139}}; {{Harvnb|Alford|2002|p=67}}.</ref> Somerset may have done a deal with some of the executors, who almost all received hand-outs.<ref>{{Harvnb|Loach|1999|pp=26–27}}; {{Harvnb|Elton|1962|p=203}}.</ref> He is known to have done so with William Paget, private secretary to Henry VIII,{{Efn|In 1549, Paget was to remind Seymour: "Remember what you promised me in the gallery at Westminster before the breath was out of the body of the king that dead is. Remember what you promised immediately after, devising with me concerning the place which you now occupy ... and that was to follow mine advice in all your proceedings more than any other man's".<ref>Quoted in {{Harvnb|Guy|1988|p=211}}.</ref>}} and to have secured the support of Sir Anthony Browne of the Privy Chamber.{{Sfn|Alford|2002|pp=67–68}}

Somerset's appointment was in keeping with historical precedent,{{Efn|Uncles of the king had been made Protector in 1422 and 1483 during the minorities of Henry VI and [[Edward V]] (though not also Governor of the King's Person, as noted by the Duke's brother Thomas, who coveted the role for himself).}}<ref>{{Harvnb|Alford|2002|pp=49–50, 91–92}}; {{Harvnb|Elton|1977|p=333}}.</ref> and his eligibility for the role was reinforced by his military successes in Scotland and France. In March 1547, he secured [[letters patent]] from Edward granting him the almost monarchical right to appoint members to the Privy Council himself and to consult them only when he wished.{{Efn|In 1549, William Paget described him as king in all but name.}}<ref>{{Harvnb|Alford|2002|p=70}}; {{Harvnb|Jordan|1968|pp=73–75}}.</ref> In the words of historian Geoffrey Elton, "from that moment his autocratic system was complete".{{Sfn|Elton|1977|pp=334, 338}} He proceeded to rule largely by [[proclamation]], calling on the Privy Council to do little more than rubber-stamp his decisions.{{Sfn|Alford|2002|p=66}}

Somerset's takeover of power was smooth and efficient. The [[Holy Roman Empire|imperial ambassador]], [[François van der Delft]], reported that he "governs everything absolutely", with Paget operating as his secretary, though he predicted trouble from John Dudley, Viscount Lisle, who had recently been raised to [[Earl of Warwick]] in the share-out of honours.<ref>{{Harvnb|Jordan|1968|pp=69, 76–77}}; {{Harvnb|Skidmore|2007|pp=63–65}}</ref> In fact, in the early weeks of his Protectorate, Somerset was challenged only by the Chancellor, [[Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton|Thomas Wriothesley]], whom the [[Earldom of Southampton]] had evidently failed to buy off, and by his own brother.{{Sfn|Elton|1977|p=333}} Wriothesley, a religious conservative, objected to Somerset's assumption of monarchical power over the council. He then found himself abruptly dismissed from the chancellorship on charges of selling off some of his offices to delegates.<ref>{{Harvnb|Loades|2004|pp=33–34}}; {{Harvnb|Elton|1977|p=333}}.</ref>