Somerset
on Trial:
Personality and Politics
Somerset
on Trial:
Foreign Policy
Somerset
on Trial:
Economy and Finance
Somerset
on Trial:
Religion
Somerset
on Trial:
The uprisings of 1549
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Somerset
on Trial
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Ye
Prosecution, led by ye Duke of Northumberland:
Your
policies didn't work.
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Ye
Defence, speaking for himself:
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I
had to carry on Henry VIII's foreign policy. We had to beat the Scots and
the French. |
| Yes,
but you don't have much to show for it. |
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I
won the battle of Pinkie in 1547. I built forts to defend the Borders. |
| Those
forts were difficult to supply - they were a liability. And then you
didn't do anything about the navy in the Firth of Forth. No wonder the
French managed to get in in 1548, and get Mary out. |
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Could
anyone have defeated their combined forces? |
| Yes,
well, while we're on the French, your negociations didn't work, did
they? Even trying to had over Boulogne early. Eh? They only resulted in
Henri II declaring war in 1549 and betrothing MQS to the Dauphin. You
were outwitted there, mate. |
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I
can't help it if the French are two-faced chauvinist gits, can I? |
| Mmm.
One final thing: you spent far too much money. |
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War
costs money. You agreed to the war, might I remind you. |
| Yes,
but £580,393 was a bit much. And you shouldn't have debased the
coinage. And as for using mercenaries... |
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Well,
what would you have done? |