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
Links: Tudors.org Tudor
Encyclopaedia Some
rebellions
|
Somerset
on Trial
|
an
imaginary conversation. |
|
Ye
Prosecution, led by ye Duke of Northumberland (formerly Earl
of Warwick):
You were vainglorious,
self-seeking and untruthful. You ignored our advice. Your government was
malicious and evil.
|
Ye
Defence, speaking for himself:
|
| |
Codswallop.
In everything I acted for the King and the common weal. I carried on the
policies of his late majesty, Henry VIII; I enacted the wishes of our
King his son (it's amazing how strong-willed a ten year-old can be...).
When was I all of the things you've said? |
| Right from the start.
When Henry VIII, of glorious memory, died, you didn't tell anyone, but
took the new King's person, seized royal treasure, and kept imprisoned
or sacked potential enemies (namely the Duke of Norfolk, in the tower,
and Thomas Wriothesley, a mate of yours). Moreover, there was something
very fishy about Henry VIII's will - you had his dry stamp. You then
went against Henry's wishes and made yourself Duke of Somerset and
Protector of England. |
|
| |
Thou
art an unbelievable hypocrite. You were in all our planning and did very
out of it - becoming Earl of Warwick. |
|
Well, that's as may
be, but you can't deny that the privy council was full of your men - you
got Edward to give you the power to appoint all the councillors.
|
|
| |
There's
no way that rule by 16 men would have worked. They would never have
agreed to anything. At least this way, we could have decisions. |
|
Except we didn't, did
we? Anyway, they should have been the King's decisions, on the advice of
his councillors. You didn't listen to anyone. Not even your own brother
- in fact, you had him killed!
|
|
| |
The
unfortunate demise of my brother was your doing, as well you know. He
acted foolishly and for the undoing of government. I wonder what your
motives were for grassing on him - and for criticising me now. I think
everything you've said has a taste of sour grapes - I was Protector and
you wanted to be. Now you've got what you want (my downfall) I wonder
what of these charges could be laid at you... |