Death of Edward Seymour
Death of Edward Seymour, executed
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1552 in England
Explore 39 historical events and records for England in 1552.
Historical records for England in 1552
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 39 of 39 unique records.
39Unique records
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36Named events on this page
17Named people on this page
6Places on this page
January
Execution
Orders the execution of the Duke of Somerset
Execution
Death of Edward Seymour, executed
Execution of Duke of Somerset
Edward's uncle and former Lord Protector is executed on Tower Hill after his conviction.
Execution of Edward Seymour
Edward Seymour is beheaded after conviction for felony arising from a plot against political rivals in the royal council.
Lord Protector
Appointed Lord Protector
Burial
Buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula
February
Execution of Miles Partridge
Miles Partridge is hanged after conviction in proceedings connected with the fall of the Duke of Somerset.
Execution of Ralph Vane
Ralph Vane is hanged for treason after being implicated in the political conspiracy attributed to Somerset's supporters.
Execution of Thomas Arundell
Thomas Arundell is beheaded after conviction for treason in the political purge that follows Somerset's final fall.
April
Second Act of Uniformity
Parliament authorises the revised prayer book and strengthens legal requirements for uniform Protestant worship.
Parliament
Edward VI's first Parliament, which originally opened in November 1547, reaches its final dissolution.
Edward's Serious Illness Raises Heir Question
Edward suffers a serious illness, reminding the council that the unmarried teenage king has no direct heir and that Mary remains next by statute.
Illness of Edward VI
Edward suffers serious infectious illness during the year; later accounts connect this period with measles and smallpox.
Second Act of Uniformity Passed
Parliament authorises a revised Book of Common Prayer and imposes stronger requirements for conformity to the national liturgy.
September
Second Book of Common Prayer Published
The revised prayer book removes further traditional ceremonies and expresses a more explicitly Protestant theology of worship and communion.
October
Black Rubric
A declaration later known as the Black Rubric is added to clarify that kneeling at communion does not imply adoration of the elements.
November
Second Book of Common Prayer
The revised and more explicitly Protestant Book of Common Prayer comes into general use.
Other events (month unknown)
Alehouse Licensing Act Passed
Parliament gives local justices authority to license and regulate alehouses as part of wider efforts to control public disorder.
Birth of John Speed
John Speed is born at Farndon in Cheshire.
Bishop
Appointed Bishop of Lincoln
Book of Common Prayer
The new Prayer Book is introduced. Replaces the Prayer Book issued in 1549, ends any compromise with Catholicism
Book of Common Prayer
Supports the more Protestant second Edwardian prayer book.
Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer
Appointed Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer
Chief Justice
Appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench
Dean
Appointed Dean of Lincoln
Edwardian Treason Law Revised Again
Parliament revises treason law and evidential rules as Edward's government seeks firmer protection against political challenges.
Eucharistic Doctrine
Teaches a Protestant understanding of the Lord's Supper.
Forty Two Articles
Supports Protestant doctrinal statements under Edward VI.
Forty-Two Articles Drafted
Cranmer leads preparation of a doctrinal statement intended to define the Protestant theology of Edward VI's Church.
Legislation
The Act of Uniformity prescribes penalties for not attending Church services
Lord Chancellor
Appointed Lord Chancellor
Lord Privy Seal
Appointed Lord Privy Seal, 2nd term
Parish Poor Collectors Required
Parliament develops organised parish poor relief by requiring local collectors to gather contributions for people unable to support themselves.
Reform of Church Worship
The new Prayer Book is introduced. The Act of Uniformity prescribes penalties for not attending Church services
Second Prayer Book
Welcomes further reform in the Edwardian prayer book settlement.
Second Prayer Book
Mary remains opposed to further Protestant liturgical reform
Treason
Convicted on a trumped-up charge of high treason and felon
Trial
Convicted on a trumped-up charge of high treason and felon
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.