Edward's reign was marked by many economic problems and social unrest that in erupted into riot and rebellion. An expensive war with Scotland , at first successful, ended with military withdrawal from Scotland and Boulogne-sur-Mer in exchange for peace. The transformation of the Church of England into a recognisably Protestant body also occurred under Edward, who took great interest in religious matters.
It was during Edward's reign that Protestantism was established for the first time in England with reforms that included the abolition of clerical celibacy and the Mass , and the imposition of compulsory English in church services.
In , at age 15, Edward fell ill. When his sickness was discovered to be terminal, he and his council drew up a "Devise for the Succession" to prevent the country's return to Catholicism. Edward named his Protestant first cousin once removed, Lady Jane Grey , as his heir, excluding his half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth.
This decision was disputed following Edward's death, and Jane was deposed by Mary — the elder of the two half-sisters — nine days after becoming queen. Mary, a Catholic, reversed Edward's Protestant reforms during her reign, but Elizabeth restored them in Throughout the realm, the people greeted the birth of a male heir, "whom we hungered for so long", [ 5 ] with joy and relief.
Te Deums were sung in churches, bonfires lit, and "their was shott at the Tower that night above two thousand gonnes". Edward was christened on 15 October, with his year-old half-sister Lady Mary as godmother and his 4-year-old half-sister Lady Elizabeth carrying the chrisom ; [ 6 ] the Garter King of Arms proclaimed him as Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester.
