21 - Elizabeth's Stability Flashcards
Marriage, Mary Queen Scots, the Northern Rebellion, Irish Policy
What could threaten Elizabeth’s stability?
- plots/ uprisings
- religion
- succession
- foreign policy
- aims of other countries
How could marriage increase stability?
- strong FP alliance
- religious influence
- secure an heir
How could marriage damage stability?
- dragged into foreign wars
- as a woman, loose control
- factional tension
What were the pros and cons of marrying Phillip II?
pros:
- powerful ally
- new world
cons:
- catholic
- could be drawn into wars
What were the pros and cons of marrying Erik of Sweden?
pros:
- protestant
- no controversy
cons:
- too far away
What were the pros and cons of marrying Robert Dudley?
pros:
- English
- protestant
- her fave
cons:
- political instability
- suspicious death of wife
What was the threat of marrying?
- 10% of aristocratic mothers died in childbirth, such as Jane Seymour
- Cecil started rumour that Elizabeth was involved in the death of Amy Dudley
- Elizabeth faced backlash when her and Dudley agreed to return to Catholicism if Phillip approved
What was the threat of Not Marrying?
- no heir to the throne
- parliament had petitioned for marriage 1559, 1563, 1576
- MQS would be on the throne if she did not marry
- 1566, Elizabeth refused to name an heir and broadsheets criticising her were distributed
How was Marrying not a threat?
- Elizabeth’s potential to marry could get MQS to behave
- Elizabeth’s potential marriage to Phillip delayed excommunication
How was not marrying not a threat?
- Elizabeth smoothly handed over succession to James in 1601
- Elizabeth outlived MQS
- 1599 ‘all my husbands, to all my good people’, claimed to be married to her country
How was MQS a threat?
- married to a French King
- Catholic
- Scottish
- has a claim to the throne
When was the Northern Rebellion and what was Mary’s involvement?
1569 - after Mary’s imprisonment in Carlisle Castle in 68, led by Norfolk to get MQS as a replacement. Not led by Mary
When was the Ridolfi Plot and what was Mary’s involvement?
1571
- led by Ridolfi and Norfolk
- invasion from Netherlands to coincide with another Northern Rebellion
- Support from Spanish Ambassador (de Spes)
- plans to murder Liz and replace with MQS
- intercepted and she was moved Sheffield castle
When was the Throckmorton Plot and what was Mary’s involvement?
1583
- Throckmorton and de Mendoza, Spanish Ambassador
- Walsingham accused Mary of being involved but had no evidence
- Mary imprisoned at Tutbury castle
When was the Babington Plot and what was Mary’s involvement?
1586
- Babington got Mary’s servants to hide letters in her room in beer barrels and she agreed to the plan
- Walsingham potentially knew about the correspondence and let it continue to incriminate Mary
How long was MQS imprisoned?
19 years
When was MQS executed?
1st Feb 1587, death warrant signed, she was executed 7 days later
Thomas Howard - Northern Rebellion
- one of the leaders
- wanted to secure English succession
- when the conspiracy was discovered, he encouraged others to follow suit
Thomas Percy - Northern Rebellion
- Earl of Northumberland
- supported to restore Catholicism
Charles Neville - Northern Rebellion
- Earl of Westmoorland
- Norfolk’s brother-in-law
Earl of Sussex - Northern Rebellion
- president of Council of the North
- anxious to prove loyalty to the crown
- questioned Northumberland and Westmoorland
De Spes - Northern Rebellion
- Spanish Ambassador
- wanted to restore Catholicism
- optimistic for success
Why did the Northern Rebellion start?
Sussex questioned Northumberland and Westmoorland for involvement 1568, which they denied. The rebellion only started when they were summoned to court, 9th Nov 1569
How long did the Northern Rebellion last?
9th Nov - 19th Dec 1569
How large was the Earl army in the Northern Rebellion?
3800 foot soldiers and 1600 horsemen
What happened to the Earls of the Northern Rebellion?
Norfolk - did not get involved, begged for forgiveness
Northumberland - betrayed by a Scottish clan, beheaded in York 1572
Westmoorland - escapes abroad
Why could Ireland be a threat?
- Catholic
- launch pad to England
- resistant to English rule
Shane O’Neill - Ulster
1559-66
- Elizabeth ordered Sussex to maintain control and enforce religious settlement
- he failed and Sidney was sent in
- O’ Neill was murdered by clans
Fitzgerald Rebellion 1 - Munster
1569-72
- initially private war between Desmond and Ormonde
- Fitzgerald appealed for Catholic support and foreign aid
- colonisation not achieved
Fitzgerald Rebellion 2 - Munster
1579-83
- 1580 Lord Grey sent with 6500 men to put down rebellion supported by Pope
- rebellion in Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connaught
- garrison of Smerwick put down savagely
- government supporters in Pale declined
- paved way for colonisation in Connaught and Munster
Tyrone’s Rebellion - Munster
1594-1601
1594 - Tyrone builds up army against England
1595 - Tyrone defeats English at Clontribet
1599 - Essex sent with an army of 17,000 but fails and agrees a truce, then flees
1602 - Tyrone defeated
1603 - Tyrone surrenders 6 days after Elizabeth’s death
Why did Tyrone’s Rebellion start?
- expenditure on Ireland had been low in comparison to England
- Earl of Tyrone came to power in Ulster
- Fiztwilliam could not control the disputes in Dublin
When was the end of the Earl of Essex’s political career?
1599
- deserted his post in Ireland and returned to court without permission
- suspended from PC and on house arrest
What was Essex’s charge of treason?
- Essex had conspired against the Queen with Pope and king of Spain
- agreed to defend Spanish interests in the New World
What was Essex’s financial situation?
- Elizabeth had refused to let him renew his sweet wine pattern
- debt of £16,000
What was Essex’s plan?
- armed coup that would take down his enemies
- Palace of Whitehall would be secured, Tower stormed and Privy Council purged of Cecilian majority
How did Essex’s rebellion play out?
- 8th Feb, 300 Essex supporters gathered at Essex house
- 4 privy council members arrived with a message from Queen, telling him to dismiss followers and come to court
- he held the councillors hostage and tried to gain support but little came
- Cecil fortified Whitehall and he surrendered
How was Essex punished?
Him and 5 followers executed, but Earls of Southampton and Rutland spared
Was England ever invaded under Elizabeth?
No, but some occasions where England came under threat from Spain
How was England under threat in 1568?
Viceroy of Mexico and the Spanish fleet attacked John Hawkins and 100 men and 4 ships were lost. Trade embargo between Spain and Netherlands and England
How was England under threat in 1588?
Spanish Armada is defeated, close to English territory
