Challenges to Elizabeth at home and abroad, 1569-88

Question 1

When was the Northern rebellion?

Answer 1

November 1569

Question 2

Give one religious reason why the Northern nobles were unhappy with Elizabeth in the 1560s?

Answer 2

Catholicism strongest in north of England. Wanted restoration of Catholicism under Catholic monarch. Arrival of MQS in 1568 gave them hope Elizabeth could be replaced

Question 3

Give one political reason why the Northern nobles were unhappy with Elizabeth in the 1560s?

Answer 3

Saw power an influence over monarch reducing. Elizabeth preferred Protestant advisors from non-noble families.
Elizabeth increased her control of the north through Council of the North – Council was controlled by Protestants. Nobles resented this.

Question 4

Why was the Duke of Northumberland angry with Elizabeth?

Answer 4

Elizabeth had taken large areas of land from him and shared them between his main rival in the north and a southern Protestant. Elizabeth had also claimed all profits from copper mines discovered on his land.

Question 5

Name three important figures who took part in the northern rebellion

Answer 5

Duke of Norfolk (Queen Elizabeth’s cousin), Northumberland and Westmorland

Question 6

Who did the earls want to replace Elizabeth with as queen of England?

Answer 6

Mary Queen of Scots

Question 7

Which city did the nobles capture and what did they do at the cathedral there?

Answer 7

Durham. Celebrated Catholic Mass.

Question 8

Why did the Northern rebellion fail?

Answer 8

• Large royal army met rebels – showed support for Elizabeth
• Little support for revolt among majority of Catholic nobility and ordinary people – most chose to support Queen.
• Spain / Pope’s promise of military support did not happen.

Question 9

What happened to the nobles after they were defeated?

Answer 9

400-600 of those involved were executed, including Northumberland. Others fled to Scotland / abroad.

Question 10

What was the impact of the Northern uprising?

Answer 10

• Elizabeth confiscated the land of the Earls who rebelled making her stronger
• The reorganising of the Northern Council strengthened her position
• Norfolk was released after 9 months in the tower of London

Question 11

What did Pope Pius do in 1570 and how did this increase the Catholic threat to Elizabeth?

Answer 11

Papal Bull excommunicating Elizabeth I. Meant Catholics no longer had to obey her – encouraged to overthrow her.

Question 12

What were the aims of the Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babington Plots?

Answer 12

Assassinate Elizabeth I. Replace her with Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots.

Question 13

In what year was the Ridolfi plot?

Answer 13

1571

Question 14

Who supported the Ridolfi plot?

Answer 14

Pope and King Philip who agreed to provide troops.

Question 15

Why did the Ridolfi plot fail?

Answer 15

Letters were intercepted. Elizabeth’s allies passed names of main conspirators to her.

Question 16

In what year was the Throckmorton Plot?

Answer 16

1583

Question 17

Who uncovered the Throckmorton Plot?

Answer 17

Francis Walsingham – had Throckmorton under surveillance for months

Question 18

What did English nobles have to sign after the failed Throckmorton Plot and what did it require them to do?

Answer 18

Bond of Association – required them to execute anyone who tried to overthrow Elizabeth

Question 19

Give two reasons why the Catholic Plots were never a real threat

Answer 19

Elizabeth was popular ruler – conspirators lacked public support e.g. failure of Northern Earls showed lack of appetite for Catholic revolution

Philip II – reluctant to destroy alliance with Elizabeth. Promises of support were half-hearted. Rarely followed through

Spy network always uncovered plots long before they fully developed

Question 20

When was the Babington plot?

Answer 20

1586

Question 21

How was the Babington plot discovered?

Answer 21

Walsingham was aware of the plot and allowed it to develop to the point where Mary agreed to the assassination of Elizabeth.

Question 22

What happened to Mary?

Answer 22

She was found guilty of treason. Elizabeth signed her death warrant but did not seal it. Mary was executed.

Question 23

When was MQS executed?

Answer 23

1587 (Feb)

Question 24

Why had Elizabeth been reluctant up until then to execute MQS?

Answer 24

Mary a fellow monarch – believed in divine right, executing Mary undermined claim to rule by Divine Right and might fuel more plots against her.

Question 25

What was the impact of Mary’s beheading?

Answer 25

Limited – English Catholics did not rise up against Elizabeth

Although Philip of Spain did launch the Armada it was not a direct consequence of Mary’s execution