Elizabeth: Challenges at Home and Abroad 1569-88 Flashcards
1
Q
The Revolt of the Northern Earls 1569
-plotters and aims
A
- The Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland were unhappy with the Religious Settlement and that Elizabeth had no heir, leaving the future of England in doubt
- The Earls wanted to replace Elizabeth with MQOS, who would marry the Duke of Norfolk and create an heir resulting in stability for England and restore Catholicism
2
Q
The Revolt of the Northern Earls 1569
-what happened?
A
- The northern Earls and their tenants gathered an army and marched south to free MQOS
- They stormed Durham Cathedral, overturned the communion table and destroyed the Prayer books
- The rebels hoped that Spanish troops would join them, but they never came
- The Earl of Sussex assembled a Royal Army and this made the rebels panic and flee
3
Q
The Revolt of the Northern Earls 1569
-consequences
A
- Elizabeth ordered the execution of the rebels, at least 450 were killed
- The Duke of Norfolk was imprisoned and later pardoned
4
Q
The Ridolfi Plot 1971
-plotters and aims
A
- MQOS used Ridolfi to carry messages to the Duke of Alva in the Netherlands, King Philip II of Spain and the Pope, asking them to organise an invasion on England
- The aim was to kill and replace Elizabeth with Mary as Queen, who would marry the Duke of Norfolk and restore Catholicism
5
Q
The Ridolfi Plot 1971
-what happened?
A
- Alva wrote to his king suggesting that Spain should only invade after Elizabeth had been overthrown
- Elizabeth’s spies intercepted a message and Norfolk’s servants betrayed him under interrogation
6
Q
The Ridolfi Plot 1971
-consequences
A
- Norfolk was found guilty and beheaded
- Ridolfi fled to France, protected by the Pope
- The Spanish ambassador was expelled
- Elizabeth passed a new law saying anyone who said she wasn’t the rightful queen would be a traitor
- Her council pressured her to be harsher to Catholics
7
Q
The Throckmorton Plot 1583
-plotters and aims
A
- Throckmorton came to the attention of Elizabeth’s gov. as the carrier of letters between MQOS, the French and Spanish ambassadors and other English Catholics
- The aim was to kill Elizabeth and replace her with MQOS and restore Catholicism with support from France and money from Spain
8
Q
The Throckmorton Plot 1583
-what happened?
A
- Throckmorton was put under surveillance then later arrested where is house was searched and Elizabeth’s spies found evidence
- Throckmorton confessed under torture their plan for an uprising in north England to coincide with an invasion led by the French Duke of Guise and financially supported by Philip II
9
Q
The Throckmorton Plot 1583
-consequences
A
- Throckmorton was beheaded and his Catholic noble friends were arrested
- Elizabeth expelled the Spanish ambassador, Mendoza
- Elizabeth’s councillors believed she would not be safe as long as MQOS was alive, so they wanted evidence of Mary plotting against her
10
Q
The Babington Plot 1586
-plotters and aims
A
- Babington wrote to MQOS about his 6 step plan which included an invasion from a foreign army (Spain), freeing Mary and killing Elizabeth
- Babington and his other English Catholic friends wanted to make Mary queen, restoring Catholicism
11
Q
The Babington Plot 1586
-what happened?
A
- Elizabeth had spies in MQOS’s household who persuaded her it was safe to receive and send letters hidden in beer barrels
- The letters to Babington were found, confirming that Mary was part of the plot
12
Q
The Babington Plot 1586
-consequences
A
- Babington and 2 of his friends were arrested as they tried to flee and executed
- MQOS was put on trial, found guilty and recommended for execution
13
Q
How did Elizabeth catch plotters?
INTERCEPTING CODED LETTERS AND MESSAGES
A
- Elizabeth’s government often placed informers in suspects’ households
- Walsingham employed a man skilled at re-sealing letters so the plotters didn’t know they had been intercepted
- He also employed a leading code breaker who deciphered Mary’s letters
14
Q
How did Elizabeth catch plotters?
INTERROGATION AND TORTURE
A
- Captured priests such as Edmund Campion and plotters like Francis Throckmorton were tortured on the rack to extract info about their intentions and other threats to Elizabeth
- Then they were executed as a warning
15
Q
How did Elizabeth catch plotters?
USING INFORMERS IN ENGLAND
A
•The Lord Lieutenants of each country and the bishops officially reported any threats to Walsingham and everyone was encouraged to report suspicions of dangers to the Queen
16
Q
How did Elizabeth catch plotters?
SEARCHERS AND REGISTERS
A
- Town councils were authorised to search foreigners’ houses
- Owners of taverns and inns had to report any foreigners staying with them
- Customs officials stopped and questioned travellers from overseas and could search the for papers, inc. messages and letters
17
Q
How did Elizabeth catch plotters?
ACTS OF PARLIAMENT
A
- Walsingham was influential in Parliament, which passed Acts throughout the 1570-80s increasing penalties against Catholics, inc. the executing of Priests
- The 1584 Bond of Association pledged that in the event of Elizabeth’s life being threatened, MQOS was to be executed
18
Q
How did Elizabeth catch plotters?
CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND RECUSANTS
A
- After the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570, her gov. believed Elizabeth’s life was in danger from Catholic fanatics
- From 1574 the Pope started sending missionary priests to England
- Walsingham’s spies were very effective at seizing priests on the streets of London
19
Q
6 reasons for the decision to execute MQoS
A
1•She was a Catholic —> attracted the support of some Catholics who were opposed to the Religious Settlement.
2•The war with Spain —> increased danger of foreign involvement in plots
3•Elizabeth was under pressure —> her councillors and Parliament wanted her to agree to execute Mary
4•Evidence of Mary’s involvement in plots against Elizabeth (Babington)
5•The plots increased the sense of danger to Elizabeth
6•Mary was Elizabeth’s cousin —> had a strong claim to the English throne
19
Q
Why did Spain go to war with England in 1588?
RELIGIOUS RIVALRY
A
1558 - Spain + England were allies, but:
•1559 - Elizabeth set up Religious Settlement
•1570s - Elizabeth was excommunicated by the Pope + Catholics were punished more harshly as the Pope encouraged them to disobey her + convert people to Catholics
•Catholic priests were arriving in England, increasing fears of a religious crusade
•Philip saw it as his purpose to return countries to the Catholic Church
(BUT Philip took no action in 1559 or 1571 as France was a bigger threat)
20
Q
Why did Spain go to war with England in 1588?
POLITICAL RIVALRY
A
- Spain + England were rivals for both power in Europe and the Americas
- Spain was very wealthy - able to support a large army + fleet
- Activities of Francis Drake in New World + Robert Dudley in Netherlands were seen as direct interference in Philip’s affairs as he ruled them both
(BUT political rivalry wasn’t main reason for war as Philip was worried about power of France + if MQoS became Queen of England an alliance with France was likely)
21
Q
Why did Spain go to war with England in 1588?
COMMERCIAL RIVALRY
A
- England + Spain were rivals over trade in New World
- 1550 - England needed new trade agreements overseas to replace the cloth trade
- Need a license from Spain to trade with the Spanish Empire so Elizabethan explorers resorted to piracy
- The financial gain was so great that Elizabeth pretended not to know about it
- 1568 - John Hawkins + his crew were attacked by Spanish sailors @ San Juan de Ulua and English retaliated by seizing a Spanish bullion
- 1572 - Sir Francis Drake attacked Spanish ship @ Nombre De Dios and seized £20,000
22
Q
Why did Spain go to war with England in 1588?
ENGLAND AND THE NETHERLANDS
A
- Tensions between England and Spain due to England’s increasing involvement with the Netherlands for trade, which is part of the Spanish Empire
- English Channel important: England for trade + Spain for access to Netherlands (so Spain threatened English trade)
- 1572 - Dutch Protestants in Netherlands rebelled against Spanish rule and asked Elizabeth for help against Philip’s huge army
- 1584 - William of Orange (leader of rebels) died + Elizabeth forced to send army of 7000 led by Earl of Leicester to help due to Treaty of Nonsuch
From this point, England + Spain were considered to be at war
23
Q
How was Robert Dudley involved in the Netherlands?
A
- Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was Elizabeth’s favourite advisor.
- 1585 Elizabeth sent him to the Netherlands to lead the army to help with the Protestant rebellion.
- Elizabeth was worried Philip II would see it as an act of war, so she was furious when Dudley declared himself as Governor General Of The Lower Countries as it made it look like she was trying to take over the Netherlands.
- Dudley’s campaign wasn’t successful as he though that Elizabeth didn’t provide him with enough money or troops.
- Philip still saw this as an act of war and sent his own army against the Protestant rebels.
24
The beginning of the Armada - Strengthening England’s defences
England spent 3 years preparing for the war by stationing warning beacons and soldiers along the coast, and converting trading ships into fighting ships.
25
The beginning of the Armada - Seizing Spanish treasure
The war would put a strain on the government finances, so Elizabeth sent Francis Drake with 30 ships to raid Spanish treasure fleets in the West Indies.
Drake captured 2 wealthy towns and returned home with treasure worth £30,000, though there were heavy casualties.
26
The beginning of the Armada - El Draque
Francis Drake became feared by the Spanish due to his frequent plundering and became known as El Draque.
Philip was angry and humiliated that Drake kept stealing his hard-earned money from trading. He wanted to get back at Drake by speeding up the war plans.
27
The beginning of the Armada - Singeing of the King’s Beard
When news of Philip’s fleet reached England, Francis Drake persuaded Elizabeth that attack is the best form of defence.
April 1587 she sent Drake with a carefully selected group of ships to weaken Spain’s preparations for war in a cheeky, daring raid.
At the Cadiz harbour, Drake avoided the guns and forts and inflicted heavy damage on the Spanish ships anchored there.
This delayed the construction of the Armada as it destroy ships and supplies and also diverted Spanish warships in pursuit of Drake.
28
The beginning of the Armada - Drake heads north
Drake's convoy headed north and destroyed Portuguese vessels travelling to Lisbon which contained the materials for making barrels of food for the Armada.
29
The beginning of the Armada - The San Felipe
Francis Drake headed to Azores, where he captured the San Felipe treasure ship and left the Spanish admirals at Spain confused and returned home with £114,000.
31
Philip’s plan to attack England
1) The Armada will sail through the English Channel, to Calais.
2) Duke of Parma, one of most able commanders in Europe, will march his army of 20,000 troops from the Netherlands to meet the Armada in Calais.
3) Parma's army will be ferried across Calais in barges, protected by the big ships of the Armada.
4) Spanish forces will land in Kent and will march on London.
5) Once troops have marched on London, English Catholics will rise up against Elizabeth.
6) Elizabeth will have to surrender. After she is overthrown the Catholic region will be restored in England.
31
Flaws with Philip’s plan to attack England
- Spain + England share the English Channel, so England could intercept or attack them there.
- England will see them coming as Elizabeth stationed soldiers + beacons on the coast.
- It would be difficult for Parma’s troops on land to link up with the Armada on the sea.
- If Parma’s troops arrived to Calais too early they could be spotted by Dutch (Protestant) pirates, but if they arrived to late they could miss the Armada ships.
- Attacking on a foreign coast is very dangerous, especially since Elizabeth stationed soldiers there.
33
Why did the Armada fail?
Tactics
* Lord Howard sent fireships which scattered the Spanish ships’ formation.
* Even though they had arrived in Calais in time, after the fire ships they could not link up with Parma’s army.
* Howard then sent English ships in to attack in the Battle of Gravelines, no English ships were lost.
34
Why did the Armada fail?
Wind and weather
•Wind and poor conditions helped the English to win the Battle of Gravelines.
•After the battle, the wind changed and blew the Spanish ships into the North Sea.
•They decided to go home around the coast of Scotland and Ireland.
40 ships were wrecked and only 80 returned to Spain.
35
Why did the Armada fail?
Leadership: Medina Sidonia
* The Spanish commander had no experience leading ships and asked to be excused from the command because he was sea sick! •Philip only asked him to lead because of his riches.
* Philip sent him poor instructions about what to do in the battle.
36
Why did the Armada fail?
Leadership: Sir Francis Drake
* Drake was the greatest sailor in England and an experienced leader having singed the King’s beard in Cadiz, attacked the Azores and gained much treasure from the New World.
* This made him feared by Spain and loved by England.
* He was Vice Admiral of the fleet which defeated the Armada.
37
Why did the Armada fail?
Leadership: Lord Charles Howard
* The English commander was an experienced naval leader.
| * Howard is widely viewed as the man responsible for England’s victory.
38
Why did the Armada fail?
Leadership: John Hawkins
* Hawkins was the Naval commander against the Armada.
| * He redesigned English ships to make them more streamlined.
39
Consequences of the English victory over Spain
1) It established Elizabeth as a stronger leader, and cemented her position as Queen. (Portraits were created showing her as a great leader and the perils of the Spanish Armada.)
2) Showed the belief from God that Protestantism was the true religion of Europe. (Elizabeth had special medals created which said ‘God blew, and they were scattered’.)
3) England become a serious European naval power. England herself became more confident in her exploration of the sea, as her navy had been proved as a powerful fighting force.
