Elizabeth I Flashcards
Act of Supremacy -
- 1559 - re-established Elizabeth as the Head of the Church - Elizabeth I established herself as ‘Supreme Governor’ - All clergy and royal officials had to swear an Oath of Allegiance
Act of Uniformity -
- May 1559 - Combination of the Prayer Books - Transubstantiation was unclear - fines to those who didn’t attend church
Royal Injunctions -
- 57 - preachers had to have license - pilgrimages forbidden - churches to display bibles
39 Articles -
- introduced in 1563 - made into law in 1571 (after excommunication) - were a major compromise
Act of Exchange -
- 1559 - Elizabeth could trade Church property in her possession with temporal land in Churches possession
Whitgift’s 3 Articles -
- swear to - authority of Elizabeth - prayer book as word of god - 39 articles
Act Against Seditious Sectaries -
- 1593 - allowed authorities to execute those suspected of being separatist
Act to Retain the Queen Majesty’s Subjects in their due Obedience
- this was to deal with Jesuits
Act Against Jesuit Seminary Priests and Other Disobedient Persons
- This ordered Catholic priests to leave the country within 40 days, with their continued presence in England being considered high treason
Treason Act
- 1571 - anyone bringing the Papal Bull into England or who denied Elizabeth’s supremacy as Supreme Governor was committing an act of high treason
When did Elizabeth I become Queen?
- 1558
How old was Elizabeth when she became queen?
- 25 years old
What problems did Elizabeth face with the idea of marriage?
- Had just had disastrous marriage policy of Mary I - An English partner may upset the balance of the nobility - foreign suitors was good for foreign policy but it posed risks of England being an ally, like with Mary I
What did Philip of Spain offer Elizabeth?
- wanted to work against France and against Mary Queen of Scots giving France influence in England - He knew that Elizabeth was unlikely to marry him so offered alternatives such as the HRE youngest sons
What did a marriage to Ferdinand or Charles offer?
- these were the younger sons of the HRE - Ferdinand was not an option as he was a strict Catholic - Elizabeth had no intention of marrying Charles, as she merely wanted a friendly relation with the Hapsburgs
What did the marriage of Prince Eric of Sweden offer?
- Protestant - Elizabeth and her court received many gifts of friendship - would bring little benefit to diplomacy
What did the marriage to Sir William Pickering offer?
- Was a close friend of Elizabeth - Leading member of the gentry - No political gains from the marriage
Who was Robert Dudley?
- Youngest son of the Duke of Northumberland - Father and grandfather had been executed - was married, but had a close and personal relationship with Elizabeth - Was a serious contender for marriage
What happened to Robert Dudley?
- His wife had an ‘accident’ and fell down the stairs - this hurt Dudley’s reputation and he was unable to marry Elizabeth at this time
What was the succession crisis of 1562?
- Elizabeth contracted smallpox and was in a coma for 24 hours - she had not named an heir, and the person with the closest claim to the throne was Mary Queen of Scots - This sent her council into frenzy - she recovered, but immediately named Dudley as her heir
Who was Mary Queen of Scots?
- granddaughter of Henry VII - daughter of James V and Mary of Guise - Devote Catholic - Used as a Catholic figurehead throughout her life
Who were the Suffolks and how did they affect the succession?
- related to Henry VII’s daughter Mary - Jane Grey had been executed, but Catherine and Mary were Protestant
What was Elizabeth’s policy regarding marriage?
- had no intention of marriage after her experience with both Mary I and Dudley - Faced immense pressure from parliament, her council and her advisors to marry - was refusing the queen’s ‘one role’ in not producing a child and securing the succession
What were the successes and failures of Elizabeth’s marriage policy?
- She was widely criticised for not marrying and producing a child - However, she also helped keep England’s options open in her later reign when she was threatened by France and Spain
When was the Act of Supremacy?
- 1559
What did the Act of Supremacy do?
- This re-established the English monarch as the head of the Church - The Reformation legislation made under Henry VIII was restored - Heresy laws created under Mary I were repealed
What title did Elizabeth give herself? Why was this significant?
- ‘supreme governor’ of the church - this was instead of ‘supreme head’ like Henry VIII - This was to satisfy the people who either believed that the Pope was the head of the Church, or that a woman should not be in power. - her status remained the same as her predecessors
What did Elizabeth do to ensure people followed the Act of Supremacy?
- All clergy and royal officials had to swear an oath of allegiance to Elizabeth and her title
How did Elizabeth ensure the changes introduced in the Act of Supremacy were introduced at parish level?
- established an ecclesiastical High Commission - these were sent out to investigate at this level - Court of High Commission set up to prosecute those who were not loyal
What remained similar in the organisation of the church upon Elizabeth’s succession?
- bishops remained - England still had two archbishops, Canterbury and York - This separated England form Protestant churches in Europe
When was the Act of Uniformity?
- May 1559
What changes were made to the Prayer Book in the Act of Uniformity?
- This was a development of the Prayer Books developed under Edward - However, Elizabeth merged the two Prayer Books together to create a ‘middle way’ - something that satisfied both Catholics and Protestants in England - This book was to be used in all churches, and any clergy who refused would be punished
How was communion changed in the Act of Uniformity?
- wording in the prayer book was deliberately unclear - It meant that the bread and wine could become the body and bloody of Christ, but also could mean that it was simply metaphorical
Why did the Act of Uniformity cause problems with the Puritan Choir in parliament?
- Takes Church back to 1549 - before the more extreme Prayer Book
What were the requirements on church attendance?
- Everyone was to attend church on a Sunday and other holy days (e.g. Good Friday)
What happened to the decorations/altar at church under the Act of Uniformity?
- alter was to be replaced with a simpler communion table - However, Catholic artefacts could still be placed on altars - iconoclasm stopped under Elizabeth
How did Elizabeth ensure church attendance?
- Fines on anyone who did not attend - 3p fine every Sunday for peasants - only earned 9p a week!
How did Elizabeth limit Catholic practices and mass?
- Heavy fines (up to £8000) were given to those seen at Catholic Mass - Anyone saying mass could be subject to the death penalty
When were the Royal Injunctions?
- 1559
How many instructions formed the Royal Injunctions?
20821
Name examples of the rules set out in the Royal Injunctions
- Preachers had to have a license to preach (given on Queen’s command) - Churches were to display Bibles in English - Pilgrimages forbidden - Preachers must preach at least once a month
When was the Prayer Book introduced?
- 1559 - established a single set of doctrines across England
When were the 39 Articles introduced?
- 1563
What were the 39 Articles?
- these were the definite statement of religious belief in England - core ideas are still in practice today - they merged ideas from Catholicism and Protestantism to create a ‘middle way’
When were the 39 Articles made into law?
- 1571
How did Elizabeth face Catholic opposition in her early reign?
- Mary had left many Catholic bishops and members of the House of Lords - Elizabeth took a more ‘middle way’ approach towards Catholicism as she didn’t want to upset both the Catholics who remained in England, or the Catholic powers in Europe (e.g. France and Spain)
How did Elizabeth face opposition from Puritans in her early reign?
- Puritan = extreme Protestant - They believed that Elizabeth would favour them, and were disappointed in her ‘middle way’ - Many had returned to England after Mary’s reign in hope of a more Protestant country
Which areas tended to be more Protestant?
- South East - particularly London and East Anglia
Which areas tended to be more Catholic?
- North of England - Rural areas
What was the 1559 Act of Exchange?
- this meant that Elizabeth could trade Church property in her possession with temporal land in the Churches possession
How many members of the clergy lost/resigned their livings due to not accepting the new religious settlement?
- around 400
What happened to bishops under Elizabeth?
- many were dismissed due to not accepting the new settlements - this gave Elizabeth the opportunity to appoint new ones
What were the powers of France and Spain’s reactions to Elizabeth’s religious settlements?
- France - absorbed in Civil War - Spain - Phillip II left Elizabeth alone, believing that the changes were temporary and that she would soon return to the Catholic Church - Spain later became a threat in the years 1560 onwards
What was the context of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis?
- In 1557, England had been at war with France after being dragged into the war by Phillip II - This had resulted in the loss of Calais
What were the terms of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis?
- 1559 - This ended the Hapsburg-Valois war - France retain Calais for 8 years, and then after this if had to be handed back - If it had not been handed back, France were to pay 500,000 crowns - neither situation was likely
When did Henry II die?
- 1559 - Jousting Accident celebrating the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis
Who succeed Henry II?
- Francis II
What event did Henry II’s death coincide with?
- the revolt of the Lords of the Congregation - This started the Protestant Reformation in Scotland
When did Francis II die?
- 1560 - only 17 months after taking power
Who did power shift to after the death of Francis II?
- Francis Duke of Guise (brother of Mary of Guise)
What did Mary Queen of Scots do after the shift in power in France?
- returned to Scotland - This was a problem for Elizabeth
What was the Treaty of Hampton Court?
- 20th September 1562 - England agreed to assist French Huguenots in the first war of religion in France - this may have been to exploit divisions and regain Calais - We were to give the leader Conde 140 crowns and 3000 English troops under the command of Robert Dudley’s brother - this was to garrison the post of le Havre Loans - English troops caught the plague and Catholic and Protestants unified to recapture Le Harve
What were the terms of the Treaty of Troye?
-
When was the Treaty of Troye?
- 1564
What can be said about Elizabeth’s early foreign policy with France?
- there was a lack of objectives - the defeat at Le Havre highlighted the need for army reform - Elizabeth did not want to assist rebels against a legitimate monarch - the same could be done in England! - Elizabeth no longer wanted to use foreignpol to strengthen Protestantism abroad - unlikely to succeed
What was the context of the Treaty of Berswick?
- 1559, a group of Protestant Lords deposed Mary of Guise - French attempted to help Mary with the 1000 garrisoned troops, and a futher 9500 troops ready to be sent to Scotland - William Cecil feared a Catholic Crusade from France and persuaded the council to send aid to the Scottish Protestants
When was the Treaty of Berswick?
- February 1560
What were the terms of the Treaty of Berswick?
- Elizabeth promised protection to the Scottish Protestants - 8000 troops (under command of Lord Frey) marched on Leith - December 1559 - English fleet send to the Firth of Fourth to intercept - The French fleet was already weak from a storm in the Netherlands
What was the context of the Treaty of Edinburgh?
- William Cecil’s triumph in military action forced the French to negotiate
What were the terms of the Treaty of Edinburgh?
- Both French and English troops were to withdraw from Scotland - Mary Stuart recognised Elizabeth I as queen - freedom of worship allowed
What was the long term impact of Scottish Foreign Policy?
- English aid helped establish Protestantism in Scotland - Cecil’s actions (and the weather) helped damage the French strength in Scotland - By supporting the Protestants Cecil had helped to create a pro-English group that eventually would lead to the union of the two kingdoms under James VI/I
What was the Council of Trent?
- A meeting of Roman Catholic leaders, called by Pope Paul III to rule on doctrines criticized by the Protestant reformers. - This produced a series of decrees which ended any possibilities of a peaceful compromise with Protestants - This led to a severe concern about the possibility of both France and Spain attacking England
Why was the Netherlands crucial to Elizabeth?
- huge trading partner
What did Phillip do in 1563 regarding the Netherlands?
- banned the import of English cloth to the Netherlands - this was to ‘protect the Netherlands from the plague’
How did Elizabeth respond to Phillip’s trade embargo on the Netherlands?
- turned a blind eye to English merchants and piracy in the channel - banned all imports from the Netherlands, causing both sides to back down by 1564
What is the term for ‘French Protestants’?
- Huguenots
Who were the Puritans?
- ‘extreme Protestants’ - they believed that the Church of England was not Protestant enough, and disliked the Papal elements in the Church
What did Puritans aim to do?
- They aimed to purify the Church of England of papal elements
What did Puritans particularly dislike in the 1559 settlement?
- the survival of bishops - they argued that this was an invention of the Pope to maintain power in England
What did Puritans believe about the Bible and the Church of England?
- they believed that the Bible for other evidence that the shape of the English Church was not that ordained by God and discovered that, among other things, making the sign of the cross during Baptisms and the wearing of clerical vestments had no spiritual authority
What was the common belief between all Puritan groups?
- they all believed that the English Reformation had not been completed by 1559 and because of this, they threatened the stability of the Elizabethan settlement just as effectively as Catholic recusants.
What were the three main strands of Puritan thought in England?
- the moderate Puritan - The Presbyterian - the separatist
What was a moderate Puritan?
- this strand reluctantly accepted the structure of the Church and pressed for reform of beliefs and religious practices along the lines of European churches
What was a Presbyterian Puritan?
- this strand called for a thorough reform of the structure of the Church and the simplifying of faith and ritual, especially as Presbyterianism was well established in Scotland
What was a Separatist Puritan?
- this strand broke away from the national Church to pursue its own radical Protestant reformation, on a parish-by-parish basis
When and how did Puritanism begin in England?
- originated in the 1520s with the teachings of Luther - Calvin’s influence was significant in the reign of Edward VI - Complaints that England was too Catholic emerged throughout this period
What were vestments and what did Elizabeth require with them?
- vestments were special clothes worn by the clergy during services - Elizabeth required the surplice and cope to be worn in services
What was the requirement with communion?
- was to be received kneeling, not standing
What issue did Elizabeth have with vestments?
- 37 clergymen refused to follow her instructions on vestments - they were suspended
What is significant about the Vestiarian controversy?
- the vestments were similar to Catholic clothing - the refusal raised questions about the Queen’s authority as Supreme Governor - Parker recognised that the bible had no specifications on clothing, but was forced to carry out the queen’s wishes on vestments
How did the Vestiarian controversy end?
- rumbled with no conclusion - Queen had no intention to make enemies at a time when Catholicism was growing - Archbishop Parker remained as Archbishop until his death in 1575
Who was Thomas Cartwright and what did he call for?
- He was the Professor of Divinity of Cambridge University - He called for, in a series of lectures, the abolition of bishops and a form of Church government based on those made by Calvin in Geneva - This brought Puritanism to national attention
What model of the Church did Calvin suggest?
- he proposed a structure in which control was exercised by the minister of each church, helped by respected elders of the community - this model could be adapted to fit the parish system in England and could be given national cohesion through Calvin’s idea of having regional subcommittees and a national assembly of the whole church
What was the name of the model of the Church that Calvin and Cartwright suggested?
- the Presbyterian model of the Church - This was said to be closer to the model suggested in the bible
How did Elizabeth react to Cartwright’s ideas?
- ‘open horror’ - it left very little room for either bishops or herself as ‘supreme governor’
Where else had recently introduced a Presbyterian model of the Church? Why did this frighten Elizabeth?
- Scotland - This had been accompanied by the overthrow of Mary Queen of Scots
What was the reality of Cartwright’s influence?
- had very little influence - the matter was debated in the house of commons in 1571 and most of the bishops were horrified
What did Elizabeth pass to ensure that ideas like Cartwright’s were not repeated?
- 39 Articles - This meant that clergy had to accept those articles as a condition of gaining an appointment in the Church
Who was John Field and what did he argue?
- 1572 - published ‘admonitions to the Parliament’ - this argued that the Presbyterian system was the only one acceptable according to the Bible - he also denounced the Book of Common Prayer as ‘Popish’
What punishment did John Field receive?
- he was imprisoned for a year
What did Elizabeth give strict instructions on in 1576 regarding religion?
- Religious matters were not to be discussed in Parliament without her permission
What was spreading that alarmed the government?
- ‘prophesying’
What was ‘prophesying’?
- well organised gatherings of clergymen at which young or unlicensed preachers could practise their art and receive advice from more experienced colleagues
Why was ‘prophesying’ considered a threat from the Puritan?
- it meant that they were able to increase the number of competent preachers at their disposal and get around the tight licensing laws
What did Grindal do regarding prophesying?
- he went out and investigated on the queen’s behalf, but found nothing wrong - he lectured the queen in the importance of spreading the word of God
How did Elizabeth respond to Grindal’s lecture?
- she placed him under house arrest for the remaining 7 years of his life, where he was unable to function as leader of the church - Elizabeth sent direct orders to bishops that were Prophysering to stop
Who replaced Edmund Grindal?
- John Whitgift - Devout Angelican - Was determined to enforce uniformity and had no sympathy with Puritans
How did Elizabeth refer to Whitgift?
- ‘my little black husband’ - he wore sombre clothing and shared many of Elizabeth’s views and prejudices (unmarried)
What did Whitgift immediately issue in the 1580s?
- the Three Articles
What did the Three Articles do?
- forced all ministers to swear an absolute acceptance of bishops and of all that was contained in the Prayer Book and 39 Articles
What was the result of the 3 Articles?
- uproar in England - this meant that strict controls were enforced to end prophesyings and suppress any other developments of Presbyterian practices
How many ministers were suspended due to the Three Articles?
- 300 - many were reinstated due to letters of complaint from local gentry
Define ‘classes’/’classis’
- regional meetings to which congregations sent representatives for discussion on issues
What was the situation with classis like in the 1580s?
- evidence that these developed in some parts of the country - this can be suggested to be in response to the Three Articles, similar to the structure in Scotland - there is evidence that many of these meetings were Puritan in nature and there were genuine attempts to discuss and educate the clergy and lay people
What was the reality regarding ‘classes’?
- most clergy accepted Whitgift’s Three Articles and had no desire to upset the established social structure of society in which the Church of England had a central role
What was the reality regarding Presbyterianism?
- although there were demands for the introduction of items linked to Presbyterianism, for example the Prayer Book, there was little support for any change of the structure of the English church
Why did separate groups of the Church form?
- This was because Protestantism insisted that the Bible was the only source of religious teaching and that it should be made available to all in their own language - separate groups formed to explore the Bible and to reach their own conclusions about the direction their faith should take them
Why is it hard to explore evidence that Seprartism existed?
- separate groups were illegal and therefore made in secret
Who were the Brownists?
- they are one of the best documented Separatist groups established by Robert Browne in Norwich
What did the Brownists leader Robert Browne argue?
- he wrote ‘A Treatise of Reformation Without Tarrying For Any’ - This argued that the COE was corrupted by its Catholic traces and lack of morale dicipline - He also argued that true Christians should leave it in davour of separate, voluntary gatherings of ‘saints’ who would exercise proper discipline
Who were hanged in 1583 for distributing Brownist pamphlets?
- John Copping Elias Thacker
How did the Separatist movement reappear in 1588-89?
- Martin Marprelate Tracts - This was a bitter written attack on the Church and Bishops that used foul language and abuse to make its point
How did people react to the Martin Marprelate Tracts?
- they were horrified, and many Puritans tried to distance themselves from them
What did the Privy Council do in response to the Martin Marprelate Tracts?
- Privy Council began the final destruction of organised Puritanism with the 1593 Act Against Seditious Sectaries
What was the Act Against Seditious Sectaries?
- this allowed authorities to execute those suspected of being Separatists
What can be said about Puritanism as a whole in Elizabeth’s reign?
- although they were a pest to Elizabeth’s power, they became more of a problem during the Stuarts
Why was the compromise of 1559 not accepted by all?
- Some wanted to purify the Church of England of ‘Popish’ elements of worship and doctrine - Others wanted the restoration of the traditional religion under the pope
How did Elizabeth hope to win over the English Catholics to her compromised church?
- Although public celebration of mass was forbidden, she did little to stop private worship - Although she passed recusancy laws to force attendance, she also hoped that by keeping many traditions, she could make the church an acceptable alternative
Define ‘recusant’
- this term applied to potential Catholics, was given to those who refused to attend their parish church on a regular basis
What fines were given to those who failed to attend church?
- 1 shilling (5 pence) for each failure
Why were the fines significant in raising church attendance?
- This was a significant amount of money for people below the gentry who typically earned around 9 pence a week.
What did the fines lead to in Catholicism?
- the fines may have been one reason why Catholicism lasted longer within the gentry and nobility
What was the penalty for priests conducting Catholic services?
- imprisonment - not as harsh as they could be as Elizabeth had no intention of creating martyrs
Why did it appear at first that Catholicism had little support in England?
- few parish priests refused the Oath of Supremacy
What did regional surveys show about Catholicism and which areas were highlighted in particular?
- showed that there was still substantial support for Catholicism - for example in areas such as Lancashire
Why were not many fines collected?
- this was mainly due to a failure to collect them, rather than a fall in Catholicism
How did many clergy lead worships in the 1560s? Which historian believes this?
- they led worships that still had traces of Catholicism, such as using Latin rather than English - Christopher Haigh
Why was a cautious policy taken with the Catholics early in Elizabeth’s reign?
- Elizabeth often had to silence radical Protestants who spoke out against Catholicism - She did not want to repeat what Mary had done to the Protestants, and wanted a uniformity in England
What did Parliament attempt to pass against Catholics in 1563? Why were these laws not fully implemented?
- They attempted to pass stricter laws against MPs who refused the Oath of Supremacy - the death penalty on the second refusal - In addition to this, any priest caught saying mass would also be sentenced to death - These laws were not fully implemented due to the instructions of Elizabeth herself - No one was asked twice to subscribe to the oath, meaning nobody was executed
When was the first Catholic priest executed for saying mass?
- 1577 - international situation had changed by this point
Catholic Threat - 1567 -
- this was the year that the Pope forbade Catholics to attend Anglican services
Catholic Threat - 1568 -
- This was the year that Mary Queen of Scots arrived in England and was imprisoned - foundation of Catholic seminary at Douai to train priests for England
Catholic Threat - 1569 -
- This was the year of the Revolt of the Northern Earls
Catholic Threat - 1570 -
- This was the year that Elizabeth was excommunicated
Catholic Threat - 1571 -
- This was the year that the Treason Act was brought against Elizabeth - This was also the year of the Ridolfi Plot
Catholic Threat - 1580 -
- This was the year of the arrival of Jesuit missionaries such as Campion
Catholic Threat - 1581 -
- This was the year that Campion was executed
Catholic Threat - 1583 -
- This was the year of the Throckmorton Plot against Elizabeth
Catholic Threat - 1585 -
- This was the year of the Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests that assumed Catholic missionaries were automatically guilty of treason
Catholic Threat - 1587 -
- This was the year that Mary Queen of Scots was executed
Catholic threat - 1588 -
- English Catholics rejected call to support Spanish Armada
Puritan threat - 1566 -
- This was the year of the Vestarian Controversy under Archbishop Parker
Puritan Threat - 1570 -
- This was the year of Cartwright’s lectures
Puritan Threat - 1571 -
- This was the year that Strickland failed to get Parliament to consider changing the structure of the Church of England
Puritan Threat - 1575 -
- This was the year that Grindal was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury
Puritan Threat - 1576 -
- This was the year that Elizabeth ordered Parliament to not discuss religious matters without her permission - This was also the year that Prophesying were supressed and Grindal was suspended for defending them - This was also the year that Peter Wentworth was imprisoned
Puritan Threat - 1580 -
- This was the year that the Brownist congregation was established in Norwich
Puritan Threat - 1583 -
- This was the year that Whitgift was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury - This was also the year that there were renewed attacks on Puritans
Puritan Threat - 1587 -
- This was the year that Cope and others were sent to the Tower because they argued in parliament for a Presbyterian Church structure
Puritan Threat - 1588-89 -
- This was the year that the marprelate Tracts were published
Puritan Threat - 1593 -
- This was the year that the Act against Seditious Sectaries was passed
What did the Pope do in 1567 which highlighted his hostility to the Religious Settlement?
- he instructed English Catholics not to attend Anglican Church services
Why did Spain pose a threat to England for a period in 1567?
- The Spanish Duke of Alba was sent to the Netherlands to quell a rebellion that had broken out there over Spanish Catholic rule. - This meant that 10,000 troops were just across the Channel from southern England, in a good position to invade
When did Mary Queen of Scots arrive in England seeking refuge?
- 1568
What did Mary Queen of Scots represent in England and why did this make her a threat?
- She was a Catholic Figurehead, who represented the heir to the throne, a catholic contender and a focus for the hatred of the Scottish - This made her a threat, because people began to rebel in her name, as she represented a Catholic alternative to Elizabeth
What was established in 1568 in the Netherlands and why was this a threat to England?
- a seminary (training college) for priests was founded by William Allen in Douai in the Netherlands - This was made to train missionaries to go to England and support Catholics
Who began to rebel in 1569 and who led this rebellion?
- The Catholic northern nobles, led by the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland rebelled against Elizabeth
What was the background of the Northern Rebellion?
- The background to this rebellion was an aim for Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, to marry Mary Queen of Scots, in replacement of Elizabeth
What were the aims of the Northern Rebellion?
- They aimed for at the very least, Mary to be considered as first in line to succeed Elizabeth and ensure the restoration of Catholicism
How did the Pope get involved with the Northern rebellion? How did this make it more of a threat?
- Northumberland and Westmorland had been in touch with the Pope with the intention of securing military backing in support of Mary and Norfolk
How did Elizabeth deal with the idea of the marriage proposal between Norfolk and Mary, what consequences did it have?
- as soon as she learnt of the marriage proposal she quickly forbade it - Norfolk begged for mercy but was sent to the tower
What did Westmoreland and Northumberland do after Norfolk was sent to the tower?
- they began the rebellion
What did the Northern rebels do when they entered Durham?
- they replaced the Protestant communion table in the cathedral with Catholic symbols and restored the Catholic Mass
Did the Northern rebels gain any support? Where?
- they gained little support except in North Yorkshire
How did the government quell the rebellion? What did the rebels do?
- they sent a government army to meet the rebels, and the rebel leaders fled to Scotland
What did the Pope do in 1570?
- excommunicated Elizabeth - he also hoped that other Catholics would join the rebellion, in doing so, he declared that all Catholics were free of any loyalty to her - he said that any Catholic obeying her would also incur the sentence of excommunication
How did the Pope’s actions in 1570 affect Catholics at home and abroad?
- it meant that they were encouraged to oppose Elizabeth’s rule - it also provided a justification for rebellions centred on Mary Queen of Scots and for Catholic Europe to wage war on England
What happened in 1571 that threatened Elizabeth?
- the Ridolfi plot was uncovered which planned to murder Elizabeth and replace her with Mary
What did Catholics in France do in 1572?
- They slaughtered Protestants during the St. Bartholomew’s day massacre and brought the religious wars to a temporary end - this made Elizabeth fear that the French would now turn their attention to Protestantism in England
What did Elizabeth do in 1571 in response to the Catholic threat?
- the 1571 Treason Act - this made the denial of Elizabeth’s supremacy or importation of the Pope’s order of excommunication acts punishable by death,
How can it be said that Elizabeth was still cautious in her policies towards Catholics at this time?
- she consistently blocked attempts by the more aggressively Protestant MPs to increase penalties for recusancy or attendance at mass
Why did the Douai priests become more of a threat to Elizabeth?
- by the late 1570s, with deteriorating relations with Spain and the presence of Mary Queen of Scots, the government felt more threatened by the Douai priests
How did the government take action against the Douai Priests?
- several priests were executed for denying the royal supremacy
Why were the Jesuits seen as more dangerous than the Douai priests?
- they were seen as more dedicated and fanatic, so would take greater measures to spread Catholicism
How did Parliament deal with the Jesuits?
- after several attempt an Act was passed in 1581 to ‘retain the Queen Majesty’s subjects in their due obedience’
What new penalties were introduced for Catholics and Priests?
- Saying Mass incurred a fine of 200 marks and a year in prison - failure to attend Church incurred a fine of £20 a month - ordinary people could not afford this
What was the Throckmorton Plot?
- This was an attempt by French Catholics to invade England in support of English Catholics - the expedition was paid for by Spain and the Pope - It was easily defeated, but did highlight that the situation was critical
What, more extreme, Act was passed in 1585 to combat the Catholic Threat
- ‘Act Against Jesuit seminary priests and other disobedient persons’ - This order Catholic priests to leave the country within 40 days, with even their presence in England being considered high treason
How many Catholic priests were executed under Elizabeth?
- 150, most under the final Act in 1585 - this increase was linked to the tension with spain and situation with Mary Queen of Scots
Where was Mass held in secret?
- amongst the landed classes in the North and West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Hertfordshire and South Wales. - there was still little enthusiasm for plots against Elizabeth
What are the arguments on the survival of Catholicism amongst Historians?
- some believe Protestantism nearly wiped it out Catholicism until the next reign - others argue that the effect of Protestantism was over exaggerated
Where was Catholicism less common?
- amongst ordinary people, who could not afford to practice it
How can it be argued that Elizabeth’s cautious policy towards Catholicism was a success?
- she gained instinctive loyalty from almost all her subjects, including landowners, who had the most to lose if they rebelled
What percentage of the population had Catholic sympathies in 1603?
- 10% - only 2% of these were active recusants
How did the Pope’s attack on church services make the number of Catholics decline?
- the fines for recusancy that were in place for not attending church services meant that few could afford to refuse to go to church - also, the parish church lay at the centre of village life, so refusing to go to church meant that they were excluded from their communities
Why were rebellions not favourable by many Catholics?
- many Catholics saw the importance of the rightful monarch being on the throne as higher than the Church title they held
Why did landowners prefer Elizabeth to be on the throne?
- they felt that it was the rightful person to inherit the throne according to inheritance laws - If Mary was put on the throne, these laws would have been broken, which discredits the value of the laws and puts their own land inheritance at risk
Who were the ‘new’ Catholics and where did they come from?
- Catholic priests had been specially trained from Europe and arrived in England - they had mostly been trained in Douai in the Netherlands, where there was a Catholic seminary, founded by William Allen, an englishman.
When did the first 4 priests arrive in England?
- 1574
How many priests were there in England by 1590?
-over 100
Where did these secret Priests live?
- they lived and moved around in secret, living with Catholic families
What wave of priests began to arrive in 1580?
- the Jesuits
Who were the Jesuits?
- specially trained members of the society of Jesus which focused on missionary activity
Who were the first two Jesuit priests?
- Edmund Campion and Robert Parsons
What did the first two Jesuits do in England when they arrived?
- they began building up a network of safe houses, often with specially-constructed priest hiding holes
What did Edmund Campion do when he arrived in England?
- he travelled to Lancashire, which had a high concentration of Catholics who would not accept the Anglican beliefs of Elizabeth’s Church - He also preached in the homes of important Catholic families, disguising his identity and using safe houses to avoid arrest
What eventually happened to Campion?
- the government were concerned about his actions, so they sent spies to locate him - he was arrested and executed in 1581
Who was Mary Queen of Scots’ parents?
- Her father was James V of Scotland, who died in the battle of Solway Moss when Mary was 1 week old - Her mother was Mary of Guise - She came to the throne at 1 week old, and Scottish nobles ruled on her behalf
Where was Mary educated when she was young?
- She was educated in France at court by her mother - She was brought up a Catholic
Who did Mary marry in 1558?
- She married the heir to the French throne, who became Francis II of France in 1559
What happened to Francis II? What was happening in France at this time?
- he died in 1560, leaving Mary a widow at 18 - the French Wars of Religion began in France - her mother also died at this time
Where did Mary go in 1561? What was the situation there?
- Mary returned to Scotland, but was not allowed any power or influence there - rebel groups on nobles threatened her power, and Protestantism was strong
How did Mary see herself in Scotland?
- as the heir to the English throne, and probably saw more of a life in England than Scotland in the future
Who did Mary marry in 1565?
- Lord Darnley, who himself had a large claim to the English throne
When did Mary become pregnant, and who was this rumoured to be?
- 1565 - the baby was rumoured to belong to David Rizzio, her secretary and lover
What happened to Rizzio in 1566? Who is said to be responsible for this and why?
- he was murdered in front of Mary - It was apparently under the direction of Lord Darnley, due to his increased jealousy of Rizzio
When did Mary give birth?
- later in 1566 - named him James after her father and grandfather - he would later be the heir to the throne of england
What happened to Darnley in 1567?
- we was killed in an explosion, with evidence suggesting his neck had already been snapped before the event
Who was Mary falling for in 1567?
- Earl of Bothwell
Who is suspected to be behind Darnley’s death?
- bothwell
What did Mary do after the death of Darnley?
- married Bothwell and ran away
What happened after Mary married Bothwell?
- Bothwell ran away to Denmark and Mary was seen as an adultress - she was forced to abdicate in favour of her young son and fled to England
Who was regant for baby James when Mary fled?
- the Earl of Murray, the leader of the Protestant lords - James was raised Protestant
Why did Mary’s arrival in England leave Elizabeth in a difficult position?
- if she showed support for her cousin, it would upset the Protestants in Scotland - if she didnt show support for her, it would suggest that a monarch could be easily disposed, risking her own position
How did Elizabeth deal with Mary?
- she was kept under house arrest for the next 19 years
Why was Mary a problem for Elizabeth?
- she became a focal point for Catholic and noble discontent and a potential pawn of Spain or France, should they seek to undermine or to dispose Elizabeth - ‘as long as life is in her, there is hope. As they live in hope, we live in fear’ - Mary Stuart became the focus of plots and intrigues, but Elizabeth was reluctant to take action against her cousin
What happened at Mary’s trial?
- famous ‘casket’ letters were found allegedly proving her to have been Bothwell’s mistress and involved in the plot against Darnley - Even so, Mary’s case was not proven but was still damaging
After which plot did Elizabeth finally agree to execute Mary?
- Babington Plot
When did Elizabeth sign the warrant for Mary’s death?
- February 1587
When was Mary executed? how did Elizabeth react?
- Elizabeth’s second Secretary of State, William Davison released the warrant and Mary was executed at Fotheringay Castle - Elizabeth flew into a rage and put Davison in the tower - Elizabeth eventually calmed down and requited Davison, but took no claim to the murder of Mary
Evidence to suggest Mary was a threat to Elizabeth?
- she was seen by her supporters as queen in waiting - she was supported by the Pope and Phillip II - she was the figurehead for Catholic rebellion in England
Evidence to suggest that Mary was not a threat to Elizabeth?
- events had already moved in by 1587 - England was already at war with France, and mary’s execution made the threat from abroad no bigger than it already was
Who first encouraged the Northern Rebellion?
- De Spes
Why did the Duke of Alva refuse to invade England?
- the English had not carried out a revolt themselves
Which figure in court did the Duke of Norfolk dislike?
- William Cecil - felt he was too dominant in court
What was the reason behind the Northern Rebellion?
- they wanted to defend the Catholic faith and make Mary Queen of Scots their Queen
Who was Norfolk to marry in the Northern rebellion?
- Mary Queen of Scots
What did Elizabeth do to the proposed marriage between Norfolk and MQS?
- she blocked it as soon as she was aware of it
Which other figure can be blamed for the Northern rebellion?
- the new Bishop of Durham, who was strongly Protestant - he aggressively insulted religious imagery and church furniture - in his regaining full legal control over church lands
Who led the Northern Rebellion?
- Westmoreland, Northumberland and Norfolkd
What did the Northern rebels do on 14th November 1569?
- Entered Durham cathedral, said mass and tore upe the English bible and Prayer Book
What happened to the Northern army?
- after Durham, they marched south - however, their forces quickly fled when they began to face Elizabeth’s forces
What happened to Northumberland?
- interrogated and executed in York in 1572
How many did Elizabeth execute in the aftermath of the Northern Rebellion?
- 700-800
Evidence to suggest that the Northern Rebellion was a threat?
- directly attacked the Queen - had support of some members of the nobility - had a figurehead - had potential foreign support - Elizabeth severely punished those involved
Evidence to suggest that the Northern Rebellion was not a threat?
- limited geographical impact - nowhere near London - very easily quelled - main leaders were hanged
When was the Ridolfi Plot?
- 1571
What happened with the Ridolfi Plot?
- Ridolfi led a plot to rid Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, married to Norfolk - this was discovered by Cecil and Norfolk was found guilty of treason
How did the international situation change in 1580?
- the Pope issued a papal pronouncement stating that anyone who assassinated Elizabeth with the ‘pious intention of doing God’s service, not only does not sin, but gains merit’ - Catholic priests joined by the Jesuiit missionaries made war with Spain inevitable
When was the Throckmorton plot? What happened?
- 1583-84 - Francis Throckmorton was involved in a plot to get rid of Elizabeth but this was discovered - this brought war with Spain very close
What was the Babington Plot?
- Anthony Babington wrote to Mary outlining the details of a rebellion, Mary wrote back and agreed. - It was easily uncovered by Elizabeth’s spies and conspiritors were found guilty in September 1586 - Mary was found guilty in October 1586
Why was Elizabeth reluctant to execute Mary?
- it would only anger the Spanish further - cut ties with Guise family in France - was a fellow female monarch
