Elizabeth: the revolt of the northern earls

Question 1

when was the revolt of the Northern Earls?

Answer 1

1569-1570

Question 2

why were the Northern Earls unhappy? (6, at least 3)

Answer 2

1. Many northern nobles were still committed Catholics. They wanted to see the restoration of Catholicism in England under a Catholic monarch. The arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1568 gave them hope that Elizabeth could be replaced with Mary
2. Elizabeth had reduced the power of the northern nobles and increased her control in the north. In part, she did this through the Council of the North, which helped to govern the region. Under Elizabeth, the council was controlled by southern protestants. The northern nobles deeply resented this. They supported Mary, Queen of Scots who could give them leadership and more power.
3. Elizabeth had confiscated large areas of land from the Earl of Northumberland and shared them between Northumberland’s main rival in the north and a southern Protestant. Northumberland was also angry that Elizabeth had claimed all the profits from copper mines discovered on his estates.
4. They thought that they could gain back power because Elizabeth did not name an heir to the throne, and because many people in the north remained catholic and would support the earls
5. the earls did not like the new archbishop of canterbury James Pilkington
6. the wives of the northern earls also influenced their husbands to revolt

Question 3

who was mainly behind the revolt of the northern earls?

Answer 3

the Duke of Norfolk (the wealthiest landowner in England)

Question 4

what did the Duke of Norfolk plan to do in 1569?

Answer 4

marry Mary, Queen of Scots, and have her recognised as Elizabeth’s heir

Question 5

who was the Duke of Norfolk supported by in 1569 and why?

Answer 5

Catholic nobles, including the earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, because it meant that Elizabeth would be succeeded by a catholic queen

Question 6

what lead to the Northern Earls rebelling and trying to overthrow Elizabeth?

Answer 6

Their plan to have Mary, Queen of Scots named as Elizabeth’s heir was uncovered, and they feared that they would be executed for their involvement. In a desperate attempt to escape punishment, they rebelled and tried to overthrow elizabeth

Question 7

what happened in the revolt of the northern earls?

Answer 7

in November 1569, the Earls captured Durham, where they celebrated Catholic Mass in the Cathedral. They then marched south, probably making for Tutbury in Derbyshire, where Mary was imprisoned.
Before the rebels reached Tutbury, a large royal army forced them to retreat. Many of their troops deserted, and the two earls fled to Scotland. Elizabeth showed the rebels little mercy. Westmorland fled abroad, but Northumberland was executed, as were at least 400 rebel troops

Question 8

what are three reasons that the revolt of the Northern Earls was a serious threat to Elizabeth’s rule?

Answer 8

1. The revolt of the Northern Earls was the most serious rebellion of Elizabeth’s reign. it posed a major threat to Elizabeth’s rule and showed the danger that Mary, Queen of Scots, represented as a rallying point for English Catholics.
2. News of the rebellion created widespread fear among English protestants about Catholic plots and revenge. These fears were fuelled by memories of the harsh persecution of Protestants during the reign of Queen Mary I.
3. In 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth. This was supposed to strengthen the revolt, but news of it didn’t arrive until after the rebels had fled. But the excommunication did make the Catholic threat seem more serious, because it meant that Catholics no longer had to obey the Queen and were encouraged to overthrow her

Question 9

was there support for the revolt among the rest of the Catholic nobility? why?

Answer 9

no - when faced with a choice between Elizabeth and their religion, most catholics chose to support the Queen

Question 10

when was the last time English Catholics tried to remove Elizabeth by force?

Answer 10

The revolt of the northern earls (1569-1570)

Question 11

what effect did the Revolt of the Northern Earls and the papal excommunication have on Elizabeth’s attitude towards Catholics?

Answer 11

it changed Elizabeth’s attitude towards catholics, who were now seen as potential traitors. From 1570, Elizabeth became less tolerant of recusancy and took increasingly harsh measures against English Catholics