Nature and Challenge of Mary Queen of Scots Flashcards
What were the 2 reasons that Mary Queen of Scots was a threat to Elizabeth?
- She had a legitimate claim to the throne. 2. She was a Catholic and a potential figurehead for Catholics in England and abroad who wanted the end to protestant rule.
Who was Mary’s grandmother?
Margaret Tudor who had been married to James the 4th of Scotland
Who believed that Elizabeth was illegitimate because of her fathers complicated marriage to Anne Boleyn?
Many Catholics and France and Spain.
What was the threat of a Catholoc crusade?
Elizabeth was concerned that a coalition of foreign rulers would invade England under the leadership of the Pope.
Why would Philip of Spain not have supported Mary despite her being a Catholic?
She was strongly associated with the French and Spain did not want the French too have much power. The French would then also be able to control the English channel which would prevent the Spanish being able to gain acess to lands he controlled in the Netherlands.
Why was the Guise family a threat for Elizabeth?
Mary’s mother’s family was the most important Nobel family in France and they were very strongly Catholic.
When did Mary arrive in England?
May 1568
Who was Elizabeth’s most trusted advisor?
William Cecil
Why were people at court resentful of Cecil?
He seemed to be leading the country to war with Spain.
What happened in the Netherlands between 1567-68?
A protestant led rebellion had broken out in the Netherlands and the Spanish had put it down with considerable brutality. This put Spain in a stronger position and threatened England as it created a possible place of invasion from.
What happened in December 1568?
Four Spanish ships carrying gold and silver to pay Spanish troops in the Netherlands took refuge from pirates in England. Cecil ordered that the bullion should be seezed and it looked like they were going to be dragged into war with Spain. The court blamed Cecil for this.
What 3 men were involved in a court plot against Cecil and why did they form it?
They were not against Elizabeth but the influence Cecil had over her. If was Norfolk and the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland. They were both Catholics whilst Norfolk was suspected to have Catholic sympathys.
What was the aim of the court plot that emerged in 1558-59?
Norfolk who was the most senior noble in the realm would marry Mary as they were afraid of the political instability caused by the fact that Elizabeth had no heir whilst Mary was seem as the rightful heir. They thought Norfolk would be able to control her being protestant. They did still want Elizabeth as Queen.
Whose support for the court plot shows that it wasn’t just popular among Catholics?
The Earl of Leicester, Queen Elizabeth’s favourite supported it. This is because he thought Mary would convert to maintain English friendship and take back her throne.
How did Elizabeth react when she heard about the plot in September 1569?
She was furious and forbade any other discussion of her marriage. Norfolk and Mary’s marriage would have threatened her throne with their collective power and her lack of perceived legitimacy. This threat was worsened by the suspicion of Norfolks catholism.
