the capture of Durham and siege of Bernard castle. Flashcards
when did the rebels march to county Durham ?
November 1569
what was one of the reasons for Durham being a focus of the rebellion?
it was home of religious tensions, due to the appointed Bishop of Durham being a radical protestant who preached against that catholic religion.
what did the Rebels do when they reached Durham cathedral?
they held a catholic mass, which was a traditional catholic ceremony as well as destroying protestant items.
what was symbolic about the rebels destroying the protestant items at the Cathedral?
it represented resentment amongst local Catholics from when the banner of their local st. Cuthbert was destroyed.
why was this a significant success for the rebels?
because the county of Durham wasn’t heavily fortified and therefore it made it easier for the rebels to seize the cathedral. not only this, but it represented a clear message about the feelings towards Elizabeth’s religious policy.
when was Bernard castle seized?
December 1569
what was Bernard Castle?
it was a fortress in the South West of county Durham and guarded the River Tee’s. It was property of the Crown.
who had been entrusted with the protection of Bernard castle?
George Bowes
what did Bernard Castle become for Elizabeth’s loyal supporter during the rebellion?
a rallying point, until the rebels sized control over Durham, then it became a refuge for the Queen’s loyal supporters.
what happened in early December whilst the rebels were seeking refuge in the castle?
the castle was seized by 5,000 rebels
what happened on the 14th of December?
Bowes reported that his men had began to run out of supplies and were almost starving to death.
how did the loyal subjects react to the seizure of the castle by the rebels?
in desperation, 226 jumped out and joined the rebellion
whilst another 150 turned on Bowes and opened the gates of the castle. - the rebels let them go free.
why was the capture of Bernard Castle significant?
because it indicated how weak and isolated the supporters of Elizabeth had become. however it was only a short victory as two days later their rebels flee’d.
