The Revolt of the Northern Earls, 1569-70 Flashcards
How did Mary Queen of Scots pose a threat (2)
-Had a legitimate claim
-Potential figurehead for Catholics born in England
Mary QoS clain to the throne
-Through her grandmother Margaret Tudor (daughter of H7) who married James iV of Scotland
Who viewed Elizabeth as illegitimate
Catholics, France and Spain
Elizabeth’s concern and fear
Possibility of Catholic crusade, led by a coalition of powerful rulers and backed by the pope
Aim to replcae E1 with Mary
What unexpectedly helped Elizabeth’s security (3)
- Mary’ continued connection w/ France
- Spain wouldn’t support French candidate to be Queen as it would give the French too much power
- French would control English Channel, prevent King Phillip reaching the lands in the Netherlands
When did Mary return to Scotland
1560 began to rule as queen
Mary’s links to France
- Related to powerful Guise noble family
- Philip continue to back Elizabeth to counteract Franco-Scottish alliance
When did Mary arrive in England
May 1568
What were the tensions at court
Between rival groups of Elizabeth’s nobility, some resented Cecil’s influence with the Queen
Why did people start resenting Cecil
Elizabeth (advised by Cecil) seemed to be leading England into war with Spain
Why had Anglo-Spanish relations started to deteriorate
- 1567-68 Dutch protestant rebellion, put down with considerable brutality
- Presence of Spanish forces in Netherlands created fears of possible invasion
1568 Bullion situation (3)
- 4 Spanish ships carrying bullion took refuge from pirates in England
- Cecil ordered that the Bullion should be seized
- heightened tensions between Spain
Court plot against Cecil aims
Didn’t intend to remove E1, were concerned by the influence Cecil had over her
Men involved in the court plot
-Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Earls of Nothumberland and Westmorland, and Earl of Leicester
What was the overall aim of the Court plot
that the DoN (senior noble in the realm) would marry Mary
-Elizabeth’s constant refusal to marry/ name a successor worried her advisers who feared political instability
What did Elizabeth when she found out about the plot// when
-September 1569
-Furious and forbade any further discussion of marriage
Why would the potential marriage of Norfolk to Mary be dangerous to Elizabeth
-Most powerful nobleman to a rival claimant
-Could’ve encouraged Catholic discontent to overthrow Elizabeth
Norfolk in 1568
- leading member and chief beneficiary in the plot to marry Mary and remove Cecil
- had connections to disgruntled members of the nobility such as Northumberland and Westmorland
What did Norfolk do on Oct 1,1569 (3)
-Remained loyal to Elizabeth
-wrote to Westmorland telling them not to rebel
-Returned to Court and was imprisoned in the Tower
Norfolk’s actions indirectly causing the rebellion
-leadership in the Court stirred up resentment
BUT his ultimate decision to stay loyal to Elizabeth undermined the potential threat of the Northern Rising, left W+N feeling increasingly isolated
Religion of Earl of Westmorland and Northumberland
Openly Catholic- preserved traditional Catholic practices and beliefs
In the 1560s how many leading families in Yorkshire were Catholic
75% (similarly high in Lancashire and Durham)
Why were Catholic traditions able to survive in England
Elizabeth’s religious settlement kept the doctrine of the CofE as moderate as possible- allowed moderate Catholics
Elizabeth religious policy allowing moderate Catholicism (2)
-1559 Religious Settlement
-Thirty-Nine Articles 1563
What were Church Papists
Moderate majority of Catholics who conformed outwardly to CofE by going to Church Services
What led to Catholics coming under suspicion
Relations with Spain deteriorated in 1566
-Government feared Catholics had divided loyalties
What increased the threat of a Catholic Rising
- Exacerbated by the remoteness of the North
- made it harder for the government to respond quickly to threats
- GOV RESPONSE- introduced a more hardline response to religious conformity
Who was appointed Bishop of Durham
James Pilkington- held radical Protestant views and preached against both Catholicism and the power of traditional nobility
What policies made Pilkington unpopular locally
-Attempted to remove church furniture and religious imagery
What led to greater political tension and resentment of Catholic nobility
appointment of Protestant outsiders to key posts in the North
-incomers tried to enforce Elizabeth’s rule
Why was the appointment of protestant outsiders felt more acutely
Mary 1 appointed members of the traditional Northern nobility to important political and strategic posts in 1553-1558
-Nobles had benefited from these policies but now deprived and overlooked
Who did Elizabeth appoint to Warden of the East March + when
1568- Elizabeth’s cousin Protestant Lord Hunsdon
(traditionally been held by the Earls of Nothumberland)
What was Hunsdon’s appointment
-Had no lands or connection with the region
-appointment a deliberate attempt to extend royal control in a region where Elizabeth feared a challenge to her authority
Who was appointed Warden of the Middle March
Sir John Forster (completely loyal to Elizabeth)
-position previously held by the Earl of Northumberland
Who was the president of the Council of the North 1568
Earl of Sussex- Thomas Radcliffe (also an outsider)
How had Elizabeth’s appointments influenced the Earl’s negatively
Lost their incomes
Northumberland being BROKE
1562- Wrote to Earl of Pembroke asking him to ask the queen of a grant of £1,000
Earl of Westmorland BROKE
1568- forced to borrow £80 from Sir George Bowes
Nothumberland copper
1568- tried to claim compensation for the rights of Coppermine found on his estate
BUT the Crown refused to pay him anything
What did these financial worries cause
-added to the Earl’s grievances (but on its own did not provoke them to rebel)
What was the rebellion caused by
Combination of increasing government intrusion into the North, both religiously and politically.
-Elizabeth’s actions convinced the Earls that they had nothing to lose in rebelling
Where was Mary QoS moved in 1569
Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire
Why couldn’t Elizabeth execute Mary (3)
- Mary was an anointed queen who had been deposed by her subjects
- Elizabeth had strong views about the importance of Royal prerogative and subjects obeying
-If E1 were to execute, would set a dangerous precedent
Why did Elizabeth not want to put Mary back on the throne
Having a minor (James IV) on the Scottish throne would weaken the potential threat of invasion because the Scots would lack the necessary strong leadership
Who was the Earl of Moray and how did this help England (2)
- The regent who now controlled Sctoland and its baby King was Protestant
- the North would be enhanced if the neighbour had the same religious outlook
Why else was Mary a threat
already had a dynasty of her own
When did the Earls rebel
9 November 1569
What did the supporters of the Earls of Westmorland do in the first week of the rebellion
Began to mass at his castle at Brancepeth in County Durham
Leader of the gentry who stayed loyal to Elizabeth
Sir George Bowes
What did the rebles do to show their religious aims
Marched to Durham Cathedral, where they celebrated Catholic mass and destroyed all signs of Protestantism
What did the rebels do on the 15th November
Marched South- tried to raise the county of Yorkshire in the rebellion
What did the rebels say in their proclamations
- Earls claimed that they were the Queen’s loyal subjects who were defending her from advisers such as William Cecil
- Presented themselves as concerned subjects who wanted to free her from bad advice
BY 22November where did the rebels reach
Brahman Moor
Why was Brahman Moor a strategic location (3)
- Gaining control of this junction meant that they were threatening York- an important centre of the Northern government
- Blocked troops marching North from London or South from Newcastle
- were 40 miles from Tutbury castle
By late November how much support did the rebels have
3,800 foot soldiers and 1,600 horsemen
Why did the official who remained loyal find it difficult to act
The large scale of the rebellion-
e.g Sussex was trapped in York with only 400 horsemen
What did Lord Hunsdon successfully do
Managed to send a message to William Cecil warning him of the rebels advances and advised to move Mary from Tutbury
What did the rebels do on the 24th November
Made the decision to retreat from Brancepeth
Why did the rebels retreat from Brancepth (4)
- Heard rumours of a large army being organised down South by the Earl of Warwick
- Mary QoS was moved and now out of reach
- rebels realised they wouldn’t receive the same amount of support from the South
- Rebels failed to raise Cheshire and Lancashire in the rebellion
Why had the rebels failed to raise Cheshire and Lancashire in the rebellion
Earl of Derby (the most important member of the nobility in these regions) chose to stay loyal to Elizabeth
Where did the rebels retreat to
County Durham- where the rebellion started and support was strongest
How large was the rebel army by the point of the retreat back to Durham
3,200 footmen and 1,500 horsemen
Why did the rebels capture the port of Hartpool
-Recieved a message promising them support from Spain , and they hoped that Spanish troops would land at the port
-BUT this support never came
When did the rebel Earls disband and their army flee+ why?
16 December- when the large Royal Army reached the river Tees (Sir John Forster’s army)
Where did the Earl of Northumberland flee and why was this a disaster
Scotland - but was handed over to the pro-England regent of Scotland, Earl of Moray
When was Earl of Northumberland beheaded
1572 in York
What did Lord Dacre do in 1569
gathered an armed force of about 3,000 men
Battle between Lord Hunsdon and Lord Dacre
500 rebels killed and captured
-Hunsdon and his troops were victorious
Rebel successes (2)
- Were able to march into city of Durham (important administrative centre in the North)
- siege of Barnard Castle from nearly 5,000 rebels
Why was the siege of Barnard castle significant (2)
- Crown property and an important stronghold
- able to use it as a refuge where attacks could be launched
What showed how weak and isolated Elizabeth’s followers had become (3)
- by 14th Dec, Bowes reported that supplies were so low in the fortress that its defenders were reaching to a point of starvation
- 226 of his men leapt over the walls and joined the rebels
- Bowes was unable to control his supposedly loyal men in the castle
How was the capture of Barnard Castle only a temporary success
They were forced to flee 2 days later
Why did Westmorland want the DoN to marry Mary
Westmorland was DoN’s brother in law
-Expected increased patronage
Northumberland’s thoughts on court plot
Opposed the marriage
-DoN nominally protestant
When did Northumberland join the rebellion
9th November when the momentum of events persuaded him to join the uprising
What persuaded Northumberland to openly rebel
-Commitment to Catholicism
-Both wanted a restoration to Catholicism
How were the earl’s plans not well thought out (4)
- Initial attempt to a rising in early October was abandoned when DoN was arrested
- Rebel movement suggests that the earls were unsure on how to proceed
- unorganised
- no clear strategy
How was rebel movement unsure and unorganised
-First went to Durham before moving South to Bramham Moor and then North again
How were the Earls potentially dangerous (4)
- Been in contact with people who were her potential enemies of Elizabeth (Mary and Spanish Ambassadors)
- Determination to restore Catholicism in direct contradiction to ERS
- Leadership they provided in their local communities- traditional loyalties remained strong
- able to rely on many of the Catholic gentry
What did the rebellion threaten (2)
-The stability of the North
-Elizabeth’s position to the throne
How was the presence of Mary QoS threatening
-increased pressure on Elizabeth to settle the succession
-Mary was in contact with english Catholic nobility and her supporters in Scotland
Why was the rebellion threatening (religious)
-Showed the extent to which her religious settlement failed to take root in the Conservative North
-Catholicism remained the dominant belief among members of the nobility and gentry
Why was the rebellion threatening (remote regions) (3)
- Exposed the monarch’s weakness in controlling the more remote regions of England effectively
- Council of the North members were unable to stop the rebellion breaking out
- WEAKNESS in E1’s policies in the North (created resentment)
Problems with the royal army
-Took over a month for a large royal army to reach Durham
-mustering and movement of the army showed a weakness in Tudor government
-Army so large and expensive took a long time
DESPITE Sussex and Hunsdon asking Cecil for a small force of 800 men and 500 cavalry (ignored)
Where did the rebellion not spread to // why
did not spread further west to Cheshire and Lancashire even though these areas had strong Catholic sympathies
-the dominant noble of the area Earl of Derby stayed loyal to E1
-Once the DoN stayed loyal to E1, the rebels were deprived of support from his estates further South
Reasons for failure of the Rising (4)
- Failures of leadership
- Government response
- lack of widespread support
- lack of international support
What were the failures in leadership (3)
lacked co-ordination and clear objectives
-leadership of the Earls were less focused
-disagreement among rebel leaders about their aims and methods, e.g Northumberland did not agree with the Norfolk-Mary marriage
Strength in government response
Elizabeth’s loyal protestant outsiders helped end the rebellion
-e.g. John Forster, George Bowes and Lord Hunsdon
-the constant contact with government helped organise an effective response
Lack of widespread support in the rising
-Failed to attract support from other members of the nobility
-lack of support from ordinary men and women (caused by earl’s lack of influence in some regions and popular apathy of the commons)
Catholic Nobility who DID NOT join the rising (3)
Henry Clifford, the Earl of Cumberland
Earl of Derby
John Sayer- member of Durham gentry
How had religious attitudes changed
Popular dislike and suspicion of foreigners meant that a return to a Church controlled by a pope in Rome was not widely supported
-People largely indifferent
Lack of international support (3)
- Rebels believed Philip II was gonna send troops but this was a false belief (reluctant to support Mary)
- Scottish Catholics were prevented by pro-English regent of Scotland, the Earl of Moray
- rebellion lacked legitimacy with some Catholics because the pope did not yet excommunicate E1
How many ringleaders were executed in the aftermath of the rebellion
8 ringleaders
+Northumberland in 1572
How many rebels did Elizabeth order to be executed
700
How many of the executions were actually carried out
450/700
-because of the actions of Bowes and Sussex
Government response in a political form CoN
1572, the Council of the North was reorganised again
who was appointed the president of the Council
the Puritan Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon
-his continued presence in the North helped stabilise the region
Confiscation of lands of the rebels
exiled Earl of Westmorland had all his estates confiscated
-helped decrease the power/influence of trad. northern nobility and to strengthen the power of the Crown of the North
What did the pope do //when
Papal bull, Regnans in Excelsis, excommunicated her
-1570
What led to anti-Catholic paranoia
-Fears of Catholic invasion
-arrival of Catholic missionary priests
CAUSED pressure for action to be taken against protestants and more support for those who wished to spread more radical ideas of Protestantism
How was the papal bull threatening (3)
Released Elizabeth’s Catholic subjects from any oaths of obedience
-also threatened to excommunicate any subjects who continued to obey her
-English Catholics were actively encouraged by the papacy to consider deposing Elizabeth
Who was treated more harshly after 1569
recusants
Who was appointed president of the Council of the North in 1572+ what did he do
Puritan- Earl of Huntingdon (harsh)
- Didn’t tolerate any open Catholic activity
enforced the existing gov. legislation against recusants more vigorously
- Protestant preachers appointed to Northern Churches to spread protestant ideas
How many Catholic priests did seminaries send to England
800
Who were the English trained Jesuit priests
Cuthbert Mayne and Edmund Campion
When was parliament called in response to the religious crises
1571, 1572, 1581, ‘84 and ‘86
Example of a more hard-line approach towards Catholics (2)
1571- Parliament made it a treasonable offense to obtain or publish the papal bull of excommunication
1571- Treason Act extended to include those who tried to claim that Elizabeth had no right to be Queen
Jesuit priest executed
1577- Cuthbert Mayne
Elizabeth stricter laws towards recusants
1581- included a huge fine for non-attendance of Church services to £20 a month or imprisonment
Decline in Catholicism
By 1603, only 50,000 Catholics remained in a population of 5 million
What did Elizabeth want to ensure the growth of
Anglicanism, but some of her councillors (e.g Earl of Leicester) supported more radical Puritan preachers such as Thomas Cartwright
What did Puritan MPs try to do
put pressure behind anti-Catholic legislation
e.g 1571, William Strickland MP tried to introduce a bill that would’ve created a more radical Book of Common Prayer (defeated)
