To what extent was the arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots the main reason for the uprising?

Question 1

Court politics and faction

The deterioration of relations with Spain

Answer 1

• Elizabeth relied on Cecil - worked together to create a moderate religious settlement (keeping both P and C happy). However, some nobles resented Cecil’s influence because Elizabeth appeared to be leading the country into war with Catholic Spain.

Question 2

Court politics and faction

Who was involved in the court plot against Cecil

Answer 2

• Rebels included the Protestant Duke of Norfolk and the Catholic Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland.
• The rebels involved to remove Cecil didn’t intend to remove Elizabeth from power - saw themselves as loyal subjects and concerned by Cecil’s influence.
• Duke of Norfolk would marry Mary because of Elizabeth’s refusal to marry, or name her successor. So, Norfolk would use his position to ensure Mary was recognised as Elizabeth’s hier and Phillip would use his power to tople Cecil as Elizabeth’s chief minister and stop the potential war with Spain.

Question 3

Elizabeth’s response to the Court plot

Answer 3

• By September 1969 - E heard about the plan and was furious, forbading any further discussion of the marriage.
• Norfolk’s power and wealth, coupled with Mary’s claim to the throne, could have challenged Eliza’s right to the queen. Mary’s Catholicism and Norfolk’s potential sympathy to Catholicism was dangerous - encouraged discontented Catholics to overthrow Elizabeth.
• Most men, like Norfolk and Dudley, eventually submitted to the Queen. However, Norfolk’s actions aroused suspicions resentment remained.

Question 4

The role of the Duke of Norfolk

Answer 4

• Ambigious role in the events of 1568-69 - leader and the chief benificary of the plot.
• Chose to leave Court in London but didn’t go to the North to raise rebellion - chose to be imprisoned.
• An indirect cause of the rebellion - stirred up nobles’ resentment. Norfolk may’ve been motivated by a concern about declining role of nobility as men like Cecil were taking over Tudor Government.

Question 5

Religious and economic insecurities

Religious concerns

Answer 5

• Despite the break with Rome under Henry VIII and further moves to Protestantism under Edward VI and Elizabeth, many living in the North were openly Catholic.
• Practices suvived partly by Elizabeth’s policies (1559 Settlement and Thirty Nine Articles 1563) creating a settlement to allow most moderates and Catholics to conform - kept doctrine as moderate as possible. The policy led to the development of Church patists. In addition, until the threat of a Catholic rebellion became serious, recusancy flourished.
• In an attempt to crush any threat, Elizabeth introduced a hard-line approach to the religious settlement.

Question 6

Religious concerns

How did Elizabeth deal with the Catholics more harshly

Answer 6

• Appointed a series of men with strong Protestant convictions to positions in the Northern church and govt, such as Lord Hunson replacing the Earl of Northumberland as the Warden of the East March = aimed to spread Protestant ideas in the region while clamping down on Catholic activity.
• KEY: James Pilkington as Bishop of Durham held a campaign to eradicate traditional practices in Durham, removing church furinature and religious imagery representing Catholicism - made himself very unpopular locally.

Question 7

Religious and economic concerns

The economic concerns

Answer 7

• Lack of govt opportunities had economic consquences for the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland - lost their incomes to rivals.
• Both earls suffered financially in the 1560s and govt policy worsened their situation:
  + Northumerband wrote to the Earl of Pembroke asking for £1000 in 1562.
  + Westmoreland borrowed £80 from Sir George Bowes and Northumberland failed to claim compensation for the rights to a coppermine discovered in his estates in 1568.
• Not enough to rebel on its own, but the rebellion was caused by govt intrusion, religious and politically, and E’s ow actions = convinced they had nothing to loose.

Question 8

Mary Queen of Scots’ arrival

Answer 8

• Awkward - treated well but her potential claim to the English throne made her a threat (already had a son) - could be used as a figurehead for the Catholics, alongside the deteriorating relationship with Spain (despite Phillip being reluctant to help someone with links to France). Placed Mary in Tutbury Castle.
• Options: Couldn’t execute another anointed monarch, nor useful to help Mary regain her Scottish throne as the minor James VI weakened the threat of an invasion as Scotland was Protestant.
• However, Mary’s connection to France actually enhanced Elizabeth’s security as France’s rival Spain wouldn’t support a French candidate to be Queen of England.