Topic 3.6

Question 1

why did Mary queen of scots (MOS) pose a double threat to Elizabeth?

Answer 1

she had a more legitimate claim to the throne and she was the potential catholic figurehead

Question 2

why did catholics and others view Elizabeth as not being legitimate?

Answer 2

she was the daughter of Henry 8 and Anne Boleyn and many considered their marriage as invalid

Question 3

who did MOS have connections with?

Answer 3

France - she married the heir to French throne

Question 4

why was Elizabeth relieved by the fact that MOS had connections with France?

Answer 4

coz spain and France would not cooperate together - meaning that if there would be a threat posed by MOS only France would support the threat

Question 5

who was Elizabeth reliant on the advice of?

Answer 5

Cecil - they had worked together ever since her accession to the throne -> they seemed to create a moderate religious settlement which aimed to keep both protestants and catholics happy.

Question 6

was Cecil controversial?

Answer 6

yes, members of the nobility at court resented his influence with the queen. -> he advised QE to lead the country into war with Spain

Question 7

who were the men involved in the attempt of getting rid of Cecil?

Answer 7

duke of Norfolk, duke of Westmorland; duke of northumberland

Question 8

what was the aim of the court plot?

Answer 8

duke of Norfolk was to marry Mary whom members of the nobility considered as Elizabeth’s heir

Question 9

what were some weaknesses of the northern earls?

Answer 9

• did not have support of Norfolk (who was the most powerful noble)
• both earls were suffering financially and gov policy was making their situations worse

^ earl of Northumberland asked earl of Pembroke to ask QE for £1000 (a huge sum of money)
^Westmorland was forced to borrow £80 from sir bowes
^same year northumberland tried to claim compensation for the rights to a copper mine that had been discovered on his estates -> the crown refused to pay

Question 10

what were some reasons to rebel?

Answer 10

-rebels were open Catholics
- E’s gov appointed a series of men with strong protestant convictions to positions in the northern church and gov
-council of the north was run by earl of Sussex an outsider
- appointment of protestant outsiders to key posts in the north - led to religious and political tensions
^ northern nobles who had previously been appointed by Mary I now found themselves deprived of their positions or overlooked in favour of protestant outsiders

^ e.g QE’s cousin took the post which was traditionally issued to the earls of northumberland

Question 11

what did the rebels celebrate at Durham Cathedral?

Answer 11

catholic mass

Question 12

what did the earls claim?

Answer 12

that they were Elizabeth’s loyal subjects who were defending her from advisers such as Cecil who persuaded her to enforce Protestantism and attack catholicism.

Question 13

how many ppl/horsemen had the rebels attracted by late November?

Answer 13

3,800 foot soldiers and 1600 horsemen

Question 14

why was Sussex not able to stop the rebellion?

Answer 14

he was trapped in York with only 400 horsemen. he tried to raise a larger army of 1500 foot men but he did not attract the support he needed from local gentry

Question 15

how were the rebels outsmarted?

Answer 15

QE and Cecil got a message from lord Hunsdon - a warning that the rebels were marching south and advising that MOS is moved from Tutbury

Question 16

how was the rebellion becoming less threatening?

Answer 16

the rebels retreated to Brancepeth

Question 17

why did the rebels retreat to Brancepeth?

Answer 17

-they heard rumours that a large army was being organised in the south under the earl of Warwick
-they may have heard that MOS was moved and was out of reach
-they were not very influential in the south
-they hoped to raise Cheshire and Lancashire in rebellion -> this failed since earl of Derby remained loyal

Question 18

how far did the rebels go before they were challenged by sir John Forster?

Answer 18

Hexham

Question 19

what happened to both earls?

Answer 19

Northumberland was beheaded in York
Westmorland remained in exile for the rest of his life

Question 20

how did the Scots react when Northumberland went there to find more supporters?

Answer 20

he was handed over to pro-english regent of Scotland, earl of Moray

Question 21

why after the events of the northern rebellion QE still felt threatened?

Answer 21

because Lord Dacre was sus since he was in correspondence with MOS
^ he managed to convince the London authorities that he was loyal and he was allowed to return to cumbria (his domain). He then went on to gather an armed force of c.3000 men.

Question 22

what did QE do as a result of the sus behaviour of Dacre?

Answer 22

she sent Lord Hunsdon to arrest him - but he was attacked by Dacre and his men.
^ about 500 rebels were killed or captured -> Lord Hunsdon won

Question 23

what happened to dacre?

Answer 23

he escaped and remained in exile
^ his’ and Westmorland’s lands were confiscated.

Question 24

why was durham a good place to capture?

Answer 24

because the bishop had caused resentment among the local gentry and it wasn’t highly fortified + there were religious (such as the destruction of the banner representing the local saint, st Cuthbert which was kept at the cathedral) and political tensions there

Question 25

why was the siege and the capture of Barnard castle so significant?

Answer 25

-because it was a fortress in the SW of County Durham which guarded the river Tees. It had been Crown property since the 15th century and was an important stronghold. -> entrusted by George Bowes
-it was also one of the keys to controlling the surrounding region
^it came under the siege of 5000 rebels
^ men of Bowes joined the rebels due to starvation and shortage of supplies.
^226 men leapt over the walls to join the rebels

Question 26

why did Cheshire and Lancashire not join the rebellion?

Answer 26

because the earl of derby - the dominant noble in the areas - remained loyal

Question 27

reasons for failure

Answer 27

-rebellion lacked coordination and clear objectives
-northumberland wasn’t even pro the marriage plot -> half-hearted
-it did not attract wider support from within England or from abroad
^nobles were scared of the repercussions that would come from joining e.g Earl of Derby, Sayer, earl of Cumberland
-no support from foreign catholic powers
^the rebels believed that Philip of Spain II would send troops - but this was indeed a false belief;
^ Philip remained reluctant as MOS had connections with France
^ rebels also believed catholics in Scotland would join but they were stopped by the earl of Moray

Question 28

what did pope Pius V do?

Answer 28

excommunicated Elizabeth because he didn’t view her as a legitimate queen (papal bull)
^ many catholics also obtained this perception

Question 29

how did QE exact revenge?

Answer 29

-executed 8 ringleaders and beheaded Northumberland
^ she set an example for others who may have planned on rebelling
^she also asked for 700 rebels to be executed too

Question 30

what was gov response in political forms?

Answer 30

-council of the north was reorganised
-Earl of Huntingdon was appointed as president of the council
-rebellion also helped to establish protestant rule in Scotland