Topic 6: Revolt of the Northern Earls 1569-70

Question 1

Examples of religious grievances within the revolt:

Answer 1

• 1561 James Pilkington (staunch Protestant), appointed Bishop of Durham- 14th Nov 1569 stormed Durham Cathedral and celebrated a catholic mass
• 1564 dioceses most hostile to Elizabeth were in Carlisle, Durham and York
• In Cumberland and Westmorland, despite the 1559 Elizabethan religious settlement, catholic mass was retained

Question 2

Northern Earls decline in political influence:

Answer 2

• Thomas Percy, the Earl of Northumberland, was deprived of the Wardenship of the Middle March given to his enemy Sir John Forster
• southerner Lord Hunsdon was put in charge of Berwick (region in Northumberland)
• southerners Lord Grey of Wilton and the Earl of Bedford were named Wardens of the East March in succession
• plus both Earls had lost positions at court
• context: during this period Thomas Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex was the President of the Council of the North

Question 3

Duke of Norfolk:

Answer 3

• spent 9 months in the Tower of London for his involvement in the marriage plot
• second cousin of Elizabeth through her maternal grandmother Lady Elizabeth Howard and one of her favourites (was trusted with public office despite his family history)
• sister was Jane Howard, Countess of Westmorland (linked to the Earl of Westmorland who expected to gain patronage from the marriage plot)

Question 4

Those involved in the revolt:

Answer 4

• Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland
• the rebels numbered 5,700 at most, of whom only 140-180 were members of Percy or Neville affinities

Question 5

Confusion in the plot:

Answer 5

• the marriage plot leaked and reached Elizabeth by July 1569, meaning the Council of the North was on high alert and Mary was moved to Coventry
• route taken was disorganised and not calculated e.g Charles Neville, Earl of Westmorland took a diversion route eastwards to raise tenants at Kirby Moorside

Question 6

Strength:

Answer 6

• Rebels : 4,600 vs Elizabeth: 7,000
• Sussex marched out from York on 13 December 1569 with 10,000 men against the rebels’ 6,000, and was followed by 12,000 men under Baron Clinton. The rebel earls retreated northward and finally dispersed their forces, fleeing into Scotland
• weakness: lack of support from the Earl of Derby meant the rebellion did not grow into Lancashire and Cheshire, ensuring that the rebellion was only confined up North

Question 7

Foreign support/potential support:

Answer 7

• the rebellion lacked international catholic support
• Spain mistrusted Mary due to her french connections with the powerful De Guise family, through her mother Mary Guise who had been Queen of France
• plus costly difficulties elsewhere in his empire meant support never materialised
• earls had been in contact with the spanish ambassador des Spes del Valle

Question 8

Economic issues:

Answer 8

• Conflicts arose over policies regarding land tenure, impacting northern landowners.
• Economic hardship and debt led to desperation and dissension among many nobles.
• e.g Earl of Northumberland not granted mining rights for a copper mine found on his lands in 1567/68