Elizabeth Topic 2

Question 1

when did the revolt of the northern earls take place

Answer 1

1569-1570

Question 2

why did the revolt of the northern earls take place

Answer 2

To make England Catholic again
The Earls resented their loss of influence in Elizabeth’s court when she appointed ‘new men’ such as William Cecil and Robert Dudley.
To marry Mary, Queen of Scots to the Duke of Norfolk, depose Elizabeth and make Mary queen.

Question 3

what happened in the northern earls revolt

Answer 3

Rebels, led by the Earls of Westmorland and Northumberland, marched to Durham and took control of the cathedral. They then continued south.
BUT support did not arrive from Spain.
Elizabeth moved Mary to Coventry, away from the rebellion.
Many northern landowners stayed loyal to Elizabeth.

Question 4

why is the northern earls failing rebellion significant

Answer 4

It showed that Mary, Queen of Scots couldn’t be trusted.
It led to Elizabeth’s excommunication by the pope, which encouraged further plots against Elizabeth.

Question 5

when did the ridolfi plot take place

Answer 5

1571

Question 6

what was the plan for the ridolfi plot

Answer 6

An Italian banker, Roberto Ridolphi, who was a spy for the pope, planned to murder Elizabeth, start a Spanish invasion and put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne. Mary would then marry the Duke of Norfolk.

Question 7

how did the riolfi plot take place

Answer 7

Ridolfi travelled to the Netherlands to discuss the plot with Philip II of Spain and the Duke of Alba. Philip instructed Alba to gather 10,000 troops for the invasion.

Question 8

why did the ridolfi plot fail

Answer 8

Sir William Cecil discovered the plot and had the Duke of Norfolk tried for treason and executed. Elizabeth would not agree to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Question 9

why was the ridolif plot signifiant

Answer 9

it confirmed that Spain, English Catholics and Mary were all still a major threat to Elizabeth.

Question 10

when was the throckmorton plot

Answer 10

1583

Question 11

what was the plan for the thockmorton plot

Answer 11

The French Duke of Guise plotted to invade England, overthrow Elizabeth and make England Catholic.
Philip II of Spain offered to help pay for the revolt. The pope gave his approval. Francis Throckmorton offered to pass letters between the plotters and Mary.

Question 12

why did the throckmorton plot fail

Answer 12

Sir Francis Walsingham (Secretary of State) discovered the plot. Throckmorton was executed.

Question 13

why was the throckmorton plot significant

Answer 13

it showed the threat from France and Spain. Elizabeth cracked down on Catholic sympathisers: 11,000 were imprisoned or kept under house arrest.

Question 14

when was the babington plot

Answer 14

1586

Question 15

what was the plan for the babington plot

Answer 15

The Duke of Guise planned to invade England, murder Elizabeth and put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne. This plot was also supported by Philip II and the pope.

Question 16

why did the babington plot fail

Answer 16

Walsingham intercepted letters between Mary and Babington which proved her involvement in the plot. Babington and the other plotters were executed. In October 1586, Mary was sentenced to death. Elizabeth signed Mary’s death warrant in February 1587.

Question 17

why was the babington plot significant

Answer 17

it led to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. Persecution of Catholics intensified.

Question 18

who was francis walsingham

Answer 18

Walsingham was Elizabeth’s Secretary of State or ‘spy master’.

Question 19

what did walsingham do

Answer 19

He used a network of spies and informants in every town and city in England, as well as abroad. He used ciphers (codes) for all his correspondences. He used torture and execution to deter people from committing crimes against Elizabeth.

Question 20

why was Mary queen of Scots executed in 1587

Answer 20

• walsinhams evidence proved that she had been involved in the revolt of the northern ears and the plot against Elizabeth
• the Spanish support for the attempts to put Mary on the thrown threatened Englands security
• her claim to the thrown gave catholics an alternate monarch to Elizabeth, specially once the pope had excommunicated Elizabeth

Question 21

what was the political and religious rivalry with Spain

Answer 21

Philip II had been involved in the plots against Elizabeth.
Many in Elizabeth’s government were angry at Spain’s persecution of Protestants in the Netherlands and encouraged Elizabeth to get involved. She secretly provided money to the rebels fighting against Spain and encouraged English privateers to attack Spanish ships. After the Spanish Fury, when unpaid Spanish troops looted the town of Antwerp, 17 Dutch provinces joined an alliance against the Spanish (the Pacification of Ghent) calling for Spanish troops to leave the Netherlands.
By late 1584, Spain had largely re-established control of the Netherlands but blamed England for supporting the rebels and for privateers attacking Spanish ships.

Question 22

what was the commercial rivalry with Spain

Answer 22

England and Spain were rivals for trade and resources from the New World, Turkey, China, Russia and North Africa.
English traders resented Spanish control of the trade routes into parts of Europe and that traders to the New World had to have a licence from Spain.
English privateers (financed by investors including Elizabeth) raided Spanish colonies and ships. Between 1577 and 1580 Sir Francis Drake captured £400,000 of Spanish silver and gold.
English sailors often attacked Spanish ships travelling to the Netherlands. By 1580, loss of silver meant that the Spanish government couldn’t afford to pays its troops in the Netherlands.
Elizabeth knighted Francis Drake, showing her support for his actions against Spanish ships. This angered Philip further.

Question 23

when did England sign the treaty of Nonsuch

Answer 23

1585

Question 24

what was the treaty of Nonsuch

Answer 24

ngland signed the Treaty of Nonsuch with the Dutch Protestant rebels. This said that England
would pay for 7400 soldiers, led by Robert Dudley, to fight with the Dutch rebels against the Spanish. This
gave Philip a justification for raising an Armada to attack England.

Question 25

when did Francis Drake attack the navy in the port of cadiz

Answer 25

1587

Question 26

what happened with drake attached the Cadiz port

Answer 26

under Elizabeth’s orders. 30 ships and
the majority of their supplies were destroyed. This attack became known as ‘singeing the King of Spain’s
beard’. It took Spain a year to rebuild the fleet.

Question 27

why did the Spanish Armada fail

Answer 27

• English ships were better armed and equipped
• drake used fireships at the battle of Gravelines, causing many ships to cut their anchors and drink to the North Sea
• English tactics were superior
• Spanish ships lacked food and supplies
• the Duke of parma and Duke of Medina sidona (commanding the Armada) were unable to communicate

Question 28

what were the consequences (what occurred because of) the fail of the Spanish armada

Answer 28

The victory enhanced Elizabeth’s authority in England and abroad. Many saw it as a victory for Protestantism. The defeat of the Spanish led to a gradual decline of the Spanish Empire.