Catholic Threat

Question 1

What were england catholic challange

Answer 1

The pope
English nobility
France
Spain and Netherlands

Question 2

What was the issue with the pope

Answer 2

• Pope led a Counter-Reformation across Europe, persecuting heretics and encouraging war against Protestants. In 1566, the Pope instructed English Catholics not to attend Church of England services.
• Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570 with the Papal Bull - declaring her a heretic, and essentially encourage a revolt

Question 3

What was the issue with the english nobility

Answer 3

1/3rd of nobility were catholic in 1560. They had great power and influence in the commons. Many were unhappy with Elizabeth as she reduced their power, and favoured protestant families.

Question 4

What was the issue with france

Answer 4

A religious war broke out in France in 1562. Elizabeth agreed to help French Protestants in
return for them helping to get Calais back for England. However, the French Protestants made
peace with the French government later in 1562 leaving Elizabeth isolated. In 1564, she signed the Treaty of Troyes confirming that Calais belonged to France. England had held Calais since 1347 as a important military base.

Elizabeth looked weak and didn’t have strong allies, and didn’t look like a leader to put trust into

Question 5

What was the issue with Spain the the Netherlands

Answer 5

Spain was the strongest country in Europe when Elizabeth came to the throne. King Philip was a strict Catholic. He disliked Elizabeth’s support for French Catholics and England and Spain stopped trading with each other in 1563.

Spain had had control over the Netherlands since 1556. Phillip had a large army whose mission was to destroy Protestantism, they had already crushed Dutch revolutions and many Dutch rebels were fleeing to England, which angered Philp yet further. Elizabeth also turned down Philip’s proposal of marriage when she first became queen.