Challenges to Elizabeth at home and abroad 1569-88

Question 1

When was the Northern Rebellion?

Answer 1

November 1569

Question 2

Give one religious reason why the northern nobles were unhappy with Elizabeth in the 1560s?

Answer 2

Catholicism was the strongest in the north of England.
Wanted restoration of catholicism under a catholic monarch.
The arrival of MQS in 1568 gave them hope Elizabeth could be replaced.
Hatred of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement.
Elizabeth had appointed James Pilkington (Protestant) as Archbishop of Durham.

Question 3

Give one political reason why the northern nobles were unhappy with Elizabeth in the 1560s?

Answer 3

They saw their power and influence over the monarch decreasing.
Elizabeth preferred protestant advisors from non-noble families.
Hatred of William Cecil.
Elizabeth increased her control of the north through the Council of the North- controlled by protestants. Nobles resented this.

Question 4

Why was the Duke of Northumberland angry with Elizabeth?

Answer 4

Elizabeth had taken large areas of land from him and shared them between his main rivals in the north and a southern Protestants.
Elizabeth had also claimed all profits from copper mines found on his land.

Question 5

Name three important figures who took part in the northern rebellion.

Answer 5

Duke of Norfolk (Queen Elizabeth’s cousin), Northumberland, Westmoreland

Question 6

Who did the earls want to replace Elizabeth with as queen of England?

Answer 6

Mary Queen of Scots.

Question 7

Which city did the nobles capture and what did they do at the cathedral there?

Answer 7

Durham. Celebrated Catholic mass.

Question 8

Why did the rebellion fail?

Answer 8

A large royal army of 10,000 met rebels- showing support for Elizabeth
Little support for the revolt among the majority of Catholic nobility and ordinary people- most chose to support the queen.
Spain/ Popes promise of military support did not happen.

Question 9

What happened to the nobles after they were defeated?

Answer 9

400-600 of those involved were executed, including Northumberland although not until 1572. Others fled to Scotland/ abroad.

Question 10

What was the impact of the Northern uprising?

Answer 10

Elizabeth confiscated the land of the earls that rebelled making her stronger.
The reorganisation of the northern council strengthened her position.
Norfolk was released after 9 months in the tower of London.
She became less tolerant of Catholics. Recusancy (not attending church) was punished more harshly.
The Pope excommunicated Elizabeth in 1970.

Question 11

What did Pope Pius do in 1570 and how did this increase the Catholic threat to Elizabeth?

Answer 11

Papal Bull excommunicated Elizabeth I. This meant Catholics no longer had to obey her- encouraged to overthrow her.

Question 12

What were the aims of the Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babington plots?

Answer 12

Assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.

Question 13

In what year was the Ridolfi Plot?

Answer 13

1571

Question 14

Who supported the Ridolfi Plot?

Answer 14

The Pope and King Phillip of Spain agreed to provide troops.

Question 15

Why did the Ridolfi Plot fail?

Answer 15

Letters were intercepted. Elizabeth’s allies passed the names of the main conspirators to her.

Question 16

What year was the Throckmorton Plot?

Answer 16

1583

Question 17

Who uncovered the Throckmorton Plot?

Answer 17

Francis Walsingham- had Throckmorton under surveillance for months.

Question 18

What did English nobles have to sign after the failed Throckmorton Plot and what did it require them to do?

Answer 18

Bond of Association- required them to execute anyone who tried to overthrow Elizabeth.

Question 19

Give two reasons why the Catholic plots were never a real threat.

Answer 19

Elizabeth was a popular ruler- conspirators lacked public support e.g. failure of Northern Earls showed a lack of appetite for the Catholic revolution.
Phillip II- is reluctant to destroy the alliance with Elizabeth. Promises of support were half-hearted and rarely followed through.
Spy networks always uncovered plots long before they fully developed.

Question 20

When was the Babington Plot?

Answer 20

1586

Question 21

How was the Babington Plot discovered?

Answer 21

Walsingham was aware of the plot and allowed it to develop to the point where letters were found showing that Mary agreed to the assassination of Elizabeth.

Question 22

What happened to Mary?

Answer 22

She was found guilty of treason. Elizabeth signed her death warrant but didn’t seal it. Mary was executed.

Question 23

When was MQS executed? Why was Elizabeth reluctant until then?

Answer 23

1587 February. Mary was a fellow monarch and executing Mary undermined their claim to rule by Divine Right and might fuel more plots against her.

Question 24

What were the main reasons Mary was executed?

Answer 24

Her claim to the throne and her catholicism.
Her involvement in the Babington Plot- she was finally implicated in a plot to assassinate Elizabeth.
Her links abroad- she had support from Phillip of Spain and the Pope so there was the constant threat of invasion from Spain.
The Privy Council. They wanted her dead as she would always be a focal point of Catholic plots whilst alive. The council had passed the Act of Preservation of the Queen’s Safety in 1585 meaning if Mary was found guilty of involvement in a plot she would be put on trial.

Question 25

What was the impact of Mary’s beheading?

Answer 25

Limited- English Catholics didn’t rise up against Elizabeth.

Although Phillip of Spain did launch the Armada it was not a direct consequence of Mary’s execution.