Miles - History 4. The extent of Catholic threat up to 1570 Flashcards
(37 cards)
The extent of the Catholic threat up to 1570:
.
The catholic threat and its nature
Overview of the impact of the settlement.
-Despite Elizabeth’s best attempts to appease Catholics, they were far from happy.
- Most people outside of London remained Catholic.
-When looking at the threat from disgruntled Catholics, we have to establish whether it was from an extreme minority or all of them
…pt2
-Elizabeth felt that a gradual and gentle switch to Protestantism would eventually win over the Catholic masses.
-In reality, Elizabeth needed to appease Catholic gentry to enforce government policy in the regions.
How far were Catholics a threat to Elizabeth?
At the beginning of the reign, most were still Catholic. In a study, Duffy has shown that Catholic beliefs were held by large sections of the population. Therefore, Elizabeth and her Protestant supporters were faced with a difficult task in implementing the religious settlement.
Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.
Elizabeth was also faced with foreign affairs. In 1558, England was an ally of Catholic Spain against France and Scotland.
Her most serious threat was from Mary Stuart,who possessed the strongest claim to the English throne after Elizabeth’s demise.The problem began after Mary’s decision to leave Scotland to find exile in England in 1568 until her execution in 1587.
How strong was English Catholicism from 1558-1568?
At the beginning of the reign, the main opposition came from Catholic bishops in the House of Lords. As the study of the church illustrates , it was this group, rather than a band of radical Protestants in the House Of Commons, who provided the main obstacle to the passage through Parliament of the religious settlement.
…pt2
Although the period 1558-68 saw little persecution of Catholics, they, in turn seemed to lack leadership and direction in how to deal with the new religious settlement. Clear lack of Papal leadership.
It was not until 1562 that Pius IV made a statement prohibiting Catholics from attending Anglican services. However, this was not made known until 1566.
This lack of action was partly due to Phillip II’s ability to persuade Pope that england could be won back to Catholicism means, through diplomacy.
Who were the main Catholic opponents to the settlement?
Papists.
Recusants.
Seminary priests.
Jesuits.
Papists
Loyal to Elizabeth, made up the Catholic majority including 8000 loyal clergy. They opposed changed to sacraments and the mass. They attended services, but they interpreted the Prayer Book as Catholics and retained their elements.
Recusants
More radical than Papists, by refusing to attend church, believing strongly in the need for a Latin mass. 1/3rd of the Lords were thought to be recusants as well as gentry members. Recusant priests carried out private masses for recusant gentlemen and Elizabeth did nothing about it until the 1570s
Seminary priests
English Catholic priests trained in flanders from 1558. over 500 returned to England to ‘save Catholic souls’ and 100 were eventually put to en masse from 1574 to return Catholicism.
Jesuits
Founded in 1534 to destroy, they were highly motivated Catholic missionaries. They were more extreme than seminaries but were less in number. Arriving after 1580, they were vigorously opposed attempts at Catholic appeasement and accepted no compromise.
The increased threat after 1558
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Mary Queen of Scots arrived in England - 1568
Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate in favor of her infant son James and was imprisoned. She managed to escape and fled to England where she sought refuge from Elizabeth in 1568. She fled after an unsuccessful attempt to regain her throne.
In essence, she became Mary’s prisoner for 18 years.
…pt2
Sir William Douglas helped her flee on a boat.
Why was she forced to abdicate?
She was alienated from her closest advisors, Mary’s monarchy floundered. After failing to quash a rebellion of Scottish peers, Mary was imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle and forced to abdicate in favor of her one-year-old son.
Revolt of Northern Earls 1569-1570 - brief explanation.
This was an unsuccessful attempt by the Catholic nobles from Northern England to depose Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. It’s leaders were Thomas Percy (earl of Northumberland) and Charles Neville (earl of Westmorland).
What was the situation by 1569?
- Elizabeth had been Queen for about 10 years.
-Her religious settlement had been largely successful as there was no significant rebellion against it. (albeit the recusants, only a small minority however)
-Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth’s Catholic heir presumptive had arrived in England.
-Catholicism was still largely supported in the North West of England.
The key evidence for people still following Catholicism was how many people were still attending church on Sunday as usual. The
Why was Mary’s arrival in England significant?
People had a Catholic alternative to support + she had a very strong claim to the throne.
What actually was the Northern rebellion?
1569- they rebelled.
-Percy and Neville were both leading Catholic nobles but Neville’s wife was also heavily involved in the plot as she hoped Mary Queen of Scots might marry her brother.
-They both strongly opposed the religious settlement.
Why did the Northern earls rebel?
.
Political grievances
-Elizabeth had weakened their powers in the north - Percy had lost an important position as Warden of the Middle March, defending border against Scotland.
-The earls wanted to get rid of ‘evil councillors’ such as Lord Cecil who they blamed for religious changed and loss of power.
-Changed in the way the givernment in the north had to operate - had to operate with a council rather than a nobility.
-The earls wanted Mary Stuart to be recognised as Elizabeth’s successor and for her to be freed from imprisonment.
Religious grievances
-The rebels wanted to re-establish Catholicism as the religion.
-They opposed the religious settlement.
-They wanted Mary to be recognized as Elizabeth’s successor.
What was the plan to revolt?
Winter 1569
1- The earls will raise rebel forced from their land and take control of Durham.
2- The rebels will march towards London to join with the Duke of Norfolk.
3-Spanish troop would join forces in the plan.
4-Duke of Norfolk and rebels will seize control of the government in London and overthrow Liz.
5-Meanwhile, Mary Queen of Scots is to be freed, ready to marry the Duke of Norfolk and take the throne.
Unrealistic + assumptuous.
The plan was unrealostic however, as it goes on the assumption that King Phillip II of Spain would sanction this to happen, as it was a prerequisite to the entire plan. This would effectively have been an act of war.
Makes the assumption that Catholics would willingly join in.
Makes the assumption that there would be a lack of resistance of Elizabeth’s part
