4. Revolt of the Northern Earls 1569-70
❖ Causes of and development of the challenge
❖Main events of the revolt
❖Failure and its impact
Causes of and development of the challenge
Problem posed by Mary, Queen of Scots
- She had a legitimate claim to be Queen of England
- She was Catholic and was a potential figurehead for those Catholic in England and abroad
who wanted to see the end of Protestantism rule in England.
- Mary was already married 3 times and had a son (heir) whilst Elizabeth didn’t have any
Her claim to the throne came from her grandmother - Margaret (daughter of Henry VII, truce of
ayton led her to marry James IV of Scotland). So Mary and Elizabeth are cousins.
→ Many saw Elizabeth as illegitimate because her mother was Anne Boleyn and believed
Henry’s marriage to her was not valid.
The international context of the threat posed by Mary
Mary spent her youth in France because there were several attempts by the English to capture
her and she was sent to France for safety.
→ She was brought up by the French court and married to the heir to the French throne.
→ If Mary was the Queen of England, the French would be able to rule the English Channel.
After her French husband died in 1560, she returned to Scotland and ruled as Queen there.
Even though she wasn’t in France, she had strong ties with France because she was
related to the most powerful nobles in France, the Guise family.
→ However, Mary’s rule in Scotland went wrong in 1565-66 and was faced with a Protestant
noble revolt (led by her half-brother). She was imprisoned in her own castle. She escaped and
arrived in England in May 1568. (THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL REBELLION AS THEY
LOCKED HER UP).
➢ France and Spain were rivals except for sharing religion.
➢ Philip II strategic tolerance of Elizabeth→ he would rather tolerate Eliabeth on the
throne over Mary using French support and being monarch as it would increase France’s
power (controlling English Channel)
, Court politics and faction
Deterioration of relations with Spain
Elizabeth was reliant on Cecil as he was her most trusted adviser. The other nobles at court
resented him because Elizabeth, advised by Cecil, seemed to be leading England into a war
with Catholic Spain.
→ a protestant led rebellion broke out against Spanish rule in the Netherlands and was put
down with considerate force-> this strengthened Philip II of Spain and feared England of a
possible invasion.
→ This situation was made worse when Spanish ships carried bullion (gold/silver coins) to pay
for Spanish troops to give to the Netherlands. Cecil ordered the bullion to be seized, the
Spanish government was angry.
→ End of 1568, it looked like England was going to be dragged into war with Spain (larger
and powerful country. Cecil’s policy was to blame and a Court plot emerged to remove him
from power.
Court plot against Cecil
They didn’t intend to remove Elizabeth from power. They saw themselves as loyal subjects
to her that were just concerned of Cecil’s influence.
→ included Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and 2 other northern nobles, Earl of
Northumberland and Westmorland.
Northumberland & Westmoreland→ Elizabeth wasn’t treating them well, they felt neglected as
their interests weren’t being looked after. They were both excluded from court.
Westmoreland→ He was Catholic, he saw Mary as rightful heir to throne. He saw this as the
chance to get back into court.
Earl of Leicester→ He supported it because he believed that she would be restored to the
Scottish throne and it could eliminate Mary as a threat (he didn’t know the true extent of the
plot). When Elizabeth was angry when she found out about the plot, he quickly withdrew his
support. Elizabeth still banished him from court for couple of weeks.
Norfolk→ He wanted more power. He didn’t want Cecil to have all the power and wanted to
advance his own position if he married Mary.
Aim: Duke of Norfolk (most powerful member of English nobility) would marry Mary. Many were
worried of Elizabeth’s refusal to marry and produce an heir. (They thought this alliance would
secure the English succession and control Mary through marriage).
→ THEN, Duke of Norfolk would use his position to ensure Mary was recognised as Elizabeth’s
heir. Philip would then use his power to remove Cecil and end the potential war with Spain.
➔ This plan was popular . Even the Earl of Leicester (Elizabeth’s favorite) was prepared to
support it.
➔ However, Elizabeth heard of the plan in 1569 and was furious and forbade any talks on
marriage. Mary’s claim to be Queen and Norfolk’s power and wealth could have led to a
challenge to Elizabeth’s reign.
❖ Causes of and development of the challenge
❖Main events of the revolt
❖Failure and its impact
Causes of and development of the challenge
Problem posed by Mary, Queen of Scots
- She had a legitimate claim to be Queen of England
- She was Catholic and was a potential figurehead for those Catholic in England and abroad
who wanted to see the end of Protestantism rule in England.
- Mary was already married 3 times and had a son (heir) whilst Elizabeth didn’t have any
Her claim to the throne came from her grandmother - Margaret (daughter of Henry VII, truce of
ayton led her to marry James IV of Scotland). So Mary and Elizabeth are cousins.
→ Many saw Elizabeth as illegitimate because her mother was Anne Boleyn and believed
Henry’s marriage to her was not valid.
The international context of the threat posed by Mary
Mary spent her youth in France because there were several attempts by the English to capture
her and she was sent to France for safety.
→ She was brought up by the French court and married to the heir to the French throne.
→ If Mary was the Queen of England, the French would be able to rule the English Channel.
After her French husband died in 1560, she returned to Scotland and ruled as Queen there.
Even though she wasn’t in France, she had strong ties with France because she was
related to the most powerful nobles in France, the Guise family.
→ However, Mary’s rule in Scotland went wrong in 1565-66 and was faced with a Protestant
noble revolt (led by her half-brother). She was imprisoned in her own castle. She escaped and
arrived in England in May 1568. (THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL REBELLION AS THEY
LOCKED HER UP).
➢ France and Spain were rivals except for sharing religion.
➢ Philip II strategic tolerance of Elizabeth→ he would rather tolerate Eliabeth on the
throne over Mary using French support and being monarch as it would increase France’s
power (controlling English Channel)
, Court politics and faction
Deterioration of relations with Spain
Elizabeth was reliant on Cecil as he was her most trusted adviser. The other nobles at court
resented him because Elizabeth, advised by Cecil, seemed to be leading England into a war
with Catholic Spain.
→ a protestant led rebellion broke out against Spanish rule in the Netherlands and was put
down with considerate force-> this strengthened Philip II of Spain and feared England of a
possible invasion.
→ This situation was made worse when Spanish ships carried bullion (gold/silver coins) to pay
for Spanish troops to give to the Netherlands. Cecil ordered the bullion to be seized, the
Spanish government was angry.
→ End of 1568, it looked like England was going to be dragged into war with Spain (larger
and powerful country. Cecil’s policy was to blame and a Court plot emerged to remove him
from power.
Court plot against Cecil
They didn’t intend to remove Elizabeth from power. They saw themselves as loyal subjects
to her that were just concerned of Cecil’s influence.
→ included Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and 2 other northern nobles, Earl of
Northumberland and Westmorland.
Northumberland & Westmoreland→ Elizabeth wasn’t treating them well, they felt neglected as
their interests weren’t being looked after. They were both excluded from court.
Westmoreland→ He was Catholic, he saw Mary as rightful heir to throne. He saw this as the
chance to get back into court.
Earl of Leicester→ He supported it because he believed that she would be restored to the
Scottish throne and it could eliminate Mary as a threat (he didn’t know the true extent of the
plot). When Elizabeth was angry when she found out about the plot, he quickly withdrew his
support. Elizabeth still banished him from court for couple of weeks.
Norfolk→ He wanted more power. He didn’t want Cecil to have all the power and wanted to
advance his own position if he married Mary.
Aim: Duke of Norfolk (most powerful member of English nobility) would marry Mary. Many were
worried of Elizabeth’s refusal to marry and produce an heir. (They thought this alliance would
secure the English succession and control Mary through marriage).
→ THEN, Duke of Norfolk would use his position to ensure Mary was recognised as Elizabeth’s
heir. Philip would then use his power to remove Cecil and end the potential war with Spain.
➔ This plan was popular . Even the Earl of Leicester (Elizabeth’s favorite) was prepared to
support it.
➔ However, Elizabeth heard of the plan in 1569 and was furious and forbade any talks on
marriage. Mary’s claim to be Queen and Norfolk’s power and wealth could have led to a
challenge to Elizabeth’s reign.
