3.6 Queen takes queen? The Revolt of the Northern Earls, 1569-70

How accurate is it to say that the treatment of Mary, Queen of Scots, in the years 1568 and 1569 was the main cause of the Northern Rebellion?

• The treatment of Mary, Queen of Scots
  • Defeated in the civil war north of the border, fled south in search of safety/ sought political asylum - seen as unfair/unjustified by the earls
  • Mary provided a focus for the disgruntled Catholic northern nobles
  • The earls knew Mary - northern landowners knew Scottish affairs
• Other Causes
  • Religion - genuine concern by Northumberland/Westmorland over the influence of Protestantism and the Church Settlement (1559) - both were Catholic
  • William Cecil - had unrivalled political prominence at Court/ target for rival factions - decided domestic/foreign policy
  • Court factions - 1585 - Cecil's (nuanced) rival was the Earl of Leicester
  • Personal ambition - Both Northumberland/Westmorland's influence at court was minimal (as well as Lord Dacre), which was exacerbated by Elizabeth's appointments e.g. Earl of Sussex as head of the CotN, and James Pilkington as the Bishop of Durham (who preached aggressive, evangelical Protestantism)
  • The Duke of Norfolk - Faction supported by Northumberland/Westmorland

How far was the detention of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1568 responsible for causing the Northern Rebellion?

• The detention of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1568 contributed to the outbreak of the Northern Rebellion because:
  • It enabled plots against Elizabeth to be woven around the Scottish Queen:
    • The Norfolk plot - Norfolk believed he should be amongst the Privy Council (as the highest noble) by marrying Mary (led to treason/collapse of his Court faction)
• Mary, Queen of Scots' detention by Elizabeth I in 1568 caused some Catholic nobles to rebel in the north of England because:
  • The North was religiously conservative/ economically disadvantaged 
• Mary, Queen of Scots' detention by Elizabeth I in 1568  was only partially responsible for the outbreak of rebellion in the north of England because there were other equally significant factors that must be considered, such as:
• The earls' marginalisation at Court and never fully accepting the Church Settlement of 1559
• In many ways the detention of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1568 was simply an excuse for already disaffected Catholic noblemen to vent their anger and frustration with the government by means of an armed insurrection:

'Elizabeth's treatment of Mary, Queen of Scots in the years after 1568 was fundamentally mistaken.' How far do you agree with this statement?

• Release Mary and send her back to Scotland/ France - Not realistic, as there was the danger of a civil-war in Scotland as well as a French-led military expedition in support of Mary
  
• **House arrest** - Controllable (despite potential of plots to free her/  Catholic countries uniting against Elizabeth denying Mary freedom)
• Mary's execution - preferred by Cecil and Walsingham (executing an anointed queen would've set a bad example - Great Chain of Being)
  

How accurate is it to say that Mary, Queen of Scots, posed a serious threat to Elizabeth in the years after 1568?

Threat

• Heir apparent 
  
• Many people were reluctant protestants 
• Norfolk's support (the Norfolk plot) -  enlisted the support of other nobles
• Increasing resentment of Cecil -  his part in creating war with Spain
  
• A lot of resentment hoped to remove Cecil, not even necessarily remove Elizabeth
  
• Elizabeth's detention of Mary -  forced Northumberland/Westmorland to rebel
  

Non-threat

• Mary never intended to kill Elizabeth - 
• Spain would still support Elizabeth (despite her catholicism) - due to her links to the Guise family
  

'The Northern Rebellion of 1569-70 achieved very little.' How far do you agree with this statement?

Successes - very little apart from the capture of Barnard Castle and Durham

• The rebels occupied the city of Durham
  • One of the most important cities in the region (although it was never strongly fortified)
• The rebels took a heavily defended castle
  • Barnard Castle (Sir George Bowes') was beseiged by 5,000 rebels
• The Queen and her ministers were shocked and frightened by the Northern Rebellion
• Catholic doctrine and order of worship was restored to Durham Cathedral 
  • Established a base, one of the most important cathedrals in the kingdom. They tore down evidence of Protestantism/ restored Mass.

Failures - the rebel army did no more than march to and from Bramham Moor near York

• The Crown defeated the rebels in battle near Hexam
  • Fled to Scotland when they heard of the 10,000 strong royal army marching north to meet them
• Mary, Queen of Scots, remained in captivity
• 6,000 joined - fair, but nowhere near as many as hoped

How accurate is it to say that poor leadership was responsible for the failure of the Northern Rebellion of 1569-70?

Incoherent and aimless - didn't inspire loyalty/confidence - reluctant rebels, driven to revolt out of dispair

• The earls lacked the charisma needed to inspire men to rebel and follow their lead
• Only managed to raise 6,000 men - not enough to confront a well-trained royal army
• Failed to inspire the people of the midlands/south of England - 
• The ease with which the rebels took Durham lulled them into a false sense of power
• The earls wasted time and resources besieging Barnard Castle
  • Instead of marching south in search of new recrhits with the prospect of freeing Mary, Queen of Scots
    
• The rebels failed to engage the royal army in battle
  • Fled when the Crown sent an army against them
    

How accurate is it to say that the rebellion of 1569-70 failed because of Elizabeth's strong reaction to it?

• Overall, the rebellion failed because the earls were frightened into fleeing rather than engage in battle the royal army sent againt them,
  
  • Example of incoherent/aimless leadership - didn't inspire loyalty/confidence due to reluctancy
  • In part due to desperation of winter 
  • Northern - failed to inspire the midland/the south
• Generally, the Crown was able to impose itself on to the rebels by threatening them with superior armed force,
  • Although slow to react, under Lord Hunsdon/Earl of Sussex

How accurate is it to say that the failure of the Northern Rebellion had little impact on Catholics in England?

Impact

• Established 'via media'/ 1559 Religious Settlement was abandoned - 1570 marked the Anglican  Church becoming more firmly Protestant - non-attendance punished etc - those who completely refused were recuants
  
• Fuelled a Catholic Counter-Reformation - which led to priests sent to England to create Catholic converts (e.g. English priests at Douai - banned/executed)
  

Little impact

How accurate is it to say that Elizabeth's religious policy was primarily responsible for the Catholic Counter-Reformation in England?

Unintended

• State-sponsored persecution of Catholics was a key feature of government policy
• Religious conformity was encouraged and penalties for non-conformists were enforced
• The Catholic Church responded by training priests to re-convert parishioners
  • Setting up of colleges or seminaries in Europe to train priests who were then sent to England to support and spread the Catholic faith e.g. English priests at Douai 
• The pope excommunicated Elizabeth (1570) and declared her a heretic, which encouraged plots
  • To kill her and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots

'It was the detention of Mary, Queen of Scots, rather than the Rebellion of the Northern Earls, that posed the greater threat to Elizabeth and her government at the beginning of the 1570s.' How far do you agree with this statement?

• Controversial - Mary expected better treatment from her cousin and hoped she would help her to regain the throne
• Treated as a prisoner - caused outrage amongst English/Catholics
• Percies/ Northumberlands/ Nevilles/ Westmorland - remained Catholic/ resisted the settlement
• Alienation at court/ threat to power - blamed on Cecil
• Mary was seen as a natural leader - 
• Only became a threat when Phillip II started to support Mary in the 1580s -  especially in conjunction with France

• One of the most serious threats to Elizabeth and her government - challenged more than the Queen's status and authority - notion of the Great Chain of Being
  
• It was Mary's treatment that caused the Northern Earls to rebel - once it began the rebellion had greater significance as it tapped into Catholic discontent 
• Powerful - restored Catholicism at Durham cathedral, more serious due to armed fores
• Linked to court intrigue to remove Cecil - serious, 
  
• England's relations with Spain deteriorated simultaneously - rebels seized Hartlepool, as a base for Spanish troops
  
• Dealings/ aftermath - addressed the threat swiftly (showing its threat), as well as harsh punishments for the earls
• Escalated after the papal bull (1570)