Northern Rebellion

• Why was Mary, Queen of Scots a threat to Elizabeth?

  • She had a claim to the English throne
  • She was a Catholic figurehead
• Why was Mary's relation with the French good for Elizabeth?

  It meant that Mary would not have support from the Catholic Spanish King, Philip II, as he did not want France's empire and power to grow
• Why did relations between England and Spain deteriorate?

  • Philip II brutally put down a protestant rebellion in the Netherlands, leading to fears in England
  • Spanish ships carrying bullion took refuge in England from pirates, Cecil ordered it to be seized, cutting off Spanish army's pay, angering the gov
• What was the plot against Cecil?

  The Duke of Norfolk would be married to Mary, Queen of Scots, to gain power and remove Cecil
• Who was involved in the plot against Cecil?

  Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Northumberland, Earl of Westmoreland
• Why did Elizabeth oppose the plot?

  The marriage would be politically dangerous for Elizabeth, as it could result in a strong Catholic challenge
• What did Norfolk decide to do after the plot was revealed?

  Remain loyal to Elizabeth and not rebel with the Northern Earls
• What were the Economic causes of the rebellion?

  • Earl of Westmoreland was forced to borrow £80 from Sir George Bowes
  • Earl of Northumberland asked the queen for a grant of £1000, tried to claim compensation for a copper mine found on his estate, but he was denied
• What were the Religious causes of the rebellion?

  • As relations with Spain deteriorated, Catholics were under suspicion - fears of Catholics having divided loyalties between the Queen and the Pope
  • Fears of a Catholic rising in the North
  • Protestants were appointed to key positions in the North to spread Protestantism - leaving Catholics without their positions of power
• Which Earl did not want to join the rebellion?

  Earl of Northumberland
• Why did Mary's arrival put Elizabeth in a difficult position?

  • Mary was an anointed Queen who had been deposed by her subjects - Elizabeth had strong views about royal prerogative
  • Executing a Queen would give her subjects a bad idea
  • Having a minor on the Scottish throne weakened the Scottish threat
  • The Earl of Moray, who controlled Scotland and their baby King, was protestant
• Why was Mary's presence in England an issue?

  • A figure for those who weren't happy with Elizabeth's rule - Catholics
  • Elizabeth had no heir or husband, making Mary a potential successor
• When did the Rebellion start?

  9 November
• What did the Earls proclaim they were doing instead of rebelling?

  Defending Elizabeth from advisors like William Cecil, who persuaded her to enforce Protestantism and attack Catholicism
• When did the rebels march to Bramham Moor?

  22 November
• Why was Bramham Moor an important location?

  • Gaining control of the junction meant that the rebels could threaten York, an important center for Northern government
  • They could block troops marching North from London and South from Newcastle
  • Rebels could March South to rescue Mary from Tutbury Castle
• How far were the rebels to Mary at Bramham Moor?

  40 miles
• How many were in the rebels army?

  1600 horsemen and 3800 footmen
• Why were the horsemen a threat to the government?

  It meant they were well equipped
• Why did officials find it difficult to act against the rebellion?

  • The scale of the Rebellion
  • The Earl of Sussex was trapped in York with 400 Horsemen
  • Sussex couldn't find the support for 1500 footmen
  • The rebels controlled so much of the North that Sussex stopped sending letters to London in case they were intercepted
• Who warned London of the incoming rebels?

  Lord Hudson
• What did Cecil do in response to Hudson's warning?

  Move Mary from Tutbury castle to Coventry
• When did the rebels choose to retreat?

  24 November
• Where did the rebels retreat to?

  Brancepeth
• Why did the rebels retreat?

  • They heard rumors of a large royal army being organised by the Earl of Warwick
  • Heard that Mary, Queen of Scots had been moved to Coventry
  • Rebels realised they wouldn't receive support further South
  • Cheshire and Lancashire didn't rise in rebellion
• Why did the rebels choose to retreat further to Durham?

  They had the strongest support there
• When and why did the rebel army disband and flee?

  The large rebel army reached them
• What happened when Sir John Forster Challenged the Earls?

  They fought a brief skirmish before the Earls retreated further north
• Where did Northumberland flee to?

  Scotland
• What happened to Northumberland in Scotland?

  He was handed over to the pro-English regent of Scotland, the Earl of Moray, before being handed over to England as was beheaded
• When and where was Northumberland executed?

  York, 1572
• Where did Westmorland flee to?

  Europe, and remained in exile for the rest of his life
• Why was Lord Dacre a threat to Elizabeth?

  • Correspondence with Mary
  • Gathered an army of 3000 men
• What happened when Hudson was sent to arrest Dacre?

  Dacre attacked Hudsons army, Hudson won
• How many rebels died in the Dacre-Hudson battle?

  500
• Where did Dacre flee to?

  Europe, where he remained in exile
• Why could the rebels easily take over Durham?

  Important administrative center but not heavily fortified
• Why was Durham the focus of the rebellion?

  Religious and political tensions that existed
• What was Barnard Castle?

  A fortress in the South West of Durham - had been crown property and was an important stronghold - the key to controlling the surrounding region
• What happened at Barnard Castle?

  • Came under siege from 5000 rebels
  • Supplies were so low 226 of Bowes men joined the rebels and another 150 turned on him
  • Bowes forced to surrender, and left with 400 of his men