Maintaining the Settlement

• The threat posed by Mary Queen of Scots

  • In 1568, Mary Queen of Scots fled to England after losing support in Scotland — posed a serious threat to Elizabeth.
  • Mary was the great-granddaughter of Henry VII and had a legitimate claim to the English throne.
  • Though excluded from succession by Henry VIII (due to religion), Mary still had royal blood and had been proposed as a bride for Prince Edward in the Treaty of Greenwich.
  • As a Catholic and Tudor, Mary was a rallying point for Catholics who wanted a Catholic monarch.
  • Elizabeth, unmarried and without an heir, feared Mary could attract support.
  • Mary was immediately detained in England — first in Carlisle Castle, then Bolton Castle.
• A CLOSER LOOK: Mary's background

  • Mary had returned to Scotland after the death of her husband Francis II of France.
  • Initially accepted, but her marriage to Lord Darnley created factional divisions.
  • Darnley was murdered and Mary married Lord Bothwell, who was widely blamed for Darnley’s death.
  • Her marriage to Bothwell destroyed her credibility; she was imprisoned, escaped, and fled to England.
  • Mary left her son James behind in Scotland.
• Elizabeth, marriage and the succession

  • Succession remained a major issue for Elizabeth, Parliament, and the Privy Council.
  • Parliament pressured her to marry in 1563 and 1566, fearing instability.
  • Elizabeth used marriage negotiations as a diplomatic tool — suitors included:
  • Prince Eric of Sweden
  • Archduke Charles II of Austria
  • Philip II of Spain
  • By 1569, Elizabeth was 36 years old and resolved never to marry.
• The re-emergence of a Catholic party and the Rising of the Northern Earls

  • A Catholic faction emerged at Court, promoting Mary’s claim.
  • Key figures:
  • Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk – Church attendee but sympathetic to Catholicism.
  • Earl of Northumberland – reconverted to Catholicism in 1567.
  • Earl of Westmoreland – sympathetic to Catholic cause.
  • A plan emerged to marry Mary to Norfolk, uniting two claimants and potentially solving the succession issue.
• A CLOSER LOOK: Court politics and personal rivalries

  • Factional rivalry at Elizabeth’s court had religious and personal dimensions:
  • Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester – Elizabeth’s favourite, supported the Norfolk-Mary marriage to undermine William Cecil.
  • Elizabeth found the idea completely unacceptable.
  • Summer 1569: the plan unravelled:
  • Scots refused to restore Mary.
  • Leicester confessed involvement.
  • Norfolk disobeyed a summons, fled, then returned and was imprisoned in October.
  • Rumours of rebellion began to spread, although no rising had yet occurred
• The Rising of the Northern Earls

  • Has been interpreted both as a court faction rebellion and as the last feudal uprising.
  • Rebels aimed to restore Mary and reassert Catholicism by military strength.
  • Bishop James Pilkington of Durham (radical Protestant) was a major source of religious tension:
  • Attacked Catholic traditions and reclaimed Church lands.
  • Area still practiced Masses for the dead, used holy water/images, and had few recusancy charges.
  • Pilkington's reforms provoked backlash among the local gentry and laity.
• Key events of the 1569 rebellion (1)

  • 24 Oct: Elizabeth demanded a report from the Council of the North.
  • Earl of Sussex summoned Northumberland and Westmoreland.
  • 9 Nov: signal given to raise troops.
  • 14 Nov: Rebels entered Durham Cathedral, destroyed Protestant symbols, and held Mass.
  • Rebels then marched south, reaching Tadcaster by 22 Nov, with:
  • 3800 foot soldiers
  • 1600 cavalry
  • Made proclamations along the way, seeking to gain more support.
  • 24 Nov: Rebels unexpectedly turned back to Knaresborough.
  • Likely due to lack of support from Lancashire/Cheshire and rumours of southern royal forces.
  • Rebels hesitant to enter regions where they lacked influence (like Yorkshire beyond the Aire and Don).
• Key events of the 1569 rebellion (2)

  • Plan to release Mary was abandoned.
  • Retreat to Brancepeth by 30 Nov, with:
  • 3200 foot soldiers
  • 1500 horsemen
  • Attempted siege of Barnard Castle, captured Hartlepool in hope of Spanish support (which never came).
  • Collapse followed news of government troops approaching; rebels fled to Scotland.
  • Only skirmish occurred near Hexham.
  • Elizabeth was excommunicated too late to influence the rebellion (Feb 1570).
  • Northumberland captured and executed in 1572.
  • Westmoreland escaped to Netherlands and lived in exile.
• The end of consensus and the condition of the Settlement by 1570 (1)

  • Rebellion had been nearly bloodless, but government’s response was brutal:
  • 700 executions ordered under martial law.
  • Eight rebel leaders executed at Tyburn in 1570.
  • Gentry spared in exchange for land/wealth.
  • Mary Stuart’s confinement was tightened.
  • Turning point in religious policy:
  • Papal Bull (1570) by Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth.
  • Declared Catholics who obeyed her were also excommunicated.
  • This linked Catholicism with treason.
  • Papal excommunication had been considered as early as March 1569, but came too late to affect rebellion.
• The end of consensus and the condition of the Settlement by 1570 (2)

  • Protestant radicalism also increased:
  • Thomas Cartwright (Cambridge lecturer) gave 1570 lectures criticising Church of England:
  • Called for abolition of bishops, deans, archdeacons.
  • Priests should be elected by congregations.
  • Wanted to eliminate remaining Catholic vestiges.
  • From 1570:
  • Elizabeth’s government shifted from moderation to enforcement of the religious Settlement.
  • 1571 Treason Acts:
  • Denying Elizabeth’s legitimacy became treason.
  • Converting someone to Catholicism was also treason.
  • Increasingly, being Catholic = being un-English.
• A CLOSER LOOK: The Papal Bull of 1570

  • Issued by Pope Pius V in February 1570.
  • Declared Elizabeth excommunicated, condemned to hell, and called Catholics to withdraw obedience.
  • Cemented the link between Catholicism and treason in England.