Edexcel : Early Elizabethan England

• Queen Elizabeth I was the Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death in 1603.
• revolt of the northern earls - 1569 - Earl of Northumberland and Westmorland revolted against Elizabeth
• papul bull - 1570 - Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth I
• Ridolfi Plot - 1571 - Roberto di Ridolfi, King Fellipe ii, and mary - letters intercepted by advisors
• Throckmorton plot - 1583 - French soldiers would invade, funded by the pope and Fillepe II, Waslginham discovered the plan.
• Babington - 1586 - Anthony Babington - France and Spain would invade, Walsinghom intercepted letters to Mary in beer barrels , led to Mary's execution
• The problem of her accession

  legitimacy - was considered illegitimate by Catholics

  gender - she was female

  marriage - was not married
• Challenges from home

  Financial weakness - when she came to the throne England had £300,000 of debt to pay, the throne only received income from taxes.
• Challenges from abroad

  France - France were catholic and had strong relations with Scotland. they could easily invade England

  Calais - England had recently lost Calais to the French under an agreement. reclaiming Calais could make Elizabeth popular
• Protestantism

  Elizabeth was a protestant and wanted to make England protestant
• Puritans


  A small group of radical protestants, only about 3000. they held little power and no threat to Elizabeth.
• The Religious Settlement, 1559


  A settlement that gave compromise between catholic and protestant churches. Hated by lots. Three acts in it, the act of supremacy, the act of uniformity and the royal injunctions
• The Act of Supremacy

  Made Elizabeth supreme governor of the Church of England, all clergy swore an oath to her.
• The Act of Uniformity


  Established the appearance of churches and the form of services they held
• Royal Injunctions

  Reinforced the Act of Supremacy and Uniformity, and set out the structure of the services
• Recusants

  People who refused to go to church and were fined one shilling for every absence
• Labourers act of 1563


  Labourers earned up to 3 pence a day

  Skilled craftsmen earned up to 4 pence a day

  A Servant earns up to 8 to 9 pence a week
• The impact of the religious settlement

  8,000 out of 10,000 took the new oath.

  only 1 bishop agreed to take the oath, 27 new ones were brought in
• Enforcing the settlement

  Visits happened to churches to make sure they followed the rules

  400 clergy were dismissed

  Visits took place every 3 to 4 years
• challenge from the puritans

  They did not want a crucifix in the church

  They did not like the vestments being worn
• The revolt of the Northern Earls, 1569


  Earl of Westmoreland and Northumberland, led an army of catholic followers to overthrow Elizabeth
• Reasons for the Revolt Of The Northern Earls

  The earls had their power reduced by Elizabeth

  They were unhappy with the settlement

  They disliked Elizabeth's favourites
• Events of the revolt of the northern earls

  Held mass at Durham cathedral

  Took control of Pennines

  24th nov they retreated
• The threat of Spain

  strictly Catholic

  Large army

  Large colonies
• The Dutch revolt, 1566-68


  Dutch protestants rebelled against their Spanish colonists.

  they fought the Spanish for their freedom

  10,000 men Spanish army defeated the revolt
• Consequences of Dutch Revolt

  Many Dutch protestants were killed

  Lots of Dutch protestants fled to England

  Duke of Alba put in charge, hated Elizabeth

  Council of Troubles created, killed all Dutch protestants
• Sea Beggars

  Dutch protestants who fled to sea and attacked Spanish ships in the English Channel. Elizabeth allowed them to shelter in English ports
• Genoese Loan


  Spanish ships carrying a large sum of gold, which was a loan from genoa, were attacked by sea beggars and had to take shelter in English ports. Elizabeth took all the gold
• Mary Queen of scots claim to the throne

  Was legitimate

  Henry VII great grand-daughter

  Elizabeths 1 second cousin
• Treaty of Edinburgh, 1560


  stated Mary Queen of Scots would give up her claim to the English throne.

  Mary was not informed of the treaty
• Mary Queen of scots arrival in England

  Mary married her second husband, henry Stuart, lord Darnley and had a son. She then killed him and married the Earl of Bothwell. Mary was imprisoned and escaped to England. She was imprisoned again
• Consequences of the revolt of the northern earls

  Treason laws were harsher

  Catholics were punished harder
• The Ridolfi plot, 1571


  Plan was for Mary to marry the Duke of Norfolk, the Spanish army (10,000 men) to invade and put Mary QOS on the throne.
• Consequences of the Ridolfi plot

  The pope excommunicated Elizabeth

  reinforced the Spanish threat

  Elizabeth tries to improve relations with France
• The Throckmorton plot, 1583


  Plan was for Duke of Guise to invade england, with financial support from the Spanish. Mary QOS put on throne.
• Consequences of the Throckmorton plot

  Catholics were treated harsher

  11,000 Catholics arrested

  Act passed that gave death penalty to sheltering catholic priests
• The Babington plot, 1586


  plan was for Duke of Guise to invade with 60,000 men, Mary QOS would be put on the throne
• Consequences of the Babington plot

  Relations with Europe shut down

  mass arrests of recusants, 300 priests arrested. 31 executed

  Mary QOS was executed
• why was Mary QOS executed

  Her role in Babington plot

  Spain were planning an attack

  Catholic figurehead
• Walsingham's spy network

  Spies and informants in every town

  He used ciphers to communicate

  Pardoned catholic priests in return for their spy services