Northern Earls

• Causes of the Rebellion

  Mary, Queen of Scots, Court Politics and Faction, Role of Duke of Norfolk, Economic and Religious Insecurities
• Causes of Rebellion: Mary, Queen of Scots


  Has legitimate claim to throne, may have support from France and Spain, faced Protestant revolt as Queen of Scotland, Mary imprisoned in England
• Causes of Rebellion: Court Politics: Relations with Spain


  ELizabeth reliant of Cecil, court members thought Cecil taking England into war with Spain, Cecil ordered Spanish bullion to be seized
• Causes of Rebellion: Plot court against Cecil


  Nobles e.g Westmorland, Northumberland concerned about Cecil's power, marry DoN to Mary QoS to secure english throne
• Causes of Rebellion: Role of Duke of Norfolk


  Served Elizabeth loyally, 1569: left court in London and went North but didn't raise rebellion, was imprisoned in tower, indirect cause
• Causes of Rebellion: Socio-Economic insecurities: Religious Concerns


  75% Northern nobles catholic, relgious changes had been moderate e.g 1563 Thirty Nine Articles, more hardline religious policy introduced, protestants appointed to positions in North e.g James Pilkington as Bishop of Durham
• Causes of Rebellion: Socio-Economic insecurities: Gov intervention in North


  Nobles losing positions in favour of protestant outsiders e.g Lord Hunsdon became Warden of East March 1568, John Forster Warden of Middle March
• Causes of Rebellion: Socio-Economic insecurities: Economic Concerns


  Nobles lost income, 1562: Northumberland needed £1,000 grant from queen, 1568: Westmorland forced to borrow £80 from Sir George Bowes
• Westmorland and Northumberland plans?

  Rebellion meant to start 06/10/69 but Norfolk failed to support, called before CoN but freed, called to London by Queen so finally rebelled
• Rebellion: where did it begin?

  Westmorland supporters gathered at Brancepeth, County Durham, persuaded Northumberland to join
• Rebellion: Queen's supporters?


  Gathered at Barnard Castle under leadership of Sir George Bowes
• Rebellion: Movements


  Rebels marched to Durham Cathedral destroyed signs of protestantism, moved south and issued proclamations, marched to Branham Moor
• Rebellion: strengths of Branham Moor


  Could block gov troops coming from London to North, or south from Newcastle
• Rebellion: size?


  3,800 foot soldiers, 1,600 horsemen
• Rebellion: Queen's army?


  Sussex trapped in York with 400 men, failed to get support from local gentry
• Rebellion: Where did rebels go?

  Retreated to Brancepeth as heard rumours of large royal army led by Warwick and may have found out Mary moved to Coventry
• Rebellion: Fall of the rebellion


  Large royal army reached River Tees, rebel earls fled, Northumberland fled to Scotland but was returned and beheaded, Westmorland went into Exile
• Rebellion: Lord Dacre's revolt


  Professed loyalty to Elizabeth during rebellion, but gathered 3,000 men, order sent for his request but Lord Hunsdon attacked by Dacre's troops, 500 rebels killed or captured, Dacre went into exile
• Rebellion: Capture of Durham


  Durham focus due to religious and political tensions, Bishop had used cathedral to symbolise move to protestantism, 1572: Reorganisation of CoN saw Durham come back under direct control of council
• Rebellion: Siege of Barnard Castle


  1569: Castle sieged by 5,000 rebels, was entrusted to George Bowes, key to controlling region, defenders reached point of starvation so some joined rebellion, was only temporary success fleed 2 days later
• Why did revolt fail?

  Poor leadership, government response, lack of widespread support, lack of international support
• Why did revolt fail?: Poor Leadership

  lacked coordination and clear objectives, both Westmorland and Northumberland needed convincing to rebel, aims for leaders varied
• Why did revolt fail?: Government Response

  Appointment of protestant outsiders brought about beginning and end of rebellion, news of large royal army enough to deter rebels, response slow but enough
• Why did revolt fail?: Lack of Widespread Support

  Failed to gain support from other nobility e.g Henry Clifford, attracted only 5,000 commons, earls limited influence beyond their regions, less tensions around religion
• Why did revolt fail?: Lack of International Support

  No support from foreign catholic powers, Spain put off by Mary's French connections, Scotland prevented from invading by Earl of Moray
• Role of the Northern Earls

  Westmorland support Norfolk-Mary marriage, Northumberland wanted to restore catholicism
• Failures of the Northern Earls plans

  plot not well thought through and had limited long term plan
• Extent of threat posed to Elizabeth

  Prescence of Mary put pressure on Elizabeth, failures of religious reforms in North, CoN reorganised but still failed to prevent rebellion
• Limited threat?


  Elizabeth survived rebellion, didn't spread further West as Earl of Derby remained loyal, Norfolk didn't rebel
• Gov Repression of rebellion?

  8 ringleaders executed, Elizabeth wanted 700 rebels to be executed, only 450 actually killed due to Sussex
• Reorganisation of Council of the North

  1572: Earl of Huntingdon appointed president, helped to stabilise north by confiscating rebel lands
• Which Catholics posed a threat?

  Loyalties split between queen and pope until excommunication, minority plotted to replace her with Mary, Huntingdon began more hardline punishment for recusants
• How many parliaments called?

  5 due to threat of Catholicism and plots to assassinate Elizabeth
• 1571 Parliament?


  Made it treasonable offence to publish papal bull of excommunication
• Catholic Threats?


  Arrival of Seminary and Jesuit Priests, Cuthbert Mayne first to be executed 1577
• Laws against Recusancy?


  £20 month or imprisonment for not attending CofE services
• How many catholics remained in England?

  1603: 50,000 left in 5m population