history- Elizabeth england: topic 2 challenges to Eliz home and abroad

The reasons for the northern earls revolt (1569) - religion

• earls wanted Eliz to accept Mary as her rightful successor and release her from prison . This would mean a Catholic monarch when Eliz died

• When revolt began earls forced there way into Durham cathedral, overturned the protastend communion table and held a Catholic service , they also burned the Protestant bible and prayer book

• The rebels wore Catholic badges and emblems on their clothes. Also carried Catholic banners

Reasons for northern earls revolt - political/personal

• government in northern England now carried out by council of the north. Meaning traditional nobility, including earls, had lost some authority

• When Eliz found out about plan to marry Norfolk to Mary she summoned earls to court . They feared prison or execution. Revolt seemed like only option

• Earl of Westmorland wife urged him not to back down after being summoned by Eliz, she persuaded him to be determined take action and revolts

• Eliz gave important jobs to men she knew she had more direct power over. The Earls were angered that their power in the north had been given to others

• The northern Earls had lost land to Elizabeth . The Eral of Northermbeland had lost copper mines and it had cost him money, other nobles also felt worse off

Reasons for northern earls revolts : religion and politics

• earls had already taken part in plan to marry Mary to Duke of Norfolk, most powerful noble in England and Catholic sympathies, this would have made him Eliz heir and so given him more power , earls hoped he would restores their powers

• Earls demanded that Eliz get rid of her ‘evil councillers’. Especially they disliked Robert Cecil who they blamed for the religious changed and loss of money and power

Events of the revolt of northern earls

• leaders of revolt, Earl of Northumberland and Westmorland were Catholic nobles, deeply opposed Eliz religious settlement, also had strong personal and political complaints on queen

• In November 1569, Earls ordered their workers on lands to join the army and rebel south. No real plan. Ht wanted to end Eliz rule and restore Catholic faith. When they reached Durham they stormed cathedral, burnt Protestant prayer books and held Catholic mass

• Despite reaching Durham they failed to attract more support from other Catholic nobles in north, majority wanted to stay loyal to Eliz

• Moved further south towards York, though they never mentioned Mary Eliz was weary and so moved her to a prison further south , this prevented a rescue attempt from rebels

• Eliz government had kept control of important northern towns on York and Berwick. She sent massive army if 10,000 men up north, the era,s hoped Spain would send support but they didn’t the earls fled

• The Earls escaped to Scotland, Westmorland escaped abroad but Northumberland was handed over by Scot’s to be beheaded . Thought around 450 rebels were executed, may others fined or land taken away

Role of Francis Walsingham ?

• on Eliz privy council and her spy master

• Intercepted letters

• Decoded ciphers

• Sent fake letters

• Paid spies in Catholic households

Rudolfi Plot?

• 1571

• Aimed to kill Eliz, and put Mary back on thrones aswell as marry Mary to Duke of Norfolk and re instate Catholicism

• Ridolfi met with the Pope, Duke of Alba in Spanish Netherlands and Philllip II of Spain and talked about plot

• Spain agreed to send over men if necessary

• William Cecil uncovered the plots through letters in code which proved Norfolk was guilty, Ridolfi never returned to England

• Parliament ordered execution of both Norfolk and Mary, Eliz killed Norfolk but did not kill Mary

Throckmorton plot

• 1583

• Aimed to kill Eliz, out Mary on thrones and re instate Catholicism

• French Duke of Guise would invade England and free.p Mary , Spain would provide financial backing

• Pope approved plot and Throckmorton would act as a go between

• Walsingham discovered plot due to finding incriminating paper in Throckmorton whose

• Throckmorton was arrested and tortured and executed

• Life became harder for Catholics in England due to suspicions from government

• Eliz kicked out Spanish Embassador and refused a new ones which shows break down of connection between Spain and England

Babingdon plot

• 1586

• Aimed to kill Eliz, out Mary in throne, bring back Catholicism and encourage rebellion

• Duke of Guise would invade with 60,000 man + out Mary on throne, both Phillip II and Pope approved plot

• Babingdon wrote to Mary about plot but she was closely watched and her letters were intercepted by Walsingham

• Mary had replied to a letter so this found her guilty

• Mary was executed, all Catholic involved were arrested, Babingdon and accomplices were hung and drawn + quartered

• Mary’s execution ended hope of replacing Eliz with Mary

Why was Mary queen of Scot’s executed?

• evidence that Mary knew about and was involved in the plots against Elizabeth (Babingdon plot)

• Catholic plots increased the sense of danger to Eliz

• She was Eliz cousin and so had a strong claim to the throne

• The war with Spain and foreign involvements in plots increased sense of danger

• Eliz was under pressure from her councillers and parliament to agree to Mary’s execution

• Mary was a Catholic and attracted soppurt from some Catholics who were opposed to Eliz religion settelmet

Tensions between Eliz and Spain: religion

• Phillip II backed by pope saw Catholicism as a threat to Catholic Church

• Many English Protestant saw Spain + Catholicism as a tgeera

• Phillip II of Spain as involved in many Catholic plots against Eliz

• Phillip had supported Mary catholic clean to throne

• Mary’s execution in 1587 angered Phillip

• He decided to invade England and make himself king

Tensions between Eliz and Spain : the Netherlands

• Dutch under Spanish rule but many Protestant

• Brutal Spanish campaign under Duke of Alba aimed to restore Catholic faith in Dutch, they executed many Dutch Protestant following council of troubles 1568

• England allows Dutch rebel ships into ports

• England provided financial support to those fighting Spain

• English privateers such as Sir Francis Drake were encouraged to attack Spanish ships and colonies

• By late 1584 Spanish had control back in Netherlands

• England allies in Netherlands were dead

• The treaty of Joinville joined Spain and France against England and Dutch

• Dutch Catholic ready to make peace and have Phillip as there king

• Due to tread to non such between England and Netherlands rebels in 1585 England agreed to send military aid (troops and money) to help Dutch

• marked anglands open involvement in conflict

Tension between England and Spain : pirateers and new world

• commercial rivalry : England and Spain were trade rivals, Spain had new world and so had resources such as gold , silver, tabocoo and cotton but wouldn’t allow England to trade with them

• Spain controlled many trade routes and so this decreased income for England’s merchants

• The English merchants raided Spanish colonies and ships coming from new world

• Sir Frances Drake captured many ships and so many sums of money aswell as circumnavigating the globe, this loss of money to Spain ment they couldn’t afford to pay their troops in Netherlands

• Eliz knighted Drake which proved her hostility towards Spain

• Phillips only play left was to remove Eliz and Drake

The raid on Cadiz / singeing of the king of Spain’s beard

• 1587

• Spanish Armada moored in port of Cadiz, only had one exit

• Drake attacks Spanish aramada at port , they can’t escape

• Over 100 ships destroyed and timber supplies for barrels destroyed

• Helps England as it pushed back armada by one year and gives England time to prepare

Phillips plan for the Armada?

• Spanish ships would first go to Calais and the soldiers who had been fighting in the Netherlands would march down to meet them there

• They would then sail across and attack

Timeline of the Spanish Armada ?

• 12 July 1588 - ships set sail

• 19 July - English saw armada arrive , English ships chased Spanish up the channel

• 27 July - Spanish anchor near Calais, English send burning fire ships into armada , they panicked and scatter

• 28 July - English attack Spanish near gravelines , Spanish soldiers left in Netherlands

• 30 July - armada tried to sail back to Spain by going north round Scotland’s

• August - many ships wrecked by storms along west Scotland and Ireland

• September - only half of fleet return to Spain

Why did Spanish Armada fail : poor Spanish planning?

• armada lacked enough fresh food, water and ammunition, many soldiers inexperienced and became sick or weakened by journey

• Armada supposed to collect soldiers from Netherlands, English ships blocked ports

• Spanish plan was overly complicated and relied on perfect coordination between armada and Spanish troops in Netherlands this didn’t happen

• Spanish commander, Duke of Medina Sidonia was inexperienced, and unable to change Phillips invasion plan

What did the armada fail : English strengths?

• commanders like Francis Drake ran hit and run attacks

• Tactics such as fire ships broke Spanish formation in battle of gravelines, they caused panic and forced the ships to break their defensive crescent formation

• Eliz delivered a famous speech to soldiers in Tilbury to inspire and reassure the, proved her as loyal and brave

• English ships faster , more manoeuvre able and had longer range cannons

• English built beacons along south coast, large fires were lit in hill tops and high places, to spread warning quickly

• Drakes raid on Cadiz set invasion back by at least a year, gave them time to prepare

Why did the armada fail: poor weather?

• weather forced the Spanish to sail around Scotland and Ireland many more ships lost

• Storms in English Channel and North Sea scattered the ships and destroyed many