Early Elizabethan England, 1569-1587: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Revolt of the Northern Earls
Mary, Queen of Scots and the Revolt of the Northern Earls form one of the central crises of early Elizabethan England, beginning when Mary fled to England in 1568 after being forced to abdicate the Scottish throne.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn why Mary, Queen of Scots came to England in 1568: she was forced to abdicate in Scotland after the murder of Lord Darnley, her marriage to Bothwell, and her defeat at the Battle of Langside, and fled south seeking Elizabeth's protection.
- Learn why Mary was so dangerous to Elizabeth: as a great-granddaughter of Henry VII and a Catholic, she had a rival claim to the English throne that many Catholics, especially after the government's harsher religious policies, saw as stronger than Elizabeth's.
- Learn the Revolt of the Northern Earls (1569) precisely: led by the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Westmorland, its aims included restoring Catholicism and marrying Mary to the Duke of Norfolk; it was quickly defeated, and roughly 450 rebels were executed.
- For 'describe two features of' questions on the revolt, choose two distinct, factual features (e.g. its leadership, and its aims) rather than a single narrative retelling.
- For 'explain why' questions on why the revolt broke out or why it mattered, separate religious motives (restoring Catholicism), political motives (northern nobles resenting loss of regional power) and dynastic motives (the plan involving Mary and Norfolk).
- For 16-mark judgement questions on how serious a threat the revolt posed, weigh its scale and aims against how quickly and completely it was crushed, before reaching a supported conclusion.
Worked example
Explain why the Revolt of the Northern Earls broke out in 1569. You may use the following in your answer: religion, and the position of the northern earls. You must also use information of your own.
- Plan the two given factors plus one of your own: religion, the earls' loss of regional power, and a third point such as the plan to marry Mary to the Duke of Norfolk.
- Develop the religion point: the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland were conservative Catholics who resented the Religious Settlement and wanted to restore Catholic worship in the north, where traditional practice remained strong.
- Develop the earls' position point: the rise of Elizabeth's southern-based advisers, such as William Cecil, reduced the traditional independence and influence northern nobles had long held in their own region, giving them a political as well as a religious grievance.
- Add the own-knowledge point: part of the plan involved marrying Mary, Queen of Scots to the Duke of Norfolk, which would have strengthened her position as a Catholic alternative to Elizabeth.
- Conclude by linking the points: religious resentment, loss of regional power and the dynastic plan around Mary combined to turn discontent among a group of northern nobles into an armed rebellion.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Why did Mary, Queen of Scots flee to England in 1568?Show answer
Answer: She had been forced to abdicate the Scottish throne after the murder of Lord Darnley, her marriage to Bothwell, and her defeat at the Battle of Langside.
Q2Why was Mary regarded by many Catholics as having a strong claim to the English throne?Show answer
Answer: She was a great-granddaughter of Henry VII and a Catholic, so some Catholics saw her as a more legitimate claimant than the Protestant Elizabeth.
Q3Who led the Revolt of the Northern Earls in 1569?Show answer
Answer: The Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Westmorland.
Q4Give one aim of the Revolt of the Northern Earls.Show answer
Answer: To restore Catholic worship (or to marry Mary, Queen of Scots to the Duke of Norfolk and advance her claim to the throne).
Q5Approximately how many rebels were executed after the revolt was crushed?Show answer
Answer: Around 450.
Q6How did Elizabeth treat Mary after she arrived in England in 1568?Show answer
Answer: She kept her under house arrest in England rather than restoring her to Scotland or letting her leave the country.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE History exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Describe two features of the Revolt of the Northern Earls, 1569.
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Explain why the Revolt of the Northern Earls broke out in 1569. You may use the following in your answer: religion, and the position of the northern earls. You must also use information of your own.
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'The Revolt of the Northern Earls was a serious threat to Elizabeth's throne.' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: the aims of the revolt, and how it ended. You must also use information of your own.
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Free printable worksheet
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