Northern rebellion 1569 - Sussex questioned Northumberland and Westmorland about rumours
of trouble. They assured their loyalty to Elizabeth. The Queen summoned them to court and they
decided to rebel. Both forces marched on Durham, seized the city and heard mass in the
Cathedral. rebels captured the Crowns Barnard Castle and Hartleypool. An army was sent and the
earls disbanded and fled. Westmoorland escaped to Netherlands but Northumberland was
executed in 1572. Dacre tried to restart the rebellion in 1570 but forces were destroyed.
Motives of leaders: Courtly conspiracy - failure of the
plan for Norfolk and MQS to marry, earls felt
dishonoured when cut out of Northern Government,
earls resented Protestant establishment in Durham,
earls pushed into rebellion by militant associates.
Motives of Participants - individuals with loyalties
to Northumberland and Westmoorland, disliked
Protestant reform - dispute about Communion
table and destruction of the cult of St.Cuthbert.
Showed little enthusiasm to remove Elizabeth,
Catholic nobility in the North didn't rebel.
Church and crown now had most land in
Durham. Council of North reconstituted in 1572
1571-88
Presbyterianism and Puritanism- see religion.
Catholic Plots, Jesuits and Seminary priests - see religion.
1588-1603
See religion mind map.
Poor Laws. 1595 Poor Law combined local authorities and
government to produce a framework for poor relief. It uncovered
deserving poor and undeserving were punished. Relief financed by
poor rates levied on ratepayers. Parishes ensured rates were collected
and fairly distributed. System removed worst effects of poverty and
ensured there'd never be a subsistence crisis as bad again.
Essex rebellion. In 1599 Essex burst into the Queen's bedchamber. He was
suspended from the Privy Council and from other offices. He was involved with
author John Hayward who alienated nobility and abused the patronage system.
Essex charged with treason. He also conspired with Pope and Philip II. He
made contact with James VI of Scotland to remove Cecil - this was treasonable.
He was in 16,000 and his sweet wine monopoly was removed.
In 1600 he sought an armed coup to secure palace of Whitehall, storm the
tower and remove Cecil's supporters from the Privy Council. Cecil found out.
4 Privy Councillors told Essex to come to court. He tried to hold 4 Privy
Councillors hostage and gain the cities support. No one supported. Cecil fortified
Whitehall and Essex surrendered - he and his 5 associates were executed.