Catholic Nobility

Role of the Catholic Nobility

Many nobles remained Catholic during the Reformation. These Catholic nobles did not believe that Protestant monarchs had a legitimate right to rule England. They wanted to install Mary, Queen of Scots (a Catholic) on the English throne.

Recusancy

Many in the nobility continued to attend Catholic masses within their households.
Largely these private masses were ignored as long as they also attended the Church of England.

Factions at Court

Under Elizabeth I, one third of peers were Catholic. Thus, Catholicism was still a major force in court politics.
E.g. Christopher Hatton.
There was a strong conservative faction in Elizabeth’s court (predominantly Catholic). Following the Northern Rebellion, the influence of this faction waned.

The Northern Rebellion, 1569

Catholic nobles, particularly the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, wanted to overthrow Elizabeth and place Mary Queen of Scots on the throne.
Mary Queen of Scots was intended to marry another noble, the Duke of Norfolk.

The Ridolfi Plot, 1571

An Italian banker plotted to assassinate Elizabeth. This was supported by the King of Spain and the Duke of Norfolk.

The Throckmorton Plot, 1583

Sir Francis Throckmorton (a Catholic) planned to assassinate Elizabeth I, free Mary Queen of Scots, and coordinate this with a Spanish invasion.

The Babington Plot, 1586

Sir Anthony Babington (a Catholic) intended to free Mary Queen of Scots and assassinate Elizabeth.
This plot was foiled and Mary was executed.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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