Religion and the Northern Rebellion of 1568

701 Words2 Pages

Religion and the Northern Rebellion of 1568

At the time of the Northern Rebellion in 1568, the North of England

was greatly aggrieved. When Elizabeth had ascended to the throne she

appointed loyal men to her throne, usually Protestants like William

Cecil at the expense of the Northern Earls. This subtraction of power

of course angered the Northern Earls, but was the Northern Rebellion

just down to this? Religion played a huge part in the daily lives of

most people in the 16th century and with the majority of the North

retaining Catholicism whilst Elizabeth slowly introduced

Protestantism, surely this would cause further conflict.

To an extent we can see evidence that the Northern rebellion was

started due to religious reasons. The immediate plan was to reach Mary

Stuart and marry her to the Duke of Norfolk and to end the question of

who would succeed Elizabeth to the throne. Mary had a strong claim,

and if she married nobleman Norfolk who was also Elizabeth's second

cousin, then any children they had together would be firmly next in

line to the throne. Mary was extremely Anti - protestant, and the

Northern Earls hoped if she came to throne, Protestantism would once

again be rid of and England would return to Catholic.

The actions of the rebels during the rebellion also suggest it

occurred for religious reasons. The rebels headed for Durham cathedral

where they tore up the protestant prayer book and held a catholic

mass. These religious actions clearly indicate that they were unhappy

with the religious situation in England at the time and by ripping up

the prayer book symbolises they are attempting to change things. The

rebel...

... middle of paper ...

...e

somewhat powerful support as this the rebellion would not have got off

the ground. The ideas for the rebellion did not originate when in

church or anywhere remotely connected to religion but in court where

the Nobles questioned the succession, argued that they deserved their

powers and was plotting ways of getting rid of Cecil.

To conclude, although religion did play a part in the rebellion of

1568-69 it was clearly not the only reason for the unrest of the

Northern nobility. Power was a big cause, their pride was dented and

they wanted to be powerful like their relations gone before them. The

North was indeed largely Catholic and they hoped if England was to get

a catholic queen in the form of Mary Stuart then the situation for

them would become better, not only religiously but politically as well

as socially.

Open Document