AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Maintaining the Settlement: the threat posed by Mary Queen of Scots; the…
Full specification wording
2D Religious conflict and the Church in England, c1529– c1570 – The establishment of the Church of England, 1558–c1570 (A-level only): Maintaining the Settlement: the threat posed by Mary Queen of Scots; the re-emergence of a Catholic party and the Rising of the Northern Earls; the end of consensus and the condition of the Settlement by 1570
Maintaining the Settlement became increasingly difficult in the late 1560s.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Maintaining the Settlement became increasingly difficult in the late 1560s. The arrival of Mary Queen of Scots in England in 1568 provided a legitimate Catholic figurehead, catalysing the re-emergence of a Catholic party at court. This factional tension culminated in the 1569 Rising of the Northern Earls (Westmorland and Northumberland), who sought to restore Catholicism and marry Mary to the Duke of Norfolk. Although the rebellion was crushed, it marked the definitive end of consensus. By 1570, following Pope Pius V’s papal bull Regnans in Excelsis excommunicating Elizabeth, the condition of the Settlement had shifted from uneasy compromise to entrenched division, forcing the government to adopt harsher penal laws against Catholics.
What earns the marks
- Analyse how Mary Queen of Scots' arrival in 1568 altered the political landscape by providing a viable Catholic alternative to Elizabeth.
- Evaluate the causes of the Rising of the Northern Earls, linking religious grievances to the political marginalisation of the northern nobility.
- Assess the impact of the 1569 rebellion and the 1570 papal excommunication on the end of religious consensus in England.
- Describe the condition of the Religious Settlement by 1570, noting the transition from initial leniency to a more defensive and punitive stance against Catholics.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Rising of the Northern Earls with later plots like the Babington Plot.
Put it right: Ensure the 1569 Rising is specifically linked to the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland and the initial arrival of Mary Queen of Scots.
Stating that the papal bull caused the Rising of the Northern Earls.
Put it right: Note the chronological reality that the papal bull Regnans in Excelsis was issued in 1570, after the 1569 rebellion had already been defeated.
Claiming the Settlement was completely secure by 1570.
Put it right: Argue that while the Church of England survived, the condition of the Settlement was highly insecure, marked by the end of consensus and rising paranoia.
Exam tips
- Connect the political threat of Mary Queen of Scots directly to the religious threat of a re-emerging Catholic party to show synoptic understanding.
- Use the 1570 papal bull as a turning point to explain why the government could no longer tolerate 'Church Papists' and ended the era of consensus.
- When evaluating the condition of the Settlement by 1570, contrast the outward survival of the Anglican Church with the deep internal divisions it faced.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2D Religious conflict and the Church in England, c1529– c1570 – The establishment of the Church of England, 1558–c1570 (A-level only): Maintaining the Settlement: the threat posed by Mary Queen of Scots; the re-emergence of a Catholic party and the Rising of the Northern Earls; the end of consensus and the condition of the Settlement by 1570 lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Why did the arrival of Mary, Queen of Scots in England in 1568 pose a significant threat to the Elizabethan Religious Settlement?
Listen
Maintaining the Settlement became increasingly difficult in the late 1560s. The arrival of Mary Queen of Scots in England in 1568 provided a legitimate Catholic figurehead, catalysing the re-emergence of a Catholic party at court. This factional tension culminated in the 1569 Rising of the Northern Earls (Westmorland and Northumberland), who sought to restore Catholicism and marry Mary to the Duke of Norfolk. Although the rebellion was crushed, it marked the definitive end of consensus. By 1570, following Pope Pius V’s papal bull Regnans in Excelsis excommunicating Elizabeth, the condition of the Settlement had shifted from uneasy compromise to entrenched division, forcing the government to adopt harsher penal laws against Catholics. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Analyse how Mary Queen of Scots' arrival in 1568 altered the political landscape by providing a viable Catholic alternative to Elizabeth. Evaluate the causes of the Rising of the Northern Earls, linking religious grievances to the political marginalisation of the northern nobility. Assess the impact of the 1569 rebellion and the 1570 papal excommunication on the end of religious consensus in England. Describe the condition of the Religious Settlement by 1570, noting the transition from initial leniency to a more defensive and punitive stance against Catholics. A common slip: Confusing the Rising of the Northern Earls with later plots like the Babington Plot. Instead, Ensure the 1569 Rising is specifically linked to the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland and the initial arrival of Mary Queen of Scots. Exam tip: Connect the political threat of Mary Queen of Scots directly to the religious threat of a re-emerging Catholic party to show synoptic understanding.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Mary Queen of Scots arrives in England
- 2. Papal bull Regnans in Excelsis excommunicates Elizabeth
- 3. Rising of the Northern Earls
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Catholic party
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Rising of the Northern Earls
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
End of consensus
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Condition of the Settlement
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Catholic party
- A grouping that re-emerged at court, catalysed by the arrival of Mary Queen of Scots as a legitimate Catholic figurehead.
- Rising of the Northern Earls
- The 1569 rebellion of Westmorland and Northumberland, who sought to restore Catholicism and marry Mary to the Duke of Norfolk.
- End of consensus
- The definitive break marked by the crushed rebellion, after which the Settlement shifted from uneasy compromise to entrenched division.
- Condition of the Settlement
- By 1570, following the papal bull excommunicating Elizabeth, it had shifted from uneasy compromise to entrenched division, forcing harsher penal laws against Catholics.
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Test your understanding of 2D Religious conflict and the Church in England, c1529– c1570 – The establishment of the Church of England, 1558–c1570 (A-level only): Maintaining the Settlement: the threat posed by Mary Queen of Scots; the re-emergence of a Catholic party and the Rising of the Northern Earls; the end of consensus and the condition of the Settlement by 1570
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