Catholic Nobles and the Elizabethan State, 1558-1588: Northern Affinities and the Politics of Religion

A vivid exploration of how Catholicism endured far longer into the Elizabethan era and continued to shape the very identity of early modern England.

This compelling study delves into the complexities of religious and political power during Elizabeth I’s reign, presenting a further, important challenge to the traditional narratives of a swift and uncontested Protestant triumph. Here, Wilfred Hammond explores why Catholic aristocrats, despite wielding significant regional power and Court influence, failed to block or reverse the emerging religious revolution.

Focusing on the Stanley earls of Derby, the dominant noble family in Lancashire - a county described by the Elizabethan government as ＂the very sink of popery＂ - the author reconstructs their role in obstructing Protestant reform. Using the State and Cecil Papers, as well as foreign ambassadorial reports, the study re-evaluates the Stuart party-building efforts of Lady Margaret Douglas and Mary, Queen of Scots. Hammond re-examines the context of the papal bull of deposition, and uncovers the Stanley-Gerard conspiracy of 1570 with its links to the Ridolfi Plot.

This richly detailed analysis of the Stanleys positions them at the heart of a network of nobles, including the Percies and Nevilles, who were opposed to the religious change presented by Protestantism. As such, this vibrant case-study unfolds to offer fresh insights into the slow, fraught transformation of England’s religious landscape during one of its most turbulent periods.