Blois Anti-Spanish Strategy
Supports the French alliance as a means of reducing the risk that England will face Spain without a major continental partner.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1572 in England
Explore 51 historical events and records for England in 1572.
Historical records for England in 1572
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 51 unique records.
51Unique records
1 of 2Page
34Named events on this page
15Named people on this page
7Places on this page
April
Blois Defensive Alliance Terms
Agrees mutual defensive obligations with France, creating a diplomatic counterweight to Spanish power in western Europe.
Treaty of Blois
Signed with France, both countries wil support each other if attacked. England is freed from French support of an invasion by Mary Queen of Scots
May
Peerage
Created Earl of Essex
Marriage
Courted the Duke of Alencon, younger son of Charles IX of France
Robert Bell Chosen Speaker
Robert Bell becomes Speaker during a long Parliament concerned with religion, poverty, security and the position of Mary, Queen of Scots.
August
Execution of Northumberland
Thomas Percy is executed at York after being surrendered from Scotland, closing the career of the most prominent surviving leader of the Northern Rebellion.
Execution of Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland
Thomas Percy is beheaded for leading the Northern Rebellion and supporting a Catholic challenge to Elizabeth I.
September
Massacre
The massacre disrupts negotiations to marry the Duke of Alencon. The French Ambassador reveals a Hugenot plot to kill the French King & his family
October
Accepts an invitation to become god-mother to a daughter of Charles IX
Accepts an invitation to become god-mother to a daughter of Charles IX
November
Lord Treasurer
Appointed Lord Treasurer
Other events (month unknown)
Alliance Survives Paris Massacre
The massacre of French Protestants in August strained English confidence in France without immediately ending the newly agreed alliance.
Ambassador Recall
The Spanish Ambassador is returned after a plot to install Mary on the throne
Anglo French Alliance Negotiated
Elizabeth I's government negotiated closer relations with France to reduce the danger of diplomatic isolation and Spanish pressure.
Arrest of Francis Knollys
Appointed Custodian of Mary Queen of Scots
Bishops' Bible Revised
A revised edition of the Bishops' Bible appears, refining the translation used widely in Elizabethan churches.
Captain
Appointed Captain of the Queens Bodyguard
Circumnavigation
Drake is the 1st English Commander to reach the Pacific
Death of Elizabeth I
Executes Norfolk for a plot to bring Mary Stewart to the throne & restore Catholicism
Death of Thomas Howard
Death of Thomas Howard, executed for treason
Earl Marshal
Appointed Earl Marshal
Elizabeth Rejects Marian Succession Conspiracy
Elizabeth I's government treated the conspiracy as proof of the political danger posed by foreign support for Mary.
Execution of Norfolk
Executes Norfolk for a plot to bring Mary Stewart to the throne & restore Catholicism
Execution of Norfolk
Norfolk is executed for treason
Execution of Norfolk
Norfolk is executed for treason for his involvement in the Ridolfi plot
Grays Inn
Appointed Memmber of Grays Inn
Gunpowder Treason Plot
Elizabeth I prevents the English Commons from passing a bill of attainder against Mary. A bill is passed preventing Mary from being Elizabeth's successor
Huguenots
Courted the Duke of Alencon, younger son of Charles IX of France. The massacre of Huguenots ends chances of Elizabeth's marriage to a French Prince. Courted by the Duke of Alencons envoy, La Mole
Knighthood
Recieves a Knighthood
Legislation
A bill is passed preventing Mary from being Elizabeth's successor
Lord Privy Seal
Appointed Lord Privy Seal
Marriage
Courted the Duke of Alencon, younger son of Charles IX of France. The massacre of Huguenots ends chances of Elizabeth's marriage to a French Prince. Courted by the Duke of Alencons envoy, La Mole
Marriage
Wishes to have Calais returned to England if she is to marry the Duke of Alencon
Massacre
The massacre disrupts negotiations to marry the Duke of Alencon. The French Ambassador reveals a Hugenot plot to kill the French King & his family. Protestants are massacred in France
Mutual Defence Obligations Accepted
The English government accepted obligations of mutual assistance with France if either kingdom came under attack.
Norfolk Executed On Tower Hill
Thomas Howard was executed on Tower Hill in June 1572 after his conviction for involvement in the plot.
Norfolk Tried For High Treason
The Duke of Norfolk was tried in January 1572 and convicted of treason in connection with the conspiracy.
Peerage
Created Earl of Lincoln, 1st
President of the Council
Appointed President of the Council of the North
Ridolfi Plot
Norfolk is executed for treason for his involvement in the Ridolfi plot
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.