Throckmorton plot 1583 - 1584

• Who was involved in the Throckmorton plot?


  • Francis Throckmorton (a young English Catholic)
  • the Duke of Guise (Mary‘s cousin in France)
  • money donated by Spain and the pope
• Who was Mary QoS involved in the Throckmorton plot?


  Throckmorton delivered letters between a Mary and her supporters in Spain, however Throckmorton took the blame by saying she wasn’t involved
• What was the aim of the Throckmorton plot?

  Throckmorton was going to use seminary priests (483 priests smuggled in from France) and other Catholics from abroad to invade England, the Duke of guise would have led the invasion and freed Mary from imprisonment and restored England back to Catholic faith
• What the Throckmorton plot successful?

  No - Walsingham‘s spies found out about the plot
• What were the consequences of the Throckmorton plot?


  • Throckmorton was tortured until he confessed to his crimes, he was executed in May of 1584
  • Mary was moved to Tutbury Castle where security was tight, she was also banned from having visitors and all her mail was checked by Walsingham
• Why was the Throckmorton plot significant?

  it shows there was still a Catholic threat to Elizabeth, even though it was 12 years after the ridolfi plot, 11,000 English Catholics were arrested and sent to prison it was also France’s first plot again England