Babington Plot

• Year of the Babington Plot?

  1586
• What happened? - The Babington Plot

  • July 1586 - Babington wrote to MQS about the plot
  • Mary's letters were intercepted and read by Walsingham
  • When Walsingham had sufficient details, six Catholics planning to assassinate Elizabeth were arrested
• What were the aims of the Babington plot?

  • Duke of Guise to invade England with 60,000 men
  • Get Catholics to rebel against Elizabeth
  • Assassinate Elizabeth
  • Put MQS on the throne
• What were the consequences of the Babington plot?


  • Babington and his accomplices were convicted and then hung, drawn and quartered
  • Oct 1586 - MQS was tried by the Privy Council and was found guilty of high treason
  • Elizabeth did not sign MQS's death warrant until Feb 1587
  • 8th Feb 1587 - MQS was executed