PLOTS AND REVOLTS AT HOME

• REVOLT OF NORTHERN EARLS, 1569

  • AIMS: Restore Catholicism in England, restore influence, bring MQOS to the throne
  • EVENTS: Norfolk was arrested by Elizabeth when she knew about the plot. Northumberland and Westmorland became desperate and pushed ahead with the plot. Heading for Durham, they took control of the Cathedral, they destroyed any evidence of Protestantism and celebrated mass. Rebels turned South, MQOS was moved south to Coventry as Elizabeth didn't want her to escape. Revolt failed, Spain's supporting troops never arrived and Elizabeth raised up an army. West escaped, North executed
• RIDOLFI PLOT, 1571

  • AIMS: Overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, restore Catholicism, Mary to marry Duke of Norfolk
  • EVENTS: March 1571, Ridolfi left England to discuss the plot with the Pope, Phillip II and Duke of Alba. Ridolfi had a letter signed by the Duke of Norfolk declaring he was Catholic and would lead the Rebellion if Phillip II would support it. Phillip told Alba to prepare 10,000 men if necessary. Cecil uncovered the plot and by Autumn 1571 he had enough evidence to prove that Norfolk was guilty of plotting against Elizabeth again.
• SIGNIFICANCE OF RIDOLFI PLOT + CONTINUED

  • Ridolfi never returned to England. Norfolk was executed in June 1572 however Elizabeth still didn't take action against Mary
  • The Ridolfi Plot reinforced the threat posed by Catholics and Mary, home and abroad. Reinforced the threat to England from Spain. Due to the threat from Spain, Elizabeth focused on improving relations with France
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REVOLT OF THE NORTHERN EARLS

  • Ended the power and influence of the Percy and Neville families in the North of England
  • Prompted harsher treatments of Catholics
  • The revolt encouraged the Pope, to excommunicate Elizabeth. His papal bull marked a turning point for English Catholics: their loyalty to Elizabeth was now always in doubt.
• Throckmorton Plot, 1583

  • AIMS: Free Mary and restore Catholicism in England
  • EVENTS: Planned for the French Duke of Guise, MQOS's cousin to invade England, free Mary, overthrow Elizabeth and Royal Court. Phillip II would provide financial support. A young Englishman, Throckmorton was to act as a go-between with Mary. The Pope knew of the plans and approved of them. Walsingham (Secretary of State from 1573) uncovered the plot. Agents found incriminating papers at his home. Arrested in November 1583, tortured, confessed and was executed in May 1584. Emphasised foreign threats.
• BABINGTON PLOT, 1586

  • AIMS: Assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary.
  • EVENTS: Duke of Guise would invade England with 60,000 men and put Mary on the throne. Spain and Pope supported this plot. Babington, Catholic with links to the French, wrote to MQOS in July 1556 about the plot. Walsingham intercepted his letter and arrested all involved. Babington and his accomplices were convicted and hanged, drawn, and quartered in October 1586. Mary was finally tried and found guilty, she was sentenced to death.
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THROCKMORTON PLOT

  • Included a lot of Catholic sympathisers in England - suggesting the government's fear of English Catholics as 'the enemy within' was real.
  • Life became harder for Catholics, as they were treated with great suspicion
  • Act of Parliament was passed in 1585 that made helping or sheltering Catholic priests punishable by death
• SIGNIFICANCE OF BABINGTON PLOT

  • Relations between Spain and England had broken.
  • Elizabeth's government became determined to crush Catholicism.
  • Mary's execution ended any hope of replacing her as Catholic heir.
• WHY WAS MQOS EXECUTED

  • Elizabeth’s PC declared Mary guilty of high treason in Oct 1586
  • There had been 3 major Catholic plots against Elizabeth 1571-86. Mary was the focus of all 3
  • The gov finally had the evidence needed to prove Mary’s wrongdoing
  • Elizabeth hesitated in signing the death warrant
  • The PC begged Elizabeth to sign the warrant in Feb 1587
  • The execution of Mary happened on 8th Feb 1587
  • Elizabeth denied she knowingly signed Mary’s death warrant
  • She told Mary’s son that she never wanted or ordered the execution(James VI Scotland)
  • Elizabeth refused to speak to Cecil for a month
• SIGNIFICANCE OF MQOS' EXECUTION

  • SHORT: Elizabeth felt guilty about the execution of an anointed monarch. Since 1585, Spain wanted to invade England. Mary bestowed her claim to the English throne onto Philip II upon her death. This gave more motivation for Spain to attack England
  • LONG:  Her execution finally removed a significant threat to Elizabeth’s reign. The threat of Catholic plots ended after the death of Mary. The Pope reinforced his papal bull against Elizabeth in 1588. Most English Catholics remained loyal to Elizabeth
• WHO WAS WALSINGHAM?

  • Walsingham was Elizabeth's SOS from 1573, who had a 'spy network' where for example he had members of the government, e.g. LLs and bishops to forward potential threats to him. Furthermore, in 1580, he had spies operating in key locations such as France, Germany, Spain, Italy and even Istanbul. He also made us of double agents to infiltrate Catholic Plots
  • Acts of Parliament led by him increased severity of punishments for Catholics to include executions. 130 priests were executed during Elizabeth's rule
  • Captured Catholics faced torture for information on plots. Though he didn't like the use of torture, he considered it necessary for Elizabeth's safety.
  • Walsingham used ciphers to write secret messages and codebreakers to decode plots. He employed a man who could re-seal the plotters' letters. Criminals were also given the option in order to avoid punishment to become spies and be apart of Walsingham's Spy Network