What was important about Catholic Plots against Elizabeth I?

• Government:

  > The Ridolfi and Throckmorton plots made Elizabeth more fearful of Spanish involvement in serious threats to her throne and her life. This in turn made her more determined to seek out plotters through her spy network and more determined to frustrate Spanish foreign policy and their economy, which could prevent the Spanish being able to invade successfully.
• War and Violence:

  > They threatened the peace of England with civil war as a result Elizabeth dealt ruthlessly with any plotters, such as in the Northern Rebellion 1569, and with the Ridolfi Plot in 1571 when she had her cousin, the Duke of Norfolk, executed.
• Individuals:

  Mary QoS:

  > Threat hugely increased in 1568 upon the arrival of Mary Queen of Scots into England. This arrival gave Catholics within England a figurehead for the Catholic resistance and sparked an influx of plots against Elizabeth with the aim of removing Elizabeth from the throne and replacing her with Mary.
• Individuals:

  Pope Pius V:

  > Papal Bull in 1570 by the Pope, which excommunicated Elizabeth, this was then furthered in 1580 when the Pope issued a statement allowing Catholics to murder Elizabeth, stating that anyone who did would not only be forgiven by God, but also 'gain merit’ in doing so.