catholic threat

• 1568- fled to England (Elizabeths cousin) and was Catholic many Catholics thought she was the rightful queen.
• 1568 Mary queen of Scots ________??


  fled to England
• 1669 - rebellion of northern earls - two powerful earls raised an army of 5000 rebels to depose Elizabeth and replace her with mary
• 1570

  The Pope excommunicated Elizabeth and called on all loyal Catholics to remove her from the throne.  This released Catholics from their oath of allegiance to Elizabeth and was a serious threat to Elizabeth 
• 1570 - treason act made it treason to say Elizabeth was not the lawful queen.
• 1571 - Ridolfi plot - Spanish army would help the English Catholics overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with Mary - uncovered by Walsingham spies - parliament urged Elizabeth to execute Mary for treason.
• 1583 - 84 

  Throckmorton Plot - French Catholic forces, backed by Spain and the Pope, would invade and free Mary - Mary was moved to Tutbury castle, banned from receiving visitors and her letters were checked.
• 1586

  Babington Plot - Catholic nobleman planned  to murder Elizabeth, release Mary and, with the help of Spanish forces, put Mary on the throne.  Letters between Babington and Mary proved her involvement and Mary was put on trial and found guilty of  treason.
• 1587-


  Mary was executed.
• A recusant rebelled against Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement by refusing to attend church services. They were made to pay a fine instead.
• Seminary priests:  About 438 seminary priests who aimed to  re-establish Catholicism by converting people.  They were willing to die for the cause
• Jesuit Priests: these were seminary priests who were members of ‘The Society of Jesus’.  Aimed to destroy Protestantism and swore an oath of allegiance to the pope.  They were prepared to die for the cause. Edmund Campion was executed for treason in 1581
• 1585

  All Jesuits and seminary priests ordered to leave the country or be killed; anyone found hiding or helping a priest could be killed
• 1593

  Large gatherings of Catholics were not allowed; known catholics were not allowed to travel more than  5 miles from their homes
• significance - The threat increased after Mary arrived in England and the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth.

  Because Elizabeth didn’t marry Catholics so hoped that a Catholic would become Queen after she died

  The plots had the support of Catholic powers - France, Spain, the Pope

  Elizabeth felt so threatened she passed harsh Acts of Parliament in response
• significance - The majority of English Catholics were moderate and remained loyal to Elizabeth. They were happy to hold Catholic masses at home

  3 of the plots were uncovered by Walsingham’s network of spies before they could be put into action.

  The rebellion of the Northern Earls was poorly planned

  The threat from English Catholics died with Mary