catholic threat

• Who was MQS?


  Cousin of Elizabeth, Catholics thought she was the rightful heir
• What was the Papal Bull?

  A letter from the Pope in 1570 exonerating anyone who killed Elizabeth and excommunicating her.
• What happened to the Papal Bull?


  Parliament passed a law in 1571 against all Bulls from Rome
• What was the Ridolfi Plot


  Plot in 1571 organised by an Italian banker to overthrow Elizabeth and place MQS on the throne. Involved the: Duke of Norfolk, Pope, and King of Spain. A Spanish force would help English Catholics to overthrow Elizabeth
• What happened to the Ridolfi Plot?

  Ridolfi and the Spanish ambassador were arrested and expelled from England
• Why didn't Elizabeth kill Mary

  Because she was afraid of killing an anointed monarch in fear that it would set a precedent i.e. could threaten her position. It could also trigger an attack from France and Spain.
• What was the Throckmorton Plot?

  Plot in 1583 organised by a young catholic to get France to invade and make MQS queen. The Pope and KoS agreed to finance it
• What happened to the Throckmorton Plot?

  Throckmorton confessed under torture and said that Mary was supportive. Throckmorton was executed and the Spanish Ambassador expelled. Walsingham had Mary moved to Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire
• What was the assassination of William of Orange

  In 1584, the leader of the Dutch protestants, William of Orange was shot dead by a Catholic
• What happened as a result of the assassination of William of Orange


  The Bond of Association was passed meaning if Elizabeth was murdered then Parliament would ensure that the murderers and those who benefitted from the murder would be punished. This made MQS complicit as she would get the crown if Elizabeth was murdered
• What was the Babington Plot?

  Plot in 1586 by a Catholic named Anthony Babington to overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with MQS. Walsingham discovered it and the plotters were tortured and executed. MQS was also sentenced to death although she was only killed in Feb 1587
• Why was MQS not executed foully?

  As she was royal blood and still Elizabeth's cousin
• What was the uprising of the Northern Earls?

  In 1569, Earls Northumberland and Westmorland were in Catholic strongholds in the far north of England. They aimed to replace Elizabeth with MQS
• What were the key events of the uprising of the Northern Earls?

  4,600 rebels captured Durham, held a Catholic mass , burnt a copy of the English Bible and BOCP. This coincided with MQS's arrival in England.
• Why was the uprising of the Northern Earls defeated?

  Elizabeth was popular - there was limited enthusiasm for her to be overthrown, there was poor planning and leadership, , there was a lack of foreign support
• Why was the uprising of the Northern Earls significant?

  Shows Catholic influence in the North, first and only rebellion in Elizabeth's reign, shows opposition to Elizabeth and support for MQS
• What did Elizabeth do about MQS


  Didn't send her to Scotland as she would be killed, she imprisoned her for 19 years until the Babington Plot
• What was the Act of Persuasions?

  Increased the recusancy fine in 1581 to £20
• What was the name of Catholic priests in England who were trained in Europe?

  Jesuits
• What was the Act against Priests?

  Introduced in 1585- gave the death penalty to anyone who helped Catholic priests in anyway
• What happened to Margaret Clitherow?


  Martyred in 1586 as she sheltered Catholic priests
• What was the Recusancy Act?

  Introduced in 1587, 2/3 of land taken if you were a recusant
• What was the act of restraining recusants?

  Introduced in 1593, Catholics had to stay within 5 miles of their home and were banned from large gatherings