Catholic plots

• Mary Queen of Scots arrives in England


  May 1568
• Mary Queen of Scots' arrival in England


  Stirs up trouble for Elizabeth
• Many Catholics in England see Mary as their opportunity to make England Catholic again
• Revolt of the Northern Earls


  6 months later
• Despite the failure of the Revolt of the Northern Earls, Catholics continue to try to overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with Mary
• Causes of the plots

  Largely the same as the Revolt of the Northern Earls - Catholics unhappy with Elizabeth's Protestant leadership, want to return to Catholicism, worried about losing power and positions at court
• Rodolfi Plot


  1. Roberto Rodolfi, an Italian banker and spy for the Pope, wants to kill Elizabeth, cause a Spanish invasion, and make Mary Queen of Scots the English Queen

  2. Rodolfi travels to the Netherlands to meet with Philip II and the Duke of Alba

  3. Philip II says he will prepare 10,000 troops to invade England

  4. William Cecil finds out about the plot, Norfolk is arrested, Rodolfi never returns to England

  5. Elizabeth signs the death warrant for the Duke of Norfolk, who is executed in 1572
• The Rodolfi Plot showed Elizabeth that English Catholics and Mary Queen of Scots couldn't be trusted, confirmed Spain as a threat, and made her try to improve relations with France
• Elizabeth passes laws limiting actions of Catholics - it becomes illegal to shelter Catholic priests and treason to convert others to Catholicism


  1581
• Throckmorton Plot


  1. Organised by the Duke of Guise, a French nobleman related to Mary Queen of Scots

  2. Philip II of Spain provides money to pay for soldiers and weapons

  3. The Pope sends a letter approving the plot

  4. Francis Throckmorton recruited to pass letters between the plotters and Mary Queen of Scots

  5. Plot discovered by Francis Walsingham's spies, Throckmorton arrested, tortured and executed
• The Throckmorton Plot confirmed to Elizabeth that English Catholics and Mary Queen of Scots were significant threats, and that France was also likely to be a threat
• Elizabeth raises the stakes - sheltering a priest now risks execution rather than just a fine


  1585
• Babington Plot


  1. Plan for the Duke of Guise to invade England, murder Elizabeth, and put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne

  2. Anthony Babington tasked to pass letters to Mary Queen of Scots, hidden in sealed wax envelopes inside beer barrels

  3. Plot discovered by Walsingham's spies, Babington arrested, tortured and executed for treason
• The Babington Plot was the final straw for Elizabeth, leading to the execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587
• Following the Babington Plot, Elizabeth cracked down even harder on English Catholics, 31 Catholic priests were executed, and England was in a virtual state of war with France and Spain
• The Rodolfi Plot did not overtly involve France nor was there evidence of Mary's involvement, unlike the other two plots
• The Babington and Throckmorton Plots are very similar, but take place 5 years apart, with the Babington Plot leading to Mary Queen of Scots' execution