2.1 - Plots & Revolts At Home

Question 1

When was the Revolt of the Northern Earls?

Answer 1

1569-70

Question 2

Why did the Northern Earls rebel?

Answer 2

• The earls and their followers wanted to make England Catholic again.
• The earls had lost much of their influence at court under Elizabeth. They resented the “new men”, such as William Cecil and Robert Dudley.
• Elizabeth’s refusal to name an heir, or marry and have a child, created uncertainty. The earls feared a civil war and loss of power and wealth under a future Protestant monarch.

Question 3

What was the marriage plan the Northern Earls devised?

Answer 3

• Mary would marry the Duke of Norfolk, depose Elizabeth and become queen herself. She told the Spanish Ambassador in 1569 that she “shall be Queen of England in three months”.
• Robert Dudley told Elizabeth of the plot, leading to Norfolk’s arrest and imprisonment in the Tower.

Question 4

Describe the progress of the revolt.

Answer 4

• Northumberland and Westmorland, continued with the revolt. They took control of Durham Cathedral, celebrating mass there, as well as in other northern churches, and began to move south.
• Elizabeth moved Mary to Coventry, to stop her escaping and joining the rebels.
• Though the rebels captured Hartlepool, support from Spain never arrived.

Question 5

Why did the revolt fail?

Answer 5

• Support from Spain never arrived.
• Many northern landowners remained loyal to Elizabeth.
• Many landowners did not want to risk losing wealth gained from the dissolution of the monastaries under Henry VIII by backing a failed revolt.

Question 6

Describe the revolt’s significance.

Answer 6

• It showed MQS could not be trusted - and she remained in prison.
• The pope excommunicated Elizabeth and called on loyal Catholics to depose her. This encouraged further Catholic plots against her.
• The loyalty of England’s Catholics was now in doubt, forcing the government to take harsh steps against them.
• Elizabeth’s control over the north of England was strengthened.

Question 7

When was the Ridolfi Plot?

Answer 7

1571

Question 8

Describe the background of the Rifolfi plot.

Answer 8

• Failure of revolt of the Northern Earls and the Papal Bull of 1570 meant Catholics were treated with suspicion.
• Earl of Huntingdon implemented laws against Catholics in the north of England which angered many Catholics.
• Led to many Catholics prepared to plot against Elizabeth.

Question 9

Who was Ridolfi? Describe the plan for the Ridolfi plot.

Answer 9

• Ridolfi was a banker, who lived in England and worked as a spy for the pope.
• In 1571, Ridolfi plotted to murder Elizabeth, start a Spanish invasion and put MQS on the English throne who would then marry the Duke of Norfolk.

Question 10

Who was Ridolfi? Describe the plan for the Ridolfi plot.

Answer 10

• Ridolfi was a banker, who lived in England and worked as a spy for the pope.
• In 1571, Ridolfi plotted to murder Elizabeth, start a Spanish invasion and put MQS on the English throne who would then marry the Duke of Norfolk.

Question 11

Describe what actually occurred in the Ridolfi plot.

Answer 11

• March 1571 : Ridolfi travelled to Netherlands to discuss plot with the Pope, Phillip II and the Duke of Alba; Ridolfi acquired a letter signed by the Duke in which Norfolk declared himself Catholic and pledged to lead the rebellion.
• Phillip II instructed the Duke of Alba to prepare 10,000 troops in support of the revolt.

Question 12

Describe how the Ridolfi plot was a failure.

Answer 12

• Sir William Cecil discovered the plot and, by Autumn 1571, was able to prove Norfolk was guilty of high treason; Ridolfi remained abroad and never returned to England.
• When Parliament reconvened in 1572, it demanded execution of both the Duke of Norfolk and MQS.
• Elizabeth signed Norfolk’s death warrant leading to his execution in 1572; Elizabeth reluctant to punish Mary (may further anger Catholics).

Question 13

What was the significance of the Ridolfi plot?

Answer 13

• Reinforced threat from Spain, as Phillip would support any plots against Elizabeth.
• Threat from Spain meant relation with France needed to be improved : England could not fight both countries at once.
• Confirmed English Catholics and MQS remained a threat to Elizabeth.

Question 14

What laws were passed due to the Ridolfi plot?

Answer 14

• Catholics monitored more closely and treated more severely.
• Two laws passed in 1581 which meant families could be fined for sheltering priests and charged with treason if they converted people to Catholicism

Question 15

When was the Throckmorton plot?

Answer 15

1583

Question 16

Describe the Throckmorton plot.

Answer 16

• French Duke of Guise plotted to invade England and overthrow Elizabeth, free Mary and make England Catholic again.
• Phillip II offered to help pay for the revolt and the pope approved.
• Throckmorton would pass letters between the plotter and MQS.

Question 17

Describe the failure of the Throckmorton plot.

Answer 17

• Sir Francis Walsingham discovered the plot in May 1583.
• In November 1583, Walsingham’s spies found incriminating papers at Throckmorton’s house that revealed his part in the conspiracy.
• Throckmorton arrested and tortured. He confessed his involvement and was executed in 1584.

Question 18

Describe the significance of the Throckmorton plot.

Answer 18

• Revealed extent of threat posed by foreign Catholic powers, English Catholics and MQS.
• Showed potential threat from France and Spain.
• Throckmorton’s papers included a list of Catholic sympathisers in England confirming governments fears of “enemy within”.
• Government treated English Catholics with greater suspicion; an Act of Parliament of 1585 made helping Catholic priests punishable with death.

Question 19

When was the Babington plot?

Answer 19

1586

Question 20

Explain the plan for the Babington plot.

Answer 20

• Duke of Guise would invade England, murder Elizabeth and put MQS on the throne. Phillip II and the pope supported the plot.
• Babington wrote to Mary in 1856 about the conspiracy.

Question 21

Why was the Babington plot a failure?

Answer 21

• Sir France Walsingham intercepted Babington’s letters which clearly demonstrated her support for the conspiracy.
• Babington and plotters sentenced to death.
• In October 1586, Mary sentenced to death. Elizabeth delayed but signed her death warrant in 1587.

Question 22

Why was the Babington plot significant?

Answer 22

• By 1585, England and Spain were virtually at war.
• Elizabeth’s government determined to crush the Catholic threat.
• Persecution of Catholics intensified ; in 1585, 11,000 Catholics imprisoned or placed under house arrest.
• Plot led to the execution of MQS ending any hope of replacing Elizabeth with a Catholic heir.

Question 23

Why was Sir Francis Walsingham important?

Answer 23

• His actions provided intelligence that defeated plots, such as the Throckmorton plot and Babington plot.
• His intelligence unmasked the activities of MQS. This put pressure on Elizabeth and led to Mary’s execution in early 1587.
• His actions also deterred further plots against Elizabeth.

Question 24

Describe Walsingham’s spy network.

Answer 24

• Walsingham had a network of spies and informants in every town.
• Some were paid and trained by the government.
• Others were paid informants. Threat were often people who were likely to know potential plotters against the queen.
• Walsingham also used spies abroad.

Question 25

Describe Walsingham’s use of ciphers.

Answer 25

• Used ciphers for all correspondence.
• Walsingham also had the means of decoding the codes of those who plotted against Elizabeth.

Question 26

Describe Walsingham’s use of torture and execution.

Answer 26

• Some priests tortured to deter others and force them to give up information.
• The threat of execution and torture was often more effective as it would provide Walsingham with informants.
• Walsingham only used torture and execution in extreme cases; he did not want ordinary people to sympathise with plotters.

Question 27

Who were the agent provocateurs Walsingham employed?

Answer 27

• These agents would encourage those who were seen as a threat to Elizabeth to plot against her. This would justify their arrest and execution.

Question 28

Why was MQS executed?

Answer 28

• Mary had been involved in a series of plots against Elizabeth (revolt of Northern Earls and the Ridolfi, Throckmorton, Babington plots).
• Walsingham’s spies uncovered evidence that Mary was involved with the plotters. Led to her trial and conviction under the Act of Preservation of the Queen’s safety.
• Spanish threat heavy by 1587 - rumours of invasion. Phillip II had worked with Mary in previous plots (Ridolfi plot).
• Mary remained rallying point for angry Catholics, who saw her as a legitimate queen.
• The pope excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570, making Mary an alternative Catholic monarch who could take the throne by foreign invasion.

Question 29

Why was the execution of MQS significant?

Answer 29

• Mary was an anointed monarch, so executing her was dangerous as Elizabeth could meet a similar fate. So, Elizabeth was more vulnerable in the future.
• Angered Spain and gave Phillip II further reason to attack England, as Mary had left her claim to the throne to Phillip on her death.
• Made succession even more uncertain increasing the chances of civil war on Elizabeth’s death.
• Removed an important threat to Elizabeth, as Mary had been the focus of many Catholic plots to depose Elizabeth.