2.1 - Plots & Revolts At Home Flashcards
1
Q
When was the Revolt of the Northern Earls?
A
1569-70
2
Q
Why did the Northern Earls rebel?
A
- 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.
3
Q
What was the marriage plan the Northern Earls devised?
A
- 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.
4
Q
Describe the progress of the revolt.
A
- 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.
5
Q
Why did the revolt fail?
A
- 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.
6
Q
Describe the revolt’s significance.
A
- 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.
7
Q
When was the Ridolfi Plot?
A
1571
8
Q
Describe the background of the Rifolfi plot.
A
- 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.
9
Q
Who was Ridolfi? Describe the plan for the Ridolfi plot.
A
- 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.
10
Q
Who was Ridolfi? Describe the plan for the Ridolfi plot.
A
- 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.
11
Q
Describe what actually occurred in the Ridolfi plot.
A
- 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.
12
Q
Describe how the Ridolfi plot was a failure.
A
- 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).
13
Q
What was the significance of the Ridolfi plot?
A
- 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.
14
Q
What laws were passed due to the Ridolfi plot?
A
- 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
15
Q
When was the Throckmorton plot?
A
1583
16
Q
Describe the Throckmorton plot.
A
- 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.
17
Q
Describe the failure of the Throckmorton plot.
A
- 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.
18
Q
Describe the significance of the Throckmorton plot.
A
- 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.
19
Q
When was the Babington plot?
A
1586
20
Q
Explain the plan for the Babington plot.
A
- 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.
21
Q
Why was the Babington plot a failure?
A
- 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.
22
Q
Why was the Babington plot significant?
A
- 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.
23
Q
Why was Sir Francis Walsingham important?
A
- 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.
24
Q
Describe Walsingham’s spy network.
A
- 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.
25
Q
Describe Walsingham’s use of ciphers.
A
- Used ciphers for all correspondence.
- Walsingham also had the means of decoding the codes of those who plotted against Elizabeth.
26
Q
Describe Walsingham’s use of torture and execution.
A
- 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.
27
Q
Who were the agent provocateurs Walsingham employed?
A
- These agents would encourage those who were seen as a threat to Elizabeth to plot against her. This would justify their arrest and execution.
28
Q
Why was MQS executed?
A
- 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.
29
Q
Why was the execution of MQS significant?
A
- 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.
