Catholic threat

Question 1

What was the Catholic threat like in the early years of Elizabeth’s reign?

Answer 1

Limited
Didn’t have foreign support
Many conformed outwardly but kept Catholic beliefs
the number refusing to go to church was small

Question 2

Why was MQS a threat to Elizabeth?

Answer 2

She had a legitimate claim to the English throne
Devout Catholic, provided Catholics with alternative queen to Protestant Elizabeth
Had a male heir-succession would be secure once she died
legitimate as opposed to Elizabeth

Question 3

What happened to MQS in 1567?

Answer 3

Scots rebelled against her

Fled to England + asked Elizabeth for help

Question 4

What Catholic rebellions were there?

Answer 4

The Northern Rising
Excommunication
The Ridolfi Plot
The Throckmorton Plot
The Babington Plot

Question 5

What caused the Northern Rising? (1569)

Answer 5

MQS planned to marry Thomas Howard-threat would strengthen her power + claim to throne
Plan was discovered, Norfolk imprisoned
Earl of Westmoreland (Norfolk’s bro in law) + earl of Northumberland assembled rebel army in northern countries

Question 6

What happened in the Northern Rising?

Answer 6

Restored Mass in Durham Cathedral

Destroyed English Prayer Book + Elizabeth’s books of common prayer

Question 7

What did Elizabeth do about Northern Rebellion?

Answer 7

moved Mary further south so rebels couldn’t reach her
sent troops under Lord Sussex to suppress the rising
Westmoreland escaped to exile
Northumberland exiled + beheaded
Norfolk abandoned plans to marry MQS

Question 8

What was the threat of the Northern Rebellion?

Answer 8

Not big threat

In winter, rebels starving limited support, severe punishments

Question 9

What were the motivations of Westmoreland and Northumberland?

Answer 9

Catholics

Wanted to overthrow Cecil, thought he was too influential + blamed him for poor policies

Question 10

Why was the Papal Bull a threat to Elizabeth?

Answer 10

Pope excommunicated Elizabeth
meant that all Catholics were absolved from recognising Elizabeth as queen
outlawed Elizabeth
Catholics everywhere were encouraged to plot against Elizabeth, and not only seek to threaten her authority but also her life

Question 11

What was the Ridolfi Plot?

Answer 11

1571. Roberto Ridolfi plotted Mary’s escape to marry Norfolk
      Had support of Pope + Spanish ambassador
      The plot called for Spain to intervene with troops to support the marriage + put Mary on the throne
      Discovered by Elizabeth’s agents, executed him

Question 12

What was the Throckmorton plot?

Answer 12

1583
Francis Throckmorton plotted with Spanish ambassador Mendoza to kill E + replace her with Mary
Mendoza arrested
Under torture, Throckmorton confessed to a conspiracy to murder Elizabeth + put Mary on throne with help of foreign troops-led by the French Henri, duc de Guise

Question 13

What did Elizabeth do about the Throckmorton plot?

Answer 13

Throckmorton executed
Mendoza expelled, threated to return with army
convinced Parliament to pass Bond of Association in 1584, calling on all Englishmen to take oath to seek out + kill anyone plotting to murder the queen

Question 14

What was the Babington Plot?

Answer 14

1586
Anthony Babington enlisted by Catholic priest in plot to murder Elizabeth
Had support from agents of Spain + the Pope to release Mary from captivity
Babington unknowingly recruited one of Elizabeth’s agents
the discovery of this + the Stafford plot of 1587 convinced E to execute MQS

Question 15

What was the Stafford Plot?

Answer 15

1587

plan to blow Elizabeth up by putting gunpowder under her bed

Question 16

What other important treaties were there?

Answer 16

1572, Parliament urged Elizabeth to execute Mary + Norfolk

1572 the Massacre of Bartholomew in France convinced many English protestants there was a European-wide Catholic conspiracy to exterminate Protestantism

Question 17

Why was MQS executed in 1587?

Answer 17

because while alive she was a catalyst for Catholic rebellions
Catholicism had become a serious threat due to its external connections overseas
the plots demonstrated that the pope, rulers of European monarchies + religious order could impose considerable power if they wished to
existence caused too many serious threats from Catholics, unsafe for E

Question 18

Who were the Seminary priests?

Answer 18

Catholic priests who had been sent to keep Catholicism alive. Essential as faith depended on sacraments + they administered these.
Had long + strict changing to ensure they were best examples

about 100 seminary priests came before 1580 and after 1580, about 179 came over the next 5 years

Question 19

Why were Seminary priests + Jesuits a threat?

Answer 19

They were hidden by Catholic families so difficult to find

In total 650 Jesuits and seminary priests came, their numbers peaking in 1588.

Question 20

Who were the Jesuits?

Answer 20

Emerged in 1580s, most likely to restore Catholicism

Gov thought they were a threat, passed acts

Question 21

What acts were passed against Jesuits?

Answer 21

1581, recusancy fines increased to £20 + it was treason to recognise the authority of the Pope

To get convictions, asked ‘bloody questions’ designed to entrap them by asking if they thought that all Catholics should obey the papal bull of 1570 and rebel
against the queen

1585 Act, treasonable to be ordained Catholic priest in England after the expiry of a 40-day period of grace

Question 22

Catholic not a threat

Answer 22

Gradually Catholicism died out, shortage of Catholic priests to keep faith alive + not replaced when dead
Most Catholics in England were loyal to E, ignored Papal Bull
E’s propaganda, her image as Gloriana made her powerful, supported by Francis
Walsingham, his spy network very effective in dealing with Catholic threat

Question 23

Yes, Catholic a threat

Answer 23

international links with European monarchs + the papacy

attempts to kill her