Catholic threat after 1570

Question 1

Foreign threats?

Answer 1

1. 1570 Bull of excommunication - pope deprived her of her title and declared cath’s didn’t have to obey her
2. Spanish ambassadors such as de Spes and Mendoza actively encouraged plotting vs Liz in Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babbington - Spanish army could easily cross sea to support
3. Spanish Armada - status of crusade
4. Papacy financed invasions in Ireland & 1572 St Bartholomew’s Day massacre

Question 2

Internal threats?

Answer 2

1. MQS was a ready made alternative to Eliz - focus of plots and challenges
2. Plots from English gentry such as Throckmorton and Babbington showed Caths were willing to take extreme action
3. Duke of Norfolk was prepared to ignore Eliz’s wished and marry MQS - uncertain of loyalty of certain lords
4. Danger of assignation - Papacy declared that anyone who assassinated the Queen would be doing God’s work

Question 3

Threats from priests and population?

Answer 3

1. William Allen seminaries in Douai provided English priests with the mission - revival of Catholicism
2. Number of recusants were growing - taking note of papacy
3. Government did not know how strong the catholic underground movement was - Jesuits
4. Priests appeared to be involved in plots - not keeping religion and politics separate - William Allen 1588 encouraged cath’s to support armada

Question 4

Foreign threats reduced?

Answer 4

1. Most catholics ignored the bull of 1570 - English first and Catholic second
2. MQS’s scandalous behaviour convinced many English catholics that she would not be a suitable candidate
3. Spanish too concerned with their own problems in Neds
4. Death of MQS deprived them of a figurehead

Question 5

How did indifference reduce the threat?

Answer 5

1. Catholic community wanted to not get involved in plotting - pledge to Queen
2. Catholic mission never strong or confident enough to convert - unable to reach many communities
3. Time - people gradually accepted Anglican settlement
4. Catholic families in regions lost their influence
5. Protestant regime united in opposition to catholic threat - Bond of Association

Question 6

How did persecution reduce the threat?

Answer 6

1. Savage treatment of rebels showed dangers of getting involved in challenges
2. Laws against recusancy increased - 1559 12d a week. 1581 £20 a month. Ruined many families and forced others to conform
3. Walsingham’s use of spies and informers meant that plots never evolved into real challenges
4. Laws against catholics increased and were easy to enforce - 1585 law against Jesuits and seminary priests made them automatically guilty of treason

Question 7

Quotes about catholics etc

Answer 7

Doran - ‘avoidance of confrontation with Catholicism allowed survivalism but in the long term worked’
‘ Majority drifted into conformity’