Elizabeth I - The Catholic Threat

Question 1

Jesuits

Answer 1

Roman Catholic missionaries whose aim was to destroy heresy

Question 2

Recusants

Answer 2

Individuals who refused to attend church services following the Religious Settlement

Question 3

Council of the North

Answer 3

Set up after the Papal
Bull to enforce Elizabeth’s authority in the
north of England

Question 4

Seminary Priests

Answer 4

Priests trained in Roman
Catholic College

Question 5

Mary, Queen of Scots arrived in England

Answer 5

1568

Question 6

The Rebellion of the Northern Earls

Answer 6

1569

Question 7

Elizabeth’s excommunication

Answer 7

1570

Question 8

The Ridolfi Plot

Answer 8

1571

Question 9

The first arrival of seminary priests in England

Answer 9

1574

Question 9

The first Jesuits arrived in England

Answer 9

1580

Question 10

The Throckmorton Plot

Answer 10

1583

Question 11

The Babington Plot

Answer 11

1586

Question 12

The Spanish Armada

Answer 12

1588

Question 13

Jesuit who was executed for preaching Catholicism in England

Answer 13

Edmund Campion

Question 14

Focal point of Catholic plots to overthrow Elizabeth, executed in 1587

Answer 14

Mary, Queen of Scots

Question 15

Sir Francis Walsingham

Answer 15

Organised Elizabeth’s secret service, uncovering many plots

Question 16

King Phillip II of Spain

Answer 16

Funded some of the plots against Elizabeth and eventually sent the Armada in 1588 - was notably the husband of Mary I

Question 17

Richard Gwyn

Answer 17

A Welsh Catholic, famous for being executed as a go-between for travelling Catholic priests and
local Catholic families

Question 18

The rebellion of the Northern Earls

Answer 18

The Earls of Westmoreland and Northumberland planned to replace Elizabeth with her catholic
cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. They rode into Durham with 4,500 men, stormed the cathedral,
destroyed Protestant Bibles and Prayer Books and celebrated a Catholic Mass. Elizabeth sent
the Earl of Sussex with several thousands troops to quell the rebellion, leading to many rebels
retreating. The Earl of Westmoreland managed to evade capture by fleeing to Flanders. The Earl
of Northumberland was eventually captured and executed in 1572. Elizabeth dealt with rebels
harshly, executing over 800 as a warning to other potential rebels

Question 19

The Papal Bull

Answer 19

In 1570, Pope Pius V declared that Elizabeth was a heretic and was excommunicated by way of a
Papal Bull as a result. This Bull removed Catholics from loyalty to Elizabeth and called upon them
to help remove her from the throne. Most English and Welsh Catholics preferred to remain quiet
about their religious faith and remained loyal to Elizabeth despite her excommunication. Despite
this, Elizabeth took no chances and passed a series of Treason Acts in 1571, making it illegal for
anyone to question her position true as Queen of England and Wales

Question 20

The Ridolfi Plot

Answer 20

In 1571, a Catholic plot aimed to replace Elizabeth with Mary, Queen of Scots. The plot had been
organised by the Italian banker, Roberto Ridolfi, for a Spanish army to land in England, overthrow
Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, who would then marry the Duke of Norfolk and turn England
Roman Catholic again. Some of those involved were tortured and revealed that the Spanish
ambassador, de Spes, was involved in this plot too, as well as Philip II of Spain and even the pope
himself. Norfolk was sentenced to death for treason and de Spes and Ridolfi were both expelled
from the country. Elizabeth refused to punish Mary, despite requests from her Privy Council and
many MPs

Question 21

The Throckmorton Plot

Answer 21

The Throckmorton Plot itself took place in 1583, involving a young English Catholic, Francis
Throckmorton, acting as a go-between for Mary, Queen of Scots, and the new Spanish
ambassador Francisco de Mendoza. When Walsingham uncovered the plot, Throckmorton was
arrested and tortured. He revealed that the Duke of Guise was planning to invade England with
an army of French Catholics from the Spanish Netherlands, backed by Spanish and papal money,
but was adamant that Mary knew nothing of the plot. He was sentenced to death for treason and
de Mendoza was expelled from England. Mary was moved to the more secure Tutbury Castle in
Staffordshire, and was banned from having visitors. She also had all her letters carefully checked
by Walsingham and his spies

Question 22

The Babington Plot

Answer 22

In 1586, Walsingham uncovered yet another plot to overthrow Elizabeth, but this time he claimed
to have proof that Mary had been directly involved. The Babington Plot involved another young
Catholic Englishman, Sir Anthony Babington, who planned to organise an invasion force from
Spain to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her on the throne with Mary. Babington sent coded
letters to Mary, updating her on the progress of the plot, which were uncovered by Walsingham’s
spy network. Mary’s replies proved that she was directly implicated in this plot – it was the
proof Walsingham had been waiting for and led to her execution. Babington was arrested by
Walsingham in August 1586. He and six other conspirators were executed in September 1586