Elizabeth: the Throckmorton Plot

Question 1

when was the Throckmorton Plot uncovered?

Answer 1

1583

Question 2

who uncovered the Throckmorton Plot?

Answer 2

Francis Walsingham

Question 3

what did the Throckmorton Plot of 1583 aim to do?

Answer 3

for Mary, Queen of Scot’s French cousin called Duke of Guise to invade England with French troops, assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary. They wanted to make England Catholic again.

Question 4

who was Francis Throckmorton?

Answer 4

a young Catholic Englishman who organised the Throckmorton plot and carried messages between Mary and Catholic Conspirators abroad

Question 5

who was Francis Walsingham?.

Answer 5

Elizabeth’s principal secretary and spymaster. He established a large spy network in England and Europe. Walsingham intercepted the letters of catholic conspirators and worked with an expert cryptographer to decode them. He also used double agents to infiltrate Catholic networks

Question 6

how was the Throckmorton plot uncovered?

Answer 6

Walsingham placed Throckmorton under surveillance for several months

Question 7

What did Elizabeth do in response to the Throckmorton plot?

Answer 7

Elizabeth’s closest advisors drafted the Bond of Association, which aimed to prevent any more such plots. the bond, which was signed by the English nobility and gentry, required the signatories to execute anyone who attempted to overthrow the queen.

Francis Throckmorton was arrested in November 1583 and executed in May 1584

Question 8

why did the Catholic plots pose a real threat to elizabeth? (3 reasons)

Answer 8

1. Mary’s presence in England and her strong claim to the throne made the plots seem credible and meant that they posed a real threat to elizabeth’s rule. many people were afraid that they would be successful
2. as the head of the catholic church, the pope could rally support for the plots. For some Catholics, obedience to the Pope was more important than obedience to Elizabeth
3. foreign powers, especially France and Spain, were involved in the plots, so there was a danger they would lead to a foreign invasion

Question 9

how was the throckmorton plot financed?

Answer 9

Spain and King Philip II would provide money for it to happen and the Pope also knew of and approved the plans.

Question 10

what was the significance of the Throckmorton plot?

Answer 10

1. showed that foreign Catholics were willing to help Mary, Queen of Scots
2. Throckmorton has a list of names of Catholic sympathisers in Elizabeth’s court England which Elizabeth could now use. It showed that Elizabeth was not safe, even from her own government
3. Life was made even harder for Catholics as Elizabeth and Francis Walsingham spied on them even more