Elizabethan England: Mary QOS Execution And Walsingham Use Of Spies Flashcards
When was Mary Queen of Scots executed?
February 1587
In terms of the threat of Spain why was Mary Queen of Scots executed?
• The Spanish threat was heightened as it was clear that Phillip Il was planning a major attack against England
• in Jan 1587, there were rumours that Spanish troops had landed in Wales and that Mary has escaped which reinforced the threat Mary’s continued existence posed to England
• the fact that Phillip Il had been involved in previous plots involving Mary, such as the ridolfi plot, also heightened the threat that Mary posed and the reasons for getting rid of her
In terms of the English Catholics, why was Mary Queen of Scots executed?
Mary had remained a rallying point for disgruntled catholics who saw her as the legitimate queen
When was the act of preservation of the Queens safety passed?
1585
what did the act of preservation of the Queens safety state?
• If Elizabeth was assassinated, Mary would not be allowed to take the throne
• Any action against Mary Queen of Scots should be only taken once a commission has investigated her role in the plot, held a trial and found her guilty
What was the significance of the act of preservation of the Queen’s safety in Mary QOS trial?
The evidence gathered by Walsingham against Mary QOS was enough to ensure her trial and conviction in October 1586 under the act for the Preservation of the Queen’s safety.
The significance of Mary, Queen of Scots, execution?
• removed an important threat to Elizabeth, as Mary had been the focus of many catholic plots to depose Elizabeth
• Further angered Spain and Phillip Il had another motive to invade England, Mary left her claim to the English throne to Phillip Il upon her death
• Execution made the succession even more uncertain, increasing the chances of a civil war on Elizabeth’s death
• Mary was an anointed monarch, so executing her set a dangerous precedent. Elizabeth in the wrong circumstances could meet a similar fate. So the execution made Elizabeth and her heirs more vulnerable in the future
techniques Walsingham used for spying (6)
• agent provocateurs
• cyphers
• paid ordinary people to give information
• specially trained agents
• agents abroad
• catholic priests
what was the role of agent provocateurs?
to encourage people who were a threat to Elizabeth to plot against her
Give an example of an agent provocateur
Gilbert Gifford - Walsingham used him to open communication between Mary and the Babington plotters. This encouraged Mary to involve herself in the plot, thus leading to her execution
by paying ordinary people….
it turned people into spies on their neighbours
why did catholic priests offer their services in return for a pardon
- because of the threat of execution and torture
• This proved to be effective as it provided Walsingham with informants he could use against any plotter
Who is an example of a catholic priest used by Walsingham?
John hart, who offered his services after being held in the tower of London in 1581, in return for a pardon
How did Walsingham use cyphers?
he used ciphers in written communications to hide his plans to catch those plotting against Elizabeth
Walsingham had spies in………
France, Germany, Spain, Italy and North Africa
