Elizabethan Topic 5 - The Catholic Threat Flashcards
What were the reasons for Elizabeth’s early toleration of Catholics
- Elizabeth faced opposition from multiple Catholic nobles when trying to pass the religious settlement of 1559
- Fear of rebellion
- The majority of the population was Catholic
What is a recusant
An individual who rebelled against Elizabeths religious settlement by refusing to attend church services
What did recusants believe in
The Roman Catholic church doctrine and in particular Latin Mass which they were not prepared to compromise
In 1581 how did Elizabeth try and stop recusancy
She increased the fine of recusancy to £20 and made it treasonable to convert people to Catholicism
From what year did seminary priests begin to be smuggled into England and Wales from France
1574
Who set up the college in Douai, Flanders to train English Catholics for priesthood
William Allen in 1568
How many seminary priests were sent to England
438
What was the impact of the act of parliament in 1585 to prevent the influence of seminary priests 
Seminary priests were ordered to leave England or face being executed
How many Seminary priests were sentenced to death
98
What were Jesuits
Members of the Roman Catholic missionary order known as ‘the society of Jesus’ which was founded in 1534
What were the role of Jesuits
To spread the message that true Catholics should not accept the Elizabethan church
How did the government respond to increasing recusancy
Fines increased
Jesuits and seminary priests were ordered to leave the country
Catholics had to stay within a 5 mile radius of there Home
Who was Edmund Campion
A Jesuit who was one of the first priests to be sent to England
When did Edmund Campion return to England on a religious mission
1580
When was Campion found guilty of treason and executed
1581
When did Mary become Queen of Scotland
In 1542 - a few days after her birth
Who was Mary Queen of Scots first husband
Prince Francis who became king Francis in 1559 - of France
When did Mary return to Scotland
1559
Why was Mary arrested in 1567
For the marriage of her and Bothwell which was seen as a step too far by the Protestant Lords who rebelled against her
When did Mary escape Lochleven Castle and cross into England
May 1568
What were some of the possible options for how Elizabeth should treat Mary
Allow Mary to go to France
Help Mary regain the Scottish throne
Execute Mary
Send Mary back to Scotland
What was the cause of the rebellion of the northern Earls
The northern earls were upset at Elizabeth’s interference in their land which had been taken over by southern Earls
What were the events of the rebellion of the northern Earls
In November 1569, 4600 men march into Durham Cathedral and held Catholic Mass
The Queen sent forces led by the Earl of Sussex
The forces caused the earls to retreat and flee to Scotland
What was the aftermath of the rebellion of the Northern earls
The Earl of Northumberland was captured and beheaded
The Earl of Westmoreland avoided capture but later died in poverty
Why did the rebellion of the northern earls fail
Poor planning and leadership
Lack of foreign support
Popularity of Elizabeth
When was Elizabeth excommunicated
1570
How did Elizabeth receive the excommunication
Through the issuing of a papal ball given by Pope Pius V
What was the impact of the papal bull
- The excommunication called upon all royal Catholics to remove Elizabeth from the throne
- The papal ball gave Catholics permission to plot against the Queen
How did the government respond to the papal bull
The issuing of the treason act 1571
What are the contents of the 1571 treason act
It was treasonable to declare Elizabeth as not the rightful Queen
It was treasonable to publish any papal ball
There would be confiscation of Catholic property of those who had fled for at least a year
What was the Ridolfi plot
A plot by the Catholics with the intent to overthrow the Queen and replace her with Mary Queen of Scots
What year was the Ridolfi plot discovered
1571
Who designed the Ridolfi plot
Roberto Ridolfi 
Who uncovered the Ridolfi plot
William Cecil and Sir Francis Walsingham
How was the Ridolfi plot planed to overthrow Elizabeth
A Spanish army would land and help English Catholics overthrow Elizabeth and make Mary queen who would then marry the Duke of Norfolk
Who were punished for the Ridolfi plot
The Duke of Norfolk was sentenced to death
Ridolfi and the Spanish ambassador were expelled from the country
Why did Elizabeth refused to execute Mary
- Mary was an heir and her cousin
- Executing Royal Blood was against gods will
- Execution could result in action from Spain France or the pope
- Execution would anger English Catholics
When was the Throckmorton plot
1583-84
What was the plan of the Throckmorton plot
The Duke of Guise planed to invade England from the Spanish Netherlands and free Mary from captivity 
Who were punished for the Throckmorton plot
Throckmorton was executed and Mary was banned from receiving visitors
What year was the Babington plot
1586
How was the Babington plot different from the other plots
The plot showed proof of Mary’s direct involvement
Who uncovered the Babington plot
Sir Francis Walsingham
How did Walsingham prove Mary’s involvement
Walsingham had been tracking letters sent from Barrington to Mary through beer barrels which had been intercepted and decoded
What was Mary found guilty of at her trial
’Imagining and encompassing her Majesty’s death’
How was Mary execution agreed
Elizabeth Secretary William Davidson took the death warrant and gave it to the privy counsellors to pass Mary’s execution without Elizabeth knowing
What are the consequences of Mary’s death
- James VI took no action and blamed privy Councellors
- France took no action as Henry III wanted good terms with Elizabeth
- Philip II was already planning an invasion, and the execution confirmed his desire
