Mary Queen of Scotts + Threats to Elizabeth's security 1569-86

Question 1

Explain the Key issues posed by Mary Queen of Scotts

Answer 1

Relations between Elizabeth and Mary were inextricably linked to the issues of religion + succession. √

• Catholic Mary incurred the wrath of protestant lords + the English through her marriage to Lord Darnley + the marriage was a disaster with Mary being implicated with her husbands murder.
• A subsequent 3rd marriage to Darnley suspected murderer the earl of Bothwell set off a brief civil war which forced Mary to flee to England in 1567
• Mary fled to England + posed a huge and continuous problem for Elizabeth w many catholics regarding her as the rightful monarch and she became the focus of an abundance of plots both to take Elizabeth of the throne and against her life.
• This problem was to grow worse following the excommunication of Elizabeth catholic subjects from the end to obey their sovereign which frightened Elizabeth and her council resulting in the tightening of treason laws. After the ex-communication protestants were deemed loyalists and catholics traitors.

Question 2

State the 5 Key Threats to Elizabeths security between 1569-1586

Answer 2

1 - The Revolt of the Northern Earls - 1569
2 - The Ridolfi Plot - 1571 
3 - The Throckmorton Plot - 1583
4 - The Parry Plot - 1585
5 - The Babington Plot - 1586

Question 3

Explain the Revolt of the Northern Earls 1569 + the concequences of the plot

Answer 3

The spanish ambassador Des Pes was in touch with Mary + disgruntled noblemen and encouraged rebellion.

• The Duke of Norfolk hated Elizabeth’s trusted Chief secretary Willaim Ceil + resented his dominance at court + used the situation to plot others against Elizabeth.
• He hoped that Mary should at least be declared heir to the throne - assuming Elizabeth continued to be queen.

Consequences;

• The rebellion did not result in very much + the duke of norfolk surrendered whilst other northern earls marched south however their troops melted away after facing elizabeth’s forces.
• Government acted serverly in punishing the rebels + nearly 800 people were hanged.

Question 4

Explain the Ridolfi Plot 1571 + the consequences of the plot

Answer 4

Ridolfi was a Florentine merchant settled in england and had been involved in plotting in favour of Mary in 1569 + took a leading role in attempts to overthrow elizabeth and put mary - whod be married to Norfolk on the throne. Ceil (Now Lord Burghley) gathered a lot of intelligence via his network of spies + informers and the use of torture and the leaders + accompaces were soon arrested. This allowed Burghley to ensure the execution of Northfolk for treason

Consequences;
- Elizabeth gave in to pressure to sign his execution warrant but not to the demands to execute Mary + the spanish ambassador was expelled from england.

• Mary remained imprisoned but remained a continual embarrassment + threat for elizabeth however argubly if she had exec ute mary at this time war with spain would have been virtually inevitable at a time where she was utilising marriage diplomacy across europe to ensuring continued peace.
• However this ‘peace’ was completely shaken during the 158s after a papa pronouncement stated anyone who assassinated Elizabeth would be doing gods work + would gain merit excommunicating her. Catholic priests were joined by Jesuit missionaries + at the same time elizabethan seamen’s activities against the spanish empire made war against spain inevitable + mary saw spanish intervention as her best chnage at gaining the english throne.

Question 5

Explain The Throckmorton Plot of 1583 + the consequences of the plot

Answer 5

Fransis throckmorton an english catholic became involved in a plot to get rid o elizabeth + acted as an intermediary between Mary. The spanish ambassador mendoza however was tortured to revel details of the plot + Medoza was expelled once again making war with spain inevitable .

The plan of a Foreign Landing in Sussex followed by an overthrowing of Elizabeth + her replacement by Mary was uncovered by the efficiency of Sir Frainsis Walsingham’s espionage network.

This led to 3 key things;

• The creation of the Bond of Association
• Worseneed Anglo-Spanish relations
• Tightened conditions of Marys captivity.

Question 6

Explain the Parry plot 1585

Answer 6

This was a plot to assassinate the queen + led to the acceleration of parliamentary proceedings on a bill to ensure the queens safety

Question 7

Explain the Babington Plot 1586 + the consequences of the plot

Answer 7

There were several other plots the most significant being led by Anthony Babington who wrote to army concerning details of a plot and mary replied agreeing to them.

• Mary complicit in a plot to assassinate Elizabeth but exposed by Walsingham’s codebreaker Thomas Phelippers which enabled Burghley to secure Marys execution.
• Elizabeth remained reluctant despite ample evidence that army was involved. T
• England was already at war with Spain + for several moths elizabeth didnt make a decision + felt reluctant to support anything condemning harsh treatment of a fellow female monarch especially one with a rightful claim and politically it want necessarily tactical to dispose of mary either as she had close relations with the guise family in france only when evidence became overwhelming did she sign the death warrant.

Question 8

Explain the key aspects of Mary QOS Trial + Execution

Answer 8

Elizabeth was consistently reluctant to press for the execution of another appointed monarch like Mary however eventually it was decided Mary should face trial at Fotheringhay Castle in northamptonshire where she was moved the day after Babingtons execution.

• Privy councillors + nobles assisted by judges were ordered to try her but several of those commanded pleaded illness.
• Some feared regicide but other were more concerned to condemn the death of the mother of their possible next ruller which wouldn’t be a good career move.
• Mary was very plainly guilty however at Elizabeth’s command no sentence was pronounced - there were 4 months of delays were the did not command her cousins execution however Burhnley who had held the view that for the queens own safety + securing of the protestant state it required Marys execution.
• Parliament Petitioned Elizabeth but she refuse to sig the death warrant untill February 1st 1587.