Plots And Revolts At Home

Question 1

Why did the northern earls rebel

Answer 1

Many northern earls were still committed catholics. They wanted to see the restoration of Catholicism in England under a catholic monarch
The arrival of Mary queen of Scot’s in 1568 gave them hope that E could be replaced with M

Question 2

Why did the northern earls rebel (2)

Answer 2

The earls had lost much of there influence at court under E. they resented the “new men” like William Cecil and RD
Es refusal to name an heir or to marry and have a child created uncertainty. The earls feared civil war and loss of power and wealth under a future Protestant monarch

Question 3

What was the marriage plan.

Answer 3

Mary would marry the Duke of Norfolk, depose E and become queen. She told the Spanish Ambassador in 1569 that she “shall be queen of England in 3 months”
This was supported by Catholic nobles such as Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland as E would be succeeded by a Catholic queen

Question 4

How did the revolt happen

Answer 4

When the marraige plan was uncovered the earls feared they’d be executed for there involvement. Ina. Desperate attempt to escape punishment they rebelled and tried to overthrow E

Question 5

How did the revolt go (2)

Answer 5

November 1569 the earls captured Durham where they celebrated the Catholic Mass in the cathedral and began to move south towards where Mary was imprisoned in Tutbery Derbyshire. E moved M to Coventry to stop her escaping to join the rebels

Question 6

Why did the revolt fail

Answer 6

Support from Spain never arrived
northern landowners especially in Lancashire and Cheshire remain loyal
Many landowners didn’t want to risk losing wealth gained from the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry V111 by backing a failed revolt
Northumberland was executed as were at least 400 rebel troops

Question 7

What was the revolts significance

Answer 7

It showed MQ of S couldn’t be trusted and the danger that she represented as a rallying point for english catholics
In 1570 pope excommunicated E and called on loyal catholics to despise her. Encouraged further catholics plots against her like the Ridolfi plot
Loyalty of English catholics was now in doubt forcing the government to take harsh steps against them

Question 8

What was the background of the ridolfi plot

Answer 8

The failure of the R of the NE and the Papal Bull of 1570 meant that E treated Catholics with suspicion
Earl of Huntingdon a committed Protestant led the council of the north. Implemented laws against catholics in the north: angered many catholics who were now prepared (with the popes backing) to plot against E- led to ridolfi plot in 1571

Question 9

What was the plan of the ridolfi plot

Answer 9

Roberto ridolfi was an Italian banker who lived in England and worked as a spy for the pope
In 1571 ridolfi plotted to murderE start a Spanish invasion and put M on the throne. M would then marry the Duke of Norfolk

Question 10

How did the ridolfi plot fail

Answer 10

Sir William Cecil discovered the plot in 1571 and was able to prove that Norfolk was guilty of high treason because they also intercepted letter sent my Mary
When Parliament reconvenes in may 1572 it demanded the execution of both Norfolk and Mary. E signed norfolks death warrant however E was reluctant to punish Mary and even refused to remove her from the succession

Question 11

What was the significance of the ridolfi plot

Answer 11

Reinforced the threat from Spain as Phillip 11 woild support any plots against E. meant thag england needed to improve relations with france as England couldn’t fight both countries at once

Question 12

Significance of ridolfi plot (2)

Answer 12

Confirmed that English catholics and M remained a threat to E. This meant that the government now began to monitor catholics more closely and treat them more severely. Two laws passed in 1581 meant that families could be fined for sheltering priests and charged with treason if they converted people to Catholicism

Question 13

What happened in the theockmorton plot (1583)

Answer 13

The french duke of guise a cousin of Mary plotted to invade England and overthrow E, free Mary and restore Catholicism
A leading figure in this plot was Francis Throckmorton -young catholic man who carried messages between Mary and catholic conspirators abroad
However uncovered by Walsingham who placed throckmorton under surveillance for several months

Question 14

Why was the response to he throckmorton plot

Answer 14

In November 1583 walsinghams spies found papers at throckmorton house thay revealed his part in the conspiracy
Throckmorton arrested and tortured la confessed his involvement and arrested in may 1584

Question 15

Why was the throckmorton plot significant

Answer 15

Revealed extent of threat posed by foreign catholic powers, english catholics and Mary
Showed potential threat from France and Spain, E had to take care these catholic powers didnt unite against her

Question 16

Significance of throckmorton plot (2)

Answer 16

Government treated English catholics with greater suspicion. Many fled England after the plot
Up to 11000 we’re imprisoned or kept under surveillance/house arrest
Act of Parliament in 1585 made helping or sheltering catholic priests punishable with death

Question 17

What was the babington plot

Answer 17

Another conspiracy involving France and Spain. Planned to assassinate E and give the English throne to Mary this time with the support of a join Franco-Spanish invasion force

Question 18

What happened in the babington plot in 1586

Answer 18

The duke of guise would invade England,murder E and put M on the throne. Anthony Babington wrote to Mary in July 1586 about the conspiracy
Through his spy network, walsingham followed every stage of the plot. He secretly intercepted and read Bs letters to Mary which clearly demonstrated her awareness of and involvement in the conspiracy

Question 19

What was the result of the babington plot in 1586

Answer 19

Babington and the plotters were sentenced to death and hanged
In 1586 Mary was sentenced to death for her role in the plot. E delayed but signed Mary’s death warrant in feb 1587. Mary was beheaded shortly afterwards

Question 20

What was the significan fee of the babington plot in 1586

Answer 20

The persecution of catholics intensified. In 1585 11000 catholics were imprisoned and placed under house arrest. 31 priests were executed across the country
Led to the execution of M ending any hope of replacing E with a catholic heir

Question 21

Why was Sir Francis Walsingham important

Answer 21

His actions provided intelligence that defeated plots such as the throckmorton and babington plot in 1583 and 86.
Which also deterred further plots against E
His intelligence unmasked the activities of M which put pressure on E to execute her and led to her execution in early 1587

Question 22

How did walsingham use cipher

Answer 22

He used ciphers for all correspondence. This meant that letters would be written in code and translated out of code once received
Also had the means of deciphering the code of those who plotted agaisnt E. he hired specialists such as Thomas Phelippes to help him do this

Question 23

How did Walsingham use torture and execution

Answer 23

Some priests were tortured to deter others and force them to give up info. Under Walsingham 130 priests and 60 of there supporters were put to death
This was often more effective as it would provide Walsingham with informants he could use against any plotters

Question 24

How did Walsingham use his spy network

Answer 24

Had a network of spies and informants in every town. Some of his agents were paid and trained by the government
Others were paid informants who likely knew potential plotters against E
They were sometimes catholic priests like John Hart who turned informant in return for a Royal Pardon
Also used spies abroad. Had agents in Italy, France, Germany and Spain

Question 25

Why was Mary Queen of Scots executed

Answer 25

She had been involved in a series of plots agaisnt E such as B,R, and T plot. Walsinghams spies had unearthed evidence thag M was involved with these plotters
M remained a rallying point for disgruntled catholics who saw her as a legitimate queen
Pope excommunicated E in 1570 making M an alternative Catholic monarch who could take the throne by foreign invasion

Question 26

What was the significance of the execution of Mary queen of Scot’s

Answer 26

removed the long standing Catholic threat to E at home. English catholics now had no one to rally around and they lost hope of every overthrowing E and reversing the religious settlement
There were no more major catholic plots after that

Question 27

What was the significance of the execution

Answer 27

However th execution inflamed catholic opposition abroad and increased the threat of a foreign invasion
In 1587 relations with Spain were at a low point the two countries were at war over the Netherlands and King Phillip II had been preparing for an attack on England since 1585. Ms execution made the situation worse and Phillip was more determined to invade