Plots And Revolts At Home Flashcards
When was the revolt of the northern earls?
1569-70
What did the Northern Earls want?
Catholicism in England
Why were the earls annoyed with Elizabeth?
They had lost a lot of influence in court since she became Queen
how did Elizabeth make England’s future uncertain?
No heir
Why was MQS such a threat?
Was a strong figurehead for Catholicism as she was captive in England. Able to replace Elizabeth which appealed to Earls.
Why was it difficult for Mary to marry Norfolk?
It wasn’t treason but the marriage of members of the nobility required the Queen’s consent
Why was the Duke of Norfolk ideal for the revolt?
Sympathetic to Catholics and close to Northumberland and Westmorland who preferred MQS as monarch
When was the plan for the revolt against Elizabeth released and by who?
September 1569 by Robert Dudley
What did the plan for the revolt released by Dudley state?
. Northumberland and Westmorland Earls (Percy and Neville) take control of Durham
. Rebels march South to join Duke of Norfolk
. Spanish troops in Hartlepool help out
. Seize control of government
. Resistance overthrown by Spanish troops
. Meanwhile, Mary released and ready to marry Duke of Norfolk, taking the throne
What happened to Norfolk after Elizabeth found out about the plans?
He was arrested
What did Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland do after hearing the plans were leaked?
Went ahead with the revolt and took control of the cathedral from James Pilkington, heading for Durham. They destroyed evidence of Protestantism and held masses. Headed south and bannered religious symbols
Did the revolt succeed or fail?
Fail. Spanish troops never arrived ans Elizabeth raised a 14,000 man army
What was the consequences of the threat of the rebellion to Elizabeth?
450 rebels were executed throughout North London as a warning
Which of the earls got away and which didn’t?
Westmorland got away but Northumberland executed in 1572
What happened to Norfolk?
Privy Council called for his execution but Elizabeth released him
How long was Mary kept in captivity after the rebellion?
14 years
Why didn’t Elizabeth want to kill Mary or Norfolk?
Mary had been overthrown by the Scots from being the rightful queen. If she killed her, Elizabeth would look like she agreed with that decision
What did the pope do in response to the failed revolt?
Issued a papal bull in 1570, excommunicating Elizabeth and getting loyal Catholics to depose her.
How did Elizabeth strike back to the pope’s papal bull?
1571, parliament made it treason to claim the queen was a heretic, not the queen or to print papal bulls in England
What was the significances of the Revolt of the northern earls?
. First and most serious act of rebellion in Elizabeth’s reign
. Ended power of Percy and Neville families in North England.
. Prompted harsher treatments for Catholics
. English Catholics loyalty to Elizabeth in doubt due to the papal bull
What happened to treason laws after the revolt?
Became harsher and treason definition widened.
Did most of the Cathoics in the North stay loyal to Elizabeth?
Yes, despite brutal executions
When was the Ridolfi plot?
1571
Explain the plan in the Ridolfi Plot?
To murder Elizabeth, launch a Spanish invasion, put MQS on the throne and marry the Duke of Norfolk
What did Ridolfi sign a letter saying in the Ridolfi plot?
Norfolk was Catholic and would rebel if Philip supported the plot
Who uncovered the Ridolfi plot?
William Cecil. Found Norfolk guilty of high treason
Why did Ridolfi never return to England after the plot?
Afraid of getting caught
When was Norfolk killed?
June 1572. Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to kill Mary
How did the Ridolfi Plot reinforce the threat posed by Mary, Catholics and Spain?
As it came so soon after the papal bull excommunicated Elizabeth
What did Elizabeth concentrate on after the Ridolfi plot?
Improving relations with France as Philip was involved in the plot
Who was smuggled into England in the Ridolfi Plot?
Catholic Priests
What two laws did parliament pass against Catholics after the Ridolfi Plot?
. Converting was a treasonable offence
. Recusants would be fined £20 in 1581
Who were the key people in the Ridolfi plot?
Roberti Ridolfi (Florentine Conspirator and banker. One of the pope’s spies)
The pope
Duke of Alba
Philip II
Duke of Norfolk
MQS
When was the Throckmorton Plot?
1573
What was the plan in the Throckmorton plot?
Overthrow Elizabeth and restore Catholicism, putting MQS on the throne
How was Throckmorton plot discovered?
Francis Walsingham’s agents found incriminating papers at Throckmorton’s house
How did Throckmorton end up dying?
Arrested in November 1583, tortured, confessed and was executed in May 1584.
Who were the key people in the Throckmorton plot?
Duke of Guise (French), Francis Throckmorton, MQS, pope
What did the Throckmorton plot emphasise?
The threat of foreign Catholic powers, English Catholics and Mary
Evidence to show that the Throckmorton plot showed fear of Catholics within was real?
There was a list of Catholic sympathisers in England
How did life become harder for Catholics after the Throckmorton plot?
11,000 imprisoned, sheltering priests became a capital crime
When was the Babington Plot?
1586
What was the plan of the Babington plot?
Elizabeth assassinated, Duke of Guise would invade with 60,000 men, MQS put on throne
Why was MQS so careful in the Babington plot?
She was being watched and her letters were being intercepted by Walsingham’s spy network
What were sufficient details on the Babington Plot?
Names of 6 Catholic priests prepared to assassinate Elizabeth.
What happened to those involved in the Babington Plot?
All arrested. Babington and accomplices hung, drawn and quartered
What happened to MQS in the Babington plot?
Tried by the Privy council and later executed
Why was MQS execution unavoidable?
Too many plots surrounding Mary to believe she was innocent
When was MQS executed and why did it take so long?
8th Feb 1587. Elizabeth again hesitant to sign death warrant
Who were key people in Babington Plot?
Philip II and pope agreed to plot
Anthont Babington had Catholic links with French and wrote to MQS about plot in July 1586.
Duke of Guise
MQS
When had Anglo-Spanish relations broken down by?
1585
Was why Elizabeth more vulnerable in the Babington plot?
English were aiding dutch rebellion at the time
How was it clear that Elizabeth’s government became determined to crush Catholicism after the Babington plot?
31 priests executed and 300 arrests of recusants in North London alone
What did MQS execution mean?
There were no Catholics to replace Elizabeth with a Catholic heir
What did the 1585 Act for Preservation of the Queen’s safety state?
If Elizabeth is assassinated, MQS blocked from succession
What led to MQS finally being executed?
As she was found guilty for actually playing a role in the Babington plot as evidence from Sir Francis Walsingham was enough for her conviction in 1586.
When did Elizabeth sign MQS death warrant?
Reluctantly in Feb 1587
How was MQS and Spanish threat to England clear by 1587?
Clear that Philip II was planning an attack on England and there were rumours that Spanish troops were in Wales and Mary had escaped
What was the significance of MQS execution?
. Removed important threat to Elizabeth
. Philip II had been planning to invade since 1585. Execution gave him more reason to depose Elizabeth
Who did MQS leave the claim to the throne to after she died?
Philip II
When did Francis Walsingham become Secretary of State?
1573
Why was Walsingham so important in the plots?
He developed a network of spies and informers and was crucial in uncovering plots as he had spies in every county and important town
Who were most of the spies in Walsingham’s network?
Mostly ordinary people paid to get information but some were trained agents
Where were agents for Walsingham by 1580?
In 12 French towns, 9 in Germany, 4 in Spain etc
How did Walsingham catch plotters?
Used ciphers to hide plans to catch plotters
How did Walsingham discover traitors?
Used agent provocateurs (agents who joined groups expected of wrongdoing)
How far did Walsingham go with the spying?
Even spied on nobility
What punishment didn’t Walsingham approve of for the smuggled Catholic priests?
Torture as it would make people sympathetic to them
What happened to the Catholic priests?
Some were executed but some had a special prison built for them, not harsh
How many priests and plot supporters were executed in Elizabeth’s reign?
130 priests and 60 supporteds
