The Babington Plot And Reasons For The Execution Of Mary Queen Of Scots, And Walsingham Flashcards
What was the name of the plot in 1586?
The Babington Plot
What was the plan in the Babington plot?
Sir Anthony Babington planned to rescue Mary Queen of Scots from jail and murder Elizabeth.
It was similar to the Throckmorton plot: the Duke of Guise would invade England with 60,000 men and put Mary on the throne. Both Philip lI of Spain and the pope supported this plot.
Events of the Babington Plot
Secret letters between the plotters and Mary were discovered by Sir Francis Walsingham which gave the evidence needed to prove Mary’s guilt. This finally led to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, Babington and six other plotters
Significance of the Babington Plot
•Elizabeth’s government became determined to crush catholicism
•Mary’s execution meant that there was no catholic heir to replace Elizabeth.
•This plot was especially significant because, by 1585, relations between England and Spain had broken down and the English were aiding the Dutch Protestants in a rebellion against the Spanish. Thus Elizabeth’s situation was even more dangerous than had been the case with previous plots.
Why was Mary, Queen of Scots a problem for Elizabeth?
Mary had a legitimate claim to the English throne and was the focus of several plots
to depose Elizabeth after fleeing to England in 1568.
Mary’s French family, the Guise, was very powerful. They formed a Catholic League against Protestantism in France and supported the plots against Elizabeth.
Mary was a Catholic figurehead in the North who the Northern Earls believed could potentially replace Elizabeth.
Who was Sir Anthony Babington?
A Young english Catholic with links to the French
Why was Mary Queen of Scots Executed?
The Act for the Preservation of the Queen’s Safety, 1585
The Threat that Mary’s continued existence posed to England- All plots resulted in Mary being put on the Throne.
Figurehead for revolts
What was the Act for the Preservation of the Queen’s safety (1585)?
The act stated that, in the event of Elizabeth’s assassination, Mary, Queen of Scots, was to be barred from the succession. Also, any action against Mary, Queen of Scots should only be taken once a commission has investigated her role in the plot, held a trial and found her guilty.
Why did the Act for the preservation of the Queen’s safety lead to Mary’s execution?
The evidence gathered by Walsingham against Mary, Queen of Scots (for the Babington plot) , was enough to ensure her trial and conviction in October 1586 under the Act for the Preservation of the Queen’s Safety. Elizabeth finally, but reluctantly, signed her death warrant in February 1587.
Why did Mary Queen of Scots existence in England posing a threat to Elizabeth lead to her execution?
By the start of 1587, it was clear to Elizabeth and her Privy Council that Philip I was planning a major attack against England. In January 1587, there were rumours that Spanish troops had landed in Wales and that Mary had escaped. These rumours reinforced the threat Mary’s continued existence posed to England.
Significance of the execution of Mary Queen of Scots
• The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots,removed an important threat to Elizabeth I.
• Philip I had been planning to invade England since 1585. The execution of Mary gave him one more reason to remove Elizabeth from the English throne. Mary also left her claim to the English throne to Philip lI upon her death.
• English Catholics were angered by the execution as they lost their hope of a Catholic monarch
Why was Sir Francis Walsingham important?
- Walsingham’ actions provided intelligence that defeated plots, such as the Throckmorton plot and Babington plot
- His intelligence unmasked the actvities of Mary, Queen of Scots. This led to Mary’s execution in early 1587.
- His actions deterred further plots against Elizabeth
Walsingham’s spy network
Walsingham had a network of spies and informants in every town (and abraod)
Some of Walsingham’s agents were paid and trained by the government whereas others were paid informants
Walsingham’s use of torture and execution
Some priests were tortured, to deter others and force them to give up information. Under Walsingham, 130 priests and 60 of their supporters were put to death.
Walsingham’s use of ciphers (codes)
Walsingham used codes for all correspondence. This meant that letters would be written in code and translated out of code once received. Walsingham also decoded codes of plotters against Elizabeth.
