The Catholic Threat

Question 1

What/when were the four main Catholic plots against Elizabeth?

Answer 1

• Ridolfi Plot (1571)
• Throckmorton Plot (1583)
• Jesuits (1580s)
• Babington Plot (1586)

Question 2

What were the events of the Ridolfi Plot? (1571)

Answer 2

• Ridolfi (an Italian banker) planned for Spain to invade England
• Mary QoS would marry the Duke of Norfolk and overthrow Elizabeth

Question 3

What were the events of the Throckmorton Plot? (1583)

Answer 3

• Throckmorton carried letters between French ambassadors and Mary QoS
• Planned to start an uprising in the north simultaneously to a French invasion

Question 4

What were the events of the Babington Plot?

Answer 4

• Planned to kill Elizabeth and replace her with Mary
• Walsingham’s spies intercepted a letter from Mary QoS agreeing to the plot

Question 5

What were the consequences of the Throckmorton Plot?

Answer 5

• Evidence discovered after searching Throckmorton’s house
• Was unknown if Mary was aware of it or not

Question 6

What were the consequences of the Ridolfi Plot?

Answer 6

• Phillip II refused to invade before Elizabeth was overthrown
• The plot failed and Ridolfi was executed

Question 7

What were the consequences of the Babington Plot

Answer 7

• Mary was executed
• This angered Spain enough to send the Spanish Armada

Question 8

What were Jesuits?

Answer 8

• Catholic missionaries who tried to persuade English people to convert
• Were smuggled into the country and hid in people’s houses (‘priest holes)

Question 9

What were the consequences of the influx of Jesuits into England during the 1580s?

Answer 9

• Increased recusants
• Increased opposition to Elizabeth

Question 10

What were recusants?

Answer 10

Catholics who refused to attend Church to protest Elizabeth’s religious settlement

Question 11

Why did all Catholic plots fail?

Answer 11

• Walsingham’s spy network
• Elizabeth’s policies
• Punishments
• Lack of foreign support

Question 12

What policies did Elizabeth implement to deal with the plots?

Answer 12

• Treason Act (1571) meant anyone who opposed Elizabeth as Governor or encouraged Catholicism would be punished by death
• In 1585 becoming a priest was punished by death
• In 1593 large gatherings of Catholics was illegal and they couldn’t travel more than 5 miles from their homes

Question 13

How did Walsingham deal with Catholic plots?

Answer 13

• Intercepted letters
• Interrogated suspects (the rack)
• Informers (spies in suspects’ houses)

Question 14

Why was Elizabeth reluctant to execute Mary Queen of Scots?

Answer 14

• Divine Right of Kings (fellow Queen)
• Reaction from Catholics in England
• Foreign invasion (Spanish Armada)

Question 15

When was Mary Queen of Scots executed?

Answer 15

1587 (one year after the Babington Plot)