Elizabeth I's Religious Policies and Catholic Threats

Act of Supremacy

Made the country Protestant with a 'compromise'.

Protestant

Allowed priests to marry.

Mary Queen of Scots

A Catholic queen who spent 5 years returning England to the Pope.

Elizabeth I

Declared herself 'governor' rather than 'Head'.

Recusancy fines

When a person refused to attend Church of England services.

Papal bull

Special message issued by the Pope.

Excommunicate

Officially remove from the Catholic Church by the Pope.

Seminary

A training college for priests.

Missionary

Someone whose aim it is to spread their faith.

Counter-Reformation

The reform of the Catholic Church in Rome as a response to the Protestant Reformation.

Martyr

Someone willing to die for their belief.

Recusancy fines

Fines introduced for those who do not attend Protestant services.

Rack

A torture device used to extract confessions from captured traitors.

Rosary beads

An aid for Catholics to enable them to focus during their prayers.

Statute of Confinement

Catholics could not travel more than 5 miles from their home without permission.

Northern Rebellion

Elizabeth refused to allow the Duke of Norfolk to marry Mary, Queen of Scots.

Ridolfi Plot

The plan was to invade England from the Netherlands at the same time as another Northern rebellion.

Throckmorton Plot

Led by Francis Throckmorton, the plan was to kill Elizabeth & replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.

William Allen

Set up the Seminary College at Douai.

Ridolfi

A plot to murder Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots, discovered by Walsingham's spy network.

Babington Plot

Led by Anthony Babington in 1586, this plot led to Mary's trial and execution in 1587.

Coded Letters

Mary's servants were convinced to place coded letters in beer barrels that were taken to her room.

Philip II of Spain

Sent the Spanish Armada in 1588 in an attempt to remove Elizabeth from power.

Edmund Campion

Established an English Catholic Seminary in 1568 and arrived in London disguised as a merchant.

Jesuits

Formed in 1540, their aim was to reconvert Protestants to Catholicism; began arriving in England from 1580.

Surplice

A white gown worn by priests in the Church of England.

Presbyterian

A Protestant Church that believes that Bishops should be replaced by Elders; followers of John Calvin.

Popish

A term for a supporter of the Pope.

Prophesying

A meeting of the Protestant clergy which usually involved criticism of the English Church under Elizabeth.

Clergy

Member of a religious order, e.g. monk/priests.

Separatist

Someone who wants to break away from the main stream.

John Field

An outspoken critic of the English Elizabeth Church for not being Protestant enough; published books and was arrested.

Anti-English Sentiment

Increased in Europe, eventually contributing to the plots against Elizabeth.

Mary, Queen of Scots (MQOS)

Executed in 1587 after being implicated in the Babington Plot.

Walsingham's Spy Network

Discovered the Ridolfi plot and intercepted communications related to the Babington Plot.

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Resulted from the Babington Plot in 1587.

Society of Jesus

Members began to arrive in England from 1580 to reconvert Protestants.

Act against Jesuits & Seminary Priests

Called for Jesuits and Seminary Priests to be driven out of the country.

Treason

Campion was found guilty of treason on 20 November 1581.

Hanged, Drawn and Quartered

The method of execution used for Campion after being dragged through London.

French Catholic Invasion

Planned invasion by Henry of Guise.

Invasion from the Netherlands

The plan to invade England from the Netherlands coinciding with a Northern rebellion.

John Calvin

A Protestant reformer based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Puritan Threat

The perceived danger posed by Puritans to Elizabeth's religious settlement.

Archbishop Grindal

Encouraged prophesying meetings but was suspended for refusing to ban them.

John Whitgift

The new Archbishop of Canterbury who introduced rules banning unlicensed preaching.

Separatist Church

A church set up in Norwich in 1580, led by Robert Browne.

Robert Browne

Leader of the separatist church in Norwich who was arrested but released.

Henry Barrow & John Greenwood

Leaders of a second separatist church in London who were hanged in 1592.

Peter Wentworth

A Puritan MP who often nagged Elizabeth to get married.

Thomas Cartwright

A Puritan who tried to introduce new Puritan laws in 1590.

John Stubbs

A printer punished by having his hand cut off for criticizing a potential marriage to a French Catholic Prince.

Mary Queen of Scots

Elizabeth's cousin and a potential threat due to her claim to the English throne.

Legacy of Mary I

The memory of Mary I's reign, which made Protestants fear a return to Catholicism.

Legitimate Heir to the Throne

Mary was considered a legitimate heir due to her direct bloodline to the English crown.

Potential for Rebellions

Mary became a focal point for Catholic plots against Elizabeth, including several notable conspiracies.

Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

Mary was executed at Fotheringhay Castle on 8th February.

Trial of Mary Queen of Scots

Mary was put on trial in October 1586 for her crimes.

Elizabeth Dithers

Elizabeth's reluctance to execute her cousin Mary due to potential consequences.

Imprisonment of Mary

Mary was imprisoned for 19 years and treated well.

Death Warrant

Elizabeth signed the death warrant for Mary on 1st February 1587.

Consequences of Execution

Elizabeth feared foreign invasion and retaliation from Mary's son, James.

Privy Council

Elizabeth's advisors who were concerned about the threat posed by Mary.

Catholic Martyr

Mary became a martyr for Catholics after her execution, enhancing her symbolic threat.

Fotheringhay Castle

The location where Mary Queen of Scots was executed.