The Babington Plot

After the Throckmorton Plot, what did Walsingham want?

To push Mary into another plot so that she could be executed and not cause any other problems

How was Mary treated and how did she feel?

In order to encourage her to agree to treason, Mary suffered harsh treatment. She had been under house arrest for 20 years since coming to England, she had lost her throne, social life and had failing health since she was obese and had lost her good looks. There was very little hope of escape, so Mary believed that her only chance of reprieve was to become Queen by killing Elizabeth

Who was Anthony Babington?

French ambassador who began correspondence with Mary and helped plan the plot

How did the pair correspond?

They wrote their letters in code and these were smuggled out of the house

What was the Babington plot?

Free Mary, kill Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, reestablishing Catholicism as the main religion in England once more with the help of some Spanish invasion forces

Was the plot carried out ever?

No as Walsingham used a double agent to intercept the letters and send them to Walsingham to interpret the code. Walsingham continued to allow their false belief that the plan was secret until he had undeniable proof that Mary wanted Elizabeth dead

What happened on the 17th July 1586?

Mary wrote a coded letter approving the plot. Babington was then arrested and hung, drawn and quartered with 6 of his accomplices. Mary was also later found guilty

When was Mary executed?

8th February 1587