the catholic plots

• With rising of north, considered significant events to Mary’s execution- highlighted her threat to Elizabeth and her support

• Ridolfi 1571- planned to use support of Spain and pope to overthrow Elizabeth, ensure marriage between mqos and Duke of Norfolk- restore Catholicism

• Ridolfi met duke alba- persuade to invade England, then travelled to Spain and Italy- persuade pope and king Philip II to send army

• Duke of alba and Spanish monarch reservations- best to wait till Elizabeth was removed from throne

• Walsingham- spy master aware of plot- Norfolk arrested, Ridolfi realised plot uncovered and stayed in Paris

• Duke of Norfolk beheaded June 1572 and Ridolfi worked for pope

• Elizabeth passed law- anyone who spoke against her was traitor

  • Marys relatives France orchestrated massacre of Protestants in Paris

  • Fears of catholic attack escalated

• Throckmorton plot 1583- sir Francis throckmorton carried letters between Spanish and french and Mary

  • Incite uprising in north as Duke of guise led french invasion supported by king Phillip II

  • Put Mary on throne and restore Catholicism

  • Plan failed- king Phillip didn’t send money

  • Evidence plot gathered- throckmorton arrested, no evidence of Mary’s involvement

  • 1584 throckmorton executed, Northampton and Northumberland arrested

• English gov began gathering evidence of Mary’s involvement

• Babington plot 1586- Anthony babington wrote to Mary who had been imprisoned for 19 years

  • Listed 6 steps to kill EB and put Mary on throne Walsingham aware

  • Walsingham uncovered letters- aware of plot from start, evidence when Mary replied

  • Everyone executed except Mary

    • Royalty exempt from public trial

• Walsingham able to intercept and decode letters, employed spies in England and overseas

• 1570 and 1588- Walsingham passed acts against catholics

• 1584 bond of association, if Elizabeth’s life was threatened Mary would be executed

• Mary found guilty- 1587 executed- much deliberation from EB

With the rising threat of Mary, significant events led to her execution. The Ridolfi plot of 1571 aimed to use support from Spain and the pope to overthrow Elizabeth, secure a marriage between Mary and the Duke of Norfolk, and restore Catholicism. Ridolfi engaged with Duke Alba to persuade Spain and Italy, but both expressed reservations about timing until Elizabeth was removed. Walsingham, the spymaster, uncovered the plot, leading to Norfolk's arrest. He was beheaded in June 1572, and Ridolfi continued working for the pope.

Elizabeth enacted laws labeling anyone speaking against her as a traitor. The Throckmorton plot in 1583 involved Sir Francis Throckmorton, who carried letters between Spanish and French agents, aiming to incite an uprising and place Mary on the throne. The plan failed, and while evidence against Throckmorton was gathered, there was no proof of Mary’s direct involvement. He was executed in 1584, along with Northampton and Northumberland arrested.

The Babington plot in 1586 involved Anthony Babington’s communication with Mary, listing steps to assassinate Elizabeth. Walsingham intercepted and decoded these letters, leading to their executions. Mary remained exempt from public trial. Walsingham also enacted laws against Catholics, including the Bond of Association in 1584, stating that if Elizabeth's life was threatened, Mary would be executed. Mary was found guilty and executed in 1587 after much deliberation from Elizabeth.

The rising threat of Mary, Queen of Scots, led to significant events culminating in her execution. The Ridolfi plot (1571) aimed to marry Mary to the Duke of Norfolk with Spanish and papal support to restore Catholicism, but was uncovered by Walsingham, leading to Norfolk's execution in 1572. Elizabeth passed laws branding critics as traitors. The Throckmorton plot (1583) involved letters between Spanish and French agents to incite an uprising but failed, resulting in Throckmorton’s execution in 1584 without direct evidence against Mary. The Babington plot (1586) included Babington's communication with Mary about assassinating Elizabeth, which Walsingham intercepted. Despite Mary's involvement, she was exempt from trial and eventually executed in 1587 after Elizabeth's deliberation over the findings and laws against Catholics, including the Bond of Association.