1. Which was the most threatening Catholic plot to Elizabeth after 1570?

2. Learning objective – to be able to assess the extent of the threat posed by Catholic plots between 1571 and 1583.
I can describe the key features of the Catholic plots between 1571 and 1583.
Grade 3
I can explain the key features of the Catholic plots between 1571 and 1583.
Grade 6
I can explain and assess the features of the Catholic plots between 1571 and 1583.
Grade 9

3. Starter Subheading – My Brain Draw an outline of your brain.
Fill your drawn brain with all the things you can remember abbout the causes of the Northern Rebellion. This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists – anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others can understand it.

4. Who was Roberto Ridolfi and what were the aims of his plot?
Roberto Ridolfi was an Italian banker from Florence who was a Catholic spy. In 1571, he hatched a plot to overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary would marry the Duke of Norfolk, who held the coded written plans for the plot. They would then restore Catholicism in England.

5. What was the Ridolfi Plot?
In 1571, Ridolfi travelled to the Netherlands to meet the Duke of Alba, the Commander of the Spanish forces, to try and persuade him to lead his forces in an invasion of England. Ridolfi had a letter signed by Norfolk declaring he was a Catholic and would lead a rebellion if it had Spanish support. Alba was reluctant to do this until Elizabeth was overthrown by her own people. Ridolfi went on to visit the Pope and Philip II to win support for his plot. By the autumn of 1571, Ridolfi’s plot was uncovered and he never returned to England.

6. How was the government able to defeat the Ridolfi Plot?
A combination of Sir Francis Walsingham’s spies and the work of Sir William Cecil uncovered details of the plot. Norfolk’s servants were interrogated and they betrayed him. Norfolk was arrested in September for high treason. Ridolfi stayed abroad. The plot never reached the public arena.

7. What was the significance of the Ridolfi Plot?
Coming so soon after the Papal Bull of excommunication, the Ridolfi Plot reinforced fears of Catholicism in England. Norfolk was tried and executed while Ridolfi was made a Papal Senator and led a wealthy existence. Fears about Spanish motives increased and the Spanish ambassador was expelled from England. Elizabeth focused on improving relations with France to deal with the potential Spanish threat.

8. How did Catholicism go underground in the 1570s?
Because of the increasing anti-Catholic measures passed in England, Catholics were forced to pray in secret. From 1574, Catholic priests were smuggled into England and conducted acts of worship in secret for wealthy families who could afford to hide them in priest holes and to build secret Catholic rooms of worship in their homes. This was very risky and those caught conducting and participating in Catholic acts of worship could be hung drawn and quartered.

9. Who was Francis Throckmorton and what were the aims of his plot?
Because of the very little written evidence that has survived, little is known about the Throckmorton Plot of Francis Throckmorton was a young Catholic would was in regular written contact with Mary, Queen of Scots as well as prominent members of the English Catholic nobility. Throckmorton planned to lead a popular uprising in the north of England at the same time as Mary’s cousin, the French Duke of Guise, would lead an invasion in the south. The aim was to release Mary, overthrow Elizabeth and restore Catholicism in England.

10. How was the government able to defeat the Throckmorton Plot?
Walsingham’s agents raided Throckmorton’s house after a lengthy period of surveillance. The agents found incriminating papers which revealed not only the plot but a list of Catholic sympathisers. Throckmorton was arrested in November 1583 and under torture confessed all. He was executed in May 1584.

11. What was the significance of the Throckmorton Plot?
The Throckmorton Plot highlighted the potential threat of Spain and France. The Spanish ambassador was expelled and not replaced. This was an important step towards war which broke out in Throckmorton’s papers revealed a list of Catholic sympathisers in England. This persuaded the government of the existence of an enemy within. A government crackdown on Catholics led to 11,000 people being imprisoned or under closer surveillance. A growing move by some government ministers to act to get rid of Mary.

12. Who was Anthony Babington and what were the aims of his plot?
Anthony Babington was a young Catholic page for the Earl of Shrewsbury – Mary’s jailer. Babington was in regular written contact with Mary, Queen of Scots who was Similar to Throckmorton, Babington planned to support an invasion by Mary’s cousin, the French Duke of Guise, would lead an invasion in the south. The aim was to release Mary, overthrow and kill Elizabeth and restore Catholicism in England.

13. How was the government able to defeat the Babington Plot?
Babington wrote to Mary in 1586 about the steps required to lead an overthrow and murder of Elizabeth. Mary, thinking the coded letters were safe responded, agreeing to the plan. The letters hidden in beer barrels were intercepted by Walsingham. These coded letters provided the evidence needed to put Mary on trial. Babington, his fellow plotters and Mary were all executed.

14. What was the significance of the Babington Plot?
The Babington Plot led directly to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. The ended any hope of a Catholic heir to Elizabeth. A crackdown on Catholic priests led to mass arrests of priests and recusants. The execution of a Catholic monarch enraged Philip II of Spain, who prepared to invade England with an armada.

15. Task Name of rebellion Was the plot a threat to Elizabeth?
Was the plot’s outcomes favourable to Elizabeth?
Was the plot dealt with effectively by the government?
On separate pages in your exercise book, copy the Partington graph for each of the three plots we have studied today writing the names of each plot in the centre of a separate graph.
For each plot, complete the Partington graph, by assessing each question within the graph and marking a cross on the line the question is connected to. If you think yes to the question, you should mark your crosses closer to question box. If you think no to the question, then mark your cross closer to the centre of the graph. Once you have marked your three crosses, join them together to form a triangle.
Once you have completed your graphs, explain your judgements by writing a paragraph underneath each graph justifying your answers.
Name of rebellion
Was the plot a threat to Elizabeth?

16. Bankrupt
Elizabeth I
Extension Task
Draw the table below and write no more than ten words in each of the boxes, summarising your learning today.
Ridolfi Plot
Throckmorton Plot
Babington Plot
Causes
Key events
Consequences

17. Plenary – a touch of Scrabble
The mystery word that relates to this lesson is worth
12 points
..... Using the Scrabble score card, can you work out which word it is?