Davison History Department

Catholic’s under Elizabeth

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• Elizabeth ignored calls to punish Catholics, instead services and practices were designed to not cause direct conflict for Catholics.

• Recusancy fines for Catholics who refused to attend services were purposely low and the government did not worry too much about Catholics worshipping privately.

• In April 1570 the papal bull was issues. This was a special message excommunicated Elizabeth from the Church and called on Catholics to end her rule.

• Pope Pius V called Elizabeth the ‘pretend Queen of England’ and his message left English Catholics with a dilemma.

 

Plots and rebellions

• The papal bull was designed to coincide with the Northern Rebellion of 1569 but was issued to late.

• There were a series of plots against Elizabeth

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The Northern Rebellion, 1569

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Elizabeth refused to allow the Duke of Norfolk to marry the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots. This act inspired two northern Catholic nobles to lead a rebellion against Elizabeth and replace her with the Catholic Mary. Westmorland and Northumberland took control of Durham Cathedral and held and illegal Catholic mass. They then began to march south with around 4600 men. The loyal Earl of Sussex raised an arm and the rebels disbanded. Northumberland was captured and executed, Norfolk was imprisoned and Westmorland escaped to France.

 

The Ridolfi Plot, 1571

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This plot was led by an Italian named Ridolfi and also included Norfolk. The plan was that an invasion from the Netherlands would coincide with another northern rebellion. Elizabeth would be murdered and replaced by Mary, Queen of Scots who would then marry Norfolk. The plot was exposed before it could be completed when spies found Norfolk’s code decipher and he was executed.

 

The Throckmorton Plot, 1583

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Led by Sir Francis Throckmorton, the plan was to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. Once Elizabeth had been killed, there would be an invasion by the French Catholic, Henry, Duke of Guise, and an uprising of English Catholics. The plot also involved the Spanish ambassador. When the plot was discovered, Throckmorton was executed and Mary, Queen of Scots, was placed under even closer guard.

 

The Babington Plot, 1586

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This was another attempt to murder Elizabeth and place Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Led by Anthony Babington, it was the discovery of this plot that led to Mary’s trial and execution when it was found that she had known about and agreed with the plot all along.

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Reaction

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• After the papal bull Elizabeth needed a new approach was needed to make sure Catholics did not rebel.

• New laws were introduced to disrupt Catholic activities and strengthen the Queens role.

• In 1581 it was declared treason to attend a Catholic Mass, greater recusancy fines were introduced of £20.

• In 1585 it was made treason to have a Catholic priest in your home.

• Priests were executed and noble Catholic families could lose their lands and wealth

• 1593 a new law said Catholics could not travel more than five minutes from their home.

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Reactions from abroad

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• The College at Douai, in 1568 English Catholic cardinal William Allen established a seminary in Douai in the Spanish Netherlands to train Priests. Supported by the Pope he aimed to educate Priests who would return to England as missionaries.

• The Jesuits, the Society of Jesus was created in 1540 as part of the counter-reformation, hoping to return people to the Catholic religion. The Jesuits first arrived in England in 1580 with the aim of converting Protestants to Catholicism. Elizabeth felt these to be a threat to her rule and treated those involved harshly.

• The 1585 Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests called for Jesuits to be driven out of England, many were executed. Sheltering them could lead to arrest.

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France and Spain

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• Supported by the Pope the two most powerful Catholic countries Spain and France began to support challenges to Elizabeth’s power.

• King Phillip of Spain had originally planned to marry Elizabeth as it became clear this wasn’t going to happen he began to undermine their rule. Phillip helped set up the seminary at Douai.

• The death of Mary, Queen of Scots and the failure of the Spanish Armada strengthened Elizabeth.

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Catholic threats

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• At first Elizabeth was tolerant of Catholic’s but the papal bull and increasing threats her position hardened.

• There were still powerful Catholic nobles in the north that Elizabeth had to worry about.

• In 1580 the Jesuit mission to England began in earnest, led by Robert Parsons and Edmund Campion. Campion was disguised as a jewel merchant and began preaching to the English people.

• Campion travelled the country and was known to authorities, Parson was more secretive. On 14th July 1580 Campion was arrested and taken to the tower of London. He was held for four months and was tortured, he was eventually executed on the 20th November 1581for treason. Parson’s escaped.

• Laws against Catholic’s became increasingly strict and in 1593, the statute of confinement banned them from leaving their homes without permission.

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Elizabeth's Actions Against Catholics

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