Twelve years after the Ridolfi Plot, another conspiracy threatened Elizabeth I’s throne. Once again, Mary, Queen of Scots was at the centre of hopes to replace her -but this time the plan involved English Catholics, supporters abroad, Spain and the possibility of a foreign army landing in England.
And Elizabeth’s government was watching.
Today I want to look at the Throckmorton Plot of 1583, because it shows just how dangerous the struggle surrounding Elizabeth’s throne had become.
At the centre of the plot was Francis Throckmorton, a young English Catholic from a well-connected family.
During travels in Europe, Throckmorton came into contact with English Catholic exiles and supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots. When he returned to England, he became involved in carrying messages between Mary’s supporters at home and those abroad.
The plan was ambitious.
A foreign force, linked particularly with Henry, Duke of Guise, would invade England. Support was also expected from Philip II of Spain, while English Catholics would supposedly rise in support.
Mary, Queen of Scots, after François Clouet, c.1559. Victoria and Albert Museum. Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Mary would be freed, Elizabeth removed from the throne and Catholic rule restored.
Throckmorton also had contact with Bernardino de Mendoza, the Spanish ambassador in London, helping communications pass between Catholic supporters in England and Europe.
Unfortunately for the conspirators, Elizabeth had Sir Francis Walsingham.
Walsingham was becoming increasingly skilled at uncovering plots through spies, informers, intercepted letters and careful surveillance.
Throckmorton attracted attention.
Later in 1583, he was arrested and his home was searched. Documents were discovered linking him with Catholic supporters and containing information about possible invasion plans.
He was taken to the Tower of London and interrogated.
Throckmorton was tortured on the rack and confessed to involvement in the conspiracy, although he later withdrew his confession and said it had been forced from him.
The consequences were serious.
As the Spanish ambassador, Mendoza was expelled from England rather than prosecuted, leaving the country in January 1584.
Throckmorton was tried for high treason on the 21st of May 1584, found guilty and executed at Tyburn on the 10th of July.
But the plot mattered for more than one man.
For Elizabeth and her advisers, it seemed to prove something they had feared for years: Mary, Queen of Scots remained a focus for people who wanted Elizabeth removed.
There had already been the Northern Rising and the Ridolfi Plot.
Now there was Throckmorton.
Each new conspiracy made Mary’s position in England more dangerous and made Elizabeth’s government increasingly determined to stop any further threat.
And another plot was still to come.
Only a few years later, Walsingham’s agents would uncover the Babington Plot of 1586.
This time, the consequences for Mary would be far more serious.
Do you think Elizabeth was right to see Mary as a growing danger, or had keeping Mary imprisoned in England actually made the problem worse?
No comments:
Post a Comment