Elizabeth I & the Catholic Threat (AQA GCSE History): Revision Note

Why were Catholics a threat to Elizabethan England?- Summary 

Catholics were considered a significant threat to Elizabethan England for several reasons. Elizabeth I was a Protestant.  She faced opposition from English Catholics who saw her as an illegitimate ruler, preferring her Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, as the rightful monarch. This internal religious conflict created political instability. 

Catholic powers in Europe, particularly Spain and France, viewed Protestant England as a threat to their faith and influence. The Pope’s excommunication of Elizabeth in 1570 further encouraged Catholics to oppose her. They created plots to overthrow her. The most notable of these was the Babington Plot, which aimed to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. Moreover, the threat of invasion by Catholic Spain, heightened by the Spanish Armada in 1588, added to the danger. 

Domestic and foreign Catholic threats threatened Elizabethan England's stability and security. However, this threat was reduced due to the actions of Elizabeth and her court. Individuals like Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s spymaster, prevent plots and threats from becoming too dangerous. 

Why was there a Catholic threat abroad?

• The Catholic threat against Elizabeth was not just at home 

• Catholics aboard became a threat to Elizabeth due to: 

  • The papal bull ordering all Catholics to act against Elizabeth 

  • Seminary priests arriving in England in 1574

    • William Allen sent missionaries to England from a seminary in the Spanish Netherlands 

    • Jesuits establishing the ‘Counter-Reformation’ 

• The Catholic threat abroad was dangerous to Elizabeth because: 

  • France and Spain were Catholic

    • They were the most powerful countries in Europe 

    • They had close connections with the pope 

    • They were starting to show support for those who challenged Elizabeth in England 

  • Relations with Spain and France were fragile 

    • Elizabeth did not marry King Philip II of Spain nor Francis Duke of Anjou and Aleçon 

    • Elizabeth was supporting the Protestants in the Spanish-controlled Netherlands 

    • Sir Francis Drake was sacking Spanish ships and Elizabeth was not punishing Drake for his actions 

How much of a threat were the Jesuits and Edward Campion?

• The ‘Counter-Reformation’ in England started during Henry VIII's reign 

  • The hope was to restore Catholicism in England 

• Jesuits came to England in 1580 intending to convert Protestants to Catholicism 

  • This was a threat to Elizabeth’s reign

  • The 1585 Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests was enacted to remove Jesuits from England 

    • Anyone sheltering a Jesuit was arrested

    • Many Jesuits were executed

  • Despite the 1585 Act, Jesuit missionaries continued to come to England 

  • In 1580, two Jesuit missionaries, Robert Parsons and Edmund Campion, came to England 

• Robert Parsons escaped from England and never returned 

  • However, Edmund Campion was arrested, tortured in the Tower of London and hung, drawn and quartered for treason 

• Although Jesuits posed a threat to Elizabeth and were involved in a plot to overthrow Elizabeth, the Throckmorton Plot, their threat was minimal 

  • The Throckmorton Plot was never enacted 

  • Elizabeth’s spies, like Francis Walsingham, easily dealt with their threat 

  • Elizabeth created laws with severe punishments that prevented people from supporting the Jesuits 

How did Elizabeth deal with the Catholic threat?

• After 1580, Elizabeth started to take the Catholic threat seriously 

• Elizabeth introduced a series of laws in an attempt to reduce the challenge of Catholicism in England 

Laws introduced by Elizabeth I to reduce the Catholic threat in England

• Although there was still a Catholic threat against Elizabeth in the 1590s, it was small 

  • Catholicism was not popular among ordinary people 

    • By 1603 approximately 10% of the country was Catholic

  • Most people wanted to support England and Elizabeth 

    • Supporting Catholicism was seen as not English

Why did the plots against Elizabeth fail?

• Catholic plots against Elizabeth failed due to the following reasons: 

  • Elizabeth’s spies

    • Individuals like her spymaster Francis Walsingham prevented or stopped Catholic plots before they became a serious threat to Elizabeth 

  • Punishments

    • The laws that Elizabeth introduced came with serious punishments which deterred many people from plotting against Elizabeth 

  • Lack of support 

    • Many of the plots against Elizabeth lacked the domestic support needed to make them a genuine threat 

    • Foreign countries, such as Spain and France, did not give the support that they promised to those who plotted against Elizabeth 

  • Skilled politicians 

    • Politicians, such as William Cecil, were able to persuade Elizabeth to make difficult decisions, such as the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. This prevented Catholic plots from being a serious threat

  • Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement

    • Most people in England supported Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement. This  made plots against Elizabeth  fail as they did not gain the support needed to be successful