The Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babington Plots, 1571-86
Between 1571 and 1586, three separate Catholic plots aimed to remove Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots, and each was uncovered before it could succeed. The Ridolfi Plot of 1571, organised by the Italian banker Roberto Ridolfi, planned a Spanish invasion combined with Elizabeth's assassination and Mary's marriage to the Duke of Norfolk; its discovery led to Norfolk's execution in 1572. The Throckmorton Plot of 1583, led by Francis Throckmorton, planned a French Catholic invasion backed by Spain, and was uncovered by the government's growing intelligence network. The Babington Plot of 1586, led by Anthony Babington, planned to assassinate Elizabeth and place Mary on the throne with Spanish support; Elizabeth's principal secretary Francis Walsingham intercepted and had his codebreaker Thomas Phelippes decipher secret letters between Babington and Mary, obtaining clear evidence of Mary's own approval of the assassination plan. Together the three plots show both the persistence of the Catholic threat to Elizabeth and the increasing effectiveness of Walsingham's intelligence-gathering in defeating it.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn each plot as a separate case with its own leader, date and aim: Ridolfi (1571, led by Roberto Ridolfi, aimed at Spanish invasion and Mary's marriage to Norfolk); Throckmorton (1583, led by Francis Throckmorton, aimed at a French/Spanish-backed invasion); Babington (1586, led by Anthony Babington, aimed at assassinating Elizabeth and placing Mary on the throne).
- Learn how each plot was uncovered, since this is often the detail examiners reward: Norfolk's execution followed the discovery of the Ridolfi Plot in 1572; government intelligence uncovered Throckmorton; Walsingham's interception and Thomas Phelippes's decoding of coded letters uncovered Babington and, crucially, proved Mary's own involvement.
- Learn the consequences: each plot hardened government policy towards Catholics, and the Babington Plot in particular provided the evidence used to try and execute Mary, Queen of Scots.
- For 'describe two features of' questions, pick two specific features of a named plot (e.g. its leader and its aim, or its method and its discovery) rather than mixing up detail from different plots.
- For 'explain why' questions on why the plots failed, or why they mattered, treat Walsingham's intelligence network, the use of coded correspondence and interception, and the involvement of foreign powers as separate factors.
- For 16-mark judgement questions comparing the plots, or judging how serious the overall Catholic threat was, use specific detail from at least two plots on each side of the argument before reaching a supported conclusion.
Worked example
Explain why the Babington Plot of 1586 was so significant for Mary, Queen of Scots. You may use the following in your answer: Francis Walsingham's intelligence network, and the aims of the plot. You must also use information of your own.
- Plan the two given factors plus one of your own: Walsingham's intelligence network, the plot's aims, and a third point such as Thomas Phelippes's decoding of the correspondence.
- Develop the Walsingham point: as principal secretary, Walsingham ran an intelligence network that intercepted secret letters passing between Anthony Babington and Mary, allowing the government to monitor the plot without alerting the conspirators.
- Develop the aims point: Babington's plan involved assassinating Elizabeth and placing Mary on the throne with Spanish support, so the plot directly threatened Elizabeth's life, making a strong response very likely.
- Add the own-knowledge point: Walsingham's codebreaker, Thomas Phelippes, deciphered the coded letters, producing clear written evidence that Mary had approved the assassination plan herself, rather than merely being aware of a plot around her.
- Conclude by linking the points: because Walsingham's network captured direct proof of Mary's own approval, the Babington Plot gave the government, for the first time, the firm evidence it needed to put Mary on trial and ultimately to execute her.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Who organised the Ridolfi Plot of 1571?Show answer
Answer: The Italian banker Roberto Ridolfi.
Q2What happened to the Duke of Norfolk after the Ridolfi Plot was discovered?Show answer
Answer: He was executed, in 1572.
Q3Who led the Throckmorton Plot of 1583, and what did it plan?Show answer
Answer: Francis Throckmorton; it planned a French Catholic invasion of England, backed by Spain.
Q4Who led the Babington Plot of 1586, and what was its aim?Show answer
Answer: Anthony Babington; it aimed to assassinate Elizabeth and place Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne, with Spanish support.
Q5Who was Elizabeth's principal secretary, responsible for the intelligence network that uncovered the Babington Plot?Show answer
Answer: Francis Walsingham.
Q6Why was the evidence gathered in the Babington Plot particularly damaging for Mary, Queen of Scots?Show answer
Answer: Deciphered letters showed that Mary had personally approved the plan to assassinate Elizabeth, giving the government direct evidence of her own involvement.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE History exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Describe two features of the Babington Plot, 1586.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Explain why the Babington Plot of 1586 was so significant for Mary, Queen of Scots. You may use the following in your answer: Francis Walsingham's intelligence network, and the aims of the plot. You must also use information of your own.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 12 available
'Of the three plots against Elizabeth (Ridolfi, Throckmorton and Babington), the Babington Plot posed the greatest threat.' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. You may use the following in your answer: the Ridolfi Plot, and the Babington Plot. You must also use information of your own.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 16 available
See real GCSE History past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the the ridolfi, throckmorton and babington plots, 1571-86 worksheet pack - 7 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on the ridolfi, throckmorton and babington plots, 1571-86, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.