To what extent was the Ridolfi plot the most significant threat to Elizabeth during her reign?
The Ridolfi plot posed a somewhat significant threat to Elizabeth as it reinforced the threat of
Mary Queen of Scots, Catholics, and Spain both at home and abroad. However, there were
more significant threats to Elizabeth such as the Revolt of the Northern Earls in 1569 and the
Bablington plot in 1586. Overall, the most significant threat Elizabeth faced was the Revolt of
the Northern Earls, this was because it had an immediate internal effect in England; it had an
impact on the shift of public opinion towards protestantism leaving the catholics fearful, on
politics, the monarchy as an institution, and the law hence why the Ridolfi plot was not as of
a serious threat.
The threat of the revolt of the northern earls was the most significant threat Elizabeth faced.
This was because Catholic rebels stormed into Durham taking control of the Cathedral from
James Pilkington and destroyed any evidence of Protestantism and celebrated with mass for
2 weeks. This was a direct insult to Elizabeth as it meant that her power was being
undermined because the Duke of Durham (who was protestant) fled which showed her lack
of control of the actions of Catholics. This deeply frustrated parliament who put pressure on
Elizabeth to sort out this crisis, which led to the formation of an army of 14,000 men. In this
time, 14,000 men is a lot which shows the significance of the threat. 450 rebels were
executed throughout towns and villages under the orders of Elizabeth, and the Northern
Dukes who orchestrated this revolt (namely Westmorland and Northumberland) were
executed. This was a terrifying, harsh response to the catholic rebels which led to the shift of
political authority positions (to new Protestant officials) and of public opinion as Catholics in
general were being treated as inferior. Not only this but consequently for killing Catholics the
pope issued a Papal bull that excommunicated Elizabeth and ordered English Catholics to
try and overthrow her. This indicates that the revolt of the Northern earls was a significant
threat as it included foreign intervention with the pope who had a lot of influence over
Catholics. However, although being excommunicated was negative for Elizabeth there were
some positives; for example, she had the Puritans' support and she had an excuse to pass
laws with harsher treason punishments. This resulted in a change in Elizabeth’s image
before she was seen as a middle-way/even monarch and after the plot she was seen as a
more powerful, protestant monarch as she asserted her dominance over Catholics. This
shows that not only did the revolt of the northern earls impact the law, but it also had a
political and social impact in England. Overall, the Revolt of the Northern Earls had the most
significant impact as it had an immediate internal effect, a political and social impact, and
affected the law in England which did not occur in the Ridolfi plot.
The Ridolfi plot in 1571 was a somewhat significant threat to Elizabeth because after the
papal bull excommunicated Elizabeth, the Ridolfi plot reinforced the threat posed by Mary
Queen of Scots (as a figurehead), Catholics, and Spain. This was because Robert Ridolfi
was the pope’s spy who arranged to murder Elizabeth, launch a Spanish invasion, and put
Mary on the throne where she would marry the Duke of Norfolk (a protestant) to maintain
balance. This elaborate plan to kill Elizabeth by essentially the orders of the pope meant that
the counter-reformation he had been planning for so long would come true however it did not
as William Cecil uncovered the plot. But, this still shows the influence of the pope as
Catholics supported this plot because although Elizabeth had the Divine Right of Kings to
rule, she was excommunicated, so they followed the teachings of the pope. After William
The Ridolfi plot posed a somewhat significant threat to Elizabeth as it reinforced the threat of
Mary Queen of Scots, Catholics, and Spain both at home and abroad. However, there were
more significant threats to Elizabeth such as the Revolt of the Northern Earls in 1569 and the
Bablington plot in 1586. Overall, the most significant threat Elizabeth faced was the Revolt of
the Northern Earls, this was because it had an immediate internal effect in England; it had an
impact on the shift of public opinion towards protestantism leaving the catholics fearful, on
politics, the monarchy as an institution, and the law hence why the Ridolfi plot was not as of
a serious threat.
The threat of the revolt of the northern earls was the most significant threat Elizabeth faced.
This was because Catholic rebels stormed into Durham taking control of the Cathedral from
James Pilkington and destroyed any evidence of Protestantism and celebrated with mass for
2 weeks. This was a direct insult to Elizabeth as it meant that her power was being
undermined because the Duke of Durham (who was protestant) fled which showed her lack
of control of the actions of Catholics. This deeply frustrated parliament who put pressure on
Elizabeth to sort out this crisis, which led to the formation of an army of 14,000 men. In this
time, 14,000 men is a lot which shows the significance of the threat. 450 rebels were
executed throughout towns and villages under the orders of Elizabeth, and the Northern
Dukes who orchestrated this revolt (namely Westmorland and Northumberland) were
executed. This was a terrifying, harsh response to the catholic rebels which led to the shift of
political authority positions (to new Protestant officials) and of public opinion as Catholics in
general were being treated as inferior. Not only this but consequently for killing Catholics the
pope issued a Papal bull that excommunicated Elizabeth and ordered English Catholics to
try and overthrow her. This indicates that the revolt of the Northern earls was a significant
threat as it included foreign intervention with the pope who had a lot of influence over
Catholics. However, although being excommunicated was negative for Elizabeth there were
some positives; for example, she had the Puritans' support and she had an excuse to pass
laws with harsher treason punishments. This resulted in a change in Elizabeth’s image
before she was seen as a middle-way/even monarch and after the plot she was seen as a
more powerful, protestant monarch as she asserted her dominance over Catholics. This
shows that not only did the revolt of the northern earls impact the law, but it also had a
political and social impact in England. Overall, the Revolt of the Northern Earls had the most
significant impact as it had an immediate internal effect, a political and social impact, and
affected the law in England which did not occur in the Ridolfi plot.
The Ridolfi plot in 1571 was a somewhat significant threat to Elizabeth because after the
papal bull excommunicated Elizabeth, the Ridolfi plot reinforced the threat posed by Mary
Queen of Scots (as a figurehead), Catholics, and Spain. This was because Robert Ridolfi
was the pope’s spy who arranged to murder Elizabeth, launch a Spanish invasion, and put
Mary on the throne where she would marry the Duke of Norfolk (a protestant) to maintain
balance. This elaborate plan to kill Elizabeth by essentially the orders of the pope meant that
the counter-reformation he had been planning for so long would come true however it did not
as William Cecil uncovered the plot. But, this still shows the influence of the pope as
Catholics supported this plot because although Elizabeth had the Divine Right of Kings to
rule, she was excommunicated, so they followed the teachings of the pope. After William
