Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
The Throckmorton Plot, 1583 (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Did the Throckmorton Plot Challenge Elizabeth? - Summary
The Ridolfi Plot caused an increase in Catholic persecution in England. An Act of Parliament in 1581 increased the fine for recusancy to £20. This meant many Catholics had to attend Church of England services because they could not afford the fine. Elizabeth believed this Act would reduce Catholic plots against her life. In reality, the amount and intensity of Catholic plots increased. In 1583, Elizabeth’s government discovered and stopped the Throckmorton Plot. The combined involvement of France and Spain in the plot escalated the risk to Elizabeth’s safety. The work of Sir Francis Walsingham and his spy network was pivotal in the foiling of the Throckmorton Plot. Elizabeth’s government worried that they might not be able to stop every Catholic plot against Elizabeth. Her advisers stated that English Catholics would continue to rebel as long as Mary, Queen of Scots was alive. Despite some evidence of Mary’s involvement in the Throckmorton plot, Elizabeth refused to punish her. The Throckmorton plot motivated Walsingham to catch Mary in the act of plotting. Walsingham could persuade Elizabeth to eliminate Mary if he could provide clear evidence of Mary’s guilt. |
What Happened in the Throckmorton Plot?
Key Individuals in the Throckmorton Plot
Name | Job title | Role in the Throckmorton Plot |
|---|---|---|
Francis Throckmorton | Unknown | Throckmorton was a young English Catholic. He acted as the messenger between Mary, Queen of Scots and the French and Spanish ambassadors |
Mary, Queen of Scots | The exiled Queen of Scotland | Elizabeth had imprisoned Mary after she fled Scotland to England in 1569. She created the plan. She wanted the Duke of Guise to invade England, allowing her to become Queen of England |
The Duke of Guise | French nobility | The Duke of Guise was Mary’s cousin. His role was to invade England, free Mary, Queen of Scots and restore Catholicism in England |
The French and Spanish ambassadors | Government officials working in England | Their role was to pass Mary’s letters on to their respected monarchs. Mendoza, the Spanish ambassador, met with Throckmorton regularly. Due to their country’s involvement, the plan gained the approval of the Pope and financial support from Philip II |
Details of the Throckmorton Plot
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question may ask you to judge the extent to which Catholic plots endangered Elizabeth. Mary, Queen of Scots used Throckmorton to secure money and soldiers. This shows her intent to violently overthrow Elizabeth. The involvement of France and Spain increased the risk of the plan. Spain and France were enemies, but willing to work together to depose Elizabeth. The Throckmorton Plot would have been incredibly dangerous to Elizabeth if it succeeded.
What happened in the Throckmorton Plot?
Historians know very little about how the plan began. This is because:
The plotters destroyed many of their letters to conceal evidence of their scheming
The government used torture to extract confessions from the plotters. They may have said what they believed the interviewer wanted to hear to avoid further punishment
The government placed Throckmorton under surveillance in April 1583
Throckmorton’s regular visits to Mendoza aroused the government’s suspicions
Walsingham, Elizabeth’s spymaster, did not act straight away
He wanted to obtain enough evidence to charge Throckmorton with treason
He needed to determine who was conspiring with Throckmorton and Mary, Queen of Scots’ involvement in the plan
In June 1583, Walsingham searched Throckmorton’s house
The papers at Throckmorton's house showed communication with multiple Catholic nobles in England
Throckmorton had been researching which harbours were suitable for an invasion force to land
Elizabeth’s government arrested Throckmorton in November 1583
Throckmorton stated the plot had gone no further than the planning stage. This was because Throckmorton was waiting for the money promised by Philip II
Both Throckmorton and Mary, Queen of Scots retracted their confessions
They stated that the investigators used torture. This forced them to make false statements of guilt
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the Throckmorton Plot, 1583
2 marks
Answers:
One feature of the Throckmorton Plot in 1583 was foreign invasion (1). Throckmorton had planned for the French Duke of Guise to invade England with an army to overthrow Elizabeth (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This question focuses on the key features and characteristics of the Throckmorton Plot. Testing your knowledge and understanding will help you achieve full marks.
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
The Significance of the Throckmorton Plot
Short and Long-term Consequences of the Throckmorton Plot
The Throckmorton Plot | |
|---|---|
Short-term consequences | Long-term consequences |
The government charged Throckmorton with treason. His execution took place in May 1584. Elizabeth expelled the Spanish ambassador, Mendoza, from her court. Mary faced no punishment | Throckmorton’s plot listed many Catholic sympathisers in England. Some Catholics fled England after the plot. 11,000 Catholics were arrested or kept under surveillance. Walsingham was more determined to find substantial evidence of Mary’s involvement in plots against Elizabeth |
The plot implicated Lord Henry Howard and Henry Percy (the brother of Thomas Percy, the disgraced Earl of Northumberland). Elizabeth arrested both nobles. Percy took his own life in the Tower of London, while the government released Lord Howard without charge | Elizabeth and her government passed another Act of Parliament in 1585. It stated that any subject who helped or sheltered Catholic priests would face the punishment of death |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Try to link the Throckmorton Plot to the wider context of Europe in 1583. Elizabeth offered help to the Dutch Protestants in their fight against Spain’s authoritarian rule. She financed mercenaries and persuaded France to fight the Spanish armies in the Netherlands. By 1584, Elizabeth’s intervention had failed. Spain’s hold over the Netherlands strengthened. Another disappointment was the murder of the leader of the Dutch rebellion, William of Orange. Elizabeth and her government feared that she would be the target of Spanish assassination too. Walsingham’s role as Elizabeth’s spymaster increased in importance by 1584. His work was vital to keeping Elizabeth safe.
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