Page 36 - All About History - Issue 72-18

Royal rivalry

Linlithgow on 23 January 1570. Just a month However, Ridolfi had confessed the plot to incriminating in the letters and so she escaped
later, Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, the consequences for her involvement. She
and declared her a heretic, adding that her who subsequently informed Elizabeth. may have survived but Mary’s role in the plot
Catholic subjects didn’t owe any obedience With her spy network on high alert the plot nonetheless damaged Elizabeth’s opinion of
to her – calling Elizabeth’s wasquicklyuncoveredand her, with the queen realising that her rival
authority into question. Norfolk’s treachery was quickly may just be more than a figurehead for the
In August, Norfolk was “Mary’s role in revealed after his servants were opposition after all.
releasedfromtheTowerof interrogated.Duringaraidon In spite of everything, Mary still hoped to
London after ten months the plot nonethe- his home, several coded letters secure a meeting with Elizabeth.
imprisonment. from Mary to Norfolk were Along with her numerous letters, she sent
less damaged
As calculating as ever, discovered along with a cipher, various gifts to Elizabeth in the hope of
Norfolk quickly became which Cecil’s spies promptly capturing her attention.
involved in the Ridolfi plot Elizabeth’s used to decode them. In 1574, Mary even handmade a crimson skirt
to free Mary and depose Norfolk and his conspirators with silver needlework for Elizabeth, securing
Elizabeth with the help of opinion of her” were arrested and despite the materials from the French ambassador in
King Philip. Norfolk and his denial, the evidence London and asking him to present it to the
Marywouldthenmarryand was stacked against him. Meanwhile in queen for her. Elizabeth was reportedly pleased
together, begin a quest to restore Catholicism Westminster,Cecilrubbedhishandswithglee with Mary’s gifts, yet she still ignored her pleas
across the realm. believing that he now had grounds to push for to meet. In 1583, the Throckmorton Plot to
Realising that it was increasingly unlikely Mary’s execution. depose Elizabeth and replace her with Mary,
that Elizabeth would help her regain her Hoping to force Elizabeth’s hand, he had the was successfully foiled. In response, Cecil and
throne, Mary had communicated with Roberto Casket Letters published anonymously just Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s spymaster
Ridolfi, an Italian who was leader of the before the convening on the 1572 parliament to and secretary of state, drafted the Bond of
conspiracyandintheemployofthepope.He smear Mary’s reputation. Association. The bond was a pledge to defend
had travelled across Europe to garner support In June 1572, Norfolk lost his head after the queen and prosecute those who either
for her cause, even visiting the Spanish court to being found guilty of high treason. Luckily attempted to assassinate Elizabeth or usurp her
discuss the details with King Philip himself. for Mary, she hadn’t written anything throne, whether they were successful or not.
Among the signatories was Mary, who agreed
A portrait to sign the bond to demonstrate her loyalty
of Mary in to her cousin. Unfortunately, circumstances
captivity
beyond Mary’s control deepened the divide
between her and Elizabeth. In 1584, the Dutch
Republic’s Protestant ruler William of Orange
was assassinated, heightening the fears of
Elizabeth’s government that her life was in
imminent danger.
Their answer was the Act for the Surety of
the Queen’s Royal Person, signed in 1585, which
allowed for any claimant to the throne to be
tried for plots against Elizabeth carried out in
their name, regardless of whether they were
involved or not.
The act was the first step in creating a
legitimate, legal process that could be used to

Mary’s death finally
brought an end to her
bitter rivalry Elizabeth

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