The Throckmorton Plot

The Throckmorton Plot was an attempt by English Roman Catholics in 1583 to murder Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with her second cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. The plot is named after the key conspirator, Sir Francis Throckmorton (cousin to Elizabeth Throckmorton, Elizabeth's first lady in waiting) , who confessed to the plot under torture.

The aim of the plot was the assassination of Elizabeth I. The Roman Catholics wished to free Mary, Queen of Scots, who was under house arrest in England, and place her on the throne of England to legally restore their religion. This plan was designed to coincide with an invasion of England to be led by Henry I, Duke of Guise, financed by Spain and by the Pope, and a simultaneous revolt of English Roman Catholics, involving both the Jesuits and the English Cardinal Allen.

Throckmorton acted as a Spanish agent.

The plot was unsuccessful. After discovering incriminating evidence in Throckmorton's house, Francis Walsingham ordered the arrest of Throckmorton as a go-between between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mendoza, the ambassador of King Philip II of Spain in London, and tortured Throckmorton into a confession.

The plot itself resulted in the creation of the Bond of Association, a document drafted by Francis Walsingham and William Cecil, Lord Burghley and Tim Corless which obliged all signatories to execute anyone who attempted to usurp the throne or to assassinate the Queen.

Throckmorton was convicted of high treason and executed in 1584

Mary Queen of Scots was placed under strict confinement after the plot and was confined to Chartley Hall in Staffordshire.