Ridolfi Plot

1571. Plan to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I in order to put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne.

It was the first major plot against Elizabeth I and is named after Roberto Ridolfi, an Italian banker, who lived in London and could travel between Brussels, Rome and Madrid without attracting suspicion. Ridolfi contacted and involved several people in his plot. Among them Philip II of Spain, Pope Pius V, Mary's ambassador in England, Leslie, Bishop of Ross, the Spanish Duke of Alba as well as the Duke of Norfolk. The plan was that the Duke of Alba would come from the Netherlands and land on the Essex coast with thousands of his men and then march on London. This would be supported by a Catholic uprising in England which then would lead to the replacement of Queen Elizabeth with Mary Stuart. For this Ridolfi traveled to Rome and to get military support from Spain he then went on to Madrid. Philip of Spain was first against the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I because a stable England was a good counterweight to France but nevertheless he agreed to the plan. Mary then would marry the Duke of Norfolk and rule over England and Scotland, probably would have executed Elizabeth I and restored Catholicism.

The plot was revealed when some letters from Ridolfi to Leslie, Bishop of Ross were intercepted in Dover. Leslie blamed only Mary and the Duke of Norfolk under torture and revealed the plot. Fortunately, Ridolfi was abroad at that time and so escaped execution. The Duke of Norfolk was not that lucky and therefore was tried and executed on 2 June 1572. Mary could also escape execution because she admitted that she helped financially in this plot but denied strongly that she played any other role. Mary was not punished and stayed in friendly prison under strict surveillance.

Sources

http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/ridolfi_plot.htm

http://www.gunpowder-plot.org/ridolfi.asp

http://www.marie-stuart.co.uk/England.htm