The Catholic Threat and Mary Queen of Scots

Throughout Elizabeth's reign, Catholicism posed a serious threat to her throne and her life. Catholic plots, papal hostility, and the presence of Mary Queen of Scots in England created a web of danger that Elizabeth and her advisors struggled to contain for nearly 30 years.

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The Nature of the Catholic Threat

The Catholic threat to Elizabeth operated on multiple levels:

Level	Threat
Domestic	English Catholics (recusants) who refused to attend Church of England services and remained loyal to the Pope
Papal	The Pope declared Elizabeth a heretic and excommunicated her, releasing English Catholics from their loyalty to her
Foreign	Catholic powers — particularly Spain and France — supported plots to overthrow Elizabeth and replace her with a Catholic monarch
Mary Queen of Scots	A Catholic with a strong claim to the English throne, living in England as Elizabeth's prisoner from 1568

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English Catholics (Recusants)

Most English Catholics were loyal subjects who simply wished to practise their faith in peace. However, a minority were prepared to plot against Elizabeth.