1] The Babington Plot brought together all the intrigue surrounding religious and succession politics during the age of Philip II. The plot sought to facilitate the Spanish invasion of England by assassinating Elizabeth and placing Marie Stuart on the throne of England. Francis Walsingham and his secret service spy network did yeoman’s work in uncovering the Throckmorton Plot against Elizabeth in 1584 plot and setting a trap for Marie, which, once sprung, entangled the imprisoned Marie Stuart and resulted in her (illegal?) execution in 1587 by Queen Elizabeth. The Year of the Armada followed in 1588.

2] Anthony Babington, a crypto-Catholic in England, wrote details of the pro-Spanish plot to Marie Stuart. He informed her about the invasion plans and a planned insurrection by English Catholics. He also reveals plans to assassinate Elizabeth and rescue Marie Stuart from imprisonment:

First, assuring of invasion: Sufficient strength in the invader: Ports to arrive at appointed, with a strong party at every place to join with them and warrant their landing. The deliverance of your Majesty. The dispatch of the usurping Competitor. For the effectuating of all which it may please your Excellency to rely upon my service…. Now forasmuch as delay is extreme dangerous, it may please your most excellent Majesty by your wisdom to direct us, and by your princely authority to enable such as may advance the affair; foreseeing that, where is not any of the nobility at liberty assured to your Majesty in this desperate service (except unknown to us) and seeing it is very necessary that some there be to become heads to lead the multitude, ever disposed by nature in this land to follow nobility, considering withal it doth not only make the commons and gentry to follow without contradiction or contention (which is ever found in equality) but also doth add great courage to the leaders. For which necessary regard I recommend some unto your Majesty as fittest in my knowledge for to be your Lieutenants in the West parts, in the North parts, South Wales, North Wales and the Counties of Lancaster, Derby and Stafford: all which countries, by parties already made and fidelities taken in your Majesty’s name, I hold as most assured and of most undoubted fidelity….Myself with ten gentlemen and a hundred of our followers will undertake the delivery of your royal person from the hands of your enemies. For the dispatch of the usurper, from the obedience of whom we are by the excommunication of her made free, there be six noble gentlemen, all my private friends, who for the zeal they bear to the Catholic cause and your Majesty’s service will undertake that tragical execution.