English Roman Catholics and various foreign agents develop another anti-Elizabeth conspiracy.

As with the Northern Rebellion of 1569, the conspirators focus their hopes on the deposed Mary.

Their leader is Roberto di Ridolfi, who, posing as an international banker, is able to travel between Brussels, Rome and Madrid without attracting too much suspicion.

Ridolfi has discussed his plans with the Duke of Alba in the Netherlands.

The plan is to foment another rebellion of the northern English nobility, many of whom are believed to still be Catholic, and wed Mary to Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, the leading Catholic nobleman, whom Elizabeth had pardoned for his role in the previous rising.

Spanish ships carrying large sums of money destined for their armies in the Netherlands cause a worsening of relations between England and Spain.

The Spanish crown, encouraged by petitions from English Catholics for deliverance, goes along with the plan, but Spanish involvement is never guaranteed.

Alba is unenthusiastic about an invasion along with the French, fearing that if the plot should be successful, it might lead to Mary occupying the throne of England and wedded the island nation her beloved France, which would not be in the Spanish interest.

The plot comes to light when Charles Baillie, a Scot favorable to the Marian party, is arrested at Dover carrying compromising letters, and reveals its existence under torture.

Elizabeth’s principal secretary Sir William Cecil assigns his protégé Francis Walsingham—who, having cultivated languages and contacts among the leading Protestant statesmen on the continent, has become active in soliciting support for the Huguenots in France—to unravel the Ridolfi plot, his first government role.

John Hawkins, pretending to be part of the plot, offers his services to the Spanish, in order to obtain the release of prisoners and to discover plans for the proposed Spanish invasion of England.