Bye Plot facts for kids
The Bye Plot was a secret plan in 1603. It involved some Catholic priests and Puritans. Their goal was to get more freedom for their religions. They planned to kidnap the new English King, James I of England. It was called the "bye" plot because people thought it was a smaller part of a bigger plan, known as the "Main Plot".
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Why the Plot Happened
For almost 20 years, England had been fighting Spain in the Anglo-Spanish War. Queen Elizabeth I of England died in March 1603. After her death, James VI of Scotland became the new King of England without any major problems.
In England and Wales, many Catholics faced difficulties. They had to pay fines if they didn't go to Church of England services. These rules were called Penal Laws. English Catholics wanted to show their loyalty to the King. They also hoped these strict laws about their worship would be made easier. Priests, including Jesuits and seminary priests, helped them. The legal situation for these priests was not clear.
Disagreements Among Catholics
There was a big argument among English Catholics called the Archpriest controversy. This argument had been going on for about five years by 1603. These disagreements made it hard for the plots of 1603 to succeed. It also led some Catholics to tell the government about the plans.
William Watson was a priest who was part of one side of this argument. He was against George Blackwell, who was appointed by the Holy See (the Pope). Watson was useful to the English government because he wrote strong arguments. He was even protected by Richard Bancroft, who was the bishop of London.
The plot was first revealed by Blackwell and two Jesuits, John Gerard and Henry Garnet. They were on the other side of the Catholic argument. These three people, acting separately, shared information they had about the plot. They had other reasons too: they worried about what would happen to Catholics if the plan failed. They also had doubts about the political reasons of the priests involved.
Who Were the Plotters?
The Bye Plot is also known by other names, like Watson's Plot or the Treason of the Priests. Not everyone involved was a Catholic priest. For example, Thomas Grey, 15th Baron Grey de Wilton was a Puritan nobleman who joined in. However, the plot never really went beyond some unlikely discussions. Another person involved was Sir Griffin Markham.
The plotters shared a desire for religious toleration (freedom to practice their religion). But their reasons were different. Watson wanted to stop the fines for Catholics who didn't attend Church of England services. Another part of the Bye Plot was to remove some of the King's advisors. The Main Plot, which was happening at the same time, also wanted to change the government. It aimed to replace King James with Arbella Stuart.
Events of 1603
King James traveled slowly south after becoming king. He arrived at Theobalds House in Hertfordshire on May 3. The plan, as it was, relied on Markham's idea from May. He thought there was a "Scottish example" for capturing a king for political reasons. In late May or early June, someone (probably Markham) tried to get the Jesuit John Gerard to join. Gerard refused. He wrote to Henry Garnet and George Blackwell, asking them to stop the plot.
June
Watson set the date for the plot to happen as June 24. This was St John Baptist's Day, a special day when courtiers would be at court for ceremonies.
As the date got closer, Gerard contacted a Scottish courtier to tell the King. Meanwhile, Blackwell, the leader of the English Catholic clergy, also took steps. Blackwell's message reached the government before Gerard's.
Blackwell told the government about the plot through an intermediary named John Gage. Gage wrote to Sir Robert Cecil on June 28. Cecil already knew about some plotting. Anthony Copley, another Catholic who had been in exile, had also written to Blackwell about the Bye Plot. Cecil suspected there was more to these messages. He asked Gage to bring Blackwell before the Council.
In the end, Lord Grey pulled out of the plot before the planned day. The plotters then scattered.
July
An important arrest was Sir George Brooke, who was put in the Tower of London in July. Markham and Brooke wanted to replace members of the King's Privy Council. Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham was Sir George's brother. He was involved in the more serious "Main Plot." Sir George was questioned on July 15. Eager to clear his name, he confessed. His confessions helped investigators understand that two separate groups of plotters were active. On July 16, a public announcement was made for Watson's arrest.
King James's coronation happened on July 25, as planned. However, his ceremonial entry into London was delayed until March 1604. This was partly because of the bubonic plague.
August
Watson was arrested around August 5 in a field near the River Wye. He made a confession about the plot on August 10. William Clark, another priest who helped organize the plot, was arrested in Worcester on August 13.
November
More details about the Bye Plot were revealed by the Catholic priest Francis Barnaby. He was in prison.
The King's Court moved to Wilton House in Wiltshire. It was decided that trials would be held at the bishop's palace in Winchester, which was nearby. These trials took place from November 15 to 18.
On November 15, the two Catholic priests, Sir George Brooke, Sir Griffin Markham, and others were tried. On November 17, Sir Walter Raleigh was tried. The prosecution tried to show that he was involved in the Bye Plot. Lord Grey was tried by 31 noblemen on November 18 and found guilty. Lord Cobham, who was involved in the Main Plot, was also found guilty.
Most of the plotters were found guilty. Only Sir Edward Parham was found not guilty of high treason among the Bye Plot defendants. The case against Raleigh for being in the Bye Plot was weak. However, his small role in the Main Plot meant he had a lot to explain.
The two priests, Watson and Clark, were executed for their parts in the plan on November 29.
December
The plotter George Brooke was executed on December 5. On December 10, Lord Grey and Markham were taken to the scaffold (where executions happened). But they were pardoned! They spent the rest of their lives in the Tower of London. Dudley Carleton, who saw this, thought it was a staged show of the King's mercy. He believed it was done for Raleigh's benefit, as Raleigh had been caught up in the Bye Plot charges.
What Happened Next
On February 22, 1604, King James ordered all Roman Catholic clergy (priests) to leave his kingdom by March 19. This order had been prepared in July 1603 when the plots were discovered.
Anthony Copley was sentenced to death. But he was pardoned on August 18, 1604. He had made a full confession about the history of the plot.
See also
