Editing Ridolfi plot (section)

===List of co-conspirators===
Ridolfi's co-conspirators, some of them mentioned above, played an important role in the plot to overthrow Elizabeth:

Don [[Guerau de Espés]]: Spain's ambassador to England, who was expelled after the discovery of his involvement. Elizabeth had raised her concerns about de Espés' behaviour with [[Anna of Austria (1549–1580)|Anna of Austria]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Letter Signed, at the Head ("Elizabeth R"), To Lord Charles Howard |url=http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/english-literature-history-childrens-books-illustrations-l14404/lot.403.html|publisher=Sothebys}}</ref>

[[John Lesley]]: the Bishop of Ross, who was Mary Stuart's chief agent;  arranged meetings and delivered letters for Mary during her house arrest.

[[Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk]], who was Queen Elizabeth I's second cousin. He was to marry Mary, Queen of Scots and together with her restore Catholic rule to the English and Scottish thrones. After the plot was discovered he was given a day-long trial that ended with his execution.

[[Mary, Queen of Scots]]: after it became clear that Elizabeth I was not going to restore her to the Scottish throne or return her to France, Mary plotted for her freedom. She wrote to Ridolfi denouncing the French and soliciting Spanish aid, while simultaneously professing friendship and loyalty to Elizabeth I and England. Giving her consent to the plot in March 1571, her role was to marry the Duke of Norfolk, with the plan that when the troops arrived in London she would be returned to the Scottish throne. However, when the plot was uncovered, her deep involvement in it altered Elizabeth's opinion of Mary; Elizabeth never spoke of restoring her to the throne again.

[[Philip II of Spain|King Philip II]], who welcomed Ridolfi to court and, with the council, discussed the plot's pros and cons. He supported overthrowing Elizabeth and later came to support the assassination. Philip, however, disapproved of the papal bull against Elizabeth because, according to Cyril Hamshere, he feared it would "prompt Elizabeth to take reprisals against Catholics."{{sfn|Hamshere|1976|p=32|ps=}}

[[Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba]], who was the leader of the Spanish army stationed in the Netherlands and was to lead more than 10,000 men to Harwich or Portsmouth. His army was to invade England and make its way to London to establish Mary on the throne.

Pope [[Pius V]], who made Ridolfi his papal agent in England in 1567, was not only aware of the plot but gave his written approval in a letter for Ridolfi to take to Philip II.