Editing Ridolfi plot (section)

===Ridolfi's role===
Despite his plot's ultimate failure, Roberto Ridolfi's story is surprising and memorable. He had played the relatively minor role of banker but nevertheless found himself at the centre of a major plot to overthrow the English government. Ridolfi had been jailed in 1568 because of a rumour that he had distributed money to dissenting nobles associated with the Northern Rebellion. The Pope did, in fact, give him 12,000 crowns for that purpose, but Ridolfi was released in 1570 because no  evidence could be found to incriminate him.  Even after his arrest and release, Ridolfi remained a spy for the Pope.{{sfn|Hunt|2004}}
Ridolfi's banking connections helped him become acquainted with the Duke of Norfolk, and he became a supporter of a marriage between Norfolk and Mary, Queen of Scots, who would, if the plot succeeded, rule England and reinstate Catholicism there.{{sfn|Hunt|2004}}

After Norfolk's release from prison in August 1570, Ridolfi "picked up the broken threads of Catholic intrigue".{{sfn|Hamshere|1976|p=32|ps=}} Ridolfi was in an advantageous position to orchestrate a Catholic rebellion in England, since he was employed by the Pope, France, and Spain, and had ties to the Catholic contingent in England.  He could use banking as an excuse to travel among these groups for the purpose of conspiring.{{sfn|Hunt|2004}}  When he travelled to mainland Europe to inform King Phillip and the Pope of the plot, it is believed that he was still working for Elizabeth.{{sfn|Hunt|2004}}