The Stanley family were suspected of pro-Catholic sympathies, and there were many rumours surrounding the death of Fernando who had been approached to lead an attempt to overthrow the queen, but remained loyal.
The Stanley family were suspected of pro-Catholic sympathies, as legal heirs to the throne of England through its last Catholic monarch Mary Tudor. There were many rumours surrounding the untimely death of Ferdinando, who had been approached to lead an attempt to overthrow the queen, but remained loyal.