After 1570, the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth I and she took a harsher stance against Catholics as to retain her power as Supreme Governor and discourage religious turmoil. When James Stuart came into power in 1603, catholics hoped that they would have more freedom in practising their faith, however, he continued with the anti-catholic laws . A group of catholics, led Robert Catesby, plotted to kill the king and other leading protestants on the 5th November 1605 by bombing the parliament buildings. They wanted James' daughter, Elizabeth, on the throne.