The catholic question, 1625-88
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- Created on: 16-04-20 21:08
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- The Catholic question, 1625-88
- Catholics in England
- Anti-Catholicism was a key theme through the 17th century.
- Catholics were about 2-5% of the population.
- They were subject to several penal laws.
- Could be heavily fined for failing to attend Anglican services.
- Banned from holding military or political offices.
- However, these laws were not enforced very rigorously and most Catholics lived mutually with their Protestant neighbours.
- Most people were not opposed to Catholic religious doctrines, but anti-Catholic feeling could flare up suddenly, depending on the political situation.
- During the 17th century, Catholicism became increasingly assosiated with political absolutism (eg. absolutist Catholic monarchies in Europe like France).
- Led to suspicions that the Stuart Kings intended to abolish parliamentary government and establish absolutist rule (French model).
- During the 17th century, Catholicism became increasingly assosiated with political absolutism (eg. absolutist Catholic monarchies in Europe like France).
- Anti-Catholicism was a key theme through the 17th century.
- Catholic influence in Charles I's court
- Anti-Catholic feeling increased in the 1630's.
- Laud's reforms were seen as bringing England closer to Catholicism.
- Politicians were concerned at the role of Catholicism within Charles I's court.
- In the court:
- Queen Henrietta Maria qas a strong Catholic.
- She openly held mass at court.
- Daily masses were held at Somerset House which attracted large crowds.
- Exerted a strong influence on Charles and many courtiers.
- She openly held mass at court.
- Catholicism becme popular in court.
- Many privy council members were Catholics.
- The popular impression that the government was adopting a pro-Catholic line led to a widespread rumour that the Pope had offered to make Archbishop Laud a Cardinal.
- Papal envoys visited Charles from 1634.
- In 1637 George Con arrived in London as an official papal ambassador.
- Queen Henrietta Maria qas a strong Catholic.
- The growth in Catholic influence at court coincided with the period of Personal Rule.
- Further linked Catholicism with absolutism within the population.
- Anti-Catholic feeling increased in the 1630's.
- The exclusion of Catholics from religious tolerance
- There was little active hostility towards Catholics during the republican period.
- Anti-Catholic laws were not repealed, but Cromwell didn't carry out any persecution of Catholics.
- However, he used the general fear of Catholics to promote republican virtues.
- Anti-Catholic laws were not repealed, but Cromwell didn't carry out any persecution of Catholics.
- During the 1650s the Duke of Savoy used Catholic troops to carry out massacres of Protestants within his state.
- Cromwell made sure these acts of carnage were widely reported in newspapers and pamphets.
- There was little active hostility towards Catholics during the republican period.
- Anti-Catholic Sentiment, 1660-88
- Anti-Catholic feelings became a prominent theme during Charles II and James II rules.
- Charles' Catholic wife (Catherine of Braganza) came to England with 30 Catholic Priests, thus helping re-esablish Catholicism in court.
- From the 1660's onwards, Frances absolutist King (Louis XIV) gradually got more powerful.
- Many wars in Europoe made France one of the leading European states.
- Charles formed an alliance with Louis against the protestant Dutch in 1670.
- Led to the 3rd Dutch War (1672-74)
- Many MP's used this opportunity to attack the Catholic influences at court.
- The Test Act of 1673, which excluded Catholics from military and civil offices, forced the Duke of York to resign his military demand.
- Anti- Catholic feeling reached its high with the Popish Plot of 1678.
- Titus Oates (former Jesuit) claimed to have uncovered a plot to murder Charles by the Jesuits.
- Claimed they wanted to put the openly Catholic James on the throne instead of Charles II, to restore Catholicism in England.
- Over time Oates' accusations became more sensational.
- Even began to implicate the Queen and the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh.
- In 1681 opinion turned againt Oates and he was imprisoned for sedition.
- Although the plot was entirely made up, the fact it was widely believed showed the extent of the stread of Anti-Catholic feeling in all classes of society.
- Titus Oates (former Jesuit) claimed to have uncovered a plot to murder Charles by the Jesuits.
- Anti-Catholic feelings became a prominent theme during Charles II and James II rules.
- Catholics in England
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