Anti-Catholicism in Seventeenth-Century England (Megan Baeumler)
The strength and persistence of anti-Catholicism
(which is roughly defined as any hostility towards Catholics or opposition to
the Catholic Church, its clergy and its adherents) at all levels of society was
one of the most striking features of seventeenth century England. But England
has had a long standing tradition of Anti- Catholicism that started way before
the seventeenth century. When the Parliament of Henry VIII in 1533
passed a law that renounced any papal jurisdiction over the English Church and
declared the king to be its sole head. Also known as the English Reformation.
It lasted until Mary I (Bloody Mary) took the throne and retuned
Catholicism to England. During and after her reign a deep hostility towards
Catholicism emerged (due in part by Mary killing those who
refused to renounce their religious beliefs, around 300 Protestants) when
Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 she was renowned as the
Protestant savior when she permanently
re-established Protestantism in England.
But that didn’t stop Catholic threats and plots from happening. Examples
being Catholic assassination attempts on Elizabeth and the
Gunpowder plot of 1605 (which was a group of Catholics that conspired to blow
up the king and members of Parliament). After the Gunpowder plot Anti-
Catholicism activity decreased but did not disappear.
During the Restoration England Catholics lived
under Penal laws passed by Parliament that were to force those (Catholics) to
conform to the protestant religion. They were charged a monthly fine if not
present during Anglican services, being a priest, hiding a priest and convert
one to the Catholic faith were all treasonable offences. Along with that they
were not allowed to have arms, transfer property or hold a military/political
position. Despite the severity of the
laws they were rarely enforced, except during times of political upset. Like during Charles I personal
rule from 1629-1637 and under the Long Parliament in the early 1640's to name a
few. Despite the laws Catholics and Protestants lived in peace with one another
in their communities. But the Catholics families in England were slowly
declining during the Restoration period. The major factor towards this decline
was the social pressure to take part in the political life of England (one had
to be Protestant to take part), because of this catholic family heirs, such as
the Marquis of Winchester and the Earl of Shrewsbury joined the Anglican
Church.
The Popish plot in 1678, an alleged plot by Jesuits, with the blessing of the Pope, to murder Charles
II, and put his Catholic brother and heir, James the Duke of York, on the
throne so he could re-establish Catholicism in England. The plot was well liked
throughout the people of England. The
thought of "No Popery" appealed equally to everyone from the
wealthiest lord down to the working class. It was one of the basic underlying and
re-occurring themes of the seventeenth century. The intensity of anti-Catholic fears
rose and fell according to the political situation of the time. In the late
1660's and during the 1670's, the intensity of anti-Catholicism was on the rise
again due to the pro-French policies of Charles II's government, especially its
foreign policy.
In the end Anti- Catholicism doesn’t go away in
England and continues to be a problem in the 18th century as
well.
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