Thursday, September 28, 2017

Megan on Anti-Catholicism in Seventeenth-Century England




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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