The Catholic question, 1625-88 Flashcards
What percentage of the country did Catholics make up in the 17th century?
Between 2% and 5%.
What penal laws were Catholics subject to in Stuart England?
- They could be fined heavily for failing to attend Anglican services
- They were banned form holding military or political offices
Were the penal laws against Catholics enforced very vigorously?
No - most Catholics lived harmoniously with their neighbours - most people were not opposed to Catholic religious doctrines, but anti-Catholic feeling could flare up suddenly, depending on the current political situation.
Over the course of the 17th Century, Catholicism became increasingly associated with…
political absolutism, leading to suspicions that the Stuart kings intended to abolish parliamentary government and establish absolutist rule, on the French model.
Anti-Catholic sentiment increased in the…
1630s - due to Laud’s reforms which were regarded as taking that Church of England in the direction of Catholicism.
Why were politicians concerned at the role of Catholicism within Charles I’s court?
- Queen Henrietta Maria was an ardent Catholic, and openly attended mass at court - she exerted a strong influence on Charles and on many countries
- Catholicism became popular at court, with many members of the Privy Council identified as 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, and in 1637 George Con arrived in London as on official papal ambassador
The increase in Catholic influence at court coincided with the period of…
Personal Rule, which further linked Catholicism with absolutism among many of the population.
During the republican, what was the attitude towards Catholics?
Relatively little active hostility towards them. Although anti-Catholic laws weren’t repealed, Cromwell did not carry out any persecution of Catholics - but he did use the general fear of Catholics to promote republican virtues.
In the 1650s, what did the Duke of Savoy use Catholic troops for, and how Cromwell react?
To carry out massacres of Protestants within his state - Cromwell made sure that these acts of butchery were widely reported in newspapers and pamphlets.
Anti-Catholic sentiment became a constant theme during the reigns of…
Charles II and James II.
Why did anti-Catholic feeling increase during Charles II and James II’s reigns?
- Charles’ Catholic wife, Catherine of Braganza, came to England with 30 Catholic priests, and helped to re-establish Catholic influence within the court.
From the 1660s onwards the power of which country and its ruler gradually increased?
France and Louis XIV - as Louis’ many wars made France one of the leading states in Europe.
Charles II formed an alliance with…
Louis XIV against the Protestant Dutch in 1670, which led to the Third Dutch War of 1672-74.
What did many MPs use the opportunity afforded by war to do?
Attack Catholic influences at court - the Test Act of 1673, which excluded Catholics form military and civil offices, forced the Duke of York to resign his military command.
When did anti-Catholic feelings reach their height?
With the Popish Plot of 1678 - Titus Oates, a former Jesuit, claimed to have uncovered a plot organised by the Jesuits to murder Charles II, place his brother James on the throne and restore Catholicism in England.
