7.4: Religion and religious ideas: Catholicism

overview

*1. The early years* (1558-68) - appeared Catholics had been abandoned by Pope - legislation not strictly enforced *2. years of difficulty* (1568-71) - arrival of Mary Stuart 1568 - revolt of Northern Earls 1569 - Paul excommunication 1570 - threat from abroad *3. appearance of decline* - appeared to be declining *4. years of danger* (from 1574) - deteriorating international climate - arrival of missionary priests 1574 + Jesuits 1580 - Throckmorton plot 1583 - assassination of William of Orange 1584 - Babington Plot 1586 - huge change in policy after this date: > ruthless and big propaganda campaign *5. decline in the 1590s* - after Mary Stuart had been executed in 1587 - defeat of Armada - internal divisions caused by Archpriest controversy - became minority *who/what* - 4 main divisions: Church papists, Recusants, seminary priests, Jesuits: Church papists not that threatening (attended church), Recusants refused to attend church, seminary priests trained for priesthood and prepared for persecution, jesuits effective techniques for spiritual exercise/conversion: refused compromise and insisted every Catholic should obey the Pope first & keep separate from Elizabethan church

change of policy towards Catholics, 1567-72 (now more harsh)

*1569 turning point* - revolt of northern earls catalyst for more punitive attitude towards Catholics - Catholics had been unifying factor for rebels - had resulted in Pope's 'regnant in Excelsis': excommunication of Elizabeth and order for all loyal Catholics to depose her - Elizabeth worried Catholics would be primarily loyal to their religion over the monarch 1567 Pope instructed English Catholics not to attend Anglican Church services 1571 New Treason Act introduced: making denial of Elizabeth's supremacy or importation of Pope's order of excommunication acts = punishable by death Treason act against bringing the letter of excommunication into England

late 1580s/90s/ early 1600 handling

*1593* - house of Commons passes legislation making large gatherings of Catholics illegal, confining Catholics to radius of five miles from their homes: (aim = stop recusants moving about to avoid fines/imprisonment) *1594*: - gvt refuses to follow policy of toleration towards English secular Catholics who promise not to rebel against E *1602 proclamation* - Catholic priests considered threats to authority - all Jesuits to leave country , other priests given 12 months to leave - however, priests who prepared to acknowledge allegiance and submit to Queen's mercy may expect some favourable treatement , but would make it difficult to operate as Catholic priests = only 13 Apellants in 1603 made a declaration of loyalty

overall

*English catholics generally stayed loyal to queen* - church papists - resented foreign interference - few felt strongly enough to be recusants *main threat (real or potential) came from abroad* - threat of Catholic invasion - missionaries - were they effective? *councillors concern about national security and succession* - MQofS threatens this *overall ideas* - Catholics persecuted for politics not religion - main penal laws were in 1581-85 - closely linked to foreign affairs - England at war with Spain from 1585-1604 (analogy of Germans in England during WWs: saw them as potential traitors = executed for treason) - too easy to dismiss the threat from abroad - treatment in catholics and their perceived threat linked to situation abroad - whole thing is linked to the succession *overview of dates* - 1558-1668: little threat, lenient treatment - TP 1568-1572 Spanish in NL loan incident arrival of MQofS revolt of NE ridolfi plot Execution of Norfolk - 1584 treating of Joinville (Spain & Guise faction) Assassination of William of Orange

Catholicism in the 1580s

*TURNING POINT: 1580: Jesuit priests arrival* Another wave of priests arrived - the Jesuits: specially trained members of the Society of Jesus: focused on missionary activity Founded by Spaniard Ignatius Loyola First two, Edmund Campion and Robert Parsons, arrived in 1580, began building up a network of safe houses Jesuits seen as more dangerous - seen as fanatics aim to re-awaken loyalty/encourage recusancy/attract converts soon after arrival in English Parsons attended meeting of priests/laymen in Southwark: made it clear Catholics were not to attend Church of England services under any circumstances 1583 Throckmorton Plot: French Catholics planned to invade England in support of French Catholics, expedition being paid for by Spain and the Pope Easily defeated - but was awareness that situation was critical - influenced drafting of 1584 bond of Association 1584: assassination of Protestant leader William of Orange and defeat of Dutch rebels - leads to unofficial declaration of war with Spain (Treaty of Nonsuch 1584) - Elizabeth fearful of same fate 1584: Treaty of Joinville: treaty between French Catholic League & Spain 1585 The Parry Plot 1586 Philip II begins planning an invasion of England 1586 The Babington plot 1588 English Catholics rejected call to support Spanish Armada

the revolt of the northern earls 1569

*causes* Norfolk: - religion : Howards traditionally conservative, support in both: marrying Norfolk & Mary = > likely to induce Elizabeth to accept Mary as her heir -politics: Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk hated and resented Cecil and his dominance , plan to oust Cecil (support of Leicester): marrying Norfolk & Mary = lever to force out Protestant Cecil (Cecil did not sympathise with Catholics) noble support: - Earl of Northumberland had reconverted to Rome in 1567 - Earl of Westmorland : Catholic - both had been in touch with Rome and Spain in hope of maintaining military backing to cause of Norfolk & Mary - Catholicism & oust Cecil - politics: felt disrespected: isolation from centres of political power: expected for advice to be listened to w/spympathy: however were aware of Elizabeth's desire to weaken their control over the North, (use of 'outsiders' in the North), where traditionally the Crown's authority was overshadowed by the influence of great landowners - politics: Northumberland felt he should have role in safeguarding after MqofS, & disappointed w/ what he saw as his growing poverty *events: phase 1* - planned for Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, to marry Mary Queen of Scots, and for Mary to at least be named as heir - anti-Cecil and 'semi Catholic' party at court (John Guy) was backed up by Northern Catholic nobles *handling:* - Elizabeth hears and sends 'see me' note to Northern Earls - Norfolk sent to tower, surrendered and not executed - got away with spell at tower - summoned Westmorland & Northumberland to court *events: phase 2*: - Northern Earls, (Westmorland & Northumblerland) rebel in justification of religion - march on Durham, ejected Protestant communion table from the Cathedral & restored the Catholic mass - may be that intention was to rescue and release Mary from custody in Tutbury - Northumberland stated in arrest that main reason for uprising = reform religion & establish & safeguard the position of Mary Stuart as heir to throne *handling* - Elizabeth sent troops - 800 people (almost all of them commoners): hanged - with approach of large royal army, Westmorland & Northumblerand fled border into Scotland *effects* - firmer control of North of England: Council of North reconstituted under leadership of Puritan Earl of Huntingdon - Elizabeth dealt with Threat of Mary more seriously (especially after Papal excommunication) *threatening* *not threatening* - support from Catholic gentry not forthcoming - e.g Lancashire & Chesire - strongholds of old faith - failed to join - geography: power was limited to North Riding of Yorkshire (venturing towards centre of gvt in South without support would have been futile)

The Parry Plot 1585

*events* - Welsh gentleman and MP, William Parry, confessed to plotting to assassinate Queen and replace her with Queen Mary *weird...* - he had been employed by Burghley as an agent spying on Catholic exiles interpretation 1: he never plotted, it was jut Burgley and WAlsingham wanting to get rid of him - no longer useful/knew too much about their secret operations interpretation 2 (more likely): Parry converted to Catholic cause when undertaking espionage: recruited as a double agent to assassinate the Queen *effects* - executed for treason - convenient for Burghley and business managers to ensure parliamentary proceedings on bill for Queen's safety was accelerated

The Babington Plot, 1586

*events* - young Catholic gentleman, had close contacts with English priests based in France e.g Mendoza, the expelled Spanish ambassador, who was under control of the pro-Spanish Catholic league - Mendoza's ultimate aim = Spanish invasion of England, promote Catholic uprising: assassinate Elizabeth, replace w M.Q.of.S - >dozen conspirators were recruited, Babington committed to murdering Elizabeth - Babington Wrote to Mary asking for approval *getting hold of letters* - letters intercepted by Walsingham - wanted to trap Mary by securing evidence that could be used against her in legal proceedings - Babington's letter asking for approval and her reply was decoded (by Thomas Phelippes): used as proof against Mary for her complicity in murdering Elizabeth: John Guy: the evidence was 'undeniable' *effect* - Babington arrested - Walsingham took time with Mary: took private papers for examination - Babington and his co-conspirators were executed in Sept 1586, Mary's trial didn't begin till October: special commission found Mary guilty *Mary's execution* what happened: - decided should face trial at Fotheringay Castle in Northamptonshire on day following Babington's execution - tried by at least 24 privy councillors and nobles, assisted by judges (many absent, fearful it was wrong to condemn to death a possible future queen..) - at first Mary refused to cooperate: said the commission had no jurisdiction over actions of anointed monarch in another state - M eventually gave in, pleaded guilty - long time until execution Elizabeth on the execution: (threat of M) yes: no longer any political need to keep Mary alive, had bought of James Vi w/ annual pension of £4,000 in Treaty of Berwick in 1586 yes: Spanish threat yes: Mary had repeatedly been focus of potential rebellion yes: Mary seen by her supporters as the queen in waiting yes: executing Mary would establish and secure England as a Protestant country - increasingly accepted that Protestant son James would succeed her yes: Catholicism meant that she was always likely to be supported by Philip II and Pope yes: S.T Bindoff: "the argument for Mary's death was overwhelmingly strong [..] Mary living would be infinitely more dangerous than Mary Dead" no: reluctant to execute fellow anointed monarch, didn't want Mary to be victim to an Act of Attainder for treason: may effect long-term future of English monarchy - Elizabeth careful not to support harsh treatment of fellow female monarch, especially 1 with rightful claim to Scottish throne no: danger of hostile response from Scotland and France: Mary had close relations with Guise family in France no: family member, sympathy for her difficulties no: hoped instead she might be murdered, Mary's gaoler asked whether he would dispose of her according to the terms of the Bond of Association, but he refused no: England actively at war with Spain and Spanish invasion was already planned - in reality threat from abroad no worse than it had been Burghley: yes: anxious for her execution yes: E personal safety yes: security of Protestant state - used parliamentary pressure - parliament petitioned E to execute her events: - took until 4 dec for death sentence to be announced fully, Queen didn't sign until 1 February with rumours of Spanish landing/Mary escaping - E contradictory orders to seal/not seal warrant to secretary William Davison: he sealed warrant and privy council decided to despatch it without telling E until execution took place, demonstrating they understood E didn't want it (example of her not handling it fully) - executed 8th Feb: for many seen as a Catholic martyr - E furious and blamed Privy Council and put Davison in tower: rage passed and Davison was released & fine remitted - wrote to James VI in Scotland protesting innocence over murder of his mother - Protestant James VI (son of Mary queen of Scots) proclaimed King of England 'by law, by lineal succession and by divine right' when E died, TF showed M remained E's heir until moment of execution *threat* - threat increased due to anti-Catholic paranoia of Burgley, Walsingham and other members of Privy council created from Throckmorton and Parry Plots - English intervention in Netherlands had also increased prospects for full-scale war with Spain

Throckmorton Plot, 1583

*events* Francis Throckmorton, English Catholic acted as intermediary between Mary and Spanish Ambassador, Mendoza conspiracy 1. Spanish landing in Catholic Lancashire (fantasy)(**? didn't happen or just was never going to be successful?) conspiracy 2. Spanish landing in Sussex by a force under command of Mary's cousin, the Duke of Guise: > plausible: hope that Sussex would generate support from local Catholic aristocrats e.g Earl of Arundel/Earl of Northumberland supported by their gentry associates *effects* - conspiracy broken: Sir Francis Walsingham had a spy in French embassy: information made him able to target Nicholas Throckmorton, who confessed under torture - executed for treason - clear that principal conspirator = Mendoza (the Spanish ambassador): = expelled from country - Arundel permanently imprisoned in the tower - Bond of Association drafted 1584 - worsened Spanish relations - caused Mary to be transferred to Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire in custody of Sir Amyas Paulet = stern puritan *threat* - Mendoza, the Spanish ambassador, tortured and revealed details of plot: expelled from country - came at a time when Catholic mission to England became more evident - brought war with Spain close - international position of Protestantism becoming more insecure: Spanish reconquest of the Netherlands - John Bossy: it was a genuine conspiracy which seriously threatened Elizabethan regime - unmasking of the Throckmorton Plot -> creation of the Bond of Association - undermined Anglo-Spanish relations - led to queen Mary being more strictly and tightly handled

Catholicism in the 1570s - handling

*good* - could now justify more strict rules: legitimate claim that there was a threat to internal security of realm - put pressure on Catholics to choose between loyalty to Pope and national allegiance (most complied) 1570: John Felton executed for displaying copy of Papal Bull, Regnans in Excelsis 1571 Treason act against bringing the letter of excommunication into England (following previous year's issue of Papal Bull excommunicating E) (1571: missionary priest Cuthbert Mayne was executed under this legislation) 1572: - 2 more priests executed for denying royal supremacy 1577: Celebrating mass could be punishable by death 1577: - Cuthbert Mayne, seminary priest in Cornwall, executed - large numbers of Catholics forced to abandon believes/observances, since they could no longer practice them in safety - many torn by conflicting loyalties to their faith/monarch: chose monarch *bad* missionary priests: - sending out policy directives to sometimes unwilling local representatives = not most effective

changing Catholicism threat 1566-72

*overall, Catholic threat increased because Catholicism was politicised: intrusion of FP and the Catholic mission* *THREAT* 1566 Pope forbade English catholics from attending services of the established church: increased level of recusancy *1567: turning point* Spanish Duke of Alba sent to the Netherlands to put down the rebellion that had broken out against Spanish catholic rule = presence of 10,000 Catholic Spanish troops across the Channel: This Spanish reconquest of Southern Netherlands and its return to Spanish rule meant Spain = ^ powerful. Fears that Spain may be intending to force England back to Catholicism: all that was needed was a conduit for Spanish influence...= MQofS effect: Councillors fear Spanish invasion *1568: TURNING POINT* Mary queen of Scots arrived in England seeking sanctuary from Scotland worsened threat posed by Netherlands -represented the Catholic contender for E's throne, a Catholic successor if E had no heir herself, and someone who would encourage a French-Scottish alliance against England: became centre of Catholic hopes for future - reopened issue of succession - Cecil in particular fears Mary as potential threat = ignited major change in Elizabethan attitude towards Catholics: > insecure international & domestic political climate 1568 Training college (seminary) for priests founded by William Allen in Douai, the Netherlands to train missionaries to go to England and support Catholics, they were prepared to follow the papal line on political activism against the Elizabethan gvt 1568 South West Lancashire, the most conservative part of the country, had a circle of Catholic priests led by Richard Marshall, former Dean of Christ church, Oxford *1569: turning point* Revolt of the Northern Earls: Leading Catholic northern nobles, led by Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, rebelled against E: Plan for Duke of Norfolk to marry M.Q.ofS Had bene in touch with Pope and Spain with intention of securing military backing in support of Norfolk and Mary Catholicism had been a unifying factor When E Heard of marriage plan: sent Norfolk to the tower: Northumberland and Westmorland led a rebellion - entered Durham and replaced Protestant communion table in the Cathedral with Catholic symbols and restored the Catholic Mass Norfolk - tower Rebels failed to gain much support, except in North Yorkshire Gvt army marched North to meet *1570: further turning point* Pope Pius V's Bull: 'regnans in Excelsis': excommunicated Elizabeth: hoped to encourage catholics to join rebellion: declared that all Catholics were free of any oaths of loyalty to her, any Catholics obeying her would face excommunciation: Direct encouraged to Catholics in England and abroad to oppose Elizabeth's rule Justification for rebellions centred on M.Q. of S and Catholic Europe to wage war on England effect: New Treason Act introduced in 1571: making denial of Elizabeth's supremacy or importation of Pope's order of excommunication acts = punishable by death 1571 Rudolfi plot: planned to murder Elizabeth and replace with Mary - Rudolfi = banker from Florence, had been involved in 1569 1572 Catholics in France slaughtered Protestants during St Bartholomew day celebrations, brought religious war there to an end Feared France would not turn its attention to heresy in England *NOT THREAT* - large numbers of Catholics forced to abandon believes/observances, since they could no longer practice them in safety - many torn by conflicting loyalties to their faith/monarch: chose monarch Pope's Bull did not have a huge effect: - no effect on 1569 rebellion: Westmorland & Northumberland had fled before it appeared - Bull virtually ignored by intended audience: little effort made to publish/publicise Bull: Catholics did not want to know/did not know - landowner not interested: had well sense of hierarchy & status based on landed property: rights of inheritance were form of protection = refusing loyalty to E -> difficult to claim protection of laws of inheritance for themselves (would be contrary to landowners' instincts for self-preservation) - parliamentary legislation of the Treason Act of 1571 neutralised it: treason to deny E as lawful queen, treason to use Regnans in Excelsis or any other Bull to convert/reconvert someone to Catholicism

Catholicism in the first decade of Elizabeth's reign: state of it

*remained strong/threat* - appeared that Catholicism had little support for Elizabeth's accession - majority of Elizabeth's subjects, especially most influential ones, were Catholic - population at this stage was probably majorly Catholic - virtually all the Marian bishops refused to accept gvt's legislative changes over matters of doctrine - most parish priests were Catholic, and country didn't have ability to replace them w/trained Protestants: parish priests had responsibility for putting new service/prayer book into effect - only 23% of senior clergy in York endorsed the royal supremacy - regional survey: some areas (e.g Lancashire): substantial support for Catholicism - Catholic opinion remained prominent in the House of Lords - many clergy in the 1560s led worship that contained traces of Catholicism e.g. using Latin rather than English - Elizabeth could die/marry: Catholicism could easily be restored - some Catholic intellectuals went into exile rather than conform: e.g. 100 fellows of Oxford Colleges, some found base in Spanish Netherlands, influential group based in town of Lueven: 1568 William Allen founded English college for training of missionary priests in Douai - some priests became private chaplains to Catholic members of nobility - conservative nobles protected Catholic priests - some conducted secret Catholic services (especially in North and West): e.g 3 priests operating a mass centre in Ripon in Yorkshire - some members of Privy Council, particularly those from traditional aristocracy (e.g Marquis of Winchester and Earl of Sussex), retained conservative instincts on religion - Christopher Haigh: 'for a decade or more, it was a protestant church with many Catholic, or at least conservative, clergy' - John guy emphasises the presence of conservative belief and practices in parishes served by ex-preists - John Guy: limitations of Protestant preaching left a 'reservoir of potential recruits for a separated Catholic Church' - estimated that 1/3 of peerage and sizeable section of gentry = recusants : central Lancashire = catholics still outnumbered Protestants in 1603: Recusants offered Catholic sacraments to people, worked as chaplains to gentry however, with this, most of the opposition/threat wasn't universal, but came from the top of the Catholic hierarchy: - Catholic bishops fought legislation of 1559 settlement in the House of Lords - almost all bishops remaining from Mary's reign refused to take Oath of Supremacy - some hundred academics went abroad rather than come under influence of new protestant church *not that strong/little threat* - not united feeling nationally - Marian Bishops into Exile - even if many of country were Catholic, most of these Catholics were Church papists: loyal to Elizabeth, included most of the 8000 clergy who took oath of supremacy: church papists attended church services - few parish priests refuse the oath of supremacy - Christopher Haigh: during 1560s 'survivalist Catholicism was diluted by conformity': conformed to Church of England and obeyed law - strength of Catholicism in th House of Lords eroded by removal of Catholic bishops - majority of Catholics: many of whom = members of nobility/JPs = preferred not to become recusants, but comply to settlement and continue Catholic devotion in private (remain quiet and get on it with it): meaning Catholicism posed little direct threat - Catholic decline in early part of reign - most people preferred to follow a line of survival, not draw attention to themselves; conformed - most lower clergy did not defy establishment even if Catholic - A.G. Dickens: an 'insignificant number' of Catholic clergy ventured to 'refuse the oath of Supremacy', and that 'little open defiance appeared' - P.McGrath: little threat as parish priests were the 'good example' : 'when the Parish priest was ready to use the Book of Common Prayer and the squire publicly appeared at the new services, it was hardly surprising that the ordinary people followed the example of their social superiors' (weakened formal structure of Catholicism since majority conformed) little threat abroad/Pope: - felt reasonably secure from religious crusade by Catholic fellow monarchs - friendship w/ Philip II of Spain: = little reason to link Catholicism under her subjects to Catholicism of foreign enemy - Pope (for a number of years) avoided stance opposing E: Pius Iv hoped/anticipated return to catholic fold - Pope even hoped that Elizabeth would send representatives to (Catholic) council of Trent 1559: council aimed for reform of Catholic Church: Elizabeth contemplated, but decided not to when realising Pope had firm control of Council of Trent - despite lack of representative at Council, Pope continued to work constructively for contacts w/England - Pope failed to instruct Catholics to shun Church of England services, inc. Communion, until 1562 = and only then in response to direct enquiry from English Catholics - Philip II persuaded Pius IV not to carry out excommunication of Elizabeth in 1563 that had been requested by english Catholic

Ridofli Plot 1571

*what* - Rudolfi = banker from Florence, had been involved in 1569 *plan* -secure landing of Spanish troops at Harwich in Essex who would march to London & w/help of English Catholics, overthrow Elizabeth, marry M.Q ofS to Duke of Norfolk & place Mary on thrown *events* - Cecil (now Lord Burghley) gathered intelligence through network of informers & use of torture - plot uncovered = one of Ridolfi's messengers arrested at Dover and cracked down under torture *effects* - conspiracy didn't amount to much - needed support of Philip II of Spain and his commander in Netherlands, the Duke of Alba, for success: however neither enthusiastic about placing Francophile Mary on throne - - leaders and accomplices arrested - Spanish ambassador, De spes, expelled from England - some think Ridolfi = double agent working for Burghley: wanted evidence for Mary's downfall - Mary denied involvement - did give Lord Burgley (Cecil) opportunity to strike @ Norfolk and Mary: used spokesmen in House of Commons to create parliamentary pressure on Elizabeth to execute Norfolk and attain Mary for treason, denying right of succession of throne: Elizabeth agreed only to demand regarding Norfolk (another 15 years for defeat of Mary - if agreed to execution of Mary War with Spain > inevitable

Catholicism declining in the 1570s - why? & turning point

*why decline/little threat* - brought about the Catholics themselves rather than E's actions - forbidding them to attend church exposed them to fines that few could afford: forced them to choose between their loyalty to Rome vs loyalty to Queen/community - attacks by foreigners on Elizabeth e.g excommunication/plotting by Ridolfi, were not popular with English Catholics: rightful monarch - most landowners happy with stability of Elizabeth's reign: had inherited reign lawfully through parliamentary statutes: if her right to inheritance could be questioned, so could the inheritance of the landowners - social stability preferable to anarchy - - P.McGrath: 'when the Parish priest was ready to use the Book of Common Prayer and the squire publicly appeared at the new services, it was hardly surprising that the ordinary people followed the example of their social superiors' - 1569 revolt of Northern earls failed to attract much Catholic support - doubtful whether the Bull caused any conversion to recusancy - little threat felt shown through the 1574 releasing from prison of a number of important Marian clergy (*example?) *however, still a threat: 1574: arrival of Douai priets- turning point * turning point: this increased the threat again that had died down after the previous turning points/flare ups 1574: Douai priests: arguably ensured the survival of Catholicism first 4 arrived in 1574, by 1580 = 100 reignited a threat First four priests arrived in England from Douai in Netherlands, where there was a Catholic seminary, founded by William Allen, an Englishman (Oxford, resigned on religious grounds and joined catholic exiles in Spanish Netherlands)

did Elizabeth handle catholic threat well in 1580s - growing threat?

*yes* -not too harsh: government had little choice: politicisation of the issue provided justification for extreme measures - threat of Spanish invasion and activities of missionary priests forced Queen into accepting severe legislation - A.L Rowse: 'what else could the government have done? [..] the crucial question was the issue of allegiance.' and The queen had been excommunicated, 'her subjects encouraged to rebel' and 'invasion of the country promoted' - made Catholics think twice about recusancy flexible with measures: - most effective when applied selectively as a lot resort alternative to earlier strategy of absorption - not uniformly applied: flexibly as occasion warranted - enforced rigorously/slackened in accordance with get's perception of the *political* threat - P. Johnson: 'by virtually excluding the Catholic gentry form the operations of her anti-Catholic legislation, Elizabeth effectively tamed Catholicism reduced Catholicism: - weaker state at end of her reign than beginning - by 1603, the number of Catholics = 50% -> 1-2% of population **however, there were other reasons other than E handling *no* Too harsh: 187 Catholics executed during reign: many. suffering hanging, drawing and quartering (punishment for treason: shows connection made between religion and politics E fully aware of this torture before execution to gain information and then severe death Cardinal Allen: 'nothing was there in those religious hearts but innocency and true religion' - normal penal legislation = equals savage - extreme measures against those who threaten system would now be considered attack on alternate beliefs

more general - did she handle Catholicism well?

*yes* - Catholicism withering by end of reign = increasingly preserve of minority of gentry - apart from revolt of Northern Earls, she faced no major uprising in support of Cath. - credit for refusing to adopt policies of severe harshness from beginning: if did allow her privy councillors & bishops, likely would have resulted in opposition, Martyrdom would have been used as an aid to the persecuted - her religious settlement encouraged conformity throughh penalties, and were worth avoiding but not excessively harsh - - threat of Spanish invasion and activities of missionary priests forced Queen into accepting severe legislation - avoided civil war (as had occurred in France & Netherlands) - established structure & set of believes that were virtually unchanged from 1559

Catholicism in the first decade of Elizabeth's reign: handling

- cautious policy against Recusants (Catholics who refused to attend their parish church on a regular basis) - possible for Catholic recusants to follow their faith without being too concerned about consequences - not in E's interest for agressive anti-Catholic policy: disturb domestic & foreign tranquility: religious division = > likely -> civil war - also not in interests for complete religious toleration * 1559 settlement* - conservative practice: used at beginning of reign to put long-term pressure on Catholicism: aim was to undermine Cath. -> eventually wither way - acts of supremacy & uniformity: efforts made to starve catholicism - however, toleration of Catholics was conditional on obedience - didn't want to 'make into into men's souls' (Francis Bacon): aim was to establish outward submission rather than transform belief *1559 act of uniformity* - Recusancy laws passed to force attendance at church on Sundays and other designated days = 1 shilling for failing to attend church - refusal to take Oath of Supremacy: lose position - person upholding the Pope as rightful head of church = 1st offence: lose property, 2nd offence: lose all gods and liberty, 3rd offence: executed - layman who attempted to persuade priest to deviate from the order/doctrine of 1559 prayer book of common prayer: abject to ^ penalties public celebration of the mass was forbidden: - persuading a priest to perform Catholic Mass = 100 mark fine, 2nd: 400 marks, 3rd: life imprisonment & forfeiture of goods - Clerics: nothing to be added to delivery of Holy Communion (e.g transub), avoided the use of the word 'priest': failure to follow rites/attacking rites = 1st offence: 6 month imprisonment & loss of year's income, 2nd: 1 year imprisonment, 3rd: life imprisonment *Parliament of 1563*: - more strict law against office-holders e.g lawyers/MPs who refused the Oath of Supremacy: second refusal carrying death penalty - any priest saying mass/ laymen requesting mass: death sentence - attendance at mass: 100 mark fine - much energy on removing catholic imagery from parish churches/searching out images that had been hidden from view of those conducting church visitations - abolition Catholic mystery plays *the reality* lack of conformity: - conservative clergy continued to enphasise old ways = right to salvation - clergy continued to use Latin, raise bread and wine in a transub manner, kept using old alter in traditional position in East of church lack of punishment: - churchwardens often disinclined to impose shilling fine for non-attendance : v few prosecutions in church courts for persistent absenteeism - Elizabeth had no intention of creating martyrs - failure to collect fines - law fining absentees from church rarely enforced - difficulty in enforce law against Catholics if most were just getting on with it, not becoming recusants - hoped that by keeping many traditional ceremonies, she could make the new Church of England an acceptable alternative - little done to limit private worship - in regard to the 1563 Parliament: the laws were not fully implemented: on instructions of Elizabeth herself to Archb. Parker: ordered for one asked a second time to subscribe to oath of supremacy if had refused the first: TF no one faced with death penalty - no Catholic priest executed for saying Mass until 1577

Catholic threat increasing 1580s

- start of Jesuit mission in 1580 - rebellion in Ireland that had foreign support - number of missionary priests increased: 179 had arrived in 5 years to 1585 *fear of Spanish invasion* - Philip II's annexation of Portugal: increased potential naval power - international situation: threatening for Protestant: assassination of William of Orange, confinement of Dutch rebels made it appear that Spanish Victory in Netherlands was likely - December: 1584: Philip II allied w/ Catholic league in France - Philip II of Spain = increasingly convinced of need to invade England - William Allen became a cardinal in 1587 *[1588 Armada was ready]* - when Armada was ready, Allen prepared 'an admonition to the nobility and people of England': intended to be distributed once Armada landed in England: E described as a 'incestuous bastard, begotten and born in sin' - Allen's 1558 'declaration of the sentence and deposition of Elizabeth the usurper' urged Catholics to to arms to fight on Spanish side [secular priest Wright replied Armada = political, so Catholics rightfully shld defend queen]

overall

E was exaggerating threat in England in light of catholic threat abroad? completely accurate threat/numbers of Catholics hard to completely identify as many illiterate/wouldn't speak up threat: Christopher Haigh: fact it was capable of organising itself to withstand persecution shows widespread & popular appeal of Catholicism no threat: S.Doran: "in reality however, the danger from English Catholics was exaggerated. The vast majority of them were loyal to their Queen and country and simply hoped for better times when the Catholic Mary Stuart would succeed to the throne' - debatable: possibly the threat within the country was never severe but the threat abroad hugely intensified this threat and caused it to be severe (worsened by problems of succession/marriage etc.)

other arguments for threat: yes

Revisionist view: Catholic strong at start of reign (Haigh, Duffy) - Protestantism hadn't made much headway - Mary had restored Catholicism easily - Mary Stuart - Jesuits from 1580 - revolt of Northern earls couldn't be under estimated - assassination plots from abroad - Spanish relations deteriorated - Treaty of Joinville 1584 - French Catholics & Spanish ally - challenge = political: treason not heresy : Catholicism & religion in general had been politicised - linked to succession = succession crisis 1562 1562 (small pox), presence of Mary Stuart - main threat = abroad: missionaries & threat of Spanish invasion after 1585 - 1572-88 especially bad: change over time: threat level peaked 1572-88: (reduced threat before and after)

Catholicism in the 1580s - handling

increasing international threat, needed morey for war 1581 Edmund Campion, one of the first Jesuits, was executed 1581 Act 'to retain the Queen's Majesty's subjects in their due obedience' treason to withdraw subjects' allegiance to Queen/Church of England: treason to exercise priestly functions because this meant withdrawing support for C of E. Penalties harsh Saying mass = fine of 200 marks and a years imprisonment attending mass = 100 marks fine and a years imprisonement Failure to attend church = ^ to £20/month crime to carry out Catholic priestly functions Ordinary people couldn't afford these sums = ensured loyalty taking of communion (rather than just church attendance) = criterion for conformity ** punishments depended on who you were: **recusancy fines were imposed selectivity: most lay Catholics were not seriously threatened ** John Guy: 'persistent persecution was reserved fro notorious malcontents and otherwise attempted only during the crisis years immediately before and after the Armada' ** priests threatened: 4 executed in 1581 (inc. Edmund Camption), 1582: 7 executed 1584: 'Bond of Association for the preservation of the Queen's Majesty's royal Person' drafted by Burghley & Walsingham - anyone who took the oath of association was required to execute (murder) anyone who attempted to/suceeded in usurping throne/made attempt at E life/was in on benefiting from a plan to usurp throne - originally intended for political elite, but in Yorkshire the oath was taken by wider cross section of population - introduced to Parliament, given Statutory backing to the Association [by time bill went through Parliament the level of panic had reduced] = Christopher Haigh described it as 'a panic response to an exaggerated threat [..] demonstrated a lack of confidence in the form mechanisms of government and public order' 1585: Act Against Jesuits and seminary priests - treasonable for any priest ordained under Pope's authority to enter England - any catholic priest ordained since the beginning of Elizabeth's reign = leave country within 40 days: presence = high treason - treason to become a Catholic priest or help/receive/protect the missionaries (some nobility had been doing by concealing them in 'priest holes' in their houses) = easier for scouts to secure convictions for treasons = 123 priests convicted & executed under the terms of this act from 1586-1603 = significant as no longer any need to prove a priest had acted/spoken in a treasonable manner: presence in the country enough 1587 Execution of Mary Queen of Scots 1587: -law relating to recusancy fines tightened (cause may be need of money for war and fear for Spanish invasion) -offenders deemed particularly culpable = fines backdated to 1581 - e.g Thomas Gresham (Northamptonshire recusant) and John Townley (Lancashire recusant): deemed to owe £1,000 - any recusant who defaulted on payment of fines could have two-thirds of estate seized by Exchequer 1588: GVT's determination to crush Catholicism results in execution of 31 priests 1588-92: persecution of recusants at its peak

missionaries - threat?

seminary priests from Douai and Jesuit priests *cause* - many of previous Catholic recusants had either given up, imprisoned or died - there was TF an attempt abroad to revive Catholicism in England *seminary preists* threatening: -built to train priests for missions to England -By 1575, 11 secular priests had arrived from Douai -By 1590s there were over 100 -Not initially seen as threat, but by the 1570s: deteriorating relations with Spain and presence in prison of MQofS increased threat -Christopher Haigh: the English college was an 'instant educational success' -in depth study of the Bible (could counter Protestants), training in effective preaching - emphasis placed on confession: purely Catholic practice: important vehicle for stiffening faith of English Catholics: the missionary priest was in possession to transmit God's forgiveness = > likely conversion for English Catholics who had not been able to convert for some years: faith rebirth - P McGrath: Catholicism was rescued due to 'the result of the work of the missionaries from Douai. The risks they took in saying the mass meant the survival of this essential feature of Catholicism, which might otherwise have faded away.' - protected by members of gentry - G.R. Elton: they 'consolidated the Catholic minority into a body able to survive persecution and erected a firm barrier between the Churches of Rome and Canterbury' - G.R. Elton: the missionaries arrested the decline of Catholicism and 'ended the government's hope of destroying popery and drawing all Englishmen into the English church' - connected to politics: William Allen invited to Rome in 1576 to advise Pope on possibility of an invasion from the Spanish Netherlands under the governor, Don John of Austria - Dicken's: argues Catholicism was a dying faith in the first 2 decades of E's reign which the secular (& Jesuit priests) are responsible for reviving not threatening: - Haigh and Guy: missionaries had serious limitations, amounted to a 'heroic failure' - number not as large as has been maintained - little infrastructural framework which the priests could operate: forced to operate from the country houses of Catholic gentry & aristocracy - this = strategic limitation - were TF doing little work to sustain/convert faith of more humble Catholics *Jesuits* threatening: - by 1580 they had already been active in re-Catholicising some Lutheran parts of Germany - combined high intelligence with dedication to cause of restoring catholicism - Edmund Campion, effective pamphleteer, captured;: offered senior post in Church of England if he would turn back to Protestantism, he refused & was executed in 1581 for treason (connection of religion and politics) - John Bossy: seminary priests & Jesuits ensured survival of an English catholic community -some nobility had been doing by concealing them in 'priest holes' in their houses - measures did not put off the missionaries: prepared for fate they met - effective tactics: Loyola's devotional technique: 'Spiritual exercises': meditation on sensual/emotional experiences of Jesus under guidance of a Jesuit - often effect in a layman outpouring religious feeling and emotion - new commitment co Cath. : technique had much success ['spiritual exercises' is what converted Robert Parsons to firm faith] - Robert Parson's building of safe houses was effective (previous missionaries lacked): wandering individuals without clear destination likely to be detected quickly: wandering about not acceptable = dangerous: Vagrancy laws/suspicion of foreigners not threatening: - estimated there were far fewer Jesuit priests than seminary priests *both = not threatening*: - the priests were operating in difficult circumstances: being a Catholic priest from 1585 would lead to hang, draw, quarter - Christopher Haigh: revisionist view: recognises impact of missionaries (former Marian clergy dying out and needed to be replaced) but disagrees with Dickens/Bossy: instead = continuity in English catholicism, sceptical about missionaries value added to ensuring Catholicism existed, argues view that missionaries completely revived faith is due to missionary priest's *own writings*: they would stress their contribution to raising catholicism and play down the continuity of Catholic worship and role of former Marian clergy : make success of Missionaries appear more remarkable geographical: - proximity to the Channel ports = most Catholic priests in England operated in South-East (where proportion of Catholics was smallest: contained only 20% of recusant population) - in 1580 nearly half of priests in England serving in relatively small population of Catholics in London, Essex and Thames Valley: far fewer priests in the North (where proportion of Catholics was much higher: would have done better) - recusancy among common people of e.g Lancashire/Yorkshire faded due to inadequate supply of priests class: - focused mainly on the gentry: most came from that class, most likely protection - safer for priests to operate in safe houses: but meant they became household chaplains - reliance on working for Catholic gentry meant humbler Catholics ignored: catholicism substantially disappeared among ordinary folk: became a country house religion instead of popular universal feeling - limited areas and in gentry households = Catholicism remoulded socially: only really existed in small minority of upper classes divided Catholic faith: - many Catholics suspicious of activities of the missionaries: preferred to remain uninvolved: suspected treason or fear they may themselves be condemned of treason - missionaries had increased Catholicism, but also divided it - missionaries alienated more than they converted - sharper the focus of missionaries became, the more adherents to the Catholic Church were lost - recusants failed to shake the protestant state: G.R Elton, they 'assisted, by reaction, in the growth of a more ardent and uncompromising protestantism'

Catholicism in late 1580s/90s: divisions

the divisions within Catholics - arguably reduced threat *resentment of the Jesuits* - Jesuits = uncompromising - antagonists of Jesuits stressed practical loyalty to queen *rivalry between secular priests* - secular priests: wanted to maintain strong attachment to traditional hierarchical system of church (** how is that diff?) - Jesuits appeared to be trespassing on pastoral work of secular clergy - secular felt proper place for religious orders = inside the cloister - seculars emphasised continuity between them and traditional, pre-reformation church in England - Jesuits saw as elitist, secretive, arrogant, Pro-Spanish *Archbishop controversy* - Robert Parsons became authoritative over English mission - William Allen had to appoint an archpriest, who would supervise secular clergy - 1598 = George Backwell was appointed backlash: - offended traditionalists as office of archpriest was novel, not traditional - Blackwell simply a Jesuit appointee - Blackwell praised efforts of Jesuits and working closely with them was priority over working w/ majority of missionary priests who were seculars - group appealed to Rome regarding the appointment: arguing Blackwell was appointed by Cardinal protector of England not Pope himself: this didn't result in anything *pamphlet war* - Jesuits VS Apellants - William Watson (Apellant) argued the Queen had been mild and gracious towards Catholics & loyalty to Pope didn't mean supporting enemies of England , & Jesuits failed tis how loyalty result: - by 1602: evidence that Apellants won at least part of their case in Rome - Pope clement VIII instructed Blackwell not to exceed his powers, and take 3 Appellants as assistants & to refrain from consulting w Jesuits *good for government - reduced threat* - little unity - evidence that Appellants given access to printers

other arguments for threat: no

traditional view: Dickens: Catholicism not as strong at start of reign - Pope & Philip generally netural/supportive of Elizabeth in first decade - Elizabeth adopted policy of continuity: hoped Catholicism would wither away if services felt catholic: reduced threat at start of reign: little enforcement of early penalties - Papal bull of excommunication 1570 not felt to be a major threat - seminary priests weakened: focused in South East, divided w/ Jesuits - Revol to fNorthern earls - only 5000 support, easily put down - France couldn't help: own probs - After Armada many Catholics accepted - Some councillors e.g Walsingham, had v dim view of Catholicism, linked it to cruel, foreign religion - bond of Association (1584) = panic measure in face of not much panic - councillors exaggerated threat: ^ saw themselves as 'godly' men serving national interest - E constantly tried to curb councillors from attacking Catholicism further: fought against plans to exclude MQos from succession/punish catholics - English catholics generally remained loyal to their queen > Pope - by end of reign Catholicism = minority religion - threat not bad throughout reign but only between 1572-88 - not bad before and after

reduction of Catholicism

varied geographically - some parts of the country, especially among landed classes: Mass was still practiced in secret - strong in North and West Yorkshire, South and West Lancashire, Herefordshire and South Wales - Catholicism was surviving in the 1590s, often based on gentry households and few of nobility (remember gunpowder plot in 1605 - Elizabeth didn't completely eradicate it) - late 1580s and 90s = disputes between Douai priests and Jesuits : Jesuits supported Spanish invasion, Douai priests urged caution in supporting Spain because of danger of Philip II in following own agenda of power and wealth *societal divisions* - disproportionate concentration of loyal Catholics in the gentry - many Catholics suspicious of activities of the missionaries: preferred to remain uninvolved: suspected treason or fear they may themselves be condemned of treason - missionaries had increased Catholicism, but also divided it - since attendance at Anglican services was made compulsory from 1559 & fines introduced to enforce, in small communities non-attendance = source of gossip/isolation from rest of village *divide in Catholicism* - divide in religious orders: e.g between Jesuits (wanted full re-establishement of Catholicism) & secular clergy (compromise, degree of toleration from establishement) - radicals = extreme views, Catholicism in England discredited with rebellion against the legitimate monarch and undertones of foreign (Spanish & Papal) control - divisions between religion in Europe which resulted in civil war reminded Englishmen of dangers of encouraging religious disagreement *reducing* - however, there was little support for plots against Elizabeth - ordinary people = less support for Catholicism - Elizabeth gained loyalty of almost all of her subjects: including the landowners who had the most to lose if they rebelled - estimated that 1603 = 10% of population had Catholic sympathies, but only 2% were active recusants - by 1603, the Anglican Church had influenced the attitudes of generations of English people: during this time the religious authorities = made church position > secure: discussing & defining essential beliefs, using licensing system to monitor quality of clergy