Recusants

who were recusants?

Those who refused to attend church services - they believed in the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church

what were the numbers of recusants like?

⅓ of the peerage & a sizable section of the gentry were recusants, as were the Mariam bishops.

in central Lancashire … in 1601

Catholics outnumbered Protestants

In 1582, the council estimated that there were … known recusants.

1,939

Recusant priests…

offered the Catholic sacraments to the people, some worked as chaplains to the gentry or established underground churches

how did the gov initually deal with the threat?

No attempt was made by the government to identify recusants until the late 1570s.

how did the Act of Supremacy aim to deal with recusants?

laid down fines for recusants - though these were rarely demanded

what was passed against recusants in 1581?

Act to Retain the Queen’s Majesty Subject in their Due Obedience

what did the Act to Retain the Queen’s Majesty Subject in their Due Obedience do?

Recusancy fines are increased to £20 + higher fines are imposed for hearing or saying Mass.

what action was taken against recusants in 1587?

Recusants who default on the payment of fines have ⅔ of their land seized by the Exchequer.

what was done against recusants in 1593?

The House of Commons passes legislation making large gatherings of Catholics illegal & confining Catholics to a radius of five miles from their homes to stop recusants moving about to avoid fines & imprisonment.

were recusants a threat?

Excessive legislation against them suggests that they were a nuisance to the Elizabethan government, however only significantly fined suggesting they were not a great threat, but their obedience was desired.

who were seminary priests?

English Catholics who had been trained for the priesthood at a college in Douai, Flanders where they were taught it was their duty to return to England to work for the salvation of souls & seek martyrdom in order to re-establish Catholicism.

The first seminary priests arrived back in England in ...

1574

how many seminary priests were there in England?

438

how many seminary priests were put to death?

98

give an example of a seminary priest being punsihed?

in 1577 Cuthbert Mayne, a seminary priest was executed

what was done against seminary priests in 1581?

Attempting to convert people to the Catholic faith becomes a treasonable offence.

what was passed against seminary priests in 1585?

Act Against Jesuits and Seminary Priests

what did the Act Against Jesuits and Seminary Priests do?

Any priest ordained by the Pope's authority is guilty of treason. Helping or harbouring a priest is punishable by death.

how many priests were executed under the Act Against Jesuits and Seminary Priests?

123 priests were convicted & executed between 1586-1603