Fear of Catholic Influence under Stuart Monarchs

how did the reformation contribute to the origins of anti-catholicism?

• corruption

• belief they are immoral as they pay to get rid of sins (indulgences)

how did bloody mary contribute to the origins of anti-catholicism?

• tortured people who werent practising catholicism

• associated with cruelty

what things meant catholicism was associated with treason?

• babington plot and mary QoS

• the spanish armada

• gunpowder plot, 1605

what association did france exacerbate on catholicism?

absolutism → increased fear because of charles and louis’ bond

what 5 actions of charles fuelled the fear of catholicism in england?

• his wife, henrietta maria, a catholic

• william laud

• exclusion of puritans

• personal rule

• role of catholics in the army

how did the role of catholics in the army exacerbate fear of catholicism?

(during english civil war)

• in ireland, catholic soldiers defending king

• 1645 - reports found that irish troops were being sent for king w/ support from pope

what 4 broad things would increase fears of catholicism?

• granting toleration to catholics

• catholics gaining high positions in office

• catholic-style changes to church and state

• pro-catholic foreign policies

which act excluded catholics from toleration under cromwell?

toleration act, 1650

what did the toleration act (1650) say?

• catholics have to swear an oath otherwise land/goods taken

• removed the requirement to attend anglican church

• grounded in uniformity and radical puritanism

what did the instrument of government (1653) under the protectorate say?

other religions, excluding catholics, are allowed freedom + catholics not allowed to be voted into positions of high power

what did the oath of abjuration report in 1655 reveal?

992 catholics refused to take the oath in lancashire

how did the government react to the 1655 oath of abjuration report?

they turned a blind eye to the catholics who didn’t swear it → not enforcing anti-catholic policies

what does cromwell having close friends who are catholics (e.g. digby) suggest?

a lot of the anti-catholic sentiment he preached is political, to keep the puritan army on his side

how did the great fire of london exacerbate fears of catholicism?

catholics were blamed for it and people thought it was a popish plot

why did the CABAL cause controversy?

2 of the members were practising catholics in high positions of power

how did the declaration of indulgence (1672) exacerbate fears of catholicism?

it granted religious freedoms → people thought catholics would exploit this

what was the test act and how did it affect peoples fear of catholicism?

removed catholics from positions of power + reduced declaration of indulgence → reduces fear

why did pamphlets increase fear of catholicism?

catholics seen to be infiltrating politics as well + mass spreading of ideology

what did triers and ejectors do during the interregnum?

triers → appointed godly men to the clergy

ejectors → get rid of priests and “scandalous” ministers

how did the exclusion crisis show catholic fear?

willing to go against divine right to avoid having a catholic heir shows extreme fear

when was the supposed ‘popish plot’ titus oates claimed to know about and why did this exacerbate fears?

1678 → increased fear as titus oates was catholic himself + exacerbation from parliament

how did the rye house plot (1683) show catholic fear and how did it decrease catholic fear?

plots against james and charles show extreme fear driving people to regicide

decrease fear as charles pinned the blame on dissenters and drove spotlight away from catholics

how did the treaty of dover (1670) contribute to popular feeling about catholicism?

secret clause of the treaty increased fear of catholic sentiment and influence in britain + exacerbated tensions

what did the treaty of dover (1670) state in its main clause and secret clause?

main clause → joined england and france together against the dutch (protestant allies)

secret clause → charles would convert to catholicism and give louis help when france is at war

what was james II stance on catholicism?

he was openly catholic and wanted to increase toleration with the eventual goal of making england catholic

why were people scared when james II ascended to the throne?

• he was catholic

• people suspected he wanted to introduce absolutism

why did people suspect james II wanted to introduce absolutism?

close link w louis (asked louis for subsidies and called himself “french at heart”) and use of royal prerogative to push laws through