Catholic threat dates

1559 -

  • religious settlement passed in Parliament after Eliz having to compromise because of Marian bishop pressure in HoLords

  • 25/27 Marian bishops refuse to take Oath of Supremacy, 4% of clergy refuse

  • Penalties introduced for not going along with religious settlement (e.g. 1 shilling recusancy fine, 100 mark fine for first punishment for persuading priest to say Mass, 6 months imprisonment and fine for first offence for priest saying Mass).

1563 -

  • 39 Articles drawn up.

  • Oath of Supremacy extended to doctors, lawyers, judges, MPs, etc.

  • Act for the Assurance of the Queen’s Power:

    • Punishment for denying oath stricter - 1st offence = loss of land and imprisonment ‘at Queen’s pleasure’, 2nd offence = execution (however, Parker told not to ask second time)

    • Recusancy fines slightly increased

    • Excommunication introduced as alternative punishment for deviating from settlement

  • Bishops given more power to enforce these rules

  • Officials who stood in the way of enforcement could be imprisoned

  • Meanwhile, also Council of Trent and Pope makes public his guidance for Eng RCs not to obey settlement

1564

  • Inquiry into JPs - found roughly ½ weren’t properly enforcing settlement and penalties

1566

  • New Pope - Pius V. Much more anti-Prot and anti-Eliz

1567

  • Alva arrives in Neth w/ Cath army

1568

  • Bullion Affair

  • Massacre of San Juan de Ulloa

1569

  • Northern Earls

1570

  • Excommunication

1571

  • 3x anti-Cath treason laws

    • Brought back H8 treason law (treason to say Eliz was a heretic or a bastard)

    • Treason to bring Papal Bull into England

    • Treason to leave Eng for more than 6 months without permission from PC

  • Ridolfi Plot

1574

  • Seminary priests start arriving in Eng

1577

  • First Cath execution - Cuthbert Mayne, seminary priest

1580

  • Jesuits start arriving in Eng

  • Papal Pronouncement

1581

  • Edward Campion arrested and execution

  • Act to retain the Queen’s Majesties Subjects in their Due Obedience

    • Recusancy fines increased to £20

    • Had to attend own parish church at least 4 times per year

    • Bill proposed to introduce execution as punishment for priests saying Mass → Eliz vetoes

1585

  • Act against Jesuits and Seminary Priests

    • RC priests had 40 days to leave else presence was treason

    • Anyone protecting priest guilty of treason

    • Anyone who is cause of RC plot (i.e. MQoS) guilty of treason

    • Bloody question

    • 123 priests executed under this act