English Catholicism 1558–1642

Description

Newly revised and updated, the second edition of English Catholicism 1558–1642 explores the position of Catholics in early modern English society, their political significance, and the internal politics of the Catholic community. The Elizabethan religious settlement of 1559 ostensibly outlawed Catholicism in England, while subsequent events such as the papal excommunication of Elizabeth I, the Spanish Armada, and the Gunpowder Plot led to draconian penalties and persecution. The problem of Catholicism preoccupied every English government between Elizabeth I and Charles I, even if the numbers of Catholics remained small. Nevertheless, a Catholic community not only survived in early modern England but also exerted a surprising degree of influence. Amid intense persecution, expressions of Catholicism ranged from those who refused outright to attend the parish church (recusants) to ‘church papists’ who remained Catholics at heart. English Catholicism 1558–1642 shows that, against all odds, Catholics remained an influential and historically significant minority of religious dissenters in early modern England. Co-authored with Francis Young, this volume has been updated to include recent developments in the historiography of English Catholicism. It is a useful introduction for all undergraduate students interested in the English Reformation and early modern English history. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Catholics in early Elizabethan England, 1558–1572 Accession, religious settlement, and diplomacy The Northern Rebellion and Regnans in Excelsis 2. Catholics in later Elizabethan England, 1572–1603 The Anjou marriage and its consequences Government policy towards Catholics, 1580–1603 Catholics and the regime: loyalty and resistance The Elizabethan Catholic community abroad 3. Catholic mission in early modern England The establishment of the Catholic mission The Archpriest Controversy The Approbation Controversy ‘A church under the cross’: the success of the Catholic mission English mission beyond England 4. The Catholic community in early modern England The social composition of the Catholic community Devotion and ritual The Catholic community and English society 5. James I and the Catholics, 1603–1625 The Gunpowder Plot Reactions to the Gunpowder Plot The Oath of Allegiance Increased persecution Hopes for toleration 6. The Catholics in Caroline England, 1625–1642 Charles I and the Catholics Court Catholicism Anti-Catholicism Popish plots, the fear of popery, and the collapse of the regime Documents Guide to further reading Bibliography Index