Elizabethan Catholicism: resistance, loyalty and the myth of persecution
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1992
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Abstract
The history of Elizabethan Catholicism has often been examined. For the most part, the historiography is consistent in that it states that Catholics were loyal to their Queen in all but religious matters. It also states that any resistance that was present was based only on matters of conscience. The punishment for this resistance has therefore been called 'persecution.' A closer examination of state papers and individual Catholics' personal papers contradicts these beliefs. There were distinctive groups of English Catholics throughout Elizabeth's reign who showed differing levels of loyalty and resistance. These groups also faced differing levels of punishment, most of it being singularly mild. Ordinary lay Catholics in England were loyal to Elizabeth in most matters. The resistance came from Continental exiles and Jesuits who wanted England re-converted to Catholicism. The historiography has seemed to miss the distinction.
Description
Bibliography: p. 103-106.
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Citation
Mason, R. L. (1992). Elizabethan Catholicism: resistance, loyalty and the myth of persecution (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/11358