English Catholicism 1558–1642

<p>Newly revised and updated the second edition of <i>English Catholicism 1558–1642</i> explores the position of Catholics in early modern English society their political significance and the internal politics of the Catholic community.</p><p>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. <i>English Catholicism 1558–1642</i> shows that against all odds Catholics remained an influential and historically significant minority of religious dissenters in early modern England.</p><p>Co-authored with Francis Young this volume<i> </i>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.</p>