Religion Flashcards
(7 cards)
James’ aims
- Improving positions of Catholics by overturning or diluting laws
- Pincus: argues he wanted to establish French-like absolutism
Miller: argues he wanted to improve position of Catholics, peacefully convert England back to Rome, fatally underestimated hostility towards Catholics
Forbade sermons against Catholicism
1686 Directions to Preachers
- Alienated men that should have been natural supporters
- John Sharp disobeyed; Bishop of London refused to disobey him and both were arrested
Ecclesiastical Commission
July 1686
- Court of enquiry, jurisdiction over governance of Church of England and all offences under ecclesiastical law
- Headed by Judge Jeffreys
- Caused dismay- punishment for upholding Protestantism
- Echoed Charles’ use of Court of Star Chamber
Godden vs Hales
1686, engineered by James
- Parliament did not cooperate with attempts to repeal Test Acts
- Allowed him to exempt Catholics from Test Act and bring them into high office
- 11/12 Judges upheld him (he replaced 6 judges to boost support)
This is when appointments of Catholics began
Controversy over Catholic appointment at Magdalen College
-1687
- Attempted to force fellows of Magdalen College to elect a Catholic as President
- Deprived 25 fellows when they refused (property rights attack)
- Alienated most Tory-Anglican institution, had been royalist
Declaration of Indulgence
1687; second one (Bishops) 1688
- Suspended Test and Corporation Acts, and penal laws against Catholics and Dissenters
- Introduced in Scotland in June
- Alliance with Quaker Penn
- Believed if Dissenters were tolerated Catholics would be more accepted- flawed
- Bad timing- Louis XIV revoked Edict of Nantes 1685 removing freedom of worship for Protestants
7 Bishops’ case
1688
- Ordered Bishops to read Declaration of Indulgence in every parish church
- 7 Bishops including Archbishop of Canterbury refused and petitioned against it
- All of them were arrested
- Popularity dramatically decreased, echoed 5 members arrest
