Catholic Plots
History: KS3, topic 10.2.4
Religion in the Early 17th Century
Charles I possibly favoured Catholicism despite widespread fear of it. His church reforms angered the Scots because he changed their prayer book.
Gunpowder Plot
- Catholics had been responsible for the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 AD.
- Guy Fawkes had attempted to blow up Parliament and King James I, Charles' father.
Fear of Catholics
- Many English Protestants were scared of Catholics and worried about what would happen if Catholics ever got into power.
Religious Problems in Scotland
- Charles also had religious problems in Scotland.
- The Kirk was controlled by a group called the Presbyterians, who were strongly Puritan.
New Prayer Book
- Charles tried to change the Kirk so that it was exactly the same as the Church of England.
- He introduced a new prayer book in 1637 AD.
- This was very unpopular in Scotland and caused riots in Edinburgh.
Anti-Puritanism
- Most English people of the time were Protestants and many were also Puritan.
- Charles instructed his chief church leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud, to make the Church of England anti-Puritan.
- This angered Puritans and other Protestants.
Did Charles favour Catholicism?
- Many people in England feared that Charles favoured the Catholics too much.
- This was because Charles was married to a Catholic and many also feared that all the children of Charles were being secretly brought up as Catholics.
Test yourself on Catholic Plots
Who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot in 1605?
Which religious group controlled the Scottish church (the Kirk)?