Historic%20Yorkshire

CHAPTER XIX.
CATHOLIC PERSECUTION.
UR local annals present a painful picture of
the sufferings ofthe Roman Catholics during
thelatterpart of thereignof Elizabeth. Most
of us are familiar with the facts respecting
the burning of 288 Protestants in the time of
the " Bloody Mary," but the particulars of the
!?? cruel sufferings of themanyCatholics inthe reign
of her sister, the "virgin queen," are not generally
known. It has been truly said,by an eminent authority,
that "the subject has been ignored by the majority of
writers on English history." In this chapter we shall
make an honest endeavour toplace importantfacts before
our readers,and it must be clearlyunderstood that this is
not a defence of the Roman Catholic faith, nor is it
written by a memberof that church.
In dealing with this subject wewill first furnish some
details of the laws affecting Catholics. We only advert
to the most important. In 1547, a law was passed that
anyone speaking against the newly-authorisedliturgy for
the administration of the Lord's Supper " should be
imprisoned, and make fine and ransome at the King's
will and pleasure."
If any priest refused to use the new liturgy he was to
be deprived andsuffer imprisonment for life. Alay person
speaking against the Book of Common Prayer, or going
to anyother religiousservice exceptthat of the Established
Church, for the first offence forfeited ten pounds, or was
imprisoned for three months; for the second offence