The Archpriest Controversy

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The Archpriest Controversy is a name given to the controversial appointement of an Archpriest by the Pope to oversee the efforts of the missionary priests in England during the sixteenth century. Under Elizabeth I's moderate Protestant religious settlement, the Catholic faith suffered, and several foreign powers, most notably Spain and France, supported the training of English Catholic clergy on the continent. These priests came from two backgrounds: Jesuits and seminary priests. The seminary priests were trained at Douai in Northern France, at an establishment set up by Cardinal Allen.

Contents

[edit] Roots of Controversy

The root of the controversy stemmed from two different views of the state of the Catholic Church in post-Reformation England. The Jesuits saw England as a mission field, almost a clean slate, while many of the secular clergy saw Catholic survival as in a continuity with the institutions of the past. There were also suspicions that Jesuit missionaries supported Spanish foreign-policy aims, endangering English Catholics through their political entanglements.

[edit] Events

In 1598, with William Allen dead since 1594, the Cardinal Protector of England appointed an Archpriest to oversee the mission in England with the permission of Pope Clement VIII. This Archpriest had authority over all secular clergy in England. However, although this appointee was supposed to be neutral, George Blackwell was chosen. He was a known admirer of the Jesuits, and his letter of appointment included instructions to co-operate closely with them. Deeply affronted and fearing their loss of independence, a vocal minority of seminary priests refused Blackwell's authority. Two of them travelled to Rome to represent an unsuccessful appeal against Blackwell. A bitter pamphlet war ensued, with some among the seminary priests supporting Blackwell while others continued to appeal to Rome for his removal. The latter came to be known as 'Appellants'.

[edit] Resolution

In 1602, the Pope settled the bitter quarrel by reaffirming Blackwell's authority while making concessions to the Appellants. He ordered that the next three vacancies among Blackwell's assistants be filled from among the Appellants, and rescinded the instruction that Blackwell consult with the Jesuits, instead forbidding such consultation. Friendly relations between the two factions of seminary priests soon returned. However, their infighting had set back the Catholic cause in England.

[edit] Appellants and the Queen

Some Appellants went to the Queen and requested religious tolerance if they declared political allegiance to her and she expelled the Jesuits from England. Seeing a chance to fatally divide the Catholics, Elizabeth played along. Her government even gave some Appellants access to printers during the pamphlet war in order to fully exploit the divisions. But in 1602, disappointed at the pope's settlement of the dispute, she issued a proclamation accusing the Appellants of disloyalty, offering mercy only if they gave themselves up. Very few Appellants (only thirteen) publicly asserted their loyalty to Elizabeth by signing the protestation of allegiance.

[edit] References

  • Pollen, John Hungerford (1916). The Institution of the Archpriest Blackwell. London: Longmans, Green. 
  • Law, Thomas Graves (1896-1898). The Archpriest Controversy: Documents Relating to the Dissensions of the Roman Catholic Clergy, 1597–1602. Camden Society new series 56 & 58. 
  • Milward, Peter (1977). Religious Controversies of the Elizabethan Age: A Survey of Printed Sources. Lincoln, NE, and London: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0803209231. 
  • Milward, Peter (1978). Religious Controversies of the Jacobean Age: A Survey of Printed Sources. Lincoln, NE, and London: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0803230583. 
  • Lockyer, Roger (1985). Tudor and Stuart Britain 1471-1714. Singapore: Longman Group UK Limited, p. 173. ISBN 0-582-35308-4 (paperback). 
  • Doran, Susan (1994). Elizabeth I and religion. London: Routledge, pp. 61-62. ISBN 978-0415073523. 
  • Warren, John (2002). Elizabeth I: Religion and Foreign Affairs. England: Hodder Murray, pp. 78-79. ISBN 978-0340846896. 
  • "Archpriest Controversy". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company. 

[edit] Online resources