Roman Catholic recusancy in Monmouthshire, 1603-1689 : a demographic and morphological analysis
Roman Catholic recusancy was a significant component of the religious demography of Monmouthshire throughout the seventeenth century; but its importance has been simplified through an historiographical tradition that has focused upon the earls of Worcester and a small number of recusant gentry. The present study, drawing largely upon an examination of all of the very substantial Monmouthshire entries in the Exchequer Recusant Rolls, has sought a consideration of the nature of Catholic nonconformity through a statistical analysis of the record of recusancy conviction and the delineation of a social morphology of Catholic recusancy in Monmouthshire between 1603 and 1689. The conclusions derivable from this reconstructive analysis have been tested against a range of data of demographic significance - most notably, that provided by the Compton Census, 1.676 - and the available evidence of Catholic allegiance during the First Civil War: they suggest Catholic recusancy in the county to have been a far wider and more complex phenomenon than would appear from an emphasis. upon the centrality of the earls of Worcester. The record of recusancy convictions indicates i,nstead a social morphology essentially reflective
Matthews, R. P.
Demography; Nonconformity; Worcester; Convictions
Roman Catholic recusancy in Monmouthshire, 1603-1689 : a demographic and morphological analysis. Roman Catholic recusancy was a significant component of the religious demography of Monmouthshire throughout the seventeenth century; but its importance has been simplified through an historiographical tradition that has focused upon the earls of Worcester and a small number of recusant gentry. The present study, drawing largely upon an examination of all of the very substantial Monmouthshire entries in the Exchequer Recusant Rolls, has sought a consideration of the nature of Catholic nonconformity through a statistical analysis of the record of recusancy conviction and the delineation of a social morphology of Catholic recusancy in Monmouthshire between 1603 and 1689. The conclusions derivable from this reconstructive analysis have been tested against a range of data of demographic significance - most notably, that provided by the Compton Census, 1.676 - and the available evidence of Catholic allegiance during the First Civil War: they suggest Catholic recusancy in the county to have been a far wider and more complex phenomenon than would appear from an emphasis. upon the centrality of the earls of Worcester. The record of recusancy convictions indicates i,nstead a social morphology essentially reflective
roman catholic demographic morphological_analysis roman_catholic significant_component religious demography throughout importance simplify historiographical_tradition focus_upon earl worcester small_number recusant gentry present_study draw largely upon examination substantial entry exchequer recusant seek consideration nature catholic nonconformity statistical_analysis record conviction delineation social morphology catholic conclusion reconstructive analysis test range_data demographic significance notably provide census available_evidence catholic allegiance first civil_war suggest catholic county far wider complex_phenomenon would appear emphasis upon centrality earls worcester record conviction indicate social morphology essentially reflective