Editing Popish Plot (section)

===Development of English anti-Catholicism===
The fictitious Popish Plot must be understood against the background of the [[English Reformation]] and the subsequent development of a strong [[anti-catholicism|anti-Catholic]] [[Nationalism|nationalist]] sentiment among the mostly [[Protestant]] population of England.

The [[English Reformation]] began in 1533, when [[Henry VIII of England|King Henry VIII]] (1509–1547) sought an annulment of his marriage to [[Catherine of Aragon]] to marry [[Anne Boleyn]]. As the [[Pope]] would not grant this, Henry broke away from Rome and took control of the [[Church in England]]. Later, he had the monasteries dissolved, causing opposition in the still largely [[Catholicism|Catholic]] nation. Under Henry's son [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]] (1547–1553), the Church of England was transformed into a strictly Protestant body, with many remnants of Catholicism suppressed. Edward was succeeded by his half-sister [[Mary I of England]] (1553–1558), daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine. She was a Catholic and returned the Church in England to union with the [[Holy See]]. Mary tainted her policy with two unpopular actions: she married her cousin, [[Philip II of Spain|King Philip II of Spain]], where the [[Spanish Inquisition|Inquisition]] continued, and had 300 Protestants burned at the stake, causing many Englishmen to associate Catholicism with the involvement of foreign powers and religious persecution.

Mary was succeeded by her Protestant half-sister, [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] (1558–1603), who again broke away from Rome and suppressed Catholicism. Elizabeth and later Protestant monarchs caused to be hanged and mutilated hundreds of Catholic priests and laymen. This, and her dubious legitimacy – she was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn – led to Catholic powers not recognising her as queen and favouring her next relative, the Catholic [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]. Elizabeth's reign saw Catholic rebellions like the [[Rising of the North]] (1569) as well as intrigues like the [[Roberto di Ridolfi|Ridolfi Plot]] (1571) and the [[Babington Plot]] (1586), both intending to kill Elizabeth and replace her with Mary under a Spanish invasion. Three popes issued [[Regnans in Excelsis|bulls]] judging Elizabeth, giving grounds to suspect English Catholics' loyalty. Following the Babington Plot, Mary was beheaded in 1587. This – and Elizabeth's support of the [[Dutch Revolt]] in the [[Spanish Netherlands]] – triggered Philip II of Spain's attempted invasion with the [[Spanish Armada]] (1588). This reinforced English resentment of Catholics, while the Armada's failure convinced many Englishmen that God was on the Protestant side.

Anti-Catholic sentiment reached new heights in 1605 after the failed [[Gunpowder Plot]]. Catholic conspirators attempted to topple the Protestant reign of [[James VI and I|King James I]] by exploding a bomb during the King's opening of parliament. The plot was thwarted when [[Guy Fawkes]], who was in charge of the explosives, was discovered the night before. The magnitude of the plot, meant to kill the leading government figures in one stroke, convinced many Englishmen that Catholics were murderous conspirators who would stop at nothing to have their way, laying the groundwork for future allegations.