Editing Recusancy (section)

==Prominent historical Catholics in the United Kingdom==
===Recusant families===
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There were dozens of recusant families, some no longer extant. For example, the [[Howard family]], some of whose members are known as Fitzalan-Howard, the [[Duke of Norfolk|Dukes of Norfolk]], the highest-ranking non-royal family in England and hereditary holders of the title of [[Earl Marshal]], is considered the most prominent Catholic family in England. Other members of the Howard family, the Earls of Carlisle, Effingham and Suffolk are Anglican, including a cadet branch of the Carlisles who own [[Castle Howard]] in Yorkshire. Recusancy was historically focused in [[Northern England]], especially in [[Cumberland]], [[Lancashire]], [[Yorkshire]] and [[Westmorland|Westmoreland]]. A geographical exception was a branch of the Welds from [[Shropshire]] who migrated via London to [[Oxfordshire]] and [[Dorset]]. The three sons of Sir [[John Weld (merchant)|John Weld]] (1585–1622), founder of the [[Weld Chapel]] in [[Southgate, London|Southgate]], all married into recusant families and were technically "converts" in the 1640s. The eldest, [[Humphrey Weld (of Lulworth)|Humphrey]], began a lineage, referred to as the "Lulworth Welds".<ref name=HOP>{{cite web| url =https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/weld-%28wild%29-humphrey-1612-85|title=Weld (Wild), Humphrey (1612–85), of Lulworth Castle, Dorset and Weld House, St. Giles in the Fields, Mdx.| publisher= History of Parliament Online| access-date = 2 September 2020 }}</ref> They became connected by marriage to Catholic families across the kingdom, including the [[Baron Arundell of Wardour|Arundells]], [[Weld-Blundell family|Blundells]], [[Baron Clifford of Chudleigh|Cliffords]], [[Errington (surname)|Erringtons]], [[Joseph Gillow|Gillows]], [[Christopher Haydock|Haydocks]], [[Baron Petre|Petres]], [[Baron Teynham|Ropers]], [[Maria Howard, Duchess of Norfolk|Shireburns]], [[Maria Fitzherbert|Smythes]], [[Baron Stourton|Stourtons]], [[Throckmorton baronets|Throckmortons]], [[FitzHerbert baronets|Fitzherberts]], [[Vaughan (surname)|Vaughans]] and [[Vavasour family|Vavasours]].<ref name="Burke">''Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry'', Volume 2. H. Colburn, 1847. pp. 1545–1546 view on line [https://books.google.com/books?id=0NEKAAAAYAAJ&dq=Issue+of+Thomas+Weld%2C+Lulworth&pg=PA1545]</ref> The [[Baron Acton|Acton (also known as Dalberg-Acton and Lyon-Dalberg-Acton)]] family is another well-known recusant family.

===Individuals===
[[File:Cobbe portrait of Shakespeare.jpg|thumb|160px|right|[[William Shakespeare]] came from a family background of English Catholic recusants.]]
Although [[William Shakespeare]] (1564–1616) and his immediate family were conforming members of the established Church of England, Shakespeare's mother, [[Mary Shakespeare|Mary Arden]], was a member of a particularly conspicuous and determinedly Catholic family in [[Warwickshire]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ackroyd |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Ackroyd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2tq0gqtNuEEC |title=Shakespeare: the Biography |publisher=[[Chatto and Windus]] |year=2005 |isbn=1856197263 |location=London |page=29}}</ref>

Some scholars also believe there is evidence that several members of Shakespeare's family were secretly recusant Catholics. The strongest evidence is a tract professing secret Catholicism signed by [[John Shakespeare]], father of the poet. The tract was found in the 18th century in the rafters of a house which had once been John Shakespeare's and was seen and described by the reputable scholar [[Edmond Malone]]. Malone later changed his mind and declared that he thought the tract was a forgery.<ref>Quoted in Schoenbaum (1977: 49) "In my conjecture concerning the writer of that paper I certainly was mistaken".</ref> Although the document has since been lost, [[Anthony Holden]] writes that Malone's reported wording of the tract is linked to a testament written by [[Charles Borromeo]] and circulated in England by [[Edmund Campion]], copies of which still exist in Italian and English.<ref name="holdshak">[[Anthony Holden|Holden, Anthony]]. [http://www.hbgusa.com/books/64/0316518492/chapter_excerpt10046.html ''William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215022745/http://www.hbgusa.com/books/64/0316518492/chapter_excerpt10046.html|date=2007-12-15 }}. [[Little, Brown and Company|Little, Brown]] (2000).</ref> Other research, however, suggests that the Borromeo testament is a 17th-century artefact (at the earliest dating from 1638), was not printed for missionary work, and could never have been in the possession of John Shakespeare.<ref>Bearman, R. (''2003'') "John Shakespeare's Spiritual Testament, a reappraisal", ''[[Shakespeare Survey]] 56,'' pp. 184–204.</ref> John Shakespeare was listed as one who did not attend church services, but this was "for feare of processe for Debtte", according to the commissioners, not because he was a recusant.<ref>Mutschmann, H. and Wentersdorf, K., (1952) ''Shakespeare and Catholicism'', [[Sheed and Ward]]: New York, p. 401.</ref>

Another notable English Catholic, possibly a convert,<ref>Harley, John. (1998) "New Light on William Byrd", ''[[Music and Letters]]'', p.{{nbsp}}79 , pp. 475–488.</ref> was composer [[William Byrd]]. Some of Byrd's most popular ''[[motet]]s'' were actually written as a type of correspondence to a friend and fellow composer, [[Philippe de Monte]]. De Monte wrote his own motets in response, such as the "Super Flumina Babylonis". These correspondence motets often featured themes of oppression or the hope of deliverance.

[[Dorothy Lawson (recusant)|Dorothy Lawson]] was a Catholic noblewoman who used her autonomy, financial independence and social status as a widow to harbour priests in her household.<ref>{{Cite ODNB |title=Lawson [née Constable], Dorothy (1580–1632), recusant and priest harbourer |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-69034 |access-date=2024-10-19 |date=2004 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/69034}}</ref> She was a patroness of the [[Jesuits|Society of Jesus]], who met yearly at her home to discuss the mission in England, employed Catholic servants, held religious services for the local community,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Binczewski |first=Jennifer |date=May 2020 |title=Power in vulnerability: widows and priest holes in the early modern English Catholic community |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-catholic-history/article/abs/power-in-vulnerability-widows-and-priest-holes-in-the-early-modern-english-catholic-community/EABBCC91FF5731F00888290BFB6628CF |journal=British Catholic History |language=en |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=1–24 |doi=10.1017/bch.2020.1 |issn=2055-7973}}</ref> and visited recusants who were imprisoned in gaol for their beliefs. Her children were raised in the Catholic faith. Three daughters entered convents on the continent and a son attended a [[seminary]] in [[Douai]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-01 |title=Dorothy of Heaton - Heaton History Group |url=https://heatonhistorygroup.org/2019/09/01/dorothy-of-heaton/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=heatonhistorygroup.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The Jacobean poet [[John Donne]] was another notable Englishman born into a recusant Catholic family.<ref name="Schama">{{cite news|first=Simon|last=Schama|author-link=Simon Schama|title=Simon Schama's John Donne|date=26 May 2009|publisher=[[BBC2]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo|access-date=18 June 2009}}</ref> He later, however, authored two Protestant-leaning writings and, at the behest of King [[James VI and I|James I]], was ordained into the Church of England.<ref>Kunitz, Stanley; Haycraft, Howard, eds. (1952). ''[[iarchive:britishauthorsbe00kuni|British Authors Before 1800: A Biographical Dictionary]].'' New York: Wilson. pp. 156–158. {{ISBN|978-0-8242-0006-0}}.</ref><!-- stop removing; reference link provided; see talk page -->

[[Guy Fawkes]], an Englishman and a Spanish soldier,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-06 |title=What do Catholics do on Guy Fawkes night? {{!}} Notes and Queries {{!}} guardian.co.uk |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-18627,00.html |access-date=2024-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706132929/https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-18627,00.html |archive-date=2023-07-06 }}</ref> along with other recusants or converts, including, among others, Sir [[Robert Catesby]], [[Christopher Wright (plotter)|Christopher Wright]], [[John Wright (Gunpowder Plot)|John Wright]] and [[Thomas Percy (plotter)|Thomas Percy]], was arrested and charged with [[Gunpowder Plot|attempting to blow up the King and Parliament]] on 5 November 1605. The plot was uncovered and most of the plotters, who were recusants or converts, were tried and executed.