'No Popery'....

Papists in Great Britain and Ireland..

The Popery Act 1698 was an Act of Parliament in England passed in 1700 during the reign of William theThird. Its jurisdiction included Ireland. It had many clauses, which in fact persecuted Catholics and the clergy. One of its main provisions was that it provided that any person who caught a ‘Popish Bishop, Priest or Jesuit who was then prosecuted for saying Mass or exercising any other part of his office within the Realm’ was to receive £100 from the Sheriff of that county within four months of the priest’s conviction. It was in fact a bounty. It further made it a criminal act for any Catholic clergy or lay person to run a school or provide for the education of children. For that offence, upon conviction, they could be liable to ‘perpetual Imprisonment’ at the discretion of the King.

Catholics were forbidden from joining the English Army without swearing an Oath of allegiance. It also included numerous other clauses, which basically prohibited Catholics from doing anything, saying anything or thinking anything that might be considered anti-Protestant.

However, as I said before ‘Necessity is the Mother of Invention’, and the English at the time were masters at making changes when changes were necessary – irrespective of beliefs.

You see, the American War of Independence began in 1775. There were also ongoing conflicts with France and Spain. England was short of soldiers. Irish and English Catholics could, if the law was changed, be admitted to the Army and sent overseas to quell the rebellion in the Americas and fight on the Continent of Europe.

It was therefore prudent to introduce such an act. The Papists Act of 1778 was pushed through and became law. It provided such fine words as ‘relieving his (George Third) Majesty’s subjects, of the Catholic Religion, from certain penalties and disabilities imposed upon them during the reign of William theThird (the Popery Act)’.

The most important clause in relation to the military was the removal of the necessity of Catholics taking the religious oath when joining up. It also returned the right to freedom of worship and the education by priests and lay people.

Everything seemed perfect; enlistment began to increase dramatically as ‘joining-up’ gave employment to the poor Catholics of England and Ireland.

Meanwhile in England, the majority of the population being Protestant, rumblings began to be heard. In 1780, The Protestant Association was set up by Lord George Gordon in an attempt to repeal the new act. He was a clever, articulate yet eccentric character who with his oratory was able to inflame the mob. He played on the fears of ‘papism’ and ‘absolute power’ of the monarch returning. He suggested that Catholics in the military would probably join forces with the co-religionists on the Continent and in America and attack England.

Within months of the formation of the association, huge crowds were mustered. As many as 40,000 to 60,000 people carrying banners and flags shouting ‘No Popery’ marched on the House of Commons where Gordon entered the Commons and presented a petition. Outside, a riot erupted.

Newgate Prison was attacked and largely destroyed. The prisoners were released and they too joined the mob. Churches, homes, embassies, the Bank of England, other prisons and houses belonging to the well to do were destroyed.

Among the mob, two men in particular were observed. John Glover and Benjamin Bowsey are described in reports from the time as ‘Black’ or Mulatto. Both were ‘free men’. Glover was charged with ‘riotous and tumultuous assembly, setting prisoners from Newgate free and setting fire to and destroying the prison’. One of the observers of the behaviour was another Black writer, Ignatius Sancho.

Bowsey, a General’s footman, was charged with being a ‘disorderly person’. General Honeywood, for whom he worked, described him as a very honest and very foolish fellow who got into idle company whilst working in the kitchen of a Tavern.

Records show that both were sentenced to death. However, there was a stay of execution in both cases.

On 30th April, 1781, many of the prisoners involved, including Glover and Bowsey, were informed that they were to be pardoned on condition they entered and continued to serve as soldiers in the Corps of Footmen on the coast of Africa.

Why hang prisoners when you could turn them into ‘free’ soldiers for life……..

Eventually, the army was called out in June with orders to fire upon groups of four or more who refused to disperse. About 300 people were shot dead and several hundreds more injured. Many of the rioters were arrested and after a quick trial, about 25 were executed. Gordon himself was arrested and charged with High Treason. However, he was found not guilty.

And meanwhile, the War of Independence in America continued for another two years……………

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