42 Persecution of the Catholics II.Pdf

Previous failed plots meant she was held in fairly strict confinement here although she was allowed out under guard. Tut- bury however was an unhealthy place and eventually they decided to move her to Chartley. Local legend says that she came via Abbots Bromley. It was whilst she was at Chartley the Babbington plot, the plot that finally caused her downfall, was hatched. This plot sealed her fate and she was placed under even tighter security. Sir Walter Aston held her at Tixall for a fortnight before being taken from Tixall to Fotheringay where she was finally beheaded. Mary was moved away from Staffordshire because it was considered to be a county full of Catholics who would be willing to Sir Walter Aston help her. Throughout the Elizabethan 1st Lord 1639 period and beyond, despite persecution, many landed families in Staffordshire re- Tixall. Walter was converted to Catho- mained loyal to the Catholic faith. The licsm whilst acting as ambassador to Catholics of Staffordshire were described Spain for James 1. Upon his return to later as “Romes snaky brood roosted and England his wife and three sons, Wal- Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part without the prior rested themselves more warmer and ter, John and Herbert joined him in approval of the Society is strictly forbidden safer.Than in any part of this also practicing the Catholic faith. De- © Colton History Society 2005 kingdom”(Richard Lee 1624). Places spite his faith, he was created Lord around Staffordshire where Catholic fam- Aston for his services to the crown ilies lived included Saredon, Moseley, whilst he was living at Colton. In 1638 Brewood, Boscobel, Horsley, Knightly, Herbert built a secret chapel as part of The committee and members of the Colton History Society would like to ex- Kings Bromley, Hamstell Ridware, Hoar his new house at Bellamour in Colton press their thanks for the support and funding of Local Heritage Initiative, the Cross, Wolseley, Stafford Castle, St Tho- so that his family and employees could Heritage Lottery Fund, Nationwide Building Society and the Countryside Agency mas, Stafford, Gerrard’s Bromley, Sandon practice their faith in secret and safety. and Hillderstone to mention but a few. The remains of this house can still be Many of the landed families in these seen as you enter the village. In 1678 places were to play a significant part in all the family are registered on the list historical events of the next few decades. of Recusants (those not prepared to Walter, grandson of Sir Walter Aston of worship according to the Anglican Tixall who had guarded Mary Queen of Rite) for Colton along with most of Scots, subsequently bought the manor of their employees; one of the highest Colton in 1610 to add to his estate at numbers for Staffordshire. Page 2 Page 7 Your Notes Persecution of Catholics around Colton From the 16th to 19th Centuries At the Reformation when Henry V111 were the numerous attempts to replace broke from Rome and created the her with her Scottish cousin, Mary Queen Church of England, to continue to fol- of Scots. Some of this plotting took place low the Catholic faith became an ever in Staffordshire not too far away from increasingly dangerous thing to do in Colton. this country. The Catholic Church was in effect driven underground. Despite Elizabeth always perceived her cousin to terrible persecution, many Stafford- be a threat and when Mary took refuge in shire families stayed loyal to the Cath- England after her disastrous reign in Scot- olic faith and often became embroiled land; she was effectively held captive by in plots and events attempting to re- Elizabeth until she decided what to do instate Roman Catholiscm as the faith with her. Mary was Catholic with a very of the nation. Even some residents of legitimate claim to the English throne and Colton were connected at various times therefore became a focus for the Catholics to these events and plots. of England to overthrow Elizabeth, install Mary in her place and reinstate the Cath- From the establishment of the Christian olic faith for England. Elizabeth was very Church in England through to the Cath- well aware of this. After being held first olic Act of Emancipation in the 19th. in places in the north and then Derby- Century, the faith of the monarch dic- shire, Mary eventually was moved to Tut- tated the faith of the people and the bury Castle in Staffordshire. monarch decided what was of crucial importance to everyone whether you were from a high status family or the lowliest labourer. An individual’s faith and the practicing of it was a funda- mental factor in how society behaved until the latter part of the 20th. Century. These factors led to a number of attempts by Catholics after the death of Henry, to remove the monarch and replace him or her with a practicing Catholic monarch. Elizabeth 1, who continued and extended Henry’s reformation of the Church, was threatened © Published By The Colton History Society September 2005 in just such a manner. The major Tutbury Castle threat by Catholics against her rule Page 1 His flight eventually brought him into Staf- the custody of her son on the grounds the Popish Plot and was eventually re- fordshire in the vicinity of Brewood where that she was bringing him up in the vealed as a complete fabrication but not local Catholic families helped him. He was Catholic faith in the household at Mo- before Lord Stafford had lost his head and hidden from Cromwell’s soldiers at Bosco- seley old Hall. She lost her custody Lord Aston and Herbert Aston had lan- bal and also at Moseley Old Hall before he battle and tragically had to give up her guished in the Tower of London for a good was able to make his escape eventually to son. An example of how religion can few months. Dugdale came out of it very the Continent. His rescuer at Moseley Old divide families. well in that he received considerable ex- Hall was Thomas Whitgreave who hid the penses, gifts and an allowance until he future king successfully in the priesthole in The Gunpowder plot had had a great died. Viscount Stafford’s trial lasted seven his house whilst the soldiers searched for deal to do with instilling this great fear days and he was the last in England to die him in vain. Thomas took a great risk of Catholics in the minds of the com- as a martyr. because he knew that he would be put to mon people in this country and the Herbert Aston went to a Jesuit seminary at death for doing this if Charles was discov- fear that St. Omer in France and died here in Colton ered. A few years after this courageous England would once more be a Catho- in 1689.His son John inherited the Bel- act, Thomas Whitgreave married Con- lic country controlled by Rome in the lamour estate but on his death. stance Boughey from Boughey Hall Farm way it had been in the past was some- in Colton and she went to live with him at thing that the majority, especially Guy Fawkes Ownership reverted to the Tixall line. A Moseley Old Hall. Could they possibly have those in power, did not want. Those number of priests are recorded at Bel- met at Bellamour? figures able to influence events used This plot was alleged to have been lamour Hall all with aliases. John Aston’s every opportunity to discredit Catho- planned primarily at Tixall by the third priest became the tenant at Bellamour and She married Thomas upon the death of lics and further outlaw the practice of Lord Aston, also the immensely pow- continued to use an alias so that he could her first husband Whitehall Degge of Catholiscm. The Plague was blamed erful Howard, Lord Stafford and other still minister in safety. Fines were still nearby Kingstone. She had a son by her on the Catholics and the fire of Lon- local Catholic figures of importance. heavy and very restrictive although it did first marriage. Such was the antagonism don was also said to have been The person who was supposed to begin to ease as the 18th century dawned. towards Catholics in this period that her started by Catholics. Therefore it was have revealed the plot to Titus Oates former father in law took her to court for not surprising in 1679 that when a was Dugdale the former steward to By the mid 18th century the lives of recu- man called Titus Oates suggested to Lord Aston. Lord Aston had had cause sants was to improve considerably and in certain people in high places that to terminate Dugdale’s employment at 1778 the Catholic Relief Act was passed. there was yet another plot to kill the Tixall due to fraud and embezzlement For the first time Catholic Chapels were King, this time Charles11, he found of his master’s funds. He had a grudge allowed to open to the public and registers them very willing to listen. and this made him the ideal person to of Catholics began to be kept. The Bel- be involved in Titus Oates’ plotting. lamour register dates from 1791 and went Dugdale claimed that he had heard on until 1821. A chapel was built at the them plotting on the bowling green. new Bellamour Hall in 1795 as a wing of Jesuit priests serving Lord Stafford the new house. Persecution was not over and Lord Aston were also supposed to yet however for the main Catholic family be involved .

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