the penal laws were passed in ireland in 1607.
the penal laws were passed in ireland in 1607.
when were the penal laws passed in ireland?
1607
initially, the dual monarchs of england and ireland were cautious about applying the penal laws to ireland because they needed the support of the catholic upper classes to put down the gaelic irish rebellion in the nine years war (1594–1603). in addition, a significant section of the catholic aristocracy was composed of old english, who had traditionally been loyal to english rule in ireland. however, the ascent of james vi of scotland to both the english and irish thrones as james i in 1603 and the eventual victory in the nine years war saw a series of coercive new laws put into force. in 1605 the 'gunpowder plot' was planned by a group of english catholics, who were disappointed in their hopes that james would relieve laws against catholics. this provided a further impetus and justification for restrictive laws on catholics in ireland, scotland and england. in 1607 the flight of the earls seeking catholic help in europe for a further revolt set the scene for a wholesale plantation of ulster by the lowland scots and northern english.
penal laws
in 1672, charles issued a declaration of indulgence which suspended the penal laws against nonconforming protestants and also relaxed (but did not suspend) the penal laws applying to roman catholics. when parliament reconvened that year, they denounced the declaration and announced that the english monarch did not possess the power to issue proclamations that suspended penal laws passed by the parliament. furthermore, they refused to fund the ongoing third anglo-dutch war until the declaration was withdrawn. charles was forced to comply with parliament's demands, thereby ending the chance offered by the treaty of reconciling england with the roman catholic church.
secret treaty of dover