3. INTRODUCTION . '
In introducing the first of the series it may be not out of place to recall the exact nature and scope of the Recusant Rolls.
In the first place it is necessary to distinguish them from lists or returns of Catholic names. Lists with the object of ascertaining the extent and position of recusancy had been drawn up with
more or less completeness from the year 1562. In 1577, on a report that those that are backward in religion grow worse, '"2 an organized attempt was made to obtain a census of Catholics throughout the length and breadth of England. Letters in the autumn were sent to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York requiring them through their diocesans to furnish certificates of the names and values of all such " as do refuse to come into the church to hear Divine Service " ; the Archbishop of Canterbury being further charged to forward particulars himself of the diocese of Oxford at that time sede vacante . The Vice - Chancellors of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge at the same time were directed “ to certify the names and values of all such as they shall knowe to be recusantes. While to complete the census the Lord Keeper and the Lord Chief Justice received instructions to make similar returns for the Inns of Court and Chancery which " are verie well knowen not to be free from that infection of Poperie. 3 The Recusant Rolls which began in 1592 did not supersede the drawing up of these lists, for , in 1595 , in view of the fact that in matters of religion " certain are found more backward and remiss than in former times and do daily increase, the primates were again ordered to cause a general enquiry to be instituted and returns made in every diocese of the number of recusants in all the parishes. The nature and object of the two records were distinct though their matter was the same. The list was a return secondarily of Catholics and its object was to " count heads , to ascertain incomes . The Recusant Roll was an Account , a Compotus (Quere res' hujus compoti, etc. ) and its aim was to collect money. More precisely the Recusant Roll may be defined as an The pages quoted always refer to the present volume. 2 Cal . S.P. Dom. Eliz. 1547-1580 , cxj . 45. 3 Acts of P.C. New Ser. ), x. 88 , 94-5. The State Papers during the ( winter and spring following abound with the returns of the bishops for their
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different dioceses . 4 Ibid, xxv. 85. See Whitgift's Register. It is well to be exact in our terms . A recusant meant simply a person who refused ( recusavit) to attend church at the time of Common Prayer . Even prior to the passing of Act 35 Eliz., cap. ii . (an Act for restraining Popish Recusants to some certain place of abode ) the term in the State Papers and other official documents was understoodto refer to those of the Catholic Faith however, unless otherwise specified . The distinction made at that period between Recusants and Catholics or Papists was the distinction between a Catholic who had incurred fine or penalty for not complying with the law compelling his attendance at church , and a Catholic who had so far complied as to put in a more or less occasional appearance
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