ENGLAND: Roman Catholic Church

Jaqui White has forwarded an explanation of the hidden theological meaning of the apparently nonsensical song about leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree. We posted this explanation some time ago. Jaqui explains: "From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church". The main problem with the Catholic Church is England was that it was viewed as an instrument of imperial Spain and then of the Jacobites, who wanted to overthrow the British monarchy and install an heir of James II (hence the term Jacobites). The argument about this went on until in 1829 George IV allowed the passage of the Catholic Relief Act. I doubt if any Englishman remembers this argument. The Jacobite conspiracy takes us to the November 1605 attempt by Guy Fawlkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The plot was discovered and he was executed. Goy Fawkes Day celebrates his failure, and I suppose the day is still marked with fireworks. Can a UK WAISer tell us if those celebrating the occasion still recall the historic event? The use of the word "guy"goes back to it, although it is an Americanism. The English equivalent is "bloke", an Irish word. I suppose that Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated in America until the Revolution.

Ronald Hilton - 1/5/03