the âOxford English Dictionaryâ, the highest existing authority upon questions of English philology, the following explanation is given under the heading âRoman Catholicâ.The use of this composite term in place of the simple Roman, Romanist, or Romish; which had acquired an invidious sense, appears to have arisen in the early years of the seventeenth century. For conciliatory reasons it was employed in the negotiations connected with the Spanish Match (1618-1624) and appears in formal documents relating to this printed by Rushworth (I, 85-89). After that
date it was generally adopted as a non-controversial term and has long been the recognized legal and official designation, though in ordinary use
Catholic alone is very frequently employed. (New Oxford Dict., VIII, 766)
Of the illustrative quotations which follow, the earliest in
date is one of 1605 from the âEuropae Speculumâ of Edwin Sandys: âSome Roman Catholiques will not say
grace when a
Protestant is presentâ; while a passage from Dayâs âFestivalsâ of 1615, contrasts âRoman Catholiquesâ with âgood,
true Catholiques indeedâ. Although the account thus given in the Oxford Dictionary is in
substance correct, it cannot be considered satisfactory. To begin with the word is distinctly older than is here suggested. When about the year 1580 certain
English Catholics, under stress of grievous
persecution, defended the lawfulness of attending
Protestant services to escape the fines imposed on
recusants, the
Jesuit Father Persons published, under the pseudonym of Howlet, a clear exposition of the âReasons why Catholiques refuse to goe to
Churchâ. This was answered in 1801 by a writer of
Puritan sympathies, Percival Wiburn, who in his âChecke or Reproofe of M. Howletâ uses the term âRoman
Catholicâ repeatedly. For example he speaks of âyou Romane Catholickes that sue for tollerationâ (p. 140) and of the âparlous dilemma or streight which you Romane Catholickes are brought intoâ (p. 44).