The rise of puritanism led to accusations of popery in connection with pre-reformation Christmas traditions. Whigs claimed both these days as a double deliverance from "popery". Calvinists wanted to help Lutherans to give up "remnants of popery", as they saw it. He was unassuming, modest, pious, and quite uninterested in the politics of popery and anti-papism. For reasons unknown the play was accused of promoting "popery and treason". They made for the rooms of the bursar, Clement Scott, whom they suspected of popery. In its wake mobs invaded churches, removing "scandalous images" and other signs of "popery". The Commons then passed an address condemning the growth of popery in England. Those taking this oath were exempted from some of the provisions of the Popery Act. This might explain how a play set in ancient Rome was suspected of promoting "Popery".