Arabella Fermor and Robert Petre were both from Catholic families at a time in England when Anglicanism was very important .
Arabella Fermor and her suitor , Lord Petre , were both from aristocratic recusant Catholic families at a period in England when under such laws as the Test Act , all denominations except Anglicanism suffered legal restrictions and penalties ( for example Petre could not take up his place in the House of Lords as a Catholic ) .