Britain: Conflict, Revolution and Settlement 1625-1701

1600s

Presbyterians established London membership ~ 1000

1620s

Baptists established membership 5 churches ~150members

1620s

Around 80 000 Puritans emigrate to Ireland, Dutch Republic and the Americas

1624

First Arminian royal chaplain published tract attacking Calvinist doctrine (King favouring Arminianism)

1625

Henrietta Maria becomes French Catholic queen

1626

York House conference

1627

George Abbot briefly suspended for refusing to deliver and Arminian sermon

1628

William Laud appointed bishop of London

1630s

Many high profile court figures had Catholic wives

1633

Laud appointed Archbishop of Canterbury

1635

Ambassador of the Pope welcomed

1637

Burton, Bastwick and Prynne published anti-Laudian pamphlets - Punished harshly

1638

Scottish national covenant + rebellion

1639

first Bishops’ war and Treaty of Berwick

1640

second Bishops’ war and Treaty of Ripon

1641

Root and branch petition

1640s

Puritan majority in the house of commons + Laudian doctrine removed

1640

Presbyterians only had 8 churches

1642

19 Propositions

1642

Only 1000 presbyterians in a city of 350 000

1643

Oath of Abjuration

1646

Newcastle Propositions

1647

Heads of Proposals and the engagement

1647

Press propagated public debate leading to arguments with parliament over religious freedom and radical social change

1649

Charles I, God’s representative on Earth, executed. rapid growth of radical groups

1650

blasphemy act

1656

Act of parliament

1657

James Naylor Case

1660

Restoration

1661

Venner’s Uprising, Corporation act

1662

Act of Uniformity, Quaker act

1664

conventicle act + George Fox imprisoned

1665

5 mile act

1667

conventicle act expired

1668

George Fox’s meeting in York

1672

Declaration of indulgence (1) Richard Frankland set up an academy

1673

test act

1678

Popish plot

1683

Rye house plot

1686

Godden V Hales

1687

declaration of indulgence + trial of seven bishops

1688

James’ II catholic heir + glorious revolution

Presbyterians

A protestant denomination where the church is governed by elders of officials rather than bishops

Arminianism

Beliefs rejecting the Calvinist doctrines of predestination and believed that free will is compatible with God’s sovereignty

Episcopacy

Government of the church by bishops

Anglicanism

The national church of England with the Sovereign as the head of the church

Quakers

A christian sect founded by George Fox promoting social reform and held a doctrine of inner light. rejected ritualistic elements of catholicism and held meetings where any member could speak

Dissenters

Those that disassociated themselves with the Church of England

Baptists

A protestant sect believing in freedom of conscience, separation of church and state, and baptism of only voluntary adult believers

Latitudinarians

A group of moderate Anglican christians desiring a flexible regime accommodating for numerous beliefs

Fifth Monarchists

A small group of very radical Christians believing that the second coming would occur in 1666

Laudinism

The policies and practices of William Laud

William Laud

A royal favourite advocating for the divine right of kings. He became bishop of London in 1628 then Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633. Laud criticised the Calvinist nature of the church of England so introduced reforms

York house conference

requested by puritan nobleman Earl of Warwick to prevent religious pressure in parliament, the conference aimed to persuade Charles away from the anti-Calvinist arminians. Buckingham, the head of the conference, sided with anti-calvinist William Laud to maintain favour of the king. It showed puritans that Charles, who didn’t even show up, was not willing to end support of anti-calvinist arminians.

Scottish national covenant + rebellion

After the English prayer book attempted to impose anglican rule the scots were angered and resisted.

first Bishops’ war

Angered by the resistance, Charles gathered troops and marched up to Scotland however lacked funds and confidence so ended with the treaty of Berwick agreeing to leave the scots alone.

second Bishops’ war

after the failure of short parliament to raise money, Charles raised his own expedition yet the scottish still had military success. It ended with the Treaty of Ripon which forced Charles to pay them £850 a day and stop invasion attempts

Root and Branch petition

Soon becoming an act of the same name, this sparked a parliamentary debate over the abolishment of the episcopacy yet it was defeated when more pressing issues became apparent

19 propositions

Included directions on the education of royal children to ensure they were not Catholic. This would have made Charles a constitutional monarch

Oath of Abjuration

all Catholics aged over 21 were forced to deny basic beliefs

blasphemy act

aimed to curb religious extremism by making it against the law to deny God’s being or make fun of holy scriptures

James Naylor case

this quaker reenacted the arrival of Christ to Jerusalem by riding horseback into Bristol attended by followers. In a highly publicised trial, He was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to two years in prison, hard labour, ‘B’ branding, whipping, and tongue pierced with a hot iron

Venner’s uprising

50 fifth monarchists dressed in armour marched to st Paul’s in London to depose Charles II and replace him with Jesus. It was put down quickly but it influenced the next election resulting in a conservative, royalist cavalier parliament.

corporation act

This stopped dissenters from holding municipal office resulting in anglican control of the Church and local Government.

quaker act

All quakers had to swear an oath of allegiance to the church or face heavy penalties, however quakers did not swear oaths.

George Fox

Quaker leader and reformer. He was imprisoned in 1664 and released two years later. He travelled the country to restore organisation and held a meeting in York to discuss proposals for a new structure including a central committee. This allowed Quakers to become more organised

Act of uniformity

This narrowed the definition of Anglicanism increasing the quantity of dissenting groups

conventicle act

No more than 5 people over 16 could meet for religious reasons unless it was Anglican. This was passed after the high church party found that congregations were still meeting unofficially.

5 mile act

This forced dissenters away from support groups by not allowing them to be within 5 miles of original congregations

test act

This was forced by parliament as opposition to Charles II’s Declaration of Indulgence. This forced all those who wanted to hold office to swear an oath to the king and to the Anglican church as well as deny key aspects of the Catholic doctrine. This forced James to resign from his admiralty post.

declaration of indulgence (1)

In response to the clarendon codes, Charles attempted to extend religious liberties by giving more freedoms outside of the church of England

Declaration of indulgence (2)

gave Catholics and dissenters the right to worship freely

trial of seven bishops

7 bishops refused to preach a sermon which would give more rights to catholics and dissenters. they were tried but eventually acquitted causing public celebration

Richard Frankland

this presbyterian founded an academy to provide education for potential future members of the clergy which allowed for the rebuilding and reorganisation of dissenting organisations

Prerogative courts

the monarch’s private courts which included the star chamber and were not limited to common law procedures.

triers and ejectors

These were introduced by Cromwell to improve the quality off church ministers. The first group was to vet all new clergy whilst the second to expel scandalous or insufficient ministers.

popish plot

A conspiracy invented by priest Titus Oates alleging that there was a Catholic conspiracy to assassinate the King that led to the executions of at least 22 Catholic men and the exclusion crisis.

Godden V Hales

A legal case that decided if the monarch could possess the power to dispense individuals from religious laws. They found it in favour meaning that James could give more freedoms to specific Catholics.

Laudian reforms

Appearance: ritualistic music and decorations were encouraged and the alter was placed behind rails to respect and protect it. These were very Catolic changes and recalled catholic mass arguably based on superstitious ideas about transubstantiation

Services: weekday preaching was banned and preaching in general was restricted to reciting catechisms. This created law and order in the churches and reduced scope for individual views to bring greater unity to the Anglican church. Protestants viewed this as leaving people in ignorance and encouraged outer appearance of faith rather than inner faith.

Newcastle propositions

After the king was captured, Parliament offered these up in negotiations. Among other things it wanted to establish a presbyterian church system in England for 3 years. Charles rejected it

Heads of Proposals

The army became a political threat after it was disbanded so Cromwell offered up the representation of the army demanding the expulsion of 11 presbyterian mps, reasonable religious toleration and establishment of a presbyterian church system for three years followed by a national church settlement.

the engagement

Leading to the second civil war, this was an agreement between Charles I and the Scots in exchange for Scottish military support Charles promised to adopt presbyterianism in England and Scotland

Restoration

The convention parliament established the Church of England, restored bishops and created a hope for a broad and tolerant church. However fear of radicals resulted in the election of a conservative cavalier parliament ben ton revenge on dissenters. there was little agreement in the savoy house conference leaving the future of the Anglican church in the hands of the high church as a result, the new appointed bishops began to ordain new ministers and recreate the structure of the anglican church.

Bishop John Wilkins

A prominent figure in government that thought the persecution of dissenters was unacceptable, irrational and counter productive. He held latitudinarian views. This shows there was support for dissenters at the highest levels.

Act of Parliament

called for the closing of catholic chapels in foreign embassies with a fine of £100 for anyone caught worshipping there

Rye house plot

focussed fears on dissenters rather that catholicism

Charles I

supported Arminianism and had a Catholic wife Henrietta Maria. Increases fears of Catholicism

Charles II

aimed for a broad and tolerant church however fears of catholicism and radical religious groups caused the narrowing of the Anglican definition. Converted to Catholicism on his deathbed as a result of the treaty of Dover

James II

Catholic, and upon the birth of his Catholic heir resulted in the glorious revolution. not trusted by dissenters despite introducing a declaration of indulgence

Oliver Cromwell

A puritan who widely believed in a limited form of religious tolerance. he aimed to improve society in a godly reformation

The Duke of Buckingham

King Charles’ advisor and friend. Unpopular with parliament and inept at foreign policy. Assassinated in 1628 by Army officer John Felton

Henrietta Maria

Charles’ French Catholic wife. Allowed to have a catholic court

Tonnage and Poundage

Customs duties granted by parliament to the monarchy for life usually without question

Port Cadiz expedition

a failed naval expedition organised by the duke of Buckingham due to poorly supplied ships.

La Rochelle

a Huguenot rebellion. Charles attempts to promote this but of the 6000 that went over with Buckingham, less than half returned

Five Knight’s Case

5 knights refused to pay the forced loan imposed by Charles I and were imprisoned. They sued for release under Habeus Corpus however were not granted to go to court due to the King’s claim of emergency powers of arrest

Petition of Right

This asked for the reversal of the decision in the 5 knight’s case and asked that in future citizens would not pay forced loans, be subjected to martial law, or forced to provide lodgings and supplies to soldiers. In response the king dissolved parliament and revised it to grant him tonnage and poundage

Three Resolutions

The three resolutions were passed by parliament and were against the growth of arminianism, the levying of tax and those who paid it. Parliament held to speaker in his chair until it was passed.

Personal rule

The period of time where Charles I ruled alone. New roads were built, swamps were drained, a postal service began, monasteries were restored and there was an attempt to find money for the unemployed

Treaty of Madrid

Financial change during personal rule. Ended the Anglo Spanish war however it forced Charles to reduce spending from £500 000 to £70 000 in the 1630s