Puritanism 8

Etcaetera Oath

An oath required by the Canons of 1640 that Puritans found unacceptable because it allowed for arbitrary changes in law.
It also turned the Laudian innovations into an actual law.

William Laud

William Laud was the Archbishop of Canterbury after Abbott whose policies were Arminian and in opposition with the Puritans.

The Short Parliament (After 11 years of personal rule)

A brief session from April to May 1640 called by Charles I to ask for funds for the war against Scotland. It was quickly repelled due to conflicts with Parliament over grievances.

The Canons of 1640

A set of ecclesiastical laws established by Laud that aimed to enforce conformity with the doctrine and support of the episcopacy, and included the Etcaetera Oath, which faced strong opposition from Puritans.

The renewal of Iconoclasm

The destruction of paintings, railings, statues… reintroduced with the Laudian Innovations and Arminianism (beautification of churches), manifesting the discontent of the Puritans and their sympathizers with the King and Laud.

Separatist movements

• Did not believe there should be one church only for people who were baptized

• The congregations could start with very few members (7)

Baptists

A Christian denomination known for practicing adult baptism based on a belief in personal confession of faith.
They created their own congregations and meeting places.

Voluntary religion

A form of religion wherein membership and participation in religious activities are based on individual choice rather than coercion.

Conversion narrative

A personal account of how an individual came to faith in the Baptist movement, characterized by a spiritual transformation.

Rebaptism

The practice of baptizing individuals who have already been baptized as infants, often associated with Baptists and other dissenting groups.

For the Baptist, ‘conversion’ did not mean a change of religion (they were Christians and Protestants) but having been converted by God to that particular movement.

The Baptists had visibility because

• Baptisms were public. There was an audience, which often mocked the people who were getting baptized.

• They staged mock baptism with animals in the churches to show how baptism as baby didn’t mean anything.

Baptist polemics

• Accusations of sexual promiscuity: because of river current, women needed to be held by the minister, head underwater for a few seconds and their dress clang to their body.

• Baptist ministers were accused of baptizing in ponds that were not clean, fouled by animals.

• For baptisms in winter, they had to break the ice, they were accused of putting the lives of people in danger.

Baptists ministers were not

required to be trained or educated in religion in university.

Quakers

Members of the Religious Society of Friends, known for their belief in the 'inner Light' and egalitarianism.
They had no churches or congregations and no rituals (baptism).
They met in silence until somebody was touched by the spirit of God and started preaching.

Quakers terrified Puritans and non-Puritans

This is also due to the fact that Quaker women could preach as well

The King, Laud and the clergy accused

Puritans of associating with the separatists.

A sensitive point for all, even the non religious, was

The proper burial of people, on consecrated ground, with the proper rituals. The fact that some people (excommunications, suicides) were buried unceremoniously was really scary.

Until the start of the Civil War

The King was never accused directly. His advisors were seen as evil and targeted first, Strafford and Laud were the first to suffer (executed). Charles I sacrificed them to appease tensions. Some Arminian bishops were imprisonned too.

The chief Puritan Peers in the House of Lords

Will be the most vocal against Laud and the general policies conducted by Strafford.

Puritans alone would not have been strong enough to lead to Civil War

But the resentment of the population and the inflexibility of Laud made it possible.

One recurrent attitude seen in the history of religion is that

When a group that has been persecuted comes into power, they turn into persecutors in turn. The Puritans will be merciless and intolerant with their enemies.

The Long Parliament

The English Parliament that convened in November 1640 and lasted until 1660, crucial for the drafting of legislation against the King. It had to be called after Scottish victories.

Separatists will take ground in London

In the beginning of the 1640s.

Civil War (1642-1651)

The conflict between Parliamentarians and Royalists in England, resulting in the trial and execution of King Charles I.

The Protestation of May 1641

The House of Commons proposed a bill requiring those over 18 to sign the Protestation, an oath of allegiance to King Charles I and the Church of England to reduce tensions.

The Grand Remonstrance / A Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom

A document by John Pym presented by Parliament in 1641. It was thought to curtail all political power of the King. It passed with a very small majority of 10 MPs in the House of Commons. It shocked the King.

Tri Annual Act

Legislation that mandated Parliament must meet at least once every three years, for at least 50 days.
Another law stipulated that the Parliament could not be dissolved without its consent

Root and Branch Bill, December 1640

A proposed bill aimed at abolishing the episcopacy within the Church of England (Presbyterian system), endorsed by the House of Commons but rejected by the House of Lords.

The legal system collapsed and especially the ecclesiastical tribune:

The hated courts of the Star Chamber and the Court of High Commission were abolished, making it more difficult to try people for religious nonconformity.

Star Chamber

A historical court in England that was notorious for its use of secrecy and lack of legal process, abolished during the Long Parliament.

Consecrated ground

Land that has been blessed for burial purposes according to religious standards; important for societal and religious practices.

Tyrant

A ruler who wields power oppressively or unjustly; a label often used by Parliament to describe King Charles I.

Arrest attempt in Parliament

Charles I's desperate attempt, in January 1642, to arrest the four MPs responsible for the Grand Remonstrance (3 from the HoC and 1 from the HoL). He will get humiliated as they were warned and absent on that day. Trying to arrest representants of the subjects reinforced his image of Tyrant.

The Nineteenth Propositions (House of Commons)

It was a demand for the surrendering of the King’s power.

• Parliament would have a right to veto the councilors and judge of the King.

• He would have to send his children oversea for their education.

• Parliament would have to approve of royal marriages.

• Parliament would have full control of the militia…

  → The King couldn’t accept that.

Royal standard

The official flag or banner of the monarchical authority, raised by Charles I to signify the commencement of open hostilities.

Charles raised the royal standard (étendard)

In Nottingham on the 22nd of August 1642, declaring war on Parliament.

The Civil War lasted

From 1642 to 1651, marked by conflict between Parliamentarians and Royalists.

War of siege

A military strategy involving surrounding and isolating a fortified location to compel surrender.

Parliamentary sovereignty

The principle of parliamentary supremacy; Parliament's authority is considered the highest law-making authority.

When the Civil War started, the Church of England

Collapsed very quickly, in about 18 months.