1640-60: Religion

Question 1

Line of arg

Answer 1

Religion created the grounds for tensions to emerge, through ‘rulers’ (mostly Crom) vision for religious policy which contradicted with views of MPs, as well as MPs becoming overly assertive in trying to control religion, often overstepping their privilege.

Question 2

examples: 1640

Answer 2

1. Parl overly assertive: Root and Branch petition- Dec 1640: complete eradication of the episcopacy, signed by 15,000 Londoners. This deliberately antagonised Charles: “No bishop, no king”.

Question 3

Catholic conspiracy?

Answer 3

1. Catholic conspiracy throughout the period: Henrietta Maria catholic, bishops in positions of authority (law courts) and all of Laud’s reforms created an atmosphere of suspicion and fear of absolutism and Catholicism taking over.
2. fears of Catholicism: Irish rebellion- Oct 1641: brutal massacre of around 3,000 protestants in Ulster by Irish Catholics. Fears of Catholicism + absolutism ^ when Charles was set up by a forged doc stating he supported/egging on the rebellion.

Question 4

1650s

Answer 4

1. John Biddle case: 1654: Biddle charged with blasphemy after denying the holy trinity and divinity of Christ and so parliamentary committee decided for his imprisonment→ an example of Parl trying to assert their right over religion over OC, and MPs desire to reject OC’s vision of religious toleration and instead enforce religious uniformity→ contributed to OC’s decision to dissolve FPP as soon as the IoG allowed.
2. James Nayler case: 1656: MPs showed their opposition to Cromwell’s 4 fundamentals: MPs opposed religious toleration by subjecting Nayler to brutal punishment after ‘blasphemous acts’ (MPs saw this as a consequence of religious toleration).
   → major factor in Cromwell dissolving the first protectorate parliament.
3. a cause of conflict: Nominated assembly: conflict between 13 5thM and 18 rump members
   → led to Cromwell dissolving NA because he was worried the extreme 5thM would destroy all religious foundations.

Question 5

sects/dissenters/rising religious radicalism

Answer 5

1. New Model Army- religious radicalisation: victory in 2nd CW was justification they were ‘God’s Instrument’ and it came to be popular belief that they were being guided by providence: the concept that their actions were sanctioned by divine authority. Their increasing radicalism forced Charles + Parl into greater opponents.
   –> Windsor Prayer Meeting (April 1648): example of religious radicalism: Felt Charles needed to be held accountable- ‘that man of blood’. the fact they were actively against the king shows their disregard for Divine Right…
2. Sects/Dissenters- Millenarianism: another example of religious radicalism. Lots of small groups belonging to Millenarianism emerged: e.g. 5th Monarchists (had influence over levellers), Quakers (most prominent- 50,000 strong by 1660) and Diggers – a Protestant group- (not much of a threat but had pamphlets). These groups were not large, but they still managed to exert a prominent influence on the course of events in the 1640s and 50s.
   –> They were an issue because they had disruptive ideas which frightened authorities. They seemed dangerous in the eyes of authorities due to their conscious flouting of social convention.
   –> Made MPs and Parl (who wanted religious uniformity) more inclined to clamp down on religious toleration, which conflicted with the view of Independents who believed all people of religious dominations (of Protestantism) should be able to freely worship God in their own way.