4: Religion And Religious Divisions Flashcards
Millienary Petition
1603 - petition on behalf of moderate puritans who wanted various reforms to the Church of England. These included the issue of marginalia, an English translation of the Bible, as well as a supposed end to episcopacy in 1604 which upset James
Hampton Court Conference
Meeting at Hampton Court in 1604, where Puritans made their case for church reform.
Hampton Court Conference:
King James Bible in 1611
and Bancroft’s Canons, a list of Protestant reforms to the CofE. Bancroft was made Archbishop of Canterbury
Some tension over a suggested end to episcopacy, but this was false
Bancroft’s Canons 1604
Only a few raised points by the petitioners made their way into these Canons, however Bancroft was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and an English translation of the Bible was authorised (King James Bible, 1611)
Recusancy payments
In 1603, James heightened recusancy payments on catholics, which were already being used as part of Elizabeth’s religious settlement. This arguably alienated Catholics, as they saw that no change was to be made to their position (worsening) and this may have prompted Catesby to organise the gunpowder plot in 1605
Gunpowder plot
1605 - organised by Robert Catesby. Failed and all involved were trialled and executed. As a result of the gunpowder plot, catholics could not reside in London or hold public office. James originally planned to excuse catholics from harsher laws if they took an oath of political obedience, but the gunpowder plot ruined this.
Impacts of the gunpowder plot
Following the gunpowder plot, catholics didn’t cause James any more relative trouble and James never went out of his way to actively pursue Catholics as part of his pragmatic attitude
Presbyterians
Scottish Christians who believed in abolishing episcopacy and didn’t recognise the king as head of the church
Arminianism
A closet Catholic. Arminians grew in influence after James pursued a Jacobethan Balance with religion, which can be seen in how he punished Catholics and got upset at the suggestion of an end to episcopacy at the Hampton Court Conference.
James’ later bias towards Arminianism
In 1624, Arminian Richard Montagu published ‘A New Gag For An Old Goose’ which while intended to be an attack on Catholicism actually ended up criticising Calvinism (dominant in the CofE). James failed to censor this and permitted him to publish ANOTHER book claiming certain Catholic sacraments were correct in 1625. William Laud was also an Arminian cleric who James allowed to take part in theological debates in the Royal Court
Charles’ bias towards Arminianism
Charles made Richard Montagu his royal chaplain in 1625, which was a sign of his lack of pragmatism considering the largely Puritan Parliament exhibited uproar at Montagu’s second book in the 1625 Parliament.
Charles and Arminianism continued
Charles made Laud Bishop of London and later Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633
Charles was eager to marry the Infanta in the Spanish Match, showing how he was not afraid of marrying into catholic tradition, therefore showing a bias towards Arminianism. He also married Henrietta Maria, who was a Catholic.
