Religious Issues Flashcards
Trial of prynne, bastwick and burton
-three men trialled and charged for seditious libel after writing anti laudian pamphlets.
-They had their ears chopped and SL burned into their cheeks.
-Many spread the word it meant stigmata laudis, sign of paise.
-they were gentlemen and this was commoner punishment and suggested laud had no respect for tradition.
Lauds climb
- James had felt him too divisive
-Charles + Buckingham liked his ideas on order and ceremonialism similar to their own.
-He was promoted to bishop of London in 28 and Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633.
Laudianism
- laud theologically was an Arminian
-he had unique visons on how to reform the Anglican Church that were distinctly laudian - very focussed on uniformity and conformity
Some of lauds key church reforms
-beauty of holiness; changed setting of the church to be more decorated which is more catholic in ideals.
-Clergy emphasis on their sacred status which made them seem more like catholic priests than humble, non godly puritan brothers.
- Activity on Sunday not a scriptural imperative; seen as anti sabatarianism which challenged the CENTRAL puritan theology of the sabbath
Reformation of the altar
-all cofe reformation churches had turned the status of the altar into a plain table in the center of the church
-laud reversed this and relocated it in a north south alignment on the easternmost wall, raised by steps and covered in cloth.
- This is th same allignment and placing as the catholic altar.
- He arranged annual visitation to enforce this rule.
Consequences of altar reformation
-worried many contemporaries/ citizens that it presaged a return to Catholicism.
-Powerful families had sat at the same pews for years at the front and these pews were likely removed to make space for the new altar location, showed a lack of respect for hierarchy and tradition.
- The broad tolerance of religious stability was limited by the strict enforcement of these ruled through the visitations.
Politicisation of the clergy
- allowedcharlses circle of advisors to narrow more and more and made him vunerable to political assault.
- Irish, Scottish and English bishoprics were promoted to JPs post 1634.
- Bishop william of London in 1636 became treasurer of England.
- Laud became chancellor of oxford uni and joined part of the privy council committee
Impact of politicised clergy
- overlap between religious and political spheres meant his circle was incredibly narrow and exclusive.
- created a threat to the previously influential gentry.
-Clergy more vulnerable to political assault.
How does laudianism presage absolutism
-huge threat to religious expression
- suggested that conformity to church and thus the political sphere meant Charles was an absolutist.
- Laudianism favoured heavy authority.
Lauds enforcement of conformity in the church
-clergy’s had to follow a set format and wording.
- Canons revised for his new policies.
- From 1629 bishops had to return to dioces and keep order over priests, reports through presentment bills were used.
- Star chamber and COHC were in heavy usage.
Robert Heath
- chief justice of common pleas until 1634.
- Removed by laud as he felt that he would go against his religious uniformity cases.
St Giles cathedral
- Charles attempted to take back any church lands from the Scottish gentry, practically St Giles cathedral.
- He wanted to refurbish the church to be more ordinatlaey decorated w bishoprics.
- This was met with anger, panic and fear of bishops.
Charlses Scottish coronation
-Charles came to Scotland in 1633, eight years after he should’ve.
-He brought a railed off decorated altar with him as well as six bishops all wearing gold.
-Laud officiated the coronation, a prominent Arminian.
-He swore his pwn oath towards the protection of the English church and bishoprics.
1629 law on kneeling
Charles made all Scot’s kneel when taking the communion
-this dangerously connoted Catholicism
1636 Scottish canons
- based only on English canons rather than Scottish articles as prior.
- Bishops were given unelected power and Scottish traditions such as the general assembly and presbyteries weren’t mentioned.
- It also mentioned the upcoming prayer book, with any dissenters being excommunicated
Reasons for opposition to laudianism
- laudianism stopped religious toleration and threatened freeedom, making puritans and Presbyterians very radical and dogmatic.
- The uniformity was also seemingly very close to cathlocsim and thus many became united against the spectre of a popish plot.
-It defined a very narrow range of practice but was increasingly authoritarian.
1633 book of sports
- laud republished James 1618 book that urged people to do sports and dance after Sunday church, a very anti puritan view.
-All priests were forced to read the book and this was heavily enforced through the visitations.
1633 abolition of feeoffees
-rich people could get control of a church by collecting the tithe in place of financing a minister for that parish.
-Many puritans around London could do this with ministers of their religious belief- this group were known as feeofees.
- Laud actively abolished them.
Main ways of puritan opposition to laudianism
-emigration to America/ New England of up to 20k puritans.
-Pamphlets attacking bishops as ‘vipers’ pioneered by bastwick, burton and pryne (puritan pamphlet circle).
-Refusal to promote laudian doctrines or attacking religious areas.
-Emerging tight puritan circles.
Henry burtons ‘for god and the king’
1636
-example of an angry puritan pamphlet.
-Collection of sermons accusing bishops and priests of cathlocism.
St gregories church
-parisoners refused to move their communion table and were persecuted by the privy council.
Nathaniel ward
-puritan minister who continued to espouse puritan doctrine until 1633 when laud dismissed him
-he then emigrated to Massachusetts
Henry sherfield
-destroyed stained glass window that he saw as idolotrouous
- it wanted praise for the artist, eclipsing any praise for god.
Hampden circle
-small team of puritan lawyers + john hampden incl Oliver St John
- work together to stand against laudiansit policies
