Religious issues: growth of Puritan opposition Flashcards
What happened at St. Gregory’s Church
- The parishioners resisted the required move of their communion table
- Charles brought them to the Privy Council in 1633
- Charles’s involvement highlights the tension between state control and individual religious freedom
- Set a precedent for individuals and communities to resist state-sanctioned religious practices
What did Henry Sherfield, a Puritan clergyman from Salisbury, do
In 1633 he was prosecuted for destroying a stained glass window that he considered to be idolatrous
- By prosecuting Sherfield, the authorities were asserting the supremacy of Laudian practices and attempting to suppress dissent within the clergy
- The case highlights the tension between individual religious conscience and the authority of the state or church hierarchy to dictate religious practice
- further fueled the sense of persecution and marginalization among Puritan communities
Histriomastix
or Actor’s Tradegy
- Published in 1632
- By William Prynne
- An attack on the theatre in which Prynne describes actresses as “notorious whores”, which was immediately understood to be targeted at Henrietta Maria, who commissioned and acted in plays and masques
- Is important because it reflects broader concerns about morality, politics, and censorship
For God and King
- Published by Henry Burton in 1636
- A collection of sermons in which he accused bishops and priests of Catholicism
- prominent expression of anti-episcopal sentiment
- indirectly challenging the king’s authority to govern the church
The Letany
- Pamphlet published by John Bastwick in 1637, which was an attack on the office of Bishop, denouncing them as devilish enemies of God
- Reflects broader concerns among Puritans about the alleged Catholicizing tendencies of the Anglican hierarchy under Archbishop William Laud.
A Worke of the Beast
- Pamphlet by John Lilburne published in 1638
- Was a graphic account of his trial and the tortures he suffered, the ‘Beast’ of the title is a reference to the Devil, credited by Lilburne with dominating the 1630s Church.
- His detailed narrative served to expose the injustices and abuses of power within the legal and judicial system.
- By attributing the oppressive actions of the authorities to the influence of the Devil, Lilburne framed his resistance as a righteous struggle against tyranny and injustice.
- Lilburne’s narrative inspired dissent and contributed to the broader movement for civil liberties and democracy in England
What did Henry Burton cry out on the pillory
“Me thinks I see Mount Calvary where the three Crosses … were pitched”
Main important points of Laud’s speech at the Star Chamber 14 June 1637 during the trial of Prynne Bastwick and Burton
- Laud’s speech provides a defense of his actions as Archbishop of Canterbury, particularly his efforts to enforce conformity
- Laud accuses his attackers of being the true innovators by introducing novel practices and beliefs into the church
- Laud’s belief that he and his supporters were engaged in a righteous struggle against forces seeking to undermine the established order of the church.
- His defense of his actions reflects the broader ideological struggle over the nature and direction of the English church
What did Laud say about innovation during his speech at the star chamber 14 June 1637
“my attackers accused us of Innovation, when in fact they are the chief innovators of the Christian world”
The Hampden Circle
- A team of Puritan Lawyers from John Hampden’s friendship circle who defended him during the Ship Money Trial, including Oliver St John and Robert Holbourne
- symbolized the broader legal and intellectual resistance to the arbitrary actions of the monarchy
- By banding together to defend dissenters and challenge royal authority, they strengthened the cohesion and resilience of the Puritan movement. Their collaborative efforts demonstrated the power of collective action in resisting tyranny and promoting political reform.
Emerging Puritan groupings: The Puritan Pamphleteers
- Functional network around Prynne Bastwick and Burton, as well as other independent pamphleteers
- Played a crucial role in disseminating Puritan ideas and perspectives to a wider audience
- By collaborating on pamphlets and exchanging ideas, they strengthened the cohesion and resilience of the Puritan movement
- Their pamphlets often contained bold and provocative critiques of the status quo, challenging orthodox interpretations of theology and calling for reform
The Providence Island Company
- An English chartered company founded in 1629 by a group of Puritan investors
- The island was the site of an English Puritan colony, and was the beginning of the English use of Africans as life-long slaves instead of indentured servants
- John Pym, Oliver St. John, Viscount Saye and Sele, Gregory Gawsell
Provided a meeting place for these Puritans
