The rise of Arminianism 1625-1630

Question 1

Was there a change in religious tone on Charles’s accession?

Answer 1

• Change in religious tone was evident within a few weeks of his accession
• Once Laud became Bishop of London (second in influence within the Church to the AB of ), all leading Church positions were filled by Armenians
• Calvinists were progressively excluded from the King’s councils.

Question 2

When did William Laud become Bishop of London?

Answer 2

1628

Question 3

How did Arminian and Calvinist church services differ?

Answer 3

• Arminain = High church

This included

Question 4

Why did Arminianism appeal to Charles? (personal and political reasoning)

Answer 4

• Politically = Arminianism stressed obedience to authority, and so tended to support royal prerogative
• Personally = It mirrored his own concern with order, obedience and hierarchy

Question 5

What was the religious makeup of the Parliaments in the 1620s?

Answer 5

• The majority of the Commons were broadly speaking, low church, Calvinist and fiercely anti-Catholic
• In favour of an interventionist Protestant foreign policy

Question 6

When was the York House Conference?

Answer 6

February 1626

Question 7

Why did the York House Conference occur?

Answer 7

• At the request of the Puritan Earl of Warwick
• Was intended to be a theological debate, Warwick wanted to persuade Charles away from the anti-Calvinism of the Arminians

Question 8

Why was York House Conference important?

Answer 8

• Buckingham (who had been largely politically neutral until now) took a stance in support of Arminianism
• This was done to reinforce his political relationship with Charles (especially after becoming vulnerable to criticism as his mother was Catholic and he had close links to a number of the Arminian clergy).
• Confirmed that anti-Calvinist Arminians had the backing of Buckingham (and by implication Charles).
• Meant that there was now a distinctive Arminian grouping within the Anglican Church