Chapter 7: Religion during Personal Rule

• What was the religious identity of the majority of the Political Nation at the advent of Personal Rule?

  Anglican Calvinists at the centre of the Jacobethan balance. In theory, they could tolerate moderate Puritanism and Arminianism
• Why was Puritanism unpopular at the start of Personal Rule?

  It was very spiritually intensive, with long sermons and continuous self-reflection. Puritans were also seen as arrogant
• What triggered the backlash to Arminianism?

  Charles' insistence upon it forced a Puritan backlash
• Why did Laudianism become more prevalent?

  Charles appointed William Laud to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633
• Key theological aspects of Laudianism?

  A rejection of predestination, and an emphasis and ceremony and ritual
• Aspects of Laud's "beauty of holiness" campaign?

  An inaccessible communion table in the east end of the Church, decorations like stained glass windows and an increased use of music, ministers wearing vestments, and the removal of special pews for the gentry
• Why did Puritans oppose Laud's "beauty of holiness" campaign?

  They considered his emphasis on ceremony and extravagance to be idolatry
• Which of Laud's reforms was the most unpopular?

  The railing off of the communion table
• Catechism?

  A list of statements to be read during Laudian services that are memorised via repetition. Catholic in origin. Puritans disliked them as they drew focus away from the Bible
• Feoffees for Impropriations?

  An organisation, established in 1626, that raised money to appoint Puritan preachers in local clergy. Laud banned the Feoffees in 1633, and replaced any Puritan preachers they implemented with Laudian ones
• Why was preaching limited to Sunday mornings and evenings?

  To curb Puritanism
• Visitations?

  Inspections by bishops to confirm that people were conforming to Laudianism
• The Book of Sports?

  Initially issued by James I in 1618, it was reissued under Charles I in 1633. It provided a list of permissible activities to do on a Sunday, after attending the mandatory Church service. This was unpopular with Puritans, who felt it was dishonouring the Sabbath and God
• Why were Puritan conspiracies popular?

  Charles' court was full of Catholics and Arminians, including Charles' wife, Henrietta Maria, and so it was easy for Puritans to imagine them influencing the king
• Why did Charles I fear Puritans?

  They threatened the order and unity of his Church
• When were Laud's reforms codified?

  1640, however Charles' religious authority was collapsing by that point
• Puritans?

  The hotter sort of Protestant, that placed religion at the centre of their lives and sought further Church reform
• How did Puritans view the Bible?

  The centre of intellectual and moral life and a way to access God directly
• Key aspects of Puritanism?

  A focus on the Bible, being anti-Catholic and incorporating parts of millenarianism
• John Williams?

  Imprisoned in 1637 after he criticised Laud's altar policy
• William Prynne, Henry Burton and John Bastwick?

  Puritans who were tried under the Court of Star Chamber for their criticisms of the Church. They were all fined £5000, imprisoned for life and had their ears cut off, which created public sympathy
• John Lilburne?

  A Puritan who was fined and publicly whipped in 1638 for writing unlicensed literature
• High emigration during Personal Rule?

  Indicated dissatisfaction with Laud's Church
• Why were Charles I and the Scottish predisposed to disagree?

  Charles wished to enforce uniformity across all the kingdoms and his Laudianism was at odds with Scotland's Presbyterianism. Additionally, Charles had been an absentee monarch of Scotland
• Act of Revocation?

  A feudal right enacted by Charles in 1625 which revoked land from the Scottish elite to assist the Church. This act immediately united Scottish landowners against Charles
• Articles of Perth?

  A list of requirements for the Scottish Church, including guidance for kneeling at the altar and private baptism, that was renewed by Charles in 1625. Presbyterians interpreted the articles as Catholic
• Charles coronation in Scotland?

  Charles waited until 1633, 8 years after becoming king, to be crowned in Scotland. His coronation was a Catholic-adjacent ceremony at the nontraditional Holyrood Palace
• Charles' 1636 Scottish canons?

  The altar being at the east end of the Church was enforced, ministers had to wear a surplice when celebrating communion, and improvised prayer was banned. These canons were Catholic in nature and were imposed by royal prerogative
• The Laudian prayer book in Scotland?

  A new prayer book specifically for Scotland introduced in 1637. It threatened the religious independence of Scotland, as the book leaned heavily towards Catholicism. The introduction of the book was the trigger for the conflict at St Giles Cathedral
• Millenarianism?

  A belief in the upcoming end of the world, which was important to Protestantism. Many believed that the Thirty Years War and the political crisis of the 1630s were signs that Judgement Day was near, and this fuelled Puritans to become more political
• St Gregory's case?

  London parishioners challenged the relocation of the communion table in their local Church. The decorated table was reminiscent of Catholicism, and its movement meant the relocation of family pews