Chapter 19: Religion during Charles II's reign

• Root of religious issues during Charles II's reign?

  The conservative Political Nation wished to restore a church that matched their outlook. They ignored the religious diversity that had flourished since the 1640s
• Religious aim of Charles II and Clarendon?

  Broaden the religious toleration of the church
• The Savoy House Conference?

  A failed attempt to reach a compromise between Anglicans and Presbyterians in 1661
• Aftermath of conservative Church of England settlement?

  Persecution of Catholics and dissenters
• How many ministers were expelled at the start of the Restoration?

  Over 1000
• Why was dissent still widespread?

  The Church of England had less power because of the removal of the Court of High Commission. Many local elites were sympathetic to dissenters
• Where was dissenting most common?

  Urban areas
• Dissenters?

  Those who did not conform to Church of England policies. They ranged from moderate Presbyterians and Baptists to radical Quakers
• Act of Uniformity 1662?

  Denoted how public prayer was allowed to be conducted. Anyone who held a position in government or in the church had to agree to the act
• 1662 Lords' bill?

  Would have allowed Catholic priests to register. Charles supported the bill, but it was rejected by both the Commons and the Lords
• Northern Rising of 1663?

  A plot by religious radicals. 50 men gathered in Yorkshire, but their failure to organise with Irish rebels meant that the rising didn't amount to anything. Charles exaggerated the threat of the rebellion in order to rally support
• 1664 Conventicle Act?

  The act banned religious meetings of more than 4 people. Multiple offences could result in exile
• 1665 Five Mile Act?

  Caused by the Second Dutch War. Any preacher who did not comply with the 1662 Act of Uniformity was not allowed within 5 miles of any town in which they had taught
• 1670 Conventicle Act?

  A renewal of the first Conventicle Act. This one was enforced more harshly, and JPs who failed to implement the act were removed
• 1661 Clarendon Code?

  Compilation of the Corporation Act, Act of Uniformity, Conventicle Act and Five Mile Act. Although the conservative code was named after him, Clarendon sought a broader settlement
• 1661 Corporation Act?

  Prevented anyone from holding office in a corporation if they did not accept the terms of the Church of England
• How was Charles II's church broader than his father's?

  Moderate Presbyterianism was accepted
• Comprehension?

  This word used to mean "inclusion"
• Who controlled religion across the nation?

  Parliament
• Amount of dissenters?

  The Compton Census, conducted by Danby in 1676, suggested that there were 100,000 dissenters out of England's adult population of 2,250,000. The actual number of dissenters was likely double or triple what the census found
• Impact of Restoration on dissenters?

  They became less militant, and directed their attention towards their own personal lives. They felt that God had judged them for failing to establish godly rule during the Interregnum
• Creation of the 1670 Conventicle Act?

  As Charles wished for more religious toleration, he allowed the first Conventicle Act to expire in 1668. However, in 1669, Parliament refused to grant Charles a subsidy of £300,000, as a result of the lapsed act. This forced Charles to renew the act
• Suspending power?

  The monarch's prerogative to suspend any law
• Declaration of Indulgence?

  Charles used his suspending power to remove all laws that persecuted Catholics and dissenters. Many were suspicious of this, especially as Charles had an alliance with Catholic France. Parliament claimed the declaration was unconstitutional, and Charles was forced to agree to the 1673 Test Act instead
• Which dissenting groups were persecuted the most?

  Baptists and especially Quakers, due to their radicalism during the Civil Wars. Over 450 Quakers died in prison, and 15,000 received some form of punishment
• 1662 Quaker Act?

  Outlined punishments for Quakers, including fines, imprisonment or transportation
• Impact of George Fox?

  The Quaker leader that replaced James Nayler. In 1661, he declared that Quakers would be dedicated to "absolute pacifism". This was due to the disillusionment that Quakers faced during Restoration, but it was also an act of self-preservation
• Latitudinarianism?

  The belief that personal judgement is more important than church doctrine
• Why could dissent be unappealing?

  It was very spiritually intense with sermons that lasted hours, and the emphasis on the Bible excluded the illiterate from dissenting
• Were dissenters a united group?

  No. There were significant differences between Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists and Quakers
• Why did Republicanism vanish after the Restoration?

  Most Republicans were millenarians, who viewed events as as God's actions. Thus, they couldn't comprehend the Restoration
• John Milton?

  A millenarian poet who wrote Paradise Lost as a reflection on the failure of the revolution
• Who was the first regicide put on trial?

  Thomas Harrison. He was found guilty of treason and was hung, drawn and quartered
• Show trials of millenarian non-regicides?

  Henry Vane did not request mercy and thus Charles demanded he be put to death. John Lambert did request mercy, so he was imprisoned for 22 years
• Social nature of Charles II's court?

  Promiscuous and debauched, similar to James I's court. The reputation of the court undermined the image of divine monarchy
• Debauched courtiers?

  The Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Rochester
• Catholics in Charles II's court?

  Henrietta Maria, Catherine of Braganza, James II
• Catholics in the Cabal?

  Thomas Clifford, and the Earl of Arlington was a Catholic sympathiser
• How was Charles influenced by Catholicism?

  He wasn't. He kept the influence of the Catholics in his court at bay. He appeared to be drawn to the Catholicism of France, but he was more interested in Louis XIV's absolutism than his religion
• Charles' Catholic mistresses?

  The Duchess of Cleveland, Frances Stuart and the Duchess of Portsmouth