C.6

• Puritan pamphleteers punishment

  William Prynne: had tops of his ears chopped if in 1634 for writing a book that attcaked the Henrietta Marias Court, had 'SL' for seditious libel burned on to his cheecks

  - Batswick and Burton put in pillories; not traditional punishment for gentlemen

  • suggest Laud was not respectful of societies hierarchies and traditions
• Distinctive features of Laudianism + why it's called Laudianism

  Laud was Arminian but his reforms were unique so Laudianism is more fitting

  
  

  - set prayers and rituals; emphasis on conformity posed a challenge to Protestants

  - priority in prayer rather than preaching; direct challenge to Puritans

  - Renewed emphasis on sacraments especially communion; generated significant controversy over location of altar
• What was the altar controversy?

  The altar in the earliest church reformations was a plain table in the central body of church; Laud reversed to previous quasi-magical shrine + insisted on:

  - North south alignment of the communion table (altar) where Catholic altar would have been

  - covered with a decorated embroidered cloth

  - enforced annual checked visitations
• Consequence of Lauds altar policy

  - A writer in 1633 declared "It is generally thought that the times will everyday grow better and better for catholics" (Thought Catholicism's returning)

  - strict enforcement narrowed broad tolerance essential for religious stability
• Politicisation of clergy

  Charles promoted many clergy to other areas of public life:

  - All Scottish bishops were made JPs (1634) extended in to England and Ireland

  - Bishop William Juxon of London became Lord treasurer of England (1636)

  - Laud became Chancellor of Oxford uni (1630)

  Charles mixed religion and politics making churchmen powerful and seemed like a threat to power of gentry
• Establishing conformity


  - Laud set about to enforce greater disciple and conformity within the church

  • tightens up use of liturgy as a way to create uniformity in church services

  • Clergy given renewed instructions about format of words to use in each service

  • Church canons (rules) revised to include new altar policy
• Laud Auditng and enforcing conformity

  • in 1629 Laud orders all bishops to return to dioceses and take responsibly for enduring parish priests were obeying, Visitations and Presentment Bills used to report on conformity

  • Star court and court of high commission used w much greater frequency + punishments harsher

  • Laud orchestrated removal of Heath, Cheif justice of the common pleas as he though Heath would decide against him in court relating to religious uniformity
• Laudianism in Scotland

  - Charles showed lack of awareness of the balance that needed to be maintained between Court of Scotland and England.

  The beauty of Holiness:

  • Charles attempted to take back old church land that had been given or sold to Scottish gentry to bring wealth back to Scottish church; wanted St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh to be refurbished; actions were met with anger and hostility

  • When he finally travelled to Scotland to be crowned in 1633 his ceremony looked Catholic; with with Scottish bishops wearing ornate gold vestments and swore a new coronation oath that promised to defend the bishops
• Laudianism in Scotland - Conformity

  - In 1629 Scots told they had to kneel and take communion in their parish churches at least once a year; kneeling indicated Catholicism

  - Charles in 1636 published a new set of Scottish canons based in English canons not trad Scottish articles:

  • canons to be imposed on church w/o needing ratification by Scottish general assembly

  • new prayer book which everyone hat to use dissenters were excommunicated
• Growth of opposition from puritans to Laudianism

  Laudianism specifically challenged beliefs and practices to do w Puritanism so many Puritans began to be more dogmatic

  EMIGRATION:

  • some puritans emigrated to American colonies to escape Laudianism over 20,000 primary puritan migrants made a home in Massachusetts

  PAMPHLETS:

  • Bolder Puritans wrote pamphlets describing bishops as 'tigers' 'vipers'

  • many pamphlets were anonymous but some prominent pamphleteers included Batswick Prynne and Liburn
• Examples of work of Puritan Pamphleteers

  Actors Tradgedy by Prynne - attack on theatre described actresses as 'notorious whores'

  The Letany by Batswick - an attack on office of Bishop denouncing them as devilish enemies of God
• Direct assaults on Puritanism by Laudian reforms pt1

  • Book of sports 1633 - Laud re-issued this; outlined sports and activities people could do after attending Sunday service directly challenged puritan beliefs against this, enforcement more effective through visitations and Presentment Bills
• Direct assaults on Puritanism by Laudian reforms pt 2

  • Abolition of the Feoffees for importations 1633 - old church law stating member of laity could but right to collect the tithes of a parish, provided they arranged and paid a suitable minster for the parish, in 1620 puritan merchants and landowners began to buy up the right so they could put well trained puritan minsters in to parishes, this group know as Feoffees (synonym of trustee)

  - Laud in 1633 used Star chamber to abolish Feoffees
• Resistance to Laudianism

  - Parishioners of St Gregory's church resisted required move of their communion table but church brought them to account in front of privy council in 1633

  - Some minsters were dismissed from their posts for espousing Puritan doctrine e.g Nathaniel Ward was censured by Laud and emigrated to Massachusetts
• Emerging Puritan groupings


  The Hampden Circle: trial didn't have religious imports but enemies of Laudianism would stand against absolutist monarch

  The Puritan Pamphleteers

  The Providence Island Company: In 1629 following the discovery of Providence island a group of 20 investors formed a business that would run plantations of tobacco cotton and sugar cane; as it consisted mainly of Puritans the company provided a meeting point for men like Pym, Finnes, Viscount Saye and Sele