Chapter 7: Divisions over religion to 1640

• What was the Jacobethan Balance?

  toleration of Puritanism and Arminianism by the Calvinists Anglicans
• What triggered Britain's wars of religion?

  Charles’ favouring of Arminianism, specifically Laudianism, in the 1630s which alienated the Calvinist majority.
• Who did Charles appoint as Archbishop of Canterbury?

  Anti-Calvinist William Laud
• Laudianism

  • not a set of coherent beliefs
  • 2 key characteristics: rejection of predestination, and less emphasis on the Bible and preaching and more emphasis on ritual and ceremony.
• What did the imposition of Laudianism cause?

  By 1640, most Protestants were united against Charles
• Laudian measures

  • Communion table moved and railed off as an altar in the east end of the church
  • caused the most contention
  • Increased emphasis on ceremony
  • Decoration such as stained glass windows
  • Campaign against unlicensed preaching - limited preaching to Sunday mornings and evenings to control the Puritans.
  • Reissue of the Book of Sports - outlined a range of sports and activities that people could do after compulsory Sunday morning service.
• What was Charles' role in imposing Laudian measures?

  • played a major role in imposing these measures during Personal Rule
  • Catholic conspiracy: a belief by the Puritans that Catholics were influencing Charles (included his Catholic wife Henrietta Maria).
  • fear of Puritanism: one reason for Charles’ support for Arminianism
• Puritan


  Covered a broad range of Protestants, including Calvinists and Presbyterians. 
• Historian Patrick Collinson: Puritans were the “hotter sort of Protestant”

  This gave them the courage to make a stand against what they saw as the imposition of Catholicism
• Common features of Puritanism

  • focus on the importance of the bible
  • anti-Catholicism
  • different degrees of millenarianism
• What was St. Gregory's Case (1633)?

  Parishioners of St Gregory’s Church in London challenged the moving of their communion table
• What was the significance of St Gregory's Case?

  • one of the first open signs of opposition to religious changes
  • the decorated cloth covering the table also reminded Puritans of Catholicism, upsetting them
  • Result: brought before Charles I as a test case
• Why was John Williams imprisoned?

  Imprisoned in 1637 as a result of his published criticism of the altar policy in The Holy Table, Name and Thing. 
• Significance of John William's imprisonment?

  Indicated that even terminology was a source of contention, because the word ‘altar’ was regarded as Catholic. 
• What happened to Prynne, Burton, and Bastwick?

  • Brought before the Court of the Star Chamber in 1637 for their criticisms of Church policy.
  • All 3 were found guilty: fined £5000 and imprisoned for life
  • Public cropping of their ears —> earned them sympathy from the public because they were professionals (a lawyer, a doctor, a cleric respectively).
• What happened to John Lilburne in February 1638?

  • Found guilty of printing unlicensed literature
  • Had helped distribute Bastwick's work
  • Fined, and whipped and pilloried in public (very brutal)
• What was the significance of increased emigration to America during Personal Rule?

  Further evidence as to opposition to the Laudian Church of England
• Why was Scotland unhappy with Charles?

  • 'Absentee King of Scotland' - had failed to visit them for 8 years after becoming king
  • His policies and style of ruling alienated the Scottish elite
• What was the Act of Revocation (1625) and its consequence?

  • Charles exploited a feudal right to take the land from the Scottish elite to support the Church in Scotland. 
  • Consequence: landowners united against Charles
• Why were the Articles of Perth (1625) an issue?

  The commands laid out in the Articles of Perth looked a lot like Catholicism
• Ways in which Charles offended the Scots

  • Chose Holyrood Palace for the site of his coronation instead of Scone or Stirling, the traditional coronation site.
  • Chose a form of ceremony for his coronation they saw as Catholic
  • Introduced the rank of bishop in Edinburgh and raised St Giles’ church to a cathedral - actions that were seen as Catholic by the Presbyterians.
  • 1633: announced intention to introduce new prayer book
  • would eventually lead to rebellion in Scotland and the start of the civil wars.
• What were the new cannons Charles imposed on Scotland in 1636?

  • Main aspects were based on the Articles of Perth
  • The altar had to be placed against the east wall of the chancel
  • Ministers had to wear a surplice when they celebrated communion.
  • Improvised prayer was banned; ministers had to read from the new prayer book
• What was the issue with Charles' 1636 cannons?

  • Interpreted as an attempt to return to Catholicism
  • Were worse because they were imposed via royal prerogative; Charles made no attempt to allow the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland or the Scottish Parliament to have any say in the canons.
• What were the issues with the Laudian prayer book that was introduced in Scotland in 1637?

  • Was imposed without any consultation with the Scottish Kirk or Parliament.
  • Was seen as a threat because it leaned clearly towards Catholicism, threatening their religious independence.
  • Consequence: sparked St Giles Cathedral conflict; led to start of Scottish Rebellion and British Civil Wars lasting from 1637 to 1660.
• What was millenarianism?

  A belief in the end of the world; was important to English Protestantism
• What caused a rise in millenarianism?

  • A reaction against the development of Laudianism in Charles’ kingdoms as they believed the political crisis heralded the end of the world. 
  • For some Puritans, this belief in Judgement Day gave them a reason to take on more political and public roles in the late 1630s.