From Shakespeare to Milton The Rise of Puritanism
From Elizabeth I to the Commonwealth Elizabeth I : 1558 – 1603 Tudor Elizabeth I : 1558 – 1603 Tudor James I : 1603 – 1625 Stuart James I : 1603 – 1625 Stuart Charles I : 1625 – 1649 Charles I : 1625 – 1649 The Commonwealth : 1649 – 1660 The Commonwealth : 1649 – 1660 The Restoration, Charles II : The Restoration, Charles II :
James VI of Scotland James VI of Scotland divine right of kings divine right of kings absolute power absolute power the king: God’s representative on earth the king: God’s representative on earth conflict with Parliament conflict with Parliament 1611 Authorized Version of the Bible 1611 Authorized Version of the Bible end of the war with Spain, expansion of the Empire end of the war with Spain, expansion of the Empire 1605: Gunpowder Plot, by Catholic extremists 1605: Gunpowder Plot, by Catholic extremists
Non-conformists Catholics and Puritans forbidden to practise their religion Catholics and Puritans forbidden to practise their religion in 1620 some Puritans emigrated to Virginia: the Pilgrim Fathers, on board the Mayflower, from Plymouth in 1620 some Puritans emigrated to Virginia: the Pilgrim Fathers, on board the Mayflower, from Plymouth
The Civil War 1625: James died, his son Charles succeeded him to the throne 1625: James died, his son Charles succeeded him to the throne greater and greater conflict with Parliament (mostly composed of Puritans) greater and greater conflict with Parliament (mostly composed of Puritans) new wealth and power of the middle classes new wealth and power of the middle classes continuing religious conflict continuing religious conflict 1628 Petition of Right: limiting the king’s power; first clash king / Parliament 1628 Petition of Right: limiting the king’s power; first clash king / Parliament Later Parliament refused to give the king money, he dissolved Parliament Later Parliament refused to give the king money, he dissolved Parliament
in 1640 the king had to summon Parliament to ask for money; they refused to satisfy the king’s requests in 1640 the king had to summon Parliament to ask for money; they refused to satisfy the king’s requests again summoned Parliament in 1642: one of the members was Oliver Cromwell again summoned Parliament in 1642: one of the members was Oliver Cromwell
Struggle for supremacy between two opposing factions Royalists, Cavaliers The Anglican Church The nobility Parliamentarians Puritans, Roundheads The middle class
Start of the Civil War : execution of the king 1649: execution of the king abolition of monarchy abolition of monarchy establishment of a Commonwealth, led by Oliver Cromwell (“Lord Protector”) establishment of a Commonwealth, led by Oliver Cromwell (“Lord Protector”) a sort of dictatorship a sort of dictatorship closing of theatres, abolition of any form of entertainment closing of theatres, abolition of any form of entertainment
Puritanism a movement born in the Church of England at the end of the 16th century a movement born in the Church of England at the end of the 16th century wanted to reform, “purify”, the church more than what Elizabeth had done wanted to reform, “purify”, the church more than what Elizabeth had done Puritans rejected any form of authority except that of the Bible Puritans rejected any form of authority except that of the Bible questioned the power of official Church authorities questioned the power of official Church authorities believed that the voice of God spoke to each individual conscience; no interference of intermediaries (priests) believed that the voice of God spoke to each individual conscience; no interference of intermediaries (priests)
extreme austerity in clothes and behaviour, and in church ornaments extreme austerity in clothes and behaviour, and in church ornaments no sacred images no sacred images against any form of entertainment, which they considered sinful, distracting people from devotion against any form of entertainment, which they considered sinful, distracting people from devotion necessity to work hard to save themselves (Calvinist theory of predestination: men and women were born sinners, it was only through hard work and discipline that they might hope to receive God’s grace) necessity to work hard to save themselves (Calvinist theory of predestination: men and women were born sinners, it was only through hard work and discipline that they might hope to receive God’s grace)