From Shakespeare to From Shakespeare to MiltonMiltonThe Rise of PuritanismThe Rise of Puritanism

From Elizabeth I to the From Elizabeth I to the CommonwealthCommonwealth

Elizabeth I : 1558 – 1603 TudorElizabeth I : 1558 – 1603 Tudor

James I : 1603 – 1625 StuartJames I : 1603 – 1625 Stuart

Charles I : 1625 – 1649 Charles I : 1625 – 1649

The Commonwealth : 1649 – 1660The Commonwealth : 1649 – 1660

The Restoration, Charles II : 1660 The Restoration, Charles II : 1660 - 1685- 1685

James VI of ScotlandJames VI of Scotland

divine right of kingsdivine right of kings

absolute powerabsolute power

the king: God’s representative on earththe king: God’s representative on earth

conflict with Parliamentconflict with Parliament

1611 Authorized Version of the Bible1611 Authorized Version of the Bible

end of the war with Spain, expansion of end of the war with Spain, expansion of the Empirethe Empire

1605: Gunpowder Plot, by Catholic 1605: Gunpowder Plot, by Catholic extremistsextremists

Non-conformistsNon-conformists

Catholics and Puritans forbidden Catholics and Puritans forbidden to practise their religionto practise their religion

in 1620 some Puritans emigrated in 1620 some Puritans emigrated to Virginia: the Pilgrim Fathers, on to Virginia: the Pilgrim Fathers, on board the Mayflower, from board the Mayflower, from PlymouthPlymouth

The Civil WarThe Civil War 1625: James died, his son Charles succeeded 1625: James died, his son Charles succeeded

him to the thronehim to the throne

greater and greater conflict with Parliament greater and greater conflict with Parliament (mostly composed of Puritans)(mostly composed of Puritans)

new wealth and power of the middle classesnew wealth and power of the middle classes

continuing religious conflictcontinuing religious conflict

1628 Petition of Right: limiting the king’s 1628 Petition of Right: limiting the king’s power; first clash king / Parliamentpower; first clash king / Parliament

Later Parliament refused to give the king Later Parliament refused to give the king money, he dissolved Parliamentmoney, he dissolved Parliament

in 1640 the king had to in 1640 the king had to summon Parliament to ask summon Parliament to ask for money; they refused to for money; they refused to satisfy the king’ssatisfy the king’s requestsrequests

again summoned again summoned Parliament in 1642: one of Parliament in 1642: one of the members was Oliver the members was Oliver CromwellCromwell

Struggle for supremacy Struggle for supremacy between two opposing between two opposing

factionsfactions

Start of the Civil WarStart of the Civil War

16421642

1649: execution of the king1649: execution of the king

abolition of monarchyabolition of monarchy

establishment of a Commonwealth, led establishment of a Commonwealth, led by Oliver Cromwell (“Lord Protector”)by Oliver Cromwell (“Lord Protector”)

a sort of dictatorshipa sort of dictatorship

closing of theatres, abolition of any closing of theatres, abolition of any form of entertainmentform of entertainment

PuritanismPuritanism

a movement born in the Church of England at a movement born in the Church of England at the end of the 16th centurythe end of the 16th century

wanted to reform, “purify”, the church more wanted to reform, “purify”, the church more than what Elizabeth had donethan what Elizabeth had done

Puritans rejected any form of authority except Puritans rejected any form of authority except that of the Biblethat of the Bible

questioned the power of official Church questioned the power of official Church authoritiesauthorities

believed that the voice of God spoke to each believed that the voice of God spoke to each individual conscience; no interference of individual conscience; no interference of intermediaries (priests)intermediaries (priests)

extreme austerity in clothes and extreme austerity in clothes and behaviour, and in church ornamentsbehaviour, and in church ornaments

no sacred imagesno sacred images

against any form of entertainment, against any form of entertainment, which they considered sinful, which they considered sinful, distracting people from devotiondistracting people from devotion

necessity to work hard to save necessity to work hard to save themselves (Calvinist theory of themselves (Calvinist theory of predestination: men and women were predestination: men and women were born sinners, it was only through hard born sinners, it was only through hard work and discipline that they might work and discipline that they might hope to receive God’s grace)hope to receive God’s grace)