Radical Religion, 1640-1660Origins, Characteristics, and

Consequences

Engraving from a Leveller broadsheet (1649)

Caricature of the Ranters, who rejected the “old way”

Useful Resources on English Radicals

http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/367/367-7.htmhttp://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/367/367-72.htmwww.exlibris.orgwww.diggers.org/english_diggers.htmThe World Turned Upside Down (C. Hill)

Oliver Cromwell A woman in Puritan dress

Origins and TraditionsProtestant Reformation of the 16th

centuryPredestination, The Holy Spirit,

AntinomianismThe Medieval Inheritance of Christian

TheologyRadical Sects (Anabaptists, The Family of

Love)Reformed Theology and “the hotter sort”:

Puritans

Abbot Joachim of Fiore Thomas Muntzer Hendrik Niclaes

The Decline of CensorshipBishops and Courts, The Long Parliament

The Root and Branch Petition, 1640Abolition of Star Chamber, Court of High Commission,

1641

Printing PressExplosion of pamphlets and broadsides during the Civil

War

An early woodcut of a printing press

Charles in the House of Commons

Characteristics Common to Many Radicals

GeographyPoliticsThe Civil WarEconomics

Particular Groups of Dissenters

Levellers and Diggers“Freeborn” John Lilburne, Richard Overton, the ArmySovereignty, Individual Rights, FranchiseThe Agreement of the PeopleGerard Winstanley and the “True Levellers”St. George’s Hill, Cobham HeathHolding wealth in common>private property

St. George’s Hill; note the bald spot of chalk at the top.

Diggers ContinuedWinstanley’s works and goals

The New Law of RighteousnessThe True Leveller Standard AdvancedA Declaration from the Poor Oppressed People of EnglandAn Appeal to the House of Commons, desiring their answer; whether the Common-People shall have the quiet enjoyment of the Commons and Waste Lands; Or whether they shall be under the will of Lords of Manors still

A modern rendition

ChristopherHill

Old DissentersAnabaptists

Sixteenth century legacy of radicalism, slaughter by authoritiesGeneral Baptists est. by John Smith (Arminian universal grace)Particular Baptists est. by Henry Jacob (Calvinistic election)

FamilistsChristopher Vittels brings the faith of the Holy SpiritRevival during the 1640s, but fairly small numbersMany Familists fed into other dissenter groups

New DissentersSeekers

Rejection of dogmaSmall numbers The Holy SpiritJohn Saltmarsh, William Walwyn

Ranters“Indwelling Spirit”; Joachim; antinomianism; drinkingJohn Robin, Laurence Claxson, Abiezer Coppe

Some Sweet Sips of Some Spirituall Wine (1649)

SabbatariansSaturday, not Sunday; Continental originsTheophilus Brabourne: Of the Seventh Day (1660)

MuggletoniansTwo witnesses foreseen in the Book of Revelation“Radical Puritans”: John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton (cousins)

Divine Looking-Glass (1656)

Lodowick Muggleton

Fifth Monarchy MenFive Kingdoms found in Daniel 2:44; fifth being the reign of ChristCommon themes: prepare for the coming; reform the government; brotherly love>greed and power; care for the poor; pay the ArmyKey figures: John Rogers, Christopher Feake, John Canne

SociniansFollowers of Faustus Socinus (1539-1604) of Siena, ItalyCommon themes: Anti-Trinitarian (denied the Trinity); doctrine downplayed; early calls for latitudinarianism, toleranceKey figures: Paul Best, John Biddle (A Confession of Faith Touching the Holy Trinity, 1648)

Socinus

Daniel 2:44: And in the days of these kingsshall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, whichshall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shallnot be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Quakers (“The Friends of the Truth”)Early radical social teaching, but later quietismEgalitarian; doffing hats; thou>you; “tremble at the name of the Lord”End-point for many religious radicals; more “respectable” quietism

Accordingly higher numbers and continued strength post 1660George Fox: North England; “inner light”; Baptist originsJames Nayler: Ride into Bristol on an ass; flogged, branded, bored

Consequences: Reaction and Rationalism

Proliferation of sects showed the impact of censorshipCivil War opened up the Army to new ideas, travelGradual shift during the Interregnum, away from radical societyRanter enthusiasm gives way to Quaker quietism and Socinian rationalism, latitudinarian religion, Deism

Tolerance of Religion; rational/grounded elite view

Do what it takes to avoid the melee of mid-century

Wrap-Up

OriginsChristian Traditions and Scripture; Protestant Reformation; Censorship

CharacteristicsHoly Spirit; doctrine downplayed; social equality; potential antinomianism

ConsequencesTolerance/Latitudinarianism; rational/natural>enthusiastic; social control

Strength of key dissenters: Quakers, Baptists, Congregationalists

Gerard Winstanley, 1649 You noble Diggers all, stand up now, stand up now, You noble Diggers all, stand up now, The wast land to maintain, seeing Cavaliers by name Your digging does maintain, and persons all defame Stand up now, stand up now.

With spades and hoes and plowes, stand up now, stand up now With spades and hoes and plowes stand up now, Your freedom to uphold, seeing Cavaliers are bold To kill you if they could, and rights from you to hold. Stand up now, Diggers all.

The gentrye are all round, stand up now, stand up now, The gentrye are all round, stand up now. The gentrye are all round, on each side they are found, Theire wisdom's so profound, to cheat us of our ground Stand up now, stand up now.

'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests, stand up now, stand up now, 'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests stand up now. For tyrants they are both even flatt againnst their oath, To grant us they are loath free meat and drink and cloth. Stand up now, Diggers all.

And now for something completely different . . .