THE PURITAN AGE 1625 -1660

THE STUARTS James I Charles I Charles II James II Mary II and William Anne

James I

James I (1603 -1625)

James VI of Scotland James I He believed that, as a monarch, he was a representative of God on earth He was unpopular especially with the Catholics He did not have the money or the military power of the Tudors He summoned the Parliament only to ask for money

Events
A new translation of the Bible in simple English so that more people could read it. Francis Bacon developed a new approach to study science through observation,experimentation and measurement Exploration and foundation of colonies in North America

 Religion = a critical issue Intolerance between Catholics and Protestants grew. Laws against Catholics who were barred from public life. In 1605 some radical catholics plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and assassinate King James. The failure of the so called Gunpowder Plot is still commemorated in England on 5th November when children have fireworks and burn figures of Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators, on bonfires.

THE TUDORS AND THE STUARTS

The Tudors believed in divine right but also recognized the value of good relations with Parliament. When he broke with the Roman Catholic Church or when he needed funds, Henry VIII consulted Parliament. Elizabeth both consulted and controlled Parliament.

The Stuarts believed in divine right and repeatedly clashed with Parliament
When he needed funds, James I dissolved Parliament and collected taxes on his own. Charles I ignored the Petition of Rights, dissolved Parliament, and ruled the nation for 11 years without it.

King Charles I was a very short man. The pillar behind draws the eye upwards and makes him look taller. The Palace of Whitehall is painted in the background. The symbols of kingship are on the velvet covered table the crown, sceptre and orb. Prince Charles (later King Charles II) is only 2 years old in this picture. Little boys wore dresses until they were about 4 sometimes older.

King Charles Is wife, Queen Henrietta Maria, was said to be French, Catholic and trouble.
The baby is Princess Mary. She and her brother are wearing tight fitting hats called biggins.

The two dogs symbolise (mean) loyalty.

This is a copy of one of Van Dykes paintings. The original hangs in Goodwood House.
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Charles I
The Parliament didnt approve his French marriage because they were afraid he would bring back the Roman catholic religion. He was in favour of the High Church, a section of the Anglican Church that gave more importance to liturgy than to the evangelical practice followed by the Low Church.

 He appointed William Laud (a high churchman) archbishop of Canterbury enraging the Puritan Party William Laud persecuted the Puritans and favoured the Roman Catholics. He also tried to impose uniformity of worship on the Presbyterians of Scotland who were against any form of liturgy and rebelled against England

THE SHORT PARLIAMENT

In 1640 Charles I was obliged to call a Parliament to fund a campaign against the Scots. Parliament sat for only one month before being dismissed by the King who did not tolerate any form of opposition

 Quarrels between Charles I and Parliament were due not only to economic but also to judiciary reasons Two conceptions of the law: 1 Roman law followed by all the countries of Europe 2 English Common law

 Roman Law regarded the King as the source of the Law, the judges were subject to the king and had to follow his directions English Common Law was indipendent of the kings will. It was above the king and his subjects; it existed in itself and could be altered only by the High Court of Parliament

The Long Parliament

In 1640 Charles was obliged to call another Parliament because of his difficulties with Scotland. Parliament didnt grant any money to the King, archbishop Laud was imprisoned and later executed Charles was asked to give up control of military, civil and religious affairs. He refused and a Civil war broke out in 1642

Sides in the civil War

Charles I and his supporters (nobility, the clergy a large part of the gentry). They were called the Cavaliers.

Parliament and their supporters, mainly Puritans (merchants and middle classes). They were called the Roundheads and were led by Oliver Cromwell.

 Cromwell and his Model Army defeated the king who was imprisoned and after a hasty trial, he was condemned to death and executed (1649) with the crown on his head.

Balcony of Banqueting House from which Charles stepped out to be executed in 1649

On the morning of 30 January 1649, Charles prepared himself for death. It was bitterly cold, so he wore two shirts to stop people think he was shivering from fear rather than the cold. He stepped out onto the scaffold outside Banqueting House. What happened next is recorded in a diary of an onlooker in the crowd, Philip Henry

At that instant, I remember well, there was such a groan by the thousands present, as I never heard before and desire I may never hear again.

 Afterwards, devoted followers of the King and souvenir hunters rushed to dip their handkerchiefs in his blood and take hairs from his head and beard. The following day his head was sewn back on, and a few days later the body was quietly buried at Windsor Castle

The Commonwealth 1649 -1660

With the death of Charles I the monarchy was abolished together with the House of Lords. England was proclaimed a Commonwealth (a republic) and a Free State with a unicameral parliament, the Commons, known as the Rump The Puritans ruled the country In 1653 The Rump was dismissed and the country was ruled by the Army Cromwell was made Lord Protector of England and Ireland

 Cromwell was successful in foreign policy:he 1. increased English prestige abroad 2. revived sea-power and reorganized the Navy 3. submitted Scotland and Ireland to England He acted as a dictator and soon people got tired of his rule.

 When he died in 1658, his son Richard became Protector, but he was not supported by the Army and was obliged to resign. Parliament decided to restore monarchy and recall the kings son, the future Charles II from France where he had fled because of the Civil war

The Petition of Rights

A document as important as the Magna Charta of 1215 Offered by the House of Commons to Charles I in return for money no man was to pay any tax not approved by Parliament and no man was to be imprisoned arbitrarily

 The Puritans were the followers of Calvin and wanted to clean up the Church. Most Puritans were merchants and lived in the new developing towns They had strong religious spirit and rejected pleasure and pastimes ( music, drinking, horse racing, cockfighting, square dancing and any form of entertainment) ;Sunday became only a day of worship and rest and the London theatres were closed in 1642 by Act of Parliament. A colourless atmosphere spread over England and the only pleasure allowed was the making of money. Material success was considered a sign of Gods grace, while a lack of it was a a warning of His displeasure.

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