To what extent do you agree that puritism in early modern england and wales was an opposition movement - Essay Example

The Puritanism Puritans were a group of Protestants in England that existed in the 16th century. The group was established by a group of Marian exiles from the famous clergy after some misunderstandings. The group faced a lot of restrictions by the England government. They were not allowed to change churches and their religious practices were keenly monitored by the government. There were some thought that the group were against the rule of Queen Elizabeth I (Heimart, 2002). They later spread into Netherlands and Wales among other neighboring nations. Their beliefs were also adopted in several learning institutions like University of Cambridge among others. The group differed with the traditional clergy system with regard to dress mode among other religious practices. This work tend explain the fact that Puritanism was opposition group not only to the traditional clergy system but also Queen Elizabeth I rule. The group later collaborated with the developing commercial groups as well as the Scottish Presbyterians to oppose the royal class. Some parliamentarians in opposition also strengthened the group. The group later became a strong political force between 1642 and 1946. However, the group was weakened by the English restoration and establishment of Uniformity Act. However, there were other religious groups like the Roman Catholic who opposed the Royal rule. To end this, the queen confirmed the break between English Clergy and the Roman Catholic, and then reaffirmed her role as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England (Bremer, 2009). This was through the Supremacy Act. The Queen later introduced the Uniformity Law that brought churches or denominations under one umbrella, the Church of England. However, the Queen tried to deviate from the traditional English Church norms by introducing the Edwardian prayer book which had different religious images among other variations. The queen did not completely end the puritan movement. She allowed puritan believers to conduct their worship among other religious activities. She also allowed Puritan MPs to air their views in the House of Commons (Walsh, 2002). However, the puritans took this as weakness and began to oppose the queen politically. Some MPs categorically raised questions on the religious settlement that was established by the queen (1570) among other issues. However, the queen was never kind to a few MPs who opposed her reign with regard to marriage, succession and foreign affairs laws among others. History indicates that such MPs were punished (Haller, 2002). The queen had to make a stand with regard to the opposing puritans. History indicates that the group started with a few members but it was recruiting new members a t a very high rate. It reached a time when Puritans choir was the most famous and organized in the region. Puritan MPs were also organized and active in the House of Commons. The queen feared of being overwhelmed with the group. They were also educated and intelligence than the rest of the legislators. Some legislators opted to debate against some of the Queen’s establishments. For instance, a few puritans proposed amendments in the Peter turner’s book as well as the bill. This was to pin down the prayer book and queen’s participation in England religious issues. Majority of legislators in the House of Commons voted against the bills (Vries, 2009). The bill was later introduced by sir Antony and this time round, the Queen left no room for discussions. History records that five legislators Cope, Went, Worth among three others were arrested for disobeying the Queen’s orders. Several church leaders were confused between Puritans and the Queen’s religious enforcements. Bishop Edmund Grindal appreciated the Puritan principles and lamented that Christianity and other religious values should be in voluntary docket and not enforced as the queen did. However, a few religious leaders accepted the Godly values in the puritans’ doctrine but were never satisfied with its ‘pure than thou attitude’ Puritans seemed holier than other religious believers and this never pleased the neighbors. An ordinary English preferred a good neighbor with respect and trust but not the holier than thou attitude. The puritans doctrine was more spiritual and God fearing unlike the Queen’s Christian values that were ceremonial (Derrida, 2002). The puritans also believed in frequent gatherings and prayers other than those of Sundays. The queen’s religion required believers to gather on Sundays and attend their career duties during week days. Several church leaders later ganged up to stop the queen from meddling in the religious issues. Bishop Grindal published an article to stop the queen from religious matters (Heimart, 2002). He stated that God callings is not upon every one and that God does not use political powers or any earthly authorities to guide His people (McKenna, 2007). Other leaders also spread the message and the queen never took this kindly. Some religious leaders were arrested while some were forced to exile. The queen used his royal powers and capability to remind the preachers among other church leaders that at the end of the day, she was still the ruler of England. But the puritans were all over in the country. For instance, it had several supporters in governmental offices in Bedford, Huntingdon, and Warwick among other places. This left the queen with no option but to include puritans in her government. They occupied ministerial and legislation positions and this increased their opposition powers and capabilities. The puritans also had supporters in the local levels who selected clergy in several parishes (Billington, 2002). Puritan business men also funded some religious leaders to shun the queen’s religious implications, more so in the local levels. Puritans resolved to meet in secrets to avoid being arrested or intimidated by the Queen’s administration. This was through well established and managed networks within and without England. Some activities were carried out in Wales and Netherlands among other neighboring nations. The queen formed a special force to fish out the local puritans believers and act s example to the rest. She could not touch on the senior officers who happened to be puritan supporters for this would compromise her administration. The puritans also were disadvantaged by the fact that England had no established constitution and major decisions were made by the queen herself. History records that other religious groups also came to support the puritans to over throw the queen. The union between the puritans and the Catholics left the queen worried for quite a time. But the catholic force was the most dreadful, because of its economical potentials. Catholics were almost at the same level with England in terms of the financial capabilities. Catholic had strong roots in England and the Great Britain in general. The queen engaged more efforts to maim the religion but this never worked. Catholic existed during and after her rule. It is recorded that by the end of the queen’s rule, there were over 29,000 Roman catholic as well as church papists. The queen later imposed some rules to turn purists and Catholics from their respective churches and join the England church. At first, any family not attending the England or the queen’s church was to pay some small amounts in the name of supporting the government’s affairs. Catholics and purists asked why they were the only people to pay such amounts and the Queen’s church members (Barlow, 2000). The queen wanted to oppress the low class catholic and purists believers so that they lose the faith and join the England church. This bore no fruits since the wealthy purists and Catholics assisted the poor or low class to meet such payments as required by the queen. The queen later hiked such payments to oppress the puritans and the Catholics further. History records that by 1580, the queen administration collected n estimate of 25 shillings from the puritans and the Catholics. When this got worse, some human right activists and politicians in the puritans and Catholic churches led other church members to protest across major streets in England. The national media recorded such incidences and the whole world learns of the queens ill motives. The queen never took this kindly; she took it to another stage by engaging in war with Spain to maim Catholics. It was discovered that Spain was the main funder or supporter of Catholic as a religion. History indicate that a famous figure in Spain, Philip II, married Elizabeth’s sister when Catholic was still common in England. Philip II thought of marrying Elizabeth so that England would appreciate Catholic again, but the queen turn down the proposal. England later got into war with Spain over religious issues (Todd, 2002). But the queen’s troops won. England dominated the region after the 1603 victory over the Spanish Armadas. The queen decided to spread the influence of her England church to other regions like Ireland. A t this point, the puritans reduced their activities because the queen had declared that she was ready to do anything so long as the church of England remains the most adored or famous religion in England and its environs. Puritans and catholic in the England launched fresh raw with personalities behind the queen’s rule. This was majorly her advisors and security. The religious groups accused them of misleading the queen in offering some inhuman orders. Several people died while others injured during the Spanish war. The Queen lost trust among several people in England and the neighboring nations, both the English church members and puritans. They accused their leader (the queen) of causing deaths and blood spills just because of religious issues (Caputo, 2001). They used several bible scriptures to convince the queen that whatever she did was unacceptable, before man and God. They demanded constitutions to protect citizens’ rights. The queen later made orders that some outspoken puritans and catholic leaders or believers to be arrested and forced into exiles. The Irish also objected the queens Church until they ended up in war with the queen’s troop. During this era, the Catholics and the puritans were in a great religious collaboration ever recorded in history. The puritans and the Catholics organized a plot with queen’s Elizabeth’s cousin Mary Queen to see her thrown over turned. Mary was a great believer of Catholic and was ready to do anything and defend her religion (Spurr, 2000). History for the first time recorded Queen’s Elizabeth fear. She knew her cousin was capable of betraying her and makes her lose her country and life as well. At some point, Mary had no one to turn to but queen Elizabeth. She travelled to England to stay with the cousin. However, Queen Elizabeth was never comfortable with Mary around. History also records that Mary was always angered with Queen’s Elizabeth rule since the thrown was rightfully hers until some schemes were played and this made her lose what was rightfully hers. Queen Elizabeth later took her cousin to prison, fearing for her life and country. Bibliography Barlow, F. 2000. The English church . England: Addison-Wesley Longman. Billington, R. 2002. Religion without God. USA: Routledge. Bremer, F. 2009. Puratinism: A very short introduction. England: Oxford University press. Caputo, J. 2001. On Religion. USA: Routledge. Derrida, J. 2002. Acts of religion. USA: Routledge. Haller, W. 2002. Elizabeth I and the Puritans. USA: Cornell university press. Heimart, A. 2002. Puritans in England. England : Havard University press. McKenna, G. 2007. The putanism origins. USA: Yale University. Spurr, J. 2000. English Puritanism. USA: Palgrave Mcmillan. Todd, M. 2002. Christian Humanism and the puritan social order. England: Cambridge university press. Vries, H. 2009. Religion: beyond a concept. England: Fordham University press. Walsh, J. 2002. The church of the England. England : Cambridge University press. Read More