Radical Puritans in England, 1550-1660

124 Pages·1990·6.58 MB·English

by  R.J. Acheson

SEMINAR STUDIES IN HISTORY
Wir
R. J. Acheson
Radical Puritans
in England
1550-1660
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SEMINAR STUDIES IN HISTORY
RX General Editor: Roger Lockyer
5203.3.
Ros
1770
Radical Puritans
in England
1550—1660
R. J. Acheson
EV DD
LONGMAN
London and New York
‘| heology |_ibrary
SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
AT CLAREMONT
> California
Longman Group UK Limited,
Longman House, Burnt Mill, Harlow,
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© Longman Group UK Limited 1990
All rights reserved; no part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
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First published 1990
Set in 10/11 point Baskerville (Linotron)
Produced by Longman Singapore Publishers (Pte) Ltd.,
Printed in Singapore.
ISBN 0 582 35515 X
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Acheson, R. J. (RobertJ )
Radical puritans in England, 1550-1660. — (Seminar
studies in history).
1. England. Puritanism, history
I. Title II. Series
285’ .9'0942
ISBN 0-582-35515-X
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Acheson, R. J.
Radical Puritans in England, 1550-1660/R.J .A cheson.
p. cm. -— (Seminar studies in history)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-582-35515-X
1. Separatists — England — History — 16th century. 2. Separatists —
England — History — 17th century. 3. Puritans — England —
History — 16th century. 4. Puritans — England — History — 17th
century. 5. England — Church history — 16th century. 6. England —
Church history— 17th century. I. Title. II. Series.
BX5203.2.A28 1989 89-8058
274.2'06 — de20 CIP
Contents
INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi
PREFACE vii
Part One: The Background: The Radical
Tradition
—
The first English separatists?
Part Two: Analysis
‘THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE
CHURCH’: THE MARIAN PERSECUTION AND. THE
GROWTH OF SEPARATISM
Conclusion
10
RELIGIOUS SEPARATISM IN THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH I
14
Familism
17
Conclusion
RELIGIOUS DIVISIONS IN JACOBEAN ENGLAND
The Jacob church
Provincial separatism by 1625
Conclusion
‘THE TWO SMOAKING FIREBRANDS’: LAUD AND THE
GROWTH OF RELIGIOUS SEPARATISM
London separatism 1625-1643
Provincial separatism
The Stranger churches
Conclusion
THE DISCIPLINING OF DISSENT: PRESBYTERIANS,
45
CONGREGATIONALISTS AND BAPTISTS 1640-1660
Introduction ao
46
The Presbyterians
Contents
Congregationalism 50
The General Baptists 56
The Particular Baptists iyi
‘HAPPY SEEKER, HAPPY FINDER’: THE SEEKERS 61
‘ALL MANNER OF FILTHINESS’: THE RANTERS 65
‘THE TRUTH OF LIGHT WITHIN’: THE QUAKER
MOVEMENT 69
Part Three: Assessment 75
THE RADICAL LEGACY le
Part Four: Documents 80
GLOSSARY 101
BIBLIOGRAPHY 105
INDEX 109
iv
Seminar Studies in History
Founding Editor: Patrick Richardson
Introduction
The Seminar Studies series was conceived by Patrick Richardson,
whose experience of teaching history persuaded him of the need
for something more substantial than a textbook chapter but less
formidable than the specialised full-length academic work. He was
also convinced that such studies, although limited in length, should
provide an up-to-date and authoritative introduction to the topic
under discussion as well as a selection of relevant documents and
a comprehensive bibliography.
Patrick Richardson died in 1979, but by that time the Seminar
Studies series was firmly established, and it continues to fulfil the
role he intended for it. This book, like others in the series, is there-
fore a living tribute to a gifted and original teacher.
Note on the System of References:
A bold number in round brackets (5) in the text refers the reader
to the corresponding entry in the Bibliography section at the end
of the book. A bold number in square brackets, preceded by ‘doc.’
[doc. 6] refers the reader to the corresponding item in the section
of Documents, which follows the main text. A word followed by
an asterisk, for example, ‘Baptist*’, indicates that the term is
‘defined in the Glossary.
ROGER LOCKYER
General Editor
Acknowledgements
Cover: a satirical woodcut attributed to Hollar, 1639, showing the
English army desecrating churches during its march to York.
vi
Preface
This study attempts to guide the student of religious tensions in
Early Modern England through the complexities of radical thought
and action associated with that period. Naturally, in a study of this
length, oversimplification will occur and the use of the word
‘Puritan’ in the title of this book exemplifies this. This volume
concentrates upon religious separatists; it would be true to say that
whilst most separatists prior to the Civil War were either Puritan
or, at the very least, shared a common Puritan ancestry, not all
Puritans were or became separatists.
It is normal to claim responsibility for all errors and omissions
and this I gladly do. Likewise, due credit should be given to those
who have helped me avoid many more. John Faulkner first started
me on the path of separatist study and Patrick Collinson lit the
way, opened perspectives, and always encouraged; I am deeply
grateful to them both. My former colleague, Richard Wright,
proved an excellent and critical ‘sounding board’, whilst my last
‘A’? Level set at the Duke of York’s RMS in Dover kindly and
patiently put up with my early ramblings on this theme.
The staff of various libraries — particularly those of the British
Library, the Cathedral Library at Canterbury, the Dr Williams’
Library, and the Society of Friends’ Library at Euston — all proved
indispensable. The editor of this series, Roger Lockyer, has made
-a telling contribution to both the content of this volume and to the
way in which it has been presented. To him I owe much and from
him I have learnt a great deal.
Finally, I am indebted to my wife, who has placidly lived with
religious radicalism for nearly a decade. To Jill, and her tolerance,
this volume is dedicated.
Robert Acheson
1988
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