PURITANISM

By may.isfaraway
  • 1373

    Wycliff's Bible

    John Wycliff was a theologian and philosopher who disputed the key teachings of the medieval Roman Catholic Church. His ideas were seen as heretical and his followers persecuted. Wycliff started the Bible translation movement in 1370s.
  • 1509

    Henry VIII and Catherine Aragon marry

    After the death of his brother, Henry VIII married Catherine Aragon, Spanish princess who had been married to his brother. He could not send her back to Spain without causing geopolitical tensions but could also not let a foreign Queen on the throne.
  • Period: 1509 to 1547

    King Henry VIII's Reign

  • 1517

    Luther's Ninety-Five Theses

    Deeply concerned about the problem of salvation, he thought it couldn't be attained by good works but was a free gift of God's grace. In 1517 Luther affixed his Ninety-five Theses, which included statements challenging the sale of indulgences, in Wittenberg. This action led to a quarrel between Luther and Church leaders, including the Pope. Luther decided that the Bible was the true source of authority and renounced obedience to Rome.
  • 1521

    'Defender of the Faith' Henry VIII

    Henry was originally hostile to the Protestant movement and even wrote a pamphlet defending the Catholic faith, ‘Defence of the Seven Sacraments’. This defence led the Pope Leo 10, to bestow Henry VIII the title of Defender of the Faith in 1521
  • Period: 1522 to 1535

    Tyndale's Bible

    Faced with ecclesiastical opposition to his project for translating the Bible into English, he went abroad in 1524. His translation of the New Testament was published in Germany. He then translated the Pentateuch and Jonah (1531), both printed in Antwerp. Tyndale’s translations later formed the basis of the Authorized Version. In 1535 he was arrested in Antwerp on a charge of heresy, and subsequently strangled and burnt at the stake. He never finished his translations.
    Oxford Reference.
  • 1524

    Tyndale leaves England

  • 1525

    Henry VIII's Infatuation with Boleyn

  • 1533

    Act in Restrains of Appeal

    The Act, largely the work of Thomas Cromwell, was a crucial step in Henry VIII's assertion of royal supremacy against the papacy. It forbade appeals to Rome and had two objectives: to allow Cranmer to give a ruling on Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon which could not be appealed, and to intimidate the pope generally. It denied papal jurisdiction in England and ended appeals of court cases to Rome.
  • 1534

    The First Succession Act

    Declared Henry VIII's and Catherine Aragon's marriage invalid and Mary therefore illegitimate and established his daughter Elizabeth as his heir.
  • 1534

    Act of Supremacy

    This Act, passed in the sixth session of the Reformation Parliament in November–December 1534, claimed to ‘confirm and corroborate’ the right of the king to be supreme head on earth of the Church of England. It severed all ecclesiastical link to Rome.
    Oxford Reference.
  • 1535

    Coverdale's Bible is published

    Compiled by Myles Coverdale while in exile, it's the first complete, printed and published translation of the Bible in Modern English. It used the work of Tyndale. After coming back to England, Thomas Cromwell initiated an official translation for use in every parish church, entrusting the revision to Coverdale. The ‘Great Bible’ was published in 1539. Coverdale was appointed bishop of Exeter in Edward VI's reign, deprived, but escaped persecution under Mary Tudor.
    Oxford Reference
  • 1536

    Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

    Institutes of the Christian Religion, Latin Christianae Religionis Institutio, French Institution de la Religion Chrétienne, John Calvin’s masterpiece, a summary of biblical theology that became the normative statement of the Reformed faith. It was first published in 1536 and was revised and enlarged by Calvin in several editions before the definitive edition was published in 1559.
    Britannica
  • 1539

    Six Articles

    The Articles imposed at Henry VIII's bidding by the Religion Act 1539 to prevent the spread of Reformation doctrines and practices. They maintained transubstantiation and Communion in one kind, enforced clerical celibacy, upheld monastic vows, and defended private Masses and auricular confession.
    Oxford Reference.
  • 1547

    Act for the Advancement of the True Religion is Repealed

    Henrician censorship is stopped and between 1547 and 1549, half of books coming from english presses promote Protestantism.
  • 1547

    Six Articles are Repealed

    Passed under his father's reign, once the Articles repealed, the laity was allowed to take communion in the two forms of wine and bread and priests were allowed to marry. However, processions, pilgrimages, and the adoration of relics were forbidden.
  • Period: 1547 to 1553

    Edward VI's Reign

    Young at his rise to the throne, his uncle Edward Seymour was Lord Protector from 1549 to 1552.
  • 1549

    Book of Common Prayer

    By a proclamation of 23 September 1548, Edward VI set up a commission to oversee the preparation of ‘one uniform order [of service] throughout the kingdom’. The Act of Uniformity (March 1549) ordered the exclusive use of the new Book of Common Prayer. The Prayer Book contained morning and evening offices, and forms for the administration of the sacraments (e.g. baptism and the eucharist) as well as the psalter.
    Oxford Reference.
  • 1550

    Vestarian Controversy

    A dispute concerning clerical dress that becomes acute when John Hooper, newly converted to Zwinglian beliefs and nominated to the bishopric of Gloucester, refused to be consecrated wearing the surplice.
    It was the beginning of a wider Puritan demand for reform and the issue of surplice became a foundation of the Puritan party.
  • 1552

    Second Book of Common Prayer

  • Period: 1553 to 1558

    Mary I's Reign

  • 1554

    Troubles at Frankfurt

    "A Brief Discourse of the Troubles at Frankfurt"
    A debate develops between the different Maryan exiles on the use of the Book of Common Prayer. One party, lead by John Knox and William Whittingham in Frankfurt had taken away litanies and had stopped wearing the surplice. The other party, lead by Richard Kox in Strasburg, kept following the Book of Common Prayer and insisted on solidairty between exiles and martyrs back in England.
    Knoxians leave for Geneva.
  • Period: 1558 to

    Elizabeth I's Reign

  • 1559

    Elizabethan Settlement

    Made up of two elements:
    - Act of Supremacy: the Queen becomes Supreme Governor of the Church (and not head bc sexism).
    - Act of Uniformity: brings back the use of the Book of Common Prayer while keeping tradiational elements such as benediction during baptism, marriage rings and liturgical ornaments.
  • 1560

    The Geneva Bible is Published

  • 1563

    Thirty-Nine Articles

    The set of doctrinal rules first issued in 1563 and adopted by the Anglican Communion in 1571. Allow a wide variety of interpretation. They had their origin in several previous definitions, required by the shifts and turns of the English Reformation. The Ten Articles (1536) and Six Articles (1539) upheld religious conservatism, but the Forty‐Two Articles (1553), prepared by Cranmer and Ridley, were of markedly Protestant character, and they provided the basis of the Thirty‐Nine Articles.
  • 1563

    Foxe's Book of Martyrs

    First ed. of Act and Monuments, better known as Book of Martyrs was published by John Day. a massive book of more 1000 pages, it retraced church history from Wycliff to Elizabeth's accession to the throne.
  • 1565

    Vestarian Controversy under Elizabeth

  • 1570

    Papal Bull on Elizabeth I

    Regnan in Excelsis
  • 1570

    Cartwright's Acts of Apostles

    Newly appointed at the Lady margaret Chair in Cambridge, Cartwright's inaugural lectures were on the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, an exegesis of the constitution of the primitive church which he declared to be normative for all time, and by which the hierarchical, episcopal Church of England stood utterly condemned. This was presbyterianism avant la lettre.
    Oxford DNB
  • 1571

    Thirty-Nine Articles

    The articles are those finally agreed by the convocations of the C of E in 1571. They comprise a set of doctrinal statements intended to define the position of the reformed C of E in respect of the disputes and questions over matters of faith and order current at the time. Their original beginning of formualtion in 1562. Their declared purpose is ‘for the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true religion’.
    Oxford reference.
  • 1571

    The Book of Homilies

    A Convocation which met in 1542 wanted to publish prescribed homilies for the unlearned clergy. Henry VIII refused to authorize it, only formally issued during Edward VI’s reign, in 1547. A Second Book, with 21 further homilies, was issued under Elizabeth I & completed by the beginning of 1563, but it wasn't til published in 1571. The homilies provided a considerable element in Anglican preaching, acquiring status alongside the BCP and Thirty-Nine Articles as a repository of Anglican doctrine.
  • 1572

    St Bartholomew Massacre

    intensifies anti-catholic sentiments within the Puritan movement.
  • 1572

    'An Admonition to the Parliament'

    Written by John Field and Thomas Wilcox as a follow up to Cartwright and after frustration had grown because of attempts to legislate reform in Parliament being checked by the Crown.
  • 1575

    Edmund Grindal Archbishop of Canterbury

    After he was appointed, there was hope that the abuses of the godly would be addressed. However, he came into conflict with the Queen over the issue of prophesyings (preaching conferences). They were meant to educate less able clergy and were sometimes open to the laity. The Queen ordered for them to be suppressed and the numbers of preachers to be limited.

  • John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury

    With him came a change in ecclesiastical policy: his aim was to bring to heel those who flouted authority.
    In Oct 1583, he demanded that all clergy suscribe to three Articles:
    - 1st and 3rd endorsing the supremacy of the Thirty Nine Articles.
    - 2nd suscribing to the Book of Common Prayer

  • Marprelate Controversy

    Pamphlet war (1588–89) carried on by Puritans using secret presses; attacked the episcopacy as “profane, proud, paltry, popish, pestilent, pernicious, presumptious prelates.” Never had the support of Puritan leaders & ceased when the presses were discovered by gov agents. Signed “Martin Marprelate gentleman”/“Martin junior,” but no one knows the real author is. Anonymous replies appeared in 1589, and in Feb of that year Richard Bancroft delivered a sermon against it at Paul’s Cross.

  • Spanish Armada

  • Basilikon Doron

    Written in 1598 by King James IV & I and published in 1603, the BD is manual on tre practicing of Kingship intended to his heir, Henry (✝ 1612). The Basilikon quickly became a best seller and fuelled fears of the new king’s absolutist tendencies.

  • Millenary Petition

    Moderate request for changes in certain practices, presented to King James I in April 1603 by Puritan ministers. It received its name from the claim by the authors that it had been signed by 1,000 Puritan ministers. Some practices objected to were: the sign of the cross during Baptism, the ring for marriage, the rite of confirmation, and the wearing of surplices. The petition caused the King to call the Hampton Court Conference where most of the Puritans’ requests were rejected.
    Britannica
  • Period: to

    James I's Reign

  • Hampton Court Conference

    In response to the Millenary Petition, in which the Puritans put their demands for reform. Presided over by King & attended by bishops & Puritan leaders. The reforms discussed were changes in church gov, changes in The Book of Common Prayer, & a new translation of the Bible. He rejected most of the Puritans’ demands & changes in the episcopal form of church gov. “No bishop, no king.” He accepted their request for a new translation of the Bible = the Authorized King James' Version of the Bible.

  • Gunpowder Plot

    Attempt by a group of Catholics to blow the Parliament with the king and his family inside. It failed but sparked a new movement of anti-catholicism and fear of dissidents and non-conformists.
    Lead to the vote of a law that allowed the proceeding of religious opposants: An Act for the Better Discovering and Repressing of Popish Recusants in 1606.

  • King James' Bible

  • Prince Henry Dead

    Prince Henry, hier of James IV & I dies of typhoid fever. His younger brother Prince Charles becomes the heir.
  • Period: to

    Spanish Match

    Negotiations over the proposed marriage between Prince Charles and the Infanta Maria Anna of Spain

  • The Book of Sports

    Royal proclamation listing the permitted sports on Sundays after church service. Issued in response to the strict observation of the Sabbath by puritans where dancing, hunting or other recreational occupations were not permitted. With the Book of Sports, dancing, leaping and vaulting, May Days, Whitsun ales, morris dances, and maypole were encouraged. However 'unlawful games' such as bear- and bull-baiting, and ‘in the meaner sort of people, Bowling’ were prohibited.

  • Synod of Dort

  • Period: to

    Thirty Years Wars

  • Mayflower leaves for the New World

  • Declaration for Preachers

    The Declaration for Preachers forbade preachers from dealings with matters of state.

  • Montagu's 'A New Gag for an Old Goose'

  • Charles marries Catholic Henrietta Maria

  • Period: to

    Charles I's Reign

  • Feoffees for Impropriations

    Composed of puritan merchants, jurists and ministers, and created to raise funds to purchase lay impropriations and advowsons, which would mean that the feoffees would then have the legal right to appoint their chosen candidates to benefices and lectureships. This would provide a mechanism both for increasing the number of preaching ministers in the country, and a way to ensure that Puritans could receive ecclesiastical appointments.

  • York House Conference

    The Earl of Warwick, Viscount Saye and Duke of Buckingham, the royal favourite, organised the conference in the latter's residence. The conference wasn't so much a 'Puritans vs. Anglicans' summit but rather a 'Calvinists vs. anti-Calvinists' summit. The former were represented by academia and ministers while the later by Montagu and Dean Francis White.
    Even if the debate inconclusive, the Duke moved to Montagu's camp.

  • William Laud Archbishop of London

  • Petition of Right

    Charles I levy of a forced loan in 1626-7 & his imprisonment of non‐contributors led the Commons to frame a petition outlawing non‐parliamentary taxes and arbitrary imprisonment. Charles gave an ambiguous reply, & the Commons responded by withholding their offer of a much‐needed money grant. The king therefore authorized a 2nd, conventional reply turning the petition into law. When printed, Charles included his 1st response, but in the event he scrupulously adhered to the letter of the petition.

  • Duke of Buckingham Dead

    The Duke of Buckingham, who had sided with Montagu, is assassinated by John Felton with claims of religious justification.

  • Parliament Dissolved

  • Book of Sports Reissued

  • William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury

  • Laudian BoCP Imposed in Scotland

    Met with strong popular resistance to royal policy of Anglicanisation of the Kirk.

  • Scottish National Covenant

    agreement signed by Scottish people opposing the reforms of the Kirk porposed by King Charles.

  • First War of Bishops

    Fought between Charles I and the Scots as the result of Charles' desire to impose Anglicanism on the Scottish Church.

  • Canons of 1640

    In the spring of 1640 Parliament met for the first time in 11 years and with it the clerical assembly, the Convocation, which laid down in a new set of canons the principles of the Laudian church.
    1. read text reminfing the authority's of the king given by god, 7. placement of the altar, 8. ceremonies are legal & to be respected, 6. swear before nov 1640 that the the Church had all things necessary for salvation.

  • Root and Branch Petition

    The London Petition of 1640 demanded that the episcopal system ‘with all its dependencies, roots, and branches, be abolished’. The Petition became known as the Root and Branch Petition; and the expression came to be used of any thoroughgoing policy.
    Around 1500 people accompanied the petition to Westminster, proof of growing support from the population.

  • Short Parliament

    Only last a month, form april 13th to 5th of may. First summoned since a decade, last one being in 1629. Charles summoned it after the First Bishops' War abortiveness. HGe needed it to grant subsidies for a new campaign that he desperately needed. The parliament, led by John Pym, refused considering the numerous grievances of the last decade and the controversial ship money.

  • Laud accused of High Treason

  • Period: to

    Long Parliament

  • Grand Remonstrance

    First proposed by John Pym, the effective leader of opposition to the King in Parliament, the Grand Remonstrance summarised all of Parliament's opposition to Charles's foreign, financial, legal and religious policies, setting forth 204 separate points of objection and calling for the expulsion of all bishops from Parliament, a purge of officials, with Parliament having a right of veto over Crown appointments, and an end to sale of land confiscated from Irish rebels.

  • Battle of Edgehill

    Battle of Edgehill, (Oct. 23, 1642), first battle of the English Civil Wars, in which forces loyal to the English Parliament, commanded by Robert Devereux, 3rd earl of Essex, fatally delayed Charles I’s march on London.

  • Nineteen Propositions

    June 1642 the English Lords and Commons approved a list of proposals known as the Nineteen Propositions. In these demands, the Long Parliament sought a larger share of power in the governance of the kingdom: Parliamentary supervision of foreign policy and responsibility for the command of the militia, non-professional body of the army, making ministers accountable to Parliament. Before the end of the month the King rejected the Propositions and in August the country descended into civil war.