Udine, 13th February 2023

LEZIONE 1 THE STUARTS AND THE CHRISTIANITY

The English Civil War and the Stuart Restoration

The English Civil War ended in 1649 with the execution of King Charles I and the
establishment of the Commonwealth of England. The Commonwealth had no king but
instead tried to act as a democratic governing body. However, in 1653, Oliver
Cromwell used his control over the military to force his agenda through Parliament.
He was named Lord Protector of England, which lasted until he died in 1658. The
Protectorate passed to Cromwell's son, who could not control the army. They revolted,
removed him, and set in motion the Parliamentary conversations that would welcome
Charles I's son, Charles II, back to England as king.

Restoration Terms of Approval

Charles II was in Breda, the Netherlands, when Parliament delivered their terms to
approve a restoration. In response, Charles issued the Declaration of Breda on April 4,
1660, promising to:

• Pardon crimes committed during the English Civil War, including the execution
of his father, Charles I.
• Grant religious toleration to groups that did not conform to the Church of
England.
• Uphold land purchases made during the Commonwealth period.
• Pay the army.
• Work with Parliament to administer the realm.

Charles II's coronation took place on April 23, 1661, when he was confirmed king of
England, Ireland, and Scotland.

The Stuart Restoration lasted from 1660 to 1688. It was a time when the Stuart family
reigned as kings of England. However, after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the
Stuart monarchy was removed from power by a coup led by Dutch Prince William III
and his wife, Mary, the daughter of the Stuart king James II. During both Charles II
and his brother James II's reigns, much legislation passed through Parliament to
stabilize the government, especially in matters of religion, including the Clarendon
Code, named after Charles II's Chancellor, Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon.

The Clarendon Code

• 1661:Corporation Act restricted government positions to Anglicans.

• 1662: Act of Uniformity re-established the Anglican Church of England and
required all clerics to be ordained as Anglican. More than 2,000 clerics refused
and lost their positions.
• 1664:The Conventicle Act outlawed non-Anglican religious gatherings of more
than five people.
• 1665:The Five Mile Act prohibited clerics who lost their positions in 1662 from
living within 5 miles of their former parishes.

Charles II greatly expanded England's colonies, adding New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas. The number of emigrants to the colonies also increased.

What was the significance of the Stuart Restoration?

The Restoration brought back the monarchy to England and strengthened its global
position both within Europe and in their North American colonies.

What happened after the Stuart Restoration?

The Glorious Revolution (1688) replaced the Stuart monarch, James II, with his daughter
and Dutch son-in-law, who became Mary II and William III.

What was the impact of the Stuart Restoration?

The Restoration brought back the monarchy to England and strengthened its global
position both within Europe and in their North American colonies.

Was the Stuart Restoration a failure?

The Restoration was not a complete failure, because the monarchy remained after the
Glorious Revolution. But it failed to resolve important issues such as religious toleration
and the division of power between the king and Parliament.

CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND

In 1534 HENRY VIII went to church , he criticised the Catholicism and Martin Lutero.
In the early 18th century England was noted for its lack of religious enthusiasm, it was
an age of reason rather than dogmatism and it began into a change.
Methodists were a new religious movement while the English reformation was made
by HENRY VIII, he was named DEFENDER OF THE FAITH for his opposition to
Luther’s reformation.
The doctrine of the English reformation differed little to royal authority.

• THE ANGLICAN CHURCH or CHURCH OF ENGLAND : was very similar

to Catholics church. The church of England was used the English language in
the liturgy.
• The main traditions are known as ANGLO – CATHOLICISM.
• THE PURITANS ( EX CALVINISTS ) : were English protestants in the 16th
century and 17th centuries. It was never a formally defined religious division
within Protestantism.
• Puritan means something against pleasure.
• THE PRESBYTERIANS : emphasizes the sovereignty of God , the
authority of the Scriptures. They are a group of protestants whose church is
founded on the concept of democratic rule and the Word of God.
• THE INDEPENDENTS ( NO CONFORMISTS ) : they were one of the
three denominations of Nonconformism and they believed in the free association
of Christians into congregations.
• During the 18th century PRESBYTERIANS tended to move away from their
original Calvinist beliefs.

Why this period was so dangerous in the monarchy?

James I didn’t want bishops and he wanted to create a full governmental union. He
ordered a new translation of the Bible which became know as the Authorised KING
JAMES’S VERSION of the Bible.
The Catholics were mostly people of aristocrats they had the authority of the King. The
king and the threat came out with the GUNPOWER PLOT in 1605.
It was a failed attempt to assassinate the King James I of England during the opening
od Parliament in November 1606. ( CONGIURA DELLE POLVERI )
England had to change the partnership, it was the Catholic country : Scandinavia,
Germany, they came from abroad and the dynasty following by WILLIAM OF
ORANGE.

JAMES’S SUCCESSION : was followed by CHARLES I, who showed

immediately, he followed absolutism and received the mandate for the parliament.
The parliament was the expression of the Lords and Commons ( aristocracy ) , there
were also members of the middle class.

PETITIONS OF RIGHTS ( PETIZIONE DEI DIRITTI )

It is an English constitutional document setting out specific individual protections
against the state, reportedly of equal value to MAGNA CARTA and the BILL OF
RIGHTS in 1689.
In 1628 Parliament forced the King to assent to the petition of rights, it is a legal
petition asserting a right against the English crown.
The parliament sent to Charles I complains of a series of breaches of law.