Radical Religion, 1640-1660

1. Radical Religion, 1640-1660 Origins, Characteristics, and Consequences Caricature of the Ranters, who rejected the “old way” Engraving from a Leveller broadsheet (1649)

2. Useful Resources on English Radicals http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/367/367-7.htm http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/367/367-72.htm www.exlibris.org www.diggers.org/english_diggers.htm The World Turned Upside Down (C. Hill) Oliver Cromwell A woman in Puritan dress

3. Origins and Traditions Protestant Reformation of the 16th century Predestination, The Holy Spirit, Antinomianism The Medieval Inheritance of Christian Theology Radical Sects (Anabaptists, The Family of Love) Reformed Theology and “the hotter sort”: Puritans Abbot Joachim of Fiore Thomas Muntzer Hendrik Niclaes

4. The Decline of Censorship Bishops and Courts, The Long Parliament The Root and Branch Petition, 1640 Abolition of Star Chamber, Court of High Commission, 1641 Printing Press Explosion of pamphlets and broadsides during the Civil War Charles in the House of Commons An early woodcut of a printing press

5. Characteristics Common to Many Radicals Geography Politics The Civil War Economics

6. Particular Groups of Dissenters Levellers and Diggers “Freeborn” John Lilburne, Richard Overton, the Army Sovereignty, Individual Rights, Franchise The Agreement of the People Gerard Winstanley and the “True Levellers” St. George’s Hill, Cobham Heath Holding wealth in common>private property St. George’s Hill; note the bald spot of chalk at the top.

7. Diggers Continued Winstanley’s works and goals The New Law of Righteousness The True Leveller Standard Advanced A Declaration from the Poor Oppressed People of England An Appeal to the House of Commons, desiring their answer; whether the Common-People shall have the quiet enjoyment of the Commons and Waste Lands; Or whether they shall be under the will of Lords of Manors still A modern rendition Christopher Hill

8. Old Dissenters Anabaptists Sixteenth century legacy of radicalism, slaughter by authorities General Baptists est. by John Smith (Arminian universal grace) Particular Baptists est. by Henry Jacob (Calvinistic election) Familists Christopher Vittels brings the faith of the Holy Spirit Revival during the 1640s, but fairly small numbers Many Familists fed into other dissenter groups

9. New Dissenters Seekers Rejection of dogma Small numbers The Holy Spirit John Saltmarsh, William Walwyn Ranters “Indwelling Spirit”; Joachim; antinomianism; drinking John Robin, Laurence Claxson, Abiezer Coppe Some Sweet Sips of Some Spirituall Wine (1649)

10. Sabbatarians Saturday, not Sunday; Continental origins Theophilus Brabourne: Of the Seventh Day (1660) Muggletonians Two witnesses foreseen in the Book of Revelation “Radical Puritans”: John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton (cousins) Divine Looking-Glass (1656) Lodowick Muggleton

11. Fifth Monarchy Men Five Kingdoms found in Daniel 2:44; fifth being the reign of Christ Common themes: prepare for the coming; reform the government; brotherly love>greed and power; care for the poor; pay the Army Key figures: John Rogers, Christopher Feake, John Canne Socinians Followers of Faustus Socinus (1539-1604) of Siena, Italy Common themes: Anti-Trinitarian (denied the Trinity); doctrine downplayed; early calls for latitudinarianism, tolerance Key figures: Paul Best, John Biddle (A Confession of Faith Touching the Holy Trinity, 1648) Daniel 2:44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Socinus

12. Quakers (“The Friends of the Truth”) Early radical social teaching, but later quietism Egalitarian; doffing hats; thou>you; “tremble at the name of the Lord” End-point for many religious radicals; more “respectable” quietism Accordingly higher numbers and continued strength post 1660 George Fox: North England; “inner light”; Baptist origins James Nayler: Ride into Bristol on an ass; flogged, branded, bored

13. Consequences: Reaction and Rationalism Proliferation of sects showed the impact of censorship Civil War opened up the Army to new ideas, travel Gradual shift during the Interregnum, away from radical society Ranter enthusiasm gives way to Quaker quietism and Socinian rationalism, latitudinarian religion, Deism Tolerance of Religion; rational/grounded elite view Do what it takes to avoid the melee of mid-century

14. Wrap-Up Origins Christian Traditions and Scripture; Protestant Reformation; Censorship Characteristics Holy Spirit; doctrine downplayed; social equality; potential antinomianism Consequences Tolerance/Latitudinarianism; rational/natural>enthusiastic; social control Strength of key dissenters: Quakers, Baptists, Congregationalists

15. Gerard Winstanley, 1649 • You noble Diggers all, stand up now, stand up now, • You noble Diggers all, stand up now, • The wast land to maintain, seeing Cavaliers by name • Your digging does maintain, and persons all defame • Stand up now, stand up now. • With spades and hoes and plowes, stand up now, stand up now • With spades and hoes and plowes stand up now, • Your freedom to uphold, seeing Cavaliers are bold • To kill you if they could, and rights from you to hold. • Stand up now, Diggers all. • The gentrye are all round, stand up now, stand up now, • The gentrye are all round, stand up now. • The gentrye are all round, on each side they are found, • Theire wisdom's so profound, to cheat us of our ground • Stand up now, stand up now. • 'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests, stand up now, stand up now, • 'Gainst lawyers and 'gainst Priests stand up now. • For tyrants they are both even flatt againnst their oath, • To grant us they are loath free meat and drink and cloth. • Stand up now, Diggers all.

16. And now for something completely different . . .