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Handout #181 |
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The Civil War |
| Anger against High Churchmen
Sir Benjamin Rudyerd was no revolutionary, for he was to fight for the king in the Civil War. But it is a proof of the anger which Laud's policies had raised among ordinary English gentlemen like Rudyerd that in 1640 A.D. he could deliver a speech in the House of Commons, bitterly attacking the Laudian clergy's divisive actions in the church: We well know what disturbance hath been brought upon the church for vain, petty trifles ... We have seen ministers, their wives, children and families undone, against all law against conscience; against all bowels of compassion; about not dancing upon Sundays. What do these sort of men think will become of themselves when the master of the house shall come, and find them thus beating their fellow servants? These inventions are but sieves made on purpose to winnow the best men, and that's the devil's occupation. They have a mind to worry preaching; for I never yet heard of any but diligent preachers that were vexed with these and the like devices ... They would evaporate and dispirit the power and vigor of religion, by drawing it out into some solemn, specious formalities into obsolete, antiquated ceremonies, new furbished up ... they have so brought it to pass that, under the name of Puritans, all our religion is branded; and, under a few hard words against Jesuits, all popery is countenanced. Whosoever squares his actions by any rule, either divine or human, he is a Puritan. Whoever would be governed by the King's laws, he is a Puritan. He that will not do whatsoever other men would have him do, he is a Puritan. Their great work, their masterpiece, now is, to make all those of the religion to be the suspected party of the kingdom ... |
