History of British Literature

Transcription

1 History of British Literature The 17th Century: ca Torsten Caeners

2 The Main Players in the English Civil War King Charles I

3 Archbishop Laud The Main Players in the English Civil War

4 The Scots The Main Players in the English Civil War

5 The Main Players in the English Civil War Parliament

6 The Main Players in the English Civil War Oliver Cromwell

7 From the Bishops Wars to the Civil War The Bishops' Wars were fought between the Scots and English forces led by Charles I. These conflicts paved the way for the uprising of Parliament that began the English civil wars. Charles wanted to introduce Anglican reforms in the Scottish Kirk Introduction of the Anglcan Book of Common Prayer etc. 1638: The Scottish Assembly rejected Charles reforms. The Presbyterianism of the Scottish Kirk was to be upheld. In 1639, Charles invaded Scotland with a poorly funded army. 1640: When he found out that the Scots were collaborating with the French, Charles called Parliament.

8 The English Civil War: Charles I Charles had previously ruled 10 years without Parliament. The Parliament refused to grant the king new taxes. was opposed to military actions. Because the MPs were also inclined towards Calvinism and Presbyterianism. Archbishop Laud had worked with Charles in bringing about changes in the state church. These changes were disliked by many, particularly the Puritans. wanted the king to abandon several other taxes. Charles dissolved Parliament and set up an army on his own. This is why the Parliament is called The Short Parliament. He was defeated by the Scots and they even took English land.

9 The English Civil War: Charles I In November 1640, Chares was forced to call another Parliament: The Long Parliament Charles was in no good position to negotiate. He was forced to agree to Parliament s demands. He signed an act stating that Parliament was to be summoned every five years. November 1641:The Great Remonstrance A document brought forth by Parliament listing all its grievances against the king since his reign had began. January 1642 Charles attempts to arrest five MPs by force of arms. They had been warned and managed to escape.

10 The First English Civil War: First Civil War As the Londoners rose in arms against him, Charles fled the city. King and Parliament now armed for war. Parliament raised an army and Charles established a new court at Oxford. The Parliament had limited aims, namely: 1) Secure the powers of Parliament 2) Limit the King s powers over army and church 3) Establish Presbyterianism as state church

11 The First English Civil War: In the course of 4 years, Charles was defeated by the Parliament s NEW MODEL ARMY under Fairfax and Cromwell. What gave the NEW MODEL ARMY such an advantage? a professional army. based on a person s ability rather than on the position within society. many men in the New Model Army were Puritans who believed that God was on their side. It was not unusual for them to sing Psalms going into battle. Discipline was strict and the training was thorough. It was the first truly modern army.

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15 The English Civil War The King was taken prisoner by the Parliamentary forces. Parliament and King negotiated, but Charles was only playing for time: He fled to Scotland and convinced the Scots to fight on his side, promising to make Presbyterianism the state church of England. Second Civil War The King was again defeated. The leaders of the army now took drastic action: In the so called Pride s Purge, they expelled royalists and presbyterians from the Parliament, leaving a Rumb Parliament. This Rumb Parliament decided to execute the king.

16 The English Civil War Charles I executed January 30th, 1649

17 The English Republic or Commonwealth 1649 to The government between is properly called The Protectorate, and took the form of direct personal rule by Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector of England. It was a society organised according to Puritan laws: Puritan = umbrella term for a number of religious groups advocating purity in religous worship, and personal piety. The English Reformation had not gone far enough in their minds. Closely related to Reformed Churches on the Continent. Baptists, Calivinists, Prebyterians, Levellers, Diggers etc. Belief in Predestination.

18 The English Republic or Commonwealth Predestination God had already decided who will be admitted into Paradise. Those were called the Elect. A simple, pious life with financial success on Earth was seen as indicative of being among the elect. The Bible was the guideline for everything in society. All popular houses of entertainment were closed down (brothels, theatres, pubs, coffee houses etc) Even in private, entertainment was forbidden, including sex other than for procreative purposes.

19 The Restoration /89 In 1659, Oliver Cromwell dies. He is succeeded by his son William. William was, however, an utter loser and underachiever. Under the leadership of General Monk, negotiations are begun with Charles Stuart to return to England as Charles II. On 4 April 1660, The Declaration of Breda, which pardoned all who had fought against Charles I (except those who signed the death treaty). On 29th of May (his birthday) Charles II enters London.

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21 The Restoration /89 Charles intention is to rule in a manner that creates a balance between the fractions of his kingdom. However, he had to make compromises with the new Parliament and accept the The Clarendon Code: A series of four legal statutes passed between Re-established the supremacy of the Anglican Church, and ended toleration for dissenting religions. The Code was named for Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, who was Charles II's Lord Chancellor. Clarendon enforced the laws despite his personal (and Charles ) opposition to many of the provisions of the Code.

22 The Restoration /89 Edward Hyde, 1st Early of Clarendon

23 The Restoration /89 Charles ruled relatively peacefully for the first 10 years. His marriage to a Portuguese princess did not produce any legitimate children, however and 1678 Test Acts served as a religious test for public office and imposed various civil constrains on Roman Catholics and Nonconformists. The Exclusion Crisis ( ) Parliament brought forth a bill that sought to exclude the king's brother and heir presumptive James from the throne on the grounds that he was a Catholic The Earl of Shaftesbury is the King s main opponent in Parliament.

24 The Restoration /89 Anthony Baron Ashley 1st Earl of Shaftesbury Leader of the Whig opposition in Parliament A Coffe House, where the Whigs planned their campaigns.

25 The Restoration /89 The king s suporters in Parliament take on the name Tory, the opposition call themselves Whigs. Eventually, the king won and James succeeded in When a son is born to James II in 1688, the fear of a Catholic dynasty turned reality. Somewhat foolishly, James II continues his efforts to better the position of Catholics with more vigour. Parliament secretly sends note to William of Orange, husband of James daughter Mary, that they would not oppose an invasion of England on his part. William arrived in England with troops but enters London unopposed. THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION James flees to France leaving the throne empty. William and Mary become co-monarchs

26 The Restoration /89 James II William of Orange

27 Restoration Literature John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester Johnny Depp as John Wilmot in The Libertine friend and favourite of Charles II Second best poet of the Restoration after Dryden Notorious Rake. Banished from court three times was proud to say that he had been constantly drunk for a whole three years died in 1680 from tertiary syphilis

28 Restoration Literature She was so exquisite a whore That in the belly of her mother She placed her cunt so right before Her father fucked them both together.

29 Restoration Literature: Charles Mistresses Nell Gwyn Hortense Mancini, Duchess Mazarin Louise de Kérouaille. Duchess of Portsmouth

30 Some useful and entertaining sources: Charles II: The Power and the Passion (BBC TV mini-series) The Libertine (Johnny Depp) (2004) Restoration (Sam Neil, Robert Downey Jr) (1995)