2 Royalist preachers and the First Civil War
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William White
Abstract
This chapter examines the relationship between preaching and royalist mobilisations during the First Civil War. Documenting the ways in which the pulpit was used to generate support and resources for Charles I’s armies, it draws on recent historiography that has emphasised the fluidity and contingency of Civil War allegiance. Although the link between the clergy and military mobilisation has been underexplored, it is argued that royalist preachers in the provinces throughout – and not just at the outset of – the conflict were central to the perennial struggle to secure men, money and resources for the king from local populations far less enthusiastic about the war effort. The chapter emphasises that the more famous parliamentarian divines like Stephen Marshall were far from alone in using providential rhetoric and scriptural exemplarity to drive men to war and counteract backsliding and compromise. The royalist clergy urged the king’s supporters to stake their lives in what they depicted as a holy war between God’s people and his enemies, upon whom violent retribution must be exacted. Indeed, it is argued that king’s clerical supporters actually learned from the apparent success of their opponents in mobilising troops from the pulpit: this is shown most clearly in the way that the Curse of Meroz was co-opted by royalists to undermine neutrality and prepare troops for battle with the enemy.
Abstract
This chapter examines the relationship between preaching and royalist mobilisations during the First Civil War. Documenting the ways in which the pulpit was used to generate support and resources for Charles I’s armies, it draws on recent historiography that has emphasised the fluidity and contingency of Civil War allegiance. Although the link between the clergy and military mobilisation has been underexplored, it is argued that royalist preachers in the provinces throughout – and not just at the outset of – the conflict were central to the perennial struggle to secure men, money and resources for the king from local populations far less enthusiastic about the war effort. The chapter emphasises that the more famous parliamentarian divines like Stephen Marshall were far from alone in using providential rhetoric and scriptural exemplarity to drive men to war and counteract backsliding and compromise. The royalist clergy urged the king’s supporters to stake their lives in what they depicted as a holy war between God’s people and his enemies, upon whom violent retribution must be exacted. Indeed, it is argued that king’s clerical supporters actually learned from the apparent success of their opponents in mobilising troops from the pulpit: this is shown most clearly in the way that the Curse of Meroz was co-opted by royalists to undermine neutrality and prepare troops for battle with the enemy.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- Abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 The pulpit and public politics, 1640–2 16
- 2 Royalist preachers and the First Civil War 47
- 3 Preaching, peace and providence at royalist Oxford 72
- 4 Sermons and the politics of counsel, 1646–51 98
- 5 Resisting the republican regime 134
- 6 Apostacy, loyalty and the Interregnum pulpit 160
- 7 ‘If the king will not comply’ 186
- 8 Hearing and reading royalist sermons 211
- Conclusion 242
- Bibliography of manuscript sources 247
- Index 250
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements viii
- Abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 The pulpit and public politics, 1640–2 16
- 2 Royalist preachers and the First Civil War 47
- 3 Preaching, peace and providence at royalist Oxford 72
- 4 Sermons and the politics of counsel, 1646–51 98
- 5 Resisting the republican regime 134
- 6 Apostacy, loyalty and the Interregnum pulpit 160
- 7 ‘If the king will not comply’ 186
- 8 Hearing and reading royalist sermons 211
- Conclusion 242
- Bibliography of manuscript sources 247
- Index 250
