Elizabethan Popular Culture

Popular Belief and Reform in Religion

Popular Belief and Reforlll in Religion The fecundity of sacrifice: the cross bears fruit A Convocation of the clergy meeting to consider Articles of Faith in 1562 defeated by a vote of 59 to 58 these propositions against popery: 1. That Sundays and the principal feasts of Christ be kept holy days, and all other holy days abrogated. 2. That the minister in common prayer turn his face to the people. 3. That making the cross on the child's head in baptism be omitted as tending to superstition. 4. That kneeling in [taking] Communion be left to the minister's discretion. 5. That it is sufficient for the minister to use a surplice [and not a cope, etc.]. 6. That the use of organs cease. Ten years later the Puritans were still fighting about vestments which in an Admonition to Parliament (1572) they said were alleged to be for order and decency commanded, yet we know and have proved that there is neither order nor comeliness nor obedience in using it. There is no order in it, but confusion; no comeliness, but deformity; no obedience, but disobedience to God and to the prince...copes, caps, surplices, tippets and such like baggage, the preaching signs of popish priesthood...garments of the Idol. ..garments of the Balamites [idolators], of popish priests, enemIes to God and all Christians. They were determined to serve God without Romish reminders and warned: ...we will by God's grace address ourselves to defend His truth by our suffering, and willingly lay our heads to the block, and this shall be our peace, to have quiet consciences with our God, whom we will abide for, with all patience, until He work our full deliverance. For such issues Elizabethans went to the cudgels, the courts, the prisons and the gallows and the stake. Released from captivity by the Ottoman Turks, an unfortunate English Protestant fell into the hands of His Most Catholic Majesty of Spain, which was something like going from the frying pan into the fire. Then I asked him why he kept me so long in prison, which never committed offence to them, knowing very well that I had been captive in Algiers nearly five years space, saying, that when God, by His merciful providence had, through 201 202 Elizabethan Popular Culture many great dangers, set me in a Christian country, and delivered me from the cruelty of the Turk, when I thought to find such favour as one Christian oweth to another, I found them now more cruel than the Turks, not knowing any cause why. "The cause," said he, "is because the King hath wars with the Queen of England." For at that instant, there was their army prepared ready to go to England. Whereupon they would divers times give me reproachful words, saying that I should hear shortly of their arrival in England, with innumerable vain brags, which I omit for brevity. Then did I demand, "If there were not peace between the King and the Queen's Majesty, whether they would keep me still?" "Yea," said he, "unless thou wilt submit thyself to the faith of the Romish Church." So he commanded me away. I asked wherefore he sent for me, and to send me away, not alleging any matter against me. He said I should have no other matter alleged but that which I had spoken with mine own mouth. Then I demanded why they would have the Romish Church to have the supremacy? Whereto he would make no answer. Then I asked if they took me to be a Christian? "Yes," said he, "in some respects; but you are out of the faith of the true Church." Then the keeper took me to prison again. And after for the space of three weeks I was brought forth to answer three several times every week. At which times they did sometimes threaten me with death, somewhile with punishment; and many times they attempted to seduce me with fair words and promises of great preferment; but when they saw nothing would draw me from the truth, they called me "shameless Lutheran," saying many times, "See, he is of the very blood of Luther! He hath his very countenance!" with many other frivolous speeches. After all this, he commanded to put me in the dungeon within the Castle, five fathoms under ground; giving me, once a day, a little bread and...