English Religious Opposition Increases

English Religious Opposition Increases

1632 - In England the Puritan opposition to theatre is growing by leaps and bounds. This year an acid-tongued Puritan pamphleteer called William Prynne* (1600-1669) comes

out with a work titled Histriomastix* (he will call a later one by the same title) attacking popular amusements in general and stage plays in particular. This torrent of venom can be seen in parts of its lengthy subtitle such as:

"...That popular Stage-players...are sinfull, heathenish, lewde, ungodly Spectacles, and most pernicious Corruptions; condemned in all ages as intolerable Mischiefes...And that the profession of Play-poets, of Stage- players; together with the penning, acting and frequenting of Stage players are unlawfull, infamous and misbeseeming Christians."

This viewpoint needs some exploration since it dogs the theatre down through the present day. The notion that the theatre, and consequently theatre going, affects the attitudes of the public is not a new argument. Pamphleteers make much use of historical precedent from classical sources as well as Christian sources. We have pointed out that Euro-centric theatre acts as a mirror for its society as well as a platform where public attitudes are propounded and debated. It is both the glory and the bane of theatre that it affects public opinion and action. In this particular case the Puritan view takes the position that human beings are inherently evil and must be won to God by exclusive devotion to hard work and religious observances. Anything which might distract the struggling soul from these two activities is a tool of the Devil.

Also at this point in time in England the Crown is seen as unresponsive to the Puritan view, mired in adherence to Anglican religious views and, more significantly, totally given over to extravagant financial support of theatrical entertainments. In this view every expenditure is unwillingly wrested from the public by illegal means (the King keeps disbanding or dismissing Parliament in order to raise money for the Crown) and the primary use to which this money is put appears (since it is the only clearly public evidence of expenditure) to be theatrical display. Consequently, theatre and crown are seen as identical in their evil.

Prynne* calls the theatre audience: "Adulteres, Adulteresses, Whore-masters, Whores, Bawdes, Panders, Ruffians,

Roarers, Drunkards, Prodigals, Cheaters, idle, base, prophane and godlesse persons, who hate all grace, all goodnesse, and make a mocke of piety."

He aptly represents the view that theatre stands for sensory pleasure, idleness, wanton spending and for the Crown. The Crown, for this view, is the symbol of all religious and political abuse and theatre is its willing tool.

It is this view that is transported across the Atlantic and planted on North American shores, particularly in New England. The period between 1629 and 1640 is known as the great "Puritan Exodus" from England. Something like 21,000 Puritans flee the triumph of absolutism in church and state in Charles I's England. The New World is, for these immigrants, to be made into a truly pious society from which the Crown, the theatre and all who seem to tend in that direction will be excluded or expelled. Fortunately the New World will also include other plantations with other views.

You will note that this particular view is one of the human extremes of social organization, still alive and well in current times under the appellations of "fundamentalism" whether Christian or Moslem. It is useful to keep in mind that the Moslem view has always excluded theatre as a viable social entity.

As we move on, in the 1600's, these matters in England go from bad to worse and defenders of the theatre are overwhelmed by the Puritan opposition.

1633 Charles I* is crowned the King of Scotland and revives a fine on forest use to raise money.

William Laud* (1573-1645) becomes the Archbishop of Cantebury and virtual first minister for Charles I*. He is a passionate advocate of the Anglican Church and vehemently opposed to Calvinism and Puritanism. He has had a free hand in opposing these protestant sects and is now trying to root out Presbyterianism in Scotland (which is why Charles I* is here being crowned this year.)

Charles I* and Laud* works closely with Sir Thomas Wentworth,* the First Earl of Strafford* (he is president of council of the north, privy councilor and lord deputy of Ireland where he put down both Catholic and Ulster Presbyterians.) Between these councillors and the notorious tribunals of the Court (the Star Chamber and High Commission Court), Charles I* is able to bypass normal legal processes and rule as he wishes.

1633 - Back in Spain Calderon* is coming out with plays exploring honor. This year he does Devotion to the Cross*.