Puritans

Puritans, who wanted to remove practices they considered Catholic from the Church of England, regarded these reforms as dangerously ‘popish’. These were fears about Charles’s policies, not proof that England had become Catholic.

Puritans objected particularly to entertainments held on Sundays, which they believed should be devoted to worship. In 1583, a bear-baiting arena at Paris Garden in London collapsed, killing spectators. Puritans interpreted the disaster as a sign of God's anger.

Some MPs were Puritans, strict Protestants who wanted further changes to the Church. They demanded the abolition of bishops and assurances that Elizabeth’s successor would be Protestant. MPs also criticised Elizabeth’s grants of monopolies to favoured courtiers: these exclusive trading rights made royal favour a matter of wider concern.

By 1600, Puritans formed an influential group of Protestants. They wanted simpler worship and believed that people should follow the Bible strictly in everyday life. Where Puritan influence was strong, constables and Justices of the Peace tried to enforce stricter standards by punishing behaviour such as drinking and swearing as ‘moral’ crimes.