Quakers Part I

Quakerism was a radical religion. It challenges the formal church as unnecessary to the understanding of God by man. Further its treatment of the equality of men was a challenge to a social system based on hierarchy. So, how did the rest of society, the other 98% in those early days, see the new preachers.

The New Model Army was a breeding ground for all radical ideas. Quakerism, although now pacifist, wasn't formally until 1661. While pacifism is its logical outcome, the movement was still developing towards that goal in the 1650's. Monck found his Scottish command to have many converts. He acted immediately and purged forty soldiers. Henry Cromwell (in Ireland) wrote 'I think their principles and practises are not very consistent with civil government, much less with the discipline of an army.' It brought too many memories back for Monck, of the 'Factions temper of the army about the tyme the levellers appeared at first.' The army's response was to crush the movement.

The gentry's response to the movement was varied, certain more radical attempted to save the Quakers from persecution. Persecution there was, however, the threat the gentry felt was unacceptable, these people who flouted social etiquette, had to be stopped.

In mid 1656 there was a drive against Friends to limit their spread. Many acts from the reign of Mary were used, as was the Elizabethan vagrancy act. Cromwell's personal tolerance towards Friends (he perceived that they were of defect of understanding, rather than malice in their wills) was taken to mean whatever locals wanted. Quaker tendancies to interrupt church services often landed them in trouble, and the full force of art, Catholic legislation was used against them.

Why did the gentry fear them? Barry Reay, in an excellent book called 'The Quakers and the English Revolution', (which I confess heavily influenced the structure of this article!) quotes R. South in saving 'if there was not a minister in every parish you would quickly find causes to increase the number of constables,' shows the elites view. The rejection of the hegemony of the elite was a direct challenge to their position. One in which Presbyterian and Anglican Could combine. It was to be expected that the elite would unite against this threat. For the power of Church and Gentry were challenged by Friends.

The ordinary people responded to the challenge of Quakers in many ways. While some united to aid persecuted brethren, others would set about the missionaries with clubs. Reasons for the popular hatred are hard to explain as so little evidence exists, although cases of it arc well documented. One factor that may be important is the visibility Of Quakers.

The Quakers were a very visible sect, their 'Foreign' preachers could so often be associated with hate figures, Quaker meant Roundhead. 'Popular Press' tracts accused them of everything from witchcraft to being a Jesuitical fifth column by way of incest and child sacrifice. These unsettling folk were easy targets for muck slinging and much of it stuck. It was easy for many local myths to spread about the newly arrived preacher. Cases of witchcraft are well documented.

Quakers were an easy target visible and isolated, young thugs could pick on them without too much comeback, apprentice riots as Steve Smith shows, saw themselves as 'moral agents', defending what they saw as right, (and we mustn't forget the role in all this.)

Reactions to the Quakers varied from place to place, but were mainly negative. The gentry feared them as a threat to established religion and society, for the population in general, the Quaker was the outsider, the radical and in some cases the economic. All in all, the force of formal law and popular violence was arranged against Friends.

Sources

The Quakers and the English Revolution. B. Reat
Worship and Theology in England 1603-1690.H. Davis
World Turned Upside Down. C. Hill
Cromwell and Communism. E. Bernstein
As yet Unpublished Researches on the Cornish Friends. P. Griffith

Quakers Part I

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