English attitudes toward continental Protestants with particular reference to church briefs c.1680-1740
It has long been accepted that the Catholic threat posed by Louis X1V played an important role in English politics from the late seventeenth century onwards. The expansionist politics of Louis and his attempts to eliminate Protestants within his sphere of influence enhanced the sense of a general crisis of Protestantism in Europe. Moreover news of the persecution of foreign Protestants stimulated a great deal of anti-popish sentiment as well as a sense of the need for Protestant solidarity. The purpose of my studies is to explore how the English perceived the persecution of continental Protestants and to analyse what it meant for the English to be involved in various relief programmes for them from c. 1680 to 1740. Accordingly, I have examined the church briefs which were issued to raise contributions for the relief of continental Protestants, and which serve as evidence of Protestant internationalism against the perceived Catholic threat of the day. I have considered the spectrum of views concerning continental Protestants within the Church; in some attitudes evinced by clergymen, there was an element which might be called ecclesiastical imperialism rather than internationalism. At the same time I have examined
Nishikawa, Sugiko
Catholics; Protestantism; Louis XIV; Europe
English attitudes toward continental Protestants with particular reference to church briefs c.1680-1740. It has long been accepted that the Catholic threat posed by Louis X1V played an important role in English politics from the late seventeenth century onwards. The expansionist politics of Louis and his attempts to eliminate Protestants within his sphere of influence enhanced the sense of a general crisis of Protestantism in Europe. Moreover news of the persecution of foreign Protestants stimulated a great deal of anti-popish sentiment as well as a sense of the need for Protestant solidarity. The purpose of my studies is to explore how the English perceived the persecution of continental Protestants and to analyse what it meant for the English to be involved in various relief programmes for them from c. 1680 to 1740. Accordingly, I have examined the church briefs which were issued to raise contributions for the relief of continental Protestants, and which serve as evidence of Protestant internationalism against the perceived Catholic threat of the day. I have considered the spectrum of views concerning continental Protestants within the Church; in some attitudes evinced by clergymen, there was an element which might be called ecclesiastical imperialism rather than internationalism. At the same time I have examined
english attitude_toward continental protestants particular_reference church long accept catholic threat_pose louis play_important_role english politics onwards expansionist politics louis attempt eliminate protestants within_sphere influence enhance sense general crisis protestantism europe moreover news persecution foreign protestants stimulate great_deal anti sentiment well sense need protestant solidarity purpose_study explore english perceive persecution continental protestants analyse meant english involve various relief programme accordingly examine church brief issue_raise contribution relief continental protestants serve evidence protestant internationalism perceive catholic threat day consider spectrum view concern continental protestants within_church attitude evince clergyman element might_call ecclesiastical imperialism rather internationalism time examine