Roger Maynwaring
Encyclopedia
Roger Maynwaring (1590–1653) was an English bishop, known for his support for absolutism
.
, and educated at Worcester
grammar, and All Souls College, Oxford
. He became rector of St Giles in the Fields
in 1616.
He was made a royal chaplain in 1626. He preached in favour of the royal prerogative
at the time of the forced loan confrontation of 1627. He spoke of the hazard of damnation of those who resisted the royal command, when it came to raising taxes, or forced loans, a burning topic at the time. He also implied that the consent of Parliament to taxation wasn't a requirement. The doctrine involved was not innovative, since it drew on the writings of Lancelot Andrewes
, Marc' Antonio de Dominis, and Hadrian Saravia. But, in context, the application to taxes was particularly pointed. Others preached in the same way, including Isaac Bargrave
and Matthew Wren
.
These addresses added fuel to an existing controversy, and created tension at a time of political strain. King Charles I
had wished to have related sermons by Robert Sibthorpe
printed; but George Abbot, the Archbishop of Canterbury
, resisted. Making use of William Laud
and other bishops, Charles had his way. In fact Laud had prompted Maynwaring to his topic, and pressed George Montaigne
to license for publication both Sibthorpe’s and Maynwaring’s texts, as Religion and (1627).
The immediate consequence was that Maynwaring was impeached by the House of Commons, which objected to the views expressed, and the House of Lords accused him and Robert Sibthorpe
of subverting the commonwealth. John Pym
was very prominent in forwarding the impeachment. In 1628 Maynwaring was imprisoned and fined; he was also suspended as a minister, prevented from clerical or secular advancement, and told he could not preach at Court.
The King in short order pardoned Maynwaring, instructing Attorney General Robert Heath
to draw up the papers within a month, and gave him a further living, Stanford Rivers
. Some years later, Maynwaring became Dean of Worcester, and then Bishop of St David's
.
The matter was not regarded as closed, and Maynwaring was attacked in the Short Parliament
of 1640, where Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
once more raised his case. He was imprisoned again by the Long Parliament
.
Absolutism (European history)
Absolutism or The Age of Absolutism is a historiographical term used to describe a form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by all other institutions, such as churches, legislatures, or social elites...
.
Life
He was born in ShropshireShropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, and educated at Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
grammar, and All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
. He became rector of St Giles in the Fields
St Giles in the Fields
St Giles in the Fields, Holborn, is a church in the London Borough of Camden, in the West End. It is close to the Centre Point office tower and the Tottenham Court Road tube station. The church is part of the Diocese of London within the Church of England...
in 1616.
He was made a royal chaplain in 1626. He preached in favour of the royal prerogative
Royal Prerogative
The royal prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege, and immunity, recognized in common law and, sometimes, in civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy as belonging to the sovereign alone. It is the means by which some of the executive powers of government, possessed by and...
at the time of the forced loan confrontation of 1627. He spoke of the hazard of damnation of those who resisted the royal command, when it came to raising taxes, or forced loans, a burning topic at the time. He also implied that the consent of Parliament to taxation wasn't a requirement. The doctrine involved was not innovative, since it drew on the writings of Lancelot Andrewes
Lancelot Andrewes
Lancelot Andrewes was an English bishop and scholar, who held high positions in the Church of England during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. During the latter's reign, Andrewes served successively as Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester and oversaw the translation of the...
, Marc' Antonio de Dominis, and Hadrian Saravia. But, in context, the application to taxes was particularly pointed. Others preached in the same way, including Isaac Bargrave
Isaac Bargrave
Isaac Bargrave was an English royalist churchman, Dean of Canterbury from 1625 to 1643.-Life:He was the sixth son of Robert Bargrave, of Bridge, Kent, and was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. and M.A. On 9 July 1611 he was incorporated M.A. of Oxford, and in the October...
and Matthew Wren
Matthew Wren
"Matthew Wren" is also a British actor who appeared in BBC children's show Trapped!.Matthew Wren was an influential English clergyman and scholar.-Life:...
.
These addresses added fuel to an existing controversy, and created tension at a time of political strain. King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
had wished to have related sermons by Robert Sibthorpe
Robert Sibthorpe
Robert Sibthorpe or Sibthorp was an English clergyman who gained notoriety during the reign of King Charles I of England for his outspoken defense of the divine right of kings.-Biography:...
printed; but George Abbot, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, resisted. Making use of William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
and other bishops, Charles had his way. In fact Laud had prompted Maynwaring to his topic, and pressed George Montaigne
George Montaigne
George Montaigne was an English bishop.-Life:He graduated B.A. from Queens' College, Cambridge in 1590, and M.A. in 1593. In 1597 he was chaplain to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, on his expedition against Cadiz. He became rector of Great Cressingham in 1602...
to license for publication both Sibthorpe’s and Maynwaring’s texts, as Religion and (1627).
The immediate consequence was that Maynwaring was impeached by the House of Commons, which objected to the views expressed, and the House of Lords accused him and Robert Sibthorpe
Robert Sibthorpe
Robert Sibthorpe or Sibthorp was an English clergyman who gained notoriety during the reign of King Charles I of England for his outspoken defense of the divine right of kings.-Biography:...
of subverting the commonwealth. John Pym
John Pym
John Pym was an English parliamentarian, leader of the Long Parliament and a prominent critic of James I and then Charles I.- Early life and education :...
was very prominent in forwarding the impeachment. In 1628 Maynwaring was imprisoned and fined; he was also suspended as a minister, prevented from clerical or secular advancement, and told he could not preach at Court.
The King in short order pardoned Maynwaring, instructing Attorney General Robert Heath
Robert Heath
Sir Robert Heath was an English lawyer and judge.-Early life:He was educated at Tunbridge Wells grammar school, St John's College, Cambridge from age 14 and Clifford's Inn from age 17; and became a barrister of the Inner Temple in 1603. He was an MP for the City of London in 1620, and became...
to draw up the papers within a month, and gave him a further living, Stanford Rivers
Stanford Rivers
Stanford Rivers is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England. It is located North-East of Chipping Ongar, North-West of North Weald Bassett and South-East of Kelvedon Hatch.-External links:* *...
. Some years later, Maynwaring became Dean of Worcester, and then Bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
.
The matter was not regarded as closed, and Maynwaring was attacked in the Short Parliament
Short Parliament
The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks....
of 1640, where Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
once more raised his case. He was imprisoned again by the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
.