“An Ancient Mother in our Israel”: Women and the Rise of English Puritanism Before the Civil Wars

Abstract

The role of puritan women is examined here through two contrasting descriptions of a puritan from the 1620s, one positive and one negative. These descriptions raise wider questions about the definition of puritanism, especially when assessing the role of women within the movement. Defining puritanism in relation to women invites us to consider the ways in which they expressed their religious views and how those views were interpreted by their contemporaries. Just as Catholic survivalism was promoted by women who transmitted Catholicism to younger generations, puritan women also furthered the religious traditions of their families. After the Reformation this process naturally included the newly legitimised families of the clergy. Moreover, women living in puritan households, where there was an emphasis on literacy combined with religious education, used their knowledge of the Bible to influence others in a variety of ways including the production of unpublished texts. This paper will explore some of the contributions made by women to the rise of puritanism from Elizabeth’s reign to the Civil Wars as well as contemporary reactions to the religious authority displayed by female Puritans as patrons, authors and educators.