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PURITAN SATIRE
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PURITAN SATIRE
A satirical view of a protestant bishops. Of God, Of Man, Of the Devell Date: circa 1644
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Media ID 20142125
© Bubblepunk
1644 Bishops Protestant Protestantism Puritan Puritans Satire Satirical
EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing print, titled "Puritan Satire: Of God, Of Man, Of the Devill," offers a provocative and satirical view of Protestant bishops during the English Civil War era, circa 1644. The Puritans, a radical Protestant group, sought to reform the Church of England by eliminating its perceived Catholic influences and returning to a simpler, more biblical form of worship. The central image of this print depicts a bishop, dressed in full regalia, seated on a throne with a large scale in one hand and a balance in the other. Above him, the caption reads "Of God," suggesting that the bishop is being weighed in the balance of divine justice. However, instead of the expected weights of righteousness and sin, the scales are filled with gold coins and a bag labeled "Simony," a reference to the corrupt practice of buying and selling church positions. To the left, a figure labeled "Of Man" presents the bishop with a large sack labeled "Tithes," emphasizing the financial exploitation of the laity by the clergy. To the right, the figure labeled "Of the Devill" offers the bishop a pitchfork and a bag labeled "Popery," suggesting that the bishop is in league with the devil and promoting Catholic practices. This satirical print reflects the deep-seated anger and distrust of the English populace towards the corrupt and oppressive practices of the Church of England and its bishops during the Puritan movement. The use of humor and exaggeration in the print serves to highlight the hypocrisy and greed of the clergy, and to rally support for the Puritan cause. Overall, this print is an important historical artifact that sheds light on the complex and contentious religious landscape of 17th-century England.
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