Prideaux Redivivus and the Road to Civil War, 1640–2

Abstract

This chapter traces Prideaux’s career from the opening of the Long Parliament in November 1640 to his departure from Oxford in July 1642, immediately before the start of the Civil War. This was a period when, with Laud removed from the political and ecclesiastical scene, Prideaux’s fortunes revived. He began to publish again, was a member of the Lords’ subcommittee on religious reform, and in November 1641 was made bishop of Worcester in an attempt by the king to placate his puritan and parliamentary opponents. The Commons at this time were almost obsessively anti-Catholic, their obsessiveness increased by the outbreak of rebellion in Ireland. But they were also increasing hostile to all bishops, and Prideaux’s promotion had the opposite effect to that intended. Shortly before his elevation he had been made Oxford’s vice-chancellor, under the new chancellor, Philip Herbert, earl of Pembroke. As war came near, Prideaux identified himself ever more closely with the king’s cause, using his university position to raise money for Charles, an event which precipitated the Commons’ fury and led Prideaux to flee to his diocesan seat at Worcester. The revival in his fortunes had been short-lived.