In 1631, the clock makers broke away from the control of the
Blacksmiths. The gunmakers also broke away from the Blacksmiths.
The tinplate workers broke away from the Ironmongers.
"Searching" for bad cloth became more difficult as the industry
became more diversified. For instance, a new machine called a gig-
mill did the work of many hand finishers. In 1633, Charles issued
a commission for the reformation of the cloth industry with minute
directions for the manufacture of cloth. But there were many
disagreements over the details of manufacture and reform was
difficult to enforce.
By the 1630s, many parishes had a resident intellectual for the
first time. The parish priests came from gentry, upper yeomanry,
urban tradesmen and clerical families. They were educated and
highly learned. They had libraries and were in touch with
contemporary religious debates. They saw their role primarily as
pastoral care. Many wanted to improve the religious knowledge and
moral conduct of their parishioners. Puritan influence deepened as
they forbade dancing, games, minstrels, and festivals. They
punished superstitious conduct. They initiated prosecutions in
church courts for sexual lapses and drunkenness. The church court
had little coercive power and its punishments were restricted to
penance or excommunication. Many Puritan sects espoused equality
for women. By the 1640s women were preachers, e.
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