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Challenges of Changing Leadership
Who will win? We are preparing for a change in USA leadership. The right to vote is ours, but there is no assurance our preferred candidate will win. Regardless of who becomes the new President, does it create some anxiety?
This must be what Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks faced at the end of March 1625. King James died of dysentary/flux suddenly during a major plague of England. A new King would take his place.
King James was responsible for the Pilgrims (Separatists) leaving England. During his reign, the Pilgrims emigrated to Holland, then to a new colony in the New World, Plymouth. King James was not a friend of the less radical Godly (Puritans) either. Along with religion, King James also had England embroiled in many wars, one in particular with Spain.
King James’ death opened the throne to his heir. His first son died, so the throne was bestowed on his younger son, Prince Charles. At the time of King Jame’s death, Prince Charles was living in Scotland. Parliament called him to London and arranged a Spanish bride for him. Parliament hoped this would abate the battles between England and Spain.
Instead of accepting the arranged marriage, Prince Charles selected his own bride, Henrietta Maria of France. She was Catholic. Much earlier, King Henry the VIII left the Catholic Church and put himself as leader of the church Anglican Church instead of the Pope. This meant that King Henry the VIII didn’t have to adhere to the Catholic laws nor the decisions of the Pope. After King Henry the VIII, England’s King/Queens vacillated between support of the Catholic Church and Anglican Church. Puritans were Anglican but wanted to rid the church further of Catholic ritual and pomp. It appeared King Charles, because he chose a Catholic bride, would support a more Catholic-like church for England and rid England of the Puritans, which he did.
Jonathan and Grace were caught in the question of what their homeland would be like under the new King. They found he would persecute Puritans. Though we don’t expect such extreme actions in our newly elected administration, we don’t know exactly what to expect from those who will lead the country. Of course, the USA has in place a more democratic government which puts much strength in the President, Congress, and Supreme Court as a three-tier check and balance for power.
Yes, as we experience the anxiety of changing leadership of our nation, we can better understand the decisions and actions of Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks. The leadership in early 1600 England was a major reason that nearly 40,000 people along with Jonathan and Grace left England before 1640. King Charles I was persecuting the Puritans. What would Jonathan and Grace’s story be if they had not made the hard choice for themselves and their family to emigrate to the New World?