Robert Everard
Encyclopedia
Robert Everard was an English soldier who fought for the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War
and was a religious controversialist in the 1650s. He promoted Baptist
views, Socinianism
and Arianism
; and in later years declared himself a Roman Catholic convert.
points to the possibility of charlatanry involved in some of the events of the 1640s, picking up comments of John Pordage
. Pordage was (on his own account) in contact with Robert Everard for a couple of months in late 1649, which were filled with impressive conjuring tricks or illusions, and saw him experience a breakdown leaving him in Bridewell Hospital. Hill also comments on the generic nature of the conversion narrative of the pamphlet in which Everard's Catholicism was announced, and its lack of historical foundation. Richard Baxter
, who theorised that the Independents
were a Catholic conspiracy, found in Everard a possible example of his theory, that Independents might be crypto-Catholics.
It has been suggested by Hill that this Robert Everard may coincide with the William Everard who was a leader of the Diggers. Some references in the literature, if Robert and William are different people, may have confused the two. Hill in an earlier book gives an example, relating to an Everard who was a guest of Roger Crab
. William Everard's
career as a Digger leader, with Gerrard Winstanley
, was quite short, beginning on 1 April 1649 at a hill in Walton-on-Thames
. He was an ex-soldier, and also a sometime Leveller. William Poole comments that the identities of Robert and William Everard were confused by their contemporaries. Hill's suggestion does not have wide support.
Another point is whether this Robert Everard was the same figure as the person of that name, Robert Everard the Agitator (New Agent), involved in the 1647 Putney Debates
, and a signatory of the Agreement of the People
(October 28). Here contemporary scholarship largely does make the connection. Nigel Smith in speaking of the "General Baptist and Leveller" identifies the two. The Leveller was a Trooper (called Buff-Coat while he remained anonymous) of the Lieutenant-General's Regiment, while the controversialist claimed an army rank of Captain (and was so identified by Pordage). The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography also identifies the two; William Everard has a separate article there.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and was a religious controversialist in the 1650s. He promoted Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
views, Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
and Arianism
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
; and in later years declared himself a Roman Catholic convert.
Identity
Beyond the facts known from the controversial literature, his identity is still a somewhat confused matter, depending on the credibility of the sources. Christopher HillChristopher Hill (historian)
John Edward Christopher Hill , usually known simply as Christopher Hill, was an English Marxist historian and author of textbooks....
points to the possibility of charlatanry involved in some of the events of the 1640s, picking up comments of John Pordage
John Pordage
John Pordage was an Anglican priest, astrologer, alchemist and Christian mystic. He founded the 17th century English Behmenist group which would later become known as the Philadelphian Society when it was led by his disciple and successor, Jane Leade.-Behmenists:John Pordage was the eldest son of...
. Pordage was (on his own account) in contact with Robert Everard for a couple of months in late 1649, which were filled with impressive conjuring tricks or illusions, and saw him experience a breakdown leaving him in Bridewell Hospital. Hill also comments on the generic nature of the conversion narrative of the pamphlet in which Everard's Catholicism was announced, and its lack of historical foundation. Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
, who theorised that the Independents
Independent (religion)
In English church history, Independents advocated local congregational control of religious and church matters, without any wider geographical hierarchy, either ecclesiastical or political...
were a Catholic conspiracy, found in Everard a possible example of his theory, that Independents might be crypto-Catholics.
It has been suggested by Hill that this Robert Everard may coincide with the William Everard who was a leader of the Diggers. Some references in the literature, if Robert and William are different people, may have confused the two. Hill in an earlier book gives an example, relating to an Everard who was a guest of Roger Crab
Roger Crab
Roger Crab was an English soldier, haberdasher, herbal doctor and writer who is best known for his ascetic lifestyle which included Christian vegetarianism. Crab fought in the Parliamentary Army in the English Civil War before becoming a haberdasher in Chesham. He later became a hermit and worked...
. William Everard's
William Everard (Digger)
William Everard was an early leader of the Diggers.-Biography:William Everard was apprenticed on 14 August 1616 to Robert Miller of the Merchant Taylors' Company, London. He was the son of William Everad, a yeoman of Reading and had been baptized on 9 May 1602 in the parish of St Giles, Reading,...
career as a Digger leader, with Gerrard Winstanley
Gerrard Winstanley
Gerrard Winstanley was an English Protestant religious reformer and political activist during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell...
, was quite short, beginning on 1 April 1649 at a hill in Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames is a town in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey in South East England. The town is located south west of Charing Cross and is between the towns of Weybridge and Molesey. It is situated on the River Thames between Sunbury Lock and Shepperton Lock.- History :The name "Walton" is...
. He was an ex-soldier, and also a sometime Leveller. William Poole comments that the identities of Robert and William Everard were confused by their contemporaries. Hill's suggestion does not have wide support.
Another point is whether this Robert Everard was the same figure as the person of that name, Robert Everard the Agitator (New Agent), involved in the 1647 Putney Debates
Putney Debates
The Putney Debates were a series of discussions between members of the New Model Army – a number of the participants being Levellers – concerning the makeup of a new constitution for England....
, and a signatory of the Agreement of the People
Agreement of the People
An Agreement of the People was a series of manifestos, published between 1647 and 1649, for constitutional changes to the English state. Several versions of the Agreement were published, each adapted to address not only broad concerns but also specific issues during the fast changing...
(October 28). Here contemporary scholarship largely does make the connection. Nigel Smith in speaking of the "General Baptist and Leveller" identifies the two. The Leveller was a Trooper (called Buff-Coat while he remained anonymous) of the Lieutenant-General's Regiment, while the controversialist claimed an army rank of Captain (and was so identified by Pordage). The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography also identifies the two; William Everard has a separate article there.
Works
Publications by Robert Everard include:- Baby-baptism Routed, London, 1650. This elicited a reply from Nathaniel StephensNathaniel Stephens (clergyman)Nathaniel Stephens , was an English clergyman, ejected for nonconformity in 1662. He is now best known for his part in the early life of George Fox. He was a controversialist in the presbyterian interest, engaging also with Baptists, and with Gerard Winstanley. the universalist...
(supported by John Bryan and Obadiah GrewObadiah Grew-Life:Grew was born at Atherstone, Warwickshire on 1 November 1607, the third son of Francis Grew and Elizabeth Denison. He was baptised the same day at the parish church of Mancetter, Warwickshire. Francis Grew was a layman, originally of good estate but impoverished by prosecutions for...
); whose work was then criticised by John TombesJohn Tombes-Early life:He was born at Bewdley, Worcestershire, in 1602 or 1603. He matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 23 January 1618, aged 15. His tutor there was William Pemble; among his college friends was John Geree. He graduated B.A. on 12 June 1621...
in his Antipaedobaptism. - Nature's Vindication; or a check to all those who affirm Nature to be Vile, Wicked, Corrupt, and Sinful, London 1652.
- Three questions propounded to B. Morley about his practice of Laying on of Hands, Lond. n. d. This led to a controversy between Everard, Benjamin Morley, and T. Morris, a baptist.
- The Creation and the Fall of Man, London, no date. Nathaniel StephensNathaniel Stephens (clergyman)Nathaniel Stephens , was an English clergyman, ejected for nonconformity in 1662. He is now best known for his part in the early life of George Fox. He was a controversialist in the presbyterian interest, engaging also with Baptists, and with Gerard Winstanley. the universalist...
, a presbyterian preacher, replied to this in Vindiciae Fundamenti; or a Threefold Defence of the Doctrine of Original Sin, 1658. Everard's work, commentary on the Book of Genesis, is dated to 1649, when Everard was active in LeicestershireLeicestershireLeicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. - An Epistle to the several Congregations of the Non-Conformists [Lond. ?], 2nd edit. 1664. In this work the author states the reason of his conversion to the Catholic Church. Replies to it were published by 'J. I.,' Matthew PooleMatthew PooleMatthew Poole was an English Nonconformist theologian.-Life to 1662:He was born at York, the son of Francis Pole, but he spelled his name Poole, and in Latin Polus; his mother was a daughter of Alderman Toppins there. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 1645, under John...
, and Francis HowgillFrancis HowgillFrancis Howgill was a prominent early member of the Religious Society of Friends in England. He preached and wrote on the teachings of the Friends and is considered one of the Valiant Sixty--men and women who were early proponents of Friends beliefs and who suffered for those...
.