Paul Best facts for kids

Paul Best (born around 1590 in Hutton Cranswick, died 1657 in Driffield) was one of the first people in Britain to follow the "Socinian" Polish Brethren ideas. He was also one of the first Unitarians to be put in prison for his beliefs.

Early Life and Studies

Paul Best went to Jesus College, Cambridge to study. He earned his first degree in 1609-10 and a master's degree in 1613. Later, in 1617, he became a fellow at St Catharine's College, Cambridge.

Family and Travels

In April 1617, Paul Best inherited his family's large estate in Elmswell, East Riding of Yorkshire. He sold part of this land to pay for his travels across Europe. From the 1620s to the 1630s, he was an adventurer and a soldier. He even fought under a famous leader named Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Lützen (1632). After his travels, he came back to England. In 1644, he joined the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War. This was the year King Charles I lost control of Yorkshire.

Exploring New Beliefs

It's not fully clear when Paul Best first learned about Socinian beliefs. He might have visited Poland and Transylvania, where these ideas were common. He might also have studied them in Germany. Socinians believed in peace and often refused to fight in wars. It's not known if this belief had anything to do with Best stopping his military career. He traveled to Europe again in the 1640s. He also met people who shared Socinian ideas in London.

Facing Trouble for His Ideas

In 1644, Paul Best made a mistake. He showed a handwritten paper about the doctrine of the Trinity to a person he thought was a friend, Rev. Roger Ley. Best only wanted Ley's opinion. However, Ley told on Best. Because of this, Best was accused of having "antitrinitarian" beliefs. This meant he did not agree with the common Christian idea of God as a Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Imprisonment and Writings

On February 14, 1644, Paul Best was put in prison at the Gatehouse, Westminster. He wrote two requests to Parliament in April and August of 1646, asking for his release. In 1647, he might have met another prisoner, John Biddle, who also believed in Socinian ideas. While in prison, Best published a book called Mysteries Discovered. This book was an appeal for his freedom and for his military pension to be given back. But it also openly shared his Socinian beliefs. He even challenged the idea of the Trinity in his book.

A Dangerous Publication

Best's book was secretly taken out of prison, printed, and then quickly found and burned. Parliament then decided to give Best a very serious punishment. However, his old friends from the Parliamentary Army helped him. It is thought that Oliver Cromwell himself might have helped Best. Because of this help, Paul Best was released from prison. He got his pension back and went to live quietly in Elmswell.

Impact of His Actions

Paul Best's writings in 1646-47 had a big effect. They directly led to the Blasphemy Act of 1648. This law made it a serious crime to question the Trinity or the standard books of the Protestant Bible. However, this law was soon forgotten. New religious groups, like the Ranters, appeared in 1649, which led to another Blasphemy Act aimed at them.

Later Life

Paul Best passed away on September 17, 1657, in Great Driffield, Yorkshire.