Central Government and the Localities: Hampshire 1649-1689 (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)

This book is a study of centre-local interaction, based upon the experience of the people of an English county, during a very turbulent period in their history. The work revolves around: the relationship between centre and locality, and the partisan use of local institutions and sentiment for 'national' ends. Dr Coleby combines administrative and political history, and establishes with unusual rigour and clarity the nature of the late-seventeenth-century English polity. Whilst there have been many county studies of the early Stuart and Civil War periods, few accounts hitherto have looked at the situation both before and after the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Dr Coleby argues for the continuity of governmental concerns throughout the later seventeenth century, and challenges received wisdom about the relative local efficiency of Interregnum and Restoration regimes. This book is a study of centre-local interaction, based upon the experience of the people of an English county, during a very turbulent period in their history. The work revolves around: the relationship between centre and locality, and the partisan use of local institutions and sentiment for 'national' ends. Dr Coleby combines administrative and political history, and establishes with unusual rigour and clarity the nature of the late-seventeenth-century English polity. Whilst there have been many county studies of the early Stuart and Civil War periods, few accounts hitherto have looked at the situation both before and after the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Dr Coleby argues for the continuity of governmental concerns throughout the later seventeenth century, and challenges received wisdom about the relative local efficiency of Interregnum and Restoration regimes. Library of Congress subject headings for this publication: Hampshire (England) Politics and government, Central-local government relations England Hampshire (England) History 17th century, Local government England Hampshire (England) History 17th century, County government England History 17th century, Boroughs England Hampshire (England) History 17th century, Great Britain Politics and government 1649-1660, Great Britain Politics and government 1660-1688 Local office-holding was clearly vital to the relationship between central government and the localities. Andrew M. Coleby. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 237-255.