London and the Restoration, 1659–1683 (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)

Articulate and restless London citizens were at the heart of political and religious confrontation in England from the Interregnum through the great crisis of Church and state that marked the last years of Charles II's reign. The same Reformed Protestant citizens who took the lead in toppling in toppling the Rump in 1659–60 took the lead in demanding a new Protestant settlement after 1678. In the interval, their demands for liberty of conscience challenged the Anglican order, whilst their arguments about consensual government in the city challenged loyalist political assumptions. Dissenting and Anglican identities developed in specific locales within the city, rooting the Whig and Tory parties of 1679–83 in neighbourhoods with different traditions and cultures. London and the Restoration integrates the history of the kingdom with that of its premier locality in the era of Dryden and Locke, analysing the ideas and the movements that unsettled the Restoration regime. Articulate And Restless London Citizens Were At The Heart Of Political And Religious Confrontation In England From The Interregnum Through The Great Crisis Of Church And State That Marked The Last Years Of Charles Ii's Reign. The Same Reformed Protestant Citizens Who Took The Lead In Toppling The Rump In 1659-60 Took The Lead In Demanding A New Protestant Settlement After 1678. In The Interval, Their Demands For Liberty Of Conscience Challenged The Anglican Order, While Their Arguments About Consensual Government In The City Challenged Loyalist Political Assumptions. Dissenting And Anglican Identities Developed In Specific Locales Within The City, Rooting The Whig And Tory Parties Of 1679-83 In Neighbourhoods With Different Traditions And Cultures. London And The Restoration Integrates The History Of The Kingdom With That Of Its Premier Locality In The Era Of Dryden And Locke, Analysing The Ideas And The Movements That Unsettled The Restoration Regime. This Is The First Historical Study To Examine Commonalities Between The Crisis That Brought Charles Ii To His Throne And The Crisis At The Conclusion Of His Reign. Pt. I. Crisis, 1659-1660 -- Introduction To Parts I And Ii : London And The Nation -- 1. London And The Origins Of The Restoration, 1659-1660 -- Pt. Ii. Settlement And Unsettlement, 1660-1679 -- 2. The Restoration Settlement And An Unsettled City, 1660-1670 -- 3. Protestant Dissent And The Emergence Of A Civic Opposition, 1670-1679 -- Pt. Iii. Crisis, 1679-1682 -- Introduction : London And The Restoration Crisis, 1679-1682 -- 4. Parliament And Protestantism In Crisis : The Emergence Of Parties In London, 1679-1681 -- 5. The Contest For The City, 1681-1682 -- 6. Party Matters : Communities, Ideas, And Leaders In A Divided City, 1679-1682 -- Pt. Iv. Crisis And Conspiracy, 1682-1683 -- Introduction : Whig Conspiracy And Historical Memory -- 7. The London Whigs Between Law And Resistance : Conscience, Consent, And Conspiracy, 1682-1683 -- Conclusion : London And The End Of The Restoration -- App. I. 1670 London Dissenting Subscription -- App. Ii. London Dissenting Common Councilmen, 1669-1671 -- App. Iii. Whig Party Leaders -- App. Iv. Tory Party Leaders. Gary S. De Krey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 428-449) And Index. This comprehensive study of political and religious conflicts examines the challenge to Restoration institutions by Protestant dissent in the London of Charles II's reign. It presents liberty of conscience as the greatest political issue of the Restoration and explains how the contest between dissenters and Anglicans contributed to the development of parties in 1679-83 that unsettled the nation.