The Restoration and the England of Charles II (Seminar Studies in History Series)

This key Seminar Study was first published as Restoration England: The Reign of Charles II in 1985. Unavailable for several years, the book has now been heavily revised, and expanded, to take account of over ten years of new scholarship. In particular, the Second Edition reflects new work done on political parties, the constitution, taxation, the church, and the legacy of the civil wars. As ever primary documents illustrate points raised in the text and an extensive bibliography directs readers to further reading. New for this edition is a chronology of the main events in Charles II's reign which, given the thematic treatment of the reign, readers are likely to find particularly useful. When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 the event was widely greeted as a return to normal after the upheavals of civil war. In this short study Professor John Miller explores how far this was true and how far the civil wars had, in fact, weakened (or strengthened) the monarchy. The book divides neatly into two: in the first part the 'Restoration Settlement' of 1660-4 is examined in detail; and, in the second, the salient features of government, politics and religion under Charles II are considered, seeking to show how well the restored regime worked in practice. Throughout, complex issues of change over time are explained as clearly and concisely as possible and the Restoration is placed in the wider context of the development of England in the seventeenth century. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 An Introduction to the series 8 Preface to the second edition 9 Note on referencing system 11 Acknowledgements 11 Part One: The Restoration 12 1. The End of the Interregnum 12 2. The Restoration Settlement: The Convention 25 The First Session 27 The Second Session 41 3. The Restoration Settlement: The Cavalier Parliament 46 Security and the Machinery of Coercion 50 The Constitution and the King's Revenue 52 Religion 56 Part Two: The Reign of Charles II 63 4. Society and Government 63 Local Government 64 Economic and Social Policy 66 5. Politics and the Constitution 69 Ideological Consequences of the Civil Wars 69 The Weaknesses of the Restoration Settlement 73 Charles II: Kingship and Objectives 74 The Watershed of 1672 78 Danby, Exclusion and the Growth of Party 81 The Tory Reaction 86 6. Religion and Ideas 89 The Restoration Church 89 Church and Dissent 91 Latitudinarianism and Science 94 Part Three: Assessment 98 7. The Place of the Restoration in English History 98 Part Four: Documents 103 Chronology 127 Glossary 132 Bibliography 135 Index 142 Chronicles the twenty-five year reign of Charles II under whose rule Parliament kept most of the powers it had won under Cromwell and shared governing authority with the king.

Chronicles the twenty-five year reign of Charles II under whose rule Parliament kept most of the powers it had won under Cromwell and shared governing authority with the king.

This text has been revised to take account of recent scholarship, particularly on the constitution, political parties, the church and the legacy of the Civil Wars. The book examines how the Civil Wars affected the monarchy and primary documents illustrate points raised in the text.