William III and the Godly Revolution (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)

This is the first extensive account of royal propaganda in England between 1689 and 1702. It demonstrates that the regime of William III did not rely upon legal or constitutional rhetoric as it attempted to legitimate itself after the Glorious Revolution, but rather used a protestant, providential and biblically-based language of 'courtly reformation'. This language presented the king as a divinely-protected godly magistrate who could both defend the true church against its popish enemies, and restore the original piety and virtue of the elect English nation. Concentrating upon a range of hitherto understudied sources - especially sermons and public prayers - the book demonstrates the vigour with which these ideas were broadcast by an imaginative group of propagandists enabling the king to cope with central political difficulties - the need to attract support for wars with France and the need to work with Parliament. This book provides the first full account of William III's propaganda during his reign in England, 1689-1702. It thus explores the self-presentation of the English monarchy at a particularly difficult moment. In the 1690s the king had both to justify his irregular succession to the throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and to mobilise his country for mass warfare. Unlike most other works on the political language of late Stuart England, this volume does not concentrate upon secular arguments, but rather stresses the importance of religious ideas of the period, insisting that the king solved his ideological problems by posing as a providential ruler sent by God to protect and renew the pure protestant religion. This book provides the first full account of William III's propaganda during his reign in England, 1689-1702. It thus explores the self-presentation of the English monarchy at a particularly difficult moment. In the 1690s the king had both to justify his irregular succession to the throne in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and to mobilize his country for mass warfare. Unlike most other works on the political language of late Stuart England, this volume does not concentrate on secular arguments, but rather stresses the importance of religious ideas of the period, insisting that the king solved his ideological problems by posing as a providential ruler sent by God to protect and renew the pure Protestant religion. When William III, prince of Orange, landed at Torbay on 5 November 1688, the opening shot in his propaganda war had already been fired. Tony Claydon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 239-262) And Index.