The Restoration: A Political and Religious History of England and Wales, 1658-1667

by Ronald Hutton

The years 1658-1667 form one of the most vital and eventful periods in English history, witnessing the Plague, the Great Fire of London, the naval wars against the Dutch, and, above all, the transformation of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth into the Restoration monarchy of Charles II. Hutton's detailed study of the period returns to nearly all the extant manuscript sources and reworks every issue afresh. The result is an absorbing and perceptive account of national experience as government policy changed, influenced by the interaction of central concerns, local perspectives, and the various social, political, and religious groups.

Genres: History

388 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Ronald Hutton (born 1953) is an English historian who specializes in the study of Early Modern Britain, British folklore, pre-Christian religion and contemporary Paganism. A professor of history at the University of Bristol, Hutton has published fourteen books and has appeared on British television and radio.

Reviews

[Boone Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

NB: I did not read part 2 (“The Fall of the Republic”) except for the Conclusions. I read parts 1, 3, and 4 in their entirety.

Hutton seeks to explain “the process by which the political and religious world of the Protectorate was transformed into that of the Restoration” (1).

The Fall of the Republic Hutton attributes to the conflicts within the ranks, between the army (led by Fleetwood and Desborough) which sought further Reformation, and the civilian faction, led by Fauconberg and Broghill, which sought stability (121). Hutton suggests that Oliver Cromwell placed himself at the center of a web of power of men with very different political and ideological commitments. These two sides became ever more fearful of each other, culminating in the conservative Monck’s descent into London to assist Parliament.

The Restoration Settlements were two: one, enacted by the Convention in 1660, sought to incorporate a mix of royalist and republican personnel and institutions (127-128, 142). The issues which defined the first settlement were the Act of Oblivion, dissolution of the army, fate of the seized lands, the religious settlement, and the settling of a revenue (chapter 3.1). In all respects the settlement was aimed at the greater, rather than the lesser good - manner Episcopalian royalist gentry remained furious that the Restoration had not restored their lands and punished the dissenters who had stolen them.

This group was the critical faction behind the second settlement (155). This settlement, carried out by the Cavalier parliament, aimed was defined by a number of acts for repressing dissenters and establishing the dominance of the Episcopalian royalist gentry. The acts which define this are the incorrectly labeled “Clarendon Code” - the Corporation, Conventicle, Five Mile, Uniformity, and Quaker Acts - and through all of these the Cavalier Commons sought to ensure that “never again would they go through an experience such as the Civil Wars and Interregnum” (235-6, 289).

According to Hutton, many of these acts were opposed to royal interests, especially considering that the Crown desired a number of things - a standing army, a secure revenue, (often) religious toleration, and royal control - that the gentry disliked. One case in which he is certainly wrong is the Corporation Act, which he saw as a con

[Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for understanding the transition from the Protectorate Oliver Cromwell gave to his son Richard, to the Restoration of the Stuart Monarchy, with a short alliance between a restored Long Parliament and the New Model Army inbetween.
Hutton's grasp on these events is fantastic, and it appears he has read extensively on the period so as to present his material in condensed but nonetheless very detailed way.
Half the book deals with the downfall of the Protectorate, Long Parliament and New Model Army, while the second half deals with the Restoration Convention Parliament, Cavalier Parliament (the first and second settlements), the Anglo-Dutch war, the plague, fire of London, and many of the infightings of court and Parliament.
The Restoration is very rewarding if you want to read about this transitionary period without reading massive books. Hutton has got you sorted. I loved every page.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a nutshell this is regarded by experts as the finest work on the Restoration we have.