17. Charles II and the nature of restored monarchy Flashcards
Character of Charles II
Pragmatic in response to issues he faced, politically astute but focused on short term solutions and failed to reform the state by the time of his death. MAIN AIM = KEEPING THE THRONE
Phases of CII’s reign (5)
1) 1660 - 67 - Clarendon, led to opposition in: finance for war, FP (2ndDW) + religion - lack of desire for tolerance - criticised for giving one man too much power
2) 67 - 74 - the CABAL, led to the grown of opposition (+ parties) through: 3DW - C wants pro-french, finance, religion - different policies within the CABAL - more people to scapegoat
3) 74 - 78 - Danby + strengthening of the crown - bought people’s support + spreads pro-Charles propaganda - key issues: FP, religion - strong anti-Catholic sentiments growing (led to Exclusion)
4) 78 - 81 - Exclusion crisis - bill fails x3 from getting James to stop being the successor
5) 81- 85 - Charles, the authoritarian? - no Pment, lost of support (esp. tory Anglican - want to protect monarchy + church institutions) - no issues of finance - more powerful than any stuart monarch
Declaration of Breda
-Issued on 4th April 1660 to appeal to moderates who sought stability
-Drafted by Clarendon
-Promised Charles would rule as a traditional monarch through parliament - Pment have control through finance
-Promised army’s pay and a pardon to most subjects
-Promised “liberty to tender consciences” - religious tolerance unless threatening (Quakers) - no uniformity + conformity
Convention Parliament
-Half parliamentarians who sought to restrict kings power before he returned and gain kings favour to avoid retaliation
-Other half royalists who opposed limits on Charles’ power
-On 8th May, declared Charles as Charles II and he returned at the end of the month
-Charles restored with little limits due to a desire for stability and allow him to rule by the declaration of Breda
- Yet, symbolic Triennial Act passed 64 - no repercussions
Issues facing the convention parliament in 1660 (7) (the restoration settlement)
-Indemnity: Charles had promised indemnity for most who sided with parliament, the indemnity act passed on 29th August pardoned all but 30. Necessary to receive money from City of London, disband the army and achieve support from the elite. Did not stop persecution of those threatening monarchy after restoration.
-Land Settlement: Many monarchists and clergy’s land had been sold off, much to those currently aiding the restoration. Charles couldn’t upset them and left the matter to parliament, who failed to legislate a formal solution, but many who had purchased were excluded from indemnity act, allowing reclamation of land.
-Army peacefully disbanded after the indemnity act.
-Constitution: Charles had no legal limits placed upon him, with anti-monarchists having little influence. Bill to confirm parliamentary privilege stalled due to Charles’ influence as it would have confirmed the legislation of 1641.
-Finance: Paid off army, and abolished Charles’ feudal rights, but gave him some compensation. Tonnage and poundage granted for life on customs specified by parliament. Furthermore, granted £1.2 million annually for peacetime costs coming from customs and excise. In reality, only £400,000 could be gained from this though, with the Hearth Tax of 62 attempting to bridge the gap but failing, and finance remained a major issue for Charles, relying on parliamentary subsidies. But Navigation Acts adopted - led to long term increase in Crown finances - by 1670s Crown could buy back customs (e.g. Great Customs Farm)
-Religion: Needed to reform the church and decide what to do with non-conformists. Clarendon Code did not follow declaration of Breda’s promise for indulgence for nonconformists and 700 of England’s 9,000 ministers removed. Enforced a strict Anglican church, not even Presbyterians allowed - est. hierarchy.
-Militia: No militia bills passed in 60, but no one challenged Charles’ control of the militia. In response to no reform of this and disagreement over religious settlement, Charles kept a guard of approximately 8000 men
Cavalier parliament
-Elected in May 61, lasted until 79
-Many elected were concerned with local government, and let Charles handle major governmental decisions, while making Charles dependent for finance
Act for Safety and Preservation of His Majesty’s Person and Government
Passed by Cavalier parliament, cancelled all parliament ordinances without royal assent but did not overturn:
-Abolition of star chamber court
-abolition of the high commission court
-abolition of ship money
-triennial act (but now symbolic)
-exclusion of Bishops from the house of lords, but this was repealed separately
Also made it illegal to try and accuse the king of popery
Cavalier parliaments review of convention parliament
Reviewed indemnity and land distribution acts of the convention parliament, stopped by Charles out of fear of unrest
Charles II’s goals with parliament
Secure his reign and prevent another revolution
Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon
-Principal advisor 60-67
-Worked well with Charles who focused on specifics, he focused on wider government
-Was able to manage tensions between court and country, as well as Anglicans and dissenters, these reemerged after his removal
Reasons why Clarendon resigned in August 67 (forced into exile) (6)
1) Business like approach made him dismissive and arrogant of others - came across as self-righteous - stopped him making alliances and alienated the king + meant he never got the privy council on side
2) Did not get parliament on side - failed to manage effectively, allowed a growth of opp.
3) Was not liked by Charles (pressured him to resign + didn’t protect him from opp), used as a scapegoat for the 2nd Dutch war
4) Opp grew in jealously of his position - blocked the advance of ambitious young courtiers
5) Daughter (Anne Hyde) married James - accused of self-aggrandisement (heir expected to marry foreign royalty)
6) Negotiated C’s marriage to Catherine of Breganza - it was known he found her boring + they were childless - Clarendon blamed
2nd Dutch War
64 - 67 - Intended to improve the trade prospects of Britain - started well w/ victory in Battle of Lowestoft June 65 but the later loss of 10 ships, 4,250 men in the Four Days caused Pment to criticise gov corruption + poor administration of the navy - coincided w/ Great Plague and the Fire of London - fueling discontent - v expensive, more money waste. Humiliating loss - took England’s flagship Royal Charles - blame pinned on Clarendon.
The CABAL
-Group of advisors to take over after Clarendon - Clifford, Ashley (Shaftesbury), Buckingham, Arlington, Lauderdale
-no coordinated policy due to diverse views, Charles’ limited intervention in government and the loss of Clarendon’s objective based governing
-Aimed to extend religious toleration and get an alliance with France
-Led to the Court and Country viewpoints
Court and Country
-Country == Those concerned with certain areas of religious policy and political policy - for the people
-Court == Those who supported Charles’ policies (the political and religious direction of the monarch - institution not necessarily C)
Figures in the Cabal
-Thomas Clifford == Crypto Catholic, pro french and negotiated treaty of Dover
-Ashley Cooper (Earl of Shaftesbury) == Freethinker, head of Exchequer, Supported exclusion of James
-2nd duke of Buckingham == Freethinker, Closest to Charles, Opposed the Crown after losing favour (one of Clarendon’s cheif opps - wanted his position)
-Henry Bennet (Earl of Arlington) == Catholic, secured treaty of Dover, forced Clifford to resign, another opp of Clarendon
-John Maitland (Duke of Lauderdale) == Presbyterian who supported rebellion against Charles, but was an engager. Appointed secretary of state for Scotland + the restoration
Charles’ Finance 60-70 (3)
1) In 65, royal income £820,000 but had fallen to £647,000 in 67, parliament blamed crown mismanagement (really corruption in system)
2) In late 66, parliament investigated navy accounts and in Feb 67 appointed commissioners to examine what happened when parliament granted £1.8 million to watch what it gets spent on
3) Made it clear Charles wouldn’t get finance if they tried to extend religion (broaden the church), refused to grant £300,000 in 69 unless Charles pushed a harsher Conventicle act in 1670
Causes of Conflict between Court and Country (PN).
-Anglo-French alliance and war on dutch
-Declaration of Indulgence (Suspended penal laws on those who refused to attend church services)
-James II being catholic
1st Secret Treaty of Dover
1670 - Louis XIV’s expansionist FP plans were alarming (ended 2DW) so England, the Netherlands + Sweden fromed a triple alliance
In response, Louis (Cousin) had secret negotiations w/ C - treaty = both attack the Dutch + split the republic
C had to declare himself a catholic when possible (without risking the throne) + Louis agreed to pay him £225,000 a year in exchange to his loyalty to France
3rd Dutch War
-Planned for Spring 72 with the French
-In order to prepare - ran out of money -, on the 20th Jan 72 Charles ordered of Stop of the Exchequer, he would no longer need to repay loans to gov creditors for one year, but also prevent him from taking any more
-Parliament gave £1.2 million to fight the Dutch
- C forced to make peace bc of finance - upset France (not kept treaty) and Pment - didn’t want war in the first place
Declaration of Indulgence 1972 - 15th March (second issue)
C claimed dispensing power over the penal laws (meaning he has the power to over-rule certain decisions - exempt his friends) - against both dissenters + Catholics - wants toleration (Conventical Act not renewed in 68 - allowed non-conformist the opp to meet tog in large numbers)
Parliaments response to the 72 declaration of indulgence
-On 4th Feb 73, voted they could only suspend penal law
-Charles had to withdraw the indulgence declaration and issued the Test act of 73
(+ in response to lapsing of the Conventicle Act, in 69 they refused C a £300,000 subsidy)
Test Act 73
An act requiring all public servants to deny Catholicism and take Anglican Communion
James refuses this in Easter 73, in June he and Cliffon resign their offices
Jan-Feb 74 parliamentary session
-List of complaints + legislation proposed: New strengthened Test Act proposed - exclude catholics from the houses of Pment, in the event of catholic succession - children had to be educated by Protestants, French alliance criticised etc.
-Removal of Buckingham by Parliament (excluded from the Privy Council) - Charles didn’t stop this
-Parliament refused to give money, leading to the end of the Dutch war with Treaty of Westminster
-Led to the fall of Henry Bennet - impeached and the Cabal (only Shaftesbury left - dismissed from PC + office, formed country party)
Danby’s 5 aims
1) remain in power
2) restore order to royal finances
3) support a high Anglican policy within the CofE (TP - C no longer in support of tolerance)
4) persuade C to follow a pro-dutch policy
5) restore good relations between C + Pment by returning to Caviler policies (pro anglican, pro dutch)
Danby’s government
-Initially aligned with MP’s on a pro-dutch - dec 77 negotiated Anglo-Dutch treaty (forced Louis to make peace with the Dutch), rigid church policy
-Strengthened royal influence through crown patronage (bestowing important jobs to loyalists) and by late 75 had 30 MP’s receiving crown pensions, supporting the crown
-Sent personalised letters to MP’s asking to support Crown, but such measures made many fear absolutism
- Nov 77 negotiated marriage between Mary and Will
- appointed loyal supports to key positions - replacing JPs in 26 shires with ‘court’ supporters, securing local governance - MPs pressured into supporting the Crown through their actions in their administrative areas
Secret arrangements w/ France 77-78
Aug 77 - Negotiated by Montagu, English Ambassador to Paris - if England remain at peace w/ France + C kept Pment prorogued, Louis would give £2 mill livres
May 78 - further secret treaty - C agreed to disband new army of 30,000 in return for even more money - C took the money + kept the army
Treaty of Nijmegen - July 78 ends Dutch War
Test Bill 75
-Introduced forcing all office holders and MP’s to swear that taking up of arms was unlawful and to not attempt to alter the state
-Bill defeated by Ashley Cooper and Henry Bennet who saw it as an attempt to institute absolutism, and went to impeach Danby
Finance 74-78
-In Nov 75, only £300,000 was voted for navy
-Danby improved royal expenses through his role as lord treasurer by reducing military expenses through ending dutch was and increasing trade
-£1.4 million was the average crown income 74-77 with half coming from customs
-Danby could not stop Charles’ spending, debt increased by £750,000 between 74-79
-Parliament became scared of the French and voted £600,000 for the navy in 77, but any further money would be voted only after an anti-French alliance, Charles believed this attacked his prerogative
-In Dec 77, the Anglo Dutch treaty imposed peace terms on Louis of France and in Jan 78 parliament raised an army of 30,000 and £1 million, only £300,000 was raised though
Main reason why C’s finances improved up to 1678
71 - Crown ended the practice of customs farming - received a proportion of customs and excise income (Danby takes adv.) - in 70-71 ordinary revenue = around £840,000, by 78 -79 = over £1,000,000
Navigation Acts also helped - rerouting more trade through english ports - increasing income (trade was expanding - increasing value of customs
Undermined by C’s extravagance - in 79 debt £750,000 more than 74
Attack on Danby
-By 78, Danby was wielding vast influence over Charles and was secure due to his working with Charles’ mistresses, using the role of lord treasurer, and using royal patronage to ensure allies - creating ‘court’ party
-provoked the creation of the country party
-By 78, MP Montagu presented evidence of Charles negotiating with Louis, with Danby being the head of negotiations
-Attempted to impeach Danby, but Charles prorogued Parliament on the 24th Jan 79
-Charles protected Danby out of self preservation rather than a desire to protect him, he dismissed him in March 79 without trial to avoid Charles’ role with Louis less apparent and pardoned him
-Continued attack with a Bill of Attainder, Danby sent to tower of London for 5 years
