4.5: The Restoration and The Glorious Revolution

The Return of Charles II

In May 1660, Parliament invited Charles II to return from exile in the Netherlands. He accepted and was crowned King Charles II of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Charles made it clear that he had “no wish to go on his travels again,” acknowledging that he would sometimes need to compromise with Parliament to maintain peace. Under his reign, the Church of England was once again established as the official church, while Roman Catholics and Puritans were excluded from positions of power.

The Plague and the Great Fire of London

During Charles II’s reign, London faced two major disasters. In 1665, a severe outbreak of the plague struck the city, killing thousands, particularly in poorer districts. The following year, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city, including many churches and St Paul’s Cathedral. London was later rebuilt, and a new St Paul’s Cathedral, designed by the renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren, became one of the city’s most iconic structures. The events of the fire and the plague were vividly recorded by Samuel Pepys in his famous diary, which continues to be read today.

The Habeas Corpus Act

One of the most important legal developments during Charles II’s reign was the passage of the Habeas Corpus Act in 1679. The term Habeas Corpus is Latin for “you must present the person in court,” and this Act ensured that no one could be imprisoned unlawfully. It guaranteed that every prisoner had the right to a court hearing, a legal protection that remains in place today.

The Royal Society and Advancements in Science

Charles II was also a patron of the sciences. During his reign, the Royal Society was founded to promote natural knowledge. It is the world’s oldest scientific institution still in existence. Some of its early members included Sir Edmund Halley, who correctly predicted the return of the comet now known as Halley’s Comet, and Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists in history.

Isaac Newton (1643–1727)

Isaac Newton, born in Lincolnshire, eastern England, became fascinated by science during his studies at Cambridge University. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of science. Newton’s most famous work is the Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (meaning Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), in which he demonstrated how the force of gravity operates across the entire universe. Another significant discovery by Newton was that white light is composed of the colours of the rainbow. His contributions remain crucial to modern scientific understanding.

A Catholic King

When Charles II died in 1685, leaving no legitimate heirs, his brother James, a Roman Catholic, became King James II of England, Wales, and Ireland, and James VII of Scotland. James favoured Catholics and allowed them to hold positions, such as army officers, which Parliament had previously forbidden. He ruled without consulting Parliament and even had some Church of England bishops arrested, creating fears that he sought to return England to Catholicism.

At first, it seemed likely that a Protestant would succeed him, as his two daughters, Mary and Anne, were firmly Protestant. However, when James’s wife gave birth to a son, concerns arose that a Catholic monarchy would continue.

The Glorious Revolution

James II’s elder daughter, Mary, was married to William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands. In 1688, influential Protestants in England invited William to invade and claim the throne. When William landed in England, there was no resistance, and James II fled to France. William and Mary became joint rulers, with William taking the title William III in England, Wales, and Ireland, and William II in Scotland. This event, later known as the Glorious Revolution, was significant because there was no bloodshed in England, and it solidified Parliament’s authority, preventing any future monarch from ruling without parliamentary consent.

The Battle of the Boyne and Aftermath

James II attempted to reclaim the throne with the help of a French army and invaded Ireland. However, in 1690, he was defeated by William at the Battle of the Boyne, an event still commemorated by some in Northern Ireland today. Following this defeat, James returned to France, and William reasserted control over Ireland. Restrictions were then imposed on the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, barring Irish Catholics from participating in the government.

Rebellion in Scotland

James II also had supporters in Scotland. An attempted uprising in his favour was crushed at the Battle of Killiecrankie. The Scottish clans were required to swear an oath of loyalty to William, but the MacDonalds of Glencoe were late in doing so, leading to a massacre that sowed distrust of the new government among some Scots.

The Jacobites

Those who continued to believe that James II was the rightful monarch, particularly in Scotland, became known as Jacobites. Some fled to France with James, while others secretly supported him from within Britain. These Jacobite sympathisers would continue to seek a return of the Stuart line for years to come.