Constitutional Royalism and the Search for Settlement, c.1640–1649

An investigation into the 'Constitutional royalists' and their role in the English Revolution.

David L. Smith (Author)

9780521410564, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 September 1994

392 pages
23.7 x 16 x 2.7 cm, 0.68 kg

'… a perceptive and well-argued book … impressive … strong in argument, rich in detail and long on perspective.' Brian Quintrell, History

'Constitutional royalism' is one of the most familiar yet least often examined of all the political labels found in the historiography of the English Revolution. This book fills a gap by investigating the leading Constitutional royalists who rallied to King Charles I in 1642 while consistently urging him to reach an 'accommodation' with Parliament. These royalists' early careers reveal that a commitment to the rule of law and a relative lack of 'godly' zeal were the characteristic predictors of Constitutional royalism in the Civil War. Such attitudes explain why many of them criticised the policies of the King's personal rule, but also why they joined the King in 1642 and tried to achieve a negotiated settlement thereafter. The final part of the book traces the Constitutional royalists through the Interregnum - during which they consciously withdrew from public life - to the Restoration, when many of them returned to prominence and saw their ideas vindicated.

Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
A note on quotations, sources, dates and terminology
Part I. The Origins of Constitutional Royalism: 1. Introduction: themes, debates, sources
2. Context: the early Stuarts and the early Stuart constitution
3. Early careers of the main exponents
4. Formation and convergence, 1640–1642
Part II. Constitutional Royalism in Theory and Practice, 1642–1649: 5. Chronological outline: negotiations formal and informal
6. Issues and sticking-points
7. The theory of Constitutional Royalism
Part III. Constitutional Royalism in Perspective: 8. Epilogue: Constitutional Royalism from Regicide to Restoration
9. Legacy: an ideology vindicated?
10. Conclusion: assessment and evaluation
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]