ROYAL CHARLES AND THE RESTORATION LECTURE OUTLINE

Charles II was born on May 29, 1630. He was nursed by a Protestant wet nurse, baptized by Bishop Laud (he was then Bishop of London), and taught by an Anglican governess.

During the early years of the Civil War, Charles accompanied his father and the royalist army around the countryside. In 1645 he was sent to the relative security of Bristol, then to the Scilly Isles and Jersey, and eventually to France.

Along with his brother James, Charles made numerous attempts to win back his kingdom after 1649. In 1650 he made an agreement with the Scottish covenanters whereby he would swear to uphold Presbyterianism, and the Scots would in turn provide an army to help him defeat Cromwell. But Cromwell defeated the Scots at Worcester in 1651, and Charles escaped to France thanks to the help of a Catholic family, the Giffards.

In January 1660 General George Monck marched from Scotland to London and forced the Rump to readmit its excluded members. On March 16, 1660 Parliament dissolved itself, and free elections were called for a Convention Parliament.

Charles issued the Declaration of Breda in April 1660 outlining the conditions for his return. It was accepted by the new Parliament, and Charles was invited “to take the government of the kingdom upon his shoulders.” On May 25, 1660 Charles arrived in Dover, and England had a king once more.

An Indemnity and Oblivion Act granted a general pardon to all but 50 people. Militia Acts of 1662-1663 required Lord Lieutenants to recruit cavalry and infantry from the ranks of the wealthy.

The so-called Cavalier Parliament, elected in 1661, restored the Church of England and passed a Corporation Act requiring all borough office holders to take communion in the Church of England. Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, and other Dissenters/Non-Conformists (Protestants who dissented from/did not conform to the doctrines of the Church of England) were excluded from membership in municipal corporations.

An Act of Uniformity of 1662 required all clergy and teachers to use the Prayer Book; the Conventicle Act of 1664 prohibited religious meetings of more than five people that did not conform to the Prayer Book; the Five Mile Act of 1665 forbade non-conformist clergy to come within five miles of a corporate town; the Licensing Act of 1662 set up censorship to prevent heretical and seditious writing.