Introduction Anne was born in the reign of her uncle Charles II, who had no legitimate children – though it wasn’t for want of trying. Her father, the brother of Charles II and later to become James II, was first in line to the throne. His suspected Roman Catholicism was unpopular in England, and on Charles…
Background After a brief hiatus of experimentation with a pseudo-republican government under Oliver Cromwell, the English monarchy was reinstated in 1660 but Charles II began his reign with vastly reduced powers, especially in the realm of taxation – responsibility for which had been transferred to Parliament. This was a major restriction on Charles II and…
Background The Great Stop of 1672 caused five of the leading London Goldsmiths to go bust, drastically affected nine others, and ‘financially embarrassed over 10,000 wealthy families in England. The Great Stop effectively ended the ‘cosy relationship’ between the king and a small clique of private bankers that thrived on the Crown’s inability to generate…
Introduction It must be remembered that the initial invasion of Ireland by the Cambro-Norman lords was not an invasion but an invitation by a deposed Irish king to foreign mercenaries to help him regain his title. These Cambro-Norman mercenaries fought alongside their Irish host as part of an inter-necine battle for supremacy. It was not…
Proclamation of Charles II, Issued 16 August 1672 Making Current the Royal Farthings and Halfpennys and Forbidding the Use of All Others By the King. A Proclamation for making currant His Majestie’s Farthings and Half-pence of Copper, and forbidding all others to be used. Charles R. Whereas of late years several Persons and Corporations, upon…
Proclamation of Charles II, issued 5th December 1674 Enjoining the Prosecution of Persons making or uttering farthings, half-pence, or pence of brass with private stamps By the King. A Proclamation enjoining the prosecution of all such persons as shall make or utter any farthings, half-pence, or pence of brass, or utter base metals with…
This is a selected biography of this complex international conflict – sometimes known as the War of the Three Kingdoms. But it was much more than a war – it was a battle for the hearts and minds of the people that lived and worked in these three very different kingdoms. It began with a…
Timeline 1643 (Julian dates have been adjusted to modern time frame) (Early January) Colonel Ruthven bombards Saltash on the Cornish side of the River Tamar but is unable to capture the town January 2 Petition from the Common Council of the City of London presented to the King at Oxford requesting his return to Westminster…
Timeline 1642 (Julian dates have been adjusted to modern time frame) Although the depositions of 1641 have since been proven exaggerated at best or, at worst, false – they were designed to provoke a sensational response from the Parliament in London. By 1642, Owen Roe O’Neill had reigned in the worst sectarian elements in Ulster…
Timeline 1640 (Julian dates have been adjusted to modern time frame) The Irish Uprising of 1641 was a long-term result of the “plantation” policy of Tudor and Stuart monarchs under which Ireland was aggressively colonised by Protestant settlers from England and Scotland. From the mid-16th century, Irish landowners were dispossessed to make way for the settlers…
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