350 years ago this month, the Lord Chancellor, Edward Hyde, earl of Clarendon, was dismissed following the disaster on the Medway. Our Director, Dr Paul Seaward, tells us more… On the evening of 30th August 1667 one of the two secretaries of state, Sir William Morrice, was sent by the King to the lord chancellor, Edward Hyde, earl of Clarendon in his grand, newly-completed palace … Continue reading The Dismissal of Clarendon
350 years ago this week the British navy suffered a disaster after the Dutch Raid on the Medway. In this blog our Director, Dr Paul Seaward, discusses the parliamentary background to one of the worst defeats in British naval history… On 12 June 1667, the leading ships of a Dutch fleet forced their way through the chain barring access to the Medway at Gillingham, and … Continue reading Chatham and the failure of English Politics
After this week’s excitement from the Vatican, Dr Robin Eagles shares a story of 17th Century papal elections that the Stuarts really were not supposed to have been involved in… Charles II has frequently been suspected of Catholic sympathies. It was a topic of general concern throughout his reign and of the five rival members of the “CABAL ministry”, three had some Catholic associations. Thomas … Continue reading 17th Century Papal elections: Charles II’s unorthodox role
