The History of England from the Accession of James II

Thomas Babington Macaulay

Cosimo, Inc., Jan 1, 2013 - History - 570 pages

Perhaps the most famous example of the "Whig interpretation of history"-the idea that the human story has been inevitably destined for enlightenment, progress, and scientific truth-this five-volume work instantly revolutionized the British understanding of history when its first volume was published in 1848. Though not without its detractors-Karl Marx called author BARON THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY (1800-1859), an English politician and historian, "a systematic falsifier of history"-it nevertheless became a standard text, and one that is today required reading for anyone who wishes to explore changing values and ideals in historical scholarship. Volume I introduces the reader to Britain before James II, from life under the Romans and Saxons and the conversion to Christianity to the Monmouth Rebellion of Scotland in 1685 and James II's taking of the throne.

Contents

• Noneffective Charge: 33
• Origin of the Church of England her peculiar Character: 42
• The Question of the Monopolies: 49
• The Doctrine of Divine Right: 55
• The Country Gentlemen: 57
• Accession and Character of Charles the First: 64
• The Star Chamber and High Commission: 70
• Enthusiasm of the Tories Addresses: 75
• The first Appearance of the two great English Parties: 76
• The Remonstrance: 83
• Oliver Cromwell: 91
• Other County Towns: 103
• Becond Expulsion of the Long Parliament: 111
• CHAPTER II: 118
• Unpopularity of the Puritans: 125
• Characters of the Duke of York and Earl of Clarendon: 134
• Change in the Morals of the Community: 140
• State of Ireland: 151
• The Triple Alliance: 158
• Treaty of Dover: 164
• War with the United Provinces and their extreme Danger: 168
• The Cabal dissolved: 174
• Fall of Danby the Popish Plot: 181
• Character of Halifax: 189
• Lawrence Hyde: 197
• Parliament held at Oxford and dissolved Tory Reaction: 203
• Seizure of Charters: 210
• Birmingham: 223
• Lord Keeper Guildford 213: 262
• INTRODUCTION: 283
• Shutting of the Exchequer: 284
• Inns: 296
• Watering Places Cheltenham Brighton Buxton: 302
• The PostOffice: 303
• Literary Attainments of Gentlemen: 309
• State of Science in England: 317
• State of the Common People Agricultural Wages: 324
• Benefits derived by the Common People from the Progress: 331
• Britain under the Saxons: 338
• Bath: 340
• Death of Charles the Second: 346
• The fashionable Part of the Capital: 353
• Transactions between James and the French King: 361
• The CoffeeHouses: 362
• Policy of Lewis 215: 365
• Struggle in the Mind of James Fluctuations of his Policy: 368
• Effect of the Conversion of the AngloSaxons to Christianity 5: 369
• Proceedings against Oates: 379
• State of Factions in the Court of Charles at the Time of: 382
• Proceedings against Baxter: 385
• Amalgamation of Races: 389
• Cruel Treatment of the Scotch Covenanters: 391
• Peculiar Favor shown to Roman Catholics and Quakers: 399
• Conquests of the English on the Continent: 401
• CHAPTER V: 412
• Monmouth: 418
• Scotch Refugees Earl of Argyle: 425
• Preparations made by the Government for the Defence: 430
• Temper of the Scotch Nation: 436
• His Execution: 446
• Extinction of Villenage: 458
• His Declaration: 462
• Description of the limited Monarchies of the Middle Ages: 467
• The Protectorate of Oliver: 468
• Encounter of the Rebels with the Militia at Axminster 456: 487
• Craelties of the Soldiers in the West Kirke: 497
• Christopher Battiscombe the Hewlings: 510
• Trial and Execution of Bateman: 524
• Sir John Cochrane Fletcher of Saltoun: 528
• Oliver succeeded by Richard: 532
• The limited Monarchies of the Middle Ages generally turned into: 535
• Badness of the Roads: 537
• Fall of Richard and Revival of the Long Parliament: 540
• He is carried to London: 542

About the author

Thomas Babington Macaulay was born in Leicestershire, England on October 25, 1800. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University. He became a lawyer, but continued to be interested in politics. He became a member of Parliament and rose to the peerage in 1857. Although he held a number of important cabinet posts, the effects of his sweeping educational reform, while in India, are his most enduring contribution to the Whig government. His main literary work was his multi-volume The History of England. He died on December 28, 1859.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The History of England from the Accession of James II
• Author: Thomas Babington Macaulay
• Publisher: Cosimo, Inc., 2013
• ISBN: 1605209635, 9781605209630
• Length: 570 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / Great Britain / General