My Revision Notes Answers Page 9 Test Yourself 1. the Problems That Charles I Faced on His Restoration Were That There Were Reli

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My Revision Notes Answers

Page 9

Test yourself

1. The problems that Charles I faced on his restoration were that there were religious and political divisions, Parliament was now more powerful and he would have to take their advice, and he had to deal with those who had fought against his father in the English Civil War. 2. In the Declaration of Breda, Charles II promised to take advice from Parliament that he would allow peaceful religious beliefs, that he would pay the army their wages and that those who had fought against the king in the Civil War would not be prosecuted.

Key events

There are several events you might have mentioned. You could choose from: 1649 Charles I was executed 1649 England became a Commonwealth 1653 Parliament was disbanded and Oliver Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector. 1658 Oliver Cromwell died 1658 Richard Cromwell took over 1659 The Long Parliament April 1660 Charles signed the Declaration of Breda May 1660 The restoration of the monarchy

Spot the mistakes

After Charles I was executed, Oliver Cromwell ruled with the help of the Rump Parliament. Cromwell had been an important Parliamentarian leader during the English Civil War. During Oliver Cromwell’s rule, Charles II was in exile with his French cousin Louis XIV who was a Catholic. In the Declaration of Breda, Charles II promised that he would not punish all those who had fought against his father in the English Civil War.

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Test yourself

1. Charles II and Parliament disagreed over religion, foreign policy/wars and money/taxes. 2. The poll tax and the hearth tax. 3. Whigs disapproved of the lavish lifestyle of the king and his court and believed in freedom of worship for Protestant dissenters. They wanted to prevent James, Duke of York, from becoming king. Tories supported the king and the Church of England. They approved of James, Duke of York, as Charles’ heir. 4. The Treaty of Dover was signed in 1670. It was a public alliance with Louis XIV and Catholic France against the Protestant Dutch. Charles also signed a secret Treaty of Dover, promising to become Catholic if Louis gave him money and agreed to send troops if there were anti-Catholic rebellions in England.

Develop the detail

1661 Corporation Act Anyone who held public office must swear an oath supporting the king and the Church of England.

1664 Conventicle Act Groups of more than five people could not worship together unless it was in the Church of England.

1665 The Five Mile Act Priests who had been ejected from the church could not hold services or teach within five miles of their old church.

1673 The Test Act Anyone holding a public office had to declare that they were not Catholic.

Practice question

Explain what was important about the Clarendon Code. [8 marks]

The Clarendon Code was a series of laws that were passed in the 1660s and 1670s and were aimed at regulating religion. It takes its name from Charles II’s chief minister, Lord Clarendon.

The 1662 Act of Uniformity was important because any priests who did not agree to use the Book of Common Prayer had to leave and they were replaced by those who were more supportive. The Conventicle Act of 1664 made it illegal to hold church services for more than five people, except in the Anglican Church. This meant that it was virtually impossible for Catholics and Dissenters to hold legal services and many who did were punished. The Five Mile Act of 1665 stopped priests who had been told to leave their churches from holding services, or from teaching in schools, within five miles of their old churches. This made it difficult for those priests to keep in contact with and influence their former congregations. In 1673, the Test Act meant that Catholics could not hold public office. This made it very difficult for many Catholics who had positions of authority as they had to become Protestants or leave their jobs. For example, James, Duke of York, gave up his position as Lord High Admiral.

Overall, the Clarendon Code was important because it helped to reinforce a single way of worship that was acceptable to Parliament and it made life difficult for Catholics and Dissenters. This led to religious intolerance and a fear of Catholics. This in turn led to the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis, which aimed to prevent the Catholic James, Duke of York, from becoming king. In the long term, it meant that Britain would not accept a Catholic on the throne.

There are three stages to most of the points made in this answer. Firstly, the general point is made (highlighted in red). Then more detail is given, demonstrating a deeper knowledge (highlighted in yellow). The sections highlighted in green develop what has been stated in the previous red and yellow sentences. This describes the importance, effect, impact or consequence of what has been described. When you write a red or yellow statement in your answer, ask yourself ‘so what?’ This might help you to think of the green section. For top marks, your answer will need to reach the green level.

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Test yourself

1. The Rye House Plot • It took place in 1683. • Plotters did not want a Catholic on the throne. • It was a plot to kill Charles II and his brother James. • They wanted to put Charles’ illegitimate son, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, on the throne instead. • Many believed that the Whigs were behind the plot. • The plot was used as an excuse to arrest and put to death the remaining Whig leaders, Algernon Sidney, Lord Russell and the Earl of Essex.

2. Titus Oates • He had been an Anglican priest. • He went to Spain to train as a Jesuit priest but was expelled when they found he had lied about his qualifications. • He gave evidence to the Privy Council about the fictitious Popish Plot, claiming that Catholics, including members of the House of Lords, were plotting to kill the king.

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Eliminate irrelevance

Write an account of the ways in which the Popish Plot affected Restoration England. (8 marks)

You only have a short time to write your answer, so there is no need to add detail that is not going to gain you any additional marks.

In 1678 Charles II was going for a walk. A man called Kirby told him that there was a plot to kill him. Although you do need to include enough information to explain what the plot was, the additional background does not add anything to the answer or help to explain the importance of the plot and its effect on Restoration England. Israel Tongue claimed that over one hundred Jesuits were conspiring to kill the King. Lord Danby and the Privy Council investigated and Titus Oates gave evidence to the Privy Council. Oates was born in Rutland and went to Cambridge University. You have not been asked to write a biography of Oates. This background does not help to answer the question. The dead body of Sir Edmund Godfrey, one of those who had questioned Oates, was found on Primrose Hill in London. Exactly where the body was found does not add to the answer. People feared that Catholics had murdered him. Members of the House of Lords whom Oates had accused were arrested. In England, Catholics were very unpopular and it was feared that Catholics would cause political and religious problems. . The Catholic religion was the official way of worship in countries such as Spain and France. The Pope was the head of the Catholic Church. For the purposes of this answer, you can assume that your reader has some basic knowledge of who the Catholics were. It might be possible to make the comment about France being Catholic relevant by including more detail about fear of the power of France, but as it stands, this sentence adds nothing to the answer. There was a great deal of anti-Catholic feeling and violence against Catholics because people believed Oates.

Key events

There are several events you might have mentioned. You could choose from:

August 1678 Charles was told of a plot to kill him. Israel Tongue reported that one hundred Jesuits were going to kill the king. Titus Oates made up detailed evidence about the Popish Plot and told the Privy Council. Magistrate Sir Edward Godfrey was found dead in London Oates accused five members of the House of Lords and they were arrested. There was widespread anti-Catholic feeling and violence against Catholics. Charles II’s Chief Minister, the Earl of Danby, was forced to resign when it was discovered that he had been negotiating to get money for the king from Catholic France. Thirteen people were executed for their part in the plot, even though the plot had been invented to stir up hatred of Catholics.

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Test yourself

1. The possible successors to Charles II were: Charles’ brother James, Duke of York Mary, the Protestant daughter of James The Duke of Monmouth, Charles’ eldest illegitimate son A child of Charles II by a new wife

Develop the explanation

Lord Shaftesbury played an important part in the Exclusion Crisis – he was the leader of the Whigs, who were in favour of exclusion, and he put the first Exclusion Bill before Parliament in 1679.

Charles II stopped the Exclusion Bills being passed – he did this by refusing to call Parliament or by dissolving Parliament.

Charles II was able to rule without Parliament – he could do this because trade was good and he had support from France, so he did not need Parliament to raise taxes.

Write an account A Focus on the consequences/impact of the plots (This links to the unhighlighted area) B Directly answers the question (NB There is some overlap between A and B) C Accurate use of appropriate key terms D Use of relevant knowledge

Page 16

Test yourself

1. Charles was known as ‘the Merry Monarch’ because his reign was a complete contrast to the simple, plain life of the Puritans of the Interregnum. He had many mistresses and enjoyed holding extravagant parties.

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Develop the detail

French influence There were many French influences on court life, including styles of clothing and Baroque furnishings and decorations in the home. One of Charles’ influential mistresses, Louise de Kéroualle, was French.

Entertainment Charles II love to give expensive parties where he could show off his power and wealth. He used the Banqueting Hall at Whitehall to entertain visitors.

Patronage Charles would grant patronage in the form of money, monopolies and positions at court.

Mistresses Charles had many mistresses and illegitimate children. The mistresses often had power and influence and those wanting patronage would approach the mistress as a way of gaining access to the king. They included Nell Gwynn, Louise de Kéroualle and Lady Castlemaine.

Topic summary

Charles’ lifestyle and court Charles’ home and centre of government Nell Gwynn, Louise de Kéroualle and Lady Castlemaine Money, land, jobs, monopolies Periwigs, embroidered dresses, long coats, breeches, hose

Practice question

Read Interpretation A below. How convincing is this interpretation about Charles II’s lifestyle? [8 marks]

The first part of this interpretation is convincing, as Charles did deal leniently with those who had opposed and killed his father. He quickly passed the Act of Indemnity and Oblivion, which put into law the promise he made at the Declaration of Breda, that those who fought against Charles I would not be prosecuted. Only the regicides who played a key part in Charles I’s trial and execution were arrested and put to death.

It is true that, although his wife Catherine of Braganza was childless, Charles did not divorce her. This is significant because Charles badly needed an heir and many people objected to his brother James, because he was Catholic. This just left the options of James’ Protestant daughter Mary, or Charles’ illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth. He did however have many mistresses, as the interpretation says. These included Nell Gwynne, who was an actress, so the interpretation is convincing when it says Charles had a fondness for women and the theatre. Not all his mistresses were actresses and Lady Castlemaine and Louise de Kéroualle became politically powerful by hosting social events.

Charles spent his time in exile at the lavish court of his cousin King Louis XIV of France and he adopted many French styles in clothes, architecture and interior decoration. He was particularly fond of the elaborate Baroque style, so the interpretation is convincing in this respect too.

There are three stages to the points made in this answer. Firstly, the general point is made (highlighted in red). Then more detail is given, demonstrating a deeper knowledge (highlighted in yellow). The sections highlighted in green develop what has been stated in the previous red and yellow sentences. Note that this answer does not quote directly from the interpretation but rephrases it instead. It also refers back to the question by stating why the interpretation is convincing. More than one point has been explained and there is evidence of detailed own knowledge. Relevant key historical terms, such as Baroque, have been used. All this is important in writing a good answer.

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Test yourself

1. People believed that plague was caused by: God, miasma, the alignment of the planets, cats and dogs. 2. There were attempts to stop the spread of the plague. Households with the plague were quarantined for 40 days. In-coming ships were quarantined for 40 days. You could only travel if you had a health certificate. Watchers were appointed to enforce the regulations. Dead bodies were examined by searchers to see if they had died of plague. Burial had to take place after dark in plague pits. Pest houses were built. Public gatherings were banned. Dogs and cats were killed. People had to sweep up the rubbish outside their own house.

You’re the examiner Makes a point that directly answers the question Explains the point Develops the explanation of the consequences (This links to the unhighlighted area) Use of relevant historical terms

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Test yourself

1. The fire was able to do so much damage due to: • Dry, windy weather. • Wooden houses that were built close together, with jettying. • Warehouses storing flammable materials such as oil, wood, gunpowder and rope caught fire. • River levels were low. • The lack of effective ways of fighting the fire; the leather water hoses had been gnawed by rats. Mayor Thomas Bloodworth failing to take the lead and not organising fire breaks. 2. They attempted to tackle the fire by: • Using ‘squirts’ and leather buckets. • Using wooden ladders and long hooks to pull thatch from roofs to stop the fire spreading. • Pulling down buildings to make fire breaks, but they often didn’t clear the wood, thatch and plaster away, so the fire still spread. 3. The people blamed the following for the fire: • God • Charles II’s lifestyle • Catholics • The Dutch • The French 4. Wren and Evelyn’s plans for the new city of London were not carried out because: • There were arguments over who owned the land. • Businesses needed to get back to work quickly so there was not time for elaborate re-building to a different plan. • There was a lack of money due to the Dutch wars.

Develop the explanation

Many buildings were destroyed These included 13,000 houses and 87 churches, including St Paul’s Cathedral.

Ways of fighting fires were not very effective There was no proper fire-fighting service, the leather water hoses had been gnawed by rats and they failed to clear the debris when houses were demolished to create firebreaks.

People looked for someone to blame They blamed the Catholics, the Dutch and the French.

Practice question

Write an account of the ways in which the Great Fire of 1666 affected Restoration England. (8 marks)

Although few people died, there was mass destruction of buildings in London, including over 13,000 houses, 87 churches and St Paul’s Cathedral. This provided an opportunity to re-build London. Plans were drawn up by Christopher Wren and John Evelyn for a more attractive, less crowded city, similar to Paris but these plans were not carried out due to lack of money and the need to rebuild quickly so businesses could trade. This means that the impact of the rebuild on London was not as great as it might have been. There were new building regulations following the fire, with no jettying or thatch. This had a long-term impact on the style of London’s houses. There were also improvements in fire-fighting techniques and fire insurance was introduced. The Great Fire had a short-term impact on the economy. Warehouses lost valuable cloth and it was also difficult to collect the hearth tax. This meant that Charles II lost money when he particularly needed it to fund the wars against the Dutch. The fire set people against each other as those who had lost their homes and businesses wanted someone to blame. This added to anti-Catholic feeling, which later contributed to the exclusion crisis. In the 1680s, signs appeared in London blaming a Popish conspiracy for the fire. There were rumours that the fire had been started deliberately. People particularly blamed their enemies – the Dutch and the French. Robert Hubert, a French watchmaker, confessed and was hung but could not have been responsible. There were those who saw the fire as a punishment from God for Charles II’s ungodly lifestyle but Charles II did not desert London as he had during the plague and James, Duke of York, played an active role. This improved the reputation of the royal family and made people view James more kindly.

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Test yourself

1. Aphra Behn was a famous playwright. She had spied for Charles II in the Netherlands. She supported the Tories in the Exclusion Crisis. Her plays contained satirical references to the Whigs. 2. Two theatre companies awarded patents by Charles II were the King’s Company and the Duke’s Company.

Develop the detail

The king patronised the theatre – he gave patents to two theatre companies and took actress Nell Gwynne as a mistress. Comedies had particular features – plays had complicated plots and sub-plots, which often featured disputes between rival lovers. The dialogue contained witty arguments, sexual references and double-meanings. The actresses often had parts that required them to be disguised as men, or to wear revealing clothes. Satire was common. The rake and the fop were key roles. Women had a new role – Aphra Behn was a famous playwright at the time. Actresses like Nell Gwynne were allowed to perform. Plays were used to make political points – satire was used to poke fun at the Whigs or Tories, especially at the time of the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Crisis.

Topic summary

Restoration theatre Aphra Behn and Nell Gwynn Thomas Killigrew, Edward Davenant and Thomas Betterton Proscenium arch, lavish decoration, candlelight, tiered seating, a pit, sliding scenery. Complicated plots and sub-plots. Often featured disputes between rival lovers. The dialogue contained witty arguments, sexual references and double-meanings. Actresses often had parts that required them to be disguised as men, or to wear revealing clothes. Male characters included the fop and the rake. Satire was used to poke fun at politicians.

Practice question

Read Interpretation A below. How convincing is this interpretation about Restoration theatre? [8 marks]

Interpretation A Extracts from Restoration Theatre by Kristy Ferreira and Shanna O’Berry, University of Massachusetts, Boston

This interpretation is convincing when it says that the theatre was a contrast to the strict moral rule of the Puritans. Life under Charles II was much more relaxed and he was known as ‘the Merry Monarch’, with a lavish lifestyle and a love of entertainment. Charles’ regular visits to the theatre were part of this.

It is also true that Restoration comedies were used to make comments on society. Playwrights, such as Aphra Behn, would use satire in their plays to poke fun at the politicians of the day. Aphra Benn supported the Tories during the Exclusion Crisis, so the Whigs became figures of fun in her plays.

Allowing women on the stage was a feature of the theatre at this time. Charles was known to have a succession of mistresses, including the actress Nell Gwynne, as well as many illegitimate children. This sexual licence was reflected in the plots of the plays.

The interpretation suggests that Charles played an important role in making Restoration theatre a success. This is convincing as he granted a patent allowing Thomas Killigrew to form the King’s Men Theatre Company and another to William Davenant for the Duke’s Men. As the wealthy classes wanted to copy the king and would go to the theatre in the hope of seeing Charles, his patronage contributed to the popularity of the theatre.

There are three stages to most of the points made in this answer. Firstly, the general point is made (highlighted in red). Then more detail is given, demonstrating a deeper knowledge (highlighted in yellow). The sections highlighted in green develop what has been stated in the previous red and yellow sentences. Note that this answer does not quote directly from the interpretation but rephrases it instead. It also refers back to the question by stating why the interpretation is convincing. More than one point has been explained and there is evidence of detailed own knowledge. Relevant key historical terms, such as patronage and satire, have been used. All this is important in writing a good answer.

Page 24

Test yourself

1. The duties of women in the Restoration home included: childrearing; supervising servants; baking and brewing; making and laundering clothes; looking after the garden; nursing the household; keeping household accounts. 2. Women became more involved in politics, business, the arts (or theatre) and medicine.

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Develop the detail

Politics – some women, like Charles II’s mistress Lady Castlemaine, hosted social events where politics were discussed. Those wanting patronage would approach Charles’ mistresses.

Business – women began to run their own businesses, often taking charge after their husbands had died.

The arts – it became acceptable for women to perform in the theatre and to write plays.

Medicine – women worked as midwives and some set up as apothecaries.

You’re the examiner

This answer needed to look at the changing role of women so, rightly, it describes how women were traditionally seen and what was new. Use of detailed own knowledge Directly addresses the question Use of specialist terms

Page 26

Test yourself

1. Robert Boyle was a scientist and one of the founders of the Royal Society. He discovered ‘Boyle’s Law’. 2. Robert Hooke was a scientist and engineer and one of the founders of the Royal Society. He worked with Boyle to produce a pneumatic pump. He was probably the first to invent a balance spring, which meant that watches could keep time more accurately. His book Micrographia was one of the first to include drawings of what could be seen under a microscope. 3. Drink coffee, debate politics, make business deals, read news-sheets, discuss science, listen to travellers’ stories, discuss current affairs

Spot the mistakes The Royal Society was founded in 1660 by Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke. It was dedicated to studying all branches of the sciences. It was encouraged by Charles II but he did not have enough money to fund it. Members of the Society believed that scientific theories should be based on experimentation. The Society allowed the public to watch demonstrations of their new inventions.

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You’re the examiner Directly relating to the content of the interpretation (this links to the unlighted final sentence of the first parargraph) Using own words to paraphrase parts of the interpretation Comment backed-up with own knowledge Specifically addressing the question of how convincing the interpretation is

Page 28 Test yourself

1. Christopher Wren was an architect, mathematician, anatomist and astronomer. He was influenced by the Baroque style. He drew up plans for the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire. His famous buildings include St Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Greenwich Royal Naval College. He was one of Charles II’s advisors when the king was setting up the Royal Observatory. 2. Powerful telescopes, Tompion clocks, quadrant Page 29

Write an account A Clear, relevant point B Point backed up by detailed knowledge C Focus on the consequences/impact of patronage of the sciences D Use of specialist terms (this links to unhighlighted ‘Baroque’)

Page 31

Test yourself

1. English colonies: Bombay, Tangier, Jamaica, Hudson Bay, New York, Carolina. 2. Products imported from the colonies include: furs, sugar, cotton, tobacco, silks, spices and tea. 3. Henry Morgan was a privateer who was given letter of marque in 1663. He raided French and Spanish ports in the Caribbean. He was accused of piracy. He became Governor of Jamaica. 4. Two trading companies were the East India Company and the Hudson Bay Company

Develop the explanation

Statements 1. Charles II was also given Tangier as part of Catherine of Braganza’s dowry. 2. The Hudson Bay Company was set up to trade in furs. 3. England also had colonies in the Caribbean.

Detail 1. It was in a good position at the entrance to the Mediterranean but the Moroccans fought to take it back. It was also seen as a hotbed for Catholics, so Parliament refused to fund the colony. 2. The traders gave the indigenous people pots and pans and guns in exchange for furs. 3. The Caribbean colonies were defended by privateers, such as Henry Morgan, who raided French and Spanish ports and attacked their ships. Cotton, sugar and tobacco were grown on plantations using slave labour.

Impact 1. This meant that they could not pay the soldiers to protect the colony, so Charles II abandoned it, showing that not all colonies were successful. 2. Shareholders such as Charles II and his cousin Prince Rupert made huge profits from the company. This provided Charles with much needed money. 3. This meant that relations with France and Spain worsened. The impact for the slaves was appalling but traders made vast profits from their plantations. This meant that they could invest in stately homes and townhouses in England. Some slave traders used their profits in a charitable way, to fund hospitals or schools.

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Test yourself 1. Four European countries with colonies were England, Spain, France, the Netherlands. 2. Exotic products that were brought back from the colonies included rice, tea, sugar, silk, cotton, spices, tobacco.

Write an account A Makes a point about how trade was carried out B Develops a point with additional, relevant detail C Comments on the effect or impact of the measures D Uses key terms appropriately (this links to unhighlighted terms)

Page 35

Test yourself 1. Europeans justified slavery on religious grounds, as slavery is mentioned in the Bible. They had economic reasons, as money could be made. They believed that white people were a superior race and that it was acceptable to treat Africans in the same way as they would animals. 2. The Company of Royal Adventurers Trading in Africa, later known as the Royal Africa Company.

Develop the detail

Ship-owners made large profits. Once they had bought a ship, they could leave all the work up to the ship’s captain and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. Slave traders Ships were deliberately overcrowded, which meant that conditions were appalling for the slaves but the traders could make bigger profits from their cargo. Plantation owners The demand for goods such as cotton, tobacco and sugar made vast fortunes for the plantation owners, whose expenses were low as they used slave labour. Port cities Port cities such as Liverpool, Bristol and London were very important in the slave trade and became rich as a result. New buildings were erected and their economy boomed. Manufacturers There was an increased demand for goods such as textiles, chains, pots and pans and guns, which were traded in Africa. This provided jobs for workers and encouraged investment in the production of manufactured goods, leading eventually to the Industrial Revolution. Owners of the businesses became very rich. Ship-builders There was an increased demand for ships, so ship-builders made money that they then invested. Shareholders in the Royal Africa Company, including Charles II and James, Duke of York, made large profits. This was helpful as Charles was short of money, especially when he ruled without Parliament.

Practice question

Explain what was important about the slave trade? (8 marks)

The slave trade was an important part of the mercantilist policy and developed rapidly after 1660, in order to provide labour for the plantations in the new colonies in the Caribbean and North America. Many people in Restoration England benefitted from the huge profits that were made as a result. These included the slave traders, the ship-owners and the shareholders in the Royal Africa Company, including the king. This was important because they used their profits to build lavish houses. Some gave money to charity to set up schools or hospitals. This led to slave traders being regarded as benefactors. This causes problems today as, although slave traders may have helped their communities, they did so using money from slavery. We now have a completely different attitude to slavery and it is seen as being wrong. At the time, one of the justifications for slavery was that white people thought they were superior and they regarded Africans as they would animals. This not only resulted in the exploitation of Africans as slaves at the time but also led to racist attitudes that still affect society today. The slave trade was important because it led to an increased demand for products that could be traded in Africa, such as guns, pots and pans and textiles. There was also a demand for ships and for chains to shackle the slaves. This meant that manufacturers, such as Abraham Crowley who was a chain maker, made fortunes. There was new investment in manufacturing and many jobs were created. This would eventually develop into the Industrial Revolution, which made the country a leading industrial nation. Port cities such as Liverpool, Bristol and London were very important in the slave trade and became very rich as a result. The look of the cities changed as people invested in them and erected new buildings.

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Test yourself 1. A shortage of sailors meant that men were press-ganged into joining the navy. Gangs would go to towns and cities and take unwilling recruits from the inns and ale houses (pubs). 2. A common tactic was the line of battle or line ahead. Ships lined up sideways-on to the enemy, so their cannon fire could be concentrated on the enemy and there was less chance of them firing on their own ships.

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You’re the examiner A Focuses on the question B Use of relevant specialist vocabulary (this links to unlighted terms) C More detailed explanation of importance D Builds on the explanation in the previous sentence(s)

Page 39

Test yourself

1. Leaders of the English fleet were James, Duke of York; Edward Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich; General Monck; Prince Rupert. 2. The peace treaties were the Treaty of Breda 1667 and the Treaty of Westminster 1674. 3. The English were victorious at the Battle of Lowestoft, 1665 and the Battle of North Foreland, 1666, 4. The Dutch won the Four Days’ Battle in 1666, the raid on the Medway in 1667, the Battle of Sole Bay in 1672, the Battle of Schoonveld Channel in 1673 and the Battle of Texel in 1673.

Key events

1664 New Amsterdam is captured from the Dutch and re-named New York 1665 The Battle of Lowestoft 1666 The Four Days’ Battle

1666 The Battle of North Foreland 1667 Peace negotiations 1667 The Raid on the Medway 1667 The Treaty of Breda

Practice question

Write an account of the difficulties that the English faced during the Second and Third Dutch Wars. (8 marks)

This question is not asking for a battle by battle account of the Dutch Wars. Your answer needs to focus on the difficulties that the English faced.

Although the English had some success during the Dutch Wars, especially at the beginning, overall they suffered humiliating defeats. There were several reasons for this. The first was poor leadership. There was a tradition of appointing nobles to lead the navy and although they might be supported by good sea captains, the nobles did not always have the right skills. James, Duke of York, was a good admiral but he had to resign after the Test Act prevented Catholics from holding office. Other leaders, such as Montague, Monck and later Prince Rupert, were less successful. The lack of money was a huge problem. It hadn’t been possible to collect the hearth tax during the plague and the rebuilding of London after the fire was expensive. Parliament was reluctant to grant money to fund the wars. They would have preferred to support a Protestant country like the Netherlands against Catholic France. The Dutch, on the other hand, were able to borrow money from their bankers to build 40 new ships before the Battle of the Medway. The plague and the lack of money also disrupted supplies, which led to the failure of the English raid on Bergen. The particular difficulty that faced the English during the raid on the Medway was that the estuary was poorly defended. The fort wasn’t finished and they did not have enough guns or gunpowder. The chain that was supposed to stop ships entering the river was too low in the water. Charles had also sent sailors home to save money. This meant that the raid was successful for the Dutch, who were able to approach London and destroy the English ships, and Charles was forced to sign the Treaty of Breda.

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Test yourself

1. Charles was closely connected to France because Charles’ mother, Henrietta Maria, was French. His sister had married into the French royal family. Charles II has spent time at the French court while he was in exile. Charles admired Louis XIV. Charles adopted many French fashions and styles.

Develop the detail

Charles signed the Treaty of Dover with France in 1670 – The French agreed to help England in the war against the Protestant Dutch. In a secret clause, Charles promised to become Catholic if Louis XIV gave him money and agreed to send troops if there were anti- Catholic rebellions in England. Parliament did not want England to become Catholic.

Charles admired Louis XIV – Louis believed in the Divine Right of Kings, which meant that Parliament could not question his decisions. Parliament wanted to have control over Charles.

France was a Catholic country – Parliament did not want a Catholic influence. Louis XIV persecuted French Protestants. Many Protestants, known as Huguenots, were killed and others fled to England as refugees. Their numbers increased after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes made Protestantism illegal in 1685.

Charles favoured France over the Netherlands – Parliament thought Charles should make an alliance with the Protestant Netherlands against the Catholic might of France and Spain, which meant that they refused to grant money for the Third Dutch war.