History and Culture: The Monarchy
You'll find a word reference box with the meaning of some words at the end of the page
Charles II, Charles I's son, had spent his exile in France. He had French tastes and he was an admirer of the Sun King, Louis XIV. He established a court devoted to pleasure. Theatres, race-courses and taverns re-opened and gossip and fashion replaced religious debate.
In 1662 Charles patronised the Royal Society which was an association of scientists and intellectuals. Their motto was 'nullius in verba' which translated means: "on the word of no one". This motto was a direct challenge to the dependence of old philosophy and authorities.
A series of acts were passed, like the Corporation Act in 1661 which excluded dissenters from public offices; the Act of Uniformity in 1662 which imposed the use of the Book of Common Prayer and the Test Act (1673) which required all public employees to conform to the Church of England.
Two great tragedies: The Great Plague and the Great Fire
In 1665 there was a devastating out brake of bubonic plague and in 1666 the great Fire of London raged for five days destroying nine-tenths of the buildings. Charles II asked the architect Sir Christopher Wren to re-build the old insanitary City. Wren presented a plan for a new City with wide streets and squares and buildings and churches in the neoclassical style. His masterpiece was the St Paul's Cathedral. Charles II was able to finance his projects with the aid of France.
Word Reference
[dissenter] a member of a non-established Church; a Nonconformist.
