Arms and the English State, 1660-1664
This thesis recovers a parliamentary struggle over English taxation which erupted at the 1660 Convention parliament that welcomed Charles II back from exile. It lasted until the eve of the second Anglo-Dutch War of 1665-67. At its centre lay a complex and shifting legislative initiative for preserving Englandâs naval transformation of the 1650s: the âSupply Actsâ for granting statutory taxes to support a strong and durable royal navy. Sponsored by King Charles and his parliamentary servants, this legislation met a hostile response in scribal and print publications that advanced a rival military agenda. The most prolific author of this offensive was the lawyer and intellectual Fabian Philipps. Caricatured by modern historians as an eccentric on a mad quest to restore Englandâs equestrian caste to its ancient glory and prestige, he has been dismissed as a feudal anachronism. This thesis situates his views within a fresh interpretive framework and a newly reconstructed historical setting, permitting us to appreciate that the final outcome of the contest over taxation had the long-term consequence of proportionately reducing the traditional discretionary violence of the caste. Through close attention to
Deluna, DeAnn
Arms and the English State, 1660-1664. This thesis recovers a parliamentary struggle over English taxation which erupted at the 1660 Convention parliament that welcomed Charles II back from exile. It lasted until the eve of the second Anglo-Dutch War of 1665-67. At its centre lay a complex and shifting legislative initiative for preserving Englandâs naval transformation of the 1650s: the âSupply Actsâ for granting statutory taxes to support a strong and durable royal navy. Sponsored by King Charles and his parliamentary servants, this legislation met a hostile response in scribal and print publications that advanced a rival military agenda. The most prolific author of this offensive was the lawyer and intellectual Fabian Philipps. Caricatured by modern historians as an eccentric on a mad quest to restore Englandâs equestrian caste to its ancient glory and prestige, he has been dismissed as a feudal anachronism. This thesis situates his views within a fresh interpretive framework and a newly reconstructed historical setting, permitting us to appreciate that the final outcome of the contest over taxation had the long-term consequence of proportionately reducing the traditional discretionary violence of the caste. Through close attention to
english state recovers parliamentary struggle english taxation convention parliament welcome charles_ii back exile last eve second anglo dutch war centre lay complex shift legislative initiative england naval transformation supply acts grant statutory tax support strong durable royal_navy sponsored king charles parliamentary servant legislation meet hostile response scribal print publication advance rival military agenda prolific author offensive lawyer intellectual modern_historian mad quest restore england caste ancient glory prestige dismiss feudal situates view within fresh interpretive_framework newly reconstruct historical_setting permit appreciate final outcome contest taxation long_term consequence reduce traditional discretionary violence caste close_attention