Restoration and Replacement

The monarchy is restored. Religious differences continue to simmer under the surface and a  constitutional crisis is provoked when James II  declares himself a Catholic and produces a son. The Dutch Protestant husband of Mary, James' eldest daughter by his first wife, is invited to becomes joint monarch with his wife. The reorganisation of government is known as the Glorious Revolution.

On the death of Oliver Cromwell, the polity of England behaved like a headless chicken. Cromwell nominated his son Richard to be his successor as Lord Protector, but Richard was incapable of controlling the wave of civil and military unrest which was set off as various interests struggled for influence and power. He resigned in 1659 and went to live in obscurity. General John Lambert, acting on behalf of the army high command, invited the Rump Parliament, which now consisted of only 78 members, to return. When Parliament attempted to take control of the army in October, the generals set up a Committee of Safety.

Powerful elements, led by George Monck, were beginning to consider the restoration of Charles Stuart to the throne of England as the best means of avoiding further turmoil.