Restoration Responsibilities

Abstract

This chapter studies the exercise of royal authority on England’s islands from 1660 to 1700. Like its predecessors, the Restoration regime balanced political and strategic needs against local customary rights and privileges, though mostly to its own advantage. The islands were assets in international wars with the Dutch and the French. Though Charles II assured islanders that he recognized their traditions, immunities, liberties, and customs, the balance of power generally tilted in favour of the crown. Royal governors such as Lord Christopher Hatton on Guernsey and Lord Thomas Culpeper on the Isle of Wight looked after London’s interests, and their own, while the earls of Derby maintained the stubborn independence of the Isle of Man.