Meantime let it be remembered that the seventeenth century secured the country for two hundred years, _i.e._ to the present day at least, and, so far as can be prophesied, for an indefinite period yet to come, from the personal interference of the sovereign. That is an enormous gain to the country. We are no longer called upon to discuss the Prerogative. The attempted encroachments of George III. appear as mere trifles compared with the monstrous claims of Charles the First and the almost incredible acts of tyranny recorded of his son and successor. And in the achievement of this great result London in the seventeenth century played a noble part and earned the deepest gratitude of all those who came, or shall come, after. WALTER BESANT. CONTENTS STUART SOVEREIGNS CHAP. PAGE 1. JAMES I. 3 2. CHARLES I. 22 3. THE CITY AND THE CIVIL WAR 53 4. THE COMMONWEALTH 64 5. THE RESTORATION 74 6. THE REIGN 82 7. JAMES II. 103 8. WILLIAM III. 117 9. QUEEN ANNE 127 RELIGION, GOVERNMENT, AND TRADE 1. RELIGION 137 2. THE CHURCH AND DISSENT 154 3. SUPERSTITIONS 159 4. SANCTUARY 168 5. CITY GOVERNMENT AND USAGES 172 6. TRADE 190 7. IRISH ESTATES 206 THE GREAT PLAGUE AND FIRE 1. THE PLAGUE 215 2. PLAGUE AND MEDICINE 233 3. ASPECT OF THE CITY BEFORE THE FIRE 240 4. THE FIRE OF LONDON 244 5. CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE 258 6. LONDON AFTER THE FIRE 269 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 1. FOOD AND DRINK 287 2. DRESS AND MANNERS 298 3. WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS 308