Puritan Gentry Besieged 1650-1700

The latter half of the seventeenth century saw the Puritan families of England struggle to preserve the old values in an era of tremendous political and religious upheaval. Even non-conformist ministers were inclined to be pessimistic about the endurance of godliness' - Puritan attitudes and practices - among the upper classes. Based on a study of family papers and other primary resources, Trevor Cliffe's study reveals that in many cases, Puritan county families were playing a double game: outwardly in communion with the Church, they often employed non-conformist chaplains, and attended nonconformist meetings.

J.T. Cliffe

Chapter 1 The Godly Divided; Chapter 2 Disaffection; Chapter 3 Bringing Back the King; Chapter 4 Bartholomew Day; Chapter 5 Change and Decay; Chapter 6 A Godly Elite; Chapter 7 In Communion; Chapter 8 Gospel Preaching; Chapter 9 Conventicles and Meeting Houses; Chapter 10 Keeping a Chaplain; Chapter 11 The Godly Household; Chapter 12 Education in an Ungodly World; Chapter 13 Getting and Spending; Chapter 14 Parliament and the Nonconformist Interest; Chapter 15 Fin de Siecle;