The History of England 441 The Duellist
Mar 1, 2026
A look at Charles II's post-Medway scramble for prestige and a convenient scapegoat. The fall of Clarendon and his exile are sketched alongside the rise of the Cabal ministers. A vivid detour into duelling culture culminates in the deadly Barn Elms confrontation. Political moves toward toleration, Scottish indulgence, and the threat of a standing army round out the intrigue.
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Frances Stuart Became Britannia And Rejected The King
- Charles II tried to use Frances Stuart as the model for Britannia on a commemorative coin to celebrate supposed victory after the 1667 peace treaty.
- Frances refused the life of a royal mistress, eloped with and married the Earl of Richmond, angering Charles and inspiring the long-lived Britannia image.
Clarendon Fell From Power And Exiled To Montpellier
- Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, was scapegoated for the Medway disaster and public hatred led to riots outside his house nicknamed Dunkirk House.
- Charles pushed impeachment, used Buckingham and a bill of attainder, and Clarendon fled to Montpellier, later writing a major history in exile.
Cabal Was A Useful Label Not A Unified Cabinet
- The so-called Cabal ministry (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, Lauderdale) is more a memorable label than a coherent governing body.
- The acronym 'Kabal' helped opponents and historians invent cohesion that the five ministers actually lacked.