I have incurred many debts during the course of research for this study. The greatest of all I owe to my mentor, Derek Hirst, who has been unstinting with his time, generous with his suggestions, incisive in his criticism, and consistent in his encouragement of this project since its genesis several years ago in his seminar in Stuart history at Washington University. His own zeal for research and for the reassessment of traditional interpretations has been an unfailing source of inspiration. J. H. Hexter has provided many useful suggestions, and to his own work goes the credit for stimulating my early thinking about the similarities between protestant and Christian humanist social thought. Early drafts of all or parts of the study were kindly read by Quentin Skinner, H. C. Porter, James McConica and J. H. Plumb, and the final version has benefited greatly from their insights; had I trod more carefully in the paths they indicated, I would doubtless have avoided the errors that remain. For valuable research suggestions early in the process I am grateful to George Huppert, Nicholas Tyacke and Conrad Russell, and conversations with Peter Lake and Jacqueline Levy proved more formative than they may have known.

Research for this study was made possible by fellowships and a travel grant from the Department of History at Washington University, and by a summer research fellowship from the Vanderbilt University Research Council.