The social history of early modern England has recently become a lively area of publication and debate. We chose the theme of order and disorder, both for a seminar course which we have taught jointly for several years and for this volume, because we believe it encapsulates much of what is at present at issue between historians working in the field. The theme is much too large for us to have attempted to treat it in a comprehensive manner. To some extent this book is necessarily disparate, but we hope and our introduction seeks to suggest that it is not wholly so.

We are grateful to our students who have stimulated our thinking and to colleagues, particularly Michael Bentley, Patrick Collinson, Mark Greengrass and Daniel Szechi, who have commented upon introductory material in draft. We are grateful to our fellow contributors who have faithfully produced their essays on schedule. And finally we wish to record our gratitude to the departmental secretaries, Patricia Holland, Jane Stone and Lynda Harrison, who have been unfailingly tolerant of and patient with our demands.