Why was it that whenever the Tudor-Stuart regime most loudly trumpeted its moderation, that regime was at its most vicious? This groundbreaking book argues that the ideal of moderation, so central to English history and identity, functioned as a tool of social, religious and political power. Thus The Rule of Moderation rewrites the history of early modern England, showing that many of its key developments – the via media of Anglicanism, political liberty, the development of empire and even religious toleration – were defined and defended as instances of coercive moderation, producing the 'middle way' through the forcible restraint of apparently dangerous excesses in Church, state and society. By showing that the quintessentially English quality of moderation was at heart an ideology of control, Ethan Shagan illuminates the subtle violence of English history and explains how, paradoxically, England came to represent reason, civility and moderation to a world it slowly conquered.

Winner of the 2012 NACBS John Ben Snow Prize

‘This is a lively and provocative, but also deeply illuminating and richly suggestive work from one of the most original and stimulating historians currently working in the early modern period. Professor Shagan scores many a palpable hit in this wonderfully sustained critique of early modern historians’ sloppy tendency to essentialize ‘moderation’ and ‘moderate’, and to misread these terms’ relative, polemical function in the sources of the period. It should be required reading for all those working on early modern British history.’

Anthony Milton - University of Sheffield

‘Discussion of England’s religious moderation has over the centuries been attended by much woolly thinking and some downright intellectual and historical dishonesty. There can be few people better able than Ethan Shagan to take a scalpel to this body of material, given the sophistication and detachment of his historical analysis and his ability to look at old problems in new ways.’

Diarmaid MacCulloch - University of Oxford

‘A profound and important book, which deserves to be widely discussed and debated. Shagan issues a provocative challenge to complacent acceptance of claims about the intrinsic or relative ‘moderation’ of England’s church, system of government, and empire, from pre-modern into modern times.’

Peter Marshall - University of Warwick