This book is based on a doctoral thesis on ‘the Catholic factor’ in English politics under Charles II and James II. A study of anti-Catholicism in the later seventeenth century has led me to consider the way in which the anti-Catholicism, explicit or implicit, of ‘Whig’ historians has coloured popular attitudes to the seventeenth century in general and to James II in particular. As a non-Catholic I am less familiar than I might be with the spiritual side of Catholic life and I should be grateful if Catholic readers would look with indulgence on any errors or gaucheries that they might find.

I have received a great deal of help from many people during my research for the thesis and the book, but my thanks are due first of all to Professor J. H. Plumb who suggested the topic to me in the first place and who, as my research supervisor, guided my work and watched over the development of the thesis. I am also very grateful for the valuable advice that I have received from Professor J. P. Kenyon, Professor J. R. Jones, Mr J. A. Williams, Mr P. R. Glazebrook, Dr B. Neveu and Professor T. A. Birrell. My thanks are due also to the duke of Marlborough, the marquis of Bath, the marquis of Salisbury and Mr R. J. R. Arundell for allowing me to use manuscripts in their possession and to Professor C. D. Chandaman for allowing me to quote figures for the revenue from recusants from his unpublished thesis.