Originally published in 1968, the documents collected in this volume (all re-set for ease of reading), trace the history of the Puritan Revolution from its roots in the early seventeenth century to the Restoration. They show how the causes and the course of the upheaval were reflected immediately and polemically in the torrent of books, tracts and pamphlets, letters, speeches, sermons, petitions, paper constitutions and government instruments that accompanied and often precipitated events. The documents substantiate the conviction of many scholars that the English Revolution represented a shaking of society comparable to the French and Russian revolutions. The Introduction discusses the work of historians of modern-day historians of the period and contributes to the debate about the underlying causes of the crisis.

Originally published in 1968, the documents collected in this volume (all re-set for ease of reading), trace the history of the Puritan Revolution from its roots in the early seventeenth century to the Restoration. They show how the causes and the course of the upheaval were reflected immediately and polemically in the torrent of books, tracts and pamphlets, letters, speeches, sermons, petitions, paper constitutions and government instruments that accompanied and often precipitated events. The documents substantiate the conviction of many scholars that the English Revolution represented a shaking of society comparable to the French and Russian revolutions. The Introduction discusses the work of historians of modern-day historians of the period and contributes to the debate about the underlying causes of the crisis.

Throughout this essay all dates are given in New Style. When pamphlets were originally dated Old Style, the new date has been substituted. In all quotations the original seventeenth-century spelling has been retained. A "sic" is placed in the quotation only where it appears to be certain that there has been a misprint in the original. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the late Professor Garrett Mattingly of Columbia University for his inspiration and guidance during the years spent under his sponsorship. It was a rare privilege to study under him. Professor Sidney Burrell of Barnard College offered many constructive suggestions and I am most appreciative of the kind interest he took in the completion of this study. I also wish to thank the editors of The American Journal of Legal History for publishing some of my material on Chancery reform in their Journal. The staff of the North Library of the British Museum was most helpful in making available the many volumes of the Thomason Collection. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Library of Union Theological Seminary who helped in the location of materials from the McAlpin Collection.