Edward Hyde Biography

Hyde is elected for Saltash and supports early constitutional reforms.

Hyde enters the Long Parliament and initially supports constitutional reform.

Hyde opposes the Grand Remonstrance and helps prepare the King's answer.

Hyde opposes the Remonstrance as dangerously divisive and constitutionally excessive.

Hyde helps articulate the constitutional case against Pym's programme.

Hyde prepares arguments defending the King's traditional authority over the militia.

Hyde drafts the King's reply refusing Parliament's proposed control of the militia.

Composes the Declaration of Breda for Charles II

Becomes the leading royal minister after the return of Charles II.

Confirmed as Lord Chancellor after the Restoration

Hyde helps shape the moderate royal policy offered in the Declaration of Breda.

Hyde helped formulate the declaration's promises and political language.

Created Earl of Clarendon on the day of the Coronation of Charles II

Clarendon guides royal policy as the Cavalier Parliament begins reshaping the Restoration settlement.

Clarendon supports the king's programme as the Cavalier Parliament begins its work.

Clarendon supports the Portuguese match as a strategic alliance for the restored monarchy.

Clarendon's ministry backs the Corporation Act as part of the Restoration settlement.

Clarendon's ministry accepts the hearth tax as part of the financial settlement for the crown.

Clarendon backs the religious legislation that becomes central to the Restoration settlement.

Clarendon's ministry supports the religious settlement confirmed by the Act of Uniformity.

Clarendon supports tighter control of printing during the Restoration settlement.

Named as one of the Lords Proprietors in the Carolina charter.

Clarendon's ministry supports trade regulation under the Navigation Acts.

Hyde supports the Restoration religious settlement enforcing conformity against dissent.

Parliament advances religious uniformity by restricting conventicles and dissenting worship.

The Restoration government strengthens Anglican conformity through measures later called the Clarendon Code.

Clarendon backs parliamentary reforms intended to secure the restored Church of England.

The Conventicle Act restricts unauthorised religious meetings outside the Church of England.

Clarendon's ministry supports legislation against nonconformist religious assemblies.

Deah of Edward Hyde, in exile