Hello everyone and welcome back to the history of England, episode 436, The Three Horsemen.

Last time we heard about the settlement that emerged from the cavalier parliament,

and since they turned out to be rather cavalier with the idea of religious freedom or freedom of speech,

I vainly tried to cheer everyone up with talk of the Royal Society,

the reopening of theatre and all that sort of stuff.

Given that I am worried there is not enough joy in the world,

I did hesitate in thinking of the title of this episode,

since The Horseman of the Apocalypse doesn't at first inspection

to either seem to be the most upbeat,

and actually, not on second, third or even fourth inspection either, I have to admit.

But look, at least there are three, not all four in this episode.

The guy on the black horse turns out to be busy, so that's good news.

However, there are three, I am sorry to say, that did visit England in the mid-166s,

war, death and conquest.

This is a very famous period in English history for two events, which are as well-trodden

as almost any I can think of, right up there with Battle of Hastings and Dennis Amos' double century at the

Oval against the Wind is in 1976. I speak, of course, of the second Anglo-Dutch War, the Great Plague

of 1665 and the Great Fire of London the following year, giving us the red and grey horses of war

and death.

Charles, though, he will be mounting the white charger of conquest and victory.

Charles was a clever lad, and like many of his predecessors, he realised full well that in order to thrive, monarchy needed to be, well, majestic, especially ones who claimed to be divinely appointed,

and the Republic had seriously reduced the monarch's majestic prestige points.

...