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The return of Charles II to England in May 1660 brought back traditional forms of government in place of the reforms, civil wars, and constitutional expedients of two decades of radical change. The religious settlement of Charles II's era took many months to effect. By mid-1662, however, bishops had been reinstated and a revised Book of Common Prayer approved. An Act of Uniformity set the standards of conformity for the clergy. There was a pervasive tendency to look to the past for guidance to restore peace and stability.1
Remarkably, an innovative way of thinking emerged in the first six months of the new king's reign. A substantial number of individuals envisioned a future in which fresh knowledge would be developed for an understanding of the realm of nature. This knowledge was expected to support activities that would enhance society in a variety of ways. The emergence of this new way of thinking in England has been extensively investigated by commentators on science, and the role of religion in the process has been acknowledged and analyzed.2 But the emergence of this new way of thinking about nature deserves more attention than it has received. Where did it come from? How did it develop? What was the immediate and longer-range outcome?
The dramatic beginning of this new way of thinking was evident at a meeting at Gresham College in London on November 28, 1660, when twelve individuals gathered who had common interests concerning the remarkable results that could be gained from the study of nature. They represented a range of professions and held differing political and religious views. Some were of high social standing and were linked to the Crown, while others were of more modest means and callings. This group agreed to gather weekly for discussions. At their second meeting, on December 5, it was reported by Sir Robert Moray, who lived at the Palace of Whitehall, that King Charles II "knew of their undertaking and was pleased with their interests and activities." Moray, a Scot who had been knighted by King Charles I early in the Civil War period in Britain, had lived at the English court in exile in Cologne, Bruges, and elsewhere on the Continent during the Interregnum. Moray worked with other members...