What an amazing response to our programme; it's wonderful to see that people are just as excited as we are for an incredible day of research!

📣DEADLINE EXTENDED! We are delighted to announce that we're extending the deadline for applications to our 50th anniversary conference! Now accepting applications until 23 Jan! socialhistory.org.uk/events/…

We are thrilled to share our Lent Termcard 📚 We have some amazing speakers lined up for February and March, so you don't want to miss out - be sure to join our mailing list for further updates and to join us online!

We hope everyone had a Happy New Year! Like true early modernists, here is our New Year's Gift to you: a reminder that the deadline to submit to the Symposium is THIS Monday, 5 January!

As the holidays approach, here is a gentle reminder to submit your abstracts to the Late Stuart Symposium, held at Christ's College, Cambridge, on 4 April 2026. Submissions are due on Monday, 5 January - Please get in touch with any questions! #cfp #earlymodern #callforpapers

In case you missed our first announcement, there’s still over a month to submit your abstracts 🪶 We have already received some amazing proposals, and can’t wait to put together a fantastic programme for April! #earlymodern #cfp #historycfp

A new article from one of our convenors!

Wednesday 23 October 1661 To Whitehall, and there, to drink our morning, Sir W. Pen and I to a friend’s lodging of his (Col. Pr. Swell), and at noon he and I dined together alone at the Legg in King Street, and so by coach to Chelsy to my Lord Privy Seal’s about business of Sir William’s, in which we had a fair admittance to talk with my Lord, and had his answer, and so back to the Opera, and there I saw again “Love and Honour,” and a very good play it is. And thence home, calling by the way to see Sir Robert Slingsby, who continues ill, and so home. King Street A narrow street, running roughly north/south, to the west of Parliament Street. It was very busy was lined with many taverns. Admiral William Penn Sir John Robartes (2nd Baron Robartes, Lord Privy Seal) Duke's House ("The Opera", Lincoln's Inn Fields) Love and Honour is a Restoration tragicomedy by English Renaissance theatre playwright Sir William Davenantwhich was produced at his playhouse in Lincoln's Inn Fields for a 12-day run in October 1661 and which featured Thomas Betterton as Prince Alvaro. The work concerned the fictional Duke of Savoy and his son Prince Alvaro (the latter played by Thomas Betterton), who in the role was resplendent in the suit worn by Charles II at his Coronation earlier that year. Thomas Betterton played Alvaro, Prince of Savoy

Monday 20 October 1662 And by and by up to the Duke … Insomuch that after I had done with the Duke, and thence gone with Commissioner Pett to Mr. Lilly’s, the great painter, who came forth to us; but believing that I come to bespeak a picture, he prevented us by telling us, that he should not be at leisure these three weeks; which methinks is a rare thing. And then to see in what pomp his table was laid for himself to go to dinner; and here, among other pictures, saw the so much desired by me picture of my Lady Castlemaine, which is a most blessed picture; and that I must have a copy of. James Stuart (Duke of York, Lord High Admiral) Peter Pett (Commissioner of the Navy) Barbara Palmer (Countess of Castlemaine) Peter Lely A painter of Dutch origin. He was the most popular portrait artist in England from soon after he arrived in the country in the 1640s to his death. He also owned a major collection of art, especially drawings by other artists. Peter Lely‘s self portrait (1660) & Portrait of Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, 1st Duchess of Cleveland (1640-1709), full-length, in a silver silk dress and green mantle. Sold 30,000 GBP in 2009 at Christie’s.