ABSTRACT
Thisambitiousessayattempts,throughastudyofGloucester,to linktwocontroversialarguments:thatmostmiddle-sizedtownssufferedconsiderableeconomicandsocialdislocationduringthe centurybeforetheCivilWarandthatmanytownsbecameParliamentarystrongholdsduringthatwar.Neitherpropositionholds trueforalltowns,asClarkadmits,nordidthelatterneccessarily followfromtheformer.Clarkseesthenecessaryconnectingfactor intheemergenceofapuritanmagistracyeagertousereligious reformtostrengthensocialorder.Thiswasaconservativeaimin thelocalsetting,butledtoradicalisminthenationalcontextdue tothedestablizingactionsoftheearlyStuartkingsandArchbishop Laua.Thisfinalsuggestionhasreceivedconsiderableconfirmation inrecentwork.Itislessclearthattheurgetocreatea'godly commonwealth'canhelpfullybecalled'puritan',orthatitwasconfinedtotownssufferingasocio-economiccrisis.NordoesClark entirelyexplaintheloyaltyofordinaryGloucesterpeopletothe leadshownbyhisoligarchicgroup;herefactorssuchasfearof Welshandirishcatholicsandbroadercivicfeelingmightbe considered.
