Because I know everyone was waiting breathlessly for the next installment on 18th Century Religious Politics. Right?
This chapter focuses on some guy named Nelson who was apparently like the Kevin Bacon of the 17th century English church: he knew everybody.
Nelson was what was called a "Nonjuror," meaning that he refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary when the English ditched King James and invited in a new King and Queen. A lot of people were relieved. A lot of people didn't care. A lot of people pointed out that it just isn't done to kick your King out of your country.
This stance had the unfortunate result of leaving Nelson and his pals in a bind regarding the church. As the Monarch is Head of the Church, and they had a problem with the Monarch, did that mean they had a problem with the church, too? Well, yes. But a little, discreet, polite sort of problem. As the author describes it, they were rendered "as if by accident" unsuitable to hold a variety of high office. Seems pretty deliberate to me, however nice the man might have been. If the prerequisite for the job is loyalty to the Monarch and you believe that your monarch is some chump over in France trying to raise an army, I would think it fairly clear why you're not getting a callback.
After William and Mary were succeeded, however, by Anne, and Anne was succeeded by George, Nelson realized that the chances of James and James Jr getting their collective foot back in the door were fairly slim. So, he decided to return to the fold. Village bells, we are told, rang out as they walk into church for the first time in years.
Whether that was because of the Grand Return of Nelson and his pals - or if they just timed their entrance right - isn't mentioned.
