It was not till 1694 that the restraints were taken off; to the great displeasure of the king and his ministers, who, seeing nowhere, in any government, during present or past ages, any example of such unlimited freedom, doubted much of its salutary effects; and probably thought, that no books or writings would ever so much improve the general understanding of men, as to render it safe to intrust them with an indulgence so easily abused.
In 1677, the old law for burning heretics was repealed; a prudent measure, while the nation was in continual dread of the return of Papery.
Amidst the thick cloud of bigotry and ignorance which overspread the nation during the commonwealth and protectorship, there were a few sedate philosophers, who, in the retirement of Oxford, cultivated their reason, and established conferences for the mutual communication of their discoveries in physics and geometry.

Wilkins, a clergyman, who had married Cromwell's sister, and was afterwards bishop of Chester, promoted these philosophical conversations.

Immediately after the restoration, these men procured a patent, and having enlarged their number, were denominated the Royal Society.

But this patent was all they obtained from the king.

Though Charles was a lover of the sciences, particularly chemistry and mechanics, he animated them by his example alone not by his bounty.