John Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration famously argued that a
church was a voluntary society and that the state had no
business coercing anyone’s beliefs. Locke puzzled over the
foundations of good government and the proper treatment of
religious differences within society. When he followed the earl
of Shaftesbury into exile in Holland, he composed his argument,
writing the letter in Latin, the language of international
scholarship. It was printed in English after he returned for the
reign of William and Mary. Despite his call for religious
freedoms, Locke was still a product of his time: he excluded
Catholics and atheists from toleration. Before taking up the
throne in 1660, Charles II wrote from abroad of his intention to
respect the “liberty of the tender consciences” of his subjects.
In fact, a blistering series of punishments against religious
nonconformists ensued. Charles returned to the theme of
conscience with a Declaration in 1672. Writing that the “sad
Experience of Twelve Years” had taught the