"The British Josiah": the Royal Martyr and the Laudian vision

In a 30th January sermon in 1660, just months before the Restoration, John King (Dean of Tuam) praised the Royal Martyr as "the British Josiah". This (deliberately, of course) placed Charles in venerable company. Not only had Edward VI been obviously regarded as a latter-day Josiah but Bancroft's famous 1588 sermon had proclaimed Elizabeth "as a most zealous Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and Josiah". In other words, King placed Charles within the narrative of (in words from the 1662 Preface ) "the Reigns of several Princes of blessed memory since the Reformation". This understanding of the Royal Martyr as "the British Josiah" animated, in a variety of ways, much 30th January preaching in the Restoration Church. It found expression as a means of interpreting the Laudian agenda. Thus, for example, a 1670 sermon : Josiah was very zealous for the House of God, took great care for the Repairing and Beautifying of the Temple. So our Josiah was zeal...