1. An early modern revolution-- 2. Darkness and the devil, 1450-1650-- 3. Seeking the Lord in the night, 1530-1650-- 4. Princes of darkness: the night at court, 1600-1750-- 5. 'An entirely new contrivance': the rise of street lighting, 1660-1700-- 6. Colonising the urban night: resistance, gender and the public sphere-- 7. Colonising the rural night?-- 8. Darkness and enlightenment-- 9. Conclusion.