A clear, documentary look at Restoration finances and Parliament’s role in shaping the era
This nonfiction study examines how Parliament and the Crown managed money, duties, and public debt during the reign of Charles II. It presents a factual account that challenges a contentious critique and lays out the real costs of governance in that volatile period. The text blends parliamentary records with contemporary commentary to illuminate how revenue, expenditures, and political power interacted.
Readers will gain a grounded view of the era’s financial pressures, the limits of parliamentary grantmaking, and the long-run implications for constitutional balance. The book also includes detailed appendices and calculations that explore the money flows behind major events and reforms.
- A near-source account of the year-by-year funding and its disputes
- Analysis of how delays and political strategy affected royal finances
- Side-by-side look at charges, grants, and the cost of governance
- Discussion of proposals to restore balance in representation and power
Ideal for readers of English constitutional history and Restoration-era politics, who want an evidence-based view of how money and power shaped the period.