Roger Lockyer previously taught at Royal Holloway, University of London. His publications include Elizabethan Parliaments 1559-1601 (1996) with Michael A. R. Graves and Buckingham: The Life and Political Career of George Villiers, First Duke of Buckingham, 1592-1628 (1981).

Peter Gaunt is Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Chester. His previous publications include The English Civil War, A Military History (2015), English Historical Documents, 1603-1660, edited with Barry Coward (2010), and Oliver Cromwell (2005).

Preface 1 The new monarchy; 2 King and cardinal; 3 The break with Rome; 4 Henry VIII's government; 5 Edward VI and Mary I; 6 Tudor England; 7 Ireland and Scotland in the Tudor period; 8 Elizabeth I and the Church of England; 9 Roman Catholics and foreign policy under Elizabeth I; 10 Government, Parliament, and the royal finances under Elizabeth I; 11 James I: Finance and religion; 12 James I: the law and Parliament; 13 Charles I: Parliament and religion; 14 Charles I: the breakdown of prerogative rule; 15 The Civil War; 16 Commonwealth and Protectorate; 17 Early Stuart England; 18 Charles II; 19 James II, The Glorious Revolution, and the reign of William III; 20 Queen Anne; 21 Ireland, Scotland and overseas possessions in the seventeenth century; 22 Late Stuart England; Guide to further reading; Appendices; Index