Intended to be of use to general readers, undergraduate and graduate students, teachers and scholars, this text on Stuart England contains 320 entries that cover a broad range of topics. The entries are based on current scholarship and are accompanied by references, a chronology and a bibliography. Topics covered by this work include: biographies of kings and queens, ministers, opposition leaders, ecclesiastics and literary figures; entries on the army, navy, courts and other institutions; local government and officials; important court cases and documents, such as the Great Contract, Petition of Right and Bill of Rights; controversial examples of the Royal prerogative, such as the dispensing and suspending of powers; the Civil Wars, Glorious Revolution and other rebellions; the Dutch, French and Spanish Wars; Anglicanism, Puritanism and other religious topics; and social and economic issues such as agriculture, mercantilism, poor laws, population and taxation. The dictionary also covers cultural topics, conceptual topics such as divine right and topics regarding women.
Although the book focuses on England, it also includes entries on Ireland, Scotland and Wales and matters relating to those areas.