King Charles I was beheaded on the 30th of January 1649, outside Whitehall Palace. This was done at the order of parliament. His son, also named Charles, was immediately adopted by Scotland as their king Charles II. The previous volume, A Time of Confusion, ended very roughly with these happenings. We now hop forward a couple of years to 1651. Charles, supported by some elements in Scotland and a few in England, makes an attempt to add the throne of England to that of Scotland. There are many in England who are tempted towards him and his efforts. There are also many who wholeheartedly support parliament and the firm rule that they impose.

There are also many who are ambivalent. Down in south Devon, life goes on much as usual - apart from the restrictions upon the nature of worship, the closure of the playhouses, restrictions on fairs, music, dancing and general merrymaking. In the English countryside, what is important is the raising of crops, the husbanding of livestock, the production and preservation of the very means of survival. It had always been thus. Few had time to indulge in other matters. However, there were a few who did - and this volume concentrates on those whose duty it was to concern themselves in these matters - and upon the very few who rallied to the royalist banner. Would any of them succeed in their endeavours?.