Dr Hirst examines politics from the point of view of the ordinary man before the Civil War.

Acknowledgements; Abbreviations and notes; 1. Introduction; Part I. The Electorate: 2. The county electorate; 3. The borough franchise disputes; 4. The support of the House of Commons; 5. The urban voters; Part II. Elections: 6. Control and independence in voting; 7. The electorate and politics; Part III. After the Election: 8. Local benefits and taxes; 9. Accountability and national politics; 10. Conclusion; Appendices; Notes; Bibliography; Index.