Character

What was Charles II’s character like?

• He was smart and tried to distance himself from day-to-day business of running.

• He preferred the racecourse at Newmarket and brothels of Convent Hardens to the day-to-day tedium in the government.

• He was financially extravagant.

Why did Charles II try to distance himself from day-to-day business in general?

He was simply pleased to be on the throne.

Why was Charles II unable to have a legitimate heir?

His wife Catherine of Braganza was fertile and had three miscarriages.

How many mistresses did Charles II’s have?

Sixteen

What are the names of three of his mistresses?

• Lucy Walton.

• Nell Gwyn.

• Moll Davis.

Who is Lucy Walton?

She was the mistress that bored Charles II’s son James.

What is the name that Nell Gwyn was known as?

“The Protestant Whore”

How many children did Charles II’s consider as his minimum?

Fourteen.

How much money a year did Charles II have to pay for his children yearly?

£45,000

What were the consequences of his extravagance?

It made it increasingly hard for the ministers to persuade MPs to grant the king as many country Mps were hardline Anglicans who objected to Charles’s lifestyle.

What religion were majority of his mistresses?

Catholicism.

Why were Charles II’s mistresses religion seen as problematic amongst the political nation?

It created the impression that Popery was on the rise.