Charles Stuart is restored to the throne after years spent in exile. Abandoned by his oldest friend, the Duke of Buckingham, Charles has reached his lowest ebb when the sudden death of Oliver Cromwell galvanizes the Royalist cause.

The king is beset by plague and war and under pressure to divorce because Queen Catharine has not produced a child.

Charles takes a great risk by inviting his beloved sister Minette to come from Catholic France to negotiate secret treaties on behalf of Louis XIV.

Villainous opportunist Titus Oates capitalises on the mood of the times to propagate a rabid purge of Catholics that spirals out of control.