A long sentence from a book

This sentence below is from the preface of Charles Dickens' book Bleak House.

There had been, he admitted, in its(The Court of Chancery) rate of progress, but this was exaggerated, and had been entirely owing to the 'parsimony of the public'; which guilty public, it appeared, had been bent in the most determined manner on by no means enlarging the number of Chancery Judges appointed -- I believe by Richard the Second, but any other king will do as well.

public : meaning people?

1) what is which referring to? Or what is its function?
2) what is meant with the phrase 'parsimony of the public'? People are too hesitant to spent money?
3) bent on meaning being investigated?
4) why is the king mentioned? Methinks(haha) it has nothing to do with anything in the sentence.

I know, too many questions for only one sentence, sorry.