The Radical Face of the Ancient Constitution: St Edward's 'Laws' in Early Modern Political Thought

ISBN-13: 9780521791311 / Angielski / Twarda / 2001 / 356 str.

Janelle Greenberg

Opis

This book deals with critical aspects of English historical, constitutional and political thought from the Middle Ages to the early modern period. In particular, the book is a study of the ways in which history could be deployed for all kinds of political purposes. The entire story of the historical construct of the "radical ancient constitution" is told, focusing on the ways in which rebels turned to important medieval sources including the so-called "Laws" of Edward the Confessor, in an effort to legitimize resistance, deposition and regicide.

Recenzje

'Greenberg has a flair for untangling tricky legal concepts … and explaining their relevance to political thought … lucid discussion …'. Royal Stuart Review

Spis treści

Acknowledgments; 1. Hagiography and historiography: the long shadow of Edward the Confessor; 2. 'Those most equitable laws of St. Edward': from the cult of the Confessor to the cult of the Confessor's laws; 3. 'Divers and sundry ancient histories and chronicles': the articulation of the ancient constitution in the Tudor period; 4. 'By lex terrae is meant the laws of St Edward the Confessor': the footprints of the Saxons in the early seventeenth century; 5. 'You shall be king as while you rule well': the radical ancient constitution in the civil wars and the interregnum; 6. 'The noble transcript of the original contract, the Confessor's laws': the radical Ancient Constitution in the late Stuart period; Bibliography; Index.