The True Law of Kingship Concepts of Monarchy in Early-Modern Scotland

by Burns, J. H.

• ISBN13: 9780198203841
• ISBN10: 0198203845
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-02-29
• Publisher: Clarendon Press

Summary

'Fear God, honour the king'. Sixteenth-century people were supposed to do both. But what was the king entitled to command? And what if he ordered one thing and God's law said another? In this fascinating and original study, James Burns examines these questions by focusing on a neglected area of study: the Scottish experience. The Scottish response to monarchical government not only provides a microcosmic view of European thinking on the subject, it also contributes substantially to our understanding of the Scottish element in the new 'British' polity which was emerging at the end of the period.

Author Biography

J. H. Burns is Professor Emeritus of the History of Political Thought in the University of London.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Abbreviations	p. xii
Introduction	p. 1
Theology and Politics John Ireland and John Mair	p. 19
Politics and History	p. 54
Satire and Complaint	p. 93
Reformation and Resistance John Knox	p. 122
Congregation, Kirk, and Crown	p. 153
Politics, Humanism, History George Buchanan and His Critics	p. 185
Free Monarchy James VI	p. 222
The Whole Isle and Beyond James VI and I	p. 255
Conclusion	p. 283
Bibliography	p. 296
Index	p. 307
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