Kingship and the Commonweal: Political Thought in Renaissance and Reformation Scotland

This collection of essays brings together some of the fruits of over a decade of research into the political thought and culture of Renaissance and Reformation Scotland. As a collection, it ranges from detailed studies of the writings of figures of international standing such as John Mair, John Knox, George Buchanan and King James VI and I, to more discursive explorations of the changing self-awareness of the Scottish political community during an era of dramatic political, cultural and religious upheaval. Each essay is self-contained, making its own contribution to a specific area of research. All are variations on the crucial theme of kingship and the commonwealth, analyzing from a variety of perspectives the ways in which the changing nature of the relationship between the Scottish crown and the Scottish people was viewed and expressed by contemporaries. At once focused and wide-ranging, these essays illuminate how a traditionally conservative political community came to terms not only with the cultural influences of Renaissance Europe, but with the revolutionary impact of the Reformation, the constitutional crisis of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, and the increasing likelihood and eventual reality of union with England.