This work investigates the administrative and judicial role of the Justice of the Peace in England during the critical transition period between the accession of Elizabeth I and the outbreak of the Civil War. J.H. Gleason, a scholar of Tudor and Stuart governance, utilizes extensive archival records to analyze how these local officials functioned as the primary link between the central government and the local population. The book argues that the office of the Justice of the Peace was not merely a legal position but a vital instrument of social control and political stability during a time of significant religious and economic upheaval.

Historians frequently cite this work as a foundational study for understanding the mechanics of local government in early modern England. Scholars note the meticulous archival research that provides a clear picture of the practical application of law during the Tudor and Stuart eras.