Author Description
This book traces the evolution of the House of Lords as a court for private litigation during the critically important years from 1621 to 1675. It offers new insights into contemporary politics, government and religion, adding an important dimension to our understanding of the history of the House of Lords. Justice Upon Petition is primary reading for advanced undergraduates and postgraduate students on courses on early Stuart England, the Civil War and Restoration history; it will also be of interest to those on outline courses of the period and professional historians. Justice Upon Petition is the first study to focus on the House of Lords as a court of law, offering the reader an entirely new perspective on the critical legal issues dominating the period. The book draws upon the large archive of legal records situated in the House of Lords Records Office. It is written in a clear, concise style and is full of fascinating insights into James I, Ship Money and the politics of the Earl of Shaftesbury, among others.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the transformation of the House of Lords from a legislative body into a functional court for private litigation during the seventeenth century. James S. Hart, a historian specializing in early modern British governance, utilizes extensive archival records from the House of Lords Records Office to reconstruct the legal evolution of the institution. He argues that the Lords' judicial activities were central to the political and religious tensions of the Stuart era, providing a new framework for understanding the power dynamics between the monarchy, the judiciary, and the aristocracy.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A detailed analysis of the House of Lords as a court of law between 1621 and 1675.
- Examination of key historical figures including James I and the Earl of Shaftesbury.
- Investigation into the legal implications of Ship Money and other constitutional crises.
- Primary source research derived from the House of Lords Records Office archives.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and scholars of the Stuart period recognize this work as a foundational study on the judicial functions of the House of Lords. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of legal records for students and professionals in the field of early modern history.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
2013-01-01
Publisher:
Taylor & Francis Group
ISBN-10:
0203400593
ISBN-13:
9780203400593
History
Political History
Legal History
British History
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