The Late Medieval Scottish Parliament - Politics and the three Estates 1424–1488

Roland Tanner

Summary

In this ground-breaking study of the medieval parliament, Roland Tanner gives the Scottish Parliament a human face by examining the actions and motives of those who attended. In the past, the Scottish Parliament was seen as a weak and ineffective institution – damned because of its failure to be more like its English counterpart. But Roland Tanner shows that the old picture of weakness is far from accurate. In its very different way, the Scottish Parliament was every bit as powerful as the English institution. The ‘Three Estates’ (the clergy, nobility and burgh representatives who attended Parliament) were able to wield a surprising degree of control over the Crown during the fifteenth century. For instance, they threatened to lock James I’s taxation in a box to which he, the king, would have no access, made James II swear not to alter acts of Parliament, and prevented him from using his own lands and wealth as patronage for his supporters, and forbade James III to leave the country.  Roland Tanner has avoided a dry constitutional approach. Instead he has sought to bring Parliament to life through the people who attended, the reasons why they attended, and the complex interactions which occurred when all the most wealthy, powerful and ambitious people in the kingdom gathered in one place.

Available since: 06/07/2022.

Print length: 300 pages.

Humanities & Social Sciences

Other books that might interest you

Stones Still Speak - How...

Amanda Hope Haley

Untangling the Sunday School Stories You Learned from the Biblical History You Haven't   
 
· Biblical archaeologist unearths the riches of the historical and cultural contexts of the Bible 
· Unveils God's Word as one glorious, world-changing story 
 
When we first encounter the Bible, we are taught its stories--Adam and Eve, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Jonah and the whale, and more. When a story lacks the details we crave, we fill in the blanks--with what we've seen in movies, read in books, and been told by our Sunday school teachers. But there's a better way to encounter the whole story of Scripture: uncovering and understanding the ancient world and the people who experienced biblical events. 
 
In Stones Still Speak, Harvard-trained archaeologist and theologian Amanda Hope Haley scrapes back 2,000 years of misguided cultural interpretations to reveal God's Word in its historical, archaeological, and literary contexts. Far from a dry academic exercise, this process explains how our misunderstandings developed and revitalizes the Scripture you thought you knew, with the greater purpose of encouraging a more intentional, rigorous study of the Bible in your daily life.

Show book

Seasons of Sobriety - poetry +...

Amber Michele Giangregorio

Seasons of Sobriety was originally written as a therapeutic outlet during a period filled 
with darkness. As time went on, however, the writing evolved into something more 
enlightened. The purpose of this book, which begins with the journey toward addiction 
and ends with a sober-curious mindset, is to offer encouragement and inspiration, as 
well as to illustrate through poetry and prose that a powerful potential exists within every 
person, ready to be awakened. The book is divided into four chapters that represent 
the seasons of the year (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) because each season 
represents a different phase of the journey: impulsivity, healing, abundance, and 
renewal. As you travel through the seasons, you feel the impact of the poetry as it 
relates to the natural world. The book will start with the darkness of winter but keep 
reading to find the brilliant colors in autumn. If you are trapped in the dark, the poems in 
this book will offer tools and thought-provoking ideas to help you find the light.

Show book

The Age of Reason - The...

History Retold

Welcome to a comprehensive history of Enlightenment thinkers! 
Covering some of the most influential figures in modern Western philosophy, including Descartes, John Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Voltaire, and Adam Smith. 
This book offers a detailed analysis of the key ideas and theories of each philosopher, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the philosophical landscape of the 17th and 18th centuries. 
Here are some of the highlights of this book:Descartes' emphasis on reason and skepticism, which had a profound impact on modern philosophy and scienceLocke's ideas on government and individual rights, which helped shape democratic societies around the worldRousseau's social contract theory, which influenced political thought and inspired the French RevolutionKant's moral philosophy, which provided a new framework for ethical decision-makingVoltaire's views on religion and tolerance, which championed freedom of thought and expressionAdam Smith's economic theories, which laid the groundwork for modern capitalism and influenced economic policy around the world. 
Through careful analysis and exploration of each philosopher's life and work, this book provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the Enlightenment era and its major themes.  
Whether you are a student of philosophy, a history buff, or simply someone interested in learning more about the ideas that shaped our modern world, this book is a must-read. 
Join us on a journey through the Enlightenment era and discover the enduring legacy of these great thinkers.

Show book

Dad Fit - Building A Stronger...

Seth Scrimo

For every dad out there feeling overwhelmed by the grind of daily life, career pressures, and the endless quest for personal time, "Dad Fit: Building a Stronger Legacy" is your wake-up call. This isn't about just shedding pounds or building muscle; it's about a comprehensive overhaul of how you live, blending physical health, mental resilience, and emotional depth into the fabric of your family life.
Crafted by a 5-time Amazon best-selling author and seasoned nutrition coach, this book cuts through the noise. It's built on real-life experience and a deep understanding of the challenges dads face today, providing a practical roadmap to becoming the hero your family already sees in you.
"Dad Fit" goes beyond typical fitness talk, addressing the heart of fatherhood's challenges. It's about finding balance, making meaningful connections with your family, and setting an example of health and happiness. This book will guide you through integrating fitness into your life without it feeling like another chore on your to-do list.
We tackle the essentials—exercise, nutrition, rest—and link them with strategies for mental and emotional well-being. "Dad Fit" is a call to action for dads to lead their families in health, showing that caring for yourself isn't selfish but a fundamental act of love.
"Dad Fit" focuses on progress, not perfection. It's about making small, sustainable changes that enhance your well-being and contribute to a lasting legacy of health for your family.
"Dad Fit: Building a Stronger Legacy" is your blueprint to a healthier, happier life, not just as a father, but as a man. Let's start this journey together, and redefine what it means to be a strong, resilient, and loving dad.

Show book

Speak Still - Articulating the...

Wing Lam Tong

Speak Still confronts colonial silencing by asking out loud: why do non-native speakers of English feel estranged from the English language, despite having known it since childhood? Is it possible for us to own this silence? If so, how can we find our eloquence from our experience of speechlessness? How can we bring the foreign language home?
Blending personal narrative and cultural criticism, Speak Still takes Tong's bilingual experience in Hong Kong and the UK as a point of departure and reflects on the meaning of language, selfhood, and belonging. Through poignant observations of everyday life as it is experienced between languages, Tong conceptualises a possibility to communicate and connect beyond words: by reclaiming silence as an interlocutor that interrupts cultural homogeneity and creates space for the unheard.
Speak Still shows that this silence, indeed, speaks volumes.

Show book

Blind Obedience and Denial - The...

Andrew Sangster

"...offers a unique and valuable insight into the psychology of human beings who violate the laws of war. Anyone interested in war crimes generally and the IMT in particular should read this interesting book." — Journal of Military HistoryA revealing yet accessible examination of the Nuremberg trial, and most crucially all 23 men who stood accused, not just the most infamous—Speer, Hess, and Göring. This account sets the scene by explaining the procedures, the legal context, and the moments of hypocrisy in the Allies’ prosecution—ignoring the fact that the Katyn massacre was a Soviet crime and overlooking carpet bombing.  Author Andrew Sangster discusses how the word “Holocaust” was not used until long after the trial, probably due to Russian objection as they had lost many more people, and because the Allies generally were not innocent of anti-Semitism themselves, especially Russia and Vichy France. However, the defendants to a person immediately recognized that this was the singular issue which placed them on the steps of the gallows, and their various defenses on this charge are therefore crucial to understanding the trial. Sangster also explores how the prisoners related to one another in their approach to defending themselves on the charge of genocide and extermination camps, especially in facing the bully-boy Göring.  This new study utilizes not only the trial manuscripts, but the pre-trial interrogations, the views of the psychiatrists and psychologists, and the often-overheard conversations between prisoners—who did not know their guards spoke German—to give the fullest exploration of the defendants, their state of mind, and their attitudes towards the Third Reich, Hitler and each other as they faced judgement by the victors of the war.

Show book