Sir John Fortescue: On the Laws and Governance of EnglandSir John Fortescue CJKB (c.1395–c.1477) was undoubtedly the foremost English political scientist of the fifteenth century. This convenient volume brings together for the first time new editions of his two major works - In Praise of the Laws of England and The Governance of England - with references and suggestions for further reading for the student. In her introduction, Shelley Lockwood presents a clear reassessment of the work of John Fortescue and places these key texts in their historical and intellectual contexts. These works, arguably the earliest in English political thought, were written from the perspective of a self-consciously analytical and highly experienced lawyer and government official during a time of war and political upheaval. They form a coherent argument for justice against tyranny and afford unique insights into the law and governance of fifteenth-century England. |
Contents
| viii | |
| xi | |
| xii | |
Introduction | xv |
Principal events in Fortescues life | xl |
Select bibliography | xliv |
List of abbreviations | liv |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
able aforesaid Aquinas Aristotle assent Auctoritates Augustine Bastard Feudalism body politic Books of Kings Bracton called Cambridge cause Chancellor Chapter Chrimes civil law common Concise History counsel court Crown customs desire Deuteronomy Diodorus Siculus duke Edward IV English law fear Fifteenth Century Fortescue's France Giles of Rome Hence Henry Henry VI honour impotence judge judgements jurors jury justice king of England king ruling politically kingdom of England kingship land laudibus Law of Nature laws of England London Lord lordship matters monarchy nobles oath ordinary charges Parl parliament Plucknett political and royal Political Thought Political Writings edited politicum et regale poverty Praise Princely Government pseudo-Aquinas realm of England reason reference Regimine Principum reigns revenues reward Roman Law royal dominion says scutes serjeants serjeants-at-law servants Sir John Fortescue statutes subjects thereby thereof things Thomas translation truth Vincent of Beauvais virtue Wherefore witnesses