Political communication and political culture in England, 1558-1688

News, information and political controversy -- Empirical political description -- Historical writing and political thought -- Drama and political education -- Politics, poetry and literary genres -- Politics and sermons -- Observation and participation -- Law and political culture This book surveys the channels through which political ideas and knowledge were convened to the English people from the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I to the Revolution of 1688. Shapiro argues that an assessment of English political culture requires an examination of all means by which this culture was expressed and communicated. While the discussion focuses primarily on genres such as the sermon, newsbook, poetry, and drama, it also considers the role of events and institutions. Shapiro is the first to explore and elucidate the entire web of communication in early modern English political life. Book jacket This book surveys the channels through which political ideas and knowledge were conveyed to the English people from the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I to the Revolution of 1688. Shapiro argues that an assessment of English political culture requires an examination of all means by which this culture was expressed and communicated. While the discussion focuses primarily on genres such as the sermon, newsbook, poetry, and drama, it also considers the role of events and institutions. Shapiro is the first to explore and elucidate the entire web of communication in early modern English political life. Shapiro surveys the channels through which political ideas and knowledge were conveyed to the English people from the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I to the Revolution of 1688. It argues that an assessment of English political culture requires an examination of all means by which this culture was expressed and communicated. While the discussion focuses primarily on genres such as the sermon, newsbook, poetry, and drama, it also considers the role of events and institutions. This book explores and elucidates the entire web of communication in early modern English political life. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 1. Introduction 14 2. News, Information and Political Controversy 38 3. Empirical Political Description 67 4. Historical Writing and Political Thought 90 5. Drama and Political Education 117 6. Politics, Poetry and Literature 150 7. The Sermon and Political Education 179 8. Observation and Participation 211 9. Law, Politics and the Legal System 244 10. Conclusion 279 Notes 312 Index 396 This book surveys all the channels through which political ideas and knowledge were conveyed to the English public, from the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I to the Revolution of 1688, with the goal of understanding the web of communication in creating political life.