Writing the history of parliament in Tudor and early Stuart England (Politics, Culture and Society in Early Modern Britain)

Historians and literary scholars explore the rise of parliament in the historical imagination of Tudor and early Stuart England. Collectively the essays demonstrate that the evolution of historical conceptions of parliament was central to the ecclesiological and political thinking and culture of the period before the English Revolution. -- . This volume of essays explores the rise of parliament in the historical imagination of early modern England. The enduring controversy about the nature of parliament informs nearly all debates about the momentous religious, political and governmental changes of the period most significantly, the character of the Reformation and the causes of the Revolution. Meanwhile, scholars of ideas have emphasised the historicist turn that shaped political culture. Religious and intellectual imperatives from the sixteenth century onwards evoked a new interest in the evolution of parliament, framing the ways that contemporaries interpreted, legitimised and contested Church, state and political hierarchies. Parliamentary 'history' is explored through the analysis of chronicles, more overtly 'literary' texts, antiquarian scholarship, religious polemic, political pamphlets, and of the intricate processes that forge memory and tradition This Volume Of Essays Explores The Rise Of Parliament In The Historical Imagination Of Early Modern England. The Enduring Controversy About The Nature Of Parliament Informs Nearly All Debates About The Momentous Religious, Political And Governmental Changes Of The Period - Most Significantly, The Character Of The Reformation And The Causes Of The Revolution. Meanwhile, Scholars Of Ideas Have Emphasised The Historicist Turn That Shaped Political Culture. Religious And Intellectual Imperatives From The Sixteenth Century Onwards Evoked A New Interest In The Evolution Of Parliament, Framing The Ways That Contemporaries Interpreted, Legitimised And Contested Church, State And Political Hierarchies. 1. Introduction / Alexandra Gajda And Paul Cavill, Page 1 -- 2. Polydore Vergil And The First English Parliament / Paul Cavill, Page 37 -- 3. 'the Consent Of The Body Of The Whole Realme' : Edward Hall's Parliamentary History / Scott Lucas, Page 60 -- 4. The Elizabethan Church And The Antiquity Of Parliament / Alexandra Gajda, Page 77 -- 5. Parliament And The Principle Of Elective Succession In Elizabethan England / Paulina Kewes, Page 106 -- 6. Elizabethan Chroniclers And Parliament / Ian W. Archer, Page 133 -- 7. The Significance (and Insignificance) Of Precedent In Early Stuart Parliaments / Simon Healy, Page 153 -- 8. The Politic History Of Early Stuart Parliaments / Noah Millstone, Page 172 -- 9. 'that Memorable Parliament' : Medieval History In Parliamentarian Polemic, 1641-42 / Jason Peacey, Page 194 -- 10. Institutional Memory And Contemporary History In The House Of Commons, 1547-1640 / Paul Seaward, Page 211 -- 11. Afterword / Peter Lake, Page 229. Edited By Paul Cavill And Alexandra Gajda. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Présentation de l'éditeur: "This volume of essays explores the rise of parliament in the historical imagination of early modern England. The enduring controversy about the nature of parliament informs nearly all debates about the momentous religious, political and governmental changes of the period - most significantly, the character of the Reformation and the causes of the Revolution. Meanwhile, scholars of ideas have emphasised the historicist turn that shaped political culture. Religious and intellectual imperatives from the sixteenth century onwards evoked a new interest in the evolution of parliament, framing the ways that contemporaries interpreted, legitimised and contested Church, state and political hierarchies. Parliamentary 'history' is explored through the analysis of chronicles, more overtly 'literary' texts, antiquarian scholarship, religious polemic, political pamphlets, and of the intricate processes that forge memory and tradition." This volume explores the rise of parliament in the historical imagination of early modern England. The enduring controversy about the nature of parliament informs nearly all debates about the religious, political and governmental changes of the period - most significantly, the character of the Reformation and the causes of the Revolution. Meanwhile, scholars of ideas have emphasised the historicist turn that shaped political culture. Religious and intellectual imperatives from the 16th century onwards evoked a new interest in the evolution of parliament, framing the ways that contemporaries interpreted, legitimised and contested Church, state and political hierarchies. Parliamentary 'history' is explored through the analysis of chronicles, 'literary' texts, antiquarian scholarship, religious polemic, political pamphlets, and of the intricate processes that forge memory and tradition Front matter Dedication Contents Notes on contributors Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Introduction Polydore Vergil and the first English parliament ‘The consent of the body of the whole realme’: Edward Hall’s parliamentary history The Elizabethan Church and the antiquity of parliament Parliament and the principle of elective succession in Elizabethan England Elizabethan chroniclers and parliament The significance (and insignificance) of precedent in early Stuart parliaments The politic history of early Stuart parliaments ‘That memorable parliament’: medieval history in parliamentarian polemic, 1641–42 Institutional memory and contemporary history in the House of Commons, 1547–1640 Afterword Index