History of the Scottish Parliament

These three volumes comprise a new history of Scotland's first parliament from the first surviving official records in the thirteenth century to its final dissolution in 1707. Denigrated by unionists as inferior to the English parliament and despised by nationalists for agreeing to its own demise, the Scottish parliament has been shockingly under-researched by Scottish historians. This new history will go a long way towards redressing the balance, not merely putting the record straight but making it visible for the first time. Written by some twenty-five leading scholars the three volumes will be by far the most comprehensive history of the parliament ever published. Volumes 1 and 2 examine the history of parliament under the medieval and early modern monarchs. The former describes its role during the wars of independence, under the Stewart monarchy, and during the Reformation. The latter describes its role in the reign of James VI and throughout the century between the unions of the crowns in 1603 and of the parliaments in 1707, a period of royal absenteeism , religious upheaval, revolutions, civil wars, and economic catastrophe.Volume 3 addresses broad themes across the life of the parliament: relationship to the crown and nobility; legislative role; procedures; modes of government; relations with burghs and regions; receptiveness to political ideas; relationship with the church and role in national religious life. The refounding of the parliament in Edinburgh makes this a good time for a new look at the history, workings, and effectiveness of its long medieval and early modern antecedent. The History of the Scottish Parliament will be the definitive account for many years, informative, reliable, readable, and replete with story, character and incidentIt is, in sum, an outstanding testimony to the quality of historical scholarship in Scotland.

These essays greatly broaden our understanding of the political and institutional dynamics of the Scottish Parliament. -- Paul Seaward, History of Parliament Trust, London Parliaments, Estates and Representation The most detailed, authoritative and wide-ranging treatment of the Scottish parliament so far published. The organisation of the three volumes is ingenious and highly effective. The first two are arranged chronologically and contain analytical studies of particular parliaments, whereas the third is organised thematically, with articles on various aspects of the parliament's role and functions throughout its history. This combination of analytical and thematic approaches produces a rich variety of perspectives that are both illuminating and informative... Together, they bring our understanding of Scottish parliamentary history to an entirely new level of sophistication, and the editors and contributors are to be warmly congratulated on their achievement. -- David L Smith, Selwyn College, Cambridge Scottish Historical Review These essays greatly broaden our understanding of the political and institutional dynamics of the Scottish Parliament. The most detailed, authoritative and wide-ranging treatment of the Scottish parliament so far published. The organisation of the three volumes is ingenious and highly effective. The first two are arranged chronologically and contain analytical studies of particular parliaments, whereas the third is organised thematically, with articles on various aspects of the parliament's role and functions throughout its history. This combination of analytical and thematic approaches produces a rich variety of perspectives that are both illuminating and informative... Together, they bring our understanding of Scottish parliamentary history to an entirely new level of sophistication, and the editors and contributors are to be warmly congratulated on their achievement.

Keith Brown is Professor of History at the University of Manchester. He specializes in early modern Scottish History, particularly the history of parliament and of the nobility. Dr. Alastair Mann is Lecturer in Scottish History at the University of Stirling. Alan MacDonald is a senior lecturer in History at the University of Dundee, with a particular interest in the history of early modern Scotland, especially the history of the church and of parliament. R. J. Tanner is Research Fellow within the Scottish Parliament Project team at the University of St Andrews