King, council and councillors in Scotland c.1430-1460

Abstract

The personal reigns of James I and James II of Scotland are in some ways similar but, in others disparate. Both were active and took an interest in the affairs of their administrations; but whereas James I generally remained in the Perth-Stirling-Edinburgh triangle, his'son frequently perambulated his realm. James I effectively ran the administration himself, with only a few loyal servants; James II delegated, and his circle of advisers was wider.

Some of them are examined in the thesis. The accident of death as well as the policy of forfeiting nobles caused a great vacuum in Scottish politics by 1439, and the Livingston family swept in to put a stranglehold on the granting of offices and pensions. This topic is considered at some length. In 1449, the Livingstons and their followers-were ousted. The final defeat of the Douglases in 1455 saw the king's power barely challenged. His authority extended into judicial matters too. The extraordinary Dundee v. Montrose boundary dispute (1432-62), considered in detail here, was not immune from his touch, even although Montrose claimed that it was a fee and heritage matter and, so outside the, jurisdiction of the king and council. Like his predecessors, James II did not wish his council to consider judicial business, too often, but to cater for his subjects' needs he had to allow this at times.

The judicial work could be exacting. It was quite possible to be a career "lawyer" in Scotland. Although the identity of only a few are known, such men were putting great pressure on the courts. The council had to battle to keep up with developments. A major force in the 1440s, it declined in the 1450s only to return with its vigour undiminished in the 1460s. Its r6rle in the administration was quite secure.