King, council and councillors in Scotland c.1430-1460
dc.contributor.author
Borthwick, Alan R.
en
dc.date.accessioned
2013-06-26T12:45:08Z
dc.date.available
2013-06-26T12:45:08Z
dc.date.issued
1989
dc.description.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.
en
dc.identifier.other
235778
dc.identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/6888
dc.language.iso
eng
dc.publisher
University of Edinburgh
en
dc.subject
History
en
dc.subject
Scotland
en
dc.title
King, council and councillors in Scotland c.1430-1460
en
dc.title.alternative
The king, council and councillors in Scotland c.1430-1460
en
dc.type.qualificationname
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
en
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