Thomas
Sutcliffe, “The paths are open, the way is plain”:
Political and Constitutional Theory in Jacobean England, 1603-1625
The
reign of King James I of England (1603-1625) witnessed
a series of constitutional disputes regarding the relationship
between the king’s prerogative and the liberties
of English subjects. Though many historians have argued
that these conflicts stemmed from crystallized political
ideologies, this paper will suggest that political theory
remained very fluid and tentative during this era. As
this essay shall argue, Constitutional conflict generated
considerable fear, but this fear was mediated through
a political culture which placed a heavy emphasis on discussion
and deliberation. Jacobean politicians operated in a political
environment which encouraged open-minded constitutional
exploration and saw political theory as the end result
of careful examination.
Read
excerpts and discussions of Tom's research by clicking
on the quotations below. |
King
James I of England |
Additional Resources:
Journal
of the House of Commons (Complete Listing)
Journal
of the House of Lords (Complete Listing)
Selections
from the Writings of Sir Edward Coke (E-Book)
