<p>George Buchanan (1506-82) was one of the most distinguished humanists of the Northern European Renaissance. Hailed by his contemporaries as the greatest Latin poet of his age, he is chiefly remembered today as a radical political theorist whose Dialogus, first published in Edinburgh in 1579, justified the deposition of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1567 on the basis of a theory of popular sovereignty, which vested in the people the right to resist, depose and kill tyrannical monarchs. Dedicated to his pupil James VI, whose violent reaction against his tutor's ideas led him to develop his own views on the divine right of kings, Buchanan's work nevertheless proved immensely influential both in Britain and on the Continent, making a notable contribution to the debates over the nature and location of sovereignty which would finally bear fruit in the writings of John Locke. This new edition, featuring facing-page Latin text and English translation, is accompanied by extensive notes and commentary on Buchanan's classical and contemporary sources and a detailed introduction that examines the development of Buchanan's political thought, the context in which the Dialogus was written and published, and an extended analysis of the text itself.</p>

A Dialogue on the Law of Kingship among the Scots (St Andrews Studies in Reformation History)

Mason, Roger A.

Smith, Martin S.

Religion & Spirituality

Routledge

This collection of essays brings together some of the fruits of over a decade of research into the political thought and culture of Renaissance and Reformation Scotland. As a collection, it ranges from detailed studies of the writings of figures of international standing such as John Mair, John Knox, George Buchanan and King James VI and I, to more discursive explorations of the changing self-awareness of the Scottish political community during an era of dramatic political, cultural and religious upheaval. Each essay is self-contained, making its own contribution to a specific area of research. All are variations on the crucial theme of kingship and the commonwealth, analyzing from a variety of perspectives the ways in which the changing nature of the relationship between the Scottish crown and the Scottish people was viewed and expressed by contemporaries. At once focused and wide-ranging, these essays illuminate how a traditionally conservative political community came to terms not only with the cultural influences of Renaissance Europe, but with the revolutionary impact of the Reformation, the constitutional crisis of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, and the increasing likelihood and eventual reality of union with England.

Kingship and the Commonweal: Political Thought in Renaissance and Reformation Scotland

History

Europe

Tuckwell Press, Ltd.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Mason, Roger A.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Mason, Roger A.