H3H03 MEDIEVAL ENGLAND 1066-1399 TUTORIAL TOPICS
07 EDWARD II AND THE LIMITS OF MONARCHY
a) Which historians have specialised in studying the reign of Edward
II ? How have their views developed ?
b) What are the principal record sources for this reign ? Do they
raise any problems of reliability or bias ?
c) What is the significance of Edward II's Coronation Oath ? How
does it differ from earlier Coronation Oaths ? What was the
nature and purpose of the Baronial Declaration of 1308?
d) Which barons opposed Edward in 1311 ? What reforms did they
propose in the Ordinances of 1311 ? Why did these reforms fail ?
e) What is meant by the 'Doctrine of Capacities' ? How did the
concept develop during the reign of Edward II ? How was it dealt
with in the Statute of York of 1322, and what was its general
significance in English constitutional history ?
f) What is the significance of the King's Household during the reign
of Edward II ? How was it used by Edward, and why did it become a
source of grievance to the barons ?
g) Why did it become necessary to depose Edward ? What allegations
were made against him in the Articles of Accusation of 1307 ? How
justified were these accusations ?
h) What changes took place in the organisation of Parliament during
this reign ? What powers did it acquire, and how did it exercise
them ? What was the role of parliament in the deposition of the
king ?
i) Attempt to justify Edward's policies ? Was his reign a complete
failure ? To what extent was he the architect of his own
misfortunes ?
Using the relevant volume of ENGLISH HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS find, read
and annotate the following documents:
a) The Coronation Oath of Edward II
b) The New Ordinances 1311
c) Statute of York 1311
d) Articles of Accusation against Edward II (B. Wilkinson,
Constitutional History Vol II)
e) Pipewell Chronicle on deposition of Edward II 1327