The House of Lords presented the stage on which some of the critical confrontations in English and British constitutional and political history were played out in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. Published for the History of Parliament Trust. Condemned as 'useless and dangerous', the House of Lords was abolished in the revolution of 1649, shortly after the execution of King Charles I. Reinstated, along with the monarchy, at the Restoration of 1660, the House of Lords vigorously renewed its involvement in the political life of the nation. This highly illustrated book presents the first results from the research undertaken by the History of Parliament Trust on the peers and bishops between the Restoration and the accession of George I. It shows them as politicians at Westminster; as members of an elite intensely conscious of their honour and status; as a class apart, always devising new schemes - successful and unsuccessful - to increase their wealth and 'interest'; and as local grandees, to whom local society looked for leadership and protection. From the proud duke of Somerset to the beggarly Lord Mohun, from the devious earl of Oxford to the disgruntled Lord Lucas, the material here presents initial insights into the nature of the Restoration House of Lords and the men who formed it, showing them in their best moments, when they vigorously defended the law and the constitution, and in their worst, as they obsessively concerned themselves with honour and precedence and indefatigably pursued private interests. RUTH PALEY is editor, and BEVERLY ADAMS, ROBIN EAGLES and CHARLES LITTLETON are senior research fellows, for the House of Lords, 1660-1832 section of The History of Parliament. PAUL SEAWARD is director of The History of Parliament.

The latest set of volumes in the History of Parliament series, this is the first of the series to cover the members of the House of Lords. This monumental survey provides a detailed and comprehensive account of the c.700 men (both temporal peers and spiritual bishops) who were entitled to sit in the upper chamber of Parliament during the later Stuart period. Each biography is researched from primary sources and provides a richly detailed account of the subject's parliamentary and political career, wealth, and family networks and alliances. The volumes include biographies of the key political figures, but also of many men less prominent in politics, but with fascinating lives and careers. It is accompanied by an introductory survey contextualising and analysing the material provided in the biographies, examining the politics and social politics of the nobility and episcopate over the period.

Oxford's variorum edition of William Blackstone's seminal treatise on the common law of England and Wales offers the definitive account of the Commentaries' development in a modern format. For the first time it is possible to trace the evolution of English law and Blackstone's thought through the eight editions of Blackstone's lifetime, and the authorial corrections of the posthumous ninth edition. Introductions by the general editor and the volume editors set the Commentaries in their historical context, examining Blackstone's distinctive view of the common law, and editorial notes throughout the four volumes assist the modern reader in understanding this key text in the Anglo-American common law tradition. In the final volume of the Commentaries Blackstone presents a comprehensive and critical overview of English criminal law and procedure, prefaced by a discussion of the philosophical and basis of the criminal justice system. His final chapter 'On the Rise, Progress, and Gradual Improvements, of the Laws of England' provides a fitting historical conclusion to the work as a whole.

The Hampshire countryside is a delight for walkers, stretching from the South Downs in the east to the New Forest in the west and the North Wessex Downs in the north. Taking in stunning coastline, rolling hills, chalk streams and sleepy villages, these circular walks, all between 4 and 8 miles in length, explore the charm and natural beauty of Hampshire's varied landscapes. At the heart of every walk is a top-rated local pub. Highlights include: * The beautiful coast along the Solent Way and Keyhaven marshes; * Far-reaching views across the hills of Watership Down; * Shimmering waters of the River Test and the Beaulieu River; * Ancient woodland and country houses at Mottisfont and Hinton Ampner; * Routes through Jane Austen country at Chawton and Steventon; All the walks include: * Recommended local pubs; * Numbered route map and directions; * Parking info and how to get there; * Points of interest along the way; * Places to visit nearby.

With its rolling green hills, chocolate-box villages and uncrowded paths, the Chilterns is a walker's delight. This book, with its 20 circular walks ranging in length from 3 to 9 miles, takes you through the area's finest spots, with recommendations for all times of year. Highlights include: * Spring: ramble through the bluebell-carpeted woods of Cowleaze and Wendover * Summer: stroll along Coombe Hill and take in the far-reaching views of the Hambleden Valley * Autumn: walk in the blazing colour of Burnham Beeches and the Ashridge Estate * Winter: take a brisk winter wander along the River Thames at Goring or Bourne End All walks include: * Directions to the start * Parking info * Numbered route map and directions * Distance and terrain * Recommended local pubs and cafes * Points of interest along the way

Here is a collection of 20 tried and tested circular routes chosen for walkers with dogs. They include crucial dog factors such as livestock, stiles and roads, with warnings in advance when a lead is necessary and when it's safe to run free. There are also contact details for the nearest vets and recommended dog friendly pubs and cafes. Clear numbered route directions and a corresponding map for each route keep walkers on the right track and there are plenty of opportunities for dogs to roam safely off lead. The routes vary in length from 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 miles and provide a great introduction for dogs and their owners to the stunning Chilterns countryside. There are walks through beech woods, including at Great and Little Missenden; waterside walks by reservoirs near Tring, chalk streams, and the Wendover Arm; and bracing routes along the tops of hills at Ivinghoe, Dunstable Downs and West Wycombe. Many of the routes explore National Trust beauty spots; through ancient woodland and downland in the Ashridge Estate; in the rolling parkland of Hughenden; and high up on chalk and grassland at Whipsnade and Totternhoe.

Walking with your dog is a joy and you couldn't hope for a more enthusiastic walking companion. But once you leave your familiar routes there is always the worry of where you might suddenly come across a field of sheep or a busy road, as well as knowing which pubs and cafes would welcome you both. Here is a collection of 20 tried and tested circular walks, varying in length from 2 to 6 miles, for dogs and their owners to explore Berkshire's beautiful countryside. These walks will lead you across magnificent Windsor Great Park; along the Thames path in Reading and picturesque Remenham; through ancient water meadows near Cookham; over the open rolling downland of Lambourn, discovering woods in Ufton; splashing in water at Dinton Pastures Country Park; and enjoying the Kennet and Avon canal in Hungerford and Newbury.