The History of England, Volume I

Royal authority emerges from promises, religious ceremony and disputed claims in David Hume's account of English history. This first volume of a six-volume work includes his short account of his own life, beginning with his upbringing in Edinburgh and his preference for literature over a legal career. He recalls disappointing early publications, later encouragement and the library appointment that helped him undertake his history.

The historical narrative follows Stephen's accession in 1135, when support from bishops helps him secure a crown despite earlier pledges to Matilda. Hume examines how a coronation, a royal treasury and concessions to clergy, nobles and ordinary people strengthen a precarious claim. Footnotes identify the historical sources behind the narrative. Readers interested in medieval government can follow the ties between faith, money and political allegiance, while the opening autobiography offers a separate view of the historian's ambitions and working life.