Ruling Fourteenth-Century England, written in honor of Professor Christopher Given-Wilson, focuses on two themes, power and authority, that broadly define his interest in the fourteenth century. A variety of thought-provoking chapters covers one or more of four sub-themes: central governance, aristocratic politics, warfare, and English power abroad. Contributions come from a group of Given-Wilson's peers, colleagues, and former doctoral students, all of whom have made significant contributions to fourteenth-century studies.

The chapters range in chronology from the end of Edward I's reign to Richard II's. In the first chapter, Michael Prestwich utilizes the exchequer records to examine efficiency within royal government under Edward I. Despite its cumbersome nature, the administrative system operated effectively when required. The wardrobe responded to the needs of the Scottish war, without exchequer supervision, and an attentive king ensured that officials acted with competency when needed. Wendy Childs focuses on Edward II's responses to price rises and issues over compulsory wool staples. The government's actions demonstrated a sound understanding of economics and a willingness to manipulate and regulate the economy for the benefit of the kingdom. However, despite the intentions, the initiatives were only partially successful. Alison McHardy provides a study of the roles of king's clerks in the fourteenth century, a “golden age” for such men. We gain insights into several individuals and their roles in the machinery of royal government. Alongside their administrative duties, some undertook other roles, such as writing newsletters and material that was incorporated into chronicles. Their versatility is apparent: William de Kelsey held a plethora of roles, including clerk of the works at Westminster and the Tower and chamberlain of Berwick-on-Tweed. He also spent time working in Ireland and Aquitaine. Jeffrey Hamilton focuses on a group of men who were more intimately connected to the king: the knights who deserted Edward I's army in Scotland in the autumn of 1306, a group that included Piers Gaveston. All were associated with Prince Edward, and all but one remained essentially loyal to Edward after he became king in 1307. The group's behavior serves to nuance the general picture of an abandonment of loyalty for Edward II and his favorites after 1321.

Bridget Wells-Furby's chapter also touches on issues of loyalty, this time to Edward's enemy Thomas of Lancaster. Although William Tuchet's (d. 1322) early career appeared promising, he failed to retain his estate and build up an affinity of his own. In consequence, he was forced to join Lancaster's affinity, with disastrous consequences: he was executed alongside his lord after the Battle of Boroughbridge in March 1322. Wells-Furby's biography concludes that the likes of Tuchet did not join Lancaster out of love or loyalty, but for practical necessities. The focus remains on the problems of 1321–22 in Andy King's chapter. Edward II chose not to unfurl his royal banner when faced with Thomas of Lancaster's troops in 1322 in an attempt to nullify any potential for the earl's forces to legitimize their opposition. King uses the incident to discuss attitudes to treason, armed resistance to the crown, and what legally constituted a state of war during the period.

Andrew Ayton's contribution takes us into the reign of Edward III. The Carlisle Roll of Arms, dating from the middle of the fifteenth century, provides a glimpse of the military host that gathered at Carlisle in 1335. The roll had a range of purposes, some of which now allude us. Ayton argues that one of its principal roles was as a visual record of “the chivalric community in action” (160) as it met before campaign. James Bothwell offers insights into the creation of earls and earldoms during the reign of Edward III. The number of earls increased to a level not seen since the twelfth century, although many of the titles and estates were conditional. This may have had the effect of putting this group in their place (Bothwell notes that it was earls who caused much of the political upheaval during the previous two centuries). Certainly, the title of earl became more defined than it had been at the beginning of the fourteenth century. David Green analyzes the administration of Edward the Black Prince's estates in Chester, Cornwall, Wales, and Gascony. The policy adopted was more efficient and perhaps ruthless, although it produced benefits in the form of increased revenue. However, the imposition of anglicized systems of authority did not sit comfortably in some areas such as the principality of Aquitaine.

The final three chapters focus on the later fourteenth century. Laura Tompkins pieces together the relationship between Alice Perrers and William Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, revealing that they were much closer than has hitherto been acknowledged. In the process, Tompkins illustrates the complexities of court networks during the later fourteenth century. Rémy Ambühl and Gwilym Dodd highlight the incongruencies between theory and reality in military conduct by looking at the issue of surrendering castles during the 1370s. Whether this act was acceptable was debatable, due in part to vague principles of law. The trials of the commanders who surrendered the castles of Ardres and Audruicq condemned the individuals on moral rather than legal grounds, but there was sympathy from some quarters, and they were both subsequently released. In the final chapter, Michael Bennett focuses on the personality and politics of Richard II, one of Given-Wilson's key interests. The king is presented as seeing himself at the center of a fraternity of European rulers. He engaged with, and was influenced by, several of them, not least Charles VI of France.

The festschrift benefits from a detailed introduction that pays tribute to Given-Wilson's role in the renaissance of fourteenth-century political studies over the last generation, not least his involvement in the voluminous The Parliament Rolls of Medieval England project. A useful bibliography of Given-Wilson's work is also provided.