` ... an important, learned and valuable book that every student of the period should read.' - American Historical Review` ... this is an elegant and important book, which ... provides scholars with a lot of food for thought.' - Esther C. Cope, Albion`This readable and challenging book re-opens the question of corruption in early modern English government and political life ... Peck's book is a success.' - The Sixteenth Century Journal` ... a finely wrought book which makes an important contribution to our understanding of English history. Peck weaves the results of her extensive research into a text which not only adds to our knowledge about how patronage worked but also addresses some of the central questions of early Stuart historiography. Linda Peck has presented her material with an admirable elegance.' - 1991 John Ben Snow Prize Committee` ... there is much fascinating material here, including some excellent case-studies.' - Renaissance Quarterly` ... there is much fascinating material here, including some excellent case-studies.' - Renaissance Quarterly

• Introduction: The Fountain of Favour The Language of Patronage: a Discourse of Connection The Structures of Patronage and Corruption: Access and Allocation Court Patronage Networks Court Connections and County Associations: the Case of Buckinghamshire Corruption and Early Modern Administration: the Case of the Navy Corruption and the Economy Corruption and Political Ideology The Language of Corruption: a Discourse of Political Conflict Conclusion; Notes; Selected bibliography; Index

` ... an important, learned and valuable book that every student of the period should read.' - American Historical Review` ... this is an elegant and important book, which ... provides scholars with a lot of food for thought.' - Esther C. Cope, Albion`This readable and challenging book re-opens the question of corruption in early modern English government and political life ... Peck's book is a success.' - The Sixteenth Century Journal` ... a finely wrought book which makes an important contribution to our understanding of English history. Peck weaves the results of her extensive research into a text which not only adds to our knowledge about how patronage worked but also addresses some of the central questions of early Stuart historiography. Linda Peck has presented her material with an admirable elegance.' - 1991 John Ben Snow Prize Committee` ... there is much fascinating material here, including some excellent case-studies.' - Renaissance Quarterly` ... there is much fascinating material here, including some excellent case-studies.' - Renaissance Quarterly

• Introduction: The Fountain of Favour The Language of Patronage: a Discourse of Connection The Structures of Patronage and Corruption: Access and Allocation Court Patronage Networks Court Connections and County Associations: the Case of Buckinghamshire Corruption and Early Modern Administration: the Case of the Navy Corruption and the Economy Corruption and Political Ideology The Language of Corruption: a Discourse of Political Conflict Conclusion; Notes; Selected bibliography; Index

` ... an important, learned and valuable book that every student of the period should read.' - American Historical Review` ... this is an elegant and important book, which ... provides scholars with a lot of food for thought.' - Esther C. Cope, Albion`This readable and challenging book re-opens the question of corruption in early modern English government and political life ... Peck's book is a success.' - The Sixteenth Century Journal` ... a finely wrought book which makes an important contribution to our understanding of English history. Peck weaves the results of her extensive research into a text which not only adds to our knowledge about how patronage worked but also addresses some of the central questions of early Stuart historiography. Linda Peck has presented her material with an admirable elegance.' - 1991 John Ben Snow Prize Committee` ... there is much fascinating material here, including some excellent case-studies.' - Renaissance Quarterly` ... there is much fascinating material here, including some excellent case-studies.' - Renaissance Quarterly

• Introduction: The Fountain of Favour The Language of Patronage: a Discourse of Connection The Structures of Patronage and Corruption: Access and Allocation Court Patronage Networks Court Connections and County Associations: the Case of Buckinghamshire Corruption and Early Modern Administration: the Case of the Navy Corruption and the Economy Corruption and Political Ideology The Language of Corruption: a Discourse of Political Conflict Conclusion; Notes; Selected bibliography; Index