Stone portrays the members of this great court of law as strategically situated individuals who worked to advance their own corporate pretentions while simultaneously advocating a precarious balance of monarchical, aristocratic, middle-class, and popular" interests. Their apparent radicalism on matters of consent to taxation, freedom from arrest, and political representation disguised their efforts to preserve the traditional legalistic French monarchy." Originally published in 1981. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.