The present book is an edited version of my doctoral thesis, which I submitted to Cambridge University in the Autumn of 1992. During the course of my initial research and subsequent revision I have received financial support from a number of funds and institutions, and I would like to thank them here: The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, who were kind enough to offer me an ex gratia grant from my Cambridge Canada Scholarship to help with my stay in Nuremberg; the German Historical Institute, which supported the bulk of my research costs; Clare College, Cambridge; the Worts Travelling Scholars Fund; the Cambridge Historical Society; the Prince Consort and Thirlwall Fund; and the Institut für Europäische Geschichte, Mainz, where I was able to add some finishing touches to the work.

Over the years I have received help from a great many people, only a few of whom I can mention here. Andrew Pettegree has offered me guidance and support since my days as an undergraduate at the University of St Andrews. I hope I grow to be as useful to my own students. I owe a tremendous debt to my supervisor, Bob Scribner. Without the example of his scholarship, I would not have approached the archives to investigate this issue; and without the benefit of his extensive knowledge and judicious supervision, I would still be there. Henry Cohn and Tom Scott were very approachable examiners; where I have incorporated their advice, the book has profited. The staff and scholars in the libraries and archives in Nuremberg, Bamberg, Munich, and Mainz have helped me every step of the way.