A Companion to Britain in the Later Middle Ages

This authoritative survey of Britain in the later middle ages comprises 28 chapters written by leading international specialists in the field. The volume is broad–ranging, discussing the social, economic, political, religious and cultural history of England, Scotland, and Wales from 1100 to 1500. It also includes full coverage of Ireland during the period. The chapters guide readers through the different perspectives from which historians have approached late medieval Britain and examine ways in which current debates might be resolved. The volume is ideal for upper–level students seeking an overview of the later middle ages and the historiographic controversies surrounding the era. At the same time, the contributions address questions at the leading edge of scholarship, and will therefore also be of interest to advanced researchers in the field.

List of Figures x List of Plates xi List of Maps xii List of Contributors xiii Introduction xvi Part I Economy and Society in Town and Country 1 1 England: Land and People 3 Bruce M. S. Campbell 2 England: The Family and the Village Community 26 Phillipp R. Schofield 3 England: Towns, Trade and Industry 47 Richard H. Britnell 4 England: Popular Politics and Social Conflict 65 Jane Whittle and S. H. Rigby 5 England: Women and Gender 87 Judith M. Bennett 6 Scotland: Economy and Society 107 Nicholas J. Mayhew 7 Wales: Economy and Society 125 A. D. Carr 8 Ireland: Economy and Society 142 Brian Graham Part II Politics, Government and Law 163 9 The British Perspective 165 Seán Duffy 10 England: Kingship and the Political Community,  c. 1100–1272 183 Ralph V. Turner 11 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1272–1377 208 Scott L. Waugh 12 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1377– c. 1500 224 Rosemary Horrox 13 England: Law, Society and the State 242 Robert C. Palmer 14 England: The Nobility and the Gentry 261 Christine Carpenter 15 Scotland: Politics, Government and Law 283 Hector L. MacQueen 16 Wales: Politics, Government and Law 309 J. Beverley Smith and Llinos Beverley Smith 17 Ireland: Politics, Government and Law 335 James Lydon Part III The Church and Piety 357 18 England: Church and Clergy 359 David Lepine 19 England: Piety, Heresy and Anti–clericalism 381 Matthew Groom 20 Scotland: Religion and Piety 396 D. E. R. Watt 21 Wales: Religion and Piety 411 Huw Pryce 22 Ireland: Religion and Piety 430 Henry A. Jefferies Part IV Education and Culture 449 23 England: Education and Society 451 Jo Ann H. Moran Cruz 24 England: Art and Society 472 Veronica Sekules 25 England: Literature and Society 497 S. H. Rigby 26 Scotland: Culture and Society 521 Louise O. Fradenburg 27 Wales: Culture and Society 541 Susan L. Aronstein 28 Ireland: Culture and Society 558 Edel Bhreathnach and Raghnall Ó Floinn Bibliography of Secondary Sources 596 Index 649

S. H. Rigby is Reader in History at the University of Manchester. His previous publications include Engels and the Formation of Marxism (1992), English Society in the Later Middle Ages (1995), Chaucer in Context (1996) and Marxism and History (second edition, 1998).

"It remains an immensely valuable summation of the state of mainstream scholarship at the beginning of the twenty–first century, from which students coming to these national histories for the first time will still derive immense benefit." ( Speculum , 2010) Succinct and stimulating" English Historical Review "A handsome, informative and scholarly volume" Medieval Archaeology "Admirably comprehensive and warmly to be recommended" History "No scholar, student or general reader could ask for a better guide" Economic History Review "A fine book with a stellar cast of contributors" Continuity and Change "Among the better, most nuanced and thought–provoking introductions to its field" Journal of Ecclesiastical History "An extremely important contribution to medieval British scholarship" Albion "This is a very impressive product from an ambitious project." Welsh History Review