Popular Protest in Late Medieval English Tons [Hardcover]

Draws new attention to popular protest in medieval English towns, away from the more frequently studied theme of rural revolt.Popular protests in medieval English towns were as frequent and as sophisticated, if not more so, as those in the countryside. This groundbreaking study refocuses attention on the leadership, social composition, organisation and motives of urban popular protest, revealing how its timing and character varied from events on the continent.Popular protests in medieval English towns were as frequent and as sophisticated, if not more so, as those in the countryside. This groundbreaking study refocuses attention on the leadership, social composition, organisation and motives of urban popular protest, revealing how its timing and character varied from events on the continent.Contrary to received opinion, revolts and popular protests in medieval English towns were as frequent and as sophisticated, if not more so, as those in the countryside. This groundbreaking study refocuses attention on the varied nature of popular movements in towns from Carlisle to Dover and from the London tax revolt of Longbeard in 1196 to Jack Cade's Rebellion in 1450, exploring the leadership, social composition, organisation and motives of popular protest. The book charts patterns of urban revolt in times of strong and weak kingship, contrasting them with the broad sweep of ecological and economic change that inspired revolts on the continent. Samuel Cohn demonstrates that the timing and character of popular revolt in England differed radically from revolts in Italy, France and Flanders. In addition, he analyses repression and waves of hate against Jews, foreigners and heretics, opening new vistas in the comparative history of late medieval Europe.Part I. The Setting: 1. Introduction: questions and sources; 2. Class struggle in English towns: workers and bosses; 3. Varieties of revolt; Part II. Crown and Town: Strife with Secular Authority: 4. Revolts against the Crown: crisló!