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Social Changes in the 15th Century14th-Century Hangover
Shifts in Population
15th-Century ImplicationsRise and Fall of
EconomiesSocial Order Disturbed
Jack Cade’s RebellionPopular Discontent
“Pure” & “Bastard” FeudalismIdeals, Customs of OldSystems, Networks of
NewRivaling Families
Potential for DisorderAt Lower, Local LevelsAt Higher, National
LevelsAt Highest, Sacred
Levels
Medieval Spon Street, Coventry
14th-Century HangoverShifts in Population
Black Death; Recurrence
Legacy of RebellionGreat RevoltPeasant UprisingsUnjust Taxation
Impact on CommerceIncreased Reliance on MoneyLess Bonded (Unfree) LaborConsolidation of Lands
From Above – Magnates
From Below – Peasantry
The Great Revolt, 1381
15th-Century ImplicationsEconomic Rise
“Bond Men Made Free”Loosening of Labor MarketsMobility (Geographic, Social)Financial & Trade MarketsFarmers, Manufacturers, Merchants, Bankers
Economic FallBasics: Pop. Down; Labor Supply Down
Rents Down; Prices of Goods Down
War Up; Trade Down; Wages Up; Profit DownSocial Status of Nobility; Symbols of Power
Social Order Disturbed“The World Turned Upside Down”Popular Grievance & Rebellion – Jack Cade, 1450
“For our enemies shall fall before us, inspired with the spirit of putting down kings and princes . . . Be brave, then; for your captain is brave, and vows reformation. There shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny . . . shall have ten hoops and I will make it felony to drink small beer: all the realm shall be in common . . . There shall be no money; all shall eat and drink on my score; and I will apparel them all in one livery, that they may agree like brothers.” “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”Jack Cade and Dick the Butcher, Henry VI, Part II, Scene 2.
Complaint of the Poor Commons of Kent
These be the points, cause and mischiefs of gathering and assembling of us, the king's liege men of Kent, the 4th day of June the year of our Lord 1450, the reign of our sovereign lord the king 29th, which we trust to Almighty God to remedy, with the help and the grace of God and of our sovereign lord the king, and the poor commons of England, and else we shall die therefore: We, considering that the king our sovereign lord, by the insatiable, covetous, malicious persons that daily and nightly are about his highness, and daily inform him that good is evil and evil is good: . . .
Item. They say that our sovereign is above his laws to his pleasure, and he may make it and break it as he pleases, without any distinction. The contrary is true, or else he should not have sworn to keep it. . . .
Item. We say our sovereign lord may understand that his false council has lost his law, his merchandise is lost, his common people is destroyed, the sea is lost, France is lost, the king himself is so set that he may not pay for his meat nor drink, and he owes more than ever any King of England ought, for daily his traitors about him where anything should come to him by his laws, anon they take it from him. . . .
Item. His true commons desire that he will remove from him all the false progeny and affinity of the Duke of Suffolk and to take about his noble person his true blood of his royal realm, that is to say, the high and mighty prince the Duke of York, exiled from our sovereign lord's person by the noising of the false traitor, the Duke of Suffolk, and his affinity. Also to take about his person the mighty prince, the Duke of Exeter, the Duke of Buckingham, the Duke of Norfolk, and his true earls and barons of his land, and he shall be the richest king Christian. . . .
“Pure” & “Bastard” FeudalismIdeals & Customs of Old
Land for Military ServiceFirm Hierarchy of Elite & PoorCeremonial Homage & FealtyGood Lordship; King as OverlordOne Supreme Landowner (in theory)
Systems & Networks of NewLand Held for Rents (Cash)Loosened Economic StructureLegal Contracts w/ Precise TermsGood Lordship as Legal ProtectionProperty Divisions; Wealth ProtectionPatronage; Affinity; Retainers; Livery
Rivaling FamiliesAs Clans of Old – Force of ArmsAs Society of New – Power of Influence
Livery Coat, Hose, and Hat
Potential for DisorderAt Lower, Local Levels
Economic WarfareRents, Trade, Commerce, TaxesPolitical AllegiancesRival Retainers; Patronage
At Higher, National LevelsGreatest Magnates Still PowerfulFewer, Greater LandholdersMassive Affinities, ResourcesNetworks Descending LadderAccess to the King’s EarControl from Above
At Highest, Sacred LevelsBlend of Economic InjusticeLinguistics, Personal RelationshipsLiteracy & Class of Artisans, Merchants
Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire