The Merchant Class of Medieval London, 1300-1500The Merchant Class of Medieval London by Sylvia L. Thrupp explores the social context in which London merchants operated, focusing on their economic, political, and social roles. This book delves into the merchants' dominant position in the city, their control over municipal government, and their national impact. It examines their wealth, standards of living, family life, education, and religious attitudes, providing a comprehensive view of their lifestyle and values. The text also addresses the social mobility within the merchant class, noting the constant movement in and out of the class and the factors influencing this dynamic. Thrupp utilizes a wide variety of sources, including deeds, wills, court records, and personal documents, to create a detailed portrait of medieval London's merchant culture. This work is essential for understanding the intricacies of medieval urban life and the significant role merchants played in shaping the economy and society of the time. |
Contents
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POSITION OF LONDON MERCHANTS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY | 3 |
2 THE RECOGNITION OF INEQUALITY | 16 |
3 THE DELIMITATION OF THE MERCHANT CLASS | 29 |
4 NUMERICAL ESTIMATES OF THE POPULATION | 43 |
CONTROL OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT | 55 |
2 PROBLEMS INHERITED FROM THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY | 62 |
3 FOURTEENTHCENTURY EXPERIMENTS IN REFORM | 68 |
4 THE CITY CONSTITUTION IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY | 82 |
5 THE MERCHANT AS PARISHIONER | 182 |
6 THE MERCHANTS ATTITUDE TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE | 190 |
THE FLUIDITY OF THE MERCHANT CLASS | 193 |
2 IMMIGRATION TO THE CITY | 208 |
3 THE SOCIAL ORIGINS OF IMMIGRANTS | 212 |
4 PATTERNS IN FAMILY HISTORY | 224 |
TRADE AND GENTILITY | 236 |
2 CULTURAL AFFINITIES BETWEEN MERCHANTS AND GENTLEMEN | 249 |
5 CIVIC TAXATION | 87 |
6 THE MECHANISM OF CONTROL OVER TRADE AND INDUSTRY | 94 |
7 THE MERCHANTS OUTLOOK ON GOVERNMENT | 99 |
WEALTH AND STANDARDS OF LIVING | 105 |
2 LANDS AND RENTS | 120 |
3 STANDARDS OF COMFORT | 132 |
4 SYMBOLIC ELEMENTS IN STANDARDS OF LIVING | 145 |
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE | 157 |
2 MORAL DISCIPLINE OF BOYS | 166 |
3 THE WOMANS ROLE | 171 |
4 THE STEWARDSHIP OF WEALTH | 176 |
3 SOCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN MERCHANTS AND GENTLEMEN | 258 |
4 THE GENTLEMAN MERCHANT | 271 |
5 MOVEMENT FROM THE LONDON MERCHANT CLASS INTO THE LANDED GENTRY | 281 |
A GENERAL VIEW OF THE MIDDLE STRATA OF THE NATION | 290 |
2 ATTITUDES TOWARD SOCIAL ASCENT | 302 |
3 CONCLUSIONS | 313 |
ALDERMANIC FAMILIES | 323 |
LONDON LANDOWNERS IN 1436 | 380 |
GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGINS AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF APPRENTICES | 391 |
| 399 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Appen apprenticed apprentices Beaven bequests brewers brother C. L. Kingsford Camden Society chantry Chronicle church citizens court crafts daughter Deeds Died draper Edward Edward III elected enrolled esquire Essex executors father fifteenth century fishmonger fourteenth century fraternity Frowyk gentle gentleman gentry Gisors Godyn goldsmith grocer Guildhall Harl heirs Henry Herts Hist household Hust ibid Joan Kent king's knighted land later leaving livery London and elsewhere London merchants London property manor Margaret marks marriage married masters mayor and aldermen Mdsx medieval mercer merchant class merchant's mark names Nicholas Norf parish Parl rank records Richard Robert Rolls royal seal servants shield of arms Sir John skinner social sons Stowe MSS 860 Suff Surrey survived T. F. Tout tailors Thomas three dau tion trade vintner ward wardens Wattys wealthy Weever widow William Yeoman