Barbara A. Hanawalt
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- July 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190490393
- eISBN:
- 9780190490430
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190490393.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Medieval History
London’s civic ceremonies marked the relationships between the mayors and the crown, but also between denizens and their government, gild wardens and members, masters and apprentices, and ...
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London’s civic ceremonies marked the relationships between the mayors and the crown, but also between denizens and their government, gild wardens and members, masters and apprentices, and parishioners and their church. London, like all premodern cities, was made up of immigrants. The number of people who were citizens (who enjoyed the “freedom of the city”) was a small proportion of the inhabitants. The newly arrived had to be taught the civic culture of the city so that the city could function peacefully. Ritual and ceremony played a key role in the acculturation process. In a society in which hierarchical authority was most commonly determined by the inheritance of title and office or sanctified by ordination, elected civic officials relied on rituals to cement their authority, power, and dominance. Since the term of office was a year, the election and inauguration of city officials had to be very public, and the robes of office had to distinguish the officers so that everyone would know who they were. Apprentices entering the city to take up a trade were educated in civic culture by their masters. Gilds also provided experience in leadership through gild governance. Again, rituals, oath swearing, and distinctive livery marked their belonging. Those who rebelled against authority and who broke the civic ordinances were made spectacles of through ritual humiliations so that others could learn from their example. At the parish level, and even at the level of the street, civic behavior was taught through example, proclamations, and ballads.Less
London’s civic ceremonies marked the relationships between the mayors and the crown, but also between denizens and their government, gild wardens and members, masters and apprentices, and parishioners and their church. London, like all premodern cities, was made up of immigrants. The number of people who were citizens (who enjoyed the “freedom of the city”) was a small proportion of the inhabitants. The newly arrived had to be taught the civic culture of the city so that the city could function peacefully. Ritual and ceremony played a key role in the acculturation process. In a society in which hierarchical authority was most commonly determined by the inheritance of title and office or sanctified by ordination, elected civic officials relied on rituals to cement their authority, power, and dominance. Since the term of office was a year, the election and inauguration of city officials had to be very public, and the robes of office had to distinguish the officers so that everyone would know who they were. Apprentices entering the city to take up a trade were educated in civic culture by their masters. Gilds also provided experience in leadership through gild governance. Again, rituals, oath swearing, and distinctive livery marked their belonging. Those who rebelled against authority and who broke the civic ordinances were made spectacles of through ritual humiliations so that others could learn from their example. At the parish level, and even at the level of the street, civic behavior was taught through example, proclamations, and ballads.
Barbara A. Hanawalt
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- July 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190490393
- eISBN:
- 9780190490430
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190490393.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Medieval History
Civil society, a term was used in the Middle Ages, valued the peaceful possession of property, personal security, access to legal means of settling disputes, loyalty to the city, and obedience to ...
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Civil society, a term was used in the Middle Ages, valued the peaceful possession of property, personal security, access to legal means of settling disputes, loyalty to the city, and obedience to officials. It also implied that denizens would share self-imposed codes of behavior and would work for the common good. London valued its self-government, but it was reliant on the king for its charter. Ceremonies, both the official ones that installed a new mayor and the public ceremonies of humiliation for those who broke the city rules were part of the education of inhabitants in the values of civil society. This chapter considers the historiography and theoretical approaches to civic ritual and ceremony, provides an overview of the sources used to study these practices in London and outlines the topics covered in the book.Less
Civil society, a term was used in the Middle Ages, valued the peaceful possession of property, personal security, access to legal means of settling disputes, loyalty to the city, and obedience to officials. It also implied that denizens would share self-imposed codes of behavior and would work for the common good. London valued its self-government, but it was reliant on the king for its charter. Ceremonies, both the official ones that installed a new mayor and the public ceremonies of humiliation for those who broke the city rules were part of the education of inhabitants in the values of civil society. This chapter considers the historiography and theoretical approaches to civic ritual and ceremony, provides an overview of the sources used to study these practices in London and outlines the topics covered in the book.
Barbara A. Hanawalt
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- July 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190490393
- eISBN:
- 9780190490430
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190490393.003.0005
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Medieval History
Offenders who slandered the mayor and aldermen were brought before the court at the Guildhall to be tried. The ultimate punishment was the removal of citizenship, which meant that the man could not ...
More
Offenders who slandered the mayor and aldermen were brought before the court at the Guildhall to be tried. The ultimate punishment was the removal of citizenship, which meant that the man could not trade in the city. Most offenders made public apologies and made a bond to be paid if they slandered again. Punishments for infractions were turned into didactic rituals that informed the populace about the guilty man’s wrong behavior, fraud, or sexual lapse, and so on. Public punishment depended on the offender’s social class. While a citizen could get off with a bond, a bawd, prostitute, baker of bad bread, or a seller of spoiled meat pies was tried in the mayor’s court and, if found guilty, paraded through the streets on a hurdle drawn by a horse to the stocks to stand in public view. It was both humiliating and indicated whom not to patronize.Less
Offenders who slandered the mayor and aldermen were brought before the court at the Guildhall to be tried. The ultimate punishment was the removal of citizenship, which meant that the man could not trade in the city. Most offenders made public apologies and made a bond to be paid if they slandered again. Punishments for infractions were turned into didactic rituals that informed the populace about the guilty man’s wrong behavior, fraud, or sexual lapse, and so on. Public punishment depended on the offender’s social class. While a citizen could get off with a bond, a bawd, prostitute, baker of bad bread, or a seller of spoiled meat pies was tried in the mayor’s court and, if found guilty, paraded through the streets on a hurdle drawn by a horse to the stocks to stand in public view. It was both humiliating and indicated whom not to patronize.
