Commune, Country and Commonwealth: The People of Cirencester, 1117-1643 (Studies in Early Modern Cultural, Political and Social History) (Volume 10)

Makes original contributions to late medieval and early modern historiography, including detailed, contextualized studies of the 'Lancastrian revolution', the Reformation and the English Revolution. Commune, Country and Commonwealth suggests that towns like Cirencester are a missing link connecting local and national history, in the immensely formative centuries from Magna Carta to the English Revolution. Focused on atown that made highly significant interventions in national constitutional development, it describes recurring struggles to achieve communal solidarity and independence in a society continuously and prescriptively divided by grossinequalities of class and status. The result is a social and political history of a great trans-generational epic in which local and national influences constantly interacted. From the generation of Magna Carta to the regicides of Edward II and Richard II, through the vernacular revolution of the 'long fifteenth century' and the chaos of state reformations to the great revival that ended in the constitutional wars of the 1640s, the epic was united by strategic location and by systemic, 'structural' inequalities that were sometimes mitigated but never resolved. Individual and group personalities emerge from every chapter, but the 'personality' that dominates them all, Rollison argues, is a commune with 'a mind of its own', continuously regenerated by enduring, strategic realities. An afterword describes the birth and development of a new, 'rural' myth and identity and suggests some archival pathways for the exploration of a legendary English town in the modern and postmodern, industrial and post-industrial epochs. DAVID ROLLISON is Honorary Research Associate in History, University of Sydney. DAVE ROLLISON isHonorary Research Associate in History, University of Sydney. Commune, Country and Commonwealth' suggests that towns like Cirencester are a missing link connecting local and national history, in the immensely formative centuries from Magna Carta to the English Revolution. Focused on a town that made highly significant interventions in national constitutional development, it describes recurring struggles to achieve communal solidarity and independence in a society continuously and prescriptively divided by gross inequalities of class and status. The result is a social and political history of a great trans-generational epic in which local and national influences constantly interacted. From the generation of Magna Carta to the regicides of Edward II and Richard II, through the vernacular revolution of the 'long fifteenth century' and the chaos of state reformations to the great revival that ended in the constitutional wars of the 1640s, the epic was united by strategic location and by systemic, 'structural' inequalities that were sometimes mitigated but never resolved. Individual and group personalities emerge from every chapter, but the 'personality' that dominates them all, Rollison argues, is a commune with 'a mind of its own', continuously regenerated by enduring, strategic realities. An afterword describes the birth and development of a new, 'rural' myth and identity and suggests some archival pathways for the exploration of a legendary English town in the modern and postmodern, industrial and post-industrial epochs. DAVID ROLLISON is Honorary Research Associate in History, University of Sydney Frontcover 1 CONTENTS 6 LIST OF MAPS AND TABLES 7 PREFACE: ‘A phoenix in flames’ 8 ABBREVIATIONS 12 INTRODUCTION: Commune at the crossroads 14 1 A domination of abbots 30 2 The crisis of the early fourteenth century 39 3 Classes of the commune before the Black Death 46 4 The struggle continues, 1335–99 57 5 A turning-point: the generation of 1400 63 6 Highpoint of vernacular religion: building a church, 1400–1548 77 7 Classes of the commune in 1522 102 8 Surviving Reformation: the rule of Robert Strange, 1539–70 108 9 ‘The tyranny of infected members called papists’: the Strange regime under challenge, c.1551–80 116 10 Phoenix arising: crises and growth, 1560–1660 132 11 Only the poor will be saved: the preacher and the manual workers 146 12 Gentlemen and commons of the Seven Hundreds 162 13 Immigrants 184 14 The revival of the parish 202 15 ‘More than freeholders ought to have voices’: parliamentarianism in one ‘countrey’, 1571–1640 221 16 Moments of decision: August 1642 to February 1643 238 AFTERWORD: Rural sunrise 259 BIBLIOGRAPHY 282 INDEX 292 Backcover 298 Introduction : Commune At The Crossroads -- A Domination Of Abbots -- The Crisis Of The Early Fourteenth Century -- Classes Of The Commune Before The Black Death -- The Struggle Continues, 1335-99 -- A Durning-point : The Generation Of 1400 -- Highpoint Of Vernacular Religion : Building A Church, 1400-1548 -- Classes Of The Commune In 1522 -- Surviving Reformation : The Rule Of Robert Strange, 1539-70 -- 'the Tyranny Of Infected Members Called Papists' : The Strange Regime Under Challenge, C. 1551-80 -- Phoenix Arising : Crises And Growth, 1550-1650 -- Only The Poor Will Be Saved : The Preacher And The Artisans -- Gentlemen And Commons Of The Seven Hundreds -- Immigrants -- The Revival Of The Parish -- 'more Than Freeholders Ought To Have Voices' : Parliamentarianism In One 'countrey', 1571-1643 -- 'moments Of Decision', August 1642 To February 1643 -- Afterword : Rural Sunrise. David Rollison. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 269-278) And Index.