Custom and conflict : disputes over tithe in the Diocese of Canterbury, 1501-1600
This thesis seeks to explore custom and conflict in Kentish society through a study of tithe litigation in the diocese of Canterbury. It is based on an examination of ecclesiastical court material. The approach differs from most previous studies of tithe litigation in the emphasis on the practice of tithe payment as opposed to its statutory, legal or administrative aspects. An understanding of the everyday operation of tithe payment and tithing methods is regarded as an essential precursor to analysing trends in litigation. The transmission and negotiation of customary practice within local communities is examined in the second chapter. Chapter three focuses on conflict over tithe, particularly as evinced in verbal and physical confrontations between tithe collectors and tithe payers. These were confrontations which often revealed themselves in ritual and symbolic form. This chapter also considers the resistance evident in the tithe collection process. A statistical analysis of tithe litigation in the diocese for the period 1501-1600 is undertaken in chapter four. This examination draws particular attention to the prevalence of dispute throughout the period and to a geographical concentration of parishes experiencing
Simpson, Paula
History
Custom and conflict : disputes over tithe in the Diocese of Canterbury, 1501-1600. This thesis seeks to explore custom and conflict in Kentish society through a study of tithe litigation in the diocese of Canterbury. It is based on an examination of ecclesiastical court material. The approach differs from most previous studies of tithe litigation in the emphasis on the practice of tithe payment as opposed to its statutory, legal or administrative aspects. An understanding of the everyday operation of tithe payment and tithing methods is regarded as an essential precursor to analysing trends in litigation. The transmission and negotiation of customary practice within local communities is examined in the second chapter. Chapter three focuses on conflict over tithe, particularly as evinced in verbal and physical confrontations between tithe collectors and tithe payers. These were confrontations which often revealed themselves in ritual and symbolic form. This chapter also considers the resistance evident in the tithe collection process. A statistical analysis of tithe litigation in the diocese for the period 1501-1600 is undertaken in chapter four. This examination draws particular attention to the prevalence of dispute throughout the period and to a geographical concentration of parishes experiencing
custom conflict dispute tithe diocese canterbury seek_explore custom conflict kentish society study tithe litigation diocese canterbury base_examination ecclesiastical_court material differs previous_study tithe litigation emphasis practice tithe payment oppose statutory legal administrative aspect everyday operation tithe payment tithe method regard essential precursor analyse trend litigation transmission negotiation customary practice within local_community examine second chapter focus conflict tithe particularly evince verbal physical confrontation tithe collector tithe confrontation often reveal ritual symbolic form also_consider resistance evident tithe collection process statistical_analysis tithe litigation diocese period undertaken examination draw particular_attention prevalence dispute throughout_period geographical concentration parish experience