'Nothing but Mayors and Sheriefs, and the deare yeere, and the great frost' : a study of written historical culture in late medieval towns in the Low Countries and England
This thesis explores urban historical texts from late medieval towns in England and the Counties of Holland and Flanders. The wealth of primary examples discussed in this thesis from England and the Low Countries disproves the conviction long held in the scholarly literature that medieval town chronicles only existed in Italy and Germany. Taking a broader view through the framework of historical culture, rather than a strict definition of (urban) chronicle, many previously ignored urban historical texts are explored. The separate chapters discuss the format, authorship, contents and function of these written examples of urban historical culture. The comparative approach identifies a remarkable level of similarities in variety of format, types of author, use of national narratives and record-keeping traditions between England, Holland and Flanders. Local differences are found in the scope of these elements, but show few fundamental differences. Moreover, when compared to the manuscripts recognised as traditional German and Italian medieval town chronicles, the similarities are also noteworthy. A main thread through the study of all aspects of these written sources is the close link there is between historical
De-Vries, Jenneke Danielle Eline
'Nothing but Mayors and Sheriefs, and the deare yeere, and the great frost' : a study of written historical culture in late medieval towns in the Low Countries and England. This thesis explores urban historical texts from late medieval towns in England and the Counties of Holland and Flanders. The wealth of primary examples discussed in this thesis from England and the Low Countries disproves the conviction long held in the scholarly literature that medieval town chronicles only existed in Italy and Germany. Taking a broader view through the framework of historical culture, rather than a strict definition of (urban) chronicle, many previously ignored urban historical texts are explored. The separate chapters discuss the format, authorship, contents and function of these written examples of urban historical culture. The comparative approach identifies a remarkable level of similarities in variety of format, types of author, use of national narratives and record-keeping traditions between England, Holland and Flanders. Local differences are found in the scope of these elements, but show few fundamental differences. Moreover, when compared to the manuscripts recognised as traditional German and Italian medieval town chronicles, the similarities are also noteworthy. A main thread through the study of all aspects of these written sources is the close link there is between historical
nothing great study write historical culture late_medieval town low_countries england explores urban historical_text late_medieval town england counties flanders wealth primary example discuss england low_countries disprove conviction long hold scholarly_literature medieval_town chronicle exist italy germany taking broad view framework historical culture rather strict definition urban chronicle many_previously ignore urban historical_text explore separate discus format authorship content function write example urban historical culture comparative identifies remarkable level similarity variety format type author use national narrative record_keeping tradition england flanders local difference_find scope element show fundamental_difference moreover compare manuscript recognise traditional german italian medieval_town chronicle similarity also noteworthy main thread study aspect write_source close_link historical