9. The Fourteenth Century: Society and Culture
I. Transformation of the Manor
A. Economic Depression of the 14th century > Decline in Profits
- Scottish raids into England
- competition of grain from eastern Germany
- waste of resources in war
- population decline
> flood and famine, 1315-1317
> colder weather
> the Black Death
B. Results
- wages rose
- agricultural prices fell after 1375
- shortage of labor from 1390
- most lords gave up direct management of t their demesne and leased it
to farmers
- the holding of land by money rent made the sale of land easier > a
prosperous class of farmers arose (franklins)
- allowed for a free, mobile society
C. The Peasants Revolt of 1381
1) a spontaneous uprising due to
- rising expectations
- the imposition of a poll tax in 1380
2) the rebels demanded freedom and equality
- abolition of serfdom
- commutation of servile dues to rents
- elimination of lordship, except the king
- church property to be divided among the parishioners
3) Rebels from Essex and Kent entered London and spent two days looting
and burning; killed the tax collector; and besieged the king and his
ministers who were in the Tower of London
- young King Richard II met with the rebels to negotiate and he agreed
to a charter meeting their demands
- the next day Richard II met again with the rebels, and the Mayor
of London killed their leader, Wat Tyler
- Richard II ordered the rebel to disperse
II. Religious Ferment
A. John Wycliffe (c. 1324-1384)
- Teachings:
> Theory of Dominion
> Community of Believers
> Scripture and individual conscience > source of religious authority
> Predestination
> rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation
> rejection of Church's mediatory and sacramental role
B. Anticlericalism
- hostility towards the wealth and power of the Church
1) Roots:
- vs. corruption in the Church
- vs. financial demands of the Church
- vs. a foreign Pope
- vs. increased interference of the Pope in English Church matters
2) Expression
- Statute of Provisors of 1351
> allowed the king to replace bishops wrongly chosen by the Pope
with men of his own choice
- Statute of Praemunire of 1353
> no Englishman could sue another in a court outside of England
as long as the English court had jurisdiction in the matter
- these statutes were introduced by Parliament
C. Lollardy
1) followers of Wyclif's ideas
- derived from anticlericalism
- wanted a more intense and personal religious experience
- benefited from Wyclif's translation of the Bible
2) Decline of Lollardy
- John of Gaunt withdrew his protection
- Lollardy purged from Oxford
- 1401 Statute for the Burning of Heretics
- yet Wyclif's ideas endured
III. Richard II (1377-1399)
A. Minority
1) crowned at the age of ten
- rule by a regency council of barons
- Richard III built up a court party dominated by favorites who were lavishly
rewarded
2) Parliaments of 1386 and 1387
- demanded that Richard II dismiss the Chancellor and Treasurer
- established a council of reform for a year and admonished Richard II that a
king who governs against the law and without the advice of the peers may
be deposed
- Richard II complied, but then raised an army; he was defeated
- Parliament shattered Richard II's circle of friends
B. Richard II's Majority
1) governed for nine years in a conciliatory manner, but was preparing for
absolute rule
- developed a loyal household staff and court party
- Parliament recognized his authority as sole law maker
- established a private army
- secured a truce with France that included his marriage to Charles VI's
daughter, Isabella, and a large dowry
2) 1397 Richard II struck against the Appellant Council and Parliament,
arresting its leaders
- Under the threat of Richard's troops Parliament granted absolute authority
to the king and revenues for life from the wool trade
- Richard II squandered his gains in brutal exploitation of his subjects
- Greatest blunder > confiscation of the estates of John of Gaunt, Duke of
Lancaster, after his death denying Henry Bolingbroke his inheritance
C. Fall of Richard II
- Henry Bolingbroke led an expedition to England to gain not only his lands,
but the throne of England
- he gained the support of the barons and defeated Richard II
- Richard II was forced to abdicate and later died
- Henry Bolingbroke claimed the throne by right of birth, conquest and
Richard II's misrule
- Parliament was coerced to confirm Henry's claim