Numerous aspects of the medieval economy are covered in this new collection of essays, from business fraud and changes in wages to the production of luxury goods. Long dominated by theories of causation involving class conflict and Malthusian crisis, the field of medieval economic history has been transformed in recent years by a better understanding of the process of commercialisation. Inrecognition of the important work in this area by Richard Britnell, this volume of essays brings together studies by historians from both sides of the Atlantic on fundamental aspects of the medieval commercial economy. From examinations of high wages, minimum wages and unemployment, through to innovative studies of consumption and supply, business fraud, economic regulation, small towns, the use of charters, and the role of shipmasters and peasants as entrepreneurs, this collection is essential reading for the student of the medieval economy. Contributors: John Hatcher, John Langdon, Derek Keene, John S. Lee, James Davis, Mark Bailey, Christine M. Newman, Peter L. Larson, Maryanne Kowaleski, Martha Carlin, James Masschaele, Christopher Dyer

Relations between town and crown in late medieval England examined through two of its most important towns, Bristol and York. The strengthening of ties between crown and locality in the fourteenth century is epitomised by the relationships between York and Bristol (then amongst the largest and wealthiest urban communities in England) and the crown. Thisbook combines a detailed study of the individuals who ruled Bristol and York at the time with a close analysis of the texts which illustrate the relationship between the two cities and the king, thus offering a new perspective onrelations between town and crown in late medieval England. Beginning with an analysis of the various demands, financial, political and commercial, made upon the towns by the Hundred Years War, the author argues that such pressures facilitated the development of a partnership in government between the crown and the two towns, meaning that the elite inhabitants became increasingly important in national affairs. The book goes on to explore in detail thenature of urban aspirations within the kingdom, arguing that the royal charters granting the towns their coveted county status were crucial in binding their ruling elites into the apparatus of royal government, and giving them a powerful voice in national politics. Dr Christian D. Liddy is Senior Lecturer in the Department of History, University of Durham.

The medieval development of the distinct region of north-east England explored through close examination of landscape, religion and history. The recent surge of interest in the political, ecclesiastical, social and economic history of north-eastern England is reflected in the essays in this volume. The topics covered range widely, including the development of both rural and urban life and institutions. There are contributions on the well-known richness of Durham cathedral muniments, its priory and bishopric, and there is also a particular focus on the institutions and practices which evolved to deal with Scottish border problems. A number of papers broach lesser-known subjects which accordingly offer new territory for exploration, among them the distinctive characteristics of local jurisdiction in the northern counties, the formation of north-eastern landscapes, the course of agrarian development in the region and the emergence of a northern gentry class alongside the better known ecclesiastical and lay magnates. CHRISTIAN D. LIDDY is Lecturer in History at the University of Durham, where R.H. BRITNELL is Emeritus Professor.

Fourteenth Century England has quickly established for itself a deserved reputation for its scope and scholarship and for admirably filling a gap in the publication of medieval studies. HISTORY The new research here covers a number of aspects of the politics and culture of fourteenth-century England, including religious culture and institutions as illustrated in the cult of Thomas of Lancaster, preaching to women in thelater fourteenth century, and in the Church's response to a royal fundraising campaign. There are detailed examinations of prominent and less prominent individuals - Bishop Thomas Hatfield, Agnes Maltravers, and Lord Thomas Despenser - together with investigations of broader policy issues, particularly the dispensation of justice in the reign of Richard II. Finally, the intersection of environmental, political, and economic issues is approached from two very different perspectives, the development of royal landscapes and of the late medieval coal industry. Contributors: JOHN T. MCQUILLEN, AMANDA RICHARDSON, A. K. MCHARDY, CHRISTIAN D. LIDDY, J.S. BOTHWELL, BETH ALLISON BARR, DIANE MARTIN, HELEN LACEY, JOHN LELAND, MARTYN LAWRENCE, ULRIKE GRASSNICK, MARK ARVANIGIAN J.S. HAMILTON is Professor and Chair of History at Baylor University.

The annual volume of new work on all aspects of the fourteenth century, including England's overseas interests, from English and American scholars. New research on aspects of the politics and culture of fourteenth-century England includes close studies of political events such as the quarrel of Edward II and Thomas of Lancaster and Bishop Despenser's Crusade, fresh considerations of the political and cultural context of English royal tombs and the Wilton Diptych, a number of important analyses of regional politics and regional culture in Bristol, East Anglia and Winchester - all with implications forthe bigger picture - and a discussion of late medieval French attitudes to the deposition of Richard II; that and studies of the war with France and the Bishop of Norwich's attack on Flanders carry the focus beyond the shores ofEngland. Contributors: MARK ARVANIGIAN, JANE BEAL, KELLY DEVRIES, ALASTAIR DUNN, DAVID GREEN, ANDY KING, CHRISTIAN D. LIDDY, LISA MONNA, ANTHONY MUSSON, MARK PAGE, DAVID M. PALLISER, CRAIG D. TAYLOR, KRIS TOWSON,