BA and MA papers by Rhiannon Sandy
In early modern England, a man’s authority over his wife and children was considered part of a di... more In early modern England, a man’s authority over his wife and children was considered part of a divinely ordained hierarchy, analogous to that of a prince over his subjects. Widows occupied a special place in early modern English society, free from spousal control. They could reclaim any property taken to the marriage – her ‘portion’ – and under common law was also entitled to one-third of her husband’s freehold property. Some early modern widows enjoyed an unparalleled degree of liberation; however this liberation was potentially limited by social class and the individual’s financial status. Although some widows were thoroughly liberated and became wealthy in their own right, many found that they could not cope without a husband.
The writ system in late medieval common law provided several remedies for issues of bad tenancy. ... more The writ system in late medieval common law provided several remedies for issues of bad tenancy. This paper will discuss the effectiveness of each remedy available to plaintiffs in cases of unpaid rent, dower and waste of land, using cases from period 1285-1450 to illustrate how these cases were fought in the courts and how the common law could work for or against the plaintiff in these cases.
In a period when the peace was maintained by communal vigilance, outlawry was a means of discoura... more In a period when the peace was maintained by communal vigilance, outlawry was a means of discouraging offenders. Tightly-knit communities acted as a means of crime prevention, through detecting crime and identifying criminals; personal feuds were common knowledge, thus if you went ‘beyond hatred to homicide’ you would almost undoubtedly be accused. Outlawry was considered a harsh sanction; until the early fourteenth century, outlaws could be killed on sight without penalty. Outlawry can be seen as both an admission of the failure of the legal system and as ‘a logical development of a system of law enforcement which employed exclusion to prevent crime’. This paper will seek to show that both of these views are true – although outlawry had a clear and important part to play in common law in the thirteenth century, by the fourteenth century it was almost unenforceable and had less of a punitive function than it had had a hundred years before.
Between 1100 and 1350, the economy of the British Isles was predominantly agricultural. The main... more Between 1100 and 1350, the economy of the British Isles was predominantly agricultural. The main agricultural innovation of the medieval period was the move from two-field to three-field, or three-course, systems. Postan believes that, whatever the local variant, some form of rotation would be found on most arable fields by 1100. The Welsh economy was based on mixed farming, with cereals grown on even the poorest quality soils. This paper will assess how new agricultural techniques, including innovations in field systems, were received in Wales and what affect this had on the economy, with the focus resting mainly on the Englishry – the area dominated by English lords and settlers – in South Wales.
Forest law won its reputation for severity in the twelfth century, when crimes against the venis... more Forest law won its reputation for severity in the twelfth century, when crimes against the venison carried penalties including death and mutilation; the Charter of the Forest (1217) reduced the punishment to a heavy fine. In reality, after Magna Carta and the Forest Charter, forest law was only disadvantageous when compared to common law because of the restrictions of the vert and the arbitrary nature of enforcement.
Papers by Rhiannon Sandy
This thesis uses apprenticeship indentures to offer a novel insight into guilds and apprenticeshi... more This thesis uses apprenticeship indentures to offer a novel insight into guilds and apprenticeship in medieval England. Indentures offer a unique view of idealised master-apprentice relationships, which are otherwise only visible in official records. A collection of 82 surviving indentures forms a starting point for exploring social, economic, and legal aspects of apprenticeship in medieval England, both within and outside the guild system. Chapter 1 outlines the content of indentures and provides a guide to their general form. Indentures developed gradually in response to social, economic and legal factors; these are explored in subsequent chapters. Chapter 2 discusses the enforceability and enforcement of legislation pertaining to apprenticeship, as well as exploring the legal complexities of indentures as binding legal agreements made by minors. Chapter 3 considers apprenticeship in three ways in the context of the guild system: as a means of exploitation, as a means of exclusion...
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BA and MA papers by Rhiannon Sandy
Papers by Rhiannon Sandy