Town Life in the Fifteenth Century, Volume 1 (of 2)

A historical account written in the late 19th century. The book focuses on the development of English towns during the fifteenth century, exploring their political, social, and economic structures, and how they influenced the broader trajectory of English liberty. It aims to illuminate the complex history of municipal governance and the significant role towns played in shaping modern England. At the start of this volume, the author sets the stage for a detailed examination of the robust political life and self-governance enjoyed by fifteenth-century boroughs in England. The opening discusses the remarkable independence the towns had, which allowed citizens to enact their legislation and govern their affairs autonomously, reminiscent of small principalities. Stopford Green highlights the dramatic evolution of these towns from mediæval obscurity to centers of trade and cultural development, laying the groundwork for an analysis of how their civic revolutions contributed to the roots of democracy in modern England, setting the tone for the rich narrative that is to follow.