The Jack Cade Rebellion of 1450: A Sourcebook

(Hardback)

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Description

The Jack Cade Rebellion of 1450 was an uprising of the commons of Englandmost of whom were from Kent, Norfolk, and Essexthat culminated in a battle on London Bridge. The rebel force, led by a mysterious man known as Jack Cade, protested King Henry VIs ineffectiveness as a leader, the over-taxation of the working classes, the crowns failed attempts to secure French territories, and the corrupt bureaucrats and church officials. This book collects, for the first time, primary documents related to the rebellion that have been translated into Present-Day English or glossed for ease of reading. The sources included in this book comprise the rebels petitions, entries from medieval and early modern chronicles, letters and formal correspondences, official government documents, and political poems of the fifteenth century. Students interested in urban history, popular rebellions, medieval and early modern studies, legal studies, criminal justice, Shakespeare, and artistic expressions of protest will find these primary sources invaluable.

Reviews

By bringing together--for the first time--translated primary sources on Cade's rebellion, Kaufman has performed a valuable service for scholars and researchers. The modern English translations, supported by Kaufman's scholarly commentary and notes, also make the sources available to a wider readership. This volume will be an invaluable source for anyone interested in late-medieval England or medieval social movements.

--Michael Evans, Delta College

Kaufman's highly readable anthology will be useful for anybody who wants to study late medieval history and Cade's rebellion, as well as being of interest to those interested in English radical history more generally.

-- "Reynolds's News and Miscelllany"

The Cade Rebellion deserves to be better known and one hopes that this source collection will be a step towards that. This book represents an excellent tool for the study of an important event.

-- "Sixteenth Century Journal"

Author Bio

Alexander L. Kaufman is Reed D. Voran Distinguished Professor of Humanities and professor of English at Ball State University.