Fifteenth Century XV

This series [pushes] the boundaries of knowledge and [develops] new trends in approach and understanding. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEWThe focus of this volume may be summed up as "The Word". Its essays examine the contents and provenance of manuscripts which were written for polemical purposes, treasured by the duchess of York, and through the new medium of print introduced to a wider public topics of historical interest and illustrations of the geography of the known world. The essays here also consider official records of forest administration, expressed in arcane language; documents preserved in the papal curia which reveal significant facts about the lives of Scottish bishops; archives produced by the English chancery noting the movements of a royal councillor; and letters, poems and songs exposing the political strategy of a German prince. Nor is the spoken word neglected, whether employed in speeches delivered at the start of parliaments, using as their themes scriptures and classical texts to set a political agenda; or as sermons to open-air congregations gathered at St. Paul's Cross, where the oratory of Bishop Alcock stirred his listeners in different ways. Contributors: Michael Bennett, Julia Boffey, Paul Cavill, J.M. Grussenmeyer, TomJohnson, J.L. Laynesmith, John Milner, Ben Pope, Dan E. Seward, Sarah Thomas

[The essays] are all of a high scholarly level.well-researched as well as readable., The annual series The Fifteenth Century has, since the millennial year, focused on what was one of the more unfashionable centuries for historical study, especially among English literary scholars. Usually edited by Linda Clark, it has published high-quality, if tightly focused, articles, usually a dozen or so, and with a decidedly British emphasis. . . . Writing, Records and Rhetoric continues successfully Dr. Clark's work of presenting readers with small jewels of research

LINDA CLARK is Editor Emeritus at the History of Parliament. JULIA BOFFEY is Professor of Medieval Studies in the Department of English at Queen Mary University of London.