Mortuary dues in early sixteenth-century England
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Cavill, P
Abstract
jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pMortuaries were death duties owed to parish priests. The early sixteenth century was a pivotal moment in their long history. In 1529, an act of parliament significantly altered these dues. This article explores mortuary practices in the preceding decades. It examines what mortuaries were, who gave them, and what purpose they served. The importance of local custom is emphasised. The article reconsiders the modern view that mortuary dues were generally disliked. A more complex attitude explains both why mortuaries were reformed and why they would survive for centuries thereafter. Mortuary dues exemplify the symbiotic relationship between law and custom.</jats:p>
Description
Keywords
44 Human Society, 4303 Historical Studies, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology, 4403 Demography
Journal Title
Continuity and Change
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0268-4160
1469-218X
1469-218X
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
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All rights reserved