THE MERCHANTS OF MEDIEVAL BRISTOL, 1350-1500 (ENGLAND)

The prominence of Bristol, the largest provincial English town in the late Middle Ages, was due to the endeavors of its merchant class. This dissertation, using wills, custom accounts and deeds as its primary material, and utilizing prosopographical methods, considers the social history of nearly 1000 Bristol merchants, and the reasons for their success. The major concerns were: who controlled the government of Bristol: How extensive was endogamy of its merchant class? Who owned property in Bristol? Were piety and charity traditional or atypical?;Bristol merchants were the leading provincial cloth exporters. They were in the forefront of discovery for new trade routes to Spain, Portugal, Iceland and Newfoundland. Bristol's trade was wide open; women and immigrants were readily accepted, but the alien presence was negligible.;Bristol's elevation to county status in 1373 increased her over-all power and prestige, but her borough was still governed by a fluid oligarchy controlled by her major merchants through the Common Council. Only 1.8% of the office holders were not merchants. No "flight from office" was evident and multiple mayoral terms were common. Major merchants were also Customs Collectors, members of Parliament, and officers of the Staple.;Most merchants were married. More widowers remarried than widows. Endogamy among the merchant class was common, but few merchants' daughters married gentry, nor were many merchants' sons becoming gentlemen. Female networks were important to the women. Major merchants were the principal land owners in Bristol.;Most of the merchants and their spouses were buried in their parish church, which as recipients of their money and personal possessions, was an integral part of their lives. All of the chapels and almshouses were founded by merchants, who were cognizant of the needs of the indigent in their community. Perpetual chantries and anniversary celebrations were important in the religious life of the merchants.;The uniqueness of the Bristol merchants was manifested in many ways. While they were traditional in their personal and religious life, they were entrepreneurial in their mercantile ventures.