Drawing on new research from local archives as well as reinterpretations of published literature,
Power and the People
examines how England remained governable despite the wars, famine, epidemics, and dynastic and religious crises that characterized the tumultuous period between 1525 and 1640. The book surveys the mechanisms of authority at various levels, from the street and alehouse to the manor and the royal court to reveal the challenge of maintaining order without a standing army or professional police force. Alison Wall investigates everything from the roles of village constables to the social cohesiveness resulting from civic celebrations and participatory politics, providing students with a rich perspective on the social world and political culture of early modern England.