Fourteenth Century England aims to publish high-quality refereed academic research on topics relating to England, its dominions and neighbours. This volume follows in the footsteps of the previous eight volumes in the series by showcasing a wide-ranging selection of studies reflecting the concerns and trends of current scholarship in the field. We make no attempt to ‘theme’ the volumes, preferring to present whatever is good and innovative in current research in the period, thereby acting as a channel for the dissemination of new ideas, trends and debates. In this volume there are two essays on politics, two on religion, two on chronicle writing and two on aspects of the law. We are also delighted to introduce a new ‘Notes and Documents’ format for shorter, source-focused discussion. Although we do not rely on the proceedings of a specific conference, the continuing vitality of fourteenth-century studies owes much to the sessions organised under the auspices of the Society for Fourteenth-Century Studies at the annual International Medieval Congress (IMC), Leeds, and the Society of the White Hart at the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, Michigan. A number of essays in this volume received their first ‘public airing’ in one of these contexts, and the cosmopolitan nature of these conferences allows us constant access to a vibrant source of medieval research from around the globe.

This volume marks a change in both the team responsible for organising the sessions at IMC Leeds and in preparing the Fourteenth Century England (FCE) volumes for publication. We are delighted and honoured to have been asked to join the FCE team by its existing members – Chris Given-Wilson, Jeff Hamilton, Mark Ormrod and Nigel Saul. We would like to thank them for their assistance in the organisation of the sessions at Leeds as well as the assiduousness with which they, along with various external referees, read and commented on submissions to this volume. Additionally, Alison McHardy in particular should be thanked for her willingness to look over submissions in this regard. We would also like to extend our collective thanks to Caroline Palmer and the staff at Boydell & Brewer for their continuing support of the series, and for the expertise and patience they have shown in seeing this volume through to publication.