Review of York in the Time of James 1 Plague, Politics and Frost
By Tony Morgan The work of York based author Tony Morgan has already been featured in this blog. Pleased to see that he has now devoted a whole work to York during the reign of James VI/ I ( ruling England from 1603-1625) . Certainly this reader learnt a great deal from this quite short book. For example, Medieval aspects of city life had not completely vanished. Trade guilds were of particular importance. Ecclesiastical courts functioned. The traditional 'Tanton' feast held every three years, where a piglet had been especially reared and fattened to be slaughtered for a feast organised by the 'Brothers of Saint Anthony', continued until 1625. The Roman Catholic faith had not be completely banished. York's economic life fluctuated fo...