The Rise and Fall of Merry England: The Ritual Year, 1400-1700

by Ronald Hutton

Highly readable and entertaining, Ronald Hutton's acclaimed work is the first comprehensive account of the religious and secular rituals of late medieval and early modern England.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Folklore, British Literature

378 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Ronald Hutton (born 1953) is an English historian who specializes in the study of Early Modern Britain, British folklore, pre-Christian religion and contemporary Paganism. A professor of history at the University of Bristol, Hutton has published fourteen books and has appeared on British television and radio.

Reviews

[Tom Hodgkinson]

Prof Hutton is the Idler's favourite historian. He is both brilliant and entertaining. In person he is full of charm and humour: he is coming to our shop this Christmas to give a talk, and we always look forward to a visit from Prof Hutton. The Rise and Fall of Merry England is fascinating to scholars of merriment because he proves that England in the later medieval period really was very merry indeed. He also does a fantastic job of describing the Puritan crackdown on the fun-loving medievals.

[Mary Catelli]

A study of the festive year -- straight through the period of the Reformation.

Starting with a list of the annual revelries, with May poles and hobby horses, and May kings (and some queens, but May kings were more popular) and the Lords of Misrule.

Into the efforts to suppress, revive, suppress again -- what worked, what didn't, what we don't know about because it escaped the records. Lots of interesting details. The habit of having the church bells rung for the events in the sovereign's life, not in religious calender. A writer who cited in objection to Summer King that they -- horrors -- dressed their attendants in green or yellow or "some other light wanton color." How the churches used to support themselves with church ales. and even when the ales continued, they often stopped being a revenue source. How a fervent objection to frivolous merriment was registered by an imprisoned Jesuit when the jailer brought in the seasonal hobby horse to amuse them -- the Counter-Reformation had its side, too.

Lots more. Somewhat dry and academic in places since he's heavy on the evidence and sources.

[Suzanna]

I became familiar with Dr. Hutton seeing his appearances on Ruth Goodman's historic farm series, and found him delightful and passionate. While the passion is no doubt in evidence here, given the thoroughness of his research, his delivery, being of a more old-school, by-the-numbers breed of historiography than my own style, left me saddened and surprised. Yes, the research is there, if barely digested, and he backs up every claim with the most detailed evidence, down to precise numbers of parishes whose records report a particular expense in a particular year. His conclusions seem solid and logical, besides. The writing, though, the breathing, vibrant, truly fascinating story that hides underneath that oh-so-responsible delivery of his findings, is simply not in evidence. I often read entire pages multiple times, realizing I'd gotten distracted or drifted off altogether. It used to be acceptable to write in this style, but it doesn't have to be that way anymore, even for the scholarly work written for the scholarly audience. Frankly, it's been a big disappointment for me.

[Candy Wood]

Amazingly readable considering how many documentary sources Hutton had to slog through to provide the supporting evidence. It actually covers more than the 300 years of history mentioned in the title.

[Jeremy Canipe]

After reading the class/book by Keith Wrighton of Yale University, I have continued exploring Early Modern England as a new historical period of interest. Thus, one of the books suggested from Professor Wrigton's book and course is this one.

In this book, English historian of religion Ronald Hutton attempts to understand changes in what he calls "the ritual year" between 1400 and 1700. By "ritual year," Dr. Hutton refers to a pattern of secular and sacred festivals that marked the year in England before this period of time.

Drawing heavily on records of expenditures by towns, cities, nobles, and local church parishes, Hutton was able to determine that festivals related to cycles of planting and harvesting as well as related to celebrations on the church calendar before the English Reformation. Often, such celebrations included selling beer to make money for local parish expenses and the cost of local government.

In the long run, Hutton points the proverbial finger at the English Puritans. He argues that their influence, within the monarchy, nobility, and national government, led to the destruction of what he sees as harmless fun.

Having been the beneficiary of the Reformation, including the Puritans, to my own view, I tend to disagree with the basic premise. If one thinks that religion is just superstition, perhaps Hutton would have a point. But, if the Reformation actually recovered the gospel of grace by faith in Jesus, and if the Puritan desire to inspect their own hearts and lives for confirmation that they had been saved, and if one thinks, as did later American reformers, that excess use of alcohol is harmful to the body, mind, and soul, perhaps there was much good in the fall of Merry England.

[Rhiannon Grant]

A fascinating exploration of popular religious, political, and secular rituals, which sheds light on wider changes in society. Dense with lots of evidence, mainly from church warden's accounts, but still readable.

[Andrew Clay Pauley]

Such a fun book subject told in the most comprehensive yet boring way possible. Only read first chapter because that's what I was interested in learning about. Not sure if I'll return to ot any time soon, but there's definitely good info in here. I just don't like Hutton's writing style...

[Joyce]

Excellent, scholarly treatment of English folk culture and the way that the Protestant Reformation affected its practice.

[Jose Lavarreda]

Just outstanding. a must!!

[Jon]

Dry. Very dry indeed.

[Paganus Kiley]

A thorough but heavy read.

[Dylan Vieites Glennon]

Entertaining and informative

[Kerr Cuhulain]

Excellent historical resource.