Alien Communities and Alien Fraternities in Later Medieval London

The lay fraternities of late medieval London are relatively well known, yet detailed knowledge of their organization and membership has remained sparse. Fortunate survivals in the Guildhall Library and the archives of Christ Church, Oxford, however, provide four sets of fraternity ordinance documents dating from between 1459 and 1517. These documents intriguingly relate to fraternities held in London's friaries by members of expatriate French and Dutch or German communities, making their existence all the more exceptional. Careful comparison of these texts, and consideration of their listed membership, allows an insight into the social worlds of aliens in medieval London, in addition to providing more detail of the operation of fraternities in medieval London more generally. While all purport to represent distinct fraternities, analysis shows a clear relationship between all three of the German organizations, illuminating the interplay between contemporary political concerns and individuals' social behaviour. Intriguing similarities and differences between the natures of the organizations provide the basis for an interpretation highlighting the diversity and freedom of choice within medieval London's immigrant communities. © 2010 Maney Publishing.