With some notable exceptions, the subject of outlawry in medieval and early-modern English history has attracted relatively little scholarly attention. This volume helps to address this significant gap in scholarship, and encourage further study of the subject, by presenting a series of new studies, based on original research, that address significant features of outlawry and criminality over an extensive period of time. The volume casts important light on, and raises provocative questions about, the definition, ambiguity, variety, causes, function, adaptability, impact and representation of outlawry during this period. It also helps to illuminate social and governmental attitudes and responses to outlawry and criminality, which involved the interests of both church and state. From different perspectives, the contributions to the volume address the complex relationships between outlaws, the societies in which they lived, the law and secular and ecclesiastical authorities, and, in doing so, reveal much about the strengths and limitations of the developing state in England. In terms of its breadth and the compelling interest of its subject matter, the volume will appeal to a wide audience of social, legal, political and cultural historians.

Preface, John C. Appleby, Paul Dalton; Introduction, John C. Appleby, Paul Dalton; Chapter 1 The Outlaw Hereward 'the Wake', Paul Dalton; Chapter 2 Outlawry as an Instrument of Justice in the Thirteenth Century, Susan Stewart; Chapter 3 Justices and Injustice? England's Local Officials in the Later Middle Ages, Richard Gorski; Chapter 4 Sacred Outlaws, Candace Gregory-Abbott; Chapter 5 'Sons of Iniquity', Neil Jamieson; Chapter 6 Political Ideology in the Early Stories of Robin Hood, A.J. Pollard; Chapter 7 Poachers and Gamekeepers, Hannes Kleineke; Chapter 8 Pirates and Communities, John C. Appleby;