Table of Contents

Introduction: Archery and Crossbow Guilds in Flemish Civic Society
'For security, guard and defence' of this town: guilds' origins and military service
'Guild-brothers': guild organisation and the membership of the archery and crossbow guilds of Bruges 1437-1481
'For Drinking in recreational assemblies': the Archery and Crossbow Guilds as Social and Devotional Communities
'For the honour of the Duke and of the Town': Guilds and authority
'For friendship, community and brotherhood': Archery and crossbow competitions as part of civic honour and identity
Archery and Crossbow Guilds and their Competitions in Regional Networks and as tools of Social Peace
Conclusion: Guilds in Civic Society
Bibliography

Reviews

A well-written, original and thought-provoking book.
*URBAN HISTORY*

This is an important study of groups that have all too often been regarded as colorful but marginal institutions. . . . [This] rich study offers a new angle of vision on medieval Flanders and suggests areas worthy of further study.
*SIXTEENTH CENTURY JOURNAL*

[An] excellent study.....This is an important book on a topic that most earlier literature has dealt with only superficially or in local studies.
*HISTORY*

A welcome addition [and] very readable.
*THE RICARDIAN*

With numerous examples and an eye for relevant detail Crombie offers us the first study integrally devoted to a comparative study of these Flemish guilds. Furthermore, she uses abundant secondary literature, and, more importantly, interesting source material, of which much was never consulted before by historians. In sum, Crombie has written an important work for scholars of guild activities and urban Flanders in particular, and late medieval community life in general.
*RENAISSANCE QUARTERLY*