‘Reckless effrontery’: Conflict and the Abuse of Badges in Late Medieval England

Abstract

During the fourteenth century in England, livery badges were increasingly used by elite individuals to extend their influence through their subordinates. However, those who wore badges also used them to advance their own ambitions. Documentation from England in the 1380s reveals conflict, as the badges’ potential to serve multiple masters was realized. Understanding the multiple meanings of livery badges and the assumptions that supported them is explored through comparison with pilgrim badges. Pilgrims’ signs reached their height of popularity simultaneously, and were visually comparable. The comparison helps explain the significance of badge-wearing and the reasons why livery badges could be more contentious than their religious counterparts.

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