Abstract：Burgesses (or citizens) formed a privileged group in the medieval society. Only of those who held corresponding qualifications and met relevant standards could be admitted becoming a burgess. According to freemen's rolls, three types of qualifications to be a burgess can be found in late medieval England (from the 13th century to the 15th century), including the patrimony, 7-year apprenticeship and redemption. Compared with the unitary burgess qualification existing between the 11th and 12th centuries, these later qualifications had more diversities. The changing burgess qualification had triggered the opening of the urban society, as well as the positive social mobility. Besides, this change played a significant role in the social structure transformation and the transition from feudalism to capitalism in late medieval England.

Published on World History, Issue. 2,2018.