This study will examine Jennifer C. Ward's English Noblewomen in the Later Middle Ages, focusing on the author's use of sources and evidence in making her arguments. Ward argues that the subject of noblewomen in this period of history has been neglected and that there are numerous sources available to fill in many of the gaps in the knowledge we have of the subject. Many of these same sources are utilized in examining the roles of men in the later Middle Ages, but historians have failed to peruse the same sources "for the light they shed on women's history" (10). Ward goes on to argue that
The denigration of women in many works of medieval literature and their lack of legal identity for much of their lives have been taken to mean that the noblewoman's role was subordinate and shadowy. Clearly women could not participate in warfare and formal politics. but this does not mean that their role in medieval history was invariably insignificant. What that role was will be examined. . . . (10-11).
Due to the fact that women were seen by the recorders of history in the later Middle Ages as insignificant characters in society, the main sources of that period are far from rich in recording whatever roles that women did play. For that reason, Ward was forced to glean bits and pieces about women's roles from the popular and secondary sources.
Among those sources are the so-called chronicles of the era, which were compiled by writers recording local history, sometimes commissioned by noble personages to create accounts of family affairs. These chronicles have their faults, however, beyond the fact that they do not primarily or specifically cover the activities of women. Although these chronicles do deal with women in their more traditional roles, they have weaknesses even in that area. For example, "It was very rare for any chronicler to describe character and personality, whether of men or women, except in very general terms" (4).
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