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Internet Medieval Sourcebook

Selected Sources: Church Life in the High Middle Ages

Contents

• Western Monasticism - After A.D. 900
  • Benedictines
  • Cluny
  • Cistercians
  • Carthusians
  • Other Orders
  • Women's Monasticism
• The Mendicant Orders
  • Franciscans
  • Dominicans
  • Other Orders
• The Secular Clergy
  • Cathedral Chapters
  • Parish Pastoral Clergy
• Medieval Heresy
  • General
  • Waldensianism
  • Catharism
  • The "Spiritual Franciscans"
  • The Inquisition
  • Lollardy
  • Hussites
• Christian Spirituality
  • Attitudes
  • Liturgy
  • Mysticism
  • The Life of Christ
  • The Cultus of the Virgin Mary
  • Saints and Relics
  • The Sacramental System
    • The Eucharist
    • Penance
    • Confirmation
    • Heaven, Hell, and In Between
  • Aspects of Popular Beliefs

• For Papal history, see the Empire and Papacy section
• For Church as an economic entity, see the Economic Life section

• Monasticism in General
  • St. Peter Damian (1007-1072): On the Perfection of Monks [At MIT] [Internet Archive version here]
• Benedictines
  • Basic texts
    • The Rule of St. Augustine, [At Villanova] [Internet Archive version here] and in Latin [At The Latin Library]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Rule of St. Augustine
    • The Rule of St. Augustine, [At Georgetown] [Internet Archive version here]
    • Rule of St. Benedict. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Rule of St. Benedict.
    • The Rule of Saint Benedict, shorter excerpts, ca. 530.
  • Herman of Tournai. Liber de restauratione monasterii S. Martini Tornacensis. (On The Restoration Of The Monastery Of Saint Martin's Of Tournai) [Was Kansas, now at Internet Archive]. Latin text to accompany Lynn Nelson's recently published translation. See also Medieval Tournai: An Academic Resource Center [Was At European University Institute, now Internet Archive]
  • Domesday Book: Manors of the Abbey of St. Peter, Winchester, 1086
  • Jocelin of Brakelond (c.1156-d.1202?): Chronicle of the Abbey of St. Edmunds (1173-1202), full text
  • Bishop Gundulf: Bishop Gundulf confirms a grant by Gilbert the priest of three hides at Haddenham in exchange for Gilbert entering the monastic life. After 1086 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
  • The account of Gilbert entering the monastic life. c.1091-c.1100 [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).
  • Cadwalla: Letter to Hildegard, Duchess of Anjou  1038  trans William North. PDF [At Carleton] [Internet Archive version here]
    Abbot Cadwalla asks the Duchess to grant assistance and safe, toll-free passage to a monk selling wine from the monastery’s vineyards in order to raise money for renovations.
  • Disputing and Dispute Resolution in Monastic Charters from the Vendômois, c. 1040-1118, trans. Richard Barton.
    14 documents from the Cartulaire de la Trinité de Vendôme with reference to monastic life, rural life, dispute resolution, duels.
  • The Deeds of the Sacrists of the Monastery of Bury St Edmunds,  trans. William North.PDF [At Carleton] [Internet Archive version here]
    Describes the holders of the office of sacrist at the monastery and their accomplishments from the mid-eleventh to the turn of the fourteenth century.
  • WEB e-chartae: Archives of St. Gallen Abbey [Internet Archive back up here]
    The legal and administrative records of the former Abbey of St. Gall from about 720 A.D. to its secularization in 1805. 
    
• Cluny
  • WEB Cluny Project. [At University of Muenster] [Internet Archive back up here]
  • Charter of Abbey of Cluny. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Odo
  • A charter of Abbess Ava granting the estate of Cluny to Duke William the Pious of Aquitaine. 893, November 9th:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of Adelaide of Burgundy granting the abbey of Romainmôtier to Cluny. 929, June 14th:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A royal diploma of Hugh of Arles in favour of the abbey of Cluny.934 [or maybe 933], March 8th:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A diploma of Louis IV granting land in the Mâconnais to Cluny. 946, July 1st:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A diploma of Louis IV granting land in the Lyonnais to Cluny.946, July 1st:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A diploma of Louis IV granting Charlieu to Cluny. 946, July 1st:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of Archbishop Manasses of Arles granting land to Cluny. 948, September:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of Stephen II of Clermont placing Sauxillanges under the authority of Cluny. 950, approximately: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of Sobbo surrendering Charlieu to the abbey of Cluny. 950, approximately: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A royal diploma of Louis IV confirming the authority of Cluny over Sauxillanges. 951, February 3rd: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of Charles Constantine of Vienne granting land to Cluny. 952, January:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of Stephen and his wife Ermentrude in favour of Cluny, confirmed afterwards at an assembly by Stephen II of Clermont and William Towhead of Poitiers.955, June:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • Odilo of Cluny (994-1049): Letter from Odilo to the Most August Emperor Henry (1046?) [At After Empire/St Andrews] [Internet Archive version here].
• Other Origins of Monastic Reform
  • A royal diploma of Louis the Child confirming the privileges of the abbey of Sankt Gallen. 903, June 24th:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A diploma of Louis IV endorsing William III of Poitiers’ reform of the abbey of Saint-Jean-d’Angély. 942, January 7th: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A diploma of Louis IV confirming the reformation of the abbey of Homblières. 949, October 1st:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A diploma of Louis IV confirming the reformation of the abbey of Saint-Martin d’Autun.949, November 10th [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of the nobleman Ragembald in favour of the abbey of Gorze. 958, or less likely 957:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A charter of Abbot Ermenfred of Gorze confirming the dues owed by the inhabitants of Bruoch. 984, August 17th: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  •  A charter describing how Odo, lord of Péronne, restored land to the abbey at Compiègne. 1091: [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
  • A forged charter of Odo II of Blois-Chartres-Tours granting income to the abbey of Notre-Dame de Château-Thierry. c. 1100:  [At Salutemmundo] [Internet Archive backup of index page here]
• The Cistercians
  • WEB Cistercian Order page at OSB.org.
  • Cistercian Order: Charta Caritatis. [At OSB.org] [Internet Archive version here].
  • William of St. Thierry: A Description of Clairvaux, c. 1143
  • Two Accounts of the Early Career of St. Bernard, c. 1150
    Contains excerpts from William of St. Thierry: Life of St. Bernard, c. 1140, and The Acta Sanctorum of Arnold of Bonneval & Geoffrey of Clairvaux, c. 1153
  • St Bernard of Clairaux (c.1090-1153): Sermons on the Song of Songs [At MIT] [Internet Archive version here].
• The Carthusians
• Other Orders
• Women's Monasticism
  • WEB Monastic Matrix [At St Andrews]
    A collection of resources for the study of women's religious communities, 500-1500. This includes a database of 1146 women's communities and a Documents page, with documents from women's communities at Laycock (13th century), San Sisto (13th century), Santa Francesca Romana (15th century).
  • Ancrene Wisse, In Middle English, with some Latin. [At Google Books]
    A collection of rules and advice for English nuns.
  • Rule of the Lady Hospitallers of the Royal Monastery of Sigena, 1188, in Latin, [At Internet Archive, from Kansas]
    The Royal Monastery of Sigena was an institution of Lady Hospitallers and enjoyed a great deal of independence and influence. It would appear that its Rule was the work of Sancha, Queen of Aragon.
  • Election of Avice as the first abbess of Malling. 7th March 1108 See Wikipedia: Malling Abbey [Manuscript, transcription, translation and introduction by Christopher Monk from the Textus Roffensis, online at Rochester Cathedral]. See also Wikipedia: Textus Roffensis (1122-1124).

• Franciscans
  • WEB The Franciscan Archive especially the Documents page
  • St. Francis (1182-1226): Testament.
  • St. Francis (1182-1226): Canticle of the Sun, in Italian and English, text document.
  • Rule of the Franciscan Order.
  • Honorius III: Bull Solet annuere, on the Rule of the Friars Minor, November 29, 1226. [At New Advent]
  • Thomas of Celano: Two Lives of St. Francis . See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Francis of Assisi and Catholic Encyclopedia: Thomas of Celano.
  • Brother Ugolino: The Little Flowers of St. Francis. Full text. [At CCEL]
  • Gregory IX: Bull Mira Circa Nos, July 16, 1228 [At New Advent]
    The Bull canonizing St. Francis of Assisi.
  • St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253): Letters to St. Agnes of Prague [At MIT] [Internet Archive version here] 
  • St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253): Testament, [At Liturgies.net] [Internet Archive version here]  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Clare of Assisi, Saint.
  • Nicholas III: Exiit qui seminat, Soriano, Italy: August 14, 1279, (With attached Latin Text). [At Francisan Archive]
    See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Nicholas III
    On the confirmation of the rule of the Friars Minor.
  • Clement V: Exivi de paradiso, May 6, 1312 with the Ecumenical Council of Vienne in session Latin Text available. [At Franciscan Archive]
    Declaration of the supreme Pontiff on the Rule of the Friars Minor.
  • A Partial Comparison of the Franciscan Constitutiones generales (1260–1325). (Chapters 1–3) [rev. 1.2] trans. by Jonathan Robinson PDF file [Toronto] [Internet Archive backup here]
• Dominicans
  • WEB Dominican Central: Tradition [Internet Archive backup here]
    Wonderfully useful website by the Domincan Order. This is a link to the the "histoyr" page.
  • Dominican Order: The Lives of the Brethren of the Order of Preachers, 1206-59 [At Dominican Central]
    • Part I: The Foundation of the Order of Preachers
    • Part II: The Legend of St. Dominic
    • Part III: The Legend of St. Dominic by Blessed Cecilia Cesarine, O.S.B.
    • Part IV: The Legend of the Blessed Jordan of Saxony
    • Part V: The Progress of the Order
    • Part VI: Departure of the Brethren out of this World
  • St. Dominic: Biographical Documents, edited with an Introduction By Francis C. Lehner, O.P. [At Dominican Central] 
    • Blessed Jordan - Libellus
    • Letters of St. Dominic
    • Bologna Canonization Process
    • Toulouse Canonization Process
    • Nine Ways of Prayer
    • Miracles of St. Dominic
    • Bull of Canonization
    • Prayer to St. Dominic
    • Bulls of Approbation
    • Jordan Of Saxony - Letter
    • Primitive Constitutions
  • Jordan of Saxony: Livret sur les orignes de l'Ordre des Prêcheurs [text file] d'après la traduction du frère Marie-Humbert Vicaire, o.p., parue dans l'ouvrage Saint Dominique et ses frères. Évangile ou croisade, coll. Chrétiens de tous les temps, n° 19, (Paris : éditions du Cerf, 1967). [In French] . See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Dominic.
  • St. Dominic's Nine Ways of Prayer. Illustrated.
  • See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Dominic.
  • 2ND Dominican Central: The Friars Preachers. Translation of article from the Dictionnaire de Spiritualité [At Dominican Central] 
• Other Mendicant Orders
  • Innocent IV: Bull Quae honorem conditoris omnium ["Whatever Is for the Honor of the Creator of All"], October 1, 1247. [At EWTN]. See also the version at Carmelites.net.
    On the prior and hermits of Mt. Carmel. The Bull includes the Carmelites' mitigated rule.
  • Thomas of Cantimpré': Defence of the Mendicants, copyrighted

• Cathedral Chapters
  • The Cathedral Chapter of Chartres: The Riot of 1210, trans. Richard Barton
    The circumstances of the Chartres Riot of 1210 described from the viewpoint of the Cathedral chapter. It provides clear insight into urban social tensions, and also sheds light on elements of liturgical procedure (particularly the liturgy of excommunication), on the cult of the Virgin, and on the increasing competency of the French crown in judicial matters.
  • Three Disputes involving the Cathedral Chapter of Notre-Dame of Chartres, 1215-1224
  • Henry III: Documents of the Church of Salisbury in the Early 13th Century,   trans. Richard Barton
  • The Register of Roger Martival, Bishop of Salisbury, 1315-1330,  trans. Richard Barton
    Texts from the Register of Roger Martivall, Bishop of Salisbury. The last one, in particular, is of interest, as it is concerned with criminous clerks and clerical status.
• Parish Pastoral Clergy
  • Amalarius of Metz: Prologue to his Antiphonary trans William North. PDF [At Carleton] [Internet Archive version here]
    Amalarius describes the origin and method of composition of his antiphonary.
  • Raoul Ardens: Preface to Sermon Collection (12th century) trans. William North .PDF [At Carleton] [Internet Archive version here]
    A brief text by the author explaining the circumstances behind his compiling his popular sermons in written form.
  • Regino of Prüm (early 10th century): Ordo for a Bishop's Visitation of his Diocese (Reginonis Prumiensis Libri Duo de Synodalibus Causis et Disicplinis Ecclesiasticis). [At After Empire] [Internet Archive version here]
    There's a high level of interest in sins related to sex, marriage, divorce and homosexuality.
  • Ulrich of Reims and Clergy: Diocesan Letter on the Matter of Church Thefts,  trans. William North.PDF [At Carleton] [Internet Archive version here]
    Describes the theft of liturgical equipment and personal items from the Basilica of Blessed Mary and pronounces an anathema and excommunication for the thieves.

• General
  • Caesarius of Heisterbach: Medieval Heresies, from Dialogue on Miracles, V.
    Discussion of Waldensians, Albigenses, and "intellectual heretics" at Paris.
  • Pope Innocent III (1198-1216): Sicut Ecclesiarum praelatis 1199, [Wikisource]
    Letter written by Pope Innocent III to the Bishop and the priests of Metz, condemning unauthorized preaching and translations of the Bible.
  • Pope Innocent III (1198-1216): Cum ex injuncto 1199, [Wikisource]
    Letter written by Pope Innocent III to the Bishop of Metz, condemning unauthorized preaching and translations of the Bible. This was in response to the Cathar and Waldensian heresies. The letter was later incorporated into canon law.
  • Pope Innocent III (1198-1216): Ea est in fovendis 1199, [Wikisource]
    Letter written to three Cistercian abbots in the Diocese of Metz, authorizing them to investigate unauthorized preaching and translations of the Bible because of the fear of heresy..
• Waldensians
  • Conversion of Peter Waldo. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Waldenses.
  • Reinarius Saccho: Of the Sects of Modern Heretics, on Waldensians, 1254. also available en castellano.
• Cathars
  • Anna Comnena: The Bogomils, c. 1110
    The Bogomils where the source of Catharism in the West.
  • Cathar Gospel: Book of John the Evangelist.
  • Cathar Rites: Traditio: Immersion in the Perfect Community, from the Lyons Ritual.
  • Cathar Rites: The Apparelhamentum,, from the Lyons Ritual.
  • Raynaldus: Annales: Accusations against Cathars, also available en castellano.
  • Bernard Gui: Inquisitor's Manual: Accusations against Cathars, also available en castellano
• The "Spiritual" Francisans
  The translations here are PDF files at Jonathan Robinson's website [Toronto] [Internet Archive backup here]
  There may ber later versions of each translation so check hat his homepage.
  • Bonagratia of Bergamo: A Tract on the Poverty of Christ and the Apostles   [rev. 1.3b]
  • Bonaventure of Bagnoregio: A Disputed Question on Evangelical Poverty as it Concerns Renunciation (De perfectione evangelica q. 2 a. 1 — De paupertate quoad abrenuntiationem)   [rev. 1.4a]
  • Bonaventure of Bagnoregio: A Disputed Question on Evangelical Poverty as it Concerns Mendicancy (De perfectione evangelica q. 2 a. 2 — De paupertate quoad mendicitatem)   [rev. 1.7a]
  • Declaration of the 'Community' Regarding the Matter of Poor Use (ca. 1309–1310; 'Circa materiam')   [rev. 1.0]
  • Michael of Cesena: The Shorter Appeal (Appellatio abbreviata, extracta de Appellatione prolixa)   [rev. 1.10a]
    This translation is based on Gál and Flood's edition (1996) of the Chronica by 'Nicholas the Minorite' (perhaps Nicholas of Freising)..
  • Peter (of John) Olivi:  On Poverty and Revenue (Quaestiones de perfectione evangelica, q. 16)   [rev. 1.1a]
  • Walter Chatton: 'Whether Christ Merited by Lacking All Lordship to Temporal Things' (Reportatio 3.16.un)   [rev. 1.1a]
  • William of Saint-Amour: [William of St-Amour et al.[?]], A List of Sententiae Taken from the Eternal Gospel by Professors of the University of Paris   [rev. 1.1]
  • William of Saint-Amour: A Disputed Question on the Quantity of Alms (De quantitate eleemosynae)   [rev. 1.3a]
  • William of Saint-Amour: A Disputed Question on Able-Bodied Begging (De valido mendicante)   [rev. 1.3a]
  • William of Saint-Amour: 'He Who Loves Danger...' (a sermon beginning 'Qui amat periculum')   [rev. 1.5a]
  • William of Saint-Amour: A Brief Tract on the Dangers of the Last Days (Tractatus brevis de periculis novissimorum temporum ex scripturis sumptus)   [rev. 2.0a]
  • Papal Bulls (all pertaining to the mendicant poverty controversy)
    • Pope Gregory IX: Quo elongati (Latin and English)   [rev. 1.1]
    • Pope Innocent IV: Ordinem vestrum (Latin and English)    [rev. 1.0]
    • Pope Innocent IV: Quanto studiosius (Latin and English)    [rev. 1.0]
    • Pope Martin IV: Exultantes in Domino (Latin and English)   [rev. 1.1]
    • Pope John XXII: Quia nonnunquam (Latin and English)    [rev. 1.4a]
    • Pope John XXII: Ad conditorem canonum (both versions, Latin and English)   [rev. 1.1e]
• The Inquisition
  • Fourth Lateran Council: Canon 63 - on Heretics.
  • Bernard Gui: Technique of Interrogations [1307-1323], also available en castellano; See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Inquisition.
  • Jacques Fornier: Inquisition Records - re: Beatrice de Planissoles, copyrighted
  • WEB  de Heresi: Documents of the Early Medieval Inquisition [Internet Archive backup here]
    De Heresi is home to the digital edition of MS 609 of the Bibliothèque municipale de Toulouse, the oldest extant original document from the first generation of inquisition (inquisitio heretice pravitatis, or “inquisition into heretical depravity”). This contains the registry of the so-called “Great Inquisition” of 1245-46, and features the statements from the interrogations of over 5,500 people from over 100 villages around Toulouse. De Heresi contains the digital edition of selections from other archives to help researchers understand more fully the social context of the people subject to the earliest heresy inquisitions.
  • Jacques Fournier, Bishop of Pamiers 1318-1325: The Inquisition Record. [Was At SJSU, now Internet Archive] English translation by Nancy P. Stork of selected confessions by Cathar heretics and Jews to Bishop Jacques Fournier and the Inquisition at Pamiers.
  • Agnes Francou (member of the sect of the Poor of Lyons)
  • Arnaud Gélis (drunkard and prognosticator)
  • Barthélemy Amilhac (priest and husband of Béatrice de Planissoles)
  • Baruch (Jew baptized under threat of death)
  • Béatrice de Planissoles (noblewoman)
  • Grazide Lizier (widow and priest's concubine)
  • Guillemette Battegay (widow)
  • Jacqueline den Carot (scoffer)
  • Navarre Bru (widow)
  • David Burr: Introduction to Inquistion Documents.
  • Bernard Gui: Inquisitor's Manual [1307-1323] .
  • Angelo Clareno, a spiritual Franciscan: On Torture, early 14th Cent..
  • The Case of Na Prous, a beguine, 1325.
  • Petrus Iohannes Olivi (1247/8-1298): Selections from the Apocalypse Commentary.
  • The Index of Codex Casanatensis, ms. 1730 © Introduction, translation and notes by Geoffrey W. Clement [PDF version available]
    Franciscan Inquisitors in Tuscany, early 14th Century.
• Lollardy
  • WEB The Lollard Society; Bibliography of Primary Sources
    Detailed list for Lollard, Wycliff and Hus studies. Links to online text where available.
  • John Wycliffe (1324-1384): On the Sacrament of Communion [Excerpt from Trialogus]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Utraquism.
  • The Condemnation of Wycliffe, 1382 and Wycliffe's Reply, 1384. Also includes John Wycliffe (1324-1384): Condemned Propositions 1382
    See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Lollards.
• Hussites
  • Jan Hus (1372/73-1415): Final Declaration, July 1, 1415
  • Petr Chelčický (c.1390-c.1460: The Net of Faith - Book I: The Corruption of the Church, Caused by Its Fusion and Confusion with Temporal Power 1443, trans Enrico C. S. Molnár (1947) PDF [Internet Archive]

• Attitudes
  • Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085): Hujusmodi salutationis nostrae 1080, [Wikisource]
    Letter written by Pope Gregory VII to Vratislaus II of Bohemia refusing to authorize the use of Old Church Slavonic in the Bohemian church.
  • Lothario dei Segni (Pope Innocent III) (c.1160-1216): On the Misery of the Human Condition, excerpts [At HistoryMuse] [Internet Archive version here]
  • Lothario dei Segni (Pope Innocent III) (c.1160-1216): On the Misery of the Human Condition, full text PDF [At Isidore] [Internet Archive version here]
• Liturgy
  • The Burnet Psalter Online. A fifteenth-century manuscript (Aberdeen University Library MS 25) [Internet Archive backup here]
• Mysticism
  • St Bernard of Clairaux (c.1090-1153): Sermons on the Song of Songs [At MIT] [Internet Archive version here].
  • Meister Eckhart (c.1260-c1327): Sermons, full text [Wikisource]
  • The Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena [CCEL]
• The Life of Christ
  • Innocent III: Sermon on the Resurrection of the Lord.
  • Thomas à Kempis (c.1380-1471): The Imitation of Christ, full text [At CCEL]
  • Thomas à Kempis (c.1380-1471): The Imitation of Christ, translated by  William Benham [At Project Gutenberg]
• The Cultus of the Virgin Mary
  • Jerome: Against Helvidius: On the Perpetual Virginity of the Virgin Mary. [At CCEL]
  • Sermon Stories: Tales of The Virgin, 12th-13th Century. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary.
  • Hymn to Virgin, c.1300 [At Bartleby]
  • Conrad of Saxony: Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary, [Full text], often ascribed to St. Bonaventure, but now considered the work of Conrad by many scholars. [At Intratext] [Internet Archive version here]
• Saints and Relics
  • See the Medieval Sourcebook: Saints' Lives Page
  • Bernard of Angers: Miracles of St. Foy, copyrighted
  • Gregory of Tours (539-594): Eight Books of Miracles, Selections.
  • Letaldus of Micy: Journey of the Relics of St. Junianus, including a description of the Peace Council of Charroux in 989. Trans. by Thomas Head
  • Leyenda de Santiago (translated by William Granger Ryan).[Was At UCLA now Internet Archive]
  • Andrew of Fleury: Miracles of St. Benedict. Trans. by Thomas Head
    A description of the Peace League of Bourges and its campaign in 1038.
  • Ademar of Chabanne: Chronicle: Discovery of the Head of John the Baptist, 1016. Trans. by Thomas Head
  • Anonymous:  Life of St. Gregory of Nicopolis. Excerpts on his burial, Early 11th Cent. Trans. by Thomas Head
  • Peter Damian: Life of Romuald. Excerpts on the relics of a hermit. Late 11th Cent. Trans. by Thomas Head
  • Anonymous: A Miracle of St. Maximinus, c. 1050-75. Trans. by Thomas Head
    Description of the pilgrimage and miraculous cure of a single individual.
  • Hugh of Fleury: Life, Translation, and Miracles of St. Sacerdos: Prologue, Trans. by Thomas Head
    Discussing his methodology as a hagiographer and historian reconstructing the life of a long dead saint.
  • Sermon Stories: Tales of Relics, 12th-13th Century.
  • Invention of the Relics of St. Benedict, (7th century?)
  • Amulo of Lyon: Letter on the Misuse of Relics in Dijon. mid-9th Century. Trans. by Thomas Head
  • Claudius of Turin: Apology: An Attack on Veneration of Relics. 8-9th Cent. Trans. by Thomas Head
  • Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): On the Relics of the Saints: Book I, Trans. by Thomas Head
  • Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): from Treatise on Relics.
  • Knud Laward (MS  Kiel University S.H. 8A 8o) (12/13th Century): The Fable of the Monk and the Bird
  • Stephen de Bourbon: De Supersticione: On St Guinefort,
    The basis of the film The Sorceress about a sainted dog. Based on the tradition of St. Christopher as being "dog-faced".
  • The Translation of Saint Nicholas [Greek Anonymous], 13th Century MS.
    The story of the sacred theft of the relics of St. Nicholas from Myra in 1087.
• Pilgrimage
  • The Itinerary of the Anonymous Pilgrim of Bordeaux (Itinerarium Burdigalense) - 333 A.D. [At Christus Rex, now Wayback Machine]
  • Egeria: Description of the Liturgical Year in Jerusalem: Translation [At Oxford]
  • Egeria: Travelogue, Translated by M.L. McClure, The Pilgrimage of Etheria, (New York, 1915) [At Yale, now Web Archive]
  • Daniel (1106-1107): The Pilgrimage of the Russian Abbot Daniel in the Holy Land, 1106-1107 A.D., annotated by Sir C. W.Wislon (London, 1895) [At Holy Fire]
  • Anonymous:  Guide-book to Palestine. (c. 1350). Translated by. J. H. Barnard. London: Palestine Pilgrims’ Text Society, 1894.  [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado, now Web Archive]
  • Margery Kempe (1413-1415): Book of Margery Kempe. (Text--Butler-Bowden translation of Chapter 26-34, 37-41)[At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
  • John Poloner (1422): Description of the Holy Land (c. 1421), based on the translation of Aubrey Stewart from the Tobler text. London, 1894. [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado, now Web Archive]
  • Felix Fabri (1480 & 1483-84): The Book of the Wanderings of Felix Fabri (Circa 1480-1483 A.D.) trans. Aubrey Stewart. 2 vols. London: Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society, 1896 [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado, now Internet Archive]
  • Pietro Casola (1494): Canon Pietro Casola's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the Year 1494. trans. Mary Margaret Newett. Manchester: The University Press, 1907. [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado, now Internet Archive]
  • Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400): Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, text file in original language.
    The stories revolve around a pilgrimage to Canterbury.
  • Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400): Canterbury Tales: The Prologue [Parallel Texts] , [uses Tables], (c.1380)
  • Spill: A Fictional Pilgrimage from Valencia to Santiago in the Fifteenth Century, From the Spill or Book of Women by the fifteenth-century Valencian medical doctor, Jaume Roig. [At UCLA, now Web Archive]
• The Sacramental System
  • The Administration of Baptism and Penance, from Selected Statutes of Aberdeen Diocese, c 1240-1250.
  • The Seven Sacraments: Catholic Doctrinal Documents.
    Excerpts from the Profession of Faith of Michael Paleologus (1274), and the Decree for the Armenians (1439).
  • The Eucharist
    • Caesarius of Heisterbach: The Eucharist as A Charm (from Dialogus Miraculorum), (written c.1220-1235).
    • The Sarum Missal: Easter Sunday Mass.
    • Sermon Stories: Tales of The Host, 12th-13th Century.
  • Penance
    • WEB Anglo-Saxon Penitentials: A Cultural Database [Allen Frantzen]
    • John the Faster (?) (d. 595): Penitential
    • Theodore: Penitential, copyrighted?
    • Caesarius of Heisterbach: Confession, Ordeal and Miracle (from Dialogus Miraculorum), (written c.1220-1235).
    • Sermon Stories: Tales of Confession, 12th-13th Century. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Attrition, Catholic Encyclopedia: Indulgences, Catholic Encyclopedia: Apostolic Indulgences, and Catholic Encyclopedia: Purgatory
    • Peter Lombard: On Penance (Sentences 4 D. 14 cc. 74(1)–78(5))   [rev. 1.3] trans. by Jonathan Robinson PDF file [Toronto] [Internet Archive backup here]
  • Confirmation
    • Eadmer: A Confirmation Scene from The Life of Anselm (12th century). See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Eadmer and Catholic Encyclopedia: Confirmation.
  • Heaven, Hell and In Between
    • Benedict XII: Constitution Benedictus Deus, 1336. [At EWTN]
      On the Beatific Vision of God.
    Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510): Treatise on Purgatory [At EWTN], Full text.
• Aspects of Popular Beliefs
  • Sermon Stories: Tales of the Devil, 12th-13th Century.
  • Johann Busch: Reading in the Vernacular, (b. 1399).
  • John of Ruysbroeck (1293-1381): The Adornment of Spiritual Marriage, full text. [At CCEL]

NOTES: copyrighted means the text is not available for free distribution. Links to files at other site are indicated by [At some indication of the site name or location]. No indication means that the text file is local. WEB  indicates a link to one of small number of high quality web sites which provide either more texts or an especially valuable overview.

The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of  Fordham University, New York. The Internet Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at the Fordham University Center for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University.   Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.

© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 20 Oct 2025 [CV]