ORB Main Page | Links to Other Medieval Sites | Medieval Studies Course [Halsall]
Halsall Home | Ancient History Sourcebook | Modern History Sourcebook | Byzantine Studies Page
Other History Sourcebooks: African | East Asian | Indian | Islamic | Jewish | Women's | Global | Science

Main Page | Full Texts | Saint's Lives

Paul Halsall, ORB sources editor

The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is now part of 
ORB, the Online Reference Book 
for Medieval Studies.

Since January 20, 1996, this page has been accessed  times
note - this counter is approximate since it only records graphical hits

Last Modified: October 8, 1998   

Guide to Contents

The structure of this section of the Sourcebook is as follows. You can browse through the entire list, or jump directly to the part that interests you by selecting the underlined links.

• Main Page will take you back to Sourcebook main page.
• Full Texts  will take you to the index of full text medieval sources.
• Saint's Lives will take you to the page on hagiography.
• Medieval Legal History will take you to the page on the history of law.
• New Accessions Page will take you back to a file of Sourcebook contents organized by date of addition (so you can see what is new).
• Search the Sourcebook will enable searches of the full texts of all the source texts at Fordham, at ORB, or selected ancient, late antique, and medieval text databases.

Selected Readings In Medieval History

Studying History

• Using Primary Sources

The End of the Classical World

• Pagan Late Antiquity
• Christian Late Antiquity
• The German Impact

Byzantium

• General
• Justinian
• After Justinian
• Iconoclasm
• Byzantium - The Imperial Centuries (843-1204)
• Byzantine Religion
• The Byzantine Commonwealth
• The Byzantine Commonwealth: Russia

Islam

• Muhammad and Foundations - to 632 CE
• Islamic Expansion and Empire - to 750 CE
• Later Islamic History

The Formation of Latin Christendom

• The Roman Church
• Monasticism to A.D. 900
• The Conversion of Europe
• The Celtic World
• The Carolingian Essor
• Feudalism?

The Flowering of Latin Christendom

• The Western Recovery
• The Commercial Revolution
• Western Monasticism after A.D. 900
• Empire and Papacy - Investiture Controversy
• Crusades
• 12th Century Thought
• Western European Literature
• Empire and Papacy- Barbarossa to Innocent III
• The Holy Roman Empire - Frederick II and After
• Italy
• England
• Parlimentary Origins in England
• Scotland
• Ireland
• The Rise of France
• Spain and Portugal

Medieval Life and Thought

• 13th-14th Century Scholars and Scholasticism
• Criticism of Society - Heresy and Mendicancy
• Law - and Practice
• Rural Life
• Medieval Jewish Life
• Christian Spirituality
• Women's Roles
• Men's Roles
• Constructions of Sex and Gender
• Marriage

The Late Middle Ages

• The Papacy Overreaches
• The Calamitous 14th-Century
• Late Medieval Government
• Conciliarism
• Medieval People - Reflected in Literature

Transformations

• Italian Renaissance
• Reformation and Catholic Reformation
• Expansion Overseas

 

NOTES:  copyrighted means the text  is not available for free distribution. In some cases alternate versions are available, and are working through the pipeline. The old available [date] tags have been removed. Dates of accession of material can be seen in the New Accessions Page. The date of inception was 1/20/1996. 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. available soon means the text is public domain, or copy permitted, I have copy which is in need of HTMLing or editing, and it will be available here soon. WEB indicates a link to one of small number of high quality web sites which provide either more texts or an especially valuable overview.

---

---

Studying History

USING PRIMARY SOURCES

• Why Study History Through Primary Sources.
• How to Read A Primary Source. [At Bowdoin College]
• Using Primary Sources. [At Northpark]
• Medieval Paleography, with sample texts, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]
• Early Modern Paleography, with sample texts, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

The End of the Classical World

PAGAN LATE ANTIQUITY

• WEB Ancient History Sourcebook
• WEB Late Antiquity in the Mediterranean


LATE ANTIQUE GOVERNMENT AND CULTURE

• [Tierney 2, Geary 1] The Theodosian Code, copyrighted
• [Tierney 3] Salvian: The Burden of Taxation, c. 440. [Diff. trans than Tierney]
• [Tierney 4] Sidonius Apollinaris: "Country House Life in Gaul" and "A Visigothic King".
• Palladius: On Husbandry, c. 350
• Philostratus: Life of Apollonius of Tyana, c. 220 CE. [At Magna.com.au]
• Porphyry: Against the Christians.
• Julian ("the Apostate") (b.332-r.361-d.363): Letter to Arsacius, c. 360. [At Northpark]
• [Geary 2] Martianius Capella: The Marriage of Philology and Mercuy, copyrighted
• The Zoroastrian Creed. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: The Avesta See also Catholic Encyclopedia: The Avesta - Theological Aspects

THE "FALL" OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

• Jordanes (fl.c.550 CE): History of the Goths Chap. 20: The Devastation of the Goths in the Reign of Gallienus, 260-268
• [Tierney 1] Ammianus Marcellinus (c.330-395 CE): History, XIV.16: The Luxury of the Rich in Rome, c. 400 [Different version than Tierney's]
• Rutilius Numantius: On His Return, I.xi.47, The Greatness of Rome in the Days of Ruin, 413
• Ammianus Marcellinus (330-395 CE): The Battle of Adrianople 378 CE. [At Hillsdale]
• Edward Gibbon: On the Fall of the Roman Empire.. Not exactly a source, but Gibbon's views are very commonly discussed in class.



Jump Back to Contents 

CHRISTIAN LATE ANTIQUITY

EARLY CHRISTIANITY AFTER 100

• WEB Ancient History Sourcebook for extensive texts on Christian origins.
• Pliny the Younger: Letter on the Christians.
• Justin Martyr: Second Apology [Dialogue with Trypho] , complete - but a very large file.

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

• The Martyrdom of Polycarp, 2nd Century, [At Penn]
• The Persecution & Martyrdoms of Lyons in 177 A.D.: The Letter of the Churches of Vienna and Lyons to the Churches of Asia and Phrygia including the story of the Blessed Blandina.[At Christian History Institute]
• [Geary 4] Perpetua: The Passion of SS. Perpetua and Felicity, 203. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Sts. Felicitas and Perpetua; and Peter Dronke's Discussion of Perpetua [At Millersville]
• Perpetua: The Passion of SS. Perpetua and Felicity, 203, excerpts.
• Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History: The Martyrdom of St. Domnina and Her Daughters.
• The Passion of The Scillitan Martyrs.
• The Passion of Sergius and Bacchus, full text of early passion.
• Deeds of Zenophilus: How the Romans Tried to Seize Christian Books, c. 395
• Diocletian: Edicts of Persecution.

THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH

• [Tierney 6.1] Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History: conversion of Constantine. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Labarum (Chi-Rho)
• [Tierney 7.1] Edit of Galerius and the "Edict of Milan", 311/313.
• Constantine I: Laws for Christians.
• Constantine I: On the Keeping of Easter.
• Jews and the Later Roman Law 315-531
  Laws by Constantine the Great, Constantius (337-361), Theodosius II (408-410), and Justinian (527-565).
• Julian and the Jews, 361-363
  From Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History written about 443-450
• Legislation Affecting the Jews, 300 to 800 CE
  Index to Roman, Western and canonical laws
• Prayers for Making a Synagogue into a Church, in Latin.
  From the Liber Sacramentorum Romanae Ecclesiae

EARLY DOGMATIC DISPUTES/PERSECUTION BY CHRISTIANS

• End of Paganism
  • Theodosian Code XVI.i.2: Banning of Other Religions, 379-395.
  • Theodosian Code: On Religion
  • Zosimus: Historia Nova. [At Northpark]
    On the ending of Paganism.
  • Mark the Deacon: Life of Porphyry of Gaza, 5th Century, [full text].
    A fascinating account of the Christian destruction of Paganism in Gaza.
  • Socrates Scholasticus: The Murder of Hypatia.
    A leading female philosopher, Hypatia was murdered by a Christian mob in Alexandria, urged on by St. Cyril.   See also The Hypatia Page. Three historical version's of Hypatia's murder are available, and useful for comparative purposes:
    • Damascius: The Life of Hypatia, from the Life of Isidore, reproduced in The Suda. [At cosmopolis.com]
    • Socrates Scholasticus: The Life of Hypatia, [At cosmopolis.com]
    • John of Nikiu: The Life of Hypatia. [At cosmopolis.com]
• Disputes over the Trinity: Arianism
  • [Tierney 5] The Nicene Creed. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Nicene Creed
  • [Tierney 13] Canons of the Council of Nicea, 325. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Arianism
  • Alexander: Deposition of Arius, [At CCEL].
  • Athanasius of Alexandria: Apologia Contra Arianos.[At CCEL]
• Disputes over Christology: Nestorianism and Monophysitism
  • Justinian: Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]

THE WORLD OF THE CHURCH FATHERS

• WEB Christian Classics Etherial Library
  For many theological works, including entire contents of the Ante-Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers series,
• WEB New Advent Fathes of the Church
  Another online version of the Ante-Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers series.
• WEB St. Pachomius Library: Global Index, for listing of Orthodox documents online.
• Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-d.c.395): Life of Macrina, trans. W.K. Lowther Clarke.
  One of the most important lives of a female saint. This is an account of Gregory's strongminded sister, Macrina (c.327-379)
• [Tierney 6.1] Augustine of Hippo (354-430): Confessions: His Conversion.
  See James O'Donnell's Augustine Page
• [Tierney 7.2] Dispute Between Symmachus and Ambrose.
• [Tierney 7.2] Ambrose of Milan (c.340-397): Ambrose: Letter to Valentian II, 386, defending the autonomy of the Church.
• [Tierney 7.2] Ambrose of Milan (c.340-397): Ambrose: Letter to Theodosius, 390, rebuke for massacre.
• Ambrose of Milan (c.340-397): Selected Letters, [At Calgary]
• Theodoret (c.393-466): St. Ambrose Humiliates Theodosius the Great, from Ecclesiastical History, V.17-18
• [Geary 3.1] Augustine of Hippo (354-430): On Christian Doctrine, available soon, The full text is available now (from CCEL)
• [Tierney 7.3, Geary 3.2]] Augustine of Hippo (354-430): City of God, excerpts. The full text of the City of God is available in text, gzip, or html formats
• Augustine of Hippo (354-430): The City of God: excerpts on the Two Cities
• Quicunque Vult, or The Creed of St. Athanasius
  Reflects a Latin view of Trinitarian Doctrine.
• Council of Orange 529
  The canons of this council attacked the "semi-Pelagians", and supported Augustine's position on grace and freewill.

CHRISTIANITY AND CLASSICAL LEARNING

• Origen (185?-254?): On Classical Learning . See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Origen and Origenism
• Tertullian (c.155/160-after 220): On Pagan Learning, c. 220 CE
  On the distinction between "Athens" and "Jerusalem".
• [Tierney 8] Jerome (374-419/20): On Classical Literature. Note - the full text of these, and others of Jerome's letters is available in HTML as NPNF - Volume VI -- St. Jerome: Letters and Select Works. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Latin Literature in Early Christianity
• Boethius (c.480-524): Consolation of Philosophy. [translation by R. Hooker]. A full text in Latin and English, is available. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Boethius
• Cassiodorus (490-c.585): On Classical Learning.



Jump Back to Contents 

THE GERMAN IMPACT

EARLY GERMANS

• Julius Caesar: The Germans, c. 51 BCE
• [Tierney 9, Geary 5] Tacitus: Germania,   trans. J. Church and W. J. Brodribb.
• Tacitus: Germania, trans. Thomas Gordon, full text,  Also available in Latin.
• Tacitus: Germania, shorter excerpts.
• Priscus: On the Palace of Attila the Hun, 448.
• Priscus: On the Palace of Attila the Hun, 448, Trans J.B. Bury. Extended version of above text. A Hyperlinked Version is also available [At Calgary]
• Jordanes: An Account of the Person of Attila
• Jordanes (fl.c.550 CE): History of the Goths: Chap. 38: The Battle of Chalôns, 451
  The defeat of Attila.
• Pope Leo I and Attila: Two Accounts, 452.
• [Geary 7] Hildebrandlied, copyrighted

GERMAN CONQUEST OF BRITAIN

• Gildas: The Ruin of Britain, c. 540.
• Nennius: History of the Britons, 8th cent. on King Arthur.
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Translation: J. Ingram, OMACL Text 17. A Zipped file is also available.

ROMANIZED GOTHS

• Project Wulfila, The Gothic Bible online. [At rug.ac.be]
• Auxentius on Wulfila: Translation, [At Upenn], Also available in Latin.
• [Geary 6] Jordanes: History of the Goths, full text [At Calgary]

OSTROGOTHS

• [Tierney 10] Theodoric (r.493-526): Selected Letters.
• Jordanes: Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths

VISIGOTHS

• Sidonius Apollinaris: Theodoric of the Visigoths, c. 460 
• Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, Visigothic and Byzantine
• The Jews of Spain and the Visigothic Code, 654-681  

FRANKS

• [Geary 8] Tomb of Childeric, modern archeological report, copyrighted
• [Tierney 11, Geary 11] Gregory of Tours (539-594): On Clovis and the Vase at Soissons, from History of the Franks, Book II. These are different selections than in Tierney. Geary has much longer selection from Books II and IX, from a copyrighted translation, but see next item. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: The Franks
• The Conversion of Clovis: Two Accounts, 496
  by The Chronicle of St. Denis, and Gregory of Tours.
• Gregory of Tours (539-594): The Conversion of Clovis, from History of the Franks, Book II..
• Gregory of Tours (539-594): History of the Franks, 6th century.
  Complete text of Earnest Brehaut's 1916 abridged translation.
• [Geary 10] Remigius of Reims and Avitus: Letters to Clovis, copyrighted
• Gregory of Tours (539-594): Life of St. Gall, from Lives of the Fathers, (539-594).
• [Tierney 14, Geary 9] Law of the Salian Franks
• Dado of Rouen: The Life of Eligius , 588-660 CE, trans, Jo Ann McNamara.

GERMANIC CULTURE

• [Tierney 15] Formulas Concerning Ordeals.
• Ordeal of Boiling Water, 12th or 13th Century.
• The Story of Burnt Njal ("Njal's Saga"), OMACL full text. See Medieval Sourcebook: Full Texts Page for more sagas.



Jump Back to Contents 

Byzantium

BYZANTIUM - GENERAL

• Sozomen (d. c. 450 CE): Constantine Founds Constantinople, 324, from Ecclesiastical History 2.3
• Paul of Aigina: The Epitome, excerpts. [a medical text]
• A Byzantine Mathematics Textbook, 888: [Page image]
  With Euclidean theorems.
• The Suda: Entries on Grammarians, Rhetoricians ands Sophists, [At Leeds]
  The Suda was a Byzantine "encyclopedia".
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Greek Christian Poetry. [At St. Pachomius Library]
  A collection of translations, including poems by: Clement of Alexandria, Gregory Nazianzen, Amphilochius of Iconium, Synesius of Cyrene, Paul Silentiarius, George Pisidia, John Damascene, Simeon Metaphrastes, John Maurpous of Euchaita, Theodore Prodromus, John Tzetzes, Manuel Philes, and Maximus Margunius.
• Legislation Affecting the Jews, 300 to 800 CE
  Index to Roman, Western and canonical laws
• Byzantine Homosexuality texts are available at the People With a History site
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

JUSTINIAN (b.483- r.527-d.565)

• [Tierney 22.1] Procopius: Justinian, from Buildings.
• Procopius: Description of Hagia Sophia from De Aedificiis. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Byzantine Architecture
• Paul the Silentiary: Description of Hagia Sophia from Descriptio S. Sophiae .
• [Tierney 22.2] Procopius: On Justinian. , from Secret History. The full text of the Secret History is also available.
• Procopius: On the Racing Factions, from On the Wars .
• Procopius: Procopius: On the Nika Revolt, from The Wars .
• Theophanes: On the Racing Factions, from ths Chronicle. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Theophanes
• Procopius: The Reconquest of Africa, 534, from On the Wars IV:9.
  A description of Belisarius' triumph, with Gelimer, King of the Vandal's in tow.
• Procopius: The Roman Silk Industry, c. 550, from On the Wars
• Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
  Justinian's "dialogue" with a Nestorian.
• The Corpus Juris Civilis
  • [Tierney 12] Corpus Iuris Civilis [selections]
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, 535, very extensive selections, in English.
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, Books 1-IV, [in Latin][At GMU]
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Digest: D. 1.1.1 Ulp 1 inst. [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Roman Law Texts [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
    A selection of medium length excerpts from, among others, the Corpus Iuris Civilis
  • Corpus Iuris Civilis: The Digest and Codex on Marriage
  • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Return of Fugitive Slaves & Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xii.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Application of Patria Potestas to the Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xiii]
  • Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freemen and Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxii.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Coloni Bound to the Soil, c. 530 [Xl.51.i]
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 137: Regulating Church Ritual.
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel 141, [544 CE], [At PWH]
    Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality.
  • Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novella 146: On Jews
    
    
    Jump Back to Contents 

AFTER JUSTINIAN

• John of Nikiu: On the Factions in Egypt.
• Antiochus Strategos: The Sack of Jerusalem, 614.
  An account of the Persian conquest. Also an example of Byzantine Antisemitism, and a version of the Blood libel.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

ICONOCLASM

• John of Damascus: In Defence of Icons, c 730, extracts from On the Holy Icons and the Fount of Wisdom. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: John Damascene, Saint, Catholic Encyclopedia: Iconoclasm, and Catholic Encyclopedia: Veneration of Images.
• Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754.
• Second Council of Nicea: Decree on Icons, 787.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

BYZANTINE IMPERIAL CENTURIES (843-1204)

• The Farmer's Law, 7-8th Century.
• Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963. full text
• Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
• An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century).
• Theodoros Skoutariotes: The Emperors of the 11th Century, from the Synopsis Chronika.
• Anna Comnena: The Alexiad, Books 10 and 11.
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Anna Comnena for somewhat dismissive comments.
• The Great Fair at Thessalonica, mid 12th Cent.
• Geoffry de Villehardouin: Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople. full text
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

BYZANTINE RELIGION

• WEB St. Pachomius Library: Global Index, for listing of Orthodox documents online.
  

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATION

• Theodore Balsamon: On the Powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople, end 12th Century.
• Patriarch Anthony: Defending the Position of the Emperor, 1395.

THEOLOGY

• WEB Ephrem the Syrian (early 4th cent--373): Writings Extant only in Greek. [At Anastasis]
  New texts are always being added to the Anastasis website.
  • Fifty Five Beatitudes
  • Three Short Discourses
  • Sermon on the Fathers who have completed their course
  • Sermon in Heptasyllabics
• John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Easter Sermon. See also St. John of Antioch: the Golden Mouth [At OP.ORG]
• John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies Against the Jews
• Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, Visgothic and Byzantine
• Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (2nd half 5th century): Letters [At St. Pachomius]
  See Catholic Encyclopedia: Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite
• Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
  Justinian's "dialogue" with a Nestorian.
• Mar Narsai (5th-6th Cent.): An Exposition of The Mysteries. [At Aldawood]
• Peter Moghila of Kiev: Orthodox Confession of the Faith, 17th century, [At UMD]
  Perhaps the most Western "Orthodox" confession ever written

SPIRITUALITY

• John Moschos: An Angel Story from the Spiritual Meadow .
• John Klimakos: On Talkativeness, from the Ladder of Ascent. [At Gregory Palamas Page]
• Theodore of Studium (d.826): Twenty-Seventh Discourse.
• Theodore of Studium (d.826): Sixty First Discourse.
• Theodore of Studium (d.826): Catechesis on the Nativity, [Catechesis 32]. [At Anastasis]
• Theodore of Studium (d.826): Selected Poems, with the Letter to Casia.
• Theodore of Studium (d.826): Reform Rules. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Studion
• Theodore of Studium (d.826): Two Letters from Exile [Letters Book II: 38 and 156]. [At Anastasis]
• Hesychasm: Selected Readings
• Gregory Palamas: On the Dormition of the Virgin Mary .
• Gregory Palamas: On Unceasing Prayer, from the Life of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Salonica, Wonderworker (this is taken from the comments of St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, editor of the Philokalia). [At Palamas Page]
• The Philokalia: On the Prayer of the Heart. [At Digiserve.com]
  The Philokalia is an 18th-centiry compilation of much earlier texts on Orthodox prayer.
• St. Arsenios of Cappodocia: Blessing Psalter, 20th cent.

SANCTITY

• Palladius: The Lausiac History [extended excerpts]
  Includes lives of a number of saintly women.
• Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-d.c.395): Life of Macrina, trans. W.K. Lowther Clarke [full text].
  One of the most important lives of a female saint. This is an account of Gregory's strongminded sister, Macrina (c.327-379)
• The Life of Daniel the Stylite [Full text], the fifth-century saint who spent 33 years on a pillar in Constantinople. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Stylites.
• Life of Matrona of Perge, d.c. 510-515, trans Khalifa Ben Nasser, [full text of Metaphrastic Life: selections from Vita Prima].
  An example of a "transvestite" saint who was also a historical figure.
• The Life of Theodore of Sykeon, Full text.
  This Life of seventh-century saint is a major source for Byzantine rural and social history, as well as about the cult of saints.
• Leontius of Neapolis (7th Century): The Life of John the Almsgiver [Full text].
• Life of Mary the Younger, d.c. 903, trans Paul Halsall, [First five chapters, and concluding prayer].
• The Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos, full text in Greek [Unicode]
• Gregory of Constantinople: Life of St. Romylos, A 14th Century Hesychast saint. [full permission pending]

LITURGY

• The Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom as used in Orthodox Churches.
• Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom , in form used by Eastern Catholic churches. [At UMD]
• The Liturgy of the Assyrian Rite.
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Assyrian Rite
• The Akathistos Hymn.
• The Lenten Triodion. Full English text of Byzantine Lenten services.
• The Lenten Triodion. Alternative off site link. [At OCF]
• Orthodox Prayers. [At OCF]
• The Ecloga on Sexual Crimes, 8th Cent.
• The Contract of Marriage, in the Ecloga of Leo III, 726.
• Two Versions of the Rite of Adelphopoiia.

HERESY AND DISSENT

• Anna Comnena: The Bogomils, c. 1110
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

THE BYZANTINE COMMONWEALTH

• Armenian/Georgian Historical Resources Site,
  Various full text translations by Robert Bedrosian.
• Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Letopis' Popa Dukljanina), Partial Translation by Paul Stephenson [At Oxford]
  "Also known as the Bar Genealogy, was originally composed in Slavonic in the late twelfth century, but has been preserved only in a sixteenth-century Latin translation. It was probably the work of Grgur (Gregory), bishop of Bar from 1172 to c. 1196, who championed the rights of the bishopric of Bar to preside over all the lands south of the river Cetina. A Major source for the Balkan history of the period."
• Snorri Sturlson: Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway. [OMACL Text], [Contains inter alia, King Harold's Saga]
• Description of the Tartars [Mongols], 13th century.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

THE BYZANTINE COMMONWEALTH: RUSSIA

• The Chronicle of Nestor.
• The Chronicle of Novgorod.
• Privileges Granted to German Merchants at Novgorod, 1229
• Russian Primary Chronicle: Ruskaia Pravda. [At Univ.Durham]
  An early Law code
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Founding of the City of Kiev. [At Univ.Durham]
• Nestor: The Martyrdom of Boris and Gleb, d. 1015. [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Christianisation of Russia, 988. [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Varangians (Normans). [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: Prince Oleg's Campaign Against Constantinople. [At Univ.Durham]
• Metropolitan Hilarion: Sermon on Law and Grace. [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Testament of Vladimir Monomakh. [At Univ.Durham]
• The Lay of Igor's Raid. [At Univ.Durham]
• Life of Sergius of Radonezh, (c.1314-1392). [At Durham]
• Filofei: Moscow as the Third Rome. [At Univ.Durham]
• Prince Andrew Kurbskii: First Epistle Written to the Tsar and Grand Prince of Moscow in Consequence of His Fierce Persecution . [At Univ.Durham]
• The Domostroi: How to Educate Children and Bring Them Up In the Fear of God, excerpts, mid-16th century. [At Univ.Durham]
• The Code of Law of 1649 (Ulozhenie), excerpts. [At Univ.Durham]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

Islam

• WEB Islamic History Sourcebook

MUHAMMAD AND FOUNDATIONS - TO 632 CE

• Ancient Accounts of Arabia
  Accounts from Herodotus, Strabo, Dio Cassius, Ammianus Marcellinus, and Procopius.
• Pre-Islamic Arabia: The Hanged Poems, before 622 CE
  The Pre-Islamic poems of Imru-Ul-Quais, Antar, and Zuhair which Muhammad allowed to remain hanging in the Ka'aba.
• Ibn Ishaq (d. c. 773 CE): Selections from the Life of Muhammad
• [Tierney 23] The Qu'ran: Surahs 1 and 47. For full text, see full texts page. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Koran and Catholic Encyclopedia: Islam (Concept)
• The Qu'ran: Al-Fatiha (The Opening), text with RealAudio chanting. [At Islam.org]
  The entire Qu'ran is available in audio at this site.
• The Qur'an: The Women: From Surah's 2 and 4, [At CCNY]
• Muhammad: Last Sermon.
• The Sunnah, (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad), excerpts.
• Hadith Selections.
• Sahih Bukhari: Hadith. [At USC-MSA]
• Hadith on fasting, collected by al-Bukhari (d. 870 CE)
  
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

ISLAMIC EXPANSION AND EMPIRE - TO 750 CE

• Al-Baladhuri: The Battle of The Yarmuk and After, 636 CE
• Accounts of the Arab Conquest of Egypt, 642 CE
  The Coptic account from The History of The Patriarchs of Alexandria and an Arab account - Al-Baladhuri: The Conquest of Alexandria
• The Pact of Umar, 7th-9th Century?
• Pact of Umar (another version), 7th-9th century CE?
• Ibn Abd-el-Hakem: The Islamic Conquest of Spain .
• Al Maggari: Tarik's Address to His Soldiers, 711 CE, from The Breath of Perfumes
• Anonymous Arab Chronicler: The Battle of Poitiers (Tours), 732 CE
• Arabs, Franks, and the Battle of Poitiers (Tours): Three Accounts, 732 CE
• Abû Ûthmân al-Jâhiz: From The Essays, c. 860 CE
  Arab Muslim views on the Zanj (Black Africans)
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

LATER ISLAMIC HISTORY 750-1600 CE

THE ABBASID CALIPHATE

• An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century CE).
• Al-Tanûkhî: Ruminations and Reminiscences, c. 980 CE 
  "The Table Talk of a Mesopotamian Judge"
• Abul Hasan Ali Al-Masu'di (Masoudi) (ca. 895?-957 CE): The Book of Golden Meadows, c. 940 CE
  Masu'di  - "the Arab Suetonius" or "the Arab Herodotus"  - specialized in a history which went beyond chronology to look at themes and individual anecdotes.
• Ibn-Miskawaih: The Experiences of the Nations, c. 980 CE
  Powerplays in the Abbasid court.
• Yakut: Baghdad Under the Abbasids, c. 1000 CE
• Al Biruni (973-1048 CE): The Existing Monuments or Chronology, c. 1030 CE
  One of the earlist Arabic historians.
• Ibn Sina (Avicenna) (973-1037): On Medicine, c. 1020 CE
• The Poets of Arabia, extensive selections
• Al Hariri of Basrah (446-516 A.H./1054-1122 CE): Maqamat, (The Assemblies), c. 1100 CE, 12 of the 50 "assemblies".
• Story from the Thousand and One Nights [caution: very rude!].
• Ibn Batuta: Travels, selections.

AL-ANDALUS: MUSLIM SPAIN

• The Poetry of the Spanish Moors, Selections

MUSLIM PERSIA

• Omar Khayyam (d. 1123 CE): The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (first edition), trans. by Edward FitzGerald (page images [At Virginia]
• Omar Khayyam (d. 1123 CE):: The Rubiayat, c. 1120 CE, or another version, both editions translated by Edward Fitzgerald.
• Nizami  (1140-1203 CE): Khosru & Shireen, c. 1190
  Nizami, Rumi and Jami (belowt) are the great classical poets of Muslim Persia.
• Sa'di (1184-1292 CE): Gulistan, 1258 CE, Full text, in short sections. [At MIT]
• Sa'di (1184-1292 CE): Gulistan, 1258 CE, Full text of Persian prose/poetry text with significant homoerotic content.
• Sa'di (1184-1292 CE): The Gulistan, c. 1256 CE. translation by James Ross (1890)
• Sa'di (1184-1292 CE): The Bustan
• Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273 CE): The Masnavi, excerpts, c. 1250 CE
• Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273 CE): The Fairest Land, c. 1250 CE
• Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273 CE): Poems from the Divan-I Shams-I Tabriz, c. 1270 CE
• Hafiz (1325-1389 CE): Verses in Praise of God, c. 1370 CE
• Jami (114-1492 CE): Joseph and Zuleika, c. 1470 CE
• Ibn al-Athir: On The Tatars, 1220-1221CE
  The effects of the Mongols in Persia.

EGYPT AND NORTH AFRICA

• Al-Makrisi: Arab Account of the Crusade of St. Louis.
• Ibn Said: Book of the Maghrib, 13th Century.

MUSLIM RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT

• Rabia: Life in His Own Words, a Sufi Mystic.
• Al-Hallaj: Sayings, a Sufi Mystic.
• Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (Algazel)(1058-1111 CE): The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife
• Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (Algazel)(1058-1111 CE): Munkidh min al-Dalal (Confessions, or  Deliverance from Error), c. 1100 CE, full text.
• Zamakhshari (1070-1143 CE): The Discoverer of Truth, c. 1130 CE
• Ibn Rushd (Averroës) (1126-1198 CE): Religion & Philosophy, c. 1190 CE. The text is On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy, or in Arabic Kitab fasl al-maqal, with its appendix (Damina). Appended is an extract from Kitab al-kashf`an manahij al-adilla.
• A Christian-Muslim Debate, 12th Century.

THE TURKS

• The Legends & Poetry of The Turks, selections
• Old Turkish Tales: The Queen of Night
• Sidi Ali Reis (16th Century CE): Mirat ul Memalik (The Mirror of Countries), 1557 CE
  A Turkish traveler's account of the world of India and the Middle East.
• The Status of Jews and Christians in Muslim Lands, 1772
  A question on the position of Jews in Islam, and the answer of the Shaikh Hasan Al Kafrawi, The Shafiite [Professor of canon law in Cairo, d. 1788]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

The Formation of Latin Christendom

THE ROMAN CHURCH

• [Tierney 16.1 ] Council of Sardica: Canon V on the Roman See 343.
• [Tierney 7.4] Gelasius: On the Two Powers. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Gelasius I
• [Tierney 16.2] Valentian III: Edict on Power of Roman See, 445.
• [Tierney 17 ] Leo I: On The Petrine Doctrine. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Leo I, the Great
• Leo I: Sermon 82: On the Feast of Peter and Paul, [At New Advent].
  Makes clear the importance of the presence of Peter and Paul in Rome for papal claims.
• [Tierney 18] Gregory I the Great (r.590-604): Letters showing Papal Activity. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Gregory I, the Great
• Gregory I the Great (r.590-604): The Book of Pastoral Rule, excerpts, c. 590
• Gregory I the Great (r.590-604): Moralia in Iob: Discussion of His Own Mind (d. 604), from the draft translation by James O'Donnell, [At UPenn]
• Gregory I the Great (r.590-604): The Papal Estates, c. 600
• Paulus Diaconus (Paul the Deacon): Pope Gregory the Great and the Lombards, c. 593
• Bede: Gregory the Great, from the Ecclesiastical History.
• Creed of the Council of Toledo 675, text document.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

MONASTICISM to A.D. 900

• Palladius: The Lausiac History [extended excerpts]
  Lives of early ascetics, monks, and nuns
• Athanasius: Life of Anthony. Full text. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Anthony, or Encyclopeadia Britannica (11 ed): Athanasius
• Rule of St. Basil, available soon 
  See also John Burke: St. Basil the Great - his person and his preaching [At op.org] : Catholic Encyclopedia: Basil the Great; and Catholic Encyclopedia: Eastern Monasticism
• [Tierney 19.1] Rule of St. Columba, 6th Cent.
• [Tierney 19.2 ] St. Columban (d. 615): Boat Song, 600.
• The Rule of St. Augustine, [At OSA] and in Latin [At Augustiner]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Rule of St. Augustine
• [Tierney 20, Geary 12] Rule of St. Benedict. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Rule of St. Benedict.
• The Rule of Saint Benedict, shorter excerpts, ca. 530.
• [Geary 13] Gregory I (Dialogos) (r.590-604): Second Dialogue (Life of St. Benedict).
• Bede (673-735): The Life of Cuthbert, full text.
• Bede (673-735): The Lives of the Abbots of Weremouth and Jarrow.
• [Tierney 21.3] Life of Leoba, excerpts, copyrighted?, but see next item.
• Rudolf of Fulda: Life of Leoba, c. 836, full text.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

THE CONVERSION OF EUROPE

• The Conversion of Clovis: Two Accounts, 496
  by The Chronicle of St. Denis, and Gregory of Tours.
• Gregory of Tours (539-594): The Conversion of Clovis, from History of the Franks, Book II.
• Adamnan: Life of St. Columba and Latin Text: Book I and Book II, cc.1-30. An English/Latin side-by-side version. [At Utah]
  St. Columba, who established the monastery at Iona, was one of the most famous of the Irish missionary saints.
• Jonas the Monk: Life of St. Columban, d. 615., [Full text] Columban travelled and worked in Merovingian Gaul. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Abbey and Diocese of Bobbio
• [Tierney 21.1, Geary 15] Bede (673-735): Ecclesiastical History The Conversion of England. The selection in Geary is slightly longer. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: The Venerable Bede and Catholic Encyclopedia: Synod of Whitby. The The Mission of St. Augustine to the English Website contains even more data.
• Gregory I (r.590-604): Letter to Abbot Mellitus, text document.
• Anglo-Saxon Charms, trans. Karen Jolly. [At Univ. Hawaii]
• Two Lives of SS. Rupert (Robert), Apostle to Austria, and Erenruda (Erentraud).
• [Tierney 21.2] Texts about St. Boniface. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St Boniface.
• Rimbert: The Life of Anskar, the Apostle of the North, 801-865, full text. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St Anschar.
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Christianisation of Russia, 988. [At Univ.Durham]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

THE CELTIC WORLD

• WEB Medieval Irish Poetry Page.
  Has bibliography and links to a variety of text not linked from here.
• See also Later Medieval Ireland section below.
• Cuchulainn's Initiation. [At Eliade Page]
• St. Patrick (5th Cent): Confession. [At CCEL] See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Patrick.
• St. Patrick (5th Cent): Letter to Coroticus. [At St. Patrick Page]
• The Life of St. Declan of Ardmore, full text.
• Adamnan: Life of St. Columba and Latin Text: Book I and Book II, cc.1-30. An English/Latin side-by-side version. [At Utah]
  St. Columba, who established the monastery at Iona, was one of the most famous of the Irish missionary saints.
• [Tierney 19.1] Rule of St. Columba, 6th Cent.
• Jonas the Monk: Life of St. Columban, d. 615, Full text.
  Columban travelled and worked in Merovingian Gaul. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Abbey and Diocese of Bobbio
• [Tierney 19.2 ] St. Columban (d. 615): Boat Song, 600.
• The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel, c 1100 full text
• Irish Poem: An inaugural poem of a ri tuatha, [trans. Maureen S. O'Brien , mobrien@dnaco.net>][At Irish Poems]
• Irish Poem: from the pov of Gormflaith, the widow of Niall, [trans. Maureen S. O'Brien,mobrien@dnaco.net][At Irish Poems]
• Irish Poem: from the pov of Gormflaith, the widow of Niall, [trans. Maureen S. O'Brien,mobrien@dnaco.net][At Irish Poems]
• Irish Poem: First part of a poetic dispute over the ownership of the River Shannon, [trans. Maureen S. O'Brien,mobrien@dnaco.net][At Irish Poems]
• The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febal, to the Land of the Living. [At WVU]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

THE CAROLINGIAN ESSOR

RISE OF CAROLINGIAN DYNASTY AND PAPAL SUPPORT

• [Tierney 24.1] Gregory II: Letter on Icons, to Emp. Leo III, 727, pub.dom
• Anonymous Arab Chronicler: The Battle of Tours (Poitiers), 732.
• Arabs, Franks, and the Battle of Tours (Poitiers): Three Accounts, 732
• [Tierney 24.2] Gregory III: Letter to Charles Martel , 739.
• [Tierney 24.3] Annals of Lorsch: The Pope makes Pepin king. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pepuin the Short.
• [Tierney 25.1] Life of Pope Stephen II 752-57, copyrighted
• [Tierney 25.2] The Donation of Constantine , full text.

CHARLEMAGNE

• [Tierney 26.1, Geary 18] Einhard: Life of Charlemagne, (written c. 817-830), Selections. The full text of Einhard: The Life of Charlemagne is available. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Einhard and Catholic Encyclopedia: Charlemagne.
• Einhard: The Wars of Charlemagne, excerpts from the Life of Charlemagne, c. 770 - 814
• [Tierney 26.2] Annals of Lorsch, copyrighted
• [Tierney 26.3] Frankish Royal Annals, copyrighted
• [Tierney 27.1] Summons to Charlemagne's Army, c. 804-811.

THE DECLINE AFTER CHARLEMAGNE

• Agobard of Lyons: On the Division of the Empire (to Louis the Pious), trans. William North,  c. 830

LEGAL AND SOCIAL DOCUMENTS

• [Geary 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.5] Capitulary of Herstal 779, Capitulary of Mantua 781, Capitulary of Paderbon 785, Synod of Frankfort 794, copyrighted
• [Tierney 27.2, Geary 19.8] General Capitulary of the Missi, 802.
• [Tierney 27.3, Geary 19.4] Capitulary for Saxony, c.775-790.
• [Tierney 28.1, Geary 19.6] Charlemagne: Letter to Baugulf of Fulda.
• [Tierney 28.2, Geary 19.9] Capitulary of 802.
• [Tierney 29.2, Geary 19.7] Capitulary De Villis, 9th century.
• [Tierney 29.2] Manor of Neuilly, copyrighted
• Abbé Irminon: Polyptyque de Villeneuve-St. Georges, c. 800
• Asnapium: An Inventory of One of Charlemagne's Estates, c. 800
• Charles the Bald: Edict of Pistes, 864
  One of the most complete Carolingian documents on the regulation of coinage and mints.

CAROLINGIAN CULTURE

• [Tierney 28.3] Walafrid Strabo, of St. Gall: on Gardening, copyrighted
• [Tierney 28.4] Eckehard of St. Gall: Chronicle.
• The Life of Liutberga, 9th Century, trans, Jo Ann McNamara, full text.
• Otfrid: Preface to a Gospel Harmony (Letter to Liudbert), c. 870, in Latin and English [At Kansas]



Jump Back to Contents 

FEUDALISM?

The usefulness of feudalism as a term is at present under intense discussion among historians of the middle ages, with the majority of experts now rejecting the term.

Feudalism was not a word used in the middle ages. It has had two quite distinct meanings in recent usage. The first meaning - promoted by radicals during the French Revolution and developped by Marxist historians - refers to a social system based on a society in which peasant agriculture is the fundamental productive activity; in which slavery is non-existent or marginal but peasants are tied to the land in some way; and in which a small elite defined by military activity dominates.. This is probably the most important meaning in modern popular usuage.

For most of the 20th-century, professional medievalists have given the term a quite different meaning [see F. Ganshof, Feudalism for a classic summary]. For medieval historians the term has come to mean a system of reciprocal personal relations among members of the military elite, which lead ultimately to parliament and then Western democracy. For modern historians, the older "Lord and peasant" model was subsumed in the concept of manoralism. It is not clear if this near consensus among Medievalists ever really made it on to the larger stage of common culture, or even to other departments within a university (or even to non-medievalists within a history department)!

Building on work of Elizabeth Brown, the historian Susan Reynolds, in her Fiefs and Vassals, systematically attacked the basis of the professional medievalists' version of feudalism [although she did not tackle the older social and economic, or Marxist, model]. Reynolds argued that recent historians had been too ready to read back 11th- and 12th-century legal texts (which do use feudal) terminology onto a much more variated 9th- and 10th century society and had ended up creating a "feudal world" which simply did note exist, or which, at most, described small parts of France for short periods.

Most reviewers have found Reynold's arguments compelling. [See, for instance, the very informative comments of Steven Lane: Review of Susan Reynolds, Fief and Vassals, [At TMR]. As a result teachers can no longer teach "feudalism" without severe qualifications.

The texts here have traditionally been used to explain the "feudal system". They may be better read and discussed, perhaps, as examples of how people created a variety a social and personal bonds in a society with few stable and accessible legal or governmental authorities. They do not represent a "system". 

Online Reviews

• Steven Lane: Review of Susan Reynolds, Fief and Vassals, (Oxford: Oxford UP, 1994) in BMMR 95:12.1].
• Two Reviews of Susan Reynolds: Fiefs and Vassels (1994), by Fred Cheyette, in Speculum and Paul R. Hyams in Journal of Interdisciplinary History

OATHS AND CONTRACTS

• [Tierney 31.1] Fidelity Oaths.
• [Tierney 31.2] Capitularies on Oaths.
• [Tierney 33.1, Geary 25] Fulbert of Chartres: Letter on mutual obligations, 1020.
• [Geary 26] Agreement between Count William V of Aquitaine and Hugh IV of Lusignan. [different translation than Geary]
• Homages Paid by the Counts of Champagne, 12th Cent. [At Hillsdale]
• John of Toul's Homage to the Count of Champagne, 13th Cent. [At Hillsdale]

FIEFS AND LAND TRANSFERS

• [Tierney 31.4-5] Fief Ceremonies, 12th Century.
• [Tierney 32.1-3] Fiefs and Jurisdiction.

METHODS OF SUPPORTING AN ARMY

• [Tierney 33.2] William I: Summons for Military Service, 1072, copyrighted
• [Tierney 33.3] William II: Writ for Collection of Relief 1095/96, copyrighted
• [Tierney 33.4] Henry I: Grant Concerning Scutage 1127, copyrighted
• Charter of Homage and Fealty, 1110.

METHODS OF GOVERNMENT

• Burchard of Worms: Lex Familie Wormatiensis, ca. 1025, trans Steve Lane [slane@tezcat.com].
  An internal law for the dependents of the bishop of Worms, written mostly to settle disputes and feuds.
• [Tierney 31.3] Acts of First Dukes of Normandy, copyrighted
• Chronicle of the Counts of Anjou, c.1100, trans. Steve Lane [slane@tezcat.com].

DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL TERMINOLOGY OF FEUDALISM

• [Tierney 32.4] Laws of Henry I, copyrighted  but see WEB Robert Palmer: Law and Courts Before Common Law [At Univ. Houston] for texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
• Modus Faciendi Homagium & Fidelitatem (The Manner of Doing Homage & Fealty), c. 1275
  English common law document.
• French National Assembly: Decree Abolishing Feudalism, 11 August 1789. [At Hanover]
  Although not a medieval text, this decree of the French Revolutionary assembly is significant in determining what the modern term feodalisme meant.

A MILITARIZED SOCIETY

• [Tierney 34.1] Synod of Charroux: Peace of God Proclaimed, 989.
• [Tierney 34.2] Drogo of Terouanne: Truce of God , 1063.
• Georges Duby: Society in the Mâconais in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries [At Cornell]

THE MONETIZATION OF MILITARY ACTIVITY

• England: The Collection of Scutage, 1159-1195
• Bonfils Manganelli: Hiring of a Suit of Armor, 1248



Jump Back to Contents 

The Flowering of Latin Christendom

WESTERN RECOVERY: REFORM AND POLITICAL STABILITY

EXTERNAL ATTACKS

• The Annals of Xanten, 845-853, The low point of western European civilization? See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Northmen (Vikings).
• Three Sources on the Ravages of the Northmen in Frankland, c. 843 - 912
  Excerpts from The Annals of St. Bertin, Abbo's Wars of Count Odo with the Northmen in the Reign of Charles the Fat, and The Chronicle of St. Denis Based on Dudo and William of Jumièges
• Initiation of a Warrior: Going Berserk, Volsunga Saga chapters 7-8. [At Eliade Page]
• Viking and Hungarian Attacks late 9th Cent. [At Hillsdale]
• The Discovery of North America by Leif Ericsson, c. 1000 from The Saga of Eric the Red, (1387)
• Vikings in America: L'Anse Aux. [At Pitt]

THE OTTONIAN DYNASTY AND AFTER

• [Tierney 30] Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963. full text
• Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
• [Geary 38] Liutprand of Cremona: Antapodosis [A Chronicle of Otto I's Reign], copyrighted?
• Ralph Glaber (d.c.1044): The Year 1000 AD, from the Miracles de Saint-Benoit.
• The Apocalyptic Dossier: 967-1033, Richard Landes' compilation of texts showing Millenial concern c. 1000  [At Mille.org]
• The Life of Burchard Bishop of Worms, trans. William North, 1025
• [Geary 20.2] Charters of the Grossi family, copyrighted
• [Tierney 35.2] Deeds of Conrad II, copyrighted



Jump Back to Contents 

THE COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION

See also RURAL LIFE, below.

ECONOMIC LIFE BEFORE THE 11th CENTURY

• Gregory I the Great (r.590-604): The Papal Estates, c. 600
• Sale & Transfer of an Estate, 704
• Monetary Regulations of the Carolingians, 750-817
• Capitulary of Frankfort: The Price of Staples, 794
• Charlemagne: Limits on Passage of Merchants, c. 805-809
• Charlemagne: Prohibitions on Transactions, 803-806
• Roger of Wendover: Treaty Between Charlemagne & Offa, 790
• Charlemagne: Capitulary for the Jews, 814
• Carolingian Capitularies on Serfs & Coloni, 803-821
• Louis the Pious: Duties of the Coloni, 817
• [Tierney 29.2, Geary 19.7] Capitulary De Villis, 9th century.
• Asnapium: An Inventory of One of Charlemagne's Estates, c. 800
• Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Rent-payments in Kind and Coin, 852
• King Harald Harfager of Norway (r. 860-930): Laws for Land Property
• The Collection of Tithes in Ireland, 8th Century

POPULATION GROWTH

• Tables: Population in Europe.
• Population of the Larger Urban Areas. [At Medieval Technology Page]
• Population Estimates. [At Medieval Technology Page]

THE CONTROL AND GRANTING OF RIGHTS

• Ine, King of the West Saxons: Grant of Lands to the Church of St. Mary at Glastonbury, 725
• Louis the Pious: Grant of Fishing Rights, 832
• Louis the Pious: Two Grants of Extraction of Salt, 821-833
• Louis the Pious: Grant of Minting Coins to Abbey of Corvey, 833
• Otto the Great: Grant of Market, Coinage, and Taxation Privileges to Bishopric of Osnabrück, 952
• Otto I, Emperor: Grant of a Market at Bremen, 965
• Grant of Tolls on the Elbe, 983
• Bishop of Speyer: Grant of Lands & Privileges to the Jews, 1084
• Emperor Conrad III: Grant of Mining Rights to Abbey of Corvey, 1150
• Jocelin de Brakelond: Grant of Rights of Pre-emption, 1124
• Jocelin de Brakelond: A Dispute Over the Exaction of Taxes at Bury St. Edmunds, 1198
• Henry II: Inquest of Sheriffs Regarding the Forests, 1170
• The Dialogue of the Exchequer: On The Forests, 1177

THE RISE OF TOWNS

• WEB Medieval English Urban History [website]
• English Medieval Boroughs: Privileged Urban Communities, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]
• Declaration of the Powers of the Count of Toul over the City of Toul, 1069
• [Tierney 45] Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): Communal Revolt in Laon, 1115, from Autobiograpy [different version than Tierney's].
• Leges Edwardis Confessoris: The Liberties of London, c. 1120
• William Clito, Count of Flanders: Charter for Town of St. Omer, 1127
• Theodore, Count of Flanders: Grant of Land for Gild-Hall of St. Omer, 1151
• Henry II, King of England: Charter Granted to Men of Rouen, 1153
• [Tierney 46.1] Charter of Lorris.
• John, King of England: Charter of Privileges Granted to Men of Dunwich, 1200
• John I, King of England: Charter Granted to the Citizens of Cambridge, 1201
• [Tierney 46.2] King John: Charter of Ipswich c.1200, copyrighted, but see next items.
• Ipswich: Account of the Setting Up of Self-Government, 1200  [At Medieval English Towns]
• Ipswich: Calendar of Usages and Customs   [At Medieval English Towns]
• Ipswich: Oaths of Officers and Burgesses  [At Medieval English Towns]
• Ipswich: Account of Revenues and Expenditures, 1446/47  [At Medieval English Towns]
• The Arte della Lana & The Government of Florence, 1224
• Ancient usages and customs of the borough of Maldon [At Medieval English Towns]
• Archbishop Thurstan: Charter Granted to Men of Beverley, 1130
• [Tierney 46.3] Otto of Freising: Chronicle - on Italian Communes 1154, copyrighted
• Philip, Count of Flanders: Charter Granted to the Men of Bruges, 1190

BOURGEOIS INSTITUTIONS

• GILDS
  • Documents Concerning the Origin of Guilds, 884-930
  • Craft Gilds
    • Adalbert, Bishop of Worms: Grant of a Craft Gild to Fishermen, 1106-1107
    • Henry II of England: Grant of a Gild to the Tanners of Rouen, 1170
    • Henry II of England: Grant of a Gild to the Oxford Cordwainers, 1175
    • Commune of Richirzegcheide: Grant of a Gild to the Carpenters, 1180
    • Charter of Privileges to the Butchers of Paris, 1182
    • John, King of England: Grant to London Abolishing the Weavers' Gild, 1202
    • The Law of the Fullers & Weavers of Winchester, 1209
    • The Citizens of Brunswick: Grant of a Goldsmiths’Gild, 1231
    • The Garment Cutters of Stendal: Guild Law Revision, 1231.
    • The Regulations of the Garment Cutters' Gild of Stendal, 1231
    • The Regulations of the Weavers' Gild of Stendal, 1233
    • Arras: The Charter of the Shearers, 1236 Regulations of the Master Butchers of Tuln, 1237
  • Gilds Merchant
    • [Tierney 47.1] Southampton Guild Merchant: Rules.
    • Rights of the Dublin Guild, 1192
    • Rules for the Governance of the Gild at Ipswich, 1201
• LEGAL CONTROLS
  • Douai: Regulations on the Manufacture & Sale of Cloth, 1244
  • The Butchers of the City of Chartres: Prior Restraints on Trade, 1249
  • England: The Assizes of Bread, Beer, & Lucrum Pistoris
  • England: Statuta de Forstallariis (Statute of Forestallers), c. 1300
  • England: Judicium Pillorie (The Judgment of the Pillory)
  • England: Statuta de Mercatoribus (Statutes of Merchants), 11 Edw. I (1283) & 13 Edw. I (1285)

TRADE AND COMMERCE

• MONEY AND COINAGE
  • From The Laws of the Visigoths: On Coinage, c. 681
  • Monetary Regulations of the Carolingians, 750-817
  • Louis the Pious: Grant of Minting Coins to Abbey of Corvey, 833
  • Charles the Bald: Edict of Pistes, 864
    One of the most complete Carolingian documents on the regulation of coinage and mints.
  • Otto the Great: Grant of Market, Coinage, and Taxation Privileges to Bishopric of Osnabrück, 952
  • English Regulations on Exchange, 871-1087
  • Æthelred Unrædy: The Laws of London, 978
    On money.
  • Edward the Elder: Coinage Regulations, c. 902-925
  • Edgar the Peaceable: Regulation of Coinage, Measures, and Price of Wool, c. 959-975
  • Henry I of England: Monetary Regulations, 1108
  • William of Malmesbury: Counterfeit Money in the Time of King Stephen, 1140
  • Use of the Currencies of Lucca and Pavia, 1182
  • Matthew of Paris: King Henry III’s Reformation of the Coinage, 1248
  • Coinage Agreement Between Hamburg and Lübeck, 1255
  • Coinage Agreement Between Hamburg & Lübeck, 1255
  • The Value of Foreign Coin in England, 1266
• CREDIT
  • [Tierney 48] A Venetian Commenda 1073, copyrighted
  • Pledge of Land as Security for a Loan of Money, 1169
  • Jocelin de Brakelond: Concerning Loans to the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, 1173
  • Henry II of England: Concerning Loans From The Jews
  • A Promissory Note Secured By Collateral, 1200
  • Note of a Double Loan Arising from a Tax, 1203
  • Pope Innocent III:  Protest to Philip Augustus of France Against Royal Protection of Jewish Money-Lenders, 1204
  • Matthew of Paris: The Usury of the Cahorsins, 1235
  • The Roubauds: A Purchase on Credit, 1248
  • The De Manduels: Loan to a Master Mason, 1252
    At Marseilles
• FAIRS AND MARKETS
  • Dagobert, King of the Franks: Grant of a Fair at St. Denis, 629
  • From The Heimskringla: Northern Fairs, c. 998-1026
  • Otto the Great: Grant of Market, Coinage, and Taxation Privileges to Bishopric of Osnabrück, 952
  • Otto the Great, King of Germany: Grant of a Market to the Monastery of Lorsch, 956
  • Edgar, King of the English: Grant of Market Rights to Medhamstead Minster, 963
  • Emperor Conrad: Grant of a Market & Fair at Donauwörth, 1030
  • Henry I, King of England: Grant of a Fair to Ramsey Abbey, 1110
  • Frederick I Barbarossa: Grant of Two Fairs at Aachen, 1166
  • Frederick I Barbarossa: Grant of Two Fairs at Duisburg, 1173
  • Accounts of Medieval Fairs & Markets, c. 998-1250
  • Matthew Paris: Grant of a New Fair at Westminster, 1248
  • The Great Fair at Thessalonica, (mid 12th Cent).
  • Humbert de Romans: On Markets & Fairs, c. 1270
• STATE INTERFERENCE IN TRADE
  • Charlemagne: Limits on Passage of Merchants, c. 805-809
  • Charlemagne: Prohibitions on Transactions, 803-806
  • Roger of Wendover: National Regulations of Weights & Measures, 1187-1228
  • England: Accounts of State Interference with Trade, 1242-1244
• SEA TRADE
  • Port of Arles: The Navigation Code, 1150
  • Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales): The Commerce of Ireland, 1187
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Navigation Act, 1227
  • James I of Aragon: Grant of Trade Privileges to Barcelona, 1232
  • James I of Aragon: Improvement of Harbor Facilities in Barcelona, 1243
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Maritime Code, 1258
• LONG DISTANCE TRADE
  • Accounts of the Routes of the Jewish Merchants to the East, 847
  • An Account of the Goods of a Captured Caravan, 1192
  • Pope Innocent III:  License to Venice to Trade With The Saracens, 1198
  • English Grant to the Captor of Prize Ships, 1205. [At Hillsdale]
• MID-DISTANCE TRADE
  • Grant of Privileges to the Flemings at Cologne, 1197
  • King John of England: Privileges of the German Merchants, 1214-1215
  • Privileges Granted to German Merchants at Novgorod, 1229
• THE SLAVE TRADE
  • Decrees on Sale of Unfree Christians, c. 922-1171
    "Trade" included slavery.
  • Traffic in Slaves: England, 1065-1066
  • William the Conqueror: Sale of Slaves in England, c. 1080
  • Bills of Sale for Saracen Slave Girls, 1248
• THE HANSE
  • Grants of Privileges at London to the Hanse of Cologne, 1157-1194
  • Henry II of England: Grant of Freedom from Wreck to Men of Lübeck, 1176
  • Siegfried, Archbishop of Bremen: Remittance of the "Hanse", 1181
  • Frederick I of Germany: Charter to Lübeck, 1188
  • Theodore, Count of Holland: Grant of a Hanse to the Citizens of Dortrecht, 1200
  • Waldemar the Victorious of Denmark: Grant of Market Privileges to Men of Lübeck, 1203
  • Frederick II of Germany: Grant to Lübeck of Freedom from Tolls at Cologne & Tiel, 1226
  • Grant of a House at Riga to the Men of Lübeck, 1231
  • Agreement Between Hamburg and Lübeck for Protection, 1241
  • Lübeck and Hamburg Treaty, 1241.
    The beginning of the Hanseatic League.
  • The Hanse of Utrecht, 1251
  • Coinage Agreement Between Hamburg & Lübeck, 1255
• TOLLS/TAXES
  • Taxation in Norway, from The Heimskringla:
  • List of Tolls Exacted at Billingsgate, c. 978-1016
  • The Taxes of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• BUSINESS CONTRACTS
  • The Leges Henrici Primi: Law of Partnerships, c. 1109-1118
  • Memorandum of Arbitration Concerning a Freight Charge, 1230
    At Marseilles
  • An Order to Purchase, 1235
  • Partnership Agreements: A Money-lender & a Cooper, 1240
  • Partnership Agreements: Purchase of Shares in a Ship, 1248
  • Partnership Agreements: For Foreign Trade, 1248
  • Partnership Agreements: For Money Changing, 1248
  • Apprenticeship Agreements: To a Money-Changer, 1248
  • Apprenticeship Agreements: To a Barber, 1248
  • Two Apprenticeship Agreements for Weavers [Arras and Marseilles], c. 1250
  • Receipt of Deposit From a Money-Changer, 1248
  • Bill of Sale, 1248
    An example of a bill of sale where the cooper is selling to certain partners a number of empty barrels, presumably for the wine trade.
  • Bill of Lading, 1248
    Bills of lading were used in the 13th century, possibly they accompanied bills of exchange which were used as instruments of credit in order to economize in the shipment of specie.
  • Acknowledgment by an Agent of an Order on Goods to be Sold in Montpellier, 1248
  • Lease of a Workshop in Marseilles, 1248
  • Order for Sale of English Tin, 1248
  • Lease and Guarantee for Rental Property, 1254
    At Marseilles.
• BOOKEEPING
  • [Geary 52] Giovanni Scriba: Notary Book, 1250s, copyrighted
• PRICES
  • Pope Gregory the Great: Standard Prices for Grain, c. 600
  • List of Prices of Medieval Items, [At QUT.Au]
  • Bonfils Manganelli: Hiring of a Suit of Armor, 1248
  • Marseille: Lease & Guarantee for a House, 1254

URBAN CULTURES

• [Tierney 49] Reginald of Durham: Life of St. Goderic, a 12th-century merchant.
• Giovanni Villani: Florentine Chronicle [1277-1348].
• [Geary 53] Florence: Catasto of 1427, copyrighted
• [Geary 54] Gregario Dati: Diary, 15th century, copyrighted

INDUSTRIES

• GENERAL
  • Abbot Cuthbert of Durham: Letter to the Archbishop of Mainz Soliciting Glaziers, 758
  • Gebhard, Bishop of Constance: Allocation of Serfs to Crafts, 990
  • List of Florentine Crafts Subject to Tax, 1316
• MINING
  • Emperor Conrad III: Grant of Mining Rights to Abbey of Corvey, 1150
  • Accounts of Tin Mining in Cornwall: Stannery Charters of 1198 & 1201
  • Agreement on the Exploitation of a Silver Mine, 1180
• TANNING
  • Henry II of England: Grant of a Gild to the Tanners of Rouen, 1170
• CLOTH MANUFACTURE
  • Procopius: The Roman Silk Industry, c. 550
  • Extracts From the Roll-Book of the Arte Della Seta [The Silk Guild], Lucca 1225
• MASONRY
  • Contract For Quarrying & Dressing Stone, 1248

ECONOMIC THOUGHT

• The Church Fathers On Usury, 400-444
• Thomas Aquinas: On Usury, c. 1269-71



Jump Back to Contents 

WESTERN MONASTICISM - AFTER A.D. 900

• Benedictines
  • 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].
• Cluny
  • [Tierney 35.1, Geary 20.1] Charter of Abbey of Cluny. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Odo.
  • WEB Cluny Project. [At University of Muenster]
• The Cistercians
  • Cistercian Order: Charta Caritatis. [At St. John's Minnesota]
  • WEB Cistercian Order page at St. John's College.
  • 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
• The Carthusians
• Other Orders
• Women's Monasticism
  • WEB Matrix: A collection of resources for the study of women's religious communities, 500-1500, [At Yale].
    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 Uconn] A collection of rules and advice for English nuns.
    
    Jump Back to Contents 

EMPIRE AND PAPACY - THE INVESTITURE CONTROVERSY

EMERGENCE OF REFORM IDEOLOGY

• [Tierney 35.3] Cardinal Humbert: on Investiture, 1054, copyrighted
• [Tierney 35.4] Papal Election Decree, 1059, Papal and Imperial Versions. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Popes, Election of the.
• [Tierney 36.1] Council of Rome 1074.
• [Tierney 36.2] Gregory VII: Dictatus Papae, 1075, also available en castellano; See Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Gregory VII.

THE CONFLICT OVER INVESTITURES

• [Tierney 36.3] Gregory VII: Lay Investitures Forbidden, 1074, 1080.
• [Geary 39.1] Gregory VII: Letter to Henry IV, Jul 20, 1075, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.2] Gregory VII: Letter to Henry IV, Dec 8, 1075 or Jan 8, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.6] Henry IV: Letter to Roman Clergy and People, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.7] Henry IV: Letter to Gregory VII, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Tierney 37.1, Geary 39.9] Henry IV: Letter to Gregory VII, Jan 24 1076.
• [Geary 39.10] Henry IV: Letter to His Bishops, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Tierney 37.2] Gregory VII: Deposition of Henry IV, , Feb 22 1076.
• [Geary 39.3] Gregory VII: Letter to All the Faithful in Germany, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.4] Gregory VII: Letter to Hermann of Metz, Aug 26,1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.8] German Bishops: Renunciation of Gregory VII, Synod of Worms, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.11] Henry IV: Promise to Gregory VII, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.12] Henry IV: Letter to His Princes, 1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.13] Henry IV: Letter to His Mother, 1074-1076, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.14] Henry IV: Vow at Canossa, 1077, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.5] Gregory VII: To German Princes, on Canossa, Jan.1077, copyrighted?
• Gregory VII: Bans on Lay Invesititures, 1078 and 1080
• [Tierney 37.3] Gregory VII: Second Banning of Henry IV, March 7 1080.
• [Tierney 38.1] Ivo of Chartres: Letter to Hugo 1097, copyrighted
• [Geary 39.15] Decree of Synod of Brixen, 1080, copyrighted?
• [Geary 39.16] Henry IV: To Clergy and People of Rome, 1081, copyrighted?

SOLUTIONS

• [Tierney 38.2] Paschal II: Privilege of Feb 12, 1111.
• [Tierney 38.3] Paschal II: Privilege of April 12, 1111.
• [Tierney 38.4, Geary 40] Concordat of Worms, 1122.



Jump Back to Contents 

THE CRUSADES

GENERAL

• WEB ORB: Crusades [At ORB] for a brief modern account of the crusading movement.
• WEB Crusader Sources in Translation
• WEB Select Bibliography: Secondary Sources, by Paul Crawford, [At ORB]

BACKGROUND

• Leo IV (r.847-855): Forgiveness of Sins for Those Who Dies in Battle, c.850.
• John II: Indulgence for Fighting the Heathen, 878.
• For pilgrimage to Jerusalem, see Ralph Glaber (d.c.1044): The Year 1000 AD from the Miracles de Saint-Benoit.
• Gregory VII: Call for a "Crusade", 1174.
• Annalist of Nieder-Altaich: The Great German Pilgrimage of 1064-65.

THE FIRST CRUSADE

There are many translations of texts about the First Crusade. Dana C. Munro ["Urban and the Crusaders", Translations and Reprints from the Original Sources of European History, Vol 1:2, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1895)] and August. C. Krey, [The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and Participants, (Princeton: 1921)] both translated selections of crusader sources organized around events. There have been more recent translation of many of these texts [see WEB Crusader Sources in Translation], but they are still copyrighted. Here the texts by Krey and Munro are presented in two ways: first as printed - with collected texts from various historians on a specific issue; and then with all the available texts from each historian collected together.

URBAN II'S SPEECH

• Urban II: Speech at Clermont: Five Versions.
  Accounts by Fulcher of Chartres, Robert the Monk, The Gesta, Balderic of Dol, and Guibert of Nogent. Plus Urban's Letter of December 1095.
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope Bl. Urban II and Catholic Encyclopedia: Crusades.
• [Tierney 39, Geary 28.1] Fulcher of Chartres: Chronicle of the First Crusade - Urban II's Speech at Clermont. [Geary includes a copyrighted account of the course of the crusade.]
• Robert the Monk: Urban II's Speech at Clermont.
• Ekkehard of Aurach: On the Opening of the First Crusade .
• Evolution of Crusader Privileges, 1095-1270.

ATTACKS ON JEWS

• Albert of Aix and Ekkehard of Aura: Emico and the Slaughter of the Rhineland Jews.
• [Geary 28.2] Solomon Bar Simson: Account of First Crusade, copyrighted
• Soloman bar Samson: The Crusaders in Mainz, 1096, written in mid 12th century.
  The horrific attacks on Rhineland Jewry.

THE JOURNEYS AND BATTLES OF THE CRUSADE

• Peter the Hermit and the Popular Crusade: Collected Accounts.
  Accounts of Guibert de Nogent, William of Tyre, Albert of Aix, Ekkhard of Aura, Anna Comnena, and the Gesta.
• The Crusaders Journey to Constantinople: Collected Accounts.
  Accounts of the Gesta, Albert of Aix, and Raymond d'Aguiliers.
• The Crusaders at Constantinople: Collected Accounts.
  Accounts of Anna Comnena, the Gesta, Albert of Aix, and Raymond d'Aguiliers.
• [Geary 28.4] Anna Comnena: On A Rude Crusader . (Geary includes more (copyrighted) material than this extract.)
• The Siege and Capture of Nicea: Collected Accounts.
  Accounts of The Gesta, Raymond d'Aguiliers, Anna Comnena, and Alexius I' Letter to Abbot of Monte Cassino.
• The Siege and Capture of Antioch: Collected Accounts.
  Accounts of The Gesta and Raymond d'Aguiliers.
• The Siege and Capture of Jerusalem: Collected Accounts.
  Accounts of The Gesta, Raymond d'Aguiliers, Letters of Manasses II, Pope Paschal II, and account of Fulcher of Chartres.
• [Tierney 40, Geary 28.1] Fulcher (Fulk) of Chartres: The Capture of Jerusalem, 1099. [Longer extracts in Geary]
• Crusader Letters.

THE HISTORIANS OF THE FIRST CRUSADE

• Fulcher (Fulk) of Chartres: Chronicle.
• Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): Historia quae dicitur Gesta Dei per Francos.
• Albert of Aix: Chronicle.
• Ekkehard of Aura: Hierosolymita and World Chronicle.
• Anna Comnena: The Alexiad [Books 10 and 11].
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Anna Comnena.
• Gesta Francorum.
• Raymund d'Aguiliers: Historia Francorum qui ceperunt Iherusalem.
• William of Tyre (c.1130- 1190): History of Deeds done Beyond the Sea, excerpts..
  William of Tyre's account extends here to the the 1180s.
• Guillame de Tyr (William of Tyre) (c.1130- 1190): Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum [History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea], full text of Old French version (13th century)
  • Books 1-9 the Old French translation from the edition of Paulin.
  • Books 10-16 ditto
  • Books 17-22 ditto
  • Books 23-34, the continuation, from the Recueil des historiens des croisades
  • Chronique du Templier de Tyr, from Les gestes des Chiprois as edited by Gaston Raynaud.

THE KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM

• Fulcher (Fulk) of Chartres: The Latins in the East (Chronicle, Bk III).
• William of Tyre: Godfrey Of Bouillon Becomes "Defender Of The Holy Sepulcher.
• The Latin Kings of Jerusalem (chronology).
• The Taxes of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

THE CRUSADER ORDERS

• St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153): In Praise of the New Knighthood, early 12th Century, on the Templars.
• WEB ORB Military Orders Page. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Bernard of Clairvaux, Encyclopedia Brittanica: Bernard of Clairvaux (9th Ed), Catholic Encyclopedia: The Military Orders, Catholic Encyclopedia: The Knights Templars, and Catholic Encyclopedia: Hospitallers of St. John Of Jerusalems (Knights of Malta).
• William of Tyre: The Foundation of the Order of Knights Templar.
• Primitive Rule of the Templars, 1129. [At ORB]
• The Rule and Statutes of the Teutonic Knights, 1264. [At ORB]
  See the ORB Military Orders Page on this..

CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM INTERACTION

• [Geary 28.3] Ibn Al-Athir: Account of First Crusade, copyrighted
• [Tierney 41] Usamah (1095-1188): Autobiography - on the Crusades, copyrighted: see next items
• Usmah Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188): Autobiography: Excerpts on the Franks, c.1175 CE.
• Usmah Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188): On European Piracy, c.1175 CE. [At CCNY]
• Usmah Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188): On Muslim and Christian Piety, c.1175 CE. [At CCNY]
• A Christian-Muslim Debate [12th Century].
• Bills of Sale for Saracen Slave Girls, 1248

THE SECOND CRUSADE AND AFTERMATH

• William of Tyre: The Fall of Edessa.
• Otto of Freising: The Legend of Prester John.
• Eugenius III: Call for Second Crusade, Dec. 1, 1146. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope Blessed Eugene III.
• Osbernus: De expugnatione Lyxbonensi [The Capture of Lisbon], 1147.
  The first, and most lasting, military encounter of the Second Crusade was the Capture of Lisbon.
• Conrad II: Letters to the Abbot of Corvey, 1148.
  On the failures of the Germans' Crusade.
• Odo of Deuil: The Crusade of Louis VII.
  Odo, Louis VII's chaplain, recounts the preaching of St. Bernard, and the journey of the army.
• William of Tyre: The Fiasco at Damascus, 1148.
• Annales Herbipolenses, s.a. 1147: A Hostile View of the Crusade.
• St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153): Apologia for the Second Crusade.

THE THIRD CRUSADE

• William of Tyre: Latin Disarray, 1150-1185.
• Aymeric, patriarch of Antioch: The Decline of Christian Power in the Holy Land, 1164, Letter to Louis VII of France. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• Ansbert: Letter from the East to the Master of the Hospitallers, 1187.
• Ernoul, a Frank: The Battle of Hattin, 1187. [At Hillsdale]
• Ernoul: The Battle of Hattin, 1187.
• De Expugatione Terrae Sanctae: The Battle of Hattin, 1187.
• De Expugatione Terrae Sanctae: The Capture of Jerusalem by Saladin, 1187.
• Roger of Hoveden: The Fall Of Jerusalem, 1187.
• The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa: Letters, 1189.
  Letters by Frederick I and Ex-Queen Sibylla blaming the Byzantine Emperor for problems.
• Historia de Expeditione Frederici Imperatoris: Death of Frederick Barbarossa, 1190.
• Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi: Richard the Lion-Hearted Conquers Cyprus, 1191.
• Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi: The Siege and Capture of Acre, 1191.
• Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi: Philip Augustus Returns to France, 1191.
• Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi: Muslim Hostages Slain at Acre, 1191.
• Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi: Richard the Lionheart Makes Peace with Saladin, 1192.
• The German Crusade, 1197.
  Letter of the Duke of Lorrain to the Archbishop of Cologne, 1197 - before the crusade was checked by the death of Henry VI.

THE FOURTH CRUSADE

• The Fourth Crusade 1204: Collected Sources.
  Texts from Villehardoun, Robert de Clari, Choniates, etc.
• Geoffry de Villehardouin: Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople, full text
• Robert de Clari: The Capture of Constantinople, selections.
• Nicetas Choniates: Capture of Constantinople, 1204.
• Innocent III: Letter 136: Reprimand of Papal Legate, 1204.

THE FIFTH CRUSADE AND LATER

After the Fourth Crusade, the nature of the movement changed. Never again was there a general multinational crusade directed at the Holy Land. The experiences of 1187-92 had shown that Egypt was the base of Muslim power, and so expeditions were directed there. It would be a mistake to see the end of crusading fervour however. During the thirteenth century there were eight large expeditions, as well as other manifestations of crusading ideas. None of these expeditions could avoid the effects of the rise of the Mongols and Mamelukes in the Middle East - where armies increased in size and made the small Western units meaningless.

The eight thirteenth-century expeditions were:

1. 1218, Andrew of Hungary's Crusade
2. 1218-21, The Fifth Crusade
3. 1228-29, Frederick II's Crusade
4. 1239, Thibaut of Navarre's Crusade
5. 1240-41, Richard of Cornwall's Crusade
6. 1248-54, The Sixth Crusade - St. Louis's Crusade
7. 1270-72, Edward of England's (Later Edward II) Crusade
8. 1270 St. Louis's second Crusade [To Tunis]

• Cologne Chronicle: The Children's Crusade, 1212.
• Innocent III: Summons to a Crusade, 1215.
• Philip de Novare: The Crusade of Frederick II, 1228-29.
• Frederick II's Crusade: Letters, 1229.
  Letters by Frederick II: To Henry III of England, and by Gerold, Patriarch of Jerusalem, To All the Faithful, 1229.
• The Capture of Jerusalem, 1244.
  Letter from the Master of the Hospitalers at Jerusalem, to Lord De Lamaye.
• Jean de Joinville: Memoirs , full text. [At Virginia]
• Al-Makrisi: Arab Account of the Crusade of St. Louis.
• Guy, A Knight: Letter from the Sixth Crusade, 1249.
• Ludolph of Suchem: The Fall of Acre, 1291 Philip de Novare: The Crusade of Frederick II, 1228-29.



Jump Back to Contents 

12TH CENTURY THOUGHT

See 13th and 14th Century Thought, below.

CANON AND CIVIL LAW

• See the Medieval Sourcebook: Medieval Legal History for many more texts on legal history.
• The Life of Burchard Bishop of Worms, trans. William North, 1025.
• Tables of Kindred and Degrees - both Roman and German methods of calculation
• Gratian: On Marriage

PHILOSOPHY: THE EMERGENCE OF THE SCHOLASTIC APPROACH

• Accounts of Medieval Literacy and Education, c. 1090-1530
• Richer of Rheims: Journey to Chartres, 10th Century, trans. M. Markowski [M-Markow@wcslc.edu].
• [Tierney 42, Geary 22] Anselm (1033-1109): Proof of the Existence of God.  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Anselm.
• Anselm (1033-1109): Proslogium, full text
• Gaunilo: In Behalf of the Fool, with Anselm's: Reply
  Gaunilo's attack on the argument in the Proslogium, and Anselm's reformulation.
• Anselm (1033-1109): Monologium, full text
• Anselm (1033-1109): Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man) full text
• Anselm (1033-1109): Introduction to His Writings
• Anselm (1033-1109): Philosophers' Criticisms of Anselm's Ontological Argument for the Being of God
• Adelard of Bath: Natural Questions, c. 1137, on the impact of Muslim science in the West.
• Theophilus: An Essay Upon Diverse Arts, c. 1125.
• [Tierney 43.3] Peter Abelard: Sic et Non (Yes and No), 1120, short extracts.
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Nominalism, Realism, Conceptualism.
• Peter Abelard: Sic et Non, excerpts, [At Clinch Valley College]
• [Tierney 43.4] St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153): Letter to Abelard, copyrighted  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Bernard of Clairvaux and Encyclopaedia Britannica (9th Ed.): Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
• Peter Lombard: Sentences
• Alain of Lille (d.1203): The Plaint of Nature, full text.

INTUITIVE THEOLOGY

• [Tierney 44] St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153): The Love of God, pub.dom. See Full text [At CCEL]
• [Geary 23] St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153): Sermon on the Song of Songs, copyrighted
• St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153): Apology.

POLITICAL THOUGHT

• John of Salisbury: Policraticus IV.1-4: On Princes and Tyrants
• John of Salisbury: Policraticus, Book VI, chapter 24

ABELARD AND HELOISE

• [Tierney 43.1] Peter Abelard: History of My Calamities [selections]. The full text is also available in English translation by Henry Adams Bellows and in Latin [At Georgetown]; See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Peter Abelard; and Eric Gans: Chronicles of Love and Resentment - Abelard and Heloise [At UCLA].
• Fulk, Prior of Deuil: Letter to Peter Abelard, (Epistola XIV), trans. William North,  11th century.
  A letter to Abelard after his castration.
• [Tierney 43.2] Peter Abelard and Heloise: Letters, copyrighted but see next item.
• Heloise: Letter to Abelard, trans. C.K. Scott Moncrief. The text is also available in Latin, available via here 12/7/97, [At Georgetown]; and French [In Korea]
• WEB  Photograph of Tomb of Abelard and Heloise, Père-Lachaise (Cemetery : Paris, France); and Jean Vignaud: Abelard and Heloise Surprised by the Abbot Fulbert (1819).
• [Tierney 43.5] Peter the Venerable: Letters to Heloise 1142, copyrighted

THE DISCOVERY OF THE INDIVIDUAL?

A much discussed theory in recent years, put forward by Colin Morris in The Discovery of the Individual, is that the "modern" idea of the individual emerged in the twelfth century. This has not proved to be acceptable to all historians. Nevertheless, some texts - such as those about Abelard and Heloise - have been taken to represent something new. It is the writings of Guibert of Nogent which are, perhaps, of most interest. For the first time since St. Augustine, we find in his Autobiography the sort of introspection which may indeed seem "modern".

• [Geary 24] Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): Memoirs, copyrighted?, but see next item.
• Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): Autobiography, full text, trans. C.C. Swinton Bland.
• Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): On His Childhood, Selections from his Autobiography.



Jump Back to Contents 

WESTERN EUROPEAN LITERATURE

• See the Medieval Sourcebook: Full Texts Page for many complete translations of Medieval European literary texts.
• Beowulf, 8th century, trans Francis Gummere [HTML, here]. An Ascii version is also available [At Wiretap] or Beowulf (in Old English)
• [Tierney 50] The Song of Roland. c. 11th Century, excerpts.
• The Song of Roland, c. 11th Century, full texts, trans. Charles Scott Moncrief [At OMACL]
• The Song of Roland,  c. 11th Century, full texts, trans. John O'Hagan [Here]
  In rhyming couplets!
• [Tierney 51] Troubadour Songs, copyrighted
• [Tierney 52] Goliardic Literature, some copyrighted - see below
• The Archpoet: Confession of Golias.
• [Tierney 53] Our Lady's Tumbler, copyrighted
• Chrétien de Troyes: Lancelot, c. 1170, excerpts.
  An example of medieval romance.
• [Tierney 54] Andreas Capellanus: The Idea of Courtly Love, copyrighted [see next items]
• Andreas Capellanus: The Art of Courtly Love, (btw. 1174-1186).
• Andreas Capellanus: The Art of Courtly Love, (btw. 1174-1186). [At Harvard]
• Amleth, Prince of Denmark, From the Gesta Danorum of Saxo Grammaticus, c.1185. [At Pitt]
• Everyman, 15th century, full text
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

EMPIRE AND PAPACY - BARBAROSSA TO INNOCENT III

BARBAROSSA: THE EMPIRE AT ITS HEIGHT

• [Tierney 57] Otto of Freising: Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa: Incident at Besançon, 1157 copyrighted, but see next item
• The Besançon Episode 1157, - in the original documents [A: Letter of Adrian IV. to Frederick Barbarossa, Sept. 20th, 1157; B: Manifesto of the Emperor, Oct. 1157; C: Letter of Adrian IV. to the German Bishops; D: Letter of the German Bishops to Adrian IV - including Frederick's defence of his position; E: Letter of Adrian IV. to Frederick Barbarossa, Feb, 1158].
• The Struggle Between Frederick Barbarossa and Alexander III, 1160-1177, in the original documents [A: Epistola Minor of the Council of Pavia, Feb. 5-11, 1160 A.D. (Encyclic.), B: Letter of John of Salisbury concerning the Council of Pavia, June 1160, C: The Peace of Venice, 1177].
• Barbarossa and the Lombards. Excerpts from the Diet of Ronçaglia, 1158, and The Peace of Constance, January 25, 1183.
• [Geary 41] Otto of Friesing: Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa, copyrighted.
• [Tierney 58] Hugaccio and Alanus: Views on Imperial and Papal Power, copyrighted
• Lateran III: Decree on Papal Elections.

INNOCENT III: THE PAPACY AT ITS HEIGHT

• [Tierney 59] Innocent III: Letters [r.1198-1215], copyrighted
• Innocent III (r.1198-1216): Letters on Papal Polices
  • Letter to Acerbius, 1198 (on papal authority
  • Papal Policies: Letter to the Archbishop of Auch, 1198 (on heresy): Letter to the French bishops (on usury); Letter to a bishop (on tithes); Letter to the Venetians, 1198 (on trade with the Saracens); A Papal Decree, 1199 (on the Jews)
  • Innocent and his Royal Contemporaries: Interdict of France, 1200, Decree on the Choice of a German King, 1201, Charter of Submission for the King of England, 1213
• Innocent III (r.1198-1216): Letters on Marriage, and Women, 1203-1204
• Innocent III (r.1198-1216):  Protest to Philip Augustus of France Against Royal Protection of Jewish Money-Lenders, 1204
• Innocent III: Sermon on the Resurrection of the Lord. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope Innocent III.
• [Tierney 60, Geary 29] The Fourth Lateran Council: Selected Canons. The Full Text of the Lateran canons is also available.



Jump Back to Contents 

THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE - FREDERICK II AND AFTER

• [Tierney 67] Frederick II (r.1214-1250): Statute in Favor of Princes, 1231.
• [Tierney 68.1] Innocent IV: Council of Lyons I: Bull Deposing Frederick II, 1245 [see next item]
• [Tierney 68.1] Frederick II (r.1214-1250): Letter to Princes of Europe
• Frederick II (r. 1214-1250): Dispute with the Church, 1245-1246
• [Tierney 69] Salimbene: Chronicle - On Frederick II.
• Eternal Bond of Brothers - Between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, The Origins of Switzerland, 1291, with Latin Original and German Version available. [At BYU]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

ITALY

• Florence
  • The Arte della Lana & The Government of Florence, 1224
  • Treaty for Peace and Commercial Harmony Between Florence & St. Gimignano, 1225
  • List of Florentine Crafts Subject to Tax, 1316
  • Giovanni Villani: Florentine Chronicle, 1277-1348
• Milan
• Venice
• Other Cities
  • Extracts From the Roll-Book of the Arte Della Seta [The Silk Guild], Lucca 1225
    
    
    Jump Back to Contents 

ENGLAND

ARTHURIANA

• WEB For Arthurian texts, not collected here, see the Camelot Project and especially the Camelot Project Author Menu for beautifully presented, introduced, and annotated texts of:
• The Alliterative Morte Arthure
• Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales), Arthurian References in (c. 960-980)
• The Avowyng of Arthur
• The Awntyrs off Arthur
• The Carle of Carlisle
• Culwch and Olwen (translated by Lady Charlotte Guest as Kilhwch and Olwen)
• The Greene Knight
• The Jeaste of Sir Gawain
• King Arthur and King Cornwall
• The Knightly Tale of Gologras and Gawain
• Lancelot of the Laik
• The Marriage of Sir Gawain
• Sir Gawain and the Carle of Carlisle
• Sir Perceval of Galles
• Sir Tristrem
• Stanzaic Morte Arthur
• The Turke and Sir Gawain
• The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle
• A selection of post medieval-Arthurian literature [Tennyson, Emerson, Swinbourne and so on.]

ANGLO SAXON BRITAIN

• Gildas: Gildas: The Ruin of Britain, c. 540.
• Gildas (c.504-570): Works, full text [At UTK]
• Nennius: History of the Britons, 8th cent, on King Arthur.
• Nennius: Historia Brittonum, 8th century, full text
• Gerald of Wales: The Discovery of the Tomb of King Arthur, from On the Instruction of a Prince (De Instructione Principis), c. 1223
• Bede (673-735): Ecclesiastical History of England: Book I
• Bede (673-735): Ecclesiastical History of England: Book II
• Bede (673-735): Ecclesiastical History of England: Book IV
• Bede (673-735): The Explanation of the Apocalypse
• Beowulf, 8th century, trans Francis Gummere [HTML, here]
• [Geary 14, 16.1] Laws of Ethelbert, Alfred: Dooms, both copyrighted, but see next item
• Laws of Alfred and Ine [In Anglo Saxon] [At Labryinth]
• Anglo Saxon Dooms, 560-975, In English. These include:
  • The Laws of Æthelberht, King of Kent 560-616 A.D.
  • The Laws of Kings Hlothhære and Eadric 673-686 A.D.
  • The Laws of King Wihtræd 690-725 A.D.
  • The Laws of King Alfred 871-901 A.D.
  • The Laws of King Edward the Elder, 901-924 A.D.
  • The Laws of Alfred, Guthrum, and Edward the Elder
  • The North People's Law
  • Mercian Law
  • The Laws of King Athelstan 924-939 A.D.
  • The Laws of King Edmund I 939-946 A.D.
  • The Laws of King Edgar 959-975 A.D.
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Translation: J. Ingram, [At OMACL, text 17]. A Zipped file is also available.
• [Geary 16.4] The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle on Alfred the Great. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Alfred the Great
• [Geary 16.3] Asser: Life of King Alfred. The full text translation: J.A. Giles is available. [At OMACL]
• [Geary 16.1] Alfred and Guthrum's Peace.
• The Chronicle of Ethelwerd.
• St. Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester: Sermo Lupi ad Anglos, c. 1014, full text, in Latin and English. [Requires Frames], [At Rochester].
  The sermon of the Wolf to the English, when the Danes were greatly persecuting them, which was in the year 1014 after the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Anglo-Saxon Charms, trans. Karen Jolly [At Univ. Hawaii].

NORMAN ENGLAND

• William of Malmesbury: The Battle of Hastings, 1066, excerpts.
• Laws of William the Conqueror, and in text form. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: William the Conqueror.
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Assessment of William I.
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: The Domesday Book, 1086.
• The Domesday Book: Instructions and Example, (1086). See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Domesday Book. A Picture of the Exon Domesday Book is also online.
• Peter of Blois: William Rufus and Henry I [1070-1117?].
• The "Laws of Henry I": The Murder Fine
• Henry I: Charter of Liberties, 1100.
• Robert Palmer: Law and Courts Before Common Law [At Univ. Houston]
  Texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
• [Tierney 56.1] Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: on Stephen, copyrighted?
• Henry of Huntingdon: Chronicle [c.1080-1160] - on King Stephen's reign.

ANGEVIN ENGLAND

• Henry II
  • Orderic Vitalis: Ecclesiastical History [1075-1141], excerpts.
  • England: The Collection of Scutage, 1159-1195
  • Henry II: The Constitutions of Clarendon, 1164.
  • Henry II: The Assize of Clarendon, 1166.
  • Henry II: Inquest of Sheriffs, 1170.
  • Peter of Blois: Letter 154, to Queen Eleanor, 1173, trans. M. Markowski [M-Markow@wcslc.edu].
  • Peter of Blois: Description of Henry II [Letter no. 66: to Walter, archbishop of Palermo, 1177)] 
  • Gerald of Wales (1146-1225): The Conquest of Ireland, Book I, Chapter 46: Description of Henry II, king of the English.
  • [Geary 50] The Huntingdonshire Eyre, 1286, copyrighted
  • Roger of Hoveden: The Revolt of 1173-74, from The Chronicle
  • Roger of Hoveden: The Revolt and Death of the Young King, 1183, from The Chronicle
  • Gerald of Wales: On Henry II and his sons, from The Topography of Ireland, Chapters 49-50
  • Gerald of Wales: Death of King Henry II and comments on the Angevin Family, from De Instructione Principis (On the Instruction of a Prince) 
  • Roger of Hoveden: The Last Days and Death of Henry II, 1189, from The Chronicle
  • The Chronicle of "Benedict of Peterborough": The Death of King Henry II, 1189 
  • Gerald of Wales (1146-1225): The Death of King Henry II, from the Life of Archbishop Geoffrey of York
• Thomas Becket
  • WEB Thomas Becket Page
    Scott McLetchie's web site with collected texts associated with Becket, and a visual tour of Canterbury cathedral.
  • Roger of Hoveden: The Chronicle: On the Disputes between Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and King Henry II of England, early 13th c.
    All the material from this chronicle relevant to the Becket matter; Roger quotes many letters written by those closely involved in the dispute, including Thomas himself.
  • [Tierney 56.2] William of Newburgh: on Henry II, copyrighted? See next item
  • William of Newburgh: Becket and Henry, selections from Book II of his History, c. 1200
    Three chapters concerning Becket's career, the murder, and Henry II's penance at the tomb in 1174.
  • Gervase of Canterbury, d. 1205: Thomas Becket's Life, from History of the Archbishops of Canterbury
    A precis of Thomas' career taken from Gervase's History of the Archbishops of Canterbury
  • Gervase of Canterbury, d. 1205: Thomas Becket's Death
    Description of the martyrdom from the same work.
  • Edward Grim: The Murder of Becket, Dec. 29, 1170 from Vita S. Thomae, Cantuariensis Archepiscopi et Martyris trans. Dawn Marie Hayes [dms0603@is2.nyu.edu]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Thomas Becket.
  • The Chronicle of "Benedict of Peterborough": The Murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, 29 December 1170
• Richard I Lionheart
  • Roger of Hoveden: Order of Coronation of Richard I, 1189.
• England under Angevin Rule
  • The Charter of St. Patrick, 13th century [At Britannia]
    A fake document, attributed to St. Patrick but actually concocted by the monks of Glastonbury Abbey to prove their primacy over the neighboring See of Bath and Wells.
  • Chronicle of the Abbey of St. Edmunds (1173-1202), (c.1156-d.1202(?)).
  • Gerald of Wales (1146-1225): The Discovery of the Tomb of King Arthur, from On the Instruction of a Prince (De Instructione Principis), c. 1223

LATER MEDIEVAL ENGLAND

• Statuta Armorum (The Statutes of Arms), c. 1260
• The Assizes of Bread, Beer, & Lucrum Pistoris
• Statuta de Forstallariis (Statute of Forestallers), c. 1300
• Judicium Pillorie (The Judgment of the Pillory)
• Statuta de Mercatoribus (Statutes of Merchants), 11 Edw. I (1283) & 13 Edw. I (1285)
• Edward I: Edward I: Statute of Quia Emptores, 1290.
• Edward I: Statute of Mortmain, 1279.
• Edward I: Confirmatio Cartarum, November 5, 1297, (Confirmation of Henry III's version of the Magna Carta).
• Robert Palmer: Statutes of Edward I [At Univ. Houston].
  Texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
• Robert Palmer: The Equity Courts. [At Univ. Houston]
  Texts, plus discussion, with case examples.
• Orders for the English Fleet, 1326. [At Hillsdale]
• Ordinance of Laborers, 1349.
• Statute of Laborers, 1351.
• Jean Froissart: The English Peasant Revolt, 1381, from Chronicles.
• The Second Battle of St. Albans, 1461. [At Hillsdale]
• Invasion of Northern England, 1463. [At Hillsdale]
• Siege of Bamborough, 1464. [At Hillsdale]
• The Battle of Barnet, 1471. [At Hillsdale]
• The Battle of Tewkesbury, 1471. [At Hillsdale]
• Equipment List of the HMS Mary Rose, 1514. [At Hillsdale]
• Sources on Richard III and The Yorkist Dynasty
  A collection of primary sources and secondary literature, [At Richard III Society.]
• Everyman, 15th century, full text

VARIOUS SELECT PLEAS

These documents illustrate the development of the English legal system.

• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Cornish Eyre.
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward III - Manor of Brightwaltham.
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Lincolnshire Eyre.
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Northamptonshire Eyre.
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Bedfordshire Eyre.
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Staffordshire Eyre.
• Select Pleas of the Crown, 1200-1225 - Shropshire Eyre.
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1247.
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1248.
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1249.
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1275.
• Select Pleas in Manorial and Other Seignorial Courts, Reigns of Henry III and Edward I - Manors of the Abbey of Bec, A.D. 1280.



Jump Back to Contents 

PARLIMENTARY ORIGINS IN ENGLAND

• See the Medieval Sourcebook: Medieval Legal History page
• Robert Palmer: Origins of Common Law. [At Houston]>
  This informative discussion contains, embedded, the following documents:
• The Treaty of Winchester: Between Stephen and Henry [II], (1153)
• The Writ of Right (from Glanvill, 12.3)
• The Assize of Northampton, cc. 4-5 (1176)
• The Assize of Novel Disseisin [the earliest example of the writ of NOVEL DISSEISIN we have; it comes from Glanvill, 13.33 (circa 1188)]
• Robert Palmer: The Law in 1188: Glanvill. [At Houston]
  Contains substantial excerpts from the law book known as Glanvill
• Robert Palmer: Rules of Law. [At Houston]
  Page down this page for text of rules of law such as Utrum and Darein presentment.
• [Tierney 70] Assizes: Novel Disseisin and Utrum, copyrighted
  See above.
• [Geary 48] Dialogue of the Exchequer, 1180s. [Full text of Book First, titles of Book Second]
• The Pipe Roll of the Bishopric of Winchester, 1208-1209
  Pipe roll records are among the most detail of all medieval sources, and show both the development of the English administrative system, as well as types and scale of economic activity.
• Bracton: De Legibus Et Consuetudinibus Angliæ (On the Laws and Customs of England), in English and Latin, attributed to Henry of Bratton, c. 1210-1268), Full Text. [At Cornell]
• [Geary 49.1] Articles of the Barons, Jun 15, 1215, copyrighted
• [Tierney 71, Geary 49.2] Magna Carta, 1215, A Magna Carta in plain text is also available, as is a British Library modern translation.
• Roger of Wendover: Runneymede 1215 from Flowers of Hisory.
• John I: Concession Of England To The Pope. A.D. 1213,.
• [Geary 49.3] Innocent III: Declaration that Magna Carta is Null and Void, Aug 24, 1215, copyrighted
• [Geary 49.4] Magna Carta, 1216, (a revised version), copyrighted
• Matthew of Westminster: Simon de Montfort's Rebellion 1265.
• [Tierney 72.1-3] Summons of a Bishop, a Baron, and the Commons to Parliament 1295.
• [Tierney 72.4] Edward I: Confirmation of the Charters, 1297.
• [Tierney 73] Edward II: Coronation Oath, 1308.
• Thomas Walsingham: The Good Parliament of 1376, from Chronicon Angliae
• The Manner and Form of the Coronation of the Kings and Queens of England, 1385 - 1460. [At Chronique]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

SCOTLAND

• The Flores Historiarum: On William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, c. 1307.
• The Declaration of Arbroath, April 6, 1320 [at Edinburgh]
  Text of the "Scottish Declaration of Independence", in Latin and English.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

IRELAND

• See Celtic World, above
• Gerald of Wales (1146-1225): The Conquest of Ireland, 12th Century.
• Gerald of Wales (1146-1225): The Conquest of Ireland, Book I, Chapter 46: Description of Henry II, king of the English.
• The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel, c 1100 full text
• Story of Mac Dathó's Pig, 12th Cent. [At Vassar]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

THE RISE OF FRANCE

• [Geary 27] The Murder of Charles the Good, copyrighted
• Richer: The Election of Hugh Capet, 987
• [Tierney 55] Abbot Suger (1081-1155): Life of Louis VI, See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Louis IX, Saint.
• Abbot Suger (1081-1155): On his Administration. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Abbot Suger.
• Abbot Suger: Life of King Louis the Fat, full text, trans. Jean Dunbabin [At Cornell]
• Rigord (1145/50-1209): Deeds of Philip II Augustus, trans Paul Hyams, full text? [At Cornell]
• [Tierney 66, Geary 44] Jean de Joinville: Life of St. Louis, excerpts
• Jean de Joinville: Memoirs. Full text [At Virgina]
• St. Louis: Advice to His Son.
• [Geary 45] Enquets of St. Louis, copyrighted
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

There is very little material available in etext form, as yet, about medieval Spain and Portugal. There are three offsite archives:

• WEB  AARHMS Web
  The American Association of Research Historians of Medieval Spain [AARHMS] maintains an which includes an Archive section devoted to putting such Iberian material online. It is still fairly sparse at this stage.
• WEB  Electronic Texts for the Study of Medieval Iberia.
  An archive is under development at Northwestern University.
• WEB  The Buried Mirror: Spain 1212-1492
  A site dedicated to Latin American history, but with some texts from medieval Iberia. Texts available:
  - The People: Classes of People, by Enrique de Villena (1384-1434)
  - Warfare: Capture of a Moorish City, by Rodrigo Manrique (1422-1476)
  - A Definition of a Knight, by Gutierre Díez de Games (1379-CA.1450)
  - The Fall of Granada
  - The Spanish Inquisition: Process of Luis de Santangel
  - Columbus And The Kings Advisors. Saint Augustine doubts...Landfall
  - Amerigo Vespucci: Master Mariner and Humanist

• Visigothic Spain
  • Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, Visigothic and Byzantine
  • The Jews of Spain and the Visigothic Code, 654-681
• Al-Andulus: Moorish Spain
  • Ibn Abd-el-Hakem: The Islamic Conquest of Spain .
  • Al Maggari: Tarik's Address to His Soldiers, 711 CE, from The Breath of Perfumes
  • The Poetry of the Spanish Moors, Selections
• The "Reconquista"
  • Robert Southey: The Chronicle of the Cid, 1637, full text, but not entirely a translation of any one Spanish text. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: EL CID
  • The Lay of the Cid (Translation: R.Selden Rose& L. Bacon) [OMACL 30] [Zip File]
  • James Brodman: Ransoming Captives in Crusader Spain: The Order of Merced on the Christian-Islamic Frontier, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1986), complete text [At University of Central Arkansas]
• Leon and Castile
• Aragon
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Navigation Act, 1227
  • James I of Aragon: Grant of Trade Privileges to Barcelona, 1232
  • James I of Aragon: Improvement of Harbor Facilities in Barcelona, 1243
  • James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Maritime Code, 1258
• Portugal
  • Osbernus: De expugnatione Lyxbonensi [The Capture of Lisbon], 1147.
• The Life of Christian Spain
  • Arxiu, Capitular of Vic, Various translated texts.[At Kansas]
  • Leyenda de Santiago This version of the Legend of Santiago is taken from The Golden Legend, by Jacobus de Voragine. The page contains links to other legends about medieval Spanish pilgrimage centers [In Spanish.][At UCLA]
  • 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]
  • Indulgences granted to the Confraternity of Belchite, 1136. [At Kansas]
• Seferad: Jewish Spain
  • The Siete Partidas: Concerning Jews, 1265.
  • The Expulsion from Spain, 1492
    Account by an Italian Jew.
    
    
    Jump Back to Contents 

Medieval Life and Thought

13TH-14TH CENTURY SCHOLARS AND SCHOLASTICISM

See Twelfth Century Thought, above

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

• Robert de Courçon: Statutes for the University of Paris, 1215 Courses in the Arts 1215.
• Rules of the University of Paris, 1215, [At Clinch Valley College]
• [Tierney 77.1] Gregory IX: Statutes of the University of Paris, 1231.
• [Tierney 77.2] University of Paris: Courses in Arts 1255, copyrighted
• University of Paris: Courses in Theology [1271] and Medicine [1270-74].
• [Tierney 77.3] Bishop Stephen of Paris: Thirteen Condemned Errors, 1270, copyrighted - see next item.
• University of Paris: Condemnation of Errors, 1241.
• [Tierney 78.1] Life of Richard of Chichester: - a good student, copyrighted
• [Tierney 78.2] Alvarus Pelagius: The Plaint of the Church - on bad students [c.1275-1349], copyrighted - see next item
• Jacques de Vitry: Life of the Students at Paris, 13th century.
• Medieval Students' Songs
• Rupert, Count Palatine: Foundation of the University of Heidelberg, 1386
• Cato: Distichs. [At Harvard]
  Used as textbook in teaching elementary Latin in the middle ages. Not by either of the two famous Roman Catos.

THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT

• WEB  Medieval Theologians [At USD]
  Gary Macy's extensive online guide to Thirteenth century thinkers.
• [Tierney 77.4] Odofredus: Introduction to Course on Corpus Iuris Civilis c. 1250, copyrighted
• Aquinas
  • [Tierney 79.1] Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): Summa Theologiae, available soon. The full text of the Summa Theologiae is also available, in English, [At New Advent]. The complete text is also available in French, [At Cerf].
    See also Manuscript Vat. Lat. 9851, folio v., with Aquinas' handwriting.
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On Theology and the Existence of God from the Summa Theologiae, available, copy-permitted 
  See also Walter Farrell: A Companion to the Summa [at OP.Org]; and Encyclopeadia Britannica (9th ed): Aquinas, Thomas [At CCEL]
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): Reasons in Proof of the Existence of God, 1270, from the Summa Theologiae, (another version).
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On the Nature of Law.
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On The Principles of Nature, trans Stephen Loughlin. [At UToronto]
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On Being and Essence (De Ente et Essentia), trans. Robert T. Miller.
• [Geary 34.3a] Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On the Eternity of the World, trans. Robert T. Miller, [Diff. translation than Geary]
• [Geary 34.3a] Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On the Eternality of the World [Summa Contra Gentiles II: 31-38,], full text, inc. SCG II: 31-38, now available as Summa Contra Gentiles Part 1: Of God and His Creatures. [At Maritain Center/Notre Dame].
• [Geary 34.1] Bonaventure (1217-1274): On the Eternality of the World [in II Sent. D.1, a.1. q2, and other texts] copyrighted?  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Bonaventure.
• [Geary 34.2] Siger of Brabant: On the Eternality of the World, copyrighted?
• Ibn Rushd (Averroës) (1126-1198 CE): Religion & Philosophy, c. 1190. The text is On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy, or in Arabic Kitab fasl al-maqal, with its appendix (Damina). Appended is an extract from Kitab al-kashf`an manahij al-adilla.available 7/7/98
  Ibn Rushd (Averroës) was a major influence on Western thinkers.
• Roger Bacon: On Experimental Science, 1268.
• Roger Bacon: On Experimental Science, from Opus Majus, 13th century [At Clinch Valley College]
• Roger Bacon: Despair About Thirteenth Century Scholarship, from Compendium Studii Philosophiae, 1271.
• [Tierney 79.2] Bonaventure (1217-1274): The Mind's Road to God, copyrighted
  
  The following were off-site links to various late medieval philosophical texts offered at a website in Australia. That website is no longer working so local copies are now linked. [If anyone objects to this, please contact halsall@murray.fordham.edu] 
• William of Ockham (1299-1350): Dialogus, Latin text edition and English translation by John Kilcullen and John Scott. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: William of Ockham.
• JDS, II.3.1.5-6. [Local copy]
• Ockham, Scotus, Buridan
• Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ibn Rushd (Averroës): Islamic political philosophy. [Local copy]
• John of Paris: On Royal and Papal Power [Local copy]
• various texts.

POLITICAL THOUGHT

• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On the Nature of Law.
• John of Paris: On Royal and Papal Power [Local copy]
• [Geary 36] Marsiglio of Padua (d.1343): Defensor Pacis: Selections from Text, 1324.
• [Tierney 81.3, Geary 36] Marsiglio of Padua (d.1343): Defensor Pacis: Conclusions, 1324; Same Text with Introduction also available, complete, and in a different version from Tierney. [Geary has copyrighted selections from body of the text, chaps. 3 and 13.]

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• WEB Internet History of Science Sourcebook
• A Treatise from Salerno on Nutrition: De flore dietarum, in Latin and Italian, [At Cilento]
• [Tierney 79] John Buridan: Questions [c.1290-c.1360], copyrighted
• [Tierney 79] Nicholas Oresme: Questions [1320-1382], copyrighted
• Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400): A Treatise on the Astrolabe, c.1391, in Middle English.



Jump Back to Contents 

CRITICISM OF SOCIETY - HERESY AND MENDICANCY

HERESY

• WEB Medieval Heresy, A website at ptsem..
• Caesarius of Heisterbach: Medieval Heresies, from Dialogue on Miracles, V.
  Discussion of Waldensians, Albigenses, and "intellectual heretics" at Paris.
• [Tierney 62.1] Conversion of Peter Waldo. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Waldenses.
• [Tierney 62.2] Reinarius Saccho: Of the Sects of Modern Heretics, on Waldensians, 1254. also available en castellano.
• 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.
• [Tierney 63] Raynaldus: Annales: Accusations against Cathars, also available en castellano.
• Bernard Gui: Inquisitor's Manual: Accusations against Cathars, also available en castellano; See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Inquisition.
• [Tierney 64.1] Fourth Lateran Council: Canon 63 - on Heretics.

INQUISITION

• [Tierney 64.2] Bernard Gui: Technique of Interrogations [1307-1323], also available en castellano.
• [Geary 35] Jacques Fornier: Inquisition Records - re: Beatrice de Planissoles, copyrighted
• Jacques Fournier, Bishop of Pamiers 1318-1325: The Inquisition Record. [At SJSU]
  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 MENDICANT ORDERS

FRANCISCANS

• [Tierney 65.1] St. Francis (1182-1226): Testament.
• [Tierney 65.2] St. Francis (1182-1226): Canticle of the Sun, in Italian and English, text document.
• [Geary 30] Rule of Franciscan order.
• Honorius III: Bull Solet annuere, on the Rule of the Friars Minor, November 29, 1226. [At Apana]
• 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 Apana]
  The Bull canonizing St. Francis of Assisi.
• [Geary 31] Clare of Assisi: Testament, copyrighted?  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Clare of Assisi, Saint.
• Nicholas III: Exiit qui seminat, Soriano, Italy: August 14, 1279, Latin Text available. [At Apana]
  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 Apana]
  Declaration of the supreme Pontiff on the Rule of the Friars Minor.

DOMINICANS

• St. Dominic's Nine Ways of Prayer. Illustrated.
• [Geary 32] St. Dominic: Canonization Process - Selected Documents, copyrighted  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Dominic.

OTHER MENDICANTS

• Innocent IV: Bull Quae honorem conditoris omnium ["Whatever Is for the Honor of the Creator of All"], October 1, 1247. [At Apana]. See also the version at CarmelNet.
  On the prior and hermits of Mt. Carmel. The Bull includes the Carmelites' mitigated rule.
• [Geary 33] Thomas of Cantimpre': Defence of the Mendicants, copyrighted



Jump Back to Contents 

LAW - THEORY AND PRACTICE

• See the specific Medieval Sourcebook: Medieval Legal History page, plus texts under ENGLAND above.
• WEB Robert Palmer: English Legal History Materials Page [At Univ. Houston]
  Basically an online textbook on Medieval English law. The Discussion chapters contain the full texts or extended excerpst of the main documents.
• Robert Palmer: Application of Writs. [At Univ. Houston]
  Cases derived from the plea rolls, the records of the king's court, showing application of writs
• John of Ibelin: Account of a Plea, 1198, The earliest documented instance of an appeal to the Assise sur la ligece
• Concord made between Laurence the Clerk, Son of William & Sir Simon, son of Richard of Stanstead and their kinsmen, c. 1150 x 1178.
• The Trial of Enguerrand IV de Coucy Before Louis IX, 1259.
• The Strange Story of Thomas of Elderfield, 13th Century.
• Agreement between Count William V of Aquitaine and Hugh IV of Lusignan.
• The Questioning of John Rykener, A Male Cross-Dressing Prostitute, 1395.
  This is the one a a minute number of texts from legal processes on same-sex activities in late medieval England. The document contains a facsimile of the Roll membrane, a Latin transcription, and a translation.
• Oldradus de Ponte: No. 35 (Questio), early 14th century.
  The issue here is the validity of a marriage contract made under duress. A woman was kidnapped, held captive and raped over a period of twelve days. During that time, the villain compelled the woman to pronounce the words of a marriage ceremony, after which he endeavored to consummate the marriage.
• Oldradus de Ponte: No. 92 (Questio), early 14th century.
  The here was the responsibility of a knight who had been entrusted with a castle while a war was going on. That knight gave custody of the castle to someone else who then lost it to the enemy. Was the original knight liable for the castle's loss? What is the responsibility of someone who undertakes to keep something safe for someone else?
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

RURAL LIFE

THE PEASANTRY

• Farming Activity
  • Palladius: On Husbandry, c. 350
  • Gregory I the Great (r.590-604): The Papal Estates, c. 600
  • Asnapium: An Inventory of One of Charlemagne's Estates, c. 800
  • Abbé Irminon: Polyptyque de Villeneuve-St. Georges, c. 800
  • Gebhard, Bishop of Constance: Allocation of Serfs to Crafts, 990
  • The Dialogue Between Master & Disciple: On Laborers, c. 1000
    A discussion of the work lives of plowmen, fishermen and oxherds.
• Legal Position
  • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Return of Fugitive Slaves & Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xii.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Application of Patria Potestas to the Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xiii]
  • Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freemen and Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxii.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
  • Codex Justinianus: Coloni Bound to the Soil, c. 530 [Xl.51.i]
  • Carolingian Capitularies on Serfs & Coloni, 803-821
  • Louis the Pious: Duties of the Coloni, 817
  • Grant of Freedom to a Betrothed Serf, 1059
  • A Dispute Over Exaction of the Corvée, 1081
  • Henry, King of the Romans: Concerning Serfs Who Flee to the Cities of Alsace, 1224
  • The Law of Brusthem, 1175, on a mixed marriage between a slave and a freewoman.
  • [Tierney 76] Manumission of a Villein 1278.

MANORIALISM

• [Tierney 74.1] Description of Manor House at Chingford, Essex, 1265.
• [Tierney 74.2] Domesday Book: Description of Hecham Manor, Essex 1086.
• Domesday Book: Manors of the Abbey of St. Peter, Winchester, 1086
• [Geary 47] Domesday Book: Description of Huntingdonshire, 1086, copyrighted
• Manorial Management & Organization, c. 1275
• [Tierney 74.3] Hundred Rolls: Description of Alwalton Manor, Huntingdonshire 1279.
• The Pipe Roll of the Bishopric of Winchester, 1208-1209
  Pipe roll records are among the most detail of all medieval sources, and show both the development of the English administrative system, as well as types and scale of economic activity.
• Manorial Surveys, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]
  Includes Survey of Somersham, 1222, in Latin and English. (or non-frames version)
• Manorial Accounts, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]
  Includes a sample account of Deverall, in Latin and English.
• [Tierney 75] Manorial Court Pleas 1246-1249.
• Manorial and Franchisal Courts, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]
  Includes Hinderclay Court Roll in Latin and English, and extracts from Brigstock Court Roll
• Lincolnshire Lay Subsidy 1332, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]
• Rutland Lay Subsidy 1296, ed. David Postles [At Leicester]

ARCHEOLOGY OF MEDIEVAL VILLAGES

• [Geary 51] A Medieval English Village: Wharram Percy, archeological account , copyrighted , but see next item.
• Wharram Percy Page. [At Stockton]
  Wharram Percy is a deserted English Medieval village.
• Laxton Village Survey. [At Univ. Nottingham]
  A wep page on an English village which preserved open field farming until the 1930s.
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

MEDIEVAL JEWISH LIFE

• WEB Internet Jewish History Sourcebook

  JEWISH COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS

  • Accounts of the Routes of the Jewish Merchants to the East, 847
  • Abraham Ibd Daud: On Samuel Ha-Nagid, Vizier of Granada, 993-d after 1056.
    Includes an account of first Muslim violence against Spanish Jews.
  • Rashi (1040-1105): Communal Affairs in Troyes, c.1100.
  • Jewish Ethical Wills (12th and 14th Centuries).
  • The Medieval Jewish Kingdom of the Khazars, 740-1259, various contemporary accounts.
  • Bishop of Speyer: Grant of Lands & Privileges to the Jews, 1084
  • Note of a Double Loan Arising from a Tax, 1203
  • Innocent III (r.1198-1216):  Protest to Philip Augustus of France Against Royal Protection of Jewish Money-Lenders, 1204

  JEWS AND THE STATE

  • Jews and the Later Roman Law, 315-531
    Laws by Constantine the Great, Constantius (337-361), Theodosius II (408-410), and Justinian (527-565).
  • Julian and the Jews, 361-363
    From Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History written about 443-450
  • The Jews of Spain and the Visigothic Code, 654-681
  • Pact of Umar (another version), 9th century CE?
  • Charlemagne: Capitulary for the Jews, 814
  • The Expulsion of the Jews from France, 1182
    Account by Rigord from the Gesta Philippi Augusti.
  • St. Louis and the Jews of France, before 1270
    Account by Joinville.
  • The Charter of the Jews of the Duchy of Austria July 1, 1244.
  • The Siete Partidas: Concerning Jews, 1265.
  • An Oath Taken by Jews Frankfort on the Main, about 1392
  • The Expulsion from Spain, 1492
    Account by an Italian Jew.
  • The Status of Jews and Christians in Muslim Lands, 1772
    A question on the position of Jews in Islam, and the answer of the Shaikh Hasan Al Kafrawi, The Shafiite [Professor of canon law in Cairo, d. 1788 CE]

  JEWISH INTELLECTUAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

  • Toledoth Yeshu, A sixth-century Jewish (negative) account of Jesus. [At UPenn].
  • WEB Jewish Views of Jesus a page with more texts.
  • Sepher Yetzirah [or Sefer Yatzira], translated from the Hebrew by Wm. Wynn Westcott, [At Wolf's Den]
    The Sepher Yetzirah is one of the most famous of the ancient Qabalistic texts. It was first put into writing around 200 C.E. Westcott's Translation was first published in 1887.
  • Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, or Rambam): The Thirteen Principles of Judaism.
  • Maimonides: The 613 Mitzvot.
  • Maimonides: The Laws and Basic Principles of the Torah.
  • Maimonides: The Laws Concerning Mashiach, Chapters 11 & 12 of Hilchos Melachim from the Mishneh Torah of the Rambam.
  • Maimonides: Oath of Maimonides.
  • The Hypertext Halacha.[At Project Genesis/torah.org]
    A translation of the Shulchan Aruch and Mishna Berurah. An excellent source for the details of Jewish religious law.

  ANTI-SEMITISM

  • Legislation Affecting the Jews, 300 to 800 CE
    Index to Roman, Western and canonical laws
  • Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, Visgothic and Byzantine
  • Prayers for Making a Synagogue into a Church, in Latin.
    From the Liber Sacramentorum Romanae Ecclesiae
  • Socrates Scholasticus: The Blood Libel in Syria, (late 4th century).
  • Byzantine Liturgy for Good Friday.
    This is a current English translation. It shows how the very negative Christian message that Jews were "Christ-killers" was conveyed to the people - through the liturgy of the churches. Latin Catholic Good Friday services were just as anti-Semitic, although it has now been reformed. This aspect of Christian liturgy made Holy Week an extremely dangerous time for Jews thoughout Christian-majority lands.
  • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies Against the Jews
  • Justinian I: Novella 146: On Jews
  • Antiochus Strategos: The Sack of Jersusalem, 614.
    An example of Byzantine Antisemitism, and a version of the Blood libel.
  • Ralph Glaber (d.c.1044): The Year 1000 AD from the Miracles de Saint-Benoit, discusses early 11th century anti-semitism.
  • Soloman bar Samson: The Crusaders in Mainz, 1096, written in mid 12th century.
  • Thomas of Monmouth: The Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich, 1144, excerpts.
    One of the major accusations against Jews of the charge that they killed Christian children. This blood-libel was the center of a number of saint's cults. See the Catholic Encylopedia [1913] article William of Norwich for much background information. [Note that this article, while rejecting the Ritual Murder and Blood Libels, does end by suggesting that some of the cases were based on real incidents.]
  • Image and Story of Anderl von Rinn: A Blood Libel Saint, supposedly 1462, in fact 17th century.
    An image from Rinn showing the ritual murder of Anderl von Rinn. This file also contains many links to other "blood libel" information.
  • Ephraim ben Jacob: The Ritual Murder Accusation at Blois, May, 1171.
  • Roger of Hoveden: Persecution of Jews Following Coronation of Richard I, 1189.
  • Ephraim of Bonn: On the York Massacre of 1189-90.
  • [Tierney 61.1] Innocent III: Letter on the Jews: toleration, 1199.
  • Innocent III: Constitution for the Jews - toleration, 1199.
  • [Tierney 61.2] The Fourth Lateran Council: Canon - on Jews.
  • [Tierney 61.3] Gregory IX: Letter on the Jews - against Talmud [r.1227-1241], copyrighted
  • [Tierney 61.4] Gregory X (r.1271-1276): Letter on the Jews.
  • Martin V: From Declaration on Protection for the Jews, 1419.
  • Anti-Semitic Legends, Translated and/or edited by D. L. Ashliman. [At Pitt]
  • Martin Luther (1483-1546): The Jews and Their Lies, 1543.
    
    
    Jump Back to Contents 

CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY

THE LIFE OF CHRIST

• Innocent III: Sermon on the Resurrection of the Lord.
• Thomas à Kempis (c.1380-1471): The Imitation of Christ, excerpts, available soon. See full text[At CCEL]

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.
• Gonzalo de Berceo: The Miracle of Theophilus, c. 1250, from Miraglos de Nuestra Señora, in Latin with English trans. by James Marchand. [At UIUC]
• 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 American]

SAINTS AND RELICS

• See the Medieval Sourcebook: Saints' Lives Page
• [Geary 21] Bernard of Angers: Miracles of St. Foy, copyrighted?
• Gregory of Tours (539-594): Eight Books of Miracles, Selections.
• Sermon Stories: Tales of Relics, 12th-13th Century.
• Invention of the Relics of St. Benedict, (7th century?)
• Stephen de Bourbon: De Supersticione: On St Guinefort, [At Cornell]
  The basis of the film The Sorceress about a sainted dog. Based on the tradition of St. Christopher as being "dog-faced".
• Guibert of Nogent (1053-1124): from Treatise on Relics.
• 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.
• 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]

THE SACRAMENTAL SYSTEM

• The Seven Sacraments: Catholic Doctrinal Documents.
  Excerpts from the Profession of Faith of Michael Paleologus (1274), and the Decree for the Armenians (1439).
• 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.
• [Geary 17] 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.
• 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 Apana]
  On the Beatific Vision of God.
• Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510): Treatise on Purgatory [At EWTN], Full text.

POPULAR BELIEFS

• Sermon Stories: Tales of the Devil, 12th-13th Century.

ASPECTS OF POPULAR RELIGION

• Johann Busch: Reading in the Vernacular, (b. 1399).
• John of Ruysbroeck (1293-1381): The Adornment of Spiritual Marriage, full text. [At CCEL]



Jump Back to Contents 

WOMEN'S ROLES

GENERAL

• WEB ORB: Medieval Women's Studies [At ORB]

WOMEN IN RELIGION

• WEB Matrix: A collection of resources for the study of women's religious communities, 500-1500, [At Yale].
  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).
• Socrates Scholasticus: The Murder of Hypatia.
  A leading female philosopher, Hypatia was murdered by a Christian mob in Alexandria, urged on by St. Cyril.
• Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-d.c.395): Life of Macrina, trans. W.K. Lowther Clarke. Full text.
  One of the most important lives of a female saint. This is an account of Gregory's strongminded sister, Macrina (c.327-379).
• Life of Matrona of Perge, d.c. 510-515, trans Khalifa Ben Nasser, [full text of Metaphrastic Life: selections from Vita Prima].
  An example of a "transvestite" saint who was also a historical figure.
• The Life of Liutberga, 9th Century, trans, Jo Ann McNamara. Full text.
• Life of Mary the Younger, d.c. 903, trans Paul Halsall, [First five chapters, and concluding prayer].
• Ancrene Wisse, In Middle English, with some Latin. [At Uconn] A collection of rules and advice for English nuns.

WOMEN AS WRITERS

• WEB Bibliography of Works by and About Women Writers of the Middle Ages (Robbins Library)
• Hrotsvitha of Gandersheim (c.930/40-c.1002): St. John. [At Millersville]
  See also Catholic Enclopedia: Hroswitha
• Hildegarde of Bingen (1098-1179): Lyrics, Latin and English. [At Myhouse.com].
• WEB See also the Hildegarde of Bingen page [At Millersville]; and the Catholic Encyclopedia article.
• Hildegarde of Bingen (1098-1179): Sciavas, short excerpt.[At bu.edu]
• Heloise: Letter to Abelard, trans. C.K. Scott Moncrief. The text is also available in Latin. [At Georgetown]
• WEB Photograph of Tomb of Abelard and Heloise, Père-Lachaise (Cemetery : Paris, France).
• Hadewijch of Antwerp, d.c. 1260. [At Millersville]
  The page contains links to five of her letters and four of her poems.
• Marguerite Porète: The Mirror of Simple Souls, (written 1296/1306), trans. Bonnie Duncan and Ellen L Babinsky. [At Millersville]
  Porète's book, a mystic account of the ascent of the soul, was condemned in 1306, and was burned in her presence!
• [Tierney 90.1] Catherine of Siena (1347-1380): Dialogue, available soon
• Catherine of Siena (1347-1380): Dialogue of the Seraphic Virgin, 1370, full text now available [At CCEL]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Catherine of Siena, Saint.
• [Tierney 90.2] Catherine of Siena (1347-1380): Letter to Gregory XI, copyrighted
• [Tierney 91] Christine de Pizan (1363-1431): Book of the City of Ladies, copyrighted
• Christine de Pizan (1363-1431):Treasure of the City of Ladies. [At Women Writers of the Middle Ages/Millersville]
• [Book of the City of Ladies]: Whether there was ever a woman who discovered hitherto unknown knowledge
• How elderly ladies ought to conduct themselves toward young ones, [At Millersville]
• How young women ought to conduct themselves towards their elders, [At Millersville]
• Of the wives of artisans and how they ought to conduct themselves, [At Millersville]
• How ladies and young women who live on their manors ought to manage their households and estates, [At Millersville]
• Julian of Norwich: Shewings Chap 51, 1371, (lived 1342 - 1443). [At Millersville]
  The Full Text: Modern English is available now available at Wheaton College, and in Middle English [At University of Michigan]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Juliana of Norwich, and WEB Julian of Norwich Page. [At Luminarium]
• [Geary 37] The Book of Margery Kempe, copyrighted?  [but see next items]
• Margery Kempe: The Book of Margery Kempe: The Birth of Her First Child and Her First Vision. [At luminarium.org]
  WEB see the Luminarium: Margery Kempe Page [with a picture of Margery]
• Margery Kempe: The Book of Margery Kempe: Her Pride and Attempts to Start a Business. [At luminarium.org]
• Margery Kempe: The Book of Margery Kempe: Margery and Her Husband Reach a Settlement. [At luminarium.org]
• Margery Kempe: The Book of Margery Kempe: Pilgrimmage to Jerusalem. [At luminarium.org]
• Margery Kempe: Treatise of Contemplation, from her Book as reprinted in The Cell of Self-Knowledge. [At CCEL]
  For many centuries this was the only well-known part of Margery's writing.
• Marie de France: Lays: The Honeysuckle. [At Millersville]
• Laura Certa: Letter to Bibulus Sempronius, 13 January 1488 [At CCNY]

WOMEN IN POLITICS

• Empress Matilda: To Archbishop Anselm, c. 1100. [At Millersville]
• Peter of Blois: Letter 154, to Queen Eleanor, 1173, trans. M. Markowski [M-Markow@wcslc.edu].
• Johann Nider: On Joan of Arc, (d. 1438). See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St.Joan of Arc.
• Joan of Arc: Letter to the King of England, 1429.
• The Trial of Joan of Arc, 1431,

WOMEN IN THE HOME

• Robert Palmer: Women and the Law. [At Houston]
  Glanvill on Law as it applies to women in England, 1188.
• [Tierney 88] Le Menagier [or Goodman] of Paris: on ideal marriage.
• Bernardino of Siena: Sermons on Wives and Widows, 1427.

WOMEN AT WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME

• [Tierney 89] Trial of Jacqueline Felice: A Woman Doctor, 1322, copyrighted

WOMEN AND MISOGYNY

• Witchcraft Documents, inc. the Papal Bull of 1484, Johannes Nider on witches, and extracts from the Malleus malificaram.
• Sprenger and Kramer: The Malleus Maleficarum [The Hammer of Witches], 1484, extended excerpts. [At Witches Directory/Rutgers]
• Witchcraft Legends, Translated and/or edited by D. L. Ashliman. [At Pitt]



Jump Back to Contents 

MEN'S ROLES

• Statuta Armorum (The Statutes of Arms), c. 1260
  An attempt to forbid jousting, etc.
• WEB Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournaments Resource Library. [At Chronique]
• To Cry a Joust: Abillement for the Joust, 15th Century. [At Chronique]
• Challenge of John Astley, Squire, to Philip Boyle, Knight of Aragon, On the occasion of his knighting, 1442. [At Chronique]
• A Joust: Pierre de Masse's Challenge, 1438. [At Chronique]
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

CONSTRUCTIONS OF SEXUALITY AND GENDER

• Extra: For this subject the People With A History: An Online Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* History
• Justinian I: Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel 141, [544 CE]. [At PWH]
  Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality.
• Homoerotic Medieval Texts.
• Medieval Sex Texts. [At Upenn]
• The Passion of Sergius and Bacchus, full text of early passion.
• Two Versions of the Rite of Adelphopoiia.
• Theodore of Studium (d.826): Reform Rules, contains interesting references to adelphopoiia and dangers of monastic friendships.
• Peter Damian: 'The Different Types of Those Who Sin Against Nature', from Liber Gomorrhianus, .c.1048-54.
• Alain of Lille (d. 1203): The Plaint of Nature, extracts. The full text is also available.
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): 0n Sex: Summa Theologiae II-II, 153-154.
• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): On Unnatural Sex: Summa Theologiae II-II, 154, 10-11.
• The Questioning of John Rykener, A Male Cross-Dressing Prostitute, 1395.
  This is the one a a minute number of texts from legal processes on same-sex activities in late medieval England. The document contains a facsimile of the Roll membrane, a Latin transcription, and a translation.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

MARRIAGE

• Selections from the Bible on Marriage
• St Augustine: On Marriage and Concupiscence, excerpts.
  A crucial text for understanding why marriage was such a problem for medieval canonists and theologians.
• St Jerome (c. 320-420): On Marriage and Virginity, From Letter XXII to Eustochium and from the treatise Against Jovinian
• St Jerome (c. 320-420): On The Song of Songs, From the treatise Against Jovinian
• Corpus Iuris Civilis: The Digest and Codex on Marriage. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: History of Marriage.
• Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
• Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
• Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
• The Contract of Marriage, in the Ecloga of Leo III, (726).
• A Husband's Endowment Of His Future Wife On Their Betrothal - Southern Burgundy, 994.
• Council Legislation on Marriage.
• Tables of Kindred and Degrees - both Roman and German methods of calculation.
• The Law of Brusthem, 1175, on a mixed marriage between a slave and a freewoman.
• Gratian:  On Marriage.
• Innocent III (r.1198-1216): Letters on Marriage, and Women, 1203-1204
• Manorial Marriage and Sexual Offense Cases.
• The Crow of the Bestiaries.
• Sale of Daughter as a Concubine.
• Wife Sues to Get Husband Back .
• Church Courts Pursue Adulterers, 1289.
• Robert of Flamborough: Summa Confessorum: on Luxuria.
• Constance of Brittany and Gerald of Wales: On Louis VII of France.
• Bernardino of Siena: Sermons on Wives and Widows , (1427).
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

The Late Middle Ages

THE PAPACY OVERREACHES

• Papal Claims
  • [Tierney 80.1] Boniface VIII (r.1294-1303): Clericis Laicos, 1296. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Boniface VIII
  • [Tierney 80.2] Boniface VIII (r.1294-1303): Unam Sanctam, 1302.
• Reaction: Political
  • Licet Juris, 1338. Decree on papal power in the Holy Roman Empire.
  • The Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, 1438, On papal power in France.
• Reaction: Intellectual and Theological
  • [Tierney 81.1] John of Paris: Tractatus de Potestate Regia et Papali 1302-03, copyrighted
  • [Tierney 81.2] William of Ockham (1299-1350): Dialogus , copyrighted, but see next
  • William of Ockham (1299-1350): Dialogus, Latin text edition and English translation by John Kilcullen and John Scott.
  • Raimon de Cornet (14th cent. troubadour): Poem Criticizing the Avignon Papacy
  • Petrarch (1304-1374): Letter Criticizing the Avignon Papacy
  • [Geary 36] Marsiglio of Padua (d.1343): Defensor Pacis: Selections from Text, 1324.
  • [Tierney 81.3, Geary 36] Marsiglio of Padua (d.1343): Defensor Pacis: Conclusions, 1324; Same Text with Introduction also available, complete, and in a different version from Tierney. [Geary has copyrighted selections from body of the text, chaps. 3 and 13.]
  • John XXII: Condemnation of Marsiglio of Padua, 1327.
  • [Tierney 81.4] The Condemnation of Wycliffe, 1382 and Wycliffe's Reply, 1384. Also includes John Wycliffe (1324-1384): Condemned Propositions 1382, [Different version from Tierney].
    See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Lollards.
  • John Wycliffe (1324-1384): On the Sacrament of Communion [Excerpt from Trialogus]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Utraquism.
  • [Tierney 82] Dante Alighieri (1265-1321): Divine Comedy: Inferno XIX - Hell: third pit - on Papal Avarice, [different trans. than Tierney's]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Dante Alighieri.
  • Dante Alighieri (1265-1321): Divine Comedy: Inferno XIX. [Another version]
  • Erasmus (ca. 1469-1536): In Praise of Folly, trans. John Wilson, 1688 [Full text] [At University of the South]
    More Erasmus texts are at the Erasmus Text Project [At Sewanee]
    
    
    Jump Back to Contents 

THE "CALAMITOUS" 14TH CENTURY

A MALTHUSIAN CRISIS?

• [Tierney 83] Johannes of Trowkelowe: Annales: On the Famine of 1315.

THE BLACK DEATH

• [Tierney 84] Giovanni Boccaccio: Decameron: Introduction, on the Black Death, as is another version. The entire Decameron is also available. [At Virginia Tech]
• The Black Death and the Jews 1348-1349
  Contains: The Confession of Agimet of Geneva, , October 20, 1349; Jacob von Königshofen (1346-1420); Chonicle;  The Epitaph of Asher aben Turiel, Toledo, Spain, 1349

WARFARE

• Orders for the English Fleet, 1326. [At Hillsdale]
• [Tierney 85, Geary 46.1. 46.2] Jean Froissart: Battles of Crecy 1346, of Poitiers 1356, from Chronicles. Longer extracts in Geary.
• [Tierney 86, Geary 46.3] Jean Froissart: The Jacquerie, 1358, from Chronicles
• Jean Froissart: The English Peasant Revolt, 1381, from Chronicles [At Clinch Valley College]
• [Tierney 87] Anonimalle Chronicle: Peasant Uprising of 1381.
• [Geary 46.4] Jean Froissart: Chronicles - The Last Days of Etienne Marcel 1358, copyrighted
• Tales from Froissart. [At Unipissing]
  Selection of short excerpts from Froissart.
• The Hundred Years War In The High Court of Parlement, trans Fred Cheyette.
• Hundred Years War: Treaty of Troyes, 1420 and Conditions in France in 1422.

ECCLESIASTICAL DISARRAY

• The Great Schism: Manifesto of the Revolting Cardinals, 1378.
• The Great Schism: The University of Paris on the Schism, 1393.
• Jean Froissart: The Great Schism, from Chronicles [At Clinch Valley College]
• Decree of Council of Pisa: On the Powers of the Council, 1409



Jump Back to Contents 

LATE MEDIEVAL GOVERNMENT

• See the specific Medieval Sourcebook: Medieval Legal History page
• Licet Juris, 1338.
• [Geary 42] Charles IV: Autobiography [r.1355-78], copyrighted?
• [Tierney 92, Geary 43] Charles IV: The Golden Bull, 1356. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Bulla Aurea (Golden Bull).
• Levy of Troops for Wars in Bohemia, 1422.
• [Tierney 93] Parliamentary Rolls: Deposition of Richard II 1399, copyrighted
• [Tierney 94.1] Joan of Arc: Letter to the King of France, 1429. [A different version than Tierney's].
• [Tierney 94.1] The Trial of Joan of Arc, 1431.
• Johann Nider: On Joan of Arc, (d. 1438).
• Philippe de Commynes: Portrait of Louis IX [r. 1461-1483] (c. 1498).
• Bartolus of Sassoferrato: On the Tyrant, c.1330, trans. Steve Lane [slane@tezcat.com], on tyranny in Italian city government.
• [Tierney 95] Machiavelli: Discourses - on papacy, copyrighted
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

CONCILIARISM

• The Great Schism: The Council of Pisa Declares itself Competent to Judge Popes, 1409.
• [Tierney 96.1] Council of Constance: Decree Sacrosancta, 1415.
• [Tierney 96.2] Council of Constance: Deposition of John XXIII, 1415, copyrighted
• [Tierney 97.1] Council of Constance: Decree Frequens, 1415.
• [Tierney 97.2] Council of Constance: List of Abuses, 1417.
• [Tierney 97.3] Pius II (r.1458-1464): Bull Execrabilis, 1459 . See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope Martin V.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

MEDIEVAL PEOPLE - REFLECTED IN LITERATURE

Make sure to see the Literary Texts section of the Medieval Sourcebook: Full Texts Page, for many complete medieval epics, romances, and other literary texts.

• [Tierney 98] William Langland: Piers Plowman: Peasant Food, available soon
• William Langland: Piers Plowman: Excerpts. [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Incipit. [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus I (The Dreamer is Instructed by Holy Church). [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus II (Lady Meed Appears). [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus III (The Debate of Meed and Conscience). [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus IV (Reason Counsels the King). [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus V (Confession of the Seven Deadly Sins). [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus VI (Piers Sets All to Work). [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus VII (The Pardon Granted to Piers). [At Harvard]
• Piers Plowman: Passus XVIII (The Harrowing of Hell). [At Harvard]
• Robin Hood and the Monk, after 1450. [At Purdue]
  The earliest Robin Hood Ballad.
• [Tierney 99] Italian Merchant: In Praise of Merchants 1458, copyrighted
• [Tierney 100] Sebastian Brandt: The Ship of Fools 1494, copyrighted. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Sebastian Brandt
• [Tierney 101] Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400): Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, text file in original language.
• Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400): Canterbury Tales: The Prologue [Parallel Texts] , [uses Tables], (c.1380)
• Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340-1400): Canterbury Tales: Prologue to Wife of Bath's Tale [Modern Text] , (c.1380). A Parallel Text Version, [using HTML Tables] is also available.
• Everyman, 15th century, full text
• [Tierney 102.1] François Villon (c.1431-after 1463): Ballade of the Concourse of Blois, copyrighted
• [Tierney 102.2] François Villon (c.1431-after 1463): Ballade for Fat Margo, copyrighted
• [Tierney 102.3-4] François Villon (c.1431-after 1463): Ballade to Our Lady and Epitaph in the form of a Ballade.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

Transformations

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

• Dante Alighieri (1265-1321): The Divine Comedy.
  See Medieval Sourcebook: Full Texts Page for the many different versions od this text which are online.
• Dante Alighieri (1265-1321): Letter to Cangrande. [At Harvard] or here [At U Penn]
  Dante's letter explaining the Divine Comedy
• Petrarch (1304-1374): The Ascent of Mount Ventoux
• Petrarch (1304-1374): Selected Letters, c. 1372.
• Petrarch (1304-1374): Selections from his Correspondences, from James Harvey Robinson, ed. and trans. Francesco Petrarca: The First Modern Scholar and Man of Letters, (New York: G.P. Putnam, 1898), scanned by Jason Boley and Jacob Miller. August, 1995. Hanover College.
• Selection 1 - Francesco Petrarch to Posterity
• Selection 2 - Petrarch's Preface to his First Collection of Letters
• Selection 3 - Petrarch's Passion for Work - The Trials of a Man of Letters
• Selection 4 - The Visit to the Goldsmith at Bergamo
• Selection 5 - Petrarch Disclaims all Jealousy of Dante
• Selection 6 - The Story of Griselda
• Selection 7 - On the Italian Language and Literature
• Selection 8 - His Aversion to Logicians
• Selection 9 - To Marcus Tullius Cicero (1 of 2)
• Selection 10 - The Old Grammarian of Vicenza
• Selection 11 - To Marcus Tullius Cicero (2 of 2)
• Selection 12 - To Homer
• Selection 13 - On the Nature of Poetry
• Selection 14 - On the Scarcity of Copyists
• Selection 15 - The Young Humanist of Ravenna
• Selection 16 - An Excursion to Paris, the Netherlands, and the Rhine
• Selection 17 - The Ascent of Mount Ventoux
• Petrus Paulus Vergerius: The New Education, 1400.
• Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574): Lives of the Artists, Complete in English [Were at UM-Baltimore, now here]
• Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574): Leonardo da Vinci, 1550.
• Lorenzo de Medici (1449-1492): Paternal Advice to A Cardinal, c. 1491.
• Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527): The Prince, excerpts, 1513s.
• Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527): The Prince, 1513, full text in HTML.
  See also Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859): Essay On Machiavelli, 1850
• Laura Certa: Letter to Bibulus Sempronius, 13 January 1488 [At CCNY]
• Baldesar Castiglione (1478-1529): The Book of the Courtier, short extracts [At CCNY]
• Baldesar Castiglione (1478-1529): The Book of the Courtier, translated by Sir Thomas Hoby (1561), full text [At Oregon]
  [The English is too archaic for classroom use.]
• Jacob Burckhardt: The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, full text. Not exactly a source, but a classic text scanned in by Skip Knox at Boise State University, Idaho.
  
  
  Jump Back to Contents 

REFORMATION and CATHOLIC REFORMATION

• WEB See Modern History Sourcebook for many more texts on the Reformation.


LUTHER

• Martin Luther (1483-1546): 95 Theses, 1517
  See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Martin Luther, [Warning - a tendentious article].
• Martin Luther (1483-1546): Martin Luther: 95 Theses - in Latin, 1517
• Martin Luther (1483-1546): Letter to Archbishop of Mainz [On Indulgences], 1517.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546): To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation [At Hanover]
  See also Introduction to this text.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546): On the Freedom of a Christian, (1483-1546), extracts. [At WSU] See also Martin Luther (1483-1546): Von der Freiheit eines Christenmenschen, In German.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546): The German Mass and Order of Divine Service. [At Hanover]
• Martin Luther (1483-1546): Luther Before 1517: Letters to Spalatin
  These letters are interesting in showing Luther's atitude towards Rome and towards theology. They also reveal that Luther's hatred of Jews, best seen in his 1543 letter, was not some affectation of old age, but was present very early on.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546): The Jews and Their Lies, 1543.
• Leo X: Exsurge Domine, June 15 1520. [At Apana.org]
  The papal Bull which condemned Martin Luther.

CALVIN

• John Calvin: Letter to the King, [On the Clergy]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Calvin, John.

ENGLAND

• Archbishop Thomas Cramner: Letter on Henry VIII's Divorce, 1533.
• The Suppression of Glastonbury Abbey, 1539. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Suppression of English Monasteries Under Henry VIII.

CATHOLIC REFORMATION

• The Tridentine Creed of Pius IV, 1564 [At New Advent site] [From Ante-Nicene and Nicene Fathers Series].
• St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556): The Spiritual Exercises [excerpts]. The full text is available [At CCEL]. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Ignatius Loyola, Saint and Catholic Encyclopedia: The Society of Jesus (Jesuits).



Jump Back to Contents 

EXPANSION OVERSEAS

WESTERN ORIENTALISM

• The Discovery of North America by Leif Ericsson, c. 1000 from The Saga of Eric the Red, (1387)
• John of Monte Corvino: Report on China, 1305.
• "Sir John Mandeville": On Prester John, c. 1366. The full text of The Travels of Sir John Mandeville is available. [At Project Gutenberg]
• Letter to Prester John, in Latin.
• Marco Polo (1254-1324): On the Tartars
• Marco Polo (1254-1324): Description of Kinsay [Hangchow].

MARITIME EXPLORATION AND CONQUEST

• WEB See Modern History Sourcebook for more texts on early overseas exploration.
• Privileges and Prerogatives Granted by Their Catholic Majesties to Christopher Columbus, 1492 [At Yale]
• Christopher Columbus: Selections from Journal, 1492.
• Christopher Columbus: Letter to King and Queen of Spain, prob. 1494.
• WEB Columbus and the Age of Discovery A splendid, and searchable, collection of over 1100 text articles on Columbus and the encounter of two worlds.
• WEB Columbus Navigation Homepage [At Minn.net]
  With maps of the various voyages.



Jump Back to Contents 

© This text is copyright. The specific electronic form, and any notes and questions are copyright. Permission is granted to copy the text, and to print out copies for personal and educational use. No permission is granted for commercial use.

If any copyright has been infringed, this was unintentional. The possibility of a site such as this, as with other collections of electronic texts, depends on the large availability of public domain material from texts translated before 1923. [In the US, all texts issued before 1923 are now in the public domain. Texts published before 1964 may be in the public domain if copyright was not renewed after 28 years. This site seeks to abide by US copyright law: the copyright status of texts here outside the US may be different.] Efforts have been made to ascertain the copyright status of all texts here, although, occasionally, this has not been possible where older or non-US publishers seem to have ceased existence. Some of the recently translated texts here are copyright to the translators indicated in each document. These translators have in every case given permission for non-commercial reproduction. No representation is made about the copyright status of texts linked off-site. This site is intended for educational use. Notification of copyright infringement will result in the immediate removal of a text until its status is resolved.

© Paul Halsall January 1996 - October 1998
halsall@fordham.edu