• Item 41, King Edward and the Hermit: Introduction

of his guests, the king and the earl of Gloucester, and wishes he could bestow the benefice of the parish church on the bishop of Durham. Rauf Coilyear knocks Charlemagne to the floor for a perceived breach of etiquette and

• The York Corpus Christi Plays: Play 37, The Harrowing of Hell

in Isaias 9:2 and Psalm 23:7 (AV 24). The story, which is still considered of great significance by the Eastern Church and is mentioned in the Apostles’ Creed, developed a full narrative in the Gospel of Nicodemus.1 In England this

• The York Corpus Christi Plays: Play 47, Doomsday

Second Advent, or Coming, of Jesus, the Son of God, into time, which then would have a stop. The early Church had hoped for the parousia as an event that was imminent, not just in some distant future, and this

• Middle English Marian Lyrics: Introduction

this volume provide a sampling of the rich tradition of Marian devotion expressed in Middle English lyrics. Background: Mary and Church History As the primary source of historical information about the mother of Jesus, the Bible provides few details. Luke

• Longer South English Legendary Life of St. Frideswide

departed from this life 3 Lines 24-25: And abandoned her inheritance and all worldly business, / And afterward in this church, in order to please our Lord 4 More good deeds than she did, men knew no woman to do

• The Vision of Tundale: Introduction

meet St. Patrick, the patriarch of the Irish Catholic Church and epitome of active holiness for an Irish narrator, and the four bishops who "reformed," that is, Romanized, the Irish Church in the first half of the twelfth century, and

• The Northern Homily Cycle: Homily 20, Third Sunday in Lent

NHC-poet must have been familiar with the centuries-old tradition of anti-clerical satire with its stinging attack on corruption in the church and its clergy, and this homily echoes many of its themes. Monks and friars, more often than priests, were

• Richard II's Reign and the Peasants' Revolt: On the Times

me sweet God the glory of the Church grows dark now let the Holy Spirit be here (see note) harms the Churches' dignity poured forth a bitter poison Thereafter you have ensnared the Church enough many a vice you have

• The Gast of Gy: Introduction

narratives in which spirits return temporarily to this world for their own benefit or to give salutary advice. The early Church had resisted and discouraged such stories and ideas as superstitious or perhaps even demonic in origin. There is a

• Richard Maidstone, Concordia: Appendix 1

which was presented to the queen. Then, at Paul's, a procession from the church came out to meet him, and the king dismounted, went into the church, and made offering. Then he rode on, and at Ludgate the warden and

• Mankind: Introduction

were probably an abiding facet of peasant and plebian attitudes.”26 Some of these, like Mankind’s claim that he could skip church since prayer would sacralize his field (line 553) and transform it into a church-like space, were persecuted as Lollard

• Capgrave, The Life of Saint Katherine: Introduction

set of rules for Augustinians studying in London anticipates plenty of mischief among the aspiring theologians: laughing and whistling in church, shouting and banging dishes at meals, sneaking food or unauthorized visitors into the rooms or selling their furniture for

• The Palis of Honoure: Introduction

seeking a secure source of income from a Church appointment. After being involved in at least three disputes over the awarding of ecclesiastical offices, Douglas was appointed Provost of the collegiate church of St. Giles, in Edinburgh. This was an

• St. Jerome: Introduction

2004 St. Jerome (feast day September 30) Jerome (ca. 340-420) was one of the leading intellectual saints of the medieval church. Born into a Christian family in the Roman empire's Balkan provinces, in a region later overrun by the Goths,

• Poems Against Simony and the Abuse of Money: The Simonie

operate 16 Some work for the king, and gather treasure in heaps 17 And the offices of generosity of Holy Church they allow to lie asleep 18 There are all too many of these, if it be God's will 19

• Stanzaic Life of Margaret

Margaret because he too fought great battles against demons and a dragon; in the eastern church, he and Marina were often paired as guardians of church doors. 337 Most MSS of the stanzaic Life say specifically that it is Margaret's

• Upland's Rejoinder

up; lies; (see note) basis; anchored rehearse nearly (well nigh) own rules rules disobey it very often apostates from Holy Church (see note) true; properly enquire on earth begging; confessions pillage; rob them of faith (see note) prate about; (see

• The Life of St. Benedict

this monk said,"on account of my feebleness of will, I was unable to forsake it (i.e., this habit of leaving church) even if I were to be beheaded (i.e., no matter what I did)" 24 Lines 94-95: To travel to

• John Wyclif (?), Of Weddid Men and Wifis and of Here Children Also

bond between Christ and the Church as well as a bond between a man and a woman. While the first form of marriage, described as gostly (line 2), is spiritual, i.e., between Christ and Holy Church, the second, used for

• John Gower, Traiti selonc les auctours pour essampler les amantz marietz

to have an agreeable wife, It pleases God to create honest issue According to the law set out by Holy Church. In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve in His holy paradise, He married man and woman together,