medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> Erik, this is most helpful: thank you. My problem is that the poet concerned
> was a (probably) monoglot Welsh layman, writing in the second half of the
> 15th century, who was referring to a particular indulgence which he calls
> `the Pardon of Cologne'. The oblique reference would thus seem to have
> required no further explanation to his contemporaries. In an international
> medieval context, does any one of the indulgences to which you refer fit the
> bill?
Paul,
It is certainly likely that a Welsh layman would know about the pilgrimage to
Cologne, and in fact, pilgrims badges from Cologne have been found as close as
London (the Thames foreshore is one of the main British sources of pilgrims
badges); see Brian Spencer, Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges, Medieval
Finds from Excavations in London, 7 (Museum of London, 1998), pp.261ff.
Spencer mentions that the shipping trade between London and Cologne furthered
the pilgrimage from Britain. The "Pardon of Cologne" may refer to the plenary
indulgence that Cologne Cathedral secured for its pilgrims in 1394, but as well, it
may be relevant that between the late 14th and early 16th century, Cologne was
also a principal goal of penitential pilgrimage in northern Europe, i.e. pilgrimage
imposed judicially as expiation for a crime (a sort of enforced exile). Spencer gives
a reference to E. Meyer-Wurmbach, "Kolner 'Zeichen' und 'Pfennige' zu Ehren der
Heiligen Drei Konige," Kolner Domblatt (1964), 205-92, which might have more
information on the Cologne pilgrimage.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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