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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionPardon a long post:
In his British Monachism, Or, Manners and Customs of the Monks and Nuns of England (1817), the historian Thomas Fosbroke quotes the passage below describing an Easter Sepulcher constructed for the church of Redcliff in 1470. He says he got it “from an original manuscript of [Thomas] Chatterton, when very young, in my possession.” He cross-references it to a slightly different, older version in William Barrett’s History and Antiquities of the City of Bristol (1789), who delightfully says it comes from “the days of Popish superstition”!
The stumbling block: Thomas Chatterton is the famous forger of medieval poetry and documents, especially those relating to Bristol where he was raised. (He often passed his forgeries off as the work of a 15th-century monk, “Thomas Rowley.”). Barrett's History was riddled with Chatterton's forgeries.
Does anyone know if this excerpt is a forgery or has it been validated in other sources?
“Memorandum. That Master Cannings hath delivered, the 4th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1470, to Master Nicholas Pelles, Vicar of Redclift, Moses Conterin, Philip Berthelmew, and John Brown, Procurators of Redclift beforesaid, a new Sepulchre, well guilt with fine gold, and a civer thereto; an image of God Almighty rising out of the same Sepulchre, with all the ordinance that longeth thereto; that is to say, a lath made of timber Heven made of timber and stained cloths. Item, Hell made of timber and iron work thereto, with Devils the number of thirteen. Item, four knights armed, keeping the Sepulchre with their weapons in their hands; that is to say, two spears, two axes with two paves [shields]. Item, four pair of Angel's wings, for four Angels, made of timber, and well-painted. Item, the Fadre, the crown and visage, the well (sic, read ball) with a cross upon it, well gilt with fine gold. Item, the Holy Ghost coming out of Heven into the Sepulchre. ltem, longeth to the four Angels, four Chiveliers (Perukes).”
Many thanks to the brain trust,
John
--John Shinners
Professor, Schlesinger Chair in Humanistic Studies
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
Phone: 574-284-4494 or 574-284-4534
Fax: 284-4855
www.saintmarys.edu/~hust
"Learn everything. Later you will see that nothing is superfluous." -- Hugh of St. Victor (d. 1141)