John Mirk's `Festial': Orthodoxy, Lollardy and the Common People in Fourteenth-Century England

First full analysis of John Mirk's Festial, of particular importance for the evidence it offers for the debate over medieval heresy and orthodoxy.`Marvellously perceptive and insightful'. FIONA SOMERSET, Duke University.Written with largely uneducated rural congregations in mind, John Mirk's Festial became the most popular vernacular sermon collection of late-medieval England, yet until relatively recently it has been neglected by scholars -- despite the fact that the question of popular access to the Bible, undoubtedly regarded as the preserve of learned culture, along with the related issue of the relative authority of written text and tradition, is at the heart of both late-medieval heresy and the resultant reformulation of orthodoxy. It offers, in fact, an unparalleled opportunity to analyze the religious ideology communicated by the orthodox church to the vast majority of people in fourteenth-century England: the ordinary country folk. This book represents the first major examination of the Festial, looking in particular at the issues of popular culture and piety; the oral tradition; biblical and secular authority; and clerical power.JUDY ANN FORD is Associate Professor in the History Department of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Written With Largely Uneducated Rural Congregations In Mind, John Mirk's Festial Became The Most Popular Vernacular Sermon Collection Of Late-medieval England, Yet It Has Been Neglected By Scholars - Despite The Fact That The Question Of Popular Access To The Bible, Undoubtedly Regarded As The Preserve Of Learned Culture, Along With The Related Issue Of The Relative Authority Of Written Text And Tradition, Is At The Heart Of Both Late-medieval Heresy And The Resultant Reformulation Of Orthodoxy. It Offers, In Fact, An Unparalleled Opportunity To Analyze The Religious Ideology Communicated By The Orthodox Church To The Vast Majority Of People In Fourteenth-century England: The Ordinary Country Folk. This Book Offers The First Major Examination Of The Festial, Looking In Particular At The Issues Of Popular Culture And Piety; The Oral Tradition; Biblical And Secular Authority; And Clerical Power.--jacket. Introduction : John Mirk's Festial And Fourteenth-century England -- 1. Popular Culture And The Study Of Late Medieval Piety -- 2. Clerical Power And Lay Agency -- 3. Secular Authority And Rebellion -- 4. Biblical Authority And Oral Tradition -- Conclusion : The Festial And Popular Piety In Late Medieval England. Judy Ann Ford. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 151-162) And Index. CONTENTS ......Page 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......Page 6 Introduction: John Mirk’s Festial and Fourteenth-Century England......Page 10 England in the Fourteenth Century......Page 11 John Mirk’s Festial......Page 17 Overview of this Study......Page 23 Telling Stories: Sermon Literature and Popular Culture ......Page 25 The Study of Popular Piety in Late Medieval England ......Page 28 Lollardy, Language, and Literacy ......Page 31 Lay Agency in the Festial......Page 41 Theories of Confession......Page 44 Confession in the Festial: The Narrative of the Embarrassed Woman......Page 48 Orthodox Confession in the Festial......Page 55 The Character of the Penitent and the Confessor in the Festial......Page 63 Transubstantiation and Clerical Authority......Page 70 The Festial and the Revolt of 1381......Page 79 Economic Oppression of the Commons......Page 80 Literacy, Justice, and Oppression......Page 94 Lollardy, Apocalyptic Millenarianism, and Revolution......Page 109 The Festial and Biblical Authority......Page 122 English as a Medium of Religious Expression......Page 126 Biblical Authority......Page 130 Preaching......Page 144 CONCLUSION: The Festial and Popular Piety in Late Medieval England......Page 152 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......Page 160 INDEX ......Page 172