The Beguines of Medieval Świdnica : The Interrogation of the ""Daughters of Odelindis"" In 1332

Documents recording the interrogation of sixteen women and the nature of their unusual spiritual practices, now available in a full edition and, for the first time, a full English translation. In September 1332, in the town of Świdnica, an important economic and communication centre of what was then Silesia, a group of sixteen women stood before the Dominican inquisitor, John of Schwenkenfeld, to testify about the local community of beguines, who called themselves the Hooded Sisters or the Daughters of Odelindis. We are fortunate that the original records of this heresy interrogation have survived, preserved as a notarial instrument drawn up shortly afterwards, eventually transferred to the Papal Curia, and now kept in the Vatican Library. The documents provide unique insights into the everyday life and spirituality of this group of lay women, as they attempted to adopt the ideals of vita apostolica . They lived in the strict poverty they thought necessary for spiritual perfection, and took part in austere ascetic practices, including regular flagellation and a strict diet regime, aiming to mortify sinful flesh and help them achieve mystical union with God. Using this evidence, the authors of this book piece together a sense of who these interrogated beguines were and the nature of their spiritual practices. Were they pious illiterates, or self-trained theologians, keenly interested in debates around the doctrine of such intellectuals as Master Eckhart, John Duns Scotus and Thomas Aquinas? The book also addresses the nature of their interrogation and the conduct of Friar John of Schwenkenfeld. And it contains a full edition and, for the first time, a full English translation of the documents themselves. Documents recording the interrogation of sixteen women andthe nature of their unusual spiritual practices, now available in afull edition and, for the first time, a full Englishtranslation. In September 1332, in the town of Świdnica,an important economic and communication centre of what was thenSilesia, a group of sixteen women stood before the Dominicaninquisitor, John of Schwenkenfeld, to testify about the localcommunity of beguines, who called themselves the Hooded Sisters orthe Daughters of Odelindis. We are fortunate that the originalrecords of this heresy interrogation have survived, preserved as anotarial instrument drawn up shortly afterwards, eventuallytransferred to the Papal Curia, and now kept in the VaticanLibrary. The documents provide unique insights into the everydaylife and spirituality of this group of lay women, as they attemptedto adopt the ideals of vita apostolica. They lived in thestrict poverty they thought necessary for spiritual perfection, andtook part in austere ascetic practices, including regularflagellation and a strict diet regime, aiming to mortify sinfulflesh and help them achieve mystical union with God. Using thisevidence, the authors of this book piece together a sense of whothese interrogated beguines were and the nature of their spiritualpractices. Were they pious illiterates, or self-trainedtheologians, keenly interested in debates around the doctrine ofsuch intellectuals as Master Eckhart, John Duns Scotus and ThomasAquinas? The book also addresses the nature of their interrogationand the conduct of Friar John of Schwenkenfeld. And it contains afull edition and, for the first time, a full English translation ofthe documents themselves Front cover 1 Contents 6 Note from the Series Editors 7 Acknowledgements 9 Foreword - Robert E. Lerner 12 Abbreviations 16 Part One: Historical Studies 18 Preface 20 1 The Rise of the Beguines 37 2 The Council of Vienne and the Persecution of Beguines 54 3 John of Schwenkenfeld OP and the Interrogations of Świdnica Beguines 74 4 The Daughters of Odelindis: Identity and Religious Practice 90 5 A Dominican Inquisitor and the Theological Controversies of His Times 121 Conclusions 162 Part Two: Latin Edition and English Translation of the 1332 Protocol 166 Description of the Manuscripts 168 Critical Study 174 Editorial Principles 182 Edition and translation of Examinatio testium in causa Capuciatarum monialium in Swydnicz 185 The Swesteren of Odelindis of Pyrzyce (Piritz) and Cologne and Their European Context - Letha Böhringer 275 Bibliography 289 Index 311