The Culture of Inquisition in Medieval England (Westfield Medieval Studies, 4)

Groundbreaking essays show the variety and complexity of the roles played by inquisition in medieval England. Inquisition in medieval and early modern England has typically been the subject of historical rather than cultural investigation, and focussed on heresy. Here, however, inquisition is revealed as playing a broader role in medievalEnglish culture, not only in relation to sanctions like excommunication, penance and confession, but also in the fields of exemplarity, rhetoric and poetry. Beyond its specific legal and pastoral applications, inquisitio was a dialogic mode of inquiry, a means of discerning, producing or rewriting truth, and an often adversarial form of invention and literary authority. The essays in this volume cover such topics as the theory and practice ofcanon law, heresy and its prosecution, Middle English pastoralia, political writing and romance. As a result, the collection redefines the nature of inquisition's role within both medieval law and culture, and demonstrates the extent to which it penetrated the late-medieval consciousness, shaping public fame and private selves, sexuality and gender, rhetoric, and literature. Mary C. Flannery is a lecturer in English at the University of Lausanne; Katie L. Walter is a lecturer in English at the University of Sussex. Contributors: Mary C. Flannery, Katie L. Walter, Henry Ansgar Kelly, Edwin Craun, Ian Forrest, Diane Vincent, Jenny Lee, James Wade, Genelle Gertz, Ruth Ahnert, Emily Steiner Inquisition In Medieval And Early Modern England Has Typically Been The Subject Of Historical Rather Than Cultural Investigation, And Focussed On Heresy. Here, However, Inquisition Is Revealed As Playing A Broader Role In Medieval English Culture, Not Only In Relation To Sanctions Like Excommunication, Penance And Confession, But Also In The Fields Of Exemplarity, Rhetoric And Poetry. Introduction : Imagining Inquisition / Mary C. Flannery And Katie L. Walter -- Inquisition, Public Fame And Confession : General Rules And English Practice / Henry Ansgar Kelly -- The Imperatives Of Denunciatio : Disclosing Others' Sins To Disciplinary Authorities / Edwin Craun -- English Provincial Constitutions And Inquisition Into Lollardy / Ian Forrest -- The Contest Over The Public Imagination Of Inquisition, 1380-1430 / Diane Vincent -- Vttirli Onknowe? Modes Of Inquiry And The Dynamics Of Interiority In Vernacular Literature / Mary C. Flannery And Katie L. Walter -- From Defacement To Restoration : Inquisition, Confession And Thomas Usk's Appeal And Testament Of Love / Jenny Lee -- Confession, Inquisition And Exemplarity In The Erle Of Tolous And Other Middle English Romances / James Wade -- Heresy Inquisition And Authorship, 1400-1560 / Genelle Gertz -- Imitating Inquisition : Dialectical Bias In Protestant Prison Writings / Ruth Ahnert -- Response Essay : Chaucer's Inquisition / Emily Steiner. Edited By Mary C. Flannery And Katie L. Walter. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 173-188) And Index. Inquisition in medieval and early modern England has typically been the subject of historical rather than cultural investigation, and focussed on heresy. Here, however, inquisition is revealed as playing a broader role in medieval English culture, not only in relation to sanctions like excommunication, penance and confession, but also in the fields of exemplarity, rhetoric and poetry. Beyond its specific legal and pastoral applications, 'inquisitio' was a dialogic mode of inquiry, a means of discerning, producing or rewriting truth, and an often adversarial form of invention and literary authority. The essays in this volume cover such topics as the theory and practice of canon law, heresy and its prosecution, Middle English pastoralia, political writing and romance. As a result, the collection redefines the nature of inquisition's role within both medieval law and culture, and demonstrates the extent to which it penetrated the late-medieval consciousness, shaping public fame and private selves, sexuality and gender, rhetoric, and literature. Mary C. Flannery is a lecturer in English at the University of Lausanne; Katie L. Walter is a lecturer in English at the University of Sussex. Contributors: Mary C. Flannery, Katie L. Walter, Henry Ansgar Kelly, Edwin Craun, Ian Forrest, Diane Vincent, Jenny Lee, James Wade, Genelle Gertz, Ruth Ahnert, Emily Steiner Frontcover 1 Contents 6 Illustrations 7 List of Contributors 7 Acknowledgements 8 Abbreviations 9 Introduction: Imagining Inquisition 10 1. Inquisition, Public Fame and Confession: General Rules and English Practice 17 2. The Imperatives of Denunciatio: Disclosing Others’ Sins to Disciplinary Authorities 39 3. English Provincial Constitutions and Inquisition into Lollardy 54 4. The Contest over the Public Imagination of Inquisition, 1380–1430 69 5. ‘Vttirli Onknowe’? Modes of Inquiry and the Dynamics of Interiority in Vernacular Literature 86 6. From Defacement to Restoration: Inquisition, Confession and Thomas Usk’s Appeal and Testament of Love 103 7. Confession, Inquisition and Exemplarity in The Erle of Tolous and Other Middle English Romances 121 8. Heresy Inquisition and Authorship, 1400–1560 139 9. Imitating Inquisition: Dialectical Bias in Protestant Prison Writings 155 10. Response Essay: Chaucer’s Inquisition 173 Bibliography 182 Index 198 Backcover 204