The history of Church and government in England and on the continent of Europe between the eleventh and the early fourteenth centuries is the subject of this volume of essays by twelve historians including scholars as well known as C. N. L. Brooke, R. C. van Caenegem, R. Foreville, S. Kuttner and W. Ullmann. Each essay is concerned with a major historical text (such as Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain) or an important type of historical document (such as the writings of a famous civilian, Master Vacarius). The general theme of Church and government in the Middle Ages is illustrated through the eves of different types of officials - among them English royal justices, Norman bishops, and monastic archdeacons - as well of scholars and thinkers who also served the needs of government both lay and ecclesiastical - such as Gratian of Bologna and the hitherto neglected canon lawyer John Baconthorpe.
This book reveals how the medieval papacy grew from modest beginnings into an impressive institution in the Middle Ages and deals with a wide field. It charts the history of the papacy and its relations to East and West from the 4th to the 12th centuries, embraces such varied subjects as law, finance, diplomacy, liturgy, and theology. The development of medieval symbolism is also discussed as are the view of eminent political scientists of the period. This re-issues reprints the revised, 3rd edition of 1970.
A collection of medieval European documents of the Church and state, including theological positions on the Jews; papal decrees and local and national charters granting rights to Jews; documents relating to protection of Jews; ecclesiastic limitations on Jews, relating particularly to usury and attacks on the Talmud; missionizing (e.g. forced sermons and disputations); and persecution by the state (e.g. confiscation of properties, bodily attacks, and expulsions).
This excellent book is a translation of a very small portion of Dr. Gierke’s “ Deutsches Genossenschaftsrecht, " being the section entitled “ Die Publizistischen Lehren des Mittelalters. ” Its ten chapters treat of the following questions : The evolution of political theory under the diverse influences of ancient philosophy and law, medieval theology, local custom; Macrocosm and microcosm, i.e., the relation of the whole of society to its parts and vice versa from the medieval viewpoint; unity in Church and State, wherein are discussed the warring positions of parties in both, evolved by the length of the contest between the papacy and the empire; the idea of organization, i.e., of society as an organism; the idea of monarchy, its derivation from God, its consequent relations with the plenitudo potestatis of the papacy; the idea of popular sovereignty, its conflicts and combinations with the ruler's sovereignty, first in the temporal sphere, second, analogous developments of the idea as applied to the government of the Church, somewhat painfully brought out by the conciliar movement; the idea of representation; the idea of personality, i.e., of justice or legal personality applied to the Church and State or to minor corporations; the relation of the state to the law, natural and positive; the beginnings of the modern state, i.e., those elements in medieval doctrine that led up to the modern idea of the state. One half of the book is devoted to notes that elucidate the text of the cited authorities, a long list of which, both ancient and modern, is given. The mere enumeration of the titles of the chapters and the fact that the translation has been undertaken by so eminent a legal historian as Mr. Maitland are a warrant that the work is important, even for those who are not disposed to accept Dr. Gierke's views on faith. English - speaking readers in general must find it interesting, accustomed as they are to look on medieval thought as mere idle speculation of the logicians; as if political theories did not then, as now, agitate men's minds and lay the foundations for much of those political blessings that we now enjoy, or think we do. To a close observer of the development of government in the Catholic Church some portions will be, not merely interesting, but absorbing. They may even be instructive, though at the sacrifice of some preconceptions.
