The political writings of Archbishop Wulfstan of York / selected sources edited and translated by Andrew Rabin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wulfstan, Archbishop of York, -1023, author.

Contributor:

Rabin, Andrew, editor, translator.

Manchester University Press, Publisher.

Series:

Manchester medieval sources.

Manchester medieval sources

Standardized Title:

Works. Selections. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wulfstan, Archbishop of York, -1023--Political and social views.

Wulfstan.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 254 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

MMSO edition.

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2015.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Archbishop Wulfstan of York (d. 1023) is among the most important legal and political thinkers of the early Middle Ages. A leading ecclesiastic, innovative legislator, and influential royal councilor, Wulfstan witnessed firsthand the violence and social unrest that culminated in the fall of the English monarchy before the invading armies of Cnut in 1016. In his homilies and legal tracts, Wulfstan offered a searing indictment of the moral failings that led to England's collapse and formulated a vision of an ideal Christian community that would influence English political thought long after the Anglo-Saxon period had ended.

Contents:

Introduction

Part I: Political tracts

1. The laws of Edward and Guthrum

2. Concerning episcopal duties (Episcopus)

3. The 'compilation on status'

4. Concerning sanctuary (Gri)

5. Northumbrian church-sanctuary (Norhymbra Cyricgri)

6. The canons of Edgar

7. The institutes of polity

Part II: Homilies and homiletic tracts

1. On the laws of God and the world (Napier 51)

2. On various misfortunes (Napier 35)

3. On the proper support of the Church (Napier 22/Bethurum 13)

4. On the duties of the clergy (Napier 52)

5. On the sins of the clergy (Napier 53)

6. On justice, virtue and the law (Napier 50)

7 . On the duties of the laity (Napier 59)

8. On heathen practices (Napier 60)

9. On christian practices (Napier 61)

10. On tithes and tithing (Napier 23)

11. On baptism and confirmation (Napier 24)

Part III: Sources and analogues

1. God's threat to a sinning Israel (Bethurum 19)

2. Evil rulers (Bethurum 21)

3. An admonition to bishops

4. Two versions of VII AEthelred

5. Cnut's proclamation of 1020

6. The Northumbrian priests' law

Appendix: Manuscripts containing Archbishop Wulfstan's political writings

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Translated from the Old English.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (viewed on May 8, 2026).

ISBN:

0-7190-8975-1

1-84779-967-1

OCLC:

1164781079