Erdélyi_Convent_Controversy

In this volume of the series Collectanea Vaticana Hungariae dedicated to publish sources and monographs based on documents kept in Italian archives we have on our hands a unique source from the Vatican Apostolic Library.

In 1518, the possession of the local convent in the market town of Körmend was disputed by two rivaling mendicant orders. The case was investigated upon papal order, in the course of which dozens of witnesses were heard. As the patron of the convent, Thomas Bakócz cardinal-legate claimed, the convent stood in a very bad condition and provided no liturgical services due to the negligent and sinful life of the friars: they frequented taverns, where they behaved as violent drunkards, and kept lovers, whom they entertained in the convent. The meticulously recorded depositions of local inhabitants contain many interesting stories and open, therefore, a window upon the everyday life of a market town and its neighbourhood.

The Introduction (ix–lxxxvii) reflects upon the possible uses of the source and the interpretation of this convent controversy from multiple viewpoints. With respect to the general historiographical significance of the Latin source, the volume has been published entirely in English. Its utility is ensured by a Bibliography (pp. 201–208) and an Index (pp. 211–224) including a subject index.

CONTENTS

First Part
Introduction	IX
I. The source and its Church historical context	XI
About the register of the process	XI
The pope, the cardinal-primate and the friars	XV
II. Approaches of social and cultural history	LXVI
The witness hearing	LXX
Crisis and reform of convent life	LXXVIII
Final remarks	LXXXIV
III. The methods of publication	LXXXVI

Second Part
The register of the process	1
Sources	199
Bibliography	201
Abbreviations	209
Index	211

In this volume of the series Collectanea Vaticana Hungariae dedicated to publish sources and monographs based on documents kept in Italian archives we have on our hands a unique source from the Vatican Apostolic Library. In 1518, the possession of the local convent in the market town of Körmend was disputed by two rivaling mendicant orders. The case was investigated upon papal order, in the course of which dozens of witnesses were heard. As the patron of the convent, Thomas Bakócz cardinal-legate claimed, the convent stood in a very bad condition and provided no liturgical services due to the negligent and sinful life of the friars: they frequented taverns, where they behaved as violent drunkards, and kept lovers, whom they entertained in the convent. The meticulously recorded depositions of local inhabitants contain many interesting stories and open, therefore, a window upon the everyday life of a market town and its neighbourhood. The Introduction (ix–lxxxvii) reflects upon the possible uses of the source and the interpretation of this convent controversy from multiple viewpoints. With respect to the general historiographical significance of the Latin source, the volume has been published entirely in English. Its utility is ensured by a Bibliography (pp. 201–208) and an Index (pp. 211–224) including a subject index.