The political writings of Archbishop Wulfstan of York

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. These works, many of which have never before been available in modern English, are collected here for the first time in new, extensively annotated translations that will help readers reassess one of the most turbulent periods in English history and re-evaluate the career of Anglo-Saxon England’s most important political visionary.

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. These works, many of which have never before been available in modern English, are collected here for the first time in new, extensively annotated translations that will help readers reassess one of the most turbulent periods in English history and re-evaluate the career of Anglo-Saxon England’s most important political visionary.

Part I: Political tracts1. The laws of Edward and Guthrum2. Concerning episcopal duties (Episcopus)3. The ‘compilation on status’Concerning the ranks of people and law (Geþyncðu)Concerning Wergild (Be wergylde/Norðleoda laga)Concerning the law of the Mercians (Mircna laga)Concerning the Mercian oath (Að)Concerning priests’ oaths and clerical compensation (Hadbot)4. Concerning sanctuary (Grið)5. Northumbrian church-sanctuary (Norðhymbra Cyricgrið)6. The canons of Edgar7. The institutes of polityPart II: Homilies and homiletic tracts1. 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 analogues1. God’s threat to a sinning Israel (Bethurum 19)2. Evil rulers (Bethurum 21)3. An admonition to bishops4. Two versions of VII Æthelred5. Cnut’s proclamation of 10206. The Northumbrian priests’ lawIndex