Rights and Obligations: Conceptions of Social Relations viewed through the Treatment of Possessions in the Biblical Poems of Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Junius XI Submitted by Jaka Jarc to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History In September 2015 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: ………………………………………………………….. 1 Abstract My thesis examines social conceptions framing rights and obligations by reviewing how possessions are used and exchanged in the poems of MS Junius XI. I identify several major additions to the scriptural source material of the poetic narrative where the poems present a unique treatment of possessions in a social environment. These poetic additions often feature novel combinations of events and even entirely new sub-stories. In reviewing these departures I focus specifically on possessions and examine how they frame the rights and obligations within social interactions. Focusing on objects of social exchange enables the discussion of the literary narrative to relate to secondary historical literature on possessions as well as social conceptions. This has not yet been done for the poems of Junius XI. This thesis is divided into four thematic chapters ordered from the most tangible to the most abstract: moveable objects, landed possessions, degrees of possession of people, and abstract notions of authority framing social interactions tied to holding and exchanging possessions. In chapter two moveable possessions will be discussed in relation to social status, cultural identity, exchange and hierarchy. The third chapter will examine the interplay between the allegorical and practical notions of land possession. The fourth chapter will discuss social hierarchy framed as a range of rights and obligations discussing to what degree people are themselves treated as possessions. The discussion will examine what types and levels of relative personal freedom is detectable in the Junius XI poems. The final chapter will amalgamate findings and issues of the previous chapters by examining how the exchange and treatment of possessions impact various types of authority which frame social interactions, hierarchies and values. 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my life partner Marjetka Pezdirc, without whom I would never have attempted this thesis, and to my son Rihard Aleksander who was born with an innate patience for my schedule. I am grateful for the kind and supportive guidance of Julia Crick; she was always ready to listen, comment, and steer while never overstepping. Eddie Jones gently spurred me on in my initial stages; his help is much appreciated. Christina Lee was supportive in moments of self-doubt, while her straightforward approach facilitated my transition from continental to insular writing habits; I am beyond grateful for both. I also appreciate the constructive engagement of my examiners Sarah Hamilton and Elizabeth Tyler. In the final stages of the re-write my dear friend Jonathan Matthieu’s watchful eye engaged my Slovenian commas and causal structure, and persevered. I am grateful to the Department of History at the University of Exeter for understanding my professional and personal issues, the diligent support of Sarmishtha Ghosh, and in the later years Simon Barton. I owe a debt of gratitude to the University of Nottingham, where my interests evolved into a firm belief that I too had something to offer in the field of medieval studies. I wish to acknowledge Dr. Janez Peršič for imparting his unique take on medieval history and Richard Marsden for helping me transform my interest in the Old English language into a love for Old English literature. I also received helpful comments for further work when I was able to present some findings at the ‘New Voices’ panel at the 2011 IMC in Leeds. In the course of my PhD I was fortunate enough to have social support and cultural distraction of the Exeter University Soul Choir; the people I met include Dr. Chris Elphick, who physically carried this thesis “across the finish line” (twice), and Katherine Bolden whom I could always count on to remind me of the importance of staying positive. I was able to discuss my work, foreign though it must have seemed to them, with David Modic and Kim Komljanec; their willingness to lend an ear helped me organize my thoughts and replenish my depleted ego. Last but certainly not least, I am grateful to my father who taught me perseverance and self sufficiency, my mother who taught me the importance of happiness and to my wider family for their emotional support, belief in my capabilities and for encouraging me in my curiosity ever since I can remember. I have received financial support from the ‘Javni sklad Republike Slovenije za razvoj kadrov in štipendije’; it enabled me to afford to study at all. 3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ASE - Anglo-Saxon England B&T - Bosworth and Toller Dictionary of Old English, Bosworth, Joseph (1898) An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online [‘online text’], Prague <bosworth.ff.cuni.cz/> [‘Accessed on 30 August 2015’]. OE - Old English DOE - Toronto University Dictionary of Old English, Cameron, Angus, Amos, Ashley Crandell, and al., Antonette diPaolo Healey et 'Dictionary of Old English: A to G Online', DOE <http://tapor.library.utoronto.ca/doe/>, [Accessed 30 August 2015] DOE corpus - Healey, Antonette diPaolo, Wilkin, John Price, and Xiang, Xin (2009) Dictionary of Old English Corpus on the World Wide Web [‘online text’], University of Toronto <http://tapor.library.utoronto.ca/doecorpus/> Microfiche Concordance - Healey, Antonette DiPaolo, Venezky, Richard L, A Microfiche Concordance to Old English (Newark, Del.: University of Delaware). 4 Table of Contents ABSTRACT 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 1 INTRODUCTION 9 Research question 9 The Sources 10 I. MS Bodleian Junius XI 10 II. The Poems: Content and Context 13 III. The Date of the Junius XI Manuscript and its Poems 17 IV. Dating Individual Poems of Junius XI: Issues and Suggestions 19 Manuscript Unity and Instructional Intent 23 The Scholarship of Possessions, Rights, and OBligations 27 I. Scholarship Using Old English Literary Sources 27 II. The Literary Scholarship of Allegory and the Interpretation of Possessions as Markers of Social Exchanges in the Junius XI Poems 38 Method 40 5 2 MOVEABLE POSSESSIONS: IDENTITY, STATUS AND THE MORALITY OF EXCHANGE 45 Allegory and Interpretation 47 Possessions in motion – People’s Treasure 50 Inheriting Treasure: Transient Authority and Collective Identity 53 Treasure in Exchange: Moral and Practical Implications 62 Conclusion to Chapter 2 70 3 LANDED POSSESSIONS IN THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 72 Introduction 72 A) LANDED POSSESSIONS IN THE INTERIM PARADISE 73 Interim Paradise and the Colour Green 74 Paradise, Landed Possessions and Security 78 Interim Conclusion 83 B) EARTHLY LANDED POSSESSIONS 84 Possession of Land and its People: “Folcscearu,” “Folcstede” and “Landriht” 85 Possessions and Benefits Associated with Landed Possessions 92 Animals as Part of Landed Possessions 93 Tilling the Land: Right or Penalty 96 Fruits 100 Conclusion to Chapter 3 107 6 4 SOCIAL HIERARCHY, PEOPLE AS POSSESSIONS 109 Introduction 109 A) SLAVES AS POSSESSIONS 112 Choice and Esteem – Serving and Slaving 114 Work-Slaves - Social Mobility Within the Rank of Slave 123 B OBLIGATION BY CHOICE 130 The Theological Background to the Freedom of Choice of Master 135 Hierarchy as an Expression of Possession 139 Chapter Conclusion 145 5 SOCIAL CONCEPTIONS OF AUTHORITY 148 Introduction 148 A) SECULAR AND SACRED AUTHORITY OF A KING 149 Military Command as Sacred Kingly Authority 152 Division of Sacred Authority in Genesis A, King and Bishop 155 B) CUSTODIANSHIP AS TEMPORARY POSSESSION OF AUTHORITY 157 C) PERSONAL AUTHORITY 160 The Currency of Possessing Lord’s Favour 160 Rights and Obligations in Junius XI and the Elements of Swerian 162 The Temporary Nature of Personal Authority 167 D) LEGALITY OF AUTHORITY 169 Relationship of Scripture, Biblical Paraphrase and Law-Codes 173 E) JUDICIAL AUTHORITY, Practical Examples of Possessing Authority 175 The Case of Adam and Eve – Personal Judicial Authority 176 7 Impact of Judicial Authority on Land Possession 181 F) THE CASE OF CAIN, Security of Kin and Lord 182 G) THE CASE OF THREE IN THE FIRE, Judicial Authority – Rights and OBligations 185 Chapter Conclusion 188 6 CONCLUSION 191 People and Possession 191 Common Traits 193 Nature of Rights and Obligations 194 Social Interactions 195 TEXTUAL APPENDICES, QUOTES OF PRIMARY SOURCES 197 GENESIS A (I) 197 GENESIS B 201 GENESIS A (III) 206 EXODUS 222 DANIEL 222 CHRIST AND SATAN 224 OTHER SOURCES 225 BIBLIOGRAPHY 228 8 1 Introduction Research question This thesis examines how social interactions are conceptualised in the Old English vernacular biblical paraphrases contained in the late tenth- or early eleventh-century illustrated manuscript, MS Bodleian Junius XI: Genesis A, Genesis B, Exodus, Daniel, and Christ and Satan. I will focus on those segments of the Junius XI poems where scriptural depiction of social interactions and treatment of possessions are altered by the Old English poets either through addition, omission, or change in emphasis. The poetic treatment of scriptural narrative in Junius XI presents an original blend of scriptural content and original Old English poetic form, style, and formulas. This blend promises to lend a unique perspective on social conceptions: social cultural identity, the notion of right to a homeland, rights and obligations regulating hierarchical relations, and the nature of authority. These conceptions will be examined in relation to possessions, which form part of the social interactions and exchanges within the Old English narrative.