Heymericus de Campo: Dyalogus super Reuelacionibus Beate Birgitte A Critical Edition with an Introduction by ANNA FREDRIKSSON ADMAN Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Latin presented at Uppsala University in 2003 ABSTRACT Fredriksson Adman, A. 2003: Heymericus de Campo: Dyalogus super Reuelacionibus beate Birgitte. A Critical Edition with an Introduction. 242 p Uppsala. ISBN 91-554-5694-4 This dissertation contains an edition of Dyalogus super Reuelacionibus beate Birgitte, which is a discussion and defence of the Revelations (Reuelaciones) of St. Birgitta of Sweden (ca. 1303-1373). In legal proceedings at the Council of Basle (1431-1449), the Reuelaciones were accused of heresy, examined and defended. Among the defenders was Heymericus de Campo (1395-1460), who at that time was professor of theology at the University of Cologne. In addition to the formal examination reports, Heymericus wrote a dialogue on the subject. The Dyalogus, which was probably composed as a contribution to a debate, is tentatively dated to have been written between October 1434 and February 17, 1435. The main part of Dyalogus consists of 123 text passages extracted from the Reuelaciones and accused of heresy, and Heymericus’ defence of these text passages. The aim of the defence is to prove that the Reuelaciones are truly orthodox and thus inspired by God. In addition, Heymericus intends to display the reasons and arguments the impugners had for questioning the Reuelaciones. Dyalogus and the other defences were read and copied foremost within the Birgittine order. The judgement passed at the proceedings called for a commentary before the Reuelaciones could be disseminated to the whole of their extent. To the Birgittines the defences of Basle filled this purpose, at least for some time. The extensive introduction of the thesis deals with the historical context of the text, its use and importance, its place within the author’s literary production, the contents and language of the text, and finally the textual transmission. Vadstena Abbey’s copy of the text is chosen as base manuscript for the edition. Key-words: Medieval Latin, Medieval Theology, St. Birgitta of Sweden, visionary literature, Heymericus de Campo, Council of Basle, Birgittines, Vadstena Abbey, heresy, discernment of spirits, dialogue Anna Fredriksson Adman, Department of Classical Philology, Uppsala University, Box 527, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden © Anna Fredriksson Adman 2003 ISSN 0562-2859 ISBN 91-554-5694-4 Printed in Sweden by Elanders Gotab, Stockholm 2003 Distributor: Uppsala University Library, Box 510, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden Acknowledgements This thesis owes its existence above all to two persons. One of them is my supervisor, Prof. Monica Hedlund, who some years ago picked me up as I was drifting along the academic sea, put material into my hands and then, with equal portions of support and belief in my ability, intelligently guided me forward to finishing my work. No praise in the world could cover all that Monica has done for me and my dissertation! Nevertheless, among her qualities as a supervisor, I would especially like to mention her academic competence, her energy and her patience. The second person is my husband, Per Adman, who all along has helped me maintain the idea that scholarly research is something important, even though other things must come first. Without his companionship in this matter, I would never have begun this work, let alone finish it. The first period of my dissertation work I spent at the University of Cambridge, to which I was kindly welcomed by Professor Peter Dronke. He helped me, encouraged me and made many invaluable comments on my material, for which I am exceedingly grateful. My stay in Cambridge was financed by a grant from Svenska Institutet. During my stay in Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit, I enjoyed the supporting company and hospitality of Dr. Maria Fredriksson, Marianne Jalon, Dr. Jeanine De Landtsheer and Prof. Toon van Hout. Throughout these years several distinguished scholars unselfishly shared their knowledge with me: Prof. Stephan Borgehammar, Dr. Claes Gejrot, Dr. Maarten Hoenen, Dr. Henrik Lagerlund, Dr. Tore Nyberg, Prof. Eva Odelman, Dr. Ulla Sander Olsen, Dr. Peter Ståhl and Prof. Anders Winroth. I thank you all warmly. I also thank the persons who attended the Latin seminar at my department for reading my drafts and sharing their experiences. Among them I would especially like to thank Prof. Hans Helander and my friend Dr. Maria Berggren. Among the kind librarians who helped me, I would especially like to mention fil. lic. Håkan Hallberg, who always made that invaluable, extra effort. I also appreciate the work of Daniel Ogden, BA, who improved the language of my thesis. All remaining errors are my own responsibility. I also appreciated that special supportive friendship that exists among the doctoral candidate colleagues at my own department as well as at other departements. Fredrik Oldsjö, Sara Risberg, Ingrid Sperber and Henrik Vitalis helped me with practical matters, too, for which I am very thankful. My little family, Per and Josefin, I thank always for the many insights they give in the questions of Love and Life, and (especially Josefin) – argumentation! The loving basis in my life are my parents, my sister and my brother, who always support me in all my projects. Contents Part I. Introduction Preliminary remarks ................................................................................................... 13 1. Presentation ............................................................................................................ 14 2. The legal proceedings against the Birgittines and St. Birgitta’s Reuelaciones at the Council of Basle 2. 1. An outline of the course of events Introduction..................................................................................................... 15 The term Reuelaciones ................................................................................... 15 Previous investigations................................................................................... 16 Background: the first stages of the proceedings........................................... 17 The Birgittine reaction.................................................................................... 18 The legal proceedings: the first commission and the indictment ................ 19 “Birgittine account of 1434/1435” ................................................................ 21 The setting up of two subsequent commissions ........................................... 25 The judgement ................................................................................................ 29 The Birgittine reaction to the judgement ...................................................... 32 The treatment of the judgement in previous research .................................. 32 2. 2. Observations to form a basis for a new investigation about the judgement Introduction..................................................................................................... 34 Activities in Vadstena Abbey 1436-1446 connected with the judgement ............................................................................. 36 Draft document of 1456-1465 from Vadstena Abbey. Auisamentum ......... 40 How did the Birgittines in Vadstena Abbey respond unofficially to the judgement? ........................................................... 44 About the treatment of the judgement in the Birgittine writing of history.......................................................... 47 Conclusions about the situation 1436-1465(?) – official and unofficial activities of the Birgittines in Vadstena Abbey ............... 48 The story of the “introduction to the defence corpus” ................................. 48 The story of the judgement in Codex A ........................................................ 51 Possible sources of the story of the judgement in Codex A ........................ 53 Reservations.................................................................................................... 54 2. 3. An attempt to reconcile the divergent statements on the validity of the judgement and the Birgittine response to it Recapitulation ................................................................................................. 55 The role of the defences ................................................................................. 55 The defences in the daughter houses............................................................. 59 Remaining consequences of the proceedings ............................................... 60 2. 4. Appendices to chapter 2. Appendix 2. 4. 1: Account of April 6, 1434 in RA, Parchment letter of March 23, 1436 .................................................. 62 Appendix 2. 4. 2: Birgittine account of 1434/1435. UUB MS C 518, fol. 3vb, line 21– fol. 4vb, line 28 .................................. 63 Appendix 2. 4. 3: The judgement of Ludovicus of Arles. RA, Cod. A 19, fol. 121v-122r .......................................................... 65 Appendix 2. 4. 4: Heymericus de Campo’s opinion on St. Birgitta’s Reuelaciones, expressed in his Declaraciones. UUB MS C 518, fol. 136ra, line 31 – fol. 137ra, line 5............................. 66 Appendix 2. 4. 5: Draft document of 1456-1465, first third part of, in RA, Cod. A 20, fol. 286v ................................................................... 67 Appendix 2. 4. 6: Introduction to the defence corpus. UUB MS C 518,