Three Oxford Exemplum Books: John of Wales, Breviloquium de Virtutibus Antiquorum Principum Et Philosophorum; Thomas Waleys, Moralitates in Ysaiam; Robert Holcot, Moralitates

The most ubiquitous medieval instruction was oral and came from the pulpit. Sermons not only addressed basic Christian responsibilities, but also a great deal more. Following contemporary homiletic practice, preachers were expected to illustrate their points, and a variety of tools had been developed to aid them in this rhetorical amplification. Among these, exemplum books, collections of illustrative stories, had a primary place and were particularly effective in addressing lay audiences. As part of a drive for innovative and arresting anecdotes of this type, Oxford preaching materials are particularly renowned for their use of classical materials for this purpose.

This volume, following a lengthy introduction that addresses the cultural importance of exempla, presents editions and translations of three outstanding examples of the genre, all assembled by Oxford mendicants: John of Wales's Breviloquium (1260s), Thomas Waleys's Moralitates in Isaiam (c. 1320), and Robert Holcot's Moralitates (1330s?). While there is a century's worth of discussion of sermon exempla, this volume is the first collection devoted exclusively to insular materials.

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Three Oxford Exemplum Books: John of Wales, Breviloquium de Virtutibus Antiquorum Principum Et Philosophorum; Thomas Waleys, Moralitates in Ysaiam; Robert Holcot, Moralitates

The most ubiquitous medieval instruction was oral and came from the pulpit. Sermons not only addressed basic Christian responsibilities, but also a great deal more. Following contemporary homiletic practice, preachers were expected to illustrate their points, and a variety of tools had been developed to aid them in this rhetorical amplification. Among these, exemplum books, collections of illustrative stories, had a primary place and were particularly effective in addressing lay audiences. As part of a drive for innovative and arresting anecdotes of this type, Oxford preaching materials are particularly renowned for their use of classical materials for this purpose.

This volume, following a lengthy introduction that addresses the cultural importance of exempla, presents editions and translations of three outstanding examples of the genre, all assembled by Oxford mendicants: John of Wales's Breviloquium (1260s), Thomas Waleys's Moralitates in Isaiam (c. 1320), and Robert Holcot's Moralitates (1330s?). While there is a century's worth of discussion of sermon exempla, this volume is the first collection devoted exclusively to insular materials.

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Three Oxford Exemplum Books: John of Wales, Breviloquium de Virtutibus Antiquorum Principum Et Philosophorum; Thomas Waleys, Moralitates in Ysaiam; Robert Holcot, Moralitates

Three Oxford Exemplum Books: John of Wales, Breviloquium de Virtutibus Antiquorum Principum Et Philosophorum; Thomas Waleys, Moralitates in Ysaiam; Robert Holcot, Moralitates

by Ralph Hanna
Three Oxford Exemplum Books: John of Wales, Breviloquium de Virtutibus Antiquorum Principum Et Philosophorum; Thomas Waleys, Moralitates in Ysaiam; Robert Holcot, Moralitates

Three Oxford Exemplum Books: John of Wales, Breviloquium de Virtutibus Antiquorum Principum Et Philosophorum; Thomas Waleys, Moralitates in Ysaiam; Robert Holcot, Moralitates

by Ralph Hanna

Hardcover

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Overview

The most ubiquitous medieval instruction was oral and came from the pulpit. Sermons not only addressed basic Christian responsibilities, but also a great deal more. Following contemporary homiletic practice, preachers were expected to illustrate their points, and a variety of tools had been developed to aid them in this rhetorical amplification. Among these, exemplum books, collections of illustrative stories, had a primary place and were particularly effective in addressing lay audiences. As part of a drive for innovative and arresting anecdotes of this type, Oxford preaching materials are particularly renowned for their use of classical materials for this purpose.

This volume, following a lengthy introduction that addresses the cultural importance of exempla, presents editions and translations of three outstanding examples of the genre, all assembled by Oxford mendicants: John of Wales's Breviloquium (1260s), Thomas Waleys's Moralitates in Isaiam (c. 1320), and Robert Holcot's Moralitates (1330s?). While there is a century's worth of discussion of sermon exempla, this volume is the first collection devoted exclusively to insular materials.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781836245117
Publisher: Liverpool University Press
Publication date: 12/28/2025
Series: Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies
Pages: 400
Product dimensions: 6.44(w) x 9.44(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Ralph Hanna is Professor of Palaeography (Emeritus) and Emeritus Fellow at Keble College, Oxford. He is a former Guggenheim Fellow, former Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute (Harvard University), and winner of the British Academy Sir Israel Gollancz Prize for English Language 2015. His many books with Liverpool University Press include John Ridewall, Fulgentius metaforalis (2023), Looking at Medieval Books: Learning to See (2023), Robert Holcot, exegete (2021) and Malachy the Irishman, On Poison (2020).

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