Today’s free book would prove useful to anyone doing any serious study on the history of the English church. It contains no less than 124 documents (listed below) compiled from original sources. This public domain title was digitised using a copy held in Spurgeon’s College library.

Henry Gee [1858-1938] & John William Hardy [1857-1919], Documents Illustrative of English Church History, Compiled from Original Sources. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1921. Hbk. pp.670. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Contents

• Preface

1. 314. The British Signatories at the Council of Aries
2. 598. Letter of Gregory the Great to Eulogius
3. 601. Answers of Gregory the Great to St. Augustine of Canterbury
4. 601. Gregory the Great’s Scheme of English Diocesan Organization
5. 673. Council of Hertford
6. 680. Council of Hatfield
7. 747. The Canons of Cloveshoo
8. 787. Synods held at Chelsea and elsewhere
9. 803. Abolition of the Metropolitan Dignity of Lichfield
10. 855. The Donation of Ethelwulf
11. 927. Tithe Ordinance of Athelstan
12. 943. Selections from the Constitutions of Odo
13. 1072. Settlement of the Primacy Dispute
14. 1075. Canons of the Council of London under Lanfranc
15. 1076? Letter of William the Conqueror to Pope Gregory VII
16. ? The Conqueror’s Mandate for dividing the Civil and Church Courts
17. ? William and the Royal Supremacy
18. 1100, Henry’s Letter to Anselm
19. 1102. Canons of the Council of \Vestminster
20. 1107. The Compromise of Investitures
21. 1108. Canons of Anselm at London
22. 1136. Second Charter of Stephen
23. 1164. The Constitutions of Clarendon
24. 1208. Answer of Innocent III concerning the Interdict
25. 1213. John’s Surrender of the Kingdom to the Pope
26. 1214. John’s Ecclesiastical Charter
27. 1215. The Church Clauses of Magna Carta
28. 1279. The Mortmain Act
29. 1285. The Writ ‘Circumspecte agatis’
30. 1295. Ecclesiastical Summons to Parliament
31. 1296. The ‘Clericis Laicos’ Bull
32. 1301. The Barons’ Letter to the Pope from Lincoln
33. 1307. The Statute of Carlisle
34. 1316. The ‘Articuli Cieri’ of A.D. 1316
35. 1353. The First Statute of Praemunire
36. 1377. Letter of Pope Gregory XI to Archbishop Sudbury, and the Bishop of London, directing proceedings against Wycliffe
37. 1382. Wyclitfe Propositions condemned at London
38. 1384. Letters Patent against the Lollards
39. 1390. The Second Statute of Provisors
40. 1393. The Second Statute of Praemunire
41. 1394. The Lollard Conclusions
42. 1401. The Act ‘De Haeretico Comburendo’
43. 1401. The Royal Writ for the Burning of Sawtre
44. 1428. Remonstrance against the Legatine Powers of Cardinal Beaufort
45. 1455. Archbishop Bourchier’s Commission for Reforming the Clergy
46. 1532. The Petition of the Commons
47. 1532. The Answer of the Ordinaries
48. 1532. The Submission of the Clergy
49. 1532. The Conditional Restraint of Annates
50. 1533. The Restraint of Appeals
51. 1534. The Submission of the Clergy and Restraint of Appeals
52. 1534. The Ecclesiastical Appointments Act, &c.
53. 1534. Act forbidding Papal Dispensations and the Payment of Peter’s Pence
54. 1534. The First Act of Succession
55. 1534. The Supremacy Act
56. 1534. The Second Act of Succession
57. 1534. The Treasons Act
58. 1534. Abjuration of Papal Supremacy by the Clergy
59. 1534. Suffragan Bishops Act
60. 1534? Note on the Appointment of Crumwell as Vicar-General
61. 1536. Act for the Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries
62. 1536. The First Royal Injunctions of Henry VIII
63. 1538. The Second Royal Injunctions of Henry VIII
64. 1539. Act for the Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries
65. 1539. The Six Articles Act
66. 1540. Deed of Surrender of Westminster Abbey
67. 1547. Act against Revilers, and for Receiving in both Kinds
68. 1547. Act dissolving the Chantries
69. 1549. The First Edwardine Act of Uniformity
70. 1549, Marriage of Priests legalized
71. 1552. The Second Edwardine Act of Uniformity
72. 1553, Mary’s First Proclamation about Religion
73. 1553. Mary’s First Act of Repeal
74. 1554. The Injunctions of Mary
75. 1554. Revival of the Heresy Acts
76. 1554. Mary’s Second Act of Repeal
77. 1558. Elizabeth’s Proclamation to forbid Preaching &c.
78. 1559. The Injunctions of Elizabeth
79. 1559. Elizabeth’s Supremacy Act restoring Ancient Jurisdiction, &c.
80. 1559. Elizabeth’s Act of Uniformity
81. 1566. The Advertisements
82. 1571. Selection from the Canons of 1571
83. 1571. The Subscription (Thirty-nine Articles) Act
84. 1583. Articles touching Preachers and other Orders for the Church
85. 1585. Act against Jesuits and Seminarists
86. 1593. The Act against Puritans
87. 1593. The Act against Recusants
88. 1603. The Millenary Petition
89. 1604. James’ Proclamation for the Use of the Book of Common Prayer
90. 1622. Directions concerning Preachers
91. 1608. The King’s Declaration prefixed to the Articles of Religion
92. 1609. Resolutions on Religion presented by a Committee of the House of Commons
93. 1633. The King’s Majesty’s Declaration to his Subjects concerning Lawful Sports to be used
94. 1633. The Privy Council and the Position of the Communion Table at St. Gregory’s
95. 1640. Note on the Canons of 1640
96. 1640. The Etcaetera Oath
97. 1640. The Root and Branch Petition
98. 1641. The Protestation of 1641
99. 1641. Act for the Abolition of the Court of High Commission
100. 1641. Resolutions of the House of Commons on Ecclesiastical Innovations
101. 1641. Order of the Lords concerning the Services of the Church
102. 1641. Selections from the Petition and the Grand Remonstrance
103. 1641. The King’s Proclamation on Religion
104. 1642. The Clerical Disabilities Act
105. 1642. The Declaration of the Houses on Church Reform
106. 1642-6. Selection from the York, Oxford, and Newcastle Propositions
107. 1643. The Solemn League and Covenant
108. 1649. Selections from the Agreement of the People
109. 1650. The Engagement
110. 1653. Selections from the Instrument of Government
111. 1654. The Commission of Triers
112. Selection from Cromwell’s Proclamation
113. 1657. Selections from the Humble Petition and Advice
114. 1660. The Declaration of Breda
115. 1661. Order for the Savoy Conference
116. 1661. The Corporation Act
117. 1662. The Uniformity Act
118. 1665.The.Five Mile Act
119. 1670. The Second Conventicle Act
120. 1673. The Test Act
121. 1687. The Declaration of Indulgence
122. 1689. The Bill of Rights
123. 1689. The Toleration Act
124. 1700. The Act of Settlement

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Charles Henry Hamilton Wright [1836-1909], The Writings of St. Patrick. The Apostle of Ireland. A Revised Translation with Notes Critical and Historical, 3rd edn. Christian Classics Series VI. London: Religious Tract Society, n.d. Hbk. pp.149. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Brief Sketch of St. Patrick’s Life
3. Genuine Writings of Patrick
4. Doubtful Remains
5. Appendix—Poetical Versions of the Hymn

• Notes on Patrick’s Hymns

Main Image: The Cliffs of Mohar, County Clare, Republic of Ireland. Image credit: KarloKolumno from Pixabay

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Today’s free book is Herbert B. Workman’s survey of the development of Christian Monasticism. This public domain title was digitised using the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library.

Herbert Brook Workman [1862–1951], The Evolution of the Monastic Ideal. From the Earliest Times Down to the Coming of the Friars. A Second Chapter in the History of Christian Renunciation. London: Charles H. Kelly, 1913. Hbk. pp.368. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Contents

• Preface
• Abbreviations and Editions

1. Historic Survey of the Ideas of Monasticism
2. The History of Monasticism as an Institution to the Coming of Benedict
3. St.Benedict and his order
4. The Ideals of Monasticism in the Celtic Church
5. The Development of Monasticism from St. Benedict to St. Francis
6. The Coming of the Friars
7. The Message of Monasticism

• Appendix A. The Sources of Our Knowledge of Early Monasticism
• Appendix B. Additional Bibliography
• Index

Main image: St Francis of Assisi. Image Credit: falco from Pixabay

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Today’s free book is F J Foakes-Jackson’s history of the Medieval Church, which covers the period 590-1314 AD. This public domain title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library.

Frederick John Foakes Jackson [1855-1941], An Introduction to the History of Christianity A.D. 590-1314. London: MacMillan & Co. Ltd., 1921. Hbk. pp.390. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Contents

• Preface

1. The Pillars of the Medieval Church
2. The Church and the Empire
3. The So-Called Dark Ages
4. The Church Emopire of the West
5. The Revival and Reorganisation of Papacy
6. The Crusades
7. Learning and Heresy in the Early Middle Ages
8. The Medieval Church as a Disciplinary Institution
9. The Friars—The Schoolmen—The Universities
10. The Papacy and the House of Hohenstaufen
11. The French Monarchy and the Papacy
12. England
13. A Survey of Society
14. Dante and the Decay of Medievalism

• Important Popes
• Index

Main image: Conquest Of Constantinople By The Crusaders In 1204. Source: Wikipedia

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Today’s free title is Herbert B. Workman’s 2 Volume set on Medieval Church History. They cover John Wylif and the English Lollards, the councils of Pisa and Constance and the life and death of John Hus. My thanks to Book Aid for making copies of these public domain titles available for digitisation.

Herbert Brook Workman [1862–1951], The Dawn of the Reformation, Vol. 1. The Age of Wyclif. Books for Bible Students. London: Charles H. Kelly, 1901. Hbk. pp.301. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Contents

• Preface

1. Avignon
2. Seers and Dreamers
3. Wyclif and the Schoolmen
4. Wyclif: Politician and Reformer
5. The English Lollards

Herbert Brook Workman [1862–1951], The Dawn of the Reformation, Vol. 2. The Age of Hus. London: The Epworth Press, 1933 reprint. Hbk. pp.374. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Contents

• Preface

1. The Great Schism
2. The Council of Pisa
3. The Forerunners of Hus
4. John Hus and the Troubles in Prague
5. The Council of Constance
6. The Trial and Death of Hus

• Appendices
• Index of Names

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Today’s free book is James Cotter Morison’s biography of Bernard of Clairvaux. Tis public domain title was digitised from the copy of the book held in Spurgeon’s College library.

James Cotter Morison [1832-1888], The Life and Times of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux. A.D. 1091–1153. London: MacMillan & Co., Ltd., 1877. Hbk. pp.448. [Click here to visit the download page for this title]

Table of Contents

• Book I
  1. Saint Bernard’s Birth—Parents—The First Crusade—Death of Alith, his Mother
  2. Choice of a Career—Temptations from Love of Literature—Triumph of Faith—Conversions—Citeaux: its Origin—Saint Bernard’s Austerities
  3. Growth of Citeaux—Foundation of Clairvaux—Illness of Saint Bernard—William of Champeaux—William of St. Thierry—Peter de Roya
  4. Foundation of the Order of Citeaux—The Charter of Charity—The Commencement of Saint Bernard’s Correspondence—Letters to Robert—To Fulk—Sermons on the Annunciation
  5. Saint Bernard’s Friend, William of Thierry—His Illness cured miraculously by Saint Bernard—Miracles in the Middle Ages—Several Examples
  6. Visits to Paris—To La Grande Chartreuse—Inner Life of the Monasteries
  7. Secular Episode—Louis VI. and his Baronial Wars—Siege of the Castle Le Puiset—Flanders—The Murder of Charles the Good—Siege of the Castle of Bruges—Flight and Execution of the Provost—Surrender of the Murderers—Their horrible Deaths
  8. Quarrel with the Bishop of Paris—Apology—Cluny—Extracts
  9. Literary Compositions—The Tractate on Humility and Pride—The Council of Troyes—Illness—The Fairs of Champagne—The Knights Templars—Saint Bernard’s Address to them
• Book II
  1. Death of Pope Honorius II.—The Schism—Innocent II. and Anacletus II.—Progress of Innocent through France—Cluny—Clairvaux—Council at Rheims—Enlargement of the Monastery at Clairvaux
  2. William, Count of Aquitaine, still favours Anacletus—Saint Bernard’s Triumph over him—Sermons on the Canticles
  3. Converts at Clairvaux—Freedom of Speech in the Middle Ages—Letters to Pope Innocent II. and others—Death of Louis VI
  4. Third Journey to Italy—End of the Schism—Letters home—Dispute with Peter of Cluny concerning the Election of a Bishop of Langres
  5. Death of St. Bernard’s Brother, Gerard—Funeral Sermon on the Death of Gerard—Visit of St. Malachy to Clairvaux
• Book III
  1. Letter ol William of St. Thierry to Saint Bernard and the Bishop of Chartres—Alarm about the Heyesies of Peter Abelard
  2. Life of Peter Abelard up to the Council of Sens, A. D. 1140
  3. Theology of Abelard—His Views on the Trinity
  4. The Council of Sens—Last Days of Abelard
  5. Saint Bernard as a Monk and Ruler of Monks—Sermon on the Passion
  6. The Immaculate Conception—Louis VII. and the Archbishop of Bourges—The Count of Vermandois excommunicated—War between Louis VII. and Count Theobald of Champagne—Burning of Vitry—Death of Pope Innocent II.
• Book IV
  1. Condition of Syria and the East up to the middle of the Twelfth Century
  2. The Second Crusade preached by Saint Bernard
  3. The Second Crusade
  4. Acts of Saint Bemard during the Progress of the Crusade—Trial and Condemnation of Gilbert de la Porrée—Second Visit of St, Malachy to Clairvaux—His Death there
  5. The last Years of Saint Bernard—The Book of Consideration—Treachery of his Secretary Nicholas—Illness and Death
• Index

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