Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from the Gregorian Reform to the Reformation

First Published in 1977, this comprehensive history of the great Heretical movements of the Middle Ages provides a vivid account of the dark, often secret, world of dissent and protest against the Medieval churches of Rome and Byzantium. Malcolm Lambert examines the origins and nature of these heresies, and looks at how Medieval churchmen grappled with deviation, sometimes by preaching and argument, more often by armed force, imprisonment and the stake.

The Third Edition retains the shape and time–scale of the previous editions, but assesses a new mood of skepticism among historians about the accuracy of accusations of heresy in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries. It gives fresh insight into the inquisitional process, and the rise and fall of Catharism, and offers a new account of the moving dialogue between Bishop Fournier and the Waldensian Deacon, Raymond de Sainte Foy, and of research on urban Waldensianism. In addition, the author surveys the continuing flow of work on English Lollardy. These revisions enable both those who are familiar with the book and new readers to stay in touch with the most recent research on heretical movements.

Part I: The Beginnings.

1. The Problem with Heresy.

2. The Revival of Heresy in the West: The Eleventh Century.

Part II: The Twelfth Century.

3. Orthodox Reform and Heresy.

4. Heretical Preachers and the Rise of Catharism.

5. The Waldensians and the Deepening Crisis.

Part III: Heresy and the Church.

6. The Counter–Attack: Innocent III to Innocent IV.

7. The Cathars.

8. The Waldensians After the Conference of Bergamo.

9. Tension and Insecurity: Gregory X to John XXII.

10. Inquisition and Abuse.

11. Spiritual Franciscans and Heretical Joachimites.

Part IV: Evangelical Heresy in the Late Middle Ages.

12. Church and Society: Benedict XII to Eugenius IV.

13. John Wycliff.

14. The English Lollards.

15. The Bohemian Reform Movement.

16. Politics and Hussitism, 1409–1419.

17. Success and Failure: From the Defenestration to the Agreement at Jihlava.

18. The Unitas Fratum and the Development of Confessions.

19. Medieval Heresy and the Reformation.

20. Heresy and Reform.

Malcolm Lambert was Reader in Medieval History at the University of Bristol until 1991 when he retired to devote himself to writing and research. His previous books are Franciscan Poverty (1961, reissued 1998) and The Cathars (paperback edition, 1998). He is now working on a history of the Conversion of Britain.