Sources and translations

This blog provides our draft translation of Carolingian texts, mostly linked to Hincmar of Rheims or the divorce of Lothar II and Theutberga.


The texts translated are as follows:


Page references are given in square brackets in the translation. All these translations are works in progress and have not been checked for errors or readability. Readers are strongly advised to check the Latin text themselves.


Friday 31 August 2007

Interrogatio 4 In which the issue of marriage and sin is first addressed

We ask in the second chapter, if actions committed after marriage has been entered into are to be considered, to be briefed about how a marriage should be entered into, and what the law of marriage is, and how, and for what issues, it is able to be broken up. And whether, after a rupture, the husband or wife are able to hope for another physical relationship, or whether either of them sinning in marriage should be be judged according to a like judgment.

Monday 6 August 2007

Interrogatio 3 In which Hincmar is said to have given his agreement

An explanation must be given for what is written,

Moreover we were informed concerning the venerable Archbishop of Reims that he agreed to this deed, and that he verbally confirmed this through deputies, that is Wenilo Archbishop of Rouen and Hildegar Bishop of Meaux, and that he sent letters of agreement to the king’s meeting and to the bishops’ convention via [Bishop] Adventius, who had spoken with him at Reims about it, and that he had sent via the same Adventius letters of approval to the Apostolic See.

For if the shepherd of the Church and the first of the Apostles, performing exceptional signs and miracles, did not disdain to give an explanation for why he had gone to the Gentiles, why he had eaten with them, and why he had received them in baptism, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, how much more so must not we, sinners that we are, give humble account of ourselves to our accusers when we are accused of something?

Sunday 5 August 2007

Interrogatio 2: In which Hincmar is reminded of an old enemy

About it being written to us, that some say that following the example of the secret confession of the former bishop Ebo, the argument of this case ought to be judged from the secret confession of the aforesaid woman.