"The essays in this volume, devoted to the culture of the Western middle ages, are divided into three categories: "Masters, Schools, and Learning," "Pastors, Judges, and Administrators," and "Liturgy, Piety, and Exempla." The authors approach their topics from varying perspectives, such as philosophy, theology, musicology, literary criticism, sermon studies, biblical exegesis, and canon law. The investigations span the eleventh to the sixteenth centuries, and reach from Italy to Scotland and Wales; many centre on England in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They touch upon education and pedagogy, penance and preaching, war and peace, popular piety and learned distinctions, gambling and defamation, silence and grace. A number of the essays are accompanied by editions of hitherto unpublished texts."--