From the Vulgate to the Vernacular: Four Debates on an English Question c.1400

Translation is at the centre of Christianity, scripturally, as reflected in the biblical stories of the tower of Babel, or of the apostles’ speaking in tongues after the Ascension, and historically, where arguments about it were dominant in Councils, such as those of Trent or the Second Vatican Council of 1962–64, which, it should be recalled, privileged the use of the vernacular in liturgy.

The four texts edited here discuss the legitimacy of using the vernacular language for scriptural citation. This question in England became central to the perception of the followers of John Wyclif (sometimes known as Lollards): between 1409 and 1530 the use of English scriptures was severely impeded by the established church, and an episcopal licence was required for its possession or dissemination. The issue evidently aroused academic interest, especially in Oxford, where the first complete English translation seems to have originated. The three Latin works here survive complete each in a single manuscript: of these texts two, written by a Franciscan, William Butler, and by a Dominican, Thomas Palmer, are wholly hostile to translation. The third, the longest and most perceptive, edited here for the first time, emerges as written by a secular priest of impressive learning, Richard Ullerston; his other writings display his radical, but not unorthodox opinions. The only English work here is a Wycliffite adaptation of Ullerston’s Latin. The volume provides editions and modern translations of these four texts, together with a substantial introduction explaining their context and the implications of their arguments, and encouraging further exploration of the perceptions of the nature of language that are displayed there, many of which, and notably of Ullerston, are in advance of those of his contemporaries.  

ELIZABETH SOLOPOVA is a Research Fellow and lecturer at the English Faculty, University of Oxford. JEREMY CATTO (1939–2018) was Fellow Emeritus of Oriel College in the University of Oxford. ANNE HUDSON is a Fellow of the British Academy, Professor Emerita (personal chair) of Medieval English at the English Faculty and an Honorary Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

• Hardback
• 8 pp colour plates
• 216 pages, 228 x 152 mm
• Series: Studies and Texts 220; British Writers of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period, 7
• ISBN: 9781851245635
• Publication January 2021
  
• Published in North America by PIMS

IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING USA ORDERS:

We have resumed shipments to the USA. Parcels will be sent DDP (delivered duty paid), duties and taxes will be calculated at checkout and added to the value of your order.

GENERAL

We aim to dispatch your purchases within 3-5 working days. Your order will, wherever possible, be sent to you in one delivery. Occasionally we may have to send your order in separate shipments. If this is the case, you will only be charged the delivery amount quoted to you at the time you placed your order.

Delivery in the UK is made by first class post via Royal Mail or DHL. International delivery is made either by first class post or via courier (DHL), some international locations will take up to 4-6 weeks for delivery.

All delivery prices include handling, packing and insurance where appropriate. All prices quoted are for delivery to one address only.

Prices shown include all applicable UK taxes. Please note that international orders (including the EU) may be subject to local customs duties, taxes and delivery charges, which are levied once a shipment reaches your country. The customer is responsible for any additional duty, taxes or fees applicable in their country. Customs policies vary widely from country to country and we advise you to contact your local customs office for further information.

PICKUP

Our Pickup service is a convenient way for you to order online and collect your purchase in person at the Library. We aim to have your order ready for collection within 72 hours. You will be notified when your order is ready for collection. Please don't come to the library to collect until you have received the email notification. 

Our standard delivery charges (exclusions apply*) are:

Country	Order Subtotal	Delivery Cost
UK	Under £50.00	£5.00
UK	Over £50*	FREE
EU	Flat Rate Fee	£22.00
International	Flat Rate Fee	£28

*excluding alcohol, artist work, furniture, heavy items and custom prints that will be courier delivered. Please see below and item pages for more details.

Age Restricted Items

Please note that age restricted products are available to be shipped in the UK only and will incur an additional shipping fee.

Product	Additional Cost of Shipping
Duke Humfrey's Whisky	£5

Heavy Items - Standard delivery charges do not apply to the following heavy items due to weight and volume:

• The Bodleian Curators' Chair
• The 'Baby Bod' Curators' Chair
• Bodleian Readers' Chair
• Radcliffe Camera Model
• Radcliffe Camera Bookends

These items will be shipped via courier and the shipping charges include relevant insurance. Please contact customerservice@bodleian.ox.ac.uk for more information and for a shipping quote.

Custom Prints

Please note that a separate, additional delivery charge applies for Custom Print orders. Custom Prints are made and dispatched by a third party (Museoteca) on behalf of the Bodleian Libraries. Custom prints are dispatched separately from other products from the Bodleian Libraries Shop.

How to Cancel 

To cancel an order with us, please contact us as soon as possible after placing the order. If your order has already been dispatched, you will need to await its receipt and then return the goods to us (should you still wish to cancel) unopened and in a re-saleable condition in order to receive a full refund of the purchase price. We will refund the standard cost of outbound delivery, but please note that you must arrange for and pay the costs of returning the goods to us. 

For more information about cancelling your order, including your statutory right to cancel and what to do if your goods are damaged or faulty, see: https://www.bodleianshop.co.uk/pages/terms-conditions

Our "Goodwill" Refund Policy 

In addition to your statutory right to cancel, we offer a "goodwill" refund policy. This does not affect your legal rights.

Under our "goodwill" refund policy, we will refund or exchange any goods purchased from us when they are returned in a re-saleable condition and accompanied by proof of purchase within 28 days of purchase. We will also refund the standard cost of outbound delivery. Return delivery charges are non-refundable unless your order is faulty or incorrect. Please note that pierced earrings, personalised items including bespoke prints, artist works and any item with a security seal where the seal has been broken, are excluded from our "goodwill" refund policy. The refund will be paid as soon as possible, but in any event within 14 days, following receipt of the returned goods. We recommend that you use a recorded delivery service to return any goods to us, as we will not be able to refund any goods that have been lost or damaged in transit.

If you wish to discuss returning an item please email customerservice@bodleian.ox.ac.uk with your order number and item details and we will respond as soon as possible. 

Our returns address is:

Retail Operations - Returns

Bodleian Libraries

Broad Street

Oxford

OX1 3BG