Today's research snippet. Medieval sexual sins
Today's research snippet. It's a bit rude today. This is from the Penitential of Burchard of Worms written in the early 11th century. Burchard was a bishop who wrote a 20 volume manual of sins that priests might come across when hearing confessions. Volume 19 Chapter 5 covers 194 of the sexual variety and here a few of them. I wonder if bishop Burchard got hot under his cassock writing all this down?!:
For Men:
Have you committed fornication with a nun, that is to say, a bride of Christ? if you have done this, you shall do penance for 40 days on bread and water, which they call a 'carina', and repeat it for the next seven years; and as long as you live, you shall observe all six holy days on bread and water.
Have you had sex with your wife or with another woman from behind, doggy style, (retro canino). if you have done this, you shall do penance for 10 days on bread and water.
Have you had sex with your wife on a Sunday? You shall do penance for four days on bread and water.
If in your wife's absence, without your or your wife's knowledge, your wife's sister entered your bed and you thought that she was your wife and you had sex with her, if you have done this, then if you complete the penance you can keep your lawful wife, but the adulterous sister must suffer the appropriate punishment and be deprived of a husband for all time.
Have you fornicated with your mother? if you have done this, you shall do penance for 15 years on the legitimate holy days, and one of these years on bread and water, and you shall remain without hope of marriage, and you shall never be without penitence. But your mother, if she was not consenting, shall do penance according to the decision of the priest; and if she cannot live chastely may marry in the Lord.
Have you kissed some woman due to foul desire and thus polluted yourself? If you have done this, you shall do penance for three days on bread and water. But if this happened in a church, you shall do penance for 20 days on bread and water.
The penance for male masturbation was 20 days on bread and water.
For Women:
Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do, that is, to make some sort of device or implement in the shape of the male member, of the size to match your desire, and you have fastened it to the area of your genitals or those of another with some form of fastenings and you have fornicated with other women or others have done with a similar instrument or another sort with you? If you have done this you shall do penance for five years on legitimate holy days.
Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do, that is, you have fornicated with yourself with the aforementioned device or some other device? If you have done this, you shall do penance for one year on legitimate holy days.
Have you tasted your husband's semen in the hope that because of your diabolical deed he might burn the more with love for you? If you have done this, you shall do penance for seven years on the legitimate holy days.
Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do? They prostrate themselves face-down and uncover their buttocks, then they order that bread be prepared on their naked buttocks; when it's baked, they give to their husbands to eat so that they will burn the more for love of them. If you have done this, you shall do penance for two years on legitimate holy days
Today's research photo shows a shield with two lovers. British Museum. You can read the details about it here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/s/shield_of_parade.aspx
For Men:
Have you committed fornication with a nun, that is to say, a bride of Christ? if you have done this, you shall do penance for 40 days on bread and water, which they call a 'carina', and repeat it for the next seven years; and as long as you live, you shall observe all six holy days on bread and water.
Have you had sex with your wife or with another woman from behind, doggy style, (retro canino). if you have done this, you shall do penance for 10 days on bread and water.
Have you had sex with your wife on a Sunday? You shall do penance for four days on bread and water.
If in your wife's absence, without your or your wife's knowledge, your wife's sister entered your bed and you thought that she was your wife and you had sex with her, if you have done this, then if you complete the penance you can keep your lawful wife, but the adulterous sister must suffer the appropriate punishment and be deprived of a husband for all time.
Have you fornicated with your mother? if you have done this, you shall do penance for 15 years on the legitimate holy days, and one of these years on bread and water, and you shall remain without hope of marriage, and you shall never be without penitence. But your mother, if she was not consenting, shall do penance according to the decision of the priest; and if she cannot live chastely may marry in the Lord.
Have you kissed some woman due to foul desire and thus polluted yourself? If you have done this, you shall do penance for three days on bread and water. But if this happened in a church, you shall do penance for 20 days on bread and water.
The penance for male masturbation was 20 days on bread and water.
For Women:
Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do, that is, to make some sort of device or implement in the shape of the male member, of the size to match your desire, and you have fastened it to the area of your genitals or those of another with some form of fastenings and you have fornicated with other women or others have done with a similar instrument or another sort with you? If you have done this you shall do penance for five years on legitimate holy days.
Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do, that is, you have fornicated with yourself with the aforementioned device or some other device? If you have done this, you shall do penance for one year on legitimate holy days.
Have you tasted your husband's semen in the hope that because of your diabolical deed he might burn the more with love for you? If you have done this, you shall do penance for seven years on the legitimate holy days.
Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do? They prostrate themselves face-down and uncover their buttocks, then they order that bread be prepared on their naked buttocks; when it's baked, they give to their husbands to eat so that they will burn the more for love of them. If you have done this, you shall do penance for two years on legitimate holy days
Today's research photo shows a shield with two lovers. British Museum. You can read the details about it here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/s/shield_of_parade.aspx
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a_tiffyfit
(new)
Jan 12, 2013 09:24PM
Is the bread bit a euphemism for something or do you suppose that was an actual, sexual practice? It caught me off-guard! lol
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I think it was straying into what you'd term extreme 'sex magic'. It's the adult form of the kind of thing where you peel an apple and look in a mirror over your shoulder in order to see the face of the person you will marry - or something like that, I don't recall the exact specifics. It's on the same page but more intense!!!
Very interesting! I bet it's fascinating to dig up these tidbits. And I'm SURE that priest was hot under his cassock as he catalogued them!
W0w this was interesting........... I guess all these sex toys and shops would give the priest a field day! I doubt he would just be hot under his cassock. When you write about your medieval characters and you come across these kind of writings does it effect how you convey the characters realistic views about their upcoming nuptials, marriage bed or feelings about love making?
