The Life and Passion of William · ORIGINES

Source

The Life and Passion of William

The founding text of the accusation. It is authentic — it really is a twelfth-century manuscript — but it is a plea for a cult, written years after the events by someone who did not witness them.

Source

Primary source · Partly verified

Vita et passio sancti Willelmi martyris Norwicensis (The Life and Passion of William of Norwich)

Thomas de Monmouth / Thomas of Monmouth — Writing begun around 1150, several years after William's death; the last books are later (precise dating to be confirmed).

Open the source sheet →

Links

Source documents
The Life and Passion is the only detailed account of William's death.
Backed by : Thomas de Monmouth, Vita et passio sancti Willelmi martyris …
concerns source
Thomas of Monmouth is the author of the text.
Backed by : Thomas de Monmouth, Vita et passio sancti Willelmi martyris …
Source documents
The episode is known only through Thomas's account.
Backed by : Thomas de Monmouth, Vita et passio sancti Willelmi martyris …
reinterprets source
First critical reading of Thomas's text.
Backed by : Augustus Jessopp & M. R. James, The Life and Miracles of St William of N…
reinterprets source
Analysis of the text as the construction of an accusation.
Backed by : Gavin I. Langmuir, Thomas of Monmouth: Detector of Ritual M…
reinterprets source
Rereading of the text in light of the trial of Simon de Novers.
Backed by : E. M. Rose, The Murder of William of Norwich: The Or…