An Attempt To Date
Indulgences
May 15, 2015
G.D.O'Bradovich III
The following references are courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary. We typically do not include references after the year 1800, but due to the information not being updated, we have all included all citations.
Part the First
II. Specific and technical senses (from 1b).3. R.C. Church
a. ‘A remission of the punishment which is still due to sin after sacramental absolution, this remission being valid in the court of conscience and before God, and being made by an application of the treasure of the Church on the part of a lawful superior’ (Amort, quoted in Catholic Dict. s.v.).
1362 Langland Piers Plowman A. viii. 156
And diuinede þat Dowel Indulgence [B & C texts, Indulgences] passede, Bienals and Trienals and Busschopes lettres.
1377 Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 253
And purchace al þe pardoun of Pampiloun & Rome, And indulgences ynowe.
c1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 345
Many heresies as of assoilingis and indulgencis, and cursyngis, wiþ feyned pardons.
c1475 (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 9
If it be askid weþer þe pope selle indulgencs and merits of seynts.
1596 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent (rev. ed.) 333
For confirmation wherof, I will make you partaker of a Popish Indulgence (or pardon, as they termed it) made vnder the seale of the brotherhead of this house.
1667 Milton Paradise Lost iii. 492
Then might ye see..Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, The sport of Winds.
1717 G. Berkeley Jrnl. Trav. Italy 9 Jan. in Wks. (1955) VII. 248
An indulgence of above 6000 years was got by a visit to that Church on any ordinary day.
1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V ii. (1826) III. 307
Among others he had recourse to a sale of Indulgences.
1839 T. Keightley Hist. Eng. (new ed.) I. 418
He might also ..by paying money, or, by visiting some place of devotion obtain an indulgence to exempt him from the punishment due to one or more of his transgressions.
1885 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. (ed. 3) 440.
1885 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. (ed. 3) 444
Divisions of Indulgences.—Plenary remit all, partial a portion, of the temporal punishment due to sin—e.g., an indulgence of forty days, as much as would have been atoned for by forty days of canonical penance..Indulgences may be temporal—i.e. granted only for a time; or again perpetual or indefinite, which last till revoked..Personal indulgences are those granted to particular persons..Local indulgences may be gained only in a particular place..Real indulgences are those attached to crucifixes, medals, etc.
†b. Formerly in sense: Remission of sin. Obs.
1377 Langland Piers Plowman B. vii. 56
Whan þai drawen on to deye, and Indulgences wolde haue, Her pardoun is ful petit at her partyng hennes.
c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 3
That he myghte obteyne parfite and plenere pardoun and indulgence of his synnes..he decreid yn hym self to go to the courte of Rome.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) 52
In þe tenthe þe..communioun of þe seyntes, and þe indulgence of sinne bi cristenynge and penaunce.
Part the Second
The following list is the above citations in chronological order. Secondary sources are in red.
1362 And diuinede þat Dowel Indulgence...
1377 Whan þai drawen on to deye, and Indulgences...
1377 ...And indulgences ynowe.
We note that the three earliest sources for indulgences in the English language are from one source.
1380c Many heresies as of assoilingis and indulgencis, and cursyngis, wiþ feyned pardons.
Wyclif's works were printed in the 19th century. These can not be accurately dated.
1425c (1923) That he myghte obteyne parfite and plenere pardoun and indulgence of his synnes..he decreid yn hym self to go to the courte of Rome.
The source was found in a church in 1923 and dated to circa 1425.
1430c (1869) In þe tenthe þe..communioun of þe seyntes, and þe indulgence ...
1475c (▸?c1400 (1842) If it be askid weþer þe pope selle indulgencs and merits of seynts.
1596 For confirmation wherof,... of this house.
1667 Then might ye see..Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, The sport of Winds.
1717 (1955) An indulgence of above 6000 years ...
1769 (1826) Among others he had recourse to a sale of Indulgences.
1839 He might also ..... of his transgressions.
1885 Divisions of Indulgences.—... etc.
The above list with secondary sources omitted is shown below.
1362 And diuinede þat Dowel Indulgence...
1377 Whan þai drawen on to deye, and Indulgences...
1377 ...And indulgences ynowe.
1596 For confirmation wherof,... of this house.
1667 Then might ye see..Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, The sport of Winds.
1839 He might also ..... of his transgressions.
1885 .
1885 Divisions of Indulgences.—... etc.
We conclude that if indulgences existed in England, there are only five citations in the OED dating before the year 1800 AD.
Part the First
II. Specific and technical senses (from 1b).3. R.C. Church
a. ‘A remission of the punishment which is still due to sin after sacramental absolution, this remission being valid in the court of conscience and before God, and being made by an application of the treasure of the Church on the part of a lawful superior’ (Amort, quoted in Catholic Dict. s.v.).
1362 Langland Piers Plowman A. viii. 156
And diuinede þat Dowel Indulgence [B & C texts, Indulgences] passede, Bienals and Trienals and Busschopes lettres.
1377 Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 253
And purchace al þe pardoun of Pampiloun & Rome, And indulgences ynowe.
c1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 345
Many heresies as of assoilingis and indulgencis, and cursyngis, wiþ feyned pardons.
c1475 (▸?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 9
If it be askid weþer þe pope selle indulgencs and merits of seynts.
1596 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent (rev. ed.) 333
For confirmation wherof, I will make you partaker of a Popish Indulgence (or pardon, as they termed it) made vnder the seale of the brotherhead of this house.
1667 Milton Paradise Lost iii. 492
Then might ye see..Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, The sport of Winds.
1717 G. Berkeley Jrnl. Trav. Italy 9 Jan. in Wks. (1955) VII. 248
An indulgence of above 6000 years was got by a visit to that Church on any ordinary day.
1769 W. Robertson Hist. Charles V ii. (1826) III. 307
Among others he had recourse to a sale of Indulgences.
1839 T. Keightley Hist. Eng. (new ed.) I. 418
He might also ..by paying money, or, by visiting some place of devotion obtain an indulgence to exempt him from the punishment due to one or more of his transgressions.
1885 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. (ed. 3) 440.
1885 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. (ed. 3) 444
Divisions of Indulgences.—Plenary remit all, partial a portion, of the temporal punishment due to sin—e.g., an indulgence of forty days, as much as would have been atoned for by forty days of canonical penance..Indulgences may be temporal—i.e. granted only for a time; or again perpetual or indefinite, which last till revoked..Personal indulgences are those granted to particular persons..Local indulgences may be gained only in a particular place..Real indulgences are those attached to crucifixes, medals, etc.
†b. Formerly in sense: Remission of sin. Obs.
1377 Langland Piers Plowman B. vii. 56
Whan þai drawen on to deye, and Indulgences wolde haue, Her pardoun is ful petit at her partyng hennes.
c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 3
That he myghte obteyne parfite and plenere pardoun and indulgence of his synnes..he decreid yn hym self to go to the courte of Rome.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) 52
In þe tenthe þe..communioun of þe seyntes, and þe indulgence of sinne bi cristenynge and penaunce.
Part the Second
The following list is the above citations in chronological order. Secondary sources are in red.
1362 And diuinede þat Dowel Indulgence...
1377 Whan þai drawen on to deye, and Indulgences...
1377 ...And indulgences ynowe.
We note that the three earliest sources for indulgences in the English language are from one source.
1380c Many heresies as of assoilingis and indulgencis, and cursyngis, wiþ feyned pardons.
Wyclif's works were printed in the 19th century. These can not be accurately dated.
1425c (1923) That he myghte obteyne parfite and plenere pardoun and indulgence of his synnes..he decreid yn hym self to go to the courte of Rome.
The source was found in a church in 1923 and dated to circa 1425.
1430c (1869) In þe tenthe þe..communioun of þe seyntes, and þe indulgence ...
1475c (▸?c1400 (1842) If it be askid weþer þe pope selle indulgencs and merits of seynts.
1596 For confirmation wherof,... of this house.
1667 Then might ye see..Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, The sport of Winds.
1717 (1955) An indulgence of above 6000 years ...
1769 (1826) Among others he had recourse to a sale of Indulgences.
1839 He might also ..... of his transgressions.
1885 Divisions of Indulgences.—... etc.
The above list with secondary sources omitted is shown below.
1362 And diuinede þat Dowel Indulgence...
1377 Whan þai drawen on to deye, and Indulgences...
1377 ...And indulgences ynowe.
1596 For confirmation wherof,... of this house.
1667 Then might ye see..Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, The sport of Winds.
1839 He might also ..... of his transgressions.
1885 .
1885 Divisions of Indulgences.—... etc.
We conclude that if indulgences existed in England, there are only five citations in the OED dating before the year 1800 AD.