4 - The hunt for the Heresy of the Free Spirit: the 1332 enquiry into the ‘Cowled Nuns’ of Świdnica

Summary

On 7–12 September 1332, the refectory of the priory of the Friars Preachers in Świdnica (German Schweidnitz) in Lower Silesia witnessed the interrogations of sixteen women about the life and mores of a Beguine community whose members called themselves ‘the cowled nuns’ (moniales Capuciatae) and ‘the Daughters of Odelind’ (filiae Udilindis). The investigation was carried out by John of Schwenkenfeld, a Dominican friar and the papal inquisitor in the Dioceses of Wrocław (German Breslau) and Lubusz (German Lebus). Its purpose was to examine the beliefs of the Świdnica Beguines and learn whether they had anything in common with the heretical doctrine of the Free Spirit. The testimonies of all deponents were translated from German into Latin and written down by an assistant notary, revised by Schwenkenfeld, and recorded in the notarial instrument, which is currently preserved in the Vatican Library under the catalogue number Vat. Lat. 13119a.

The 1332 inquisitorial records and past research

The inquisitorial proceedings on the Świdnica ‘cowled nuns’ conformed to the provisions of the Council of Vienne (1311–12), published by Pope John XXII in November 1317. Two of the conciliar constitutions, Cum de quibusdam mulieribus and Ad nostrum , directly addressed the cases of lay women calling themselves Beguines and undertaking a quasi-monastic lifestyle. The former constitution accused Beguines of pretending to be cloistered congregations and wearing a religious habit referred to as the Beguines’ dress. It also accused the Beguines of becoming engrossed in discussions on the doctrine of the Church, especially deliberations over the dogma of the Trinity. As a result, numerous errors arose and led to scandals among the faithful. The constitution Cum de quibusdam mulieribus ordered the dissolution of Beguine communities. This provision did not concern only pious women who wanted to continue to live in chastity and poverty on an individual basis. The constitution Ad nostrum accused Beguines and Beghards of subscribing to the Free Spirit heresy whose followers disdained the teaching of the Church and believed that they themselves were able to achieve a state of mystical union with God, without recourse to the sacraments and the ministry of the clergy. Ad nostrum listed the heretical beliefs of the Free Spirit in eight articles, commissioning bishops and papal inquisitors to carry out investigations against its followers.