Contemplations of the Dread and Love of God

Contemplations of the Dread and Love of God (also known as Fervor Amoris) is a late Middle English devotional prose text. In essence it is a manual of guidance for the spiritual and ethical life, directed at the lay population, and intended for both sexes, rather than at a monastic audience (although there is evidence that the text was read by nuns). It is a useful index of English popular spirituality since its circulation seems to have been extensive: it survives in sixteen manuscripts, dating from the early-to-mid fifteenth century, and two early sixteenth century printed editions, evidence of its enduring popularity into the early modern period. Despite this, previous treatment by scholars has been negligible, and this is the first critical edition of the text. This edition is based on one manuscript, with variant readings cited from the other witnesses where necessary; the volume has a full critical apparatus, and an introduction which discusses manuscript relations, matters of textual criticism, editorial technique, language, and dating.