Chapter 2

Abstract

Chapter 2 considers the rituals and social functions of confraternities in the Middle Ages, focusing on the manuscripts used in their ceremonies and the physical interactions these books invited. It highlights how civic groups adopted ecclesiastical modes of oath-taking, blending verbal confirmations with the theatrical handling of significant objects, notably books. Images in some manuscripts, such as the Liber Regulae of the Order of the Holy Spirit from Rome, depict such ceremonies. Drawing on visual evidence as well as use-wear evidence, the chapter argues for the role of book-touching in forging bonds within confraternities. The chapter further discusses the transition of confraternities from monastic to lay administration post-Black Death, with an increasing number of such brotherhoods forming for mutual support in life and remembrance after death. It specifically examines three case studies. The first, which treats the confraternity of St Nicholas in Valenciennes, provides insights into the social activities and obligations of its members, including their distinctive attire, communal feasts, and processional duties. This confraternity emphasizes the performative and public display of unity and piety, with detailed attention to the members' embodied participation. The second and third case studies treat confraternities dedicated to St. Sebastian, a military saint revered for his perceived role in protecting against the plague and reforming knightly behavior. One group in Linkebeek (near Brussels) relied on ducal patronage. Members recorded their names as a form of social and spiritual affirmation. Despite the confraternity's close ties with the Burgundian court, its membership was highly inclusive. Nonetheless, members asserted their place in a social hierarchy by having their names written as close as possible to that of the founding duke. The third case study considers a confraternity at St Gorik's church in Brussels, which developed from an archery guild into a rhetoricians' guild. The manuscript associated with St Gorik's, laden with historical data, underscores the diverse membership and cultural impact of the confraternity within the broader context of Brussels socio-religious norms. The chapter argues that the manuscripts and rituals of medieval confraternities played a pivotal role in forging social bonds and establishing collective identities. The physical marks and patterns of wear on the manuscripts serve as tangible evidence of these practices, revealing the importance of group cohesion and the performative nature of social and spiritual commitments in the late Middle Ages.