Cities of Ladies : Beguine Communities in the Medieval Low Countries, 1200-1565

List of Illustrations and Maps vii Preface ix Women, Work, and Religion in the Southern Low Countries 1(34) The Southern Low Countries in the High and Late Middle Ages 1(6) Household Structure and Gender 7(5) Religious Renewal and Dissent Before the Beguines 12(7) Women as Reformers and Heretics 19(5) Lambert le Begue 24(11) The Formation of Beguinages 35(26) Informal Communities 36(12) Formal Communities 48(13) The Contemplative and the Active Life 61(30) The Withdrawal from the World 61(15) Charity 76(4) Teaching 80(5) Manual Work 85(2) Saints and Workers 87(4) The Social Composition of Beguine Communities 91(27) Social and Economic Status 91(13) Patrons of the Beguinages 104(5) The Success of a Formula 109(9) Conflict and Coexistence 118(20) The Debate 121(11) The Inquiries 132(3) The Aftermath 135(3) Conclusion 138(7) List of Abbreviations 145(4) Notes 149(74) Bibliography 223(30) Appendix I. Repertory of Beguine Communities 253(51) Appendix II. Population of Select Court Beguinages 304(11) Index 315