The Inquisitor's Guide, A Medieval Manual on Heretics by Bernard Gui. How to outwit heretics and pass judgement upon them. An insider's view of the infamous inquisition. Written in the 1320s, available for the first time in English.
A Parisian Journal 1405-1449, OUP, 1968. Translated from the Journal d'un Bourgeois, author unknown, ed. Tuetey, Paris 1881. This edition is out of print. The paperback version advertised by Ravenhall Books has been cancelled and does not exist.
Garnier's Becket, by Guernes de Pont-S-Maxence, Phillimore, 1975, reprinted Llanerch 1998, ISBN 1 86143 023 X.
The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, by Jean Richard, Elsevier, 1979, 2 vols, ISBN 0-444-85092-9. Author, Jean Richard.
The Song of Roland, Llanerch 1996, ISBN 1 86143 005 1.
The Song of the Cathar Wars, by William of Tudela and another, Ashgate 1996, ISBN 1-85928-331-4, and in paperback ISBN 0 7546 0388 1.
Daurel and Beton, Llanerch 1997, ISBN 1 86143 040 X.
Crusader Syria in the Thirteenth Century, Ashgate, 1999, ISBN 1-84014-606-0.
The Capture of Alexandria, by Guillaume de Machaut, Ashgate 2001, ISBN 0 7546 0101 3.
Booksellers can get you any of these except the Parisian Journal which is out of print. The Song of Roland, Daurel and Beton and Garnier's Becket are all in paperback as is the Song of the Cathar War.
Other translations, non-historical, include several children's books such as those by Marcus Pfister and Hans de Beer published by North-South Books, full of enchanting polar bears and glittering fish, and the weird and brilliant Moroccan Myths and Legends written and illustrated by Philippe Fix, Ragged Bears, 2004.
The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Latin Kingdom is a translation of Le Royaume latin de Jérusalem by Jean Richard, Paris, 1953. As well as a narrative of events, it presents an analysis of the way the crusader kingdom functioned, its laws, social structures, ecclesiastical rivalries and economy.
Crusader Syria in the Thirteenth Century
The 'Rothelin' Continuation of the History of William of Tyre and part of the Eracles or Acre text; includes a description of Jerusalem, prose narratives of events, and songs composed by angry crusaders lamenting their commanders' laziness and incompetence. Vivid descriptions of e.g. irresponsible crusaders striking deep into enemy territory and then settling down to a picnic.
The Capture of Alexandria
Translates into English blank verse the mid-14th century octosyllabic Prise d'Alexandrie of Guillaume de Machaut, a sparkling work telling of the life, adventures and gruesome death of Pierre de Lusignan, king of Cyprus and titular king of Jerusalem. Classical gods and goddesses co-operate obligingly with God Almighty, and He with them. Introduction and notes are by Peter Edbury.
