'The Syon Pardon Treatise' in London BL MS Harley 2321 is a Birgittine text from the second
half of the fifteenth century. It has not previously been published and is unique except for
eighteen lines found in Cambridge Corpus Christi College MS 156. The Harley text covers
ninety-one pages and has the form of a sermon aimed at a lay audience. Birgittine sermons were
delivered in the vernacular and restricted in length. However the length of this text is such
that it could not have been preached 'ad populum' in its entirety the term treatise is more
appropriate and has been used here. Harley 2321 appears to have been made for one or more
brothers at Syon who were in contact with pilgrims there. The text provides a wealth of
information on indulgences in late fifteenth-century England and insights that have relevance
beyond Syon. The introduction contains detailed descriptions of the two manuscripts and
discusses Birgittines and preaching contemporary doctrine on indulgences and penance and
indulgences at Syon and other Birgittine foundations.
