Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Pilgrimage is of all people, faiths, sferes and ages - for hunters, gatherers and smorgasbordians:

Following the 2008 reprint in Santa Fe the reviewing of The Way of Saint James by Georgiana Goddard King is gaining momentum in the Netherlands. Today veteran pilgrim Marcel van Huystee sent another contribution. You are invited to follow! This is a wonderful pilgrimage in itself into all layers under the story of Santiago.
For more of Marcel's reviews see http://demo.openlibrary.org/b/way_of_sa ... 2/review/1 , http://pilgrimsplaza-king3.blogspot.com , http://king-early-days.blogspot.com.
For better understanding the structure of TWoSJ see at the bottom of this page.

Nijmegen, February 22nd, 2008

Dear Geert,

With much interest and pleasure I read the first book of "The Way of Saint James", THE PILGRIMAGE, by Georgiana Goddard King. In spite of the fact that the "Hispanic Notes and Monography" were published in 1920, her scholarly writing is still valid and of cultural importance. It contains historical facts, art, culture, religion and tradition over a longer period related to Saint James. It has been written with full knowledge of the subjects, based on extensive reliable research of the available literature of ancient sources and from iconography in the field. Moreover, many places and interesting sites which I saw and the monuments and churches I visited, during my pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela, I have recognized during reading the books of "The Way of Saint James".

During the last ten years I hiked along various Caminos de Santiago with "la concha de vieira" (shell of Saint James). "el bordon" (pilgrim's staff) and "muchilla" (backpack). I am very happy and thankful, due to my physical condition that still I am able to fulfill such hikes, to accomplish the pilgrimages and finally, to achieve the destination in Santiago and to consider my best intentions. Now I am realizing that I am also a member of the army of millions of pilgrims goining during centuries beneath the "Via Lactea" (Galaxy, Milky Way), to the tomb of Saint James in Santiago and to the "Realm of Dead" at the "Costa da Morte", between "Fisterra-Muxia". Watching the sundown into the Atlantic, at the end of the world, taking the ritual bathe in the place of death, then turning reborn next moring to the sunrise and finally returning home and beginning a new life. I am glad and satisfied that along "los Caminos de Santiago", I can meet several interesting people from everywhere, entertaining hopes and expectations and we all are going in the same direction to arrive at our destination.

REVIEW

In her first book "The Pilgrimage of the Way of Saint James", Ms Georgiana Goddard King informed us in the FOREWORD, (piii), how she employed the available time and the certain method in making observations during wandering and visiting places.
First, her contribution in particular is a record and interpretation of iconograhic details all along her way.
Second, an attemp to date by comparison with such dated examples as exist.
Third, an occasional small hypothesis and the ground for it, e.g. about the original west front at Compostella and the cult of Santiago.
For those who desire to secure facts while avoiding the context, a very careful Index is supplied.

The first chapter I: INTENTIONS, (p3), she begins with: "The original intention of this book was to examine the claim for sources of Spanish architecture in the Gothic and Romanesque period". These are various and she is asking herself: "Was everything invented in Persia? Or Syria, or Asia Minor or Mesopotamia? Was everything borrowed from France? Was nothing learned from outside the Peninsula?". Ms King begins referring to several sources of historians and travellers and she is looking for how along architectual forms and methods conveyed from ancient cultures to Spanish soil and civilization.

Along the route of churchbuilders. The extent of Spanish relation with the lands that lie east of the Mediterranean is a matter of history, (p8). There is a debt to Egypt and the worship of Isis and Seraphis was deeply rooted in Spain, (p9). The crusaders and great conquests of overseas, (p9). The Arab trails with Mozarabic churches, (p6). In loans from France; "The great wave of backwash, the influx of French architecture into Spain in the eleventh century", (p7). Spain, like the Great Council at Venice, was at a certain date closed to outside influence, just as in the year 1559 it was closed to foreign learning, (p12). The Kings of Spain had built a highway to assist pilgrims in the twelfth century: but the road was there already. The Romans had built a military road as a sign and condition of their domination; but the road was there already. Palaeolithic man had moved along it and the stations of living devotion today, had frequented; there he made his magic and felt vague awe before the abyss of an antiquity unfathomed, (p22).

"How the stars in the sky revealed themselves to Charlemagne". "It signifies that you shall go into Galicia at the head of a great host and after you all people shall come in pilgrimage, even to the end of time, thus the vision spoke to the Emperor", (p23). "The known facts of geography through edifying cannot wholly explained this matter of the elder sanctuaries, no tell why, through religions come and go, men set their feet eternally toward a certain hilltop, there to lift up their hearts" -sursum corda!-, (p23). "The great Pilgrimage was something hugeous, incredible and on the current on it was borne this noble French epic; in the winding gorge of Roncevaux, still echoes the Chanson de Roland", (P25).

Chapter II: TURPIN's CHRONICALE, (p16), starts with Charlemagne when "One night he saw a starry road (Galaxy) that from beginning at the Frisian sea, crossing France and Gascony, Navarre and Spain, to the world's end". "It ran on across the sky to Galicia, where the body of Saint James at that time lay unrecognized", (p26). "Many a night he saw the marvel and understood it not. At last a fair Lord appeared to him and finally he was sent by the Lord to retake the road that leads to the tomb of Saint James", (p26). "The starry way in the sky signifies that you shall go into Galicia and after all people shall come in pelgrimage", (p27).

Charlemagne makes three expeditions into Spain, he establishes a Bishop and Canons under the rule of S. Isidore and he builds a church and founds an abbey. He holds a Councel at Compostela and confers such privilages as Rome could never enforce herself. He makes Compostela the See of Spain, co-equal with Rome the Sea of Peter and Ephesus, the burial place of John. On the way home he takes Saragossa and in the mountains his rearguard is beset by Saracens. Roland and his twenty thousand good knights are slain and burried by the Emperor, (p28). This ends the Chronicale of Turpin which is part of the Codex of Calixt, (p29-39).

Further on Ms King is continuing with several ancient literature about Charlemagne and Roland and the expeditions in Galicia.

In chapter III: THE BOOK OF SAINT JAMES, (p41), called the Codex of Pope Calixtus, has nothing of him but his name. It was written under the influence of the great Archbishop, his friend Diego Gelmirez and it consists of five books, (p41).
The first book contains the Mass, Hymns and Responsions in prose with musical notation, arranged usually for two or three voices, (p44).
The second book contains a choise of twenty-odd miracles or Ensamples, (p44).
The third book tells the story of Saint James's body, (p45).
The fourth is the cronicle of Turpin, (p45).
The fifth, the Pilgrim's Guide of Aymery Picaud, liegeman of Vezelay, (p46).

The core of the book is a sort of offertory and it was intended to increase devotion and promote the pilgrimage. But it is something more, a "spicilegium", a true and faithful gathering of legends told along the way. The whole book is seen to be in this light, a book and not a miscellany. It gathers up the tales along the roadside, sometimes saintly legends, sometimes epical. It begins with the story of the Apostle, continues with Charlemagne and it ends with a choise of contempory miracles, (p46).
After these stories and legends there is a summing up:

1. The belief goes back to a Latin recension of the Apostolic Catalogues.
2. About 830 an antique tomb was found which was considered Saint James’.
3. About this time was compiled an account of the Translation.
4. At the end of ninth century was forged a letter of Pope Leo, stated a contempory of S. James.
5. Nearer the end of the ninth century the letter was revised.
6. In 1136 the Historia Compostellana fixed the tradition.
7. All that remains in the Galician cult, from the first third of the ninth century.

Chapter IV: THE STATIONS OF THE WAY, (p64) begins with the visit of Aymery Picaud, (a clerk, 1120, became chancellor, 1130), who came to Compostela with a Flemish dame called Girberga. For the redemption of their souls they made a gift of the Codex, the Book of Saint James, to the Apostle. It is the fifth book of the Codex, the Pilgrims' Guide, written avowedly in part by Aymery, (p66) and it contains the following chapters, (p70).
I. Of the Way of Saint James the Apostle.
II. On the Stages of the Way of Saint James by Pope Calixt.
III. Of the Names of Cities in the Way of Saint James.
IV. Of the three Hospices of the world.
V. Of the Names of those who repaired the Way of Saint James by Aymery.
VI. Of Good and Bad Rivers which are on the Way of Saint James by Pope Calixt.
VII. Of the Names of the Lands and the sorts of People that there be on the Way of Saint James.
VIII.Of the Bodies of Saints that rest upon the Way of Saint James visiting by pilgrims.
IX. On the City and Church of Saint James by Calixt and Aymery.
X. Of the number of Canons.
XI. Of how pilgrims are to be received.

The GUIDE tells over the principal stopping-places on the way, with indications what they are like, (p71). The descriptions of the rivers that pilgrims going to Saint James should study to avoid drinking the deadly and be able to choose those which are fit to drink, (p73). Lastly, a river, a couple of miles from Saint James, in the woody place which is called "Lavamentula", because the pilgrims there washed their clothes and themselves, (p72). Then about all the folks who passed on journey including their sort and qualification. Further the specific landscapes along the way where travellers and saints were going to Santiago.

The closing chapter enforces the obligations of evangelical hospitality, by a string of miracles that punished those who refused it. The examination of the road-book indicates the several ways which are leading to Santiago, including the time and stages between the locations of hospices. Sometimes, where the road crosses an estuary, the side of the ferry, (sort of barge) is indicated. Finally, various pilgrims songs are listed.

Chapter V: ROMEROS en ROMERIA, (p93).
The habit of pilgrimage in a sense is innate; in other sense, possibly it came out of the troubled Europe of the early Middlle Age. Pilgrimage was common to all Europe: three special pilgrimages outgrew the other that of Jerusalem, that of Rome and that of Compostela. There was royal protection for pilgrims. Alfonso II, (the Great, 866-910), gave to the church of Orense a donation for receipt of pilgrims and he made the pilgrimage to Santiago with all his familiy. Many followed and by the eleventh century a great movement was well begun. Roads for pilgrims going to Santiago were built. Building of bridges and mending of ways were good enough work, in the Middle Ages for the best men; more than one saint broke stone on the road, (p100).

The order of Santiago was founded in 1172 and confirmed by a Bull of Alexander III in 1175. Gradually, Canons and Constitutions by bishops and kings were prepared, e.g. giving alms to pilgrims that passes by; tolls were abolished to pass freely and without annoyance or inquietude in such wise that the road to Santiago should be entirely free to pilgrims and even to those who carried merchandise or went on other business whatsoever. Ferdinand I, Alfonso VII and El Cid, all went on that road of the first the Chronicler of Silos says, "he loved the poor pilgrims and took great care to harbour them”, (p106). Many kings pushed an expedition to Santiago.

The pilgrimage could be made by proxy, or by delegates. It was possible also to go for the dead, (p123). Next, Ms King is mentioning and describing several pilgrimages and the chapter ends with stories, novels and romances, e.g. "the Soul as Pilgrim; Flores y Blancaflor; S. Bona of Pisa; 'Que canto la gallina a sada', (in S. Domingo de la Calzada)", etc., etc. After all, need was there on the long road of miracles, for it was a hard road and of great saints to take care of little souls, for not all who went came home again, (p132). Very many who set forth came not home at long last: by the side of the road are their graves, in parish churches, in forgotten sanctuaries.

MARCEL van HUYSTEE
http://www.vanhuystee.nl/compostela.html

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Short explanation about Volumes and BOOKS (or see it even better in colour in http://pilgrimsplaza-king3.blogspot.com under B:

The Way of Saint James was first printed in 3 hardback Volumes containing 4 BOOKS:

VOLUME 1: frontispiece (foto) SANTIAGO MAYOR (From a Compostellan Azabache in the Hispanic Society of America)
BOOK ONE: THE PILGRIMAGE chapters I - V 3-134
BOOK TWO: THE WAY chapters I - VIII 135-463

Volume 2 frontispiece (foto) (SAINT JAMES from the Painting by El Greco in the Hispanic Society of America)
BOOK TWO: THE WAY (continued) chapters IX - XVI 3-514

Volume 3 frontispiece (foto) SANTIAGO MATAMOROS (From an Illuminated MS. in the Hispanic Society of America)
BOOK THREE: THE BOURNE chapters I - VII 1-369
BOOK FOUR: HOMEWARD chapters I - III 371-710

Volume 3: BOOK THREE: THE BOURNE
I. AÑO SANTO 3
II. THE CHURCH OF THE APOSTLE 34
III. DIEGO GELMÍREZ 88
IV. COMPOSTELA 139
V. THE WORLD’S END 202
VI. THE PARADISE OF SOULS 221
VII. THE ASIAN GOD 278

Volume 3: BOOK FOUR: HOMEWARD
I. SUMMING UP 373
II. MA CALEBASSE, C’EST MA COMPAGNE 417
III. THE TWO ROADS 428-455

Volume 3: BOOK FOUR: HOMEWARD ends with:
NOTES: BOOK THREE 457
NOTES: BOOK FOUR 489
APPENDIX 497 - 14 paragraphs
BIBLIOGRAPHY 621
INDEX 663-710

For a quick browse through all flat texts:
http://elcaminosantiago.com/PDF/Way_of_ ... mes_01.txt - Volume I
http://elcaminosantiago.com/PDF/Way_of_ ... mes_02.txt - Volume II
http://elcaminosantiago.com/PDF/Way_of_ ... mes_03.txt - Volume III

[sillydoll]

Hello Geert,
I see that Amazon have Mrs kings books in hardcover and paperback:
Vol 1 for $34.64
Vol 2 for $30.30
Vol 3 for $35.60

and a hard copy Vol 3 for $43.91

They also have one hard copy of:
The way of Saint James, (Hispanic notes & monographs; essays, studies, and brief biographies. Peninsular series I) by Georgiana Goddard King (Unknown Binding - 1920)
1 Used & new from $150.00

Heart of Spain, by Georgiana Goddard King (Unknown Binding - 1941)
5 Used & new from $6.60

The Way Of Perfect Love (1908) by Georgiana Goddard King (Paperback - Oct 17, 2007)
9 Used & new from $12.47

A brief account of the military orders in Spain by Georgianna Goddard King (Hardcover - 1921) 1 Used & new from $35.00

The Bryn Mawr Spelling Book. Second Edition. by Georgiana Goddard. King (Paperback - 1911) 1 Used & new from $37.77

MUDÉJAR by Georgiana Goddard King (Hardcover - 1927)
1 Used & new from $18.00

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Hi Sil,

Thank you for your rapid respons! I checked some of the dealers just now but still couldn’t find anyone who could deliver the triple reprint now. Please keep me posted when you see one, or perhaps Kathy will break the news from Sante Fé?

In addition to your findings I can say that on http://pilgrimsplaza.blogspot.com there’s a list of all adresses where I looked for reprints and on-line books like the Open Library, Demo ditto and the Internet Archive of which I prefer http://www.abebooks.com : http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.booksamillion.com ; http://www.bamm.com ; http://www.pricefarmer.com ; http://www.nfaginbooks.com ; http://demo.openlibrary.org/b/way_of_sa ... 2/review/1 .

Under the picture of the triple covers above you find where to order, but also here I’m not quite sure if they can deliver promptly: http://www.pilgrimsprocess.com/events.htm ; all texts are a bit vague on that important point till now. Anyway, like many elderly people here we don’t have creditcards so we’re depending on other ways and friends or just wait until the reprints surface in second-hand stores which they sometimes amazingly quickly do!

On http://king-early-days.blogspot.com you see a long list of nearly 30 titles of Ms King’s books, articles and so on. Of course she has written many more. I still often wonder where did she find the time to run her own deparment for the study of History of Art at Bryn Mawr College, three years of pilgrimage on different quests in war time Europe, four more years to complete her masterpiece and writing all the other stuff? Amazing! Much of these answers I found in her picture that has made quite an impact with quite a few of my pilgrim friends.

I trust you are far too busy to join our reviewing? Pity, because I’m very sure that with your lifelong expertese you should make some beautiful and passionately sophisticated entries! Alas…, so many friends, so many books, so little time…

Thank you for watching so closely! It makes me feel very comfortable, warm and at home!
Geert

Ps: Early March 2008 Abebooks still had three original first prints [without ISBN numbers] available, even the most expensive one in Madrid that comes con camisa [dusk jacket].

[sillydoll]

Have you tried: http://www.nextag.com/saint-james/search-html

If you do a Google Image search it comes up with a number of websites that mentions her name.

There is a lovely, old picture - either taken by her or, perhaps even of her, riding in the distance on her donkey - http://www.uclm.es/ceclm/fotografia_his ... jes/04.htm

Not a book by Mrs king, but an interesting one anyway: Women Medievalists and the Academy Edited by Jane Chance (includes Mrs King) http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books/2949.htm

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

There is a lovely, old picture - either taken by her or, perhaps even of her, riding in the distance on her donkey - http://www.uclm.es/ceclm/fotografia_his ... jes/04.htm

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I'm so glad you brought this forum to my attention! And yeah, I found that picture (and many more) and wanted so badly to believe it was her but couldn't find a confirmation. Shall we decide now and forever that it is really Georgiana!? Thank you, Sil!

[sillydoll]

Geert - now I want to know for sure!
I have emailed ceclm@uclm.es to ask them if they know whether or not it is her. Will let you know when I hear from them.

[PILGRIMSPLAZA]

Wonderful, Sil! Could you please ask also on my behalf if they would consider giving us permission (for once?) to copy that picture (and maby 1 or 2 more)? It is so Georgiana-like in many ways! They seem to be rather strict in protecting copyrights but it is now for a good cause of course; promoting our hero. Thank you! Geert