The Donation of Constantine in John Whethamstede’s Granarium

Abstract

Abstract This article analyses the discussion of the Donation of Constantine contained in the Granarium, an encyclopedia compiled by the abbot of St. Albans, John Whethamstede, in the 1430s. Particular attention is given to Whethamstede’s list of reasons to doubt the veracity of the Donation, which differ in certain ways from the contemporaneous and better known criticisms of the Donation made by Nicolas of Cusa, Lorenzo Valla and Reginald Pecock. The article considers the sources and motivations for Whethamstede’s discussion, which reveals that criticism of the Donation was more widespread and more deeply rooted at this time than has previously been appreciated.