PREFACE

In 1991 Brolis published transcripts of the profession of vows by postulants in the Bergamo houses of Torre Boldone and the Galgario in 1255 and 1318. She knew of only two other documents of this type, both of which came from Monza and recorded the entry of new members into the Domus de Carrobiolo outside the walls and to the Third order convegno in the contrata comuni. They were dated 1259 and 1349 and had been published by Tiraboschi and Zanoni respectively. Tiraboschi had also published a third document, dated 1253. Nothing before the middle of the century was known to these historians. The Ghiara archive in Verona, however, has a very substantial number of professions of faith dating from 1205 to 1281. Some were published in 1765 by Biancolini and their whereabouts and potential have recently been made clear in the work of De Sandre Gasparini, based on extensive and often fruitful research in the Veronese archives. Another early profession is in the Vatican archive. This appendix gives the first twelve such records in sequence. They are shown in parallel columns and spaced in sections so as to facilitate comparison of the formulae used in each document. Punctuation follows that of the documents, and for the sake of brevity standard abbreviations have not all been expanded. Only personal names have been capitalised to ease comprehension. Otherwise all spellings and capitalisation reflect the practice of the notaries.