^{page 429 note 1} I would like to thank Louis J. Haag of the Faith, Peace and Justice Program at Boston College and Mark Burrows at Andover Newton Theological School for comments and criticism on the work in progress.

^{page 430 note 2} van Acker, Lieven (ed.), CCCM vol. 91, Hildegardis Bingensis, Epistolarium Pars Prima (I–XC), Brepols: Belgium, 1991Google Scholar. The second volume is: CCCM, vol. 91 A, Pars Secunda (XCI–CCLR) 1993.

^{page 430 note 3} The only translation of the letters into English leaves much to be desired, especially an understanding of Hildegard's complete opus and of issues of gender. It is: The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen, Vol. I. Baird, Joseph L. and Ehrman, Radd K. (transl.), Oxford University Press, NY 1994Google Scholar.

^{page 430 note 4} The most useful translation into English to date was done before the publication of the critical edition of the Vita by Klaes, Monika in CCCM vol. 126, Vita Sanctae Hildegardis, Brepols, 1993Google Scholar. It is: Silvas, Anna, OSB, in: Tjurunga, an Australasian Benedictine Review, Nos. 29 (1985): p. 22–25Google Scholar; 30 (1986): p. 63–73; 31 (1986): p. 32–41; 32 (1987): p. 46–59. I have, in the interest of accuracy, elected to present my own translation from the critical edition of the Vita for quotes in the text.

^{page 431 note 5} Vitz, Evelyn Birge, Medieval Narrative and Modern Narratology. Subjects and Objects of Desire. New York University Press, NY 1989, p.2Google Scholar.

^{page 431 note 6} CCCM, vol. 91 A, letters 102 – 109R.

^{page 431 note 7} Quoted in Cherewatuk, Karen and Wiethaus, Ulrike (eds.), Dear Sister. Medieval Women and the Epistolary Genre, University of Pennsylvania Press. Philadelphia, PA 1993, introduction, p. 4Google Scholar.

^{page 432 note 8} ibid., introduction, p. 11.

^{page 432 note 9} Wiethaus, Ulrike, ‘In Search of Medieval Women's Friendships’ in: Maps of Flesh and Light, Wiethaus, Ulrike (ed.), Syracuse University Press, 1993, p. 94Google Scholar.

^{page 433 note 10} Dear Sister, pp. 46–63.

^{page 433 note 11} ibid., pp. 55–58.

^{page 434 note 12} The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen, Vol. I. Baird, Joseph L. and Ehrman, Radd K., transl., Oxford University Press, NY 1994. Letter 15, p. 54Google Scholar.

^{page 434 note 13} CCCM, vol. 91, p.60: ‘Ego autem timida et paupercula per duos annos ualde fatigata sum, ut coram magistris et doctoribus ac ceteris sapientibus in quibusdam maioribuslocis, ubi mansion illorum est, uiuente uoce ista proferrem. Sed quia Ecclesia diuisa erat, uocem hanc subtraxi.’

^{page 435 note 14} Letters, no. 51, p. 126.

^{page 435 note 15} ibid., no.40, p. 110.

^{page 435 note 16} Coakley, John: ‘Gender and the Authority of Friars: the Significance of Holy Women for Thirteenth-Century Franciscans and Dominicans’ in: Church History 4 (1991)Google Scholar.

^{page 436 note 17} ibid., p. 452.

^{page 436 note 18} Baird and Ehrman, in Letters, translate requirendoas cogitation here. Letters, p. 111.

^{page 437 note 19} ibid., letter 40r, p. 112.

^{page 439 note 20} CCCM, vol. 126, pp. 10–12. Translation mine.

^{page 440 note 21} CCCM, vol. 126, pp. 27–28. Translation mine.

^{page 441 note 22} CCCM, vol. 126, p. 30. Translation mine.

^{page 441 note 23} CCCM, vol. 126, p. 31. Translation mine.

^{page 442 note 24} Letters 74/74r, p. 158ff.

^{page 442 note 25} Dronke, Peter. Women Writers of the Middle Ages. A Critical Study of Texts From Perpetua († 203) to Marguerite Porete († 1310). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984 p. 154 and 156Google Scholar