PILGRIMAGE

'There are three things that can neither be recommended nor discouraged -- marriage, war and a voyage to the Holy Sepulchre - they may begin well and end very badly' - Medieval pilgrim, Eberhard, Count of Wurtemburg, on his return from Jerusalem in 1480. From his starting-point of travel and adventure, using contemporary accounts, John Ure relates the stories of medieval Christian pilgrimage during the 500 years of its peak between 1066 and 1536. Through the often forgotten contemporary records of Erasmus, John of Gaunt and Margery Kempe among others, he brings to life a colourful cast of characters. Embracing also military expeditions described as religious journeys, Ure recounts tales of armed expeditions such as the Albigensian Crusade and the Pilgrimage of Grace. And considers pilgrimage's literary and allegorical manifestations via Sir John Mandeville and John Bunyan. Ultimately, he uses his practised skills as a travel writer to give vignettes of these pilgrim routes today, some accessible and popular, others as remote and haunting as in medieval times.