Whether you want to start a manuscript project or delve into medieval texts, finding translations often proves challenging. The internet offers numerous textual sources, but many are either copyrighted, poorly usable, or difficult to use. In this blog, I’ll list the websites which I prefer to use as textual sources for my projects.
General sources
The following three websites provide an ample supply of source material that you can adapt for a manuscript project. While they aren’t the only textual sources available, they are certainly the easiest to use and offer a broad catalog of texts to choose from. Additionally, the first two websites provide more than just medieval texts, which might appeal to those seeking more modern options.
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is my favorite textual source for texts. It offers an online library with over 70,000 free eBooks and other texts, all freely available to the public. Additionally, the works are in the public domain, so there are no potential copyright issues when reusing content from their database. It’s where I found texts for my projects such as Aesop’s Fables or The Confessions of Saint Augustine.
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive, like Project Gutenberg, hosts digitized books. However, their collection includes many publications from the 18th and 19th centuries. This is relevant because these works often include translations of medieval texts, such as The Battle of the Virtues and Vices by Prudentius Clemens. If you’re looking for a specific medieval work, it might be worth checking if the Internet Archive hosts a translation.
Global Medieval Sourcebook
Another valuable repository is the Global Medieval Sourcebook, which dedicates itself to providing access to medieval texts. Compared to Project Gutenberg, it offers a more modest collection. However, all the available texts are medieval in origin, making this a highly valuable source. Additionally, they provide both the transcription and the translation, allowing you to use either in a manuscript project.
Bible texts
Are you looking to access Bible texts? Modern translations impose copyright restrictions that can limit their public use. Below, I present two sources — one in English and another in Latin — that are freely available as they’re “public domain.” This means you can use them for any purpose without encountering copyright issues.
Open Bible
For English translations of the Bible, the Open Bible Project is a crucial resource. Texts from the Open Bible are entirely in the public domain. While the Old Testament is not yet complete, the New Testament is fully available. Their well-edited texts are offered in HTML, PDF, Word, and other formats making them ready for use.
Clementine Vulgate Project
The Clementine Vulgate Project provides a free online Latin text of the Clementine Vulgate. This version of the Bible was the authoritative text for the Catholic Church until the mid-20th century. Note that this source is entirely in Latin, so it’s useful if you want to recreate a Latin Bible.