In the Middle Ages, hagiographical texts were potentially important vehicles for the expression of contemporary mentalities and attitudes because they were written to be read in the context of shrines which enjoyed considerable interaction with the societies in which they flourished and attracted large audiences in the shape of pilgrims of all social classes. Before hagiographical texts can be studied from this viewpoint, however, they must be examined closely to determine their provenance, dates and inter-relationships, thus allowing them to be tied closely to particular contexts.