Dominic of Evesham was a medieval prior of Evesham Abbey in England and writer of religious texts. Probably a native Englishman, there is some confusion about when he became a monk, but by 1104 he was at Evesham and by 1125 he held the office of prior. He is chiefly known for his religious works, including one on the miracles of the Virgin Mary that was an important source for later writings on the subject. Four of his works are still extant.
Little is known of Dominic's life. [1] He was probably a native Englishman, [2] based on some linguistic evidence, although this is not of such strength to make his native English status certain. [3] He was likely born sometime before 1077, and was probably raised around the abbey. [1] J. C. Jennings felt that he may have entered Evesham before 1077, [2] but D. C. Cox, in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states that he did not enter the religious life until later than 1077. [3] By 1104, he was a monk at Evesham, as his name appears in a document as a member of the abbey. Sometime before 1125 he became prior of the abbey, as he was named prior in an account of the consecration of Samson as Bishop of Worcester that year. He was still prior after 1130, when he witnessed two charters of Reginald Foliot, then the abbot. [1] He may have witnessed a further charter of Foliot's in 1133, but he had been replaced as prior by 1150. The abbey celebrated his death yearly on 11 October. [3]
Dominic certainly wrote four works: Vita Sancti Egwini, Vita Sancti Odulfi, Acta Proborum Virorum, and a collection of miracles of the Virgin - Miracula Beatae Virginis Mariae. The Vita Sancti Egwini, or Life of Saint Egwin, was a history of Evesham's founder, St Egwin, [1] and consists of two books. [4] This work became the standard source for Egwin's life in the later Middle Ages, replacing an earlier Life written by Byrhtferth which had been Dominic's source for his first book. [5] The Vita Sancti Odulfi gave a hagiography of St Odulf, a missionary to Brabant whose relics were enshrined at Evesham. The Acta Proborum Virorum was a miscellaneous compilation of tales and legends relating to Evesham Abbey. [1] Dominic's work on the Virgin's miracles is one of the earliest such works. [2] The source for his authoring these works is a 13th-century collection of several of his writings. However, the compiler, Thomas of Marlborough, admitted that he had altered each by both omitting and adding information. [6]
The monastic historian David Knowles felt that the account of Abbot Æthelwig's death that is contained in the Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham was written by Dominic, not by the main author of the chronicle, Thomas of Marlborough. [7] This is challenged by D. C. Cox, who argues that the writing style is dissimilar to Dominic's and that chronological history was outside the prior's literary interests. [3] Another possible work was a Vita Sancti Wistani (or Life of Saint Wistan), about St Wistan, a Mercian saint whose relics rested at Evesham. [1]
Dominic's main interest seems to have been miracle stories, specifically those connected to his own abbey. His writing style, according to Cox, was "polished" and it has been praised as elegant but clear in meaning. Dominic's most influential work was the one on the miracles of Mary, which besides influencing Thomas of Marlborough, also influenced William of Malmesbury. Dominic's collection, along with William's and another by Anselm, the abbot of Bury St Edmunds Abbey, eventually formed the basis for a new genre of writings that stressed devotion to the Virgin herself, rather than to places or people connected to her. [3]
The main manuscripts containing Dominic's works are Bodleian MS Rawlinson A.287, Hereford Cathedral Chained Library MS P.7.vi, Balliol MS 240, [8] and Dublin Trinity College MS 167. [9] The Dublin manuscript only has the first book of the Vita Sancti Egwini, while the Hereford manuscript contains both books. [4] The Dublin manuscript also contains the Miracula Beatae Virginis Mariae. The Vita Sancti Odulfi and Acta Proborum Virorum are only known from the copies made by Thomas of Marlborough. [9]
The account of the death of Æthelwig along with the Vitas and the Acta were published in 1863 in the Rolls Series number 29, edited by William Dunn Macray. [8] [10] The Vita Sancti Egwini, edited by Michael Lapidge, has been published in the journal Analecta Bollandiana , which is devoted to the study of hagiography. [11]
Saint Dunstan, OSB was an English bishop. He was successively Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, Bishop of Worcester, Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury, later canonised. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church. His 11th-century biographer Osbern, himself an artist and scribe, states that Dunstan was skilled in "making a picture and forming letters", as were other clergy of his age who reached senior rank. Dunstan served as an important minister of state to several English kings. He was the most popular saint in England for nearly two centuries, having gained fame for the many stories of his greatness, not least among which were those concerning his famed cunning in defeating the Devil.
Eadmer or Edmer was an English historian, theologian, and ecclesiastic. He is known for being a contemporary biographer of his archbishop and companion, Saint Anselm, in his Vita Anselmi, and for his Historia novorum in Anglia, which presents the public face of Anselm. Eadmer's history is written to support the primacy of Canterbury over York, a central concern for Anselm.
Evesham Abbey was founded by Saint Egwin at Evesham in Worcestershire, England between 700 and 710 following an alleged vision of the Virgin Mary by a swineherd by the name of Eof.
Wigstan, also known as Saint Wystan, was the son of Wigmund of Mercia and Ælfflæd, daughter of King Ceolwulf I of Mercia.
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Byrhtferth was a priest and monk who lived at Ramsey Abbey in Huntingdonshire in England. He had a deep impact on the intellectual life of later Anglo-Saxon England and wrote many computistic, hagiographic, and historical works. He was a leading man of science and best known as the author of many different works. His Manual (Enchiridion), a scientific textbook, is Byrhtferth's best known work.
Goscelin of Saint-Bertin was a Benedictine hagiographical writer. He was a Fleming or Brabantian by birth and became a monk of St Bertin's at Saint-Omer before travelling to England to take up a position in the household of Herman, Bishop of Ramsbury in Wiltshire (1058–78). During his time in England, he stayed at many monasteries and wherever he went collected materials for his numerous hagiographies of English saints.
Osbert of Clare was a monk, elected prior of Westminster Abbey and briefly abbot. He was a prolific writer of letters, and hagiographer.
The Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham or Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham, sometimes the Evesham Chronicle, is a medieval chronicle written at and about Evesham Abbey in Worcestershire in western England.
Æthelwig was an Abbot of Evesham before and during the Norman Conquest of England. Born sometime around 1010 or 1015, he was elected abbot in 1058. Known for his legal expertise, he administered estates for Ealdred, the Bishop of Worcester prior to his election as abbot. After his election, he appears to have acted as Ealdred's deputy, and was considered as a possible successor when Ealdred was elected Archbishop of York. Æthelwig worked during his abbacy to recover estates that had been lost to Evesham, as well as acquiring more estates.
Saint Egwin of Evesham, OSB was a Benedictine monk and, later, the third Bishop of Worcester in England.
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Adam of Eynsham was a medieval English chronicler and writer. He was a monk and Abbot of Eynsham Abbey.
The Vita Sancti Cuthberti is a prose hagiography from early medieval Northumbria. It is probably the earliest extant saint's life from Anglo-Saxon England, and is an account of the life and miracles of Cuthbert, a Bernician hermit-monk who became bishop of Lindisfarne. Surviving in eight manuscripts from Continental Europe, it was not as well read in the Middle Ages as the prose version by Bede. It was however Bede's main source for his two dedicated works on Cuthbert, the "Metrical Life" and the "Prose Life".
Roger Norreis was Abbot of Evesham in England. He was a controversial figure, installed in several offices against opposition. In his appointment to Evesham, he was accused of immoral behaviour and failing to follow monastic rules. In 1202, Norreis became embroiled in a dispute with his monks and his episcopal superior the Bishop of Worcester; litigation and argumentation lasted until his deposition in 1213. He was then appointed prior of a subsidiary monastic house of Evesham, but was deposed within months, then re-appointed to the office five years later.
Robert of Cricklade was a medieval English writer and prior of St Frideswide's Priory in Oxford. He was a native of Cricklade and taught before becoming a cleric. He wrote several theological works as well as a lost biography of Thomas Becket, the murdered Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Antony of Choziba, also called Antony the Chozibite, was a Byzantine hagiographer from the monastery of Choziba. A disciple of George of Choziba, he wrote his teacher's biography and also an account of some miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary. Both his works have been translated from Greek into English.
Severus of Vienne was a priest who evangelised in Vienne, France. He is venerated as a Catholic saint. Severus is said to have been Indian by birth and of wealthy origins. His entry in the Roman Martyrology reads:
'At Vienne, in France, St. Severus, priest and confessor, who undertook a painful journey from India in order to preach the Gospel in that city, and converted a great number of Pagans to the faith of Christ by his labors and miracles.'
Mannig or Manni, also called Wulfmær, was an English monk and artist who became Abbot of Evesham in 1044. After suffering from paralysis, he resigned in 1058.
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