Dominic of Evesham
Encyclopedia
Dominic was a medieval prior
of Evesham Abbey
in England and writer of histories.
Little is known of his life. He was probably a native Englishman, and was probably born sometime before 1077, and was probably raised around the abbey. He may have entered Evesham before 1077, but certainly 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 Evesham, 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. By 1145 he had been succeeded by Richard as prior, and no further records mention Dominic.
Dominic certainly wrote four works: Vita Sancti Egwini, Vita Sancti Odulfi, Acta Proborum Virorum, and a collection of Miracles of the Virgin. The Vita Sancti Egwini, or Life of Saint Egwin, was a history of Evesham's founder, Egwin
, and consists of two books. 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. The Vita Sancti Odulfi gave a hagiography of St Odulf, a missionary to Brabant whose relics were held at Evesham. The Acta Proborum Virorum was a miscellaneous compilation of tales and legends relating to Evesham Abbey. The work on the Virgin's miracles is one of the earliest such works. The source for his authoring these works is a 13th century manuscript, which is an early collection of some of the works. However, the compiler, Thomas of Marlborough, admitted that he had altered both by omitting information and adding information.
The 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. Another possible work was a Vita Sancti Wistani, or Life of Saint Wistan, about St Wistan, a Mercian saint whose relic
s resided at Evesham.
The main manuscripts containing Dominic's works are Bodely MS Rawlinson A.287, Hereford Cathedral Chained Library MS P.7.vi, Balliol MS 240. The Dublin manuscript only has the first book, while the Hereford manuscript contains both books. 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. The Vita Sancti Egwini, edited by Michael Lapidge
, has been published in the journal Analecta Bollandiana, which is devoted to the study of hagiography.
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of Evesham Abbey
Evesham Abbey
Evesham Abbey was founded by Saint Egwin at Evesham in England between 700 and 710 A.D. following a vision of the Virgin Mary by Eof.According to the monastic history, Evesham came through the Norman Conquest unusually well, because of a quick approach by Abbot Æthelwig to William the Conqueror...
in England and writer of histories.
Little is known of his life. He was probably a native Englishman, and was probably born sometime before 1077, and was probably raised around the abbey. He may have entered Evesham before 1077, but certainly 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 Evesham, as he was named prior in an account of the consecration of Samson as Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
that year. He was still prior after 1130, when he witnessed two charters of Reginald Foliot, then the abbot. By 1145 he had been succeeded by Richard as prior, and no further records mention Dominic.
Dominic certainly wrote four works: Vita Sancti Egwini, Vita Sancti Odulfi, Acta Proborum Virorum, and a collection of Miracles of the Virgin. The Vita Sancti Egwini, or Life of Saint Egwin, was a history of Evesham's founder, Egwin
Egwin
Egcwine was the third Bishop of Worcester in England.-Life:He was the founder of the Evesham Abbey. His biographers say that king, clergy, and commonalty all united in demanding his elevation as bishop; but the popularity which led him to the episcopal office dissipated in response to his...
, and consists of two books. This work became the standard source for Egwin's life in the later Middle Ages, replacing an earlier Life written by Byrhtferth
Byrhtferth
Byrhtferth was a priest and monk who lived at Ramsey Abbey. 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...
which had been Dominic's source for his first book. The Vita Sancti Odulfi gave a hagiography of St Odulf, a missionary to Brabant whose relics were held at Evesham. The Acta Proborum Virorum was a miscellaneous compilation of tales and legends relating to Evesham Abbey. The work on the Virgin's miracles is one of the earliest such works. The source for his authoring these works is a 13th century manuscript, which is an early collection of some of the works. However, the compiler, Thomas of Marlborough, admitted that he had altered both by omitting information and adding information.
The historian David Knowles felt that the account of Abbot Æthelwig
Æthelwig
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...
's death that is contained in the Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham
Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham
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 England.-Contents and authorship:...
was written by Dominic, not by the main author of the chronicle, Thomas of Marlborough. Another possible work was a Vita Sancti Wistani, or Life of Saint Wistan, about St Wistan, a Mercian saint whose relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s resided at Evesham.
The main manuscripts containing Dominic's works are Bodely MS Rawlinson A.287, Hereford Cathedral Chained Library MS P.7.vi, Balliol MS 240. The Dublin manuscript only has the first book, while the Hereford manuscript contains both books. The account of the death of Æthelwig along with the Vitas and the Acta were published in 1863 in the Rolls Series
Rolls Series
The Rolls Series, official title The Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages, is a major collection of British and Irish historical materials and primary sources, published in the second half of the 19th century. Some 255 volumes, representing 99 separate...
number 29, edited by William Dunn Macray. The Vita Sancti Egwini, edited by Michael Lapidge
Michael Lapidge
Michael Lapidge D.Litt. is a Canadian historical linguist, fellow of Clare College, Cambridge and Fellow of the British Academy A lecturer in Anglo-Saxon studies at Cambridge from 1974 onwards, Lapidge was Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon from 1991 to 1998...
, has been published in the journal Analecta Bollandiana, which is devoted to the study of hagiography.