Hugh of Evesham
Encyclopedia
Hugh of Evesham was a 13th century English
churchman
, physician
and alchemist
. Given his name, it is likely that he came from Evesham
, Worcestershire
. Hugh studied at Oxford University in the 1260s and in 1275, now Archdeacon of Worcester, went to study in Continental Europe
. At some point in his student career he became friends with John Peckham
, future Archbishop of Canterbury
.
By the early 1270s he was working as a royal clerk, giving his services to King Edward I of England
. By the end of the decade he had gained a wide reputation as a great physician. Hugh gained many benefices in the diocese of York
and in 1279 almost became Archbishop of York
, losing out to his friend William de Wickwane. Hugh and Archbishop Wickwane preserved their friendship, and after Hugh went to Rome, in 1282 he was asked to assist the Archbishop in disputes with the Archbishop of Canterbury
and the Bishop of Durham.
While at Rome, he probably became a personal physician to Pope Martin IV
and was entrusted with finding a cure to an epidemic that was then current in the city of Rome. He seems to have become friends with another English physician at Rome, Cardinal John of Toledo. Hugh became a successful Papal courtier
and received a numerous rewards. Among other things, on 12 April 1281 he was made a Cardinal - Priest with the title of San Lorenzo in Lucina
- and his chaplain
, Alan de St Edmund
, was made Bishop of Caithness
after the bishop-elect, Hervey de Dundee, died at Rome while seeking Papal confirmation.
He remained at Rome for the last years of his life, dying on July 27, 1287. He was buried in his church at San Lorenzo. Hugh composed a number of writings on alchemy
and medicine
, many of which survive, and many of which appear alongside writings by John of Toledo
. The two were regarded as a pair, Hugh being nicknamed the "Black Cardinal" and John the "White Cardinal."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
churchman
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and alchemist
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
. Given his name, it is likely that he came from Evesham
Evesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
. Hugh studied at Oxford University in the 1260s and in 1275, now Archdeacon of Worcester, went to study in Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. At some point in his student career he became friends with John Peckham
John Peckham
John Peckham was Archbishop of Canterbury in the years 1279–1292. He was a native of Sussex who was educated at Lewes Priory and became a Franciscan friar about 1250. He studied at Paris under Bonaventure, where he later taught theology. From his teaching, he came into conflict with Thomas...
, future Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
.
By the early 1270s he was working as a royal clerk, giving his services to King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
. By the end of the decade he had gained a wide reputation as a great physician. Hugh gained many benefices in the diocese of York
Diocese of York
The Diocese of York is an administrative division of the Church of England, part of the Province of York. It covers the city of York, the eastern part of North Yorkshire, and most of the East Riding of Yorkshire....
and in 1279 almost became Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, losing out to his friend William de Wickwane. Hugh and Archbishop Wickwane preserved their friendship, and after Hugh went to Rome, in 1282 he was asked to assist the Archbishop in disputes with the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
and the Bishop of Durham.
While at Rome, he probably became a personal physician to Pope Martin IV
Pope Martin IV
Pope Martin IV, born Simon de Brion held the papacy from February 21, 1281 until his death....
and was entrusted with finding a cure to an epidemic that was then current in the city of Rome. He seems to have become friends with another English physician at Rome, Cardinal John of Toledo. Hugh became a successful Papal courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
and received a numerous rewards. Among other things, on 12 April 1281 he was made a Cardinal - Priest with the title of San Lorenzo in Lucina
San Lorenzo in Lucina
The Church of St Lawrence's at Lucina is a Roman Catholic parish and titular church and minor basilica in Rome, Italy, dedicated to Saint Lawrence, Roman deacon and martyr. The name Lucina comes from the Roman matron owner of the house on which the church was built.The current Cardinal Priest of...
- and his chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
, Alan de St Edmund
Alan de St Edmund
Alan de St Edmund was a 13th-century English cleric and administrator of the Roman Catholic Church. His name suggests a connection with Bury St. Edmunds Abbey in Suffolk, but there is no direct evidence. He was the chaplain of Hugh of Evesham, another Englishman, from the diocese of Worcester, who...
, was made Bishop of Caithness
Bishop of Caithness
The Bishop of Caithness was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Caithness, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first referenced bishop of Caithness was Aindréas, a Gael who appears in sources between 1146 and 1151 as bishop. Aindréas spent much if not all of his career outside his...
after the bishop-elect, Hervey de Dundee, died at Rome while seeking Papal confirmation.
He remained at Rome for the last years of his life, dying on July 27, 1287. He was buried in his church at San Lorenzo. Hugh composed a number of writings on alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, many of which survive, and many of which appear alongside writings by John of Toledo
John of Toledo
John of Toledo was an English Cistercian abbot and Cardinal.Created cardinal in 1244 by Pope Innocent IV, he became bishop of Porto and Santa Rufina in 1262. He took part in the legendary Papal election of 1268 to 1271 at Viterbo and was Dean of the College of Cardinals in January 1273.He died in...
. The two were regarded as a pair, Hugh being nicknamed the "Black Cardinal" and John the "White Cardinal."