Reginald of Durham : the life and miracles of saint Godric, hermit of Finchale / Margaret Coombe Coombe.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Coombe, Margaret Coombe, author.

Series:

Oxford medieval texts

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hagiography.

Christian hagiography.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (cxvi, 955 pages).

Other Title:

Reginald of Durham

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2022.

Summary:

"Godric of Finchdale was a hermit, merchant, and medieval saint. His life was recorded by Benedictine monk Reginald of Durham, but the work has hitherto only been available in manuscripts and in one nineteenth century edition by Joseph Stevenson. The contemporary audience for Reginald's account has been said to be small, provincial and local, comprising mostly peasants and women. Subsequently, Godric has been famous for his songs, which have had a separate transmission and are still performed today. Much past research on Godric of Finchdale has been based on summaries or epitomes of Reginald's work. It is now clear that several authors rewrote the story to omit many miracles and large potions of text, and that only one manuscript remains testament to the original. This book is the first full, literal translation, presenting Reginald's work as closely as possible to the single original manuscript, and opening up the work to a wider audience for the first time."-- Book jacket.

Contents:

I. The Life of Saint Godric

II. The Durham Context

III. The Life and Career of Reginald of Durham

IV. Reginald's Writing Style

1. Reginald's reputation

2. Reginald's use of vocabulary and grammar

i. Style

ii. Poetry and rhythm

iii. Use of hagiographical topoi, Biblical and liturgical language, and traditional Durham texts

iv. Reginald, Bede, and St. Cuthbert

v. Use of the first person

vi. Summary

V. The Texts, Authors, and Manuscript Witnesses of the Vita et Miracula Sancti Godrici

1. Summary list of manuscripts

2. Descriptions of the manuscripts

i. Group 1. Reginald

ii. Group 2. Walter

iii. Group 3. Geoffrey

iv. Group 4. Later witnesses to Reginald's text

v. Group 5. Miscellaneous material on Godric

VI. The Cult of St. Godric of Finchale and its Transmission

1. The posthumous cult

i. The miracle collection

ii. Godric and women

iii. Godric and children

iv. Geography, identity, and social origin

2. Other evidence of St Godric's cult

i. Dedication of churches, monasteries, and wells; naming of children

ii. Bones and relics

iii. Commemoration in liturgical manuscripts and kalendars

iv. Transmission history of the story of Godric

VII. Reginald's Other Writings

1. Authenticity

2. The Vita S. Oswaldi

3. The Liberllus de admirandis beati Cuthberti uirtutibus ('Libellus Cuthberti")

4. The Vita et Miracula S. Godrici

5. The 'Irish' Life of St Cuthbert

6. The Vita S. Aebbe, uirginis

VIII. Editions of the Vita S. Godrici

1. Previous editions

2. This edition

i. Latin text

ii. Translation

iii. Paragraphing

iv. Contents Pages

Libellus de vita et miraculis Sancti Godrici, heremite de Finchale

The Life of St Godric

The Miracles of Saint Godric

Appendices. 1. Origins of pilgrims to Godric's tomb in the Miracula

2. Preface and Argumentum to British Library, MS Harley 322 (H2) and Cambridge University Library, MS Add. 3037 (C)

3. Saints' Vitae in Paris, Mazarine Library, MS 1716

4. Correspondence between Lambeth Palace Library, MS 51, and Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc. 413

5. Correspondence between the Miracles included by Reginald, Walter, and Peter of Cornwall

6. Correspondence between British Library, MS Harley 153, and Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-192659-0