The abbey of Bury St Edmunds, shrine of St Edmund, was one of the greatest monasteries in medieval England, richly endowed with estates and widely known for its intellectual and artistic life. The surviving manuscripts from its library have been well catalogued, but its extensive archives, which are now to be found scattered on libraries throughout England, with an important group in the United States, have never been properly listed. Dr Thomson provides not only a valuable tool for the researcher, but also, in his introduction, discusses the way in which such an archive was formed, maintained and used. He applies principles familiar to students of medieval libraries, but which have rarely been used in connection with medieval records, to show how the archive worked in practice. Although the 1335 items listed are primarily of local interest, the book as a whole will be valuable to all those interested in the administrative and economic life of medieval monasteries.

The Archives of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk Records Society)

History

Thomson, Rodney M

Thomson, R.M.

Europe

Boydell Press

This is the first book devoted entirely to William of Malmesbury, England's greatest historian after Bede, one of the great figures of the 12th-century renaissance. Although best known for his historical writings, William was alsoa biblical commentator, scribe and editor of texts. Here, R.M. Thomson looks at the man, his times and his work as a man of letters.

William of Malmesbury

This catalogue describes MSS 1-247 and 298 in the Chapter Library of Lincoln Cathedral, plus ten former Lincoln MSS now elsewhere. About half of the MSS were part of the cathedral's medieval Library; nearly all the rest came there before the late seventeenth century. Among the MSS, which date from the eighth to the early sixteenth century, are biblical commentaries and sermons, works of pastoral theology and an important corpus of Middle English texts, including the famous Thornton Romances. A group of MSS written at the Cathedral c.1100 is notable for its distinctive decoration. The Catalogue is preceded by a history of the Cathedral Library, based on the rich documentary evidence, which includes two medieval catalogues. The plates illustrate bindings, ownership marks, important decoration and noteworthy script, including samples from all signed and dated books.

Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Lincoln Cathedral Chapter Library

Literature & Fiction

History & Criticism

D.S.Brewer

The library at Hereford Cathedral is famous as one of the few surviving `chained libraries'; but the contents of the books secured to the seventeenth century presses are less well known. There are 227 western manuscripts, of which about half have been at the cathedral since before the Reformation. They range in date from the eighth to the fifteenth century, and include finely-illustrated patristic books of the twelfth century, a large collection of Oxford University legal textbooks, and books of civil and canon law from the end of the thirteenth century. Over half the volumes survive in largely intact medieval bindings. The catalogue, begun by the late Sir Roger Mynors and completed by Professor Thomson, reflects the particular strengths of the collection. The many glossed books are described using a particularly effective system devised by Sir Roger Mynors. An introductory essay by Michael Gullick describes the medieval bindings, and the plates cover not only illumination and bindings, but medieval pressmarks and ownership inscriptions, as well as examples of scripts.

Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Hereford Cathedral Library

Arts & Photography

Mynors, R.A.B.

Collections, Catalogs & Exhibitions

Worcester Cathedral Library contains 277 medieval manuscripts, the largest number of any English cathedral except Durham. Most of them belonged to the pre-Reformation Cathedral Priory and date between the eleventh and late fifteenth centuries. The collection has never been adequately catalogued before, and is consequently little known; much of the contents of the books, their physical features and history, is here described for the first time. The library is rich in late medieval theology and sermon-literature. Many of the books are important because of their connections with Oxford University, and constitute a valuable source for the history of studies there after c.1300. The Worcester monks tended to annotate and write their names in their books, and some seventy of them are identified. Great treasures are the Worcester Antiphoner, and the fragments of early polyphonic music, some newly-discovered and described for the first time. About half the books are in their medieval bindings, including the second-oldest intact Anglo-Saxon binding. These are described individually, and the history of binding at the Cathedral Priory traced, by Michael Gullick. The rest of the Introduction is devoted to the history of the books and library to the early 1600s. There are indexes of incipits and of manuscripts other than those catalogued, as well as a general index.R.M. THOMSON is Emeritus Professor of History, University of Tasmania; MICHAEL GULLICK..Other Cathedral library catalogues; Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Hereford Cathedral Library and Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Lincoln Cathedral Chapter Library.

A Descriptive Catalogue of the Medieval Manuscripts in Worcester Cathedral Library

Gullick, Michael

This book is concerned with England's engagement with continental Europe, especially France and Normandy, from 1066 until around 1200. It is based primarily on a close scrutiny of the texts, script and decoration of the surviving manuscripts, a wide range of which are illustrated here. It charts the transformation of the perceived view of England as isolated on the geographical and intellectual periphery of Europe to a position of crucial importance within the wider European community.Adapted and expanded from Rodney Thompson's Lyell Lectures delivered at Oxford University in 2001, this richly illustrated book has long been difficult to find. It will be of interest to cultural and art historians, researchers into British and European history, and anyone with an interest in the history of the book.

Books and Learning in Twelfth-Century England: The Ending of 'Alter Orbis'

Red Gull Press

Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary: An English Translation (Boydell Medieval Texts, 1) (Latin Edition)

This is the first title in the series Boydell Medieval Texts, which aims to present major works in a scholarly edition with a facing translation. The Miracles of the Virgin Mary, written c. 1135 by the Benedictine monk and historian William of Malmesbury (d. 1143), is important on several counts. It belongs to the first wave of collected miracles of the Virgin, produced by English Benedictine monks in the 1120s and 1130s. These collections were to be influential across Europe because the stories in them were not connected with a particular shrine, but international. Although only two copies of William's collection survive in anything like its complete and original plan, in a dismembered form it too was influential across Europe and through the rest of the medieval period. The work is written in elegant Latin and embellished with William's customary erudition. His historical instinct is to the fore, as he tries to establish context and credibility for his stories. His ability as a latinist is shown by his frequent quotations and echoes of (sometimes unusual) classical authors. This is an important document in the history of Marian devotion in medieval Europe. In his long Prologue, William argues strongly for the Virgin's Immaculate Conception and bodily Assumption, doctrines still not generally accepted in western Europe at the time. With the appearance of this book all of William of Malmesbury's major works will be available in modern editions and translations.

Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary: An English Translation (Boydell Medieval Texts, 1)

Winterbottom, Michael

Malmesbury), William (of

Written c. 1135 by the Benedictine monk, historian and scholar William of Malmesbury (d. 1143), The Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary is of interest on several counts. It belongs in the first wave of collected miracles of the Virgin, produced by English Benedictine monks in the 1120s and '30s. These collections were to be influential across Europe and through the rest of the medieval period. Only two copies of William's work survive in anything like its complete form, and only one of them represents the finished product. But many of the stories were also transmitted separately, in groups or individually; the systematic use of this evidence is a feature of this new text. The work is written in elegant Latin and embellished with William's customary erudition, including frequent quotations and echoes from (sometimes unusual) ancient authors. His instinct as a historian is to the fore, as he tries to establish historical context and credibility for his stories. Above all, the scope of the collection is surprisingly international, including stories drawn from all around the Mediterranean. This is an important document in the history of Marian devotion in medieval Europe. In his long Prologue (which enjoyed some independent circulation), William argues strongly for the Virgin's Immaculate Conception and bodily Assumption, doctrines still not generally accepted in western Europe at the time.

The collection of medieval manuscripts at Pembroke College is an important one. Its most striking feature is that the majority of MSS 1-120 came from the abbey of Bury St Edmunds, as the gift of Thomas Smart in 1599.\nThe collection of medieval manuscripts at Pembroke College is an important one. Its most striking feature is that the majority of MSS 1-120 came from the abbey of Bury St Edmunds, as the gift of Thomas Smart in 1599. Included among them is the famous 'Bury Gospels' (MS 120). It is one of the largest groups of monastic manuscripts to survive as an ensemble. The rest are, for the most part, the remains of the College's own medieval library, and have been little studied. In addition there are some twenty post-medieval acquisitions, including two splendid Anglo-Saxon Gospel Books. 
The main part of this catalogue contains individual, detailed descriptions of some 300 MSS and several hundred binding fragments. The descriptions are preceded by an Introduction outlining the history of the collection, and are accompanied by 130 colour plates. The collection was last catalogued by M. R. James in 1911, and over a century later, this publication both updates his account, and brings to bear modern techniques of manuscript study.\nBecause of the Covid pandemic, the final check on MSS 235-327 was carried out after this book had been printed, and considerable additional details were discovered. This is available as a supplement to the Catalogue, which can be downloaded from the website of Pembroke College Library: https://www.pem.cam.ac.uk/college/library/manuscript-catalogue-supplement.

A Descriptive Catalogue of the Medieval Manuscripts of Pembroke College, Cambridge

William of Malmesbury (c.1090-c.1143) was England's greatest historian after Bede. Although best known in his own time, as now, for his historical writings (his famous Deeds of the Bishops and Deeds of the Kings of Britain), William was also a biblical commentator, hagiographer and classicist, and acted as his own librarian, bibliographer, scribe and editor of texts. He was probably the best-read of all twelfth-century men of learning. This is a comprehensive study and interpretation of William's intellectual achievement, looking at the man and his times and his work as man of letters, and considering the earliest books from Malmesbury Abbey library, William's reading, and his "scriptorium". Important in its own right, William's achievement is also set in the wider context of Benedictine learning and the writing of history in the twelfth century, and on England's contribution to the "twelfth-century renaissance". In this new edition, the text has been thoroughly revised, and the bibliography updated to reflect new research; there is also a new chapter on William as historian of the First Crusade. RODNEY M. THOMSON is Professor Emeritus and Honorary Research Associate in the School of History and Classics, University of Tasmania.

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

BOYE6

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thomson, Rodney M. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Thomson, Rodney M

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thomson, Rodney M. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Archives of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk Records Society)

William of Malmesbury

Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Lincoln Cathedral Chapter Library

Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Hereford Cathedral Library

A Descriptive Catalogue of the Medieval Manuscripts in Worcester Cathedral Library

Books and Learning in Twelfth-Century England: The Ending of 'Alter Orbis'

Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary: An English Translation (Boydell Medieval Texts, 1)

Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary: An English Translation (Boydell Medieval Texts, 1) (Latin Edition)

A Descriptive Catalogue of the Medieval Manuscripts of Pembroke College, Cambridge

William of Malmesbury