Benedict, sometimes known as Benedictus Abbas (Latin for "Benedict the Abbot"; died 29 September 1193), was

abbot of Peterborough A list of the abbots of the abbey of Peterborough, known until the late 10th century as "Medeshamstede". Abbots Sources *'Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Peterborough', ''A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2'' (1906), pp.& ...

. His name was formerly erroneously associated with the ''Gesta Henrici Regis Secundi'' and ''Gesta Regis Ricardi'',

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

12th century chronicles, which are now attributed to

Roger of Howden Roger of Howden or Hoveden (died 1202) was a 12th-century English chronicler, diplomat and head of the minster of Howden in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Roger and Howden minster Roger was born to a clerical family linked to the ancient minste ...

Life

Benedict first makes his appearance in 1174, as the chancellor of Archbishop Richard, the successor of

Becket ''Becket or The Honour of God'' (french: Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu) is a 1959 play written in French by Jean Anouilh. It is a depiction of the conflict between Thomas Becket and King Henry II of England leading to Becket's assassination in 117 ...

in the primacy. In 1175, Benedict became prior of Holy Trinity, Canterbury; in 1177, he received from Henry II the abbacy of Peterborough, which he held until his death. As abbot he distinguished himself by his activity in building, in administering the finances of his house and in collecting a library. He is described in the '' Chronicon Petroburgense'' as "blessed both in name and deed".

Works

Benedict belonged to the circle of Becket's admirers, and wrote two works dealing with the martyrdom and the miracles of his hero. Fragments of the former work have come down to us in the compilation known as the ''Quadrilogus'', which is printed in the fourth volume of James Craigie Robertson's ''Materials for the Histories of Thomas Becket'' ( "Rolls" series); the miracles are extant in their entirety, and are printed in the second volume of the same collection. Benedict was formerly credited with the authorship of the ''Gesta'' on the ground that his name appears in the title of the oldest manuscript. There is, however, conclusive evidence that Benedict merely caused this work to be transcribed for the Peterborough library. It is only through the force of custom that the work is still occasionally cited under his name. In the twentieth century, D. M. Stenton formulated the theory, developed further by David Corner, and now generally accepted, that the true author of the ''Gesta'' was in fact

. On his return from the

Third Crusade The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt by three European monarchs of Western Christianity ( Philip II of France, Richard I of England and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor) to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by ...

, he drew upon them in composing his larger ''Chronica'', revising them and adding supplementary material. In the nineteenth century, the question of authorship had been discussed by

T. D. Hardy Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy (22 May 1804 – 15 June 1878) was an English archivist and antiquary, who served as Deputy Keeper of the Public Record Office from 1861 to 1878. Life Hardy was the third son of Major Thomas Bartholomew Price Hardy, from ...

William Stubbs William Stubbs (21 June 182522 April 1901) was an English historian and Anglican bishop. He was Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford between 1866 and 1884. He was Bishop of Chester from 1884 to 1889 and Bishop of O ...

and Felix Liebermann. Stubbs conjecturally identified the first part of the ''Gesta'' (1170–1177) with the ''Liber Tricolumnis'', a register of contemporary events kept by

Richard Fitz Neal Richard FitzNeal ( c. 1130 – 10 September 1198) was a churchman and bureaucrat in the service of Henry II of England. Life In 1158 or 1159 Nigel, Bishop of Ely paid Henry II to appoint his natural son, Richard FitzNeal, as the king's trea ...

, the treasurer of Henry II and author of the ''Dialogus de Scaccario''; the latter part (1177–1192) was ascribed by Stubbs to Roger of Howden. His theory concerning the ''Liber Tricolumnis'', was rejected by Liebermann and other editors of the ''Dialogus'' ( A. Hughes, C. G. Crump and C. Johnson, Oxford, 1902).

Notes

References

* *''Dialogus de Scaccario'' in the Oxford edition of 1902 — the introduction *''Gesta Regis Henrici Secundi et Gesta Regis Ricardi Benedicti abbatis'' (ed.

) (2 vols.,

Rolls series ''The Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages'' ( la, Rerum Britannicarum medii aevi scriptores), widely known as the is a major collection of British and Irish historical materials and primary sources publish ...

, 1867), and particularly the preface to the first volume — It is available a
Gallica
* Liebermann, F., ''Einleitung in den Dialogus de Scaccario'' (Göttingen, 1875) *''Ostenglische Geschichtschellen'' (Hanover, 1892) * Pertz, G.H., ''

Monumenta Germaniae Historica The ''Monumenta Germaniae Historica'' (''MGH'') is a comprehensive series of carefully edited and published primary sources, both chronicle and archival, for the study of Northwestern and Central European history from the end of the Roman Empir ...

, Scriptores'', vol. xxvii. pp. 82, 83 *

Life

Works

Notes

References

Further reading