Gerald of Wales: On the Deeds of Gerald, De gestis Giraldi (Oxford Medieval Texts)

De gestis Giraldi is a narrative of the deeds of Gerald of Wales (c. 1146-1223), written in the third person but actually by Gerald himself, and framed as the biography of a bishop although Gerald never became a bishop. Gerald was born in south-west Wales of mixed Norman and Welsh descent and educated at Gloucester and in Paris. He worked for Henry II and Richard I, by whom he was valued as an intermediary between the king and Gerald's relations, who included the leading Welsh king, Rhys ap Gruffudd, and many of the first English settlers in Ireland. When elected bishop of St Davids, Gerald was sent by his fellow-canons to Rome to secure his own consecration and metropolitan status for St Davids; ultimately, both cases failed, defeated by the combined power and resources of the English state and church. Near the beginning of this final part, the single MS breaks off, but the chapter-headings show that much of the substance is preserved in another work by Gerald. His career spanned Wales, Ireland, and England, Paris and Rome, and De gestis Giraldi offers a vivid and personal view of them all. This volume has been prepared from a critical study of the extant manuscript, and features an accompanying English translation. The edition supports the translation and text with an authoritative introduction, extensive historical notes, and critical study of the work. Cover Gerald of Wales on the Deeds of Gerald (De Gestis Giraldi) Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Contents List of Maps and Genealogical Tables Abbreviations Introduction Gerald's Name The Title The Manuscript De gestis Giraldi among Gerald’s Works Gerald on Gerald The Historical Context of De gestis Giraldi The Archdeaconry of Brycheiniog Studium and Public Life Episcopal Elections, Metropolitan Status, Proceedings in Rome Gerald as a Writer: His Latin Style, Citations, and Sources Previous Editions Editorial Method List of Dates Gerald of Wales On the Deeds of Gerald (De gestis Giraldi) Title of Contents Here Begin the Chapters of the Firts Part The Chapters of the Second part The Chapters of the Third Part Preface to the Book on Gerald's Deeds Part One [I. 1] On Gerald's Birth and His Deeds in Childhood and Youth [I. 2] On His Early Shrtcomings in Study and Later Success [I. 3] On the Zeal which He Immediately used for the Church's Advantage [I. 4] On Gerald's Legateship and his Promotion to Archdeacon [I. 5] On His First Acts After His Promotion [I. 6] How he Resisted the Bishop of Llanelwy in Ceri and manually retained all the Churches of that Land. [I. 7] How Report of that Deed had come to the King [I. 8] How the Canons of St Davids approached both the king and the legate Hugo about the Dignity of their Church [I. 9] On the Death of Bishop David shortly there after and the nomination principally of Gerald. [I. 10] On the Recommendation of Gerald in the presence of the King [I. 11] On peter’s promotion to Bishop and how Gerald urged him not to forswear the right of the Church of St Davids Part Two [II. 1] On his Deeds at an age of Robust Manhood [II. 2] The Beginning and, as it were, overture, of Gerald’s first discourse [II. 3] That the Canons of St Davids made a claim for their Church’s rightful status at the lateran Council. [II. 4] On Gerald’s return after long study and the things which happened to him on the way [II. 5] How, coming to Canterbury, he declared that what he saw at the community of the Primatial Church required correction [II. 6] How he came to wales; how, shortly after, the Bishop was driven away and Gerald took over management of the Bishopric at the Archbishop’s direction; and how he voluntarily resigned it because of his goodwill to the chapter of St Davids [II. 7] On the conflict initiated between the Bishop, Peter, and the Archdeacon, Gerald; and the peace made through the Archdeacon’s efforts on behalf of both the Chapter and the Archdeacon [ I I . 8] How the Archdeacon became a follower of the court [II. 9] On the dispute between rhys ap Gruffudd and the Archdeacon Gerald before important men [II. 10] How the patriarch came to England and how King Henry sent Gerald to Ireland with his son John [II. 11] The privilege from Pope Adrian [ I I . 12] Gerald’s Vision [II. 13] How count John offered two Bishoprics in Ireland to Gerald and how he refused them both [ I I . 14] Gerald’s Sermon at the council in Dublin [II. 15] On the embarrassment of the Irish clergy and the rejoicing of those from our country [II. 16] On the writing of The Topography of Ireland and its public reading at oxford, in England [ I I . 17] On the Widespread taking of the cross in England and the marking of both Peter, Bishop of St Davids, and Gerald the archdeacon with the cross [II. 18] How baldwin, archbishop of Canterbury, preached the crusade throughout wales and how archdeacon Gerald assisted him as his faithful companion in that preaching [ I I . 19] How the Archbishop assigned to the archdeacon the responsibility of preaching at St Davids; and what happened in cemais and ceredigion, as well as in gwynedd and powys [ I I . 20] On the archbishop’s commendation of both Gerald and his writing style [ I I . 21] How the archdeacon was sent to England and wales by count Richard after his father’s death [II. 22] The cardinal’s letter of absolution [ I I . 23] How the archdeacon urged count john not to remain indolently in England during this time of general Pilgrimage but did not persuade him. [ I I . 24] How the archdeacon refused the ecclesiastical offices offered him, because of his love of learning Part Three [III. 1] On his Deeds in more advanced and adult years [III. 2] How he went to a friend, the hermit of llywes, 404 and asked for his permission and blessing to go to the schools [III. 3] How, since he could not go to Paris because of the wars, he turned instead to Lincoln [III. 4] How, after peter, bishop of St Davids, had died, archdeacon Gerald was the principal person sought for the office and many people were occupied with that see [III. 5] A letter addressed to the archbishop of Canterbury [III. 6] The response of Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury [III. 7] A letter of ratification sent by the archdeacon to the archbishop [III. 8] A letter sent by king Richard to the chapter of St Davids [III. 9] A Letter sent by the justiciar of England to the chapter of St Davids [III. 10] A Letter sent by the chapter of St Davids to Gerald [III. 11] How Gerald was summoned by a letter from count John after the death of King Richard [III. 12] A letter sent by the chapter of St Davids to count john in favour of Gerald [III. 13] How Gerald’s fixed purpose was now suddenly and unexpectedly changed [III. 14] The chapter’s decree, sent to the lord pope on behalf of the archdeacon [III. 15] A letter sent by the chapter of St Davids to the pope against the prior of llanthony [III. 16] The advice and consolation which he received from his brother [III. 17] On Gerald’s first laborious journey to the roman curia; and fortune’s immediate assault on him, as if on his very doorstep [III. 18] How he came to the pope and presented him with books, not pounds [III. 19] A letter sent by the archbishop against the archdeacon Appendix 1: The Forms of Welsh Names in De gestis Appendix 2: Gerald and the Districts of Wales Appendix 3: Early-Modern Notes on De gestis The Notes of Brian Twyne The Notes of Richard James The Notes of James Ware BL Additional MS 4787, fos. 245r–246v BL Additional MS 4783, fo. 53 Appendix 4: A Note on Laudabiliter (De gestis, ii. 11) Bibliography List of Manuscripts Cited Index of Citations and Allusions General Index