Goscelin of Saint-Bertin: The Hagiography of the Female Saints of Ely (Oxford Medieval Texts)

From the tenth century, the monastic community at Ely venerated a group of female saints: �thelthryth, its founding patroness, who died in 679, supposedly a virgin despite two marriages; her sister Seaxburh; another supposed sister Wihtburh, whose remains had been stolen by the monks of Ely from her tomb in Norfolk; Seaxburgh's daughter Eormenhild; and Eormenhild's daughter W�rburh. This is the first edition and translation of the Lives of these saints. Goscelin, Monk Of Saint-bertin, Who Came To England In The Early 1060s, Was One Of The Most Prolific Hagiographers Of Anglo-saxon Saints. Part Of His Career Was Spent In Wandering Exile, And One Of The Places At Which Goscelin Stayed Briefly Was Ely, Whose Twelfth-century House-history Portrays Him Working Late At Night On Verses Commemorating Ely's Patroness, St. Aethelthryth. By The Late Tenth Century, The Cult Of Aethelthryth, The Seventh-century Virgin-queen Whose Two Unconsummated Marriages Were Recounted In Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica, Had Been Combined With That Of Her Sister Seaxburh, And Of Another Supposed Sister, Wihtburh (whose Relics Were 'translated' From East Dereham In Norfolk To Ely In 974). To This Group Were Added Seaxburh's Daughter Eormenhild, And Eormenhild's Daughter Waerburh. A Collection Of The Lives Of These Female Saints - Some Probably The Work Of Goscelin - Is Preserved In Three Twelfth-century Ely Manuscripts. Taken Together These Texts Offer A Fascinating Insight Into Ely's View Of The Women Venerated By The Community And Of Its Own Past History.--book Jacket. The Female Saints Of Ely -- The Manuscripts -- The Lives -- Indirect Witnesses And Previous Editions -- Relationship Of Manuscripts And Indirect Witnesses -- Editorial Procedures -- Texts And Translations: Lectiones In Festivitate S. Sexburge. Lectiones In Natale S. Eormenhilde. Vita S. Werburge. Vita S. Wihtburge. Miracula S. Ætheldrethe. Vita Beate Sexburge Regina -- Appendices: Vita S. Ætheldrethe. Miracula S. Wihtburge. Goscelin Of Saint-bertin ; Edited And Translated By Rosalind C. Love. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Latin Text And English Translation On Facing Pages; Introduction And Commentary In English. CONTENTS ABBREVIATED REFERENCES INTRODUCTION I. THE FEMALE SAINTS OF ELY II. THE CULTS OF THE FEMALE SAINTS OF ELY 1. Pre-Conquest liturgical calendars 2. The Kentish Royal Legend 3. Later liturgical calendars 4. Other liturgical evidence 5. Church dedications 6. Relics and evidence of popular cult III. THE MANUSCRIPTS 1. The Ely manuscripts 2. Other manuscripts 3. Lost copies IV. THE LIVES 1. The hagiography of St Æthelthryth 2. Vita S. Werburge 3. The lessons for the feasts of SS Seaxburh and Eormenhild 4. Vita S. Sexburge 5. Vita S. Wihtburge 6. Miracula S. Wihtburge 7. Sources and style 8. Depictions of female sanctity V. INDIRECT WITNESSES AND PREVIOUS EDITIONS 1. The Liber Eliensis 2. The Ely Breviary-Missal 3. Later hagiographical compilations 4. Later historiographers 5. Previous editions VI. RELATIONSHIP OF MANUSCRIPTS AND INDIRECT WITNESSES 1. LectSex and LectEorm 2. Vita S. Sexburge 3. Vita S. Werburge 4. Vita S. Wihtburge 5. Miracula S. Ætheldrethe VII. EDITORIAL PROCEDURES TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Goscelin, Lectiones in festiuitate S. Sexburge Goscelin, Lectiones in natale S. Eormenhilde Goscelin, Vita S. Werburge Goscelin, Vita S. Wihtburge Miracula S. Ætheldrethe Vita Beate Sexburge Regine APPENDICES A. Vita S. Ætheldrethe B. Miracula S. Wihtburge INDEX OF CITATIONS, ALLUSIONS, AND PARALLELS GENERAL INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Goscelin, monk of Saint-Bertin, who came to England in the early 1060s, was one of the most prolific hagiographers of the Anglo-Saxon saints. William of Malmesbury described him as'second to none since Bede in the celebration of the English saints'. Part of his career was spent in wandering exile, and one of the places Goscelin stayed briefly was Ely, who twelfth-century house-history portrays him working late at night on verses commemorating Ely's patroness, St Æthelfryth. By the late tenth century, the cult of Æthelfryth, the seventh-century virgin-queen whose two unconsummated marriages were recounted in Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica, had been combined with that of her sister Seaxburh, and of another supposed sister, Wihtburh (whose relics were'translated'from East Dereham in Norfolk to Ely in 974). To this group were added Seaxburh's daughter Eormenhild, and Eormenhild's daughter Wærburh. A collection of the Lives of these female saints - some probably the work of Goscelin - is preserved in three twelfth-century Ely manuscripts.Taken together these texts offer a fascinating insight into Ely's view of the women venerated by the community and of its own past history. 1. Regum proles et regum parens, immo sanctorum genitrix, regina sanctissima Sexburga, digne in terris celebratur laude festiua, que contempta mundiali potentia, celesti fulget excellentia.