Saints’ Lives for Medieval English Nuns, II

Cambridge University Library, MS Additional 2604 contains a unique collection of prose saints’ lives evenly divided into eleven universal and eleven native saints (predominantly culted at Ely). Clearly intended for the devotional life of nuns, presumably in an East Anglian convent, the volume comprises nineteen female figures, all of whom are virgins, martyrs, or nuns, and three male saints (two apostles and a hermit). These late Middle English lives are translated from a variety of Latin sources and analogues including material by Jacobus de Voragine, John of Tynemouth, and others. The collection demonstrates an interest in showcasing native saints alongside their universal sisters. Luminaries of the English Church, such as Æthelthryth of Ely and her sister Seaxburh, are found in the company of notable virgin martyrs like Agatha and Cecilia. Famous saints like John the Evangelist and Hild of Whitby feature alongside others such as Columba of Sens and Eorcengota. Fully analysed and contextualised in its companion volume Saints’ Lives for Medieval English Nuns, I: A Study of the ‘Lyves and Dethes’ in Cambridge University Library, MS Additional 2604, these texts are edited here for the first time. Alongside the edition of the twenty-two saints’ lives and full textual apparatus, there are extensive overviews and commentaries providing details of the sources and analogues as well as explanatory historical and literary notes. The edition concludes with three appendices, a detailed select glossary, and a bibliography of works cited.

Introduction

Editorial Procedure

A Study and Edition of the Saints’ Lives

1. Here begynnyth the lyfe of Seynt Iohn Baptist
2. Here begynnyth the life of Seynt Iohn Euangeliste
3. Here begynnyth the lyf of Seynt Columbe þe virgyn
4. [Here begynneth the martirdome of Seynt Agace the virgyn]
5. [The life of Seynt Cecile the virgyn and martir]
6. Here begynnyth the life of Seynt Barbara the virgyn and martir
7. The life of Seynt Audry of Hely virgyn and martir
8. Here begynnyth the life of Seynt Sexburge, sister to Seynt Awdre, which was the next abbes of Hely aftir hir
9. Here begynnyth the lyfe of Seynt Ermenylde, the first doughter of seynt Sexburgh
10. Here begynnyth the lyfe of Seynt Werburgh, the doughter of Seynt Ermenyld
11. Here begynnyth a shorte lyfe of Seynt Erkengoode, the secunde doughter of Seynt Sexburgh and the awnte of Seynt Wereburgh, and of Seynt Alburgh þat was sistir to Seynt Awdre of Hely
12. Here begynnyth the life of Seynt Whitburge
13. Here begynnyth the lif of Seynt Edith of Wylton
14. Here begynnyth the holy life of Seynt Edburgh, abbes of Tenett aftir Seynt Mildrede
15. Here begynnyth the holy life of Seynt Aswyde þe nonne of Folkstone
16. [The holy lif of Seynt Hilde abbes of Streneshall]
17. Here begynnyth the life of Seynt Martha, abbes of many nonnes and þe syster of Mary Mawdelen
18. Here begynnyth a litill short mencion of the life of Seynt Domitille
19. Of the Life of Seynt Iustine Abbes and Martyr
20. [Here begynnyth the lyfe of Seynt Benett]
21. Thus begynnyth þe lyfe of Seynt Modewyne
22. Here begynnyth the life and miracles of Seynt Leonarde

Textual Apparatus

Overviews and Commentaries

1. John The Baptist
2. John the Evangelist
3. Columba
4. Agatha
5. Cecilia
6. Barbara
7. Æthelthryth
8. Seaxburh
9. Eormenhild
10. Wærburh
11. Eorcengota (and Æthelburh)
12. Wihtburh
13. Edith
14. Eadburh
15. Eanswith
16. Hild
17. Martha
18. Domitilla
19. Justina
20. Benedicta
21. Modwenna
22. Leonard

Appendix A. Section Summaries

Appendix B. Miracles

Appendix C. Place-Names

Select Glossary

Select Bibliography