constructing communities: identification and self-understanding in the twelfth-century north of ...

256 Pages·2014·2.05 MB·English

CONSTRUCTING COMMUNITIES: IDENTIFICATION AND
SELF-UNDERSTANDING IN THE TWELFTH-CENTURY
NORTH OF ENGLAND

BENJAMIN LACEY

PHD IN MEDIEVAL HISTORY
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

APRIL 2014
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ABSTRACT

This is a study of local communities in the north of England between 1069 and 1200. It
examines the way these communities were constructed, imagined and perceived by
contemporary individuals. This involves a consideration of the narratives, actions and
ideas that allowed people to understand who they were and to identify with others. In
the course of this inquiry, certain methods of historical practice and approaches to the
narrative source material are discussed and debated. As for methods, the thesis
demonstrates the utility of analysing the processes and relationships that underlay
perceived ‘identities’. By building on recent work in the humanities and social sciences,
this study conducts a close reading of a small number of carefully selected texts. With
these aims in mind, each chapter examines a different element that was vital to the
processes by which people identified with one another and communities were formed.
The way the past was conceived and history constructed is the subject of the first. The
second focuses on local saints’ cults. Hermits and priests are considered in chapter
three. The end result is an analysis that seeks to examine the interface between the
authors of certain twelfth-century texts and the people whose stories they recorded.
Through doing so, this work aims to reveal more about the way local communities
were constructed.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The acknowledgements at the start of any thesis or book have always seemed
to me remarkably similar to the prologues of medieval narrative texts. No matter how
the author is feeling, the words tend to fall into formulaic phrases, and the reader finds
themselves skimming over them as if there is nothing meaningful or original in what
they say. This is highly unfortunate, because everything I have to say here is truly
heartfelt, and meant with the greatest sincerity. I hope at the very least that the
people for whom it is written read it as such.
The care and attention Amanda Power has offered in her role as supervisor,
often while having a whole host of more important things to be thinking about and
doing, has been fantastic. She has been conscientious and engaging in equal measure,
while her insight on a vast range of matters has been exceedingly important. Our
numerous conversations have been one of the great driving forces behind the project.
Her ability to send my mind whirring for days with a single scrawled comment or off-
hand reading recommendation is testament to a tremendous intellect that has helped,
prodded, and critiqued me into becoming a better historian. On top of all this, she has
always been friendly, funny, and willing to help with wider concerns, to an extent that
seems to be found rarely in academia. I consider myself to be very fortunate to have
had Amanda as a supervisor.
The number of other people who are deserving of a place here far exceeds the
room available. I cannot speak highly enough of those I have met and worked with at
the University of Sheffield’s Department of History. Students, academics and support
staff have all been friendly, encouraging, and helpful. Edmund King deserves a
particular mention, for along with Amanda he incited and nurtured my now
irrepressible interest in medieval history, and has offered useful advice along the way.
In truth all the medievalists at Sheffield have my gratitude for their enduring warmth,
good humour and willingness to help me in any way they could. The same goes for the
administrative staff, who as well as all this have also proved themselves to be very
patient with someone whose inability to remember door codes and procedures is
frankly baffling. Last, but certainly not least, of those who inhabit Jessop West, I want
to say an enormous thank you to the people who have sat with me on the first floor.
Nothing gets one through those days when things are not going right like an excellent
group of friends.
A brief mention of other friends and, in particular, my family, is also necessary.
For those who have read drafts, discussed ideas, or simply been there to have some
fun when it was needed, thank you. As for my family, in a world where the first
question most people ask a history PhD student is ‘what is the point in that then?’ my
parents unwavering belief in the value of education and knowledge for its own sake is
as supportive as it is inspirational. They have always encouraged my scholarly
ambitions, and have proven with their own example how important it is to never stop
learning.
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Finally, my deepest thanks for everything go to Amy. Away from the PhD she
has made the last few years an utterly wonderful time. When it comes to the
doctorate, it is no exaggeration to say that without her, I would never have started the
PhD, let alone finished it. Her constant support has been vital since I began the thesis.
She has always been ready to lend an attentive ear, and has consistently offered useful
advice and penetrating questions. She has picked me up when I have been unhappy
with things, given me time and space when it seemed there were not enough hours in
the day, and has read through more draft pieces of writing than is probably healthy.
For this and so much more I consider myself unbelievably lucky to have her in my life,
and I am eternally thankful for all the support she has given me.
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CONTENTS

Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... i
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... ii
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................. v
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................. v
The Area For this Study .................................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 2
Communities, Identification and Narrativity ................................................................. 11
The Sources .................................................................................................................... 21
The Narratives in the Sources ........................................................................................ 34
The Plan for this Study ................................................................................................... 48
Chapter 2: Imagining the Past ......................................................................................................50
Narratives of the Past .................................................................................................... 56
The Pool of Local Memory ............................................................................................. 73
Chapter 3: The Venerated Dead ..................................................................................................94
The Symbolic Representation of the Community .......................................................... 98
The Heavenly Patron .................................................................................................... 102
Peace, Protection and Sanctuary ................................................................................. 123
Healing Individuals, Healing the Community ............................................................... 157
The Human Companion ............................................................................................... 165
The Saint, the Individual and the Community ............................................................. 178
Chapter 4: The Servants of God: Hermits, Recluses and Priests................................................181
The Place of a Hermit in Local Society ......................................................................... 183
The Role of a Hermit in Local Society .......................................................................... 193
The Secular Clergy ........................................................................................................ 201
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................214
Maps of Dedications to St Cuthbert ..........................................................................................221
Bibliography ...............................................................................................................................226
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ABBREVIATIONS

Alia Miracula I: ‘Alia Miracula, Auctore ut Plurimum Teste Oculato’, ed. J. Raine, The
Historians of the Church of York and its Archbishops vol. 1 (London, 1879), pp. 293-320.

Alia Miracula II: ‘Alia Miracula Ejusdem Sancti Patris’, ed. J. Raine, The Historians of
the Church of York and its Archbishops vol. 1 (London, 1879), pp. 321-25.

ANS: Anglo-Norman Studies

De Admirandis: ‘Reginaldi Monachi Dunelmensis, Libellus de Admirandis Beati
Cuthberti Virtutibus quae novellis patratae sunt temporibus’, ed. J. Raine (London,
1835).

De Institutione Inclusarum: Aelred of Rievaulx, ‘De Institutione Inclusarum’, ed. C.
Dumont, La Vie de Recluse. La Prière Pastorale (Paris, 1961), pp. 42-78.

De Miraculis: ‘Capitula de Miraculis et Translationibus Sancti Cuthberti’, ed. T. Arnold,
Symeonis Monachi Opera Omnia vol. 1 (London, 1882), pp. 229-61.

De Sanctis: Aelred of Rievaulx, ‘De Sanctis Ecclesiae Haugustaldensis et eorum
Miraculis Libellus’, ed. J. Raine, The Priory of Hexham, Its Chronicles, Endowments and
Annals vol. I (Durham, London, Edinburgh, 1864), pp. 173-203.

Foundation History: ‘Historice fundaciones abbatiarum de Bellalanda et Iorevallis’ ed.
and trans. J. Burton, The Foundation History of the Abbeys of Byland and Jervaulx
(York, 2006), pp. 1-60.

Fundatione Fontains: ‘Narratio de Fundatione Fontanis Monasterii in Comitatu
Eboracensi’ ed. J. Walbran, Memorials of the Abbey of St. Mary of Fountains (Durham,
London, Edinburgh, 1863), pp. 1-129.
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HE: Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, ed. B. Colgrave and R. A. B.
Mynors (Oxford, 1969).

H. Reg.: ‘Historia Regum’, ed. T. Arnold, Symeonis Monachi Opera Omnia vol. II
(London, 1885), pp. 3-283.

HSC: Historia de Sancto Cuthberto, ed. T. Johnson South (Cambridge, 2002).

JH, Historia: ‘Historia Johannis, Prioris Haugustaldensis Ecclesiae’, ed. T. Arnold,
Symeonis Monachi Opera Omnia vol. II (London, 1885), pp. 284-332.

LDE: Symeon of Durham, ‘Libellus de exordio atque procursu istius, hoc est
dunhelmensis, ecclesie’, ed. and trans. D. Rollason (Oxford, 2000).

LE: Liber Eliensis ed. and trans. J. Fairweather (Woodbridge, 2005).

MSJ: ‘Miracula Sancti Johannis, Eboracensis Episcopi’, ed. J. Raine, The Historians of
the Church of York and its Archbishops vol. 1 (London, 1879), pp. 261-91.

Relatio: Relatio Venerabilis Aelredi, Abbatis Rievallensis, de Standardo’ ed. R. Howlett,
Chronicles of the Reigns of Stephen, Henry II, and Richard I vol. III (London, 1886), pp.
179-99.

RH, De Gestis: Richard of Hexham, ‘De Gestis Regis Stephani, et de Bello Standardii’,
ed. R. Howlett, Chronicles of the Reigns of Stephen, Henry II, and Richard I vol. 3
(London, 1886), pp. 139-78.

RH, History: ‘The History of the Founding of the Church of Hexham, and of the Bishops
of that Place, by Richard, Prior of Hexham’, ed. J. Raine, The Priory of Hexham, Its
Chronicles, Endowments and Annals vol. I (Durham, London, Edinburgh, 1864), pp. 1-
62.

SCH: Studies in Church History
vii

V. Barth.: Geoffrey of Durham, ‘Vita Bartholomaei Farnensis’, ed. T. Arnold, Symeonis
Monachi Opera Omnia vol. 1 (London, 1882), pp. 295-325.

V. Godr.: ‘Libellus de Vita et Miraculis S. Godrici, Heremitae de Finchale, auctore
Reginaldo Monacho Dunelmensi’, ed. J. Stevenson (London and Edinburgh, 1847).

VSJ: ‘Vita Sancti Johannis, Episcopi Eboracensis, Auctore Folcardo’, ed. J. Raine, The
Historians of the Church of York and its Archbishops vol. 1 (London, 1879), pp. 239-60.
1
THE AREA FOR THIS STUDY

Figure 1 – Important Rivers and Locations for this Study
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CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION

To a greater or lesser degree, most people narrate their own and other
peoples’ lives by telling stories about events and experiences. The stories people tell
and re-tell help shape the way they understand and present themselves and form
relationships with others.1 Whether consciously or unconsciously, people structure,
understand and give meaning to their experiences by constructing narratives and
telling stories. This is a study of the way this process of narrating experience helped
people in the twelfth century to identify with one another and construct a sense of
community within their immediate locality. As will be shown, many twelfth-century
authors collected personal tales from their neighbours and wove these into narratives
of the local past, saints, or holy people which reinforced this communal identification.
This dissertation is a study of the stories collected and the narratives produced by
some of these authors. My primary concern is to explore how the remembering, telling
and retelling of stories about the community and its past worked to shape the
experiences of individuals and groups, providing them with meaning, understanding
and a sense of who they were. It will be shown that the narratives recorded in
contemporary texts offer a window on the ways in which connections with others
were made, and a sense of community was built, in various localities in the north of
England. In reading the texts in this way, I hope to demonstrate how voices beyond
those of the authors can be recovered from contemporary narrative texts.
This work aims to think about medieval society as a set of relationships that
were fluid and under constant development. The focus is a series of bonds that people
perceived to exist between and among them, which helped them to negotiate those
relationships, and in the process constructed contemporary social collectives. These
bonds possessed both practical and imaginary elements, but all had subjective
meanings and understandings attached to them, which caused them to have
integrative power. In order to conduct such a study, the focus has to be on local
communities, for it was at this level that the majority of social relationships were
formed. However, one should bear in mind that for the authors of the texts, wider

1 For an extended discussion of this, see below, pp. 18-21.