Uhtred (Benedictine theologian)
Encyclopedia
Uhtred was an English
Benedictine
monk
, theologian and writer, born at Boldon, North Durham, about 1315; died at Finchale Abbey, 24 January 1396.
He joined the Benedictine community of Durham Abbey
about 1332 and was sent to London in 1337. Three years later he entered Durham College, Oxford, a house which the Durham Benedictines had established at Oxford for those of their members who pursued their studies at the University of Oxford. He was graduated there as licentiate in 1352 and as doctor in 1357. During the succeeding ten years, and even previously, he took part in numerous disputations at Oxford University, many of which were directed against members of the mendicant
orders. It is on this account that Bale
wrongly designates him as a supporter of John Wycliffe
.
In 1367 he became prior
of Finchale Abbey, a position to which he was appointed three other times, in 1379, 1386, and 1392. In 1368 and in 1381 he served as subprior at Durham Abbey. Along with Wycliffe he was one of the delegates sent by King Edward III
to the papal representatives at Bruges
in 1374, with the purpose of reaching an agreement concerning the vexed question of canonical provision
in England. In the same year he represented Durham Abbey at a council held by Edward, Prince of Wales, for the purpose of determining whether the king was obliged to recognize the papal suzerainty
which had been granted to Innocent III by King John
. On this occasion Uhtred defended the pope's right of overlordship, but, when on the following day the assembly cast its vote contrarily, he followed their example.
Among his literary works--none of which have as yet been printed (as of 1912)--are worthy of mention: De substantialibus regulae monachalis, preserved in the Durham Cathedral Library; Contra querelas Fratrum, written about 1390, extant in the British Museum
; and a Latin translation of the Ecclesiastical History
of Eusebius, which is also preserved in the British Museum.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, theologian and writer, born at Boldon, North Durham, about 1315; died at Finchale Abbey, 24 January 1396.
He joined the Benedictine community of Durham Abbey
Durham Cathedral Priory
Durham Priory was a Benedictine priory associated with Durham Cathedral, located in Durham in the North-East of England. It was founded in 1083 and was dissolved led to the replacement of the house with a college of secular canons led by a dean in 1540...
about 1332 and was sent to London in 1337. Three years later he entered Durham College, Oxford, a house which the Durham Benedictines had established at Oxford for those of their members who pursued their studies at the University of Oxford. He was graduated there as licentiate in 1352 and as doctor in 1357. During the succeeding ten years, and even previously, he took part in numerous disputations at Oxford University, many of which were directed against members of the mendicant
Mendicant
The term mendicant refers to begging or relying on charitable donations, and is most widely used for religious followers or ascetics who rely exclusively on charity to survive....
orders. It is on this account that Bale
John Bale
John Bale was an English churchman, historian and controversialist, and Bishop of Ossory. He wrote the oldest known historical verse drama in English , and developed and published a very extensive list of the works of British authors down to his own time, just as the monastic libraries were being...
wrongly designates him as a supporter of John Wycliffe
John Wycliffe
John Wycliffe was an English Scholastic philosopher, theologian, lay preacher, translator, reformer and university teacher who was known as an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century. His followers were known as Lollards, a somewhat rebellious movement, which preached...
.
In 1367 he became prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of Finchale Abbey, a position to which he was appointed three other times, in 1379, 1386, and 1392. In 1368 and in 1381 he served as subprior at Durham Abbey. Along with Wycliffe he was one of the delegates sent by King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
to the papal representatives at Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
in 1374, with the purpose of reaching an agreement concerning the vexed question of canonical provision
Canonical provision
Canonical provision is a term of the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, signifying regular induction into a benefice.-Analysis:It comprises three distinct acts - the designation of the person, canonical institution, and installation...
in England. In the same year he represented Durham Abbey at a council held by Edward, Prince of Wales, for the purpose of determining whether the king was obliged to recognize the papal suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
which had been granted to Innocent III by King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
. On this occasion Uhtred defended the pope's right of overlordship, but, when on the following day the assembly cast its vote contrarily, he followed their example.
Among his literary works--none of which have as yet been printed (as of 1912)--are worthy of mention: De substantialibus regulae monachalis, preserved in the Durham Cathedral Library; Contra querelas Fratrum, written about 1390, extant in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
; and a Latin translation of the Ecclesiastical History
Church History (Eusebius)
The Church History of Eusebius, the bishop of Caesarea was a 4th-century pioneer work giving a chronological account of the development of Early Christianity from the 1st century to the 4th century. It was written in Koine Greek, and survives also in Latin, Syriac and Armenian manuscripts...
of Eusebius, which is also preserved in the British Museum.