The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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William of Malmesbury (c. 1095 - c. 1143)

Monk, scholar, and chronicler, authoring several historical works concerning England Other biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Malmesbury Authority - medieval
 References in Documents:
Consolidated catalogue of 1695: The Book of the Junior Proctor (MacGregor, ed.) King's Alfred Jewel. Hutchinson's History of Durham. Vol. I. p. 25. note †. In the Philosophical Transactions No. 247 and 260 and in Gibson's edit of the Britannia, a curious Jewel, representing St. Cuthbert, is described, found near Athelney in Somersetshire. The portrait is enamelled on gold, drawn sitting in an episcopal chair, with the following inscription in Saxon – Thus construed: – Alfredus me jussit fabrican. Mr Wallis, speaking of this portrait, has the following remarks: “King Alfred preferred these characters to the saxon, and when he swa/y\ed the sceptre, brought them into use. This curious memorial of St. Cure Cuthbert was found in the very place of that glorious monarch's retreat and deliverance from the Danes, fortified by him in the time of war, and in the time of peace converted into a monastery.” Dr. Musgrave (who wrote a dissertation thereon), thinks this curious Cimolium an undeniable instance of the use of images coming from the Heathens into the Christian Church. Dr. Hickes has engraven it in his Thesaurus, and is of opinion, that the occasion of it was the vision of St. Cuthbert, which William of Malmsbury speaks of, appearing to him and his mother the same night, (after he had been beaten by the Danes, and retired into Athelney), and assuring him that he should be a great king. In memory whereof we may well suppose, that the image upon it is St. Cuthbert's, (to whose merit he was wont to ascribe his future successes over the Danes), and not only so, but being plainly made, on purpose to hang on a string, it is very probable that himself constantly wore it, in honour of to this his tutelar saint. – It is said to be now in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. – see Archaeologia, Vol. ii. p. 68.72.
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713) 13. Scala Mundi. Auctores ex quibus extrahitur, funt, 1. Brutus de gestis Britonum. 2. Venerabilis Beda de gestis Anglorum. 3. Willielmus Malmsburiensis de gestis Anglorum. 4. Will Pictavensis Cancellarius Parisiensis. 5. Frater Martinus Pænitentiarius Papæ. 6. Johannes de Porta. 7. Gildas. That this is a Book of great Value appears by the Character given it by a Right Reverend Author, who all will allow to be a most competent Judge, and who is pleased to mention it, with others of great Value referr'd to by Archbishop Usher, Mr. Selden, &c. (b)(b) Bishop of Carl, Hist. libr. I Vol. pag. 199.. Note, Tho' it ends many Years before the Reformation (viz. 12 H. 6.) yet in the Catalogue of Popes is inserted Johannes Papissa, with the same Hand as the rest of the Book.