Lindsay Rudge PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Benedict was making his collection, but equally Benedict may not have seen a real need
to record a rule which was based so clearly on another, the Regula virginum. However,
the small number of extant copies is surprising given that the rule was sent ‘to diverse
monasteries’. 21 The first, Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale, 8780-8793 (2493), dates from
the eighth century. 22 The second, Paris, BN ms. Lat. 1564, dates to the late eighth or early
ninth century, and Lowe suggested that the manuscript was copied in northern France,
probably in the same scriptorium in a female house that produced numerous codices for
archbishop Hildebald of Cologne (785-819). 23 This manuscript includes a prologue
describing how the rule came to be circulated: ‘Here begins the rule sent by saint
Teridius, priest and abbot, nephew of saint Caesarius the bishop of Arles, of blessed
memory, requested by my humble self. He said that this was dictated to him by
Caesarius, his master. He himself [Caesarius] sent this to diverse monasteries while he
was bishop. All those who seek God here will learn to follow the royal road by the rule,
not turning aside to the left or the right. Nor shall each do what he wants, but what he is
ordered.’ 24 De Vogüé makes the plausible case that this anonymous voice belongs to
Aunacharius, bishop of Auxerre (561-605). 25 Although the first nine folios of the
manuscript (items 1-29) are missing, the remainder appears to form a collection of Gallic
pieces, those most likely to be of interest to a bishop at that time. Paris BN Lat. 1564
contains nothing more recent than a letter from pope Pelagius II to Aunacharius, dated 5
October 580. 26 A second letter from Pelagius, dated 31 October 586, is not included, so
Aunacharius probably made his collection between 583 and 586. 27 The reason for
Aunacharius’ interest in monasticism in his diocese is shown by the presence of seven
abbot signatories at the synod of Auxerre (585/588). 28 While giving a rule to the
21
Reg. Mon. praef., de Vogüé, Oeuvres pour les moines, 204.
22
Van den Gheyn Catalogue des Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique IV, 1-2.
23
CLA vol. 5; no.529. CGM II 68-9. The catalogue entry notes that the manuscript may have come from a
church in Le Mans.
24
Reg. Mon. praef: Incipit regula a sancto Teridio presbytero, nepote beatae memoriae sancti Caesarii
episcopi Arelatinsis, abbate, mea persona parva rogante transmissa. Quam a suo supra memorato domino
Caesario dixit ipse dictatam. Quam dum est sacerdos ipse per diversa monasteria transmittebat.
Quicumque deum expeterent, discerent regulariter viam tenere regiam, non declinantes ad dexteram neque
ad sinistram. Nec unusquisque quod vult sed iubetur faciat. De Vogüé, Œuvres pour les moines, 204-5.
25
De Vogüé, Œuvres pour les moines, 192-199.
26
Pelagius II, Ep. 2, PL 72:705.
27
De Vogüé, Œuvres pour les moines, 193; see also n.5.
28
Auxerre (585/588) CCSL 148A, 271-2.
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