Gervase of Canterbury
(GERVAS US DOROBORNENSIS)
English chronicler, b. about 1141; d. in, or soon after, 1210.
If his brother Thomas, who like himself was a monk of Christ Church,
Canterbury, was identical with Thomas of Maidstone, they came of a
Kentish family. St. Thomas of Canterbury received his religious
profession on 16 Feb., 1163, and also ordained him. He was one of
the monks who buried the saint after his martyrdom, 29 Dec., 1170.
Later on he took a prominent part in the disputes between the monks
and Archbishop Baldwin (1185-91) and was one of the monks sent to
announce to the archbishop an appeal to the pope. In 1189 he was
again one of a deputation sent to lay the matter before King Richard
I. As yet, Gervase, though one of the senior monks, had held no
prominent office, but about this time he was made sacristan, for in
1193 he attended the new archbishop, Hubert Walter, in that
capacity. He probably ceased to hold this office in 1197 when he
speaks of one Felix, as sacristan. The rest of his life is obscure.
He was still writing in 1199 and there are slight indications in
another chronicle, the "Gesta Regum", that he continued to write
till 1210, when a sudden change in style and arrangement point to a
new chronicler. His death may therefore be assumed in or soon after
that year. Gervase has occasionally been confused with others of
the same name, notable with Gervase of S. Ceneri, and thus he is
described as prior of Dover by Dom Brial (Recueil des Historiens de
France, XVII, 1818), which is impossible on chronological grounds.
Sir Thomas Hardy identifies him with Gervase of Chichester, but Dr.
Stubbs shows good reasons against this theory, as also against
confusing him with Gervase of Melkeley.
The works of Gervase consist of: (1) "The Chronicle", covering the
period from 1100 to 1199. It was first printed by Twysden in
"Historiae Anglicanae Scriptores Decem" (London, 1652). (2) The
"gesta Regum", which is in part an abridgment of the earlier
chronicle, and from the year 1199 an independent source of great
value for the early years of John's reign. (3) "Actus Pontificum
Cantuariensis Ecclesiae", a history of the archbishops of Canterbury
to the death of Hubert Walter in 1205, also printed by Twysden with
the chronicle. (4) "Mappa Mundi", a topographical work with lists
of bishoprics and ecclesiastical foundations in the various counties
of England, Wales, and part of Scotland. The works of Gervase were
published in the "Rolls Series" in 1879-80 under the editorship of
Dr. Stubbs, whose introduction has been the groundwork of all
subsequent accounts of Gervase.
EDWIN BURTON
Transcribed by Gerald M. Knight
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VI
Copyright © 1909 by Robert Appleton Company
Online Edition Copyright © 1999 by Kevin Knight
Nihil Obstat, September 1, 1909. Remy Lafort, Censor
Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
