Thomas Swalwell
A Monastic Life in Books
Published on 2. April 2025
Book
Leather / fine binding
428 pages
978-90-04-72010-7 (ISBN)
Description
The marginalia of Thomas Swalwell (d. 1539) in his many early printed books provide remarkable access to the interests and concerns of a typical late medieval English Benedictine monk. Devout, scholarly, and busy, he studies everything from how to assess tithes on sheep to theological differences between Muslims and Christians. He is passionate about prayer, preaching, and clerical integrity, while carrying significant administrative responsibilities within the Durham Priory. In the early years of the Reformation, his annotations reveal the impact of religious change and his response to it. Illustrated with samples of Swalwell's marginalia and rare sheets of his manuscript notes, this volume will be a welcome addition to the collection of anyone interested in monasticism, the history of the book, or early English Reformation history.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 243 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
884 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-04-72010-7 (9789004720107)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Anne T. Thayer, Ph.D. (1996), Harvard University, is Professor Emerita of Church History at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Her publications include Penitence, Preaching and the Coming of the Reformation (Ashgate, 2002) and Handbook for Curates (The Catholic University of America Press, 2011).
Content
Preface
List of Figures
Abbreviations
Manuscript Books Owned and/or Annotated by Thomas Swalwell
Printed Books Owned and/or Annotated by Thomas Swalwell
Additional Books Associated with Swalwell (Not Used in This Study)
Introduction
?1?Swalwell's Books
?2?Marginalia
?3?Plan of Chapters
Part 1: Monastic Life
1 Devout Monk
?1?Monastic Community: Cultivating Humility
?2?Monastic Community: Camaraderie and Strife
?3?Monastic Community: Penitence
?4?Benedictine Worship: Hours, Seasons and Singing
?5?Priesthood and the Eucharist
?6?Durham Lifestyle
?7?Conclusion: Love of God
2 Scholar
?1?Studying at Oxford
?2?Engaging Scotus on Lombard's Sentences: Book I, Prologue
?3?Engaging Scotus on Lombard's Sentences: Book I, God and Creation
?4?Engaging Scotus on Lombard's Sentences: Book IV: Sacraments
?5?Early Biblical Studies: Comestor's Historia scholastica
?6?Ongoing Biblical Study
?7?Conclusion
3 Administrator
?1?Swalwell's Offices: an Overview of Duties
?2?Canon Law Volumes
?3?Early Notes
?4?Jurisdiction and Sanctuary
?5?Finances: Tithes
?6?Finances: Mortuaries
?7?Conclusion: Model, Metaphor, and Ritual
4 Preacher
?1?Preaching Styles and Books for Preaching
?2?Importance of Preaching: a Possible Synod Sermon
?3?Sermon Notes: against Irresponsible Clergy
?4?Gospel Annotations: Homiletic Possibilities
?5?Preaching in the Priory: Messages for Monks
?6?Preaching to Laity: Faith and Good Examples
?7?Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good (and Bad) People?
?8?Conclusion
5 Dr. Swalwell, Educator
?1?The Almonry School: Curriculum and Pedagogy
?2?The Almonry School: Grammar and Language
?3?Mnemonic verses
?4?History
?5?Science, Geography, Health, and the Natural World
?6?Teaching Theology
?7?Conclusion
6 Advice on Prayer
?1?Basic Instructions: Organizational Schemes
?2?Basic Instructions: the Lord's Prayer
?3?Practical Considerations
?4?Mental Prayer and Mysticism
?5?Praying to Saints
?6?Conclusion
Part 2: Religious Landscape
7 Expectations for Clerical Leadership
?1?Clerical Privilege
?2?Sacraments: Vital Teaching
?3?Integrity of the Clergy
?4?Conclusion
8 Religious Others
?1?Orthodox Christians
?2?Jews
?3?Muslims
?4?Heretics: Historical
?5?Heretics: Lutherans
?6?Conclusion
9 Responding to the Reformation
?1?Salvation: Divine and Human Agency
?2?Salvation: Purgatory, Prayers for the Dead, and Indulgences
?3?Sacraments: Eucharist
?4?Sacraments: Marriage
?5?Papacy
?6?Role of Rulers
?7?Conclusion: Consolation
Conclusion
?1?Other Annotators
?2?Thomas Swalwell and His Legacy
Bibliography
Index
List of Figures
Abbreviations
Manuscript Books Owned and/or Annotated by Thomas Swalwell
Printed Books Owned and/or Annotated by Thomas Swalwell
Additional Books Associated with Swalwell (Not Used in This Study)
Introduction
?1?Swalwell's Books
?2?Marginalia
?3?Plan of Chapters
Part 1: Monastic Life
1 Devout Monk
?1?Monastic Community: Cultivating Humility
?2?Monastic Community: Camaraderie and Strife
?3?Monastic Community: Penitence
?4?Benedictine Worship: Hours, Seasons and Singing
?5?Priesthood and the Eucharist
?6?Durham Lifestyle
?7?Conclusion: Love of God
2 Scholar
?1?Studying at Oxford
?2?Engaging Scotus on Lombard's Sentences: Book I, Prologue
?3?Engaging Scotus on Lombard's Sentences: Book I, God and Creation
?4?Engaging Scotus on Lombard's Sentences: Book IV: Sacraments
?5?Early Biblical Studies: Comestor's Historia scholastica
?6?Ongoing Biblical Study
?7?Conclusion
3 Administrator
?1?Swalwell's Offices: an Overview of Duties
?2?Canon Law Volumes
?3?Early Notes
?4?Jurisdiction and Sanctuary
?5?Finances: Tithes
?6?Finances: Mortuaries
?7?Conclusion: Model, Metaphor, and Ritual
4 Preacher
?1?Preaching Styles and Books for Preaching
?2?Importance of Preaching: a Possible Synod Sermon
?3?Sermon Notes: against Irresponsible Clergy
?4?Gospel Annotations: Homiletic Possibilities
?5?Preaching in the Priory: Messages for Monks
?6?Preaching to Laity: Faith and Good Examples
?7?Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good (and Bad) People?
?8?Conclusion
5 Dr. Swalwell, Educator
?1?The Almonry School: Curriculum and Pedagogy
?2?The Almonry School: Grammar and Language
?3?Mnemonic verses
?4?History
?5?Science, Geography, Health, and the Natural World
?6?Teaching Theology
?7?Conclusion
6 Advice on Prayer
?1?Basic Instructions: Organizational Schemes
?2?Basic Instructions: the Lord's Prayer
?3?Practical Considerations
?4?Mental Prayer and Mysticism
?5?Praying to Saints
?6?Conclusion
Part 2: Religious Landscape
7 Expectations for Clerical Leadership
?1?Clerical Privilege
?2?Sacraments: Vital Teaching
?3?Integrity of the Clergy
?4?Conclusion
8 Religious Others
?1?Orthodox Christians
?2?Jews
?3?Muslims
?4?Heretics: Historical
?5?Heretics: Lutherans
?6?Conclusion
9 Responding to the Reformation
?1?Salvation: Divine and Human Agency
?2?Salvation: Purgatory, Prayers for the Dead, and Indulgences
?3?Sacraments: Eucharist
?4?Sacraments: Marriage
?5?Papacy
?6?Role of Rulers
?7?Conclusion: Consolation
Conclusion
?1?Other Annotators
?2?Thomas Swalwell and His Legacy
Bibliography
Index