medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Two questions, medieval-religion colleagues:
1) Are there other medieval religious groups that were known collectively as hermits?
2) Could the OED be wrong in calling the Hermits of St. Augustine a *monastic* group?
Best wishes to all, George
--
George FERZOCO
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On 22 Dec 2011, at 19:12, Christopher Crockett wrote:
> From: Henk 't Jong <[log in to unmask]>
>
>> Even by the later 13th c they lived in proper monasteries.
>
> is that because all the trees were cut down by then?
>
> in any event, were they called "hermits"?
>
>> By the 14th century, the OESA were not hermits in the original sense.
>
> no, apparently not.
>
> the OED's 2.a ["immediately derived from 1"], **first noted in Holinshed**:
>
> hermit, n.
>
> 1.
> a. One who from religious motives has retired into solitary life; esp. one of
> the early Christian recluses. See eremite n. 1.
>
> c1275 (1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9382 Sone þe armite [c1300
> Otho heremite] com in.
> c1300 St. Brandan 610 The ermite that was so old aȝen hem com gon.
> a1400 (1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 8135 An armyte [Vesp. heremite,
> Fairf. ermyte] þar þai fand at hame In þat montayn, was halt and lame.
> c1440 Promp. Parv. 141/2 Ermyte‥heremita.
>
> β.
> a1300 Cursor M. (Gött.) 17900 A man come þan widuten lite, Þat semed wele
> haue bene hermite [v.rr. eremite, eremyte, Ermyte].
> 1362 Langland Piers Plowman A. Prol. 3 In Habite of an Hermite [B.
> Heremite, C. Ermite] vn-holy of werkes.
> c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) vii. 24 A haly hermit mette‥a beste
> forschapen.
> 1481 Myrrour of Worlde (Caxton) i. v. 22 The other gaf it [their tresour]
> away and‥wente as hermytes.
>
> γ.
> c1275 Laȝamon Brut 18804 Þan heremite he iseh come.
> c1480 (1400) St. Mary Magdalen 811 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial.
> (1896) I. 279 A preste‥þat fled þe warld as heremyt.
> 1497 J. Alcock Mons Perfeccionis (de Worde) D iij b, An heremyte cam to
> saynt Anthony.
>
> b. transf. A person living in solitude.
>
> 2. In senses immediately derived from 1.
>
> a. In the formal designation of certain monastic orders: e.g. Hermits of St.
> Augustine: see eremite n. 2.
>
> **1577–87** R. Holinshed Chron. III. 926/1 At Padua in the church of the
> heremites of saint Augustine.
> 1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. iv. xi. 449 The
> Augustinians produced one [new branch] that of the Hermites of St. Augustin.
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