This study had its genesis in the examination of marginalia I undertook with Katharine Jackson Lualdi in preparation for our introduction to Guido of Monte Rochen’s Handbook for Curates. The various marginal witnesses to pastoral usage kindled my desire to study a late medieval cleric and the books that supported his ministry. During a sabbatical in 2010, I searched for such a subject, and, thanks to many of those named below, settled on Thomas Swalwell OSB (d. 1539). This project has been much more extensive than I imagined at the start, and all the more interesting for that. I have spent the last 14 years looking over Dr. Swalwell’s shoulder, puzzling out his annotations, learning about his world, seeking to understand how the information and wisdom he found in his many books resourced his very full devout and scholarly monastic life.
I have come to admire Dr. Swalwell. His practice of reading both widely and carefully is exemplary. I am impressed by his commitment to life-long learning, grounded in scholastic theology and gradually incorporating more humanistic study. As a seminary professor who has carried a measure of administrative responsibility, I applaud his passion for clerical integrity, his calls for more and faithful preaching, his zeal for good education for students at various levels, his attention to rules moderated by tradition and compassion, his curiosity about religious others, and his desire to connect contemporary cultural developments to the wisdom of tradition. Prayer and worship grounded his life, even as the world changed around him.
I am very grateful to the many people who have facilitated and encouraged my encounter with Dr. Swalwell through his books. Librarians and scholars in Durham offered early and enduring support. Matthew Watson at Ushaw College generously made the Priory volumes held there available to me when I was still in an exploratory phase. Richard Gameson met with me during my first visit to Durham in 2010. Since then, he has provided wise counsel and palaeographic help, asked insightful questions, and served as a source of great encouragement. Alan Piper was a generous advocate for this project. His seminal article on Swalwell, along with his personal notes on the handwriting of multiple monastic annotators, are foundational to my work. Ian Doyle also provided much appreciated encouragement, checking in on what I was learning as my studies progressed.
Sheila Hingley and Joan Williams, librarians at Palace Green and Durham Cathedral, enthusiastically facilitated my access to their libraries’ collections. Sheila has continued to share her ongoing work on aspects of the Priory books. Judy Burg, Head of Collections at Durham University, continued to extend this gracious bibliographic hospitality; I am especially in her debt for facilitating imaging for this volume. It is our hope that this study will bring other volumes annotated by Swalwell to light. Many other staff members of the Durham libraries have made distinctive contributions this project, including Michael Stansfield, Jon Purcell, Richard Higgins, Jonathan Bush, Danielle Westerhof, Francis Gotto, Andrew Gray, Sarah-Jane Raymond, Caroline Roberts, Matthew McMurray, Thomas Henderson, Gary Butler, Elena Leith, and Alison Cullingford. I thank each one of you.
Some of Swalwell’s books have travelled far from Durham; incorporating these volumes has enriched my study. Special thanks go to Fr. James Farge and Greti Dinkova-Bruun at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto; Russell Johnson and Teresa Johnson at the Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library of UCLA; Fr. Anselm at Ampleforth Abbey; Lynne Farrington and John Pollack at the University of Pennsylvania; and staff members of the York Minster Library, the National Library of Wales, the British Library, and Cambridge University Libraries.
Heartfelt thanks go to Lancaster Theological Seminary for its generous sabbatical policy, enabling me to undertake such a large project over many years. Wonderful colleagues have patiently supported my interest in Dr. Swalwell, in many ways a late medieval forerunner of our own work. I am grateful to the Durham University Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies for granting me a library fellowship in 2015 and, along with University College, a Slater Fellowship in 2018. Special thanks go to Stephen Taylor, Corinne Saunders, and Elizabeth Alpass.
I also owe many debts of gratitude to the wider scholarly community from whom I have received valued insights, guidance, and friendship. I was introduced to Margaret Harvey in 2010; she became not only a supporter of my work on Thomas Swalwell, but also a dear friend. Her work on the Rites of Durham has been extremely helpful. Conversations with Holly Johnson while she was working on the sermons of the early 15th-century Durham preacher, Robert Rypon, enhanced my understanding of the Priory and its culture. Many others encouraged my work, offering me astute feedback, books and articles of interest, and opportunities to present work in progress. Among these, I especially thank Alec Ryrie, Ron Rittgers, Beverly Kienzle, Joan Greatrex, Mary Swan, Veronica O’Mara, Patricia Stoop, Pietro Delcorno, Ralf Lützelschwab, Bert Roest, Laura Gaffuri, Deeana Klepper, and Rik van Nieuwenhove.
The Durham Cathedral has provided a spiritual home for me during many research trips. I have treasured the opportunity to worship in the same sacred space Swalwell shared centuries ago. I am so appreciative of the hospitality shown by members of the Cathedral chapter and staff. Thanks also go to the members of the Cathedral choir and choir school for their wonderful music.
As this project was coming to completion, generous colleagues read the full manuscript and provided me with detailed feedback. While I acknowledge all deficiencies as my own, Douglas Jacobsen, Frank Gray, Richard Gameson, and two anonymous peer reviewers each made significant contributions to this volume. Thank you. I further extend my thanks to Judith Chien, Myka Kennedy Stephens, Shaelagh Martin, Jade Layman, and the team at Brill for their excellent technical help in preparing this complex document.
My deepest thanks go to John Thayer who has taken a keen interest in this project since its inception. His secondment to Thermacore UK in nearby Ashington first brought me to Durham. He has spent significant time with me on research trips, listened to multiple lectures, asked excellent questions, and graciously supported my solo travels and hours at the computer. I’m so grateful!
Anne T. Thayer