Godric

GODRIC (1065? - 1170)

Born in Norfolk, Godric was a much-travelled trader (called a pirate by his contemporary chronicler). In 1102, he assisted King Baldwin to escape after the battle of Ramleh and also made many pilgrimages around Europe.

In middle age, he settled down for a time as a recluse near Bishop Auckland, but from 1110 to the end of his long life he lived in a hut at Finchale near Durham. He was visited there by, among others, Aelred of Rievaulx and Lawrence of Durham (qq.v.). He was a powerfully-built man, with long hair and blue eyes, and, according to Reginald of Durham, was painfully aware that his early life had been disreputable and sought to make amends as a hermit. His self-mortification was grim and his reputation as a seer grew: he even had power over snakes, which he treated as pets. In extreme old age, he was cared for by the monks of Durham. Bearing in mind that the last dateable poem in Old English (1104-09) is about Durham city and begins:

This city is renowned throughout all Britain,
Set on steep hills and marvellously built
With rocks all round...

it is very remarkable that the earliest examples known of native popular verse in Middle English have been preserved by Godric's biographers. This makes him the earliest known lyric poet in English. The first of these four pieces, 'Cantus Beati Godrici' is an eight-line poem asking the Virgin to assist him to attain heavenly bliss. Godric's dead sister is supposed to have given him a four-line hymn, while the third poem 'Cantus Sancto Nicholao' was inspired by an Easter vision of the patron saint of seafarers. Moreover, the extant melodies of these hymns are ascribed to Godric as well, which would make him the author of the earliest known musical settings of English words. In the 'Fairest Isle' celebrations on Radio 3 in 1995, Godric was listed as the very first English composer.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
GODRIC (1065? - 1170) Born in Norfolk, Godric was a much-travelled trader (called a pirate by his contemporary chronicler). In 1102, he assisted King Baldwin to escape after the battle of Ramleh and also made many pilgrimages around Europe. In middle age, he settled down for a time as a recluse near Bishop Auckland, but from 1110 to the end of his long life he lived in a hut at Finchale near Durham. He was visited there by, among others, Aelred of Rievaulx and Lawrence of Durham (qq.v.). He was a powerfully-built man, with long hair and blue eyes, and, according to Reginald of Durham, was painfully aware that his early life had been disreputable and sought to make amends as a hermit. His self-mortification was grim and his reputation as a seer grew: he even had power over snakes, which he treated as pets. In extreme old age, he was cared for by the monks of Durham. Bearing in mind that the last dateable poem in Old English (1104-09) is about Durham city and begins: This city is renowned throughout all Britain, Set on steep hills and marvellously built With rocks all round... it is very remarkable that the earliest examples known of native popular verse in Middle English have been preserved by Godric's biographers. This makes him the earliest known lyric poet in English. The first of these four pieces, 'Cantus Beati Godrici' is an eight-line poem asking the Virgin to assist him to attain heavenly bliss. Godric's dead sister is supposed to have given him a four-line hymn, while the third poem 'Cantus Sancto Nicholao' was inspired by an Easter vision of the patron saint of seafarers. Moreover, the extant melodies of these hymns are ascribed to Godric as well, which would make him the author of the earliest known musical settings of English words. In the 'Fairest Isle' celebrations on Radio 3 in 1995, Godric was listed as the very first English composer.
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