Odo of Ostia's history of the translation of St. Milburga and its connection with the early history of Wenlock Abbey

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is two-fold: to provide an adequate edition both of the Life of St. Milburga by Goscelin of Canterbury, and of the account of the Invention of her relics by Odo Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, and also to demonstrate the connection between this discovery of her relics in the twelfth century and the earlier history of St. Milburga's monastery at Much Wenlock. The first part of this study deals with the Vita Sancte Mylburge, the various manuscript versions, the problem of disputed authorship, the historical value of the work. The second part is concerned with the Miracula Inventionis Beate Mylburge Virginis and its attribution to Odo of Ostia. The texts of both works are included and the latter has been translated into English.