Texts

Vita sancti Machutis

Bili

Latin
prose

Author

Bili

Bili

(fl. 9th century)

Deacon of Aleth and author of the first extant Life of St Malo (Machutus), bishop of Aleth.

Manuscripts

London, British Library, MS Royal 13 A x 2, ff. 63-103 [s. x²/xi]

ff. 63–103

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 535

ff. 62–93r

Rome, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, MS A 80

ff. 255v–258v

In part.

Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Vat. lat. 1192

ff. 72v–75

In part.

Hereford, Cathedral Library, MS P vii 6

ff. 58v–66

In part.

Language

Latin

Form

prose (primary)

Textual relationships

Related: Old English Life of MachutusOld English Life of Machutus

An Old English prose life of the Breton saint Machutus/Malo, adapted from the Latin original by Bili, a deacon at Alet. The composition of the vernacular version is likely to been connected with the community of Winchester, which had become home to a cult of a saint in the 10h and 11th centuries.

Classification

Subjects

origins of Brittany (narrative world), c. 4th-6th centuuries
origins of Brittany (narrative world), c. 4th-6th centuuries

id. 63849

The time of migration and settlememt in Brittany, c. 4th-6th century, typically associated with the founding rulers (Conan Meriadoc, Gradlon/Grallon, Guiomar/Guigemar, etc.) and early founding saints (e.g. Paul Aurelian, Samson of Dol, Tudwal/Tugdual of Tréguier, Winwaloe of Landevenneg, Brioc, Malo, Corentin of Quimper, Paternus/Padarn, Goueznou).

Malo

Saint Malo (Machutus, Maclovius, Maloù)

(fl. 6th/7th c.)

Founding saint of Saint-Servan (Aleth) in modern-day Saint-Malo, Brittany.

Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] [tr.] Le Duc, Gwenaël, Vie de saint Malo, évêque d'Alet, version écrite par le diacre Bili: textes latin et anglo-saxon avec traductions françaises, Saint-Malo: CERAA, 1979.

[ed.] Lot, Ferdinand, “Mélanges d’histoire bretonne II: Vita sancti Machutis par Bili”, Annales de Bretagne 24 (1908–1909): 235–262.

with introduction

[ed.] Lot, Ferdinand, “Mélanges d’histoire bretonne II: Vita sancti Machutis par Bili (suite)”, Annales de Bretagne 24 (1908): 382–405.

[ed.] Lot, Ferdinand, “Mélanges d’histoire bretonne II: Vita sancti Machutis par Bili (suite)”, Annales de Bretagne 24 (1908): 575–598.

[ed.] Plaine, François, and Arthur de La Borderie, “[Deux vies inédites de S. Malo]: Vie inédite de Saint Malo, évêque d'Aleth / Autre vie de Saint Malo”, Bulletin et mémoires de la Société archéologique du département d'Ille-et-Vilaine 16 (1883, 1884): 137–166 (introd.), 167–256 (vita 1), 257–264 (Translatio), 265–293 (vita 2), 294–312 (observations).

Gallica – First part, by Plaine: <link> Gallica – Second part, by de la Borderie: <link> Gallica – Offprint: <link>

167–256 (books I–II)

Secondary sources (select)

Poulin, Joseph-Claude, “Sources hagiographiques de la Gaule (SHG), II: les dossiers de S. Magloire de Dol et S. Malo d’Alet (province de Bretagne)”, Francia 17:1 (1990): 159–209.

: <link>

esp. 168ff