82 
An Archdeacon of Bath in the 12th Century. 
By FREDERICK SHUM, F.S.A. 
(Read January 18th, 1907.) 
With very few exceptions the Papers submitted to these 
Societies have related to events and individuals of recent 
times and within the memory of the older members. 
The ex-President of the Field Club recently read an inter- 
esting Paper concerning a Bishop of this Diocese in the 15th 
Century. Since then the eminent historian, the Kt. Rev. Dr. 
Gasquet, read a Paper to the Literary Association on ‘‘ Abbot 
Feckenham and Bath.” Of the Bath Bishop a biography 
has been published, and of the Bath Abbot notices have 
appeared in historical records, but of the Bath Archdeacon 
no life has ever appeared, either written by himself or by 
others, and the only information relating to him is to be 
found in his own works, written in the 12th Century, and 
never translated from the medieval Latin MS., or from the 
early printed editions. 
Following their example, I venture to lay before you the 
results of some researches, touching the history of an ecclesias- 
tical dignitary three centuries earlier, who was connected 
with this City. 
Fifteen years ago I read a few Notes on the earliest authors 
of Bath, and their works. Since then, I have been still on 
the search for rare books, and have had the good fortune to 
obtain two or three of singular interest, written nearly 800 
years ago by a divine of wide and varied learning, who 
occupied a prominent position in Bath, London, and Canter- 
bury—a visitant at foreign Courts, an associate of Kings, a 
friend of the Pope, and withal, a man of deep and genuine 
piety. For many years he was Archdeacon of Bath. 
Petrus Plesensis, more commonly known as Peter of Blois, 
was born in that city, about 1135 A.D.: his death occurred 
about 1204. His exact age is unknown. He was one of the 
large number of men who emigrated after the Conquest, and 
obtained desirable appointments in the English Church. His 
parents were of noble lineage, not wealthy, but they gave 
him an education befitting their high position. 
He was sent to the University of Paris, then celebrated 
throughout Europe, and the resort of many students from 
