Adam of Damerham

Adam of Damerham (sometimes Adam of Domerham (died after 1291), was a Benedictine monk of Glastonbury Abbey, who wrote a history of the abbey, and was active in the ecclesiastical politics of his time.

Adam was a native of Damerham, Hampshire, a village belonging to Glastonbury Abbey. He wrote a history of the abbey entitled Historia de Rebus gestis Glastoniensibus, which exists in a manuscript in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, possibly the author's own copy. It has been published by Thomas Hearne in two volumes. The first volume, however, does not contain any part of the work of Adam. Adam's history forms a continuation of the treatise of William of Malmesbury, De Antiquitate Glastoniæ. It begins at 1126, when Henry of Blois, afterwards bishop of Winchester, became abbot, and ends with the death of Abbot John of Taunton in 1291.

A large part of the history is taken up with papal bulls, charters, and other documents. From some expressions used by Adam about the character of Abbot Michael (1235–1252) it may be supposed that he entered the convent in his time. He was, therefore, a member of the fraternity during part of that period of difficulty and discord which followed the annexation of the abbey to the see of Wells by Bishop Savaric, a proceeding which brought on Glastonbury heavy expense and loss of property, and which endangered its independence. He relates the history of these troubles at considerable length, and says in his preface that his object in writing his book was to incite his readers to protect or to increase the prosperity of his church, which once enjoyed privileges above all others, but was then bereft of her liberties and possessions.

On the deposition of Abbot Roger Forde by William Button, bishop of Bath, in 1255, Adam, with four other monks, was appointed by the convent to elect an abbot by ‘compromise,’ or on behalf of the whole fraternity. The choice of the electors fell on Robert of Petherton. Roger was, however, restored to his office by the pope. On his death Robert again became abbot.

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