Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cenwulf
CENWULF or KENULF (d. 1006), bishop of Winchester, on the appointment of Aldulf [q. v.] to the see of York, was chosen, in 992, to succeed him as abbot of St. Peter's, at Medehamstede (Peterborough). He surrounded his abbey with a wall, changed its name to Burch (Borough), and added to its wealth. On the promotion of Ælfheah [q. v.] to the archbishopric of Canterbury, Cenwulf is said to have procured his election to the see of Winchester in 1005 by simoniacal means. Ælfheah when at Rome, whither he had gone to receive the pall, is said to have announced the day of his successor's death, which took place in 1006. By Hugh ‘Candidus,’ the historian of Peterborough, Cenwulf is described as remarkably learned and eloquent, and is said to have carefully corrected the books belonging to the monastery. Probably on the strength of this statement Pits reckoned him an author. The works of Kynewulf [q. v.] have at times been assigned to him in error. Abbot Ælfric, the ‘grammarian’ [q. v.], dedicated his ‘Life of St. Æthelwold’ to Bishop Cenwulf. This dedication fixes the date of the work as 1005–6, the period of Cenwulf's episcopate.
[Anglo-Saxon Chron. i. 221, 240, 255, 257 (Rolls Ser.); Florence of Worcester, i. 149, 158 (Eng. Hist. Soc.); William of Malmesbury, Gesta Pontiff. 170, 317 (Rolls Ser.); Osbern de Vita S. Elphegi, Anglia Sacra, ii. 130; Hugo Candidus, Cœnobii Burgensis Historia, 31, ed. Sparke; Vita S. Æthelwoldi ap. Chron. de Abingdon. ii. 255 (Rolls Ser.); Dugdale's Monasticon, i. 347; Tanner's Bibl. Brit. 175.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.60
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 424 | i | 35 | Cenwulf: for No works . . . . to him read The works of Kynewulf [q. v,] have at times been assigned to him in error |