Hugh of Evesham

Who was Hugh of Evesham?

Hugh of Evesham was a 13th-century English churchman, physician and alchemist. Given his name, it is likely that he came from Evesham, Worcestershire. Hugh studied at Oxford University in the 1260s and in 1275, now Archdeacon of Worcester, went to study in Continental Europe. At some point in his student career he became friends with John Peckham, future Archbishop of Canterbury.

By the early 1270s he was working as a royal clerk, giving his services to King Edward I of England. By the end of the decade he had gained a wide reputation as a great physician. Hugh gained many benefices in the diocese of York and in 1279 almost became Archbishop of York, losing out to his friend William de Wickwane. Hugh and Archbishop Wickwane preserved their friendship, and after Hugh went to Rome, in 1282 he was asked to assist the Archbishop in disputes with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Durham.

While at Rome, he probably became a personal physician to Pope Martin IV and was entrusted with finding a cure to an epidemic that was then current in the city of Rome. He seems to have become friends with another English physician at Rome, Cardinal John of Toledo. Hugh became a successful Papal courtier and received a numerous rewards. Among other things, on 12 April 1281 he was made a Cardinal - Priest with the title of San Lorenzo in Lucina - and his chaplain, Alan de St Edmund, was made Bishop of Caithness after the bishop-elect, Hervey de Dundee, died at Rome while seeking Papal confirmation.