Gautier de Coinci (1177-1236). Born of noble stock, Gautier became a Benedictine novice at Saint-Médard de Soissons in 1193 and prior at Vic-sur-Aisne in 1214, returning to Saint-Médard to be grand prior (1233) until his death. His single work, preserved in nearly 80 manuscripts, is the massive Miracles de Nostre Dame, written at Vic (1214-27) and occupying some 30, 000 lines in two books. Besides prologues, epilogue, and two sermons on chastity and fear of death, it contains 22 lyrics celebrating the Virgin (contrafacta of Latin para-liturgical songs or of vernacular courtly lyrics) and 76 Marian legends which freely adapt Latin sources.
[Peter Davies]
