Reginald of Durham, devoted disciple and biographer of Godric of Finchale, wrote one of the few surviving accounts of the life of a medieval merchant, telling of the Englishman Godric's early life as scavenger, peddler, businessman, and sailor and of his later path as a hermit attracting visitors such as Reginald himself to the Finchale forest near Durham. The following is an extract from the biography of Godric, who was born at Walpole, Norfolk, circa 1065 and died in Finchale, Durham, on 21 May, circa 1170.

When the boy had passed his childish years quietly at home; then, as he began to grow to manhood, he began to follow more prudent ways of life, and to learn carefully and persistendy the teaching of worldly forethought. Wherefore he chose not to follow the life of a husbandman, but rather to...