BEVERLEY, John of (Joannes Beverlacius), archbishop of York in the eighth century, was descended of a noble family at Harpham in Northumberland, and was one of the most learned men of his time. He was abbot of the monastery of St Hilda, when his merit recommended him to the favour of Alfred king of Northumberland, who in 685 advanced him to the see of Hagustald or Hexham, and in 687 translated him to the archbishopric of York. This prelate was tutor to the famous Bede, and lived in the strictest friendship with Acca and other Anglo-Saxon doctors, several of whom he engaged to write comments on the Holy Scriptures. In 704 he founded a college at Beverley for secular priests; and after he had governed the see of York thirty-four years he divested himself of his episcopal character, and retired to Beverley, where he died four years after, on the 7th of May 721. Bede and other monkish writers ascribe several miracles to him. He wrote, 1. Pro Luce exponenda; 2. Homiliae in Evangelica; 3. Epistola ad Hildam Abbatis; 4. Epistola ad Herebaldum, Andenum, et Bertinum.