Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Chabham, Thomas de
CHABHAM or CHOBHAM, THOMAS de (fl. 1230), theologian, is mentioned as sub-dean of Salisbury in 1214 and 1230 (Le Neve, Fasti, ii. 619, ed. Hardy; comp. Leland, Comm. de Script. Brit. cclxxxvi. 299; Tanner, Bibl. Brit. p. 172). He was the author of a ‘Summa de pœnitentia et officiis ecclesiasticis,’ which is still extant in manuscript. Other works enumerated by Bale (Script. Brit. Cat. iv. 98, p. 379) are ‘Speculum ecclesiæ,’ ‘Tractatus de baptismo,’ and ‘De peccatis in genere,’ besides ‘Commentarii’ and ‘Sermones.’ Chabham has been generally identified by biographers with Thomas de Cobham [q. v.], who was bishop of Worcester in the fourteenth century. But it is clear from the manuscripts (Coxe, Catal. of Oxford MSS., University, cxix. 35 b, Oriel, xvii. 6 a, and Queen's, ccclxii. 84 b) that the writer of the treatise ‘De pœnitentia’ was known only as sub-dean of Salisbury, and two of the manuscripts cited date from before the end of the thirteenth century. In these the spelling of the author's name varies between ‘Chabeham,’ ‘Chobham,’ and ‘Chebeham;’ that of the sub-dean is given by Tanner as ‘Chabaam,’ and by Le Neve as ‘Chabaum.’ The bishop's name, on the other hand, seems to have been invariably spelled with a simple C; he is described by contemporary writers as canon of St. Paul's or of York, both which preferments he held, but not as sub-dean of Salisbury. The repetition of the name therefore among the officers of Salisbury Cathedral, found in Le Neve (l. c.) under the later date, plainly in order to suit Bishop Cobham, must be an error.
[Authorities cited above.]