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diff --git a/38326.txt b/38326.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a1df31 --- /dev/null +++ b/38326.txt @@ -0,0 +1,22005 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by +Bede + + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England + +Author: Bede + +Release Date: December 17, 2011 [Ebook #38326] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND*** + + + + + + Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England + + A Revised Translation + + With Introduction, Life, and Notes + + By + + A. M. Sellar + + Late Vice-Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford + + London + + George Bell and Sons + + 1907 + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Editor's Preface +Introduction +Life Of Bede +Errata +Preface +Book I + Chap. I. Of the Situation of Britain and Ireland, and of their ancient + inhabitants. + Chap. II. How Caius Julius Caesar was the first Roman that came into + Britain. + Chap. III. How Claudius, the second of the Romans who came into + Britain, brought the islands Orcades into subjection to the Roman + empire; and Vespasian, sent by him, reduced the Isle of Wight under the + dominion of the Romans. + Chap. IV. How Lucius, king of Britain, writing to Pope Eleutherus, + desired to be made a Christian. + Chap. V. How the Emperor Severus divided from the rest by a rampart + that part of Britain which had been recovered. + Chap. VI. Of the reign of Diocletian, and how he persecuted the + Christians. + Chap. VII. The Passion of St. Alban and his companions, who at that + time shed their blood for our Lord. + Chap. VIII. How, when the persecution ceased, the Church in Britain + enjoyed peace till the time of the Arian heresy. + Chap. IX. How during the reign of Gratian, Maximus, being created + Emperor in Britain, returned into Gaul with a mighty army. + Chap. X. How, in the reign of Arcadius, Pelagius, a Briton, insolently + impugned the Grace of God. + Chap. XI. How during the reign of Honorius, Gratian and Constantine + were created tyrants in Britain; and soon after the former was slain in + Britain, and the latter in Gaul. + Chap. XII. How the Britons, being ravaged by the Scots and Picts, + sought succour from the Romans, who coming a second time, built a wall + across the island; but when this was broken down at once by the + aforesaid enemies, they were reduced to greater distress than before. + Chap. XIII. How in the reign of Theodosius the younger, in whose time + Palladius was sent to the Scots that believed in Christ, the Britons + begging assistance of AEtius, the consul, could not obtain it. [446 + A.D.] + Chap. XIV. How the Britons, compelled by the great famine, drove the + barbarians out of their territories; and soon after there ensued, along + with abundance of corn, decay of morals, pestilence, and the downfall + of the nation. + Chap. XV. How the Angles, being invited into Britain, at first drove + off the enemy; but not long after, making a league with them, turned + their weapons against their allies. + Chap. XVI. How the Britons obtained their first victory over the + Angles, under the command of Ambrosius, a Roman. + Chap. XVII. How Germanus the Bishop, sailing into Britain with Lupus, + first quelled the tempest of the sea, and afterwards that of the + Pelagians, by Divine power. [429 A.D.] + Chap. XVIII. How the some holy man gave sight to the blind daughter of + a tribune, and then coming to St. Alban, there received of his relics, + and left other relics of the blessed Apostles and other martyrs. [429 + A.D.] + Chap. XIX. How the same holy man, being detained there by sickness, by + his prayers quenched a fire that had broken out among the houses, and + was himself cured of his infirmity by a vision. [429 A.D.] + Chap. XX. How the same Bishops brought help from Heaven to the Britons + in a battle, and then returned home. [430 A.D.] + Chap. XXI. How, when the Pelagian heresy began to spring up afresh, + Germanus, returning to Britain with Severus, first restored bodily + strength to a lame youth, then spiritual health to the people of God, + having condemned or converted the Heretics. [447 A.D.] + Chap. XXII. How the Britons, being for a time at rest from foreign + invasions, wore themselves out by civil wars, and at the same time gave + themselves up to more heinous crimes. + Chap. XXIII. How the holy Pope Gregory sent Augustine, with other + monks, to preach to the English nation, and encouraged them by a letter + of exhortation, not to desist from their labour. [596 A.D.] + Chap. XXIV. How he wrote to the bishop of Arles to entertain them. [596 + A.D.] + Chap. XXV. How Augustine, coming into Britain, first preached in the + Isle of Thanet to the King of Kent, and having obtained licence from + him, went into Kent, in order to preach therein. [597 A.D.] + Chap. XXVI. How St. Augustine in Kent followed the doctrine and manner + of life of the primitive Church, and settled his episcopal see in the + royal city. [597 A.D.] + Chap. XXVII. How St. Augustine, being made a bishop, sent to acquaint + Pope Gregory with what had been done in Britain, and asked and received + replies, of which he stood in need. [597-601 A.D.] + Chap. XXVIII. How Pope Gregory wrote to the bishop of Arles to help + Augustine in the work of God. [601 A.D.] + Chap. XXIX. How the same Pope sent to Augustine the Pall and a letter, + along with several ministers of the Word. [601 A.D.] + Chap. XXX. A copy of the letter which Pope Gregory sent to the Abbot + Mellitus, then going into Britain. [601 A.D.] + Chap. XXXI. How Pope Gregory, by letter, exhorted Augustine not to + glory in his miracles. [601 A.D.] + Chap. XXXII. How Pope Gregory sent letters and gifts to King Ethelbert. + [601 A.D.] + Chap. XXXIII. How Augustine repaired the church of our Saviour, and + built the monastery of the blessed Peter the Apostle; and concerning + Peter the first abbot of the same. + Chap. XXXIV. How Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, having + vanquished the nations of the Scots, expelled them from the territories + of the English. [603 A.D.] +Book II + Chap. I. Of the death of the blessed Pope Gregory. [604 A.D.] + Chap. II. How Augustine admonished the bishops of the Britons on behalf + of Catholic peace, and to that end wrought a heavenly miracle in their + presence; and of the vengeance that pursued them for their contempt. + [_Circ._ 603 A.D.] + Chap. III. How St. Augustine made Mellitus and Justus bishops; and of + his death. [604 A.D.] + Chap. IV. How Laurentius and his bishops admonished the Scots to + observe the unity of the Holy Church, particularly in keeping of + Easter; and how Mellitus went to Rome. + Chap. V. How, after the death of the kings Ethelbert and Sabert, their + successors restored idolatry; for which reason, both Mellitus and + Justus departed out of Britain. [616 A.D.] + Chap. VI. How Laurentius, being reproved by the Apostle Peter, + converted King Eadbald to Christ; and how the king soon recalled + Mellitus and Justus to preach the Word. [617-618 A.D.] + Chap. VII. How Bishop Mellitus by prayer quenched a fire in his city. + [619 A.D.] + Chap. VIII. How Pope Boniface sent the Pall and a letter to Justus, + successor to Mellitus. [624 A.D.] + Chap. IX. Of the reign of King Edwin, and how Paulinus, coming to + preach the Gospel, first converted his daughter and others to the + mysteries of the faith of Christ. [625-626 A.D.] + Chap. X. How Pope Boniface, by letter, exhorted the same king to + embrace the faith. [_Circ._ 625 A.D.] + Chap. XI. How Pope Boniface advised the king's consort to use her best + endeavours for his salvation. [_Circ._ 625 A.D.] + Chap. XII. How Edwin was persuaded to believe by a vision which he had + once seen when he was in exile. [_Circ._ 616 A.D.] + Chap. XIII. Of the Council he held with his chief men concerning their + reception of the faith of Christ, and how the high priest profaned his + own altars. [627 A.D.] + Chap. XIV. How King Edwin and his nation became Christians; and where + Paulinus baptized them. [627 A.D.] + Chap. XV. How the province of the East Angles received the faith of + Christ. [627-628 A.D.] + Chap. XVI. How Paulinus preached in the province of Lindsey; and of the + character of the reign of Edwin. [_Circ._ 628 A.D.] + Chap. XVII. How Edwin received letters of exhortation from Pope + Honorius, who also sent the pall to Paulinus. [634 A.D.] + Chap. XVIII. How Honorius, who succeeded Justus in the bishopric of + Canterbury, received the pall and letters from Pope Honorius. [634 + A.D.] + Chap. XIX. How the aforesaid Honorius first, and afterwards John, wrote + letters to the nation of the Scots, concerning the observance of + Easter, and the Pelagian heresy. [640 A.D.] + Chap. XX. How Edwin being slain, Paulinus returned into Kent, and had + the bishopric of Rochester conferred upon him. [633 A.D.] +Book III + Chap. I. How King Edwin's next successors lost both the faith of their + nation and the kingdom; but the most Christian King Oswald retrieved + both. [633 A.D.] + Chap. II. How, among innumerable other miracles of healing wrought by + the wood of the cross, which King Oswald, being ready to engage against + the barbarians, erected, a certain man had his injured arm healed. [634 + A.D.] + Chap. III. How the same king Oswald, asking a bishop of the Scottish + nation, had Aidan sent him, and granted him an episcopal see in the + Isle of Lindisfarne. [635 A.D.] + Chap. IV. When the nation of the Picts received the faith of Christ. + [565 A.D.] + Chap. V. Of the life of Bishop Aidan. [635 A.D.] + Chap. VI. Of King Oswald's wonderful piety and religion. [635-642 A.D.] + Chap. VII. How the West Saxons received the Word of God by the + preaching of Birinus; and of his successors, Agilbert and Leutherius. + [635-670 A.D.] + Chap. VIII. How Earconbert, King of Kent, ordered the idols to be + destroyed; and of his daughter Earcongota, and his kinswoman Ethelberg, + virgins consecrated to God. [640 A.D.] + Chap. IX. How miracles of healing have been frequently wrought in the + place where King Oswald was killed; and how, first, a traveller's horse + was restored and afterwards a young girl cured of the palsy. [642 A.D.] + Chap. X. How the dust of that place prevailed against fire. [After 642 + A.D.] + Chap. XI. How a light from Heaven stood all night over his relics, and + how those possessed with devils were healed by them. [679-697 A.D.] + Chap. XII. How a little boy was cured of a fever at his tomb. + Chap. XIII. How a certain person in Ireland was restored, when at the + point of death, by his relics. + Chap. XIV. How on the death of Paulinus, Ithamar was made bishop of + Rochester in his stead; and of the wonderful humility of King Oswin, + who was cruelly slain by Oswy. [644-651 A.D.] + Chap. XV. How Bishop Aidan foretold to certain seamen that a storm + would arise, and gave them some holy oil to calm it. [Between 642 and + 645 A.D.] + Chap. XVI. How the same Aidan, by his prayers, saved the royal city + when it was fired by the enemy [Before 651 A.D.] + Chap. XVII. How a prop of the church on which Bishop Aidan was leaning + when he died, could not be consumed when the rest of the Church was on + fire; and concerning his inward life. [651 A.D.] + Chap. XVIII. Of the life and death of the religious King Sigbert. + [_Circ._ 631 A.D.] + Chap. XIX. How Fursa built a monastery among the East Angles, and of + his visions and sanctity, to which, his flesh remaining uncorrupted + after death bore testimony. [_Circ._ 633 A.D.] + Chap. XX. How, when Honorius died, Deusdedit became Archbishop of + Canterbury; and of those who were at that time bishops of the East + Angles, and of the church of Rochester. [653 A.D.] + Chap. XXI. How the province of the Midland Angles became Christian + under King Peada. [653 A.D.] + Chap. XXII. How under King Sigbert, through the preaching of Cedd, the + East Saxons again received the faith, which they had before cast off. + [653 A.D.] + Chap. XXIII. How Bishop Cedd, having a place for building a monastery + given him by King Ethelwald, consecrated it to the Lord with prayer and + fasting; and concerning his death. [659-664 A.D.] + Chap. XXIV. How when King Penda was slain, the province of the Mercians + received the faith of Christ, and Oswy gave possessions and territories + to God, for building monasteries, as a thank offering for the victory + obtained. [655 A.D.] + Chap. XXV. How the question arose about the due time of keeping Easter, + with those that came out of Scotland. [664 A.D.] + Chap. XXVI. How Colman, being worsted, returned home; and Tuda + succeeded him in the bishopric; and of the state of the church under + those teachers. [664 A.D.] + Chap. XXVII. How Egbert, a holy man of the English nation, led a + monastic life in Ireland. [664 A.D.] + Chap. XXVIII. How, when Tuda was dead, Wilfrid was ordained, in Gaul, + and Ceadda, among the West Saxons, to be bishops for the province of + the Northumbrians. [664 A.D.] + Chap. XXIX. How the priest Wighard was sent from Britain to Rome, to be + ordained archbishop; of his death there, and of the letters of the + Apostolic Pope giving an account thereof. [667 A.D.] + Chap. XXX. How the East Saxons, during a pestilence, returned to + idolatry, but were soon brought back from their error by the zeal of + Bishop Jaruman. [665 A.D.] +Book IV + Chap. I. How when Deusdedit died, Wighard was sent to Rome to receive + the episcopate; but he dying there, Theodore was ordained archbishop, + and sent into Britain with the Abbot Hadrian. [664-669 A.D.] + Chap. II. How Theodore visited all places; how the Churches of the + English began to be instructed in the study of Holy Scripture, and in + the Catholic truth; and how Putta was made bishop of the Church of + Rochester in the room of Damianus. [669 A.D.] + Chap. III. How the above-mentioned Ceadda was made Bishop of the + province of Mercians. Of his life, death, and burial. [669 A.D.] + Chap. IV. How Bishop Colman, having left Britain, built two monasteries + in the country of the Scots; the one for the Scots, the other for the + English whom he had taken along with him. [667 A.D.] + Chap. V. Of the death of the kings Oswy and Egbert, and of the synod + held at the place Herutford, in which Archbishop Theodore presided. + [670-673 A.D.] + Chap. VI. How Wynfrid being deposed, Sexwulf received his bishopric, + and Earconwald was made bishop of the East Saxons. [675 A.D.] + Chap. VII. How it was indicated by a light from heaven where the bodies + of the nuns should be buried in the monastery of Berecingum. [675 + A.D.?] + Chap. VIII. How a little boy, dying in the same monastery, called upon + a virgin that was to follow him; and how another nun, at the point of + leaving her body, saw some small part of the future glory. [675 A.D.?] + Chap. IX. Of the signs which were shown from Heaven when the mother of + that community departed this life. [675 A.D.?] + Chap. X. How a blind woman, praying in the burial-place of that + monastery, was restored to her sight. [675 A.D.?] + Chap. XI. How Sebbi, king of the same province, ended his life in a + monastery. [694 A.D.] + Chap. XII. How Haedde succeeded Leutherius in the bishopric of the West + Saxons; how Cuichelm succeeded Putta in the bishopric of the church of + Rochester, and was himself succeeded by Gebmund; and who were then + bishops of the Northumbrians. [673-681 A.D.] + Chap. XIII. How Bishop Wilfrid converted the province of the South + Saxons to Christ. [681 A.D.] + Chap. XIV. How a pestilence ceased through the intercession of King + Oswald. [681-686 A.D.] + Chap. XV. How King Caedwalla, king of the Gewissae, having slain + Ethelwalch, wasted that Province with cruel slaughter and devastation. + [685 A.D.] + Chap. XVI. How the Isle of Wight received Christian inhabitants, and + two royal youths of that island were killed immediately after Baptism. + [686 A.D.] + Chap. XVII. Of the Synod held in the plain of Haethfelth, Archbishop + Theodore being president. [680 A.D.] + Chap. XVIII. Of John, the precentor of the Apostolic see, who came into + Britain to teach. [680 A.D.] + Chap. XIX. How Queen Ethelthryth always preserved her virginity, and + her body suffered no corruption in the grave. [660-696 A.D.] + Chap. XX. A Hymn concerning her. + Chap. XXI. How Bishop Theodore made peace between the kings Egfrid and + Ethelred. [679 A.D.] + Chap. XXII. How a certain captive's chains fell off when Masses were + sung for him. [679 A.D.] + Chap. XXIII. Of the life and death of the Abbess Hilda. [614-680 A.D.] + Chap. XXIV. That there was in her monastery a brother, on whom the gift + of song was bestowed by Heaven. [680 A.D.] + Chap. XXV. Of the vision that appeared to a certain man of God before + the monastery of the city Coludi was burned down. + Chap. XXVI. Of the death of the Kings Egfrid and Hlothere. [684-685 + A.D.] + Chap. XXVII. How Cuthbert, a man of God, was made bishop; and how he + lived and taught whilst still in the monastic life. [685 A.D.] + Chap. XXVIII. How the same St. Cuthbert, living the life of an + Anchorite, by his prayers obtained a spring in a dry soil, and had a + crop from seed sown by the labour of his hands out of season. [676 + A.D.] + Chap. XXIX. How this bishop foretold that his own death was at hand to + the anchorite Herebert. [687 A.D.] + Chap. XXX. How his body was found altogether uncorrupted after it had + been buried eleven years; and how his successor in the bishopric + departed this world not long after. [698 A.D.] + Chap. XXXI. Of one that was cured of a palsy at his tomb. + Chap. XXXII. Of one who was lately cured of a disease in his eye at the + relics of St. Cuthbert. +Book V + Chap. I. How Ethelwald, successor to Cuthbert, leading a hermit's life, + calmed a tempest by his prayers when the brethren were in danger at + sea. [687-699 A.D.] + Chap. II. How Bishop John cured a dumb man by his blessing. [687 A.D.] + Chap. III. How he healed a sick maiden by his prayers. [705 A.D.] + Chap. IV. How he healed a thegn's wife that was sick, with holy water. + Chap. V. How he likewise recalled by his prayers a thegn's servant from + death. + Chap. VI. How, both by his prayers and blessing, he recalled from death + one of his clerks, who had bruised himself by a fall. + Chap. VII. How Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome to be + baptized; and his successor Ini, also devoutly journeyed to the same + threshold of the holy Apostles. [688 A.D.] + Chap. VIII. How, when Archbishop Theodore died, Bertwald succeeded him + as archbishop, and, among many others whom he ordained, he made the + learned Tobias bishop of the church of Rochester. [690 A.D.] + Chap. IX. How the holy man, Egbert, would have gone into Germany to + preach, but could not; and how Wictbert went, but because he availed + nothing, returned into Ireland, whence he came. [Circ. 688 A.D.] + Chap. X. How Wilbrord, preaching in Frisland, converted many to Christ; + and how his two companions, the Hewalds, suffered martyrdom. [690 A.D.] + Chap. XI. How the venerable Suidbert in Britain, and Wilbrord at Rome, + were ordained bishops for Frisland. [692 A.D.] + Chap. XII. How one in the province of the Northumbrians, rose from the + dead, and related many things which he had seen, some to be greatly + dreaded and some to be desired. [Circ. 696 A.D.] + Chap. XIII. How another contrarywise before his death saw a book + containing his sins, which was shown him by devils. [704-709 A.D.] + Chap. XIV. How another in like manner, being at the point of death, saw + the place of punishment appointed for him in Hell. + Chap. XV. How divers churches of the Scots, at the instance of Adamnan, + adopted the Catholic Easter; and how the same wrote a book about the + holy places. [703 A.D.] + Chap. XVI. The account given in the aforesaid book of the place of our + Lord's Nativity, Passion, and Resurrection. + Chap. XVII. What he likewise wrote of the place of our Lord's + Ascension, and the tombs of the patriarchs. + Chap. XVIII. How the South Saxons received Eadbert and Eolla, and the + West Saxons, Daniel and Aldhelm, for their bishops; and of the writings + of the same Aldhelm. [705 A.D.] + Chap. XIX. How Coinred, king of the Mercians, and Offa, king of the + East Saxons, ended their days at Rome, in the monastic habit; and of + the life and death of Bishop Wilfrid. [709 A.D.] + Chap. XX. How Albinus succeeded to the godly Abbot Hadrian, and Acca to + Bishop Wilfrid. [709 A.D.] + Chap. XXI. How the Abbot Ceolfrid sent master-builders to the King of + the Picts to build a church, and with them an epistle concerning the + Catholic Easter and the Tonsure. [710 A.D.] + Chap. XXII. How the monks of Hii, and the monasteries subject to them, + began to celebrate the canonical Easter at the preaching of Egbert. + [716 A.D.] + Chap. XXIII. Of the present state of the English nation, or of all + Britain. [725-731 A.D.] + Chap. XXIV. Chronological recapitulation of the whole work: also + concerning the author himself. +Continuation +Index +Footnotes + + + + + + +EDITOR'S PREFACE + + +The English version of the "Ecclesiastical History" in the following pages +is a revision of the translation of Dr. Giles, which is itself a revision +of the earlier rendering of Stevens. In the present edition very +considerable alterations have been made, but the work of Dr. Giles remains +the basis of the translation. The Latin text used throughout is Mr. +Plummer's. Since the edition of Dr. Giles appeared in 1842, so much fresh +work on the subject has been done, and recent research has brought so many +new facts to light, that it has been found necessary to rewrite the notes +almost entirely, and to add a new introduction. After the appearance of +Mr. Plummer's edition of the Historical Works of Bede, it might seem +superfluous, for the present at least, to write any notes at all on the +"Ecclesiastical History." The present volume, however, is intended to +fulfil a different and much humbler function. There has been no attempt at +any original work, and no new theories are advanced. The object of the +book is merely to present in a short and convenient form the substance of +the views held by trustworthy authorities, and it is hoped that it may be +found useful by those students who have either no time or no inclination +to deal with more important works. + +Among the books of which most use has been made, are Mr. Plummer's edition +of the "Ecclesiastical History," Messrs. Mayor and Lumby's edition of +Books III and IV, Dr. Bright's "Early English Church History," and Dr. +Hunt's "History of the English Church from its foundation to the Norman +Conquest." Many of the articles in the "Dictionary of Christian Biography" +and the "Dictionary of Christian Antiquities," Dr. Mason's "Mission of St. +Augustine," Dr. Rhys's "Celtic Britain," and a number of other books, +mentioned in the notes, have been consulted. + +For help received in different ways I wish to express my gratitude to +various correspondents and friends. I am particularly indebted to Mr. +Edward Bell, who has kindly revised my proofs and made many valuable +suggestions. For information on certain points I have to thank the Rev. +Charles Plummer, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Professor +Lindsay of St. Andrews University, Miss Wordsworth, Principal, and Miss +Lodge, Vice-Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford; and in a very special +sense I wish to acknowledge my obligations to Miss Paterson, Assistant +Librarian at the University Library, St. Andrews, whose unfailing kindness +in verifying references, and supplying me with books, has greatly +lightened my labours. + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +There are, it has been estimated, in England and on the Continent, in all +about 140 manuscripts of the "Ecclesiastical History." Of these, four date +from the eighth century: the Moore MS. (Cambridge), so called, because, +after being sold by auction in the reign of William III, it came into the +possession of Bishop Moore, who bequeathed it to the University of +Cambridge; Cotton, Tiberius A, xiv; Cotton, Tiberius C, ii; and the Namur +MS. A detailed account of these, as well as of a great number of other +manuscripts, will be found in Mr. Plummer's Introduction to his edition of +Bede's Historical Works. He has been the first to collate the four oldest +MSS., besides examining numerous others and collating them in certain +passages. He has pointed out that two of the MSS. dating from the eighth +century (the century in which Bede died), the Moore MS. and Cotton, +Tiberius A, xiv, point to a common original which cannot be far removed +from Bede's autograph. We are thus brought very near to our author, and +may have more than in most cases the assurance that we have before us what +he actually meant to say. + +The earliest editions were printed on the Continent; the "editio princeps" +is believed to date from 1475. A number of editions followed in the +sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; the first in England was published by +Abraham Whelock at Cambridge in 1643-4. Smith's edition in 1722 marked a +new era in the history of the book. It was the first critical edition, the +text being based on the Moore MS. collated with three others, of which two +were eighth century MSS.; and succeeding editors, Stevenson (1841), Giles +(1842), Hussey (1846), the editor in the "Monumenta Historica Britannica" +(1848), Moberly (1869), Holder (1882), base their work mainly on Smith's. +Mr. Mayor and Mr. Lumby together edited Books III and IV with excellent +notes in 1878. Their text "reproduces exactly the Moore MS." which they +collated with some other Cambridge MSS. (cf. Mayor and Lumby, Excursus +II). In 1896 the Rev. C. Plummer published his edition of Bede's +Historical Works, the first critical edition since Smith's, and "the very +first which exhibits in an _apparatus criticus_ the various readings of +the MSS. on which the text is based." For the student of Bede this +admirable book is of the highest value, and the labours of all succeeding +editors are made comparatively light. Besides the most minute and accurate +work on the text, it contains a copious and interesting commentary and the +fullest references to the various sources upon which the editor has drawn. + +The first translation of the "Ecclesiastical History" is the Anglo-Saxon +version, executed either by Alfred himself or under his immediate +supervision. Of this version Dr. Hodgkin says: "As this book had become a +kind of classic among churchmen, Alfred allowed himself here less liberty +than in some of his other translations. Some letters, epitaphs, and +similar documents are omitted, and there is an almost complete erasure of +the chapters relating to the wearisome Paschal controversy. In other +respects the king's translation seems to be a fairly accurate reproduction +of the original work." Mr. Plummer, however, finds it "very rarely +available for the settlement of minute differences of reading." + +The first modern English translation is Thomas Stapleton's (1565), +published at Antwerp. It is a controversial work, intended to point out to +Queen Elizabeth "in how many and weighty pointes the pretended refourmers +of the Church ... have departed from the patern of that sounde and +Catholike faith planted first among Englishmen by holy S. Augustin, our +Apostle, and his vertuous company, described truly and sincerely by +Venerable Bede, so called in all Christendom for his passing vertues and +rare lerning, the Author of this History." To save Elizabeth's time "in +espying out the particulars," the translator has "gathered out of the +whole History a number of diversities between the pretended religion of +Protestants and the primitive faith of the english Church." If charm and +appropriateness of style were the only qualities to be aimed at in a +translation, we might well content ourselves with this rendering, which +fills with despair the translator of to-day, debarred by his date from +writing Elizabethan English. + +The work was again translated by John Stevens (1723), and a third time +(with some omissions) by W. Hurst in 1814. In 1840 Dr. Giles published a +new edition of Stevens's translation with certain alterations; and a +second edition of the same volume was published in 1842, and incorporated +in the collected works of Bede, edited by Dr. Giles. In 1870 a literal +translation by the Rev. L. Gidley was published. The present volume is a +revision of the translation of Dr. Giles. + +A brief analysis of the work may be of some use to the student in keeping +distinct the different threads of the narrative, as owing to the variety +of subjects introduced, and the want of strict chronological order, it is +difficult to grasp the sequence of events as a coherent whole. + +The sources from which Bede draws his material are briefly indicated in +the dedication to King Ceolwulf which forms the Preface, and in it he +acknowledges his obligations to the friends and correspondents who have +helped and encouraged him. For the greater part of Book I (cc. 1-22), +which forms the introduction to his real subject, he depends on earlier +authors. Here he does not specify his sources, but indicates them +generally as _priorum scripta_. These authors are mainly Pliny, Solinus, +Orosius, Eutropius, and the British historian Gildas. In the story of +Germanus and Lupus he follows closely the Life of Germanus by Constantius +of Lyons. Prosper of Aquitaine also supplies him with some materials. When +he comes to his main subject, the History of the English Church, he +appears to rely but little upon books. Only a very few are referred to +here and there, _e.g._, The Life of St. Fursa, The Life of St. Ethelburg, +Adamnan's work on the Holy Places, and the Anonymous Life of St. Cuthbert. +That some form of annalistic records existed before his time, and that +these were consulted by him, we may infer from some of his chronological +references (cf. iii, 1, 9). Local information with regard to provinces +other than Northumbria he obtains from his correspondents in various parts +of England, and these are expressly mentioned in the Preface. + +For the history of the Roman mission and of Kent generally, as well as +some particulars with regard to the conversion of other provinces, his +chief source is the Church of Canterbury, which apparently possessed, +besides oral tradition, written documents relating to the first beginnings +of the Church. Moreover, Nothelm, who was the bearer of much important +material, had been to Rome and had permission to search the papal +archives. But it is in dealing with the history of Northumbria, as is +natural, that Bede's information is most varied and copious. Much of it is +apparently obtained directly from eye-witnesses of the events, much would +doubtless be preserved in the records of the Church of Lindisfarne, to +which he had access, perhaps also in his own monastery. We know that the +monasteries kept calendars in which the death-days of saints and others +were entered, and other records of similar nature (cf. iv, 14), and that +these were used as materials for history. + +Passing to the history itself, we may trace a division of subjects or +periods roughly analogous to the division into books. Book I contains the +long introduction, the sending of the Roman mission, and the foundation of +the Church; Books II and III, the period of missionary activity and the +establishment of Christianity throughout the land. Book IV may be said to +describe the period of organization. In Book V the English Church itself +becomes a missionary centre, planting the faith in Germany, and drawing +the Celtic Churches into conformity with Rome. + + ------------------------------------- + +BOOK I.--In Book I, cc. 1-22, Bede sketches the early history of Britain, +describing the country and giving some account of the various races by +whom it was inhabited. The story of the Roman occupation is narrated at +some length, the invasions of the Picts and Scots and consequent miseries +of the Britons, their appeals for help to the Romans, the final departure +of their protectors, and the coming of the Saxons are described. We have +some shadowy outlines of British Church History in the legendary account +of the conversion of King Lucius, in the story of St. Alban, affording +evidence of a great persecution of Christians during the Roman occupation, +in the allusions to the Arian and Pelagian heresies, and in the mission of +Germanus and Lupus. A brief allusion to the mission of Palladius is all +that we hear of the Irish Church at this period. + +These chapters are introductory to the main subject, the History of the +English Church, which begins in Chapter 23 with the mission of St. +Augustine in 597 A.D. The reception of the Christian faith in the kingdom +of Kent and the foundation of a national Church occupy the remaining +chapters of the book. Various letters of Pope Gregory relating to the +mission and his answers to the questions of Augustine are given at length; +and the Book concludes with a piece of Northumbrian history, Ethelfrid's +conquests of the Britons and the defeat of Aedan, king of the Dalriadic +Scots, at Degsastan in 603 A.D. + +BOOK II.--Book II opens with a biographical sketch of Gregory the Great, +the founder of the Mission. This is followed by an account of Augustine's +negotiations with the leaders of the British Church with regard to the +Paschal question and some other matters, his failure to win them over (a +failure apparently largely due to his own want of tact in dealing with the +susceptible Celtic temperament), his alleged prophecy of disaster and its +fulfilment some time after at the battle of Chester. Then we have the +consecration of Mellitus to London, as Bishop of the East Saxons, and +Justus to Rochester (604 A.D.); the evangelization of the East Saxons by +Mellitus; the death of Augustine and succession of Laurentius as +Archbishop (no date is given; it may have been in 605); fresh attempts at +union with the Celtic Churches, in which again we can perceive a failure +of courtesy on the one side met by an obstinate pride on the other. The +death of Ethelbert in Kent (616 A.D.) and that of Sabert in Essex, soon +after, lead to a pagan reaction in both provinces; Mellitus and Justus +take refuge on the Continent; Laurentius, intending to follow them, is +stopped by a vision which leads to the conversion of King Eadbald and the +recovery of Kent for Christianity. Essex, however, continues to be pagan. +On the death of Laurentius (619 A.D.), Mellitus succeeds to Canterbury and +is himself succeeded by Justus (in 624). In Chapter 9 we enter upon a new +development of the highest importance in the work of the mission. The +marriage of Edwin, king of Northumbria, and the Kentish princess, +Ethelberg, brings about the conversion of Northumbria through the +preaching of Paulinus. The story is told in detail. Letters from Pope +Boniface to Edwin and his consort are quoted at length, Edwin's early +history with its bearing on the great crisis of his life is related; +finally we have the decisive debate in the Witenagemot at Goodmanham and +the baptism of the king at Easter, 627 A.D. Through the influence of Edwin +on Earpwald, king of East Anglia, that province is next converted, but on +the death of Earpwald the people lapse into paganism for three years, till +Christianity is finally established by the labours of Bishop Felix, under +the enlightened King Sigbert, who had himself been drawn to the faith in +Gaul. + +Meanwhile, peace and prosperity reign in Northumbria, and Paulinus extends +his preaching to Lindsey. He re-receives the pall from Pope Honorius, in +accordance with the original intention of Gregory that the Bishop of York +should rank as a metropolitan. At Canterbury, Justus is succeeded by +Archbishop Honorius. Parenthetically we have extracts from letters, +probably of the year 640 A.D., addressed by the Roman see to the Irish +clergy on the Paschal question and the Pelagian heresy. + +In Chapter 20 we have a dramatic climax to the book in the overthrow and +death of Edwin at the battle of Hatfield in 633 A.D.; the devastation of +Northumbria by the British king, Caedwalla, and Penda of Mercia; and the +flight of Paulinus, taking with him Ethelberg and Eanfled to Kent, where +he ends his life in charge of the Church of Rochester. His work in +Northumbria seems for the time, at least, wholly overthrown. Only James +the Deacon remains heroically at his post to keep alive the smouldering +embers of the faith. + +BOOK III.--Book III opens with the story of the apostasy of the +Northumbrian kings and the miseries of the "Hateful Year," terminated by +the victory of Oswald at Heavenfield in 634 A.D. Christianity is brought +again to Northumbria (635 A.D.) by the Celtic Mission, sent from Iona at +the request of Oswald, who nobly co-operates with Aidan in the work of +evangelization. Aidan fixes his see at Lindisfarne. The mention of Iona +leads to a short account of the mission of St. Columba to the Northern +Picts in 565 A.D., and incidentally of St. Ninian's mission to the +Southern Picts "long before"; the grant of Iona to St. Columba, and its +constitution, the character of its monks and their error with regard to +Easter. The characters of Aidan and Oswald are described; and the union of +Deira and Bernicia under Oswald is briefly mentioned. + +In Chapter 7 we pass to a fresh missionary enterprise. Birinus, sent to +Britain by Pope Honorius, converts the West Saxons. Their king, Cynegils, +is baptized, and a see is established at Dorchester, in Oxfordshire. Under +Coinwalch, the successor of Cynegils, the province passes through various +vicissitudes, political and ecclesiastical, and finally the West Saxon see +is fixed at Winchester. + +In Kent, Earconbert succeeds Eadbald in 640 A.D., and takes vigorous +measures for the suppression of idolatry. His daughter, Earcongota, and +many other high-born English ladies enter the religious life in Gaul, for +convents are still scarce in England. + +In Chapter 9, reverting to the history of Northumbria, Bede tells us of +the death of Oswald at Maserfelth in 642, and relates at length various +miracles wrought by his relics. Oswald is succeeded by Oswy in Bernicia +and in Deira by Oswin. The latter is treacherously murdered by Oswy; his +character is described. The death of Aidan (in 651) immediately follows +that of his beloved king; Aidan's miracles are related, and a warm tribute +is paid to his character, in spite of the inevitable error with regard to +Easter, which is severely condemned. + +In Chapter 18, passing again to East Anglian history, we hear of King +Sigbert's services to education, and of his retirement to a monastery from +which he was forcibly drawn to fall in battle against the Mercians. (The +chronology is here very vague.) A vision of the Irish St. Fursa, who +founded the monastery of Cnobheresburg in East Anglia is told in detail. +Changes in the episcopate in East Anglia and elsewhere are mentioned. +Deusdedit succeeds Honorius as Archbishop of Canterbury in 654. + +Again, a Northumbrian prince gives a fresh impulse to the spread of +Christianity. In 653 the Middle Angles (who occupied a part of Mercia) are +converted, their prince, Peada, being persuaded chiefly by his +brother-in-law, Alchfrid, a son of Oswy. Four priests are sent to them to +preach and baptize, Cedd, Adda, Betti, and Diuma, and Diuma becomes bishop +of the Middle Angles and Mercians. Similarly, at this time, King Sigbert +of Essex listens to the exhortations of his friend, King Oswy, and, at the +preaching of Cedd, the East Saxons receive the faith a second time. Cedd +becomes their bishop. Sigbert's tragic death is related. His successor, +Suidhelm, receives baptism at the hands of Cedd. The foundation of +Lastingham by Ethelwald of Deira and its consecration by Cedd are +described. Cedd dies of the plague of 664. + +Meanwhile, important political changes have taken place in the north: the +defeat and death of Penda at the Winwaed in 655 are followed by Oswy's +rule, which established Christianity in Mercia, in spite of a successful +rebellion after three years, when the Mercians threw off the yoke of +Northumbria and set up Penda's son, Wulfhere, as their king. + +In Chapter 25 we come to the Synod of Whitby (664 A.D.), which settled the +Easter question for the English Church. Wilfrid comes to the front as a +champion of the Catholic rules. The opposing party either retire or +conform. The self-denial and devotion of the Celtic missionaries are +highly praised, and some account of the life led by English students in +Ireland follows, with the story of the self-dedication of Egbert, who is +destined to play a prominent part afterwards in the history of the Church. + +The consecration of both Wilfrid and Ceadda (664 A.D.), as bishops of +Northumbria leads to complications in the episcopate. An important step +towards the unity of the English nation in ecclesiastical matters is taken +when Wighard is sent to Rome by the kings Oswy and Egbert, acting in +concert, to be consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury (667 A.D.). Wighard +dies there, and Pope Vitalian undertakes to find an archbishop for the +English Church. + +The book ends with a fresh apostasy in Essex during the miseries of the +great plague of 664. Mercia, so lately itself evangelized, becomes a new +missionary centre, King Wulfhere sending Bishop Jaruman to recall the East +Saxons to the faith. + +BOOK IV.--In all but one of the kingdoms of England Christianity is now, at +least in name, established, and the Church settles down to the work of +organization. The man for this task is found in Theodore of Tarsus, +consecrated Archbishop of the English in 668. He arrives at Canterbury in +669. We hear at once of the vigorous impulse given by him and Abbot +Hadrian to the various departments of education there. Finding an +irregularity in Ceadda's orders, he completes his ordination and makes him +Bishop of the Mercians (probably in 669), with his see at Lichfield. +Ceadda's death (672 A.D.), his character, and the miracles and visions +connected with him are described. Parenthetically we get an account of +Colman's activity in Ireland after his retirement, in consequence of the +decision at Whitby. The most important political events at this time are +the death of Oswy and succession of Egfrid in Northumbria in 670 or 671, +and the death of Egbert and succession of Hlothere in Kent in 673. + +In the same year the Council of Hertford, the first English provincial +council, is held, and marks the strength and independence of the Church. +Theodore proceeds with his reforms in the episcopate. Various events of +ecclesiastical importance follow; the East Anglian diocese is divided +about this time, and other changes are effected. + +Essex, so long prone to lapses into paganism, becomes at this time a +centre of religious life under its Bishop Earconwald and its king Sebbi. +Earconwald, whose holiness is attested by many miraculous circumstances, +was the founder of the monasteries of Chertsey and Barking, the latter of +which was ruled by his sister, the saintly Ethelburg. Various miracles are +related in connection with her and her monastery. The king of the East +Saxons, Sebbi, is a man of unusual piety who resigns his kingdom and +receives the tonsure. + +After a brief allusion to West Saxon history, the devastation of Kent by +Ethelred of Mercia in 676, and certain changes in the episcopate, we come +to an important step in the organization of the Church taken by Theodore. +In pursuance of his policy of increasing the number of bishops, he +subdivides the great Northumbrian diocese. Wilfrid is expelled (678 A.D.). +From these events we pass summarily to the evangelization of the South +Saxons by Wilfrid, who extends his labours to the Isle of Wight, and thus +the last of the English provinces is won for the faith. + +In the Council of Hatfield (680 A.D.) the English Church asserts its +orthodoxy and unites with the continental Churches in repudiating the +heresy of the Monothelites. Turning to Northumbrian history, we have the +story of Egfrid's queen, Ethelthryth, and a hymn composed in her honour by +Bede. The war between Mercia and Northumbria in 679 is ended by the +mediation of Theodore, and a miracle in connection with the battle of the +Trent is related. + +The remainder of the book is occupied mainly with Northumbrian history, +the life and death of Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, the story of the poet +Caedmon, the destruction of Coldingham, prophesied by the monk Adamnan, +Egfrid's invasion of Ireland (684 A.D.) and of the country of the Picts +(685 A.D.), his defeat and death in that year, the decline of Northumbria, +the flight of Bishop Trumwine from Abercorn, and the succession of Aldfrid +to the kingdom. The death of Hlothere of Kent (685 A.D.) is followed by +anarchy in that province, till Wictred succeeds and restores peace. + +In Chapters 27-32 we have an account of the life of St. Cuthbert and +stories of the miracles wrought by his relics. + +BOOK V.--Book V opens with the story of the holy Ethelwald, who succeeded +Cuthbert as anchorite at Farne, and a miracle wrought through his +intercession. This is followed (cc. 2-6) by an account of John of +Beverley, Bishop of Hexham, and the miracles attributed to him. In Chapter +7 we have a piece of West Saxon history: Caedwalla, King of Wessex, after +a life of war and bloodshed, goes to Rome to receive baptism there, and +dies immediately after his admission into the Church (689 A.D.). He is +succeeded by Ini, who in 725 likewise ended his days at Rome. + +In 690 Theodore dies, after an episcopate of twenty-two years. Bertwald +succeeds him at Canterbury in 693. + +At this time Englishmen begin to extend their missionary enterprise +abroad. Various missions are undertaken by men who have lived long in +Ireland and caught the Celtic zeal for the work of evangelization. The +story is told of the attempted mission of Egbert to Germany and the +unsuccessful venture of Witbert. Wilbrord (in 690) and others plant the +faith among the German tribes. + +The vision of Drythelm is inserted here, probably on chronological grounds +("his temporibus"), and other visions of the future world follow. + +Apparently about the same time a change is effected in the attitude of the +greater part of the Celtic Church towards the Paschal question. The +Northern Irish are converted to the Roman usages by Adamnan, Abbot of +Iona, whose book on the "Holy Places" is here described (cc. 16-17). + +The death of Aldfrid and succession of Osred in Northumbria in 705 are the +next events narrated. + +About this time the division of the West Saxon diocese is carried out, +Aldhelm being appointed to Sherborne and Daniel to Winchester; the South +Saxons receive a bishop of their own for the first time. In 709 A.D. +Coenred of Mercia and Offa of Essex receive the tonsure at Rome, and in +the same year Bishop Wilfrid dies. The story of his life is told. + +Not long after, Hadrian dies and is succeeded by Albinus as Abbot of St. +Augustine's. Bede's friend, Acca, succeeds Wilfrid as Bishop of Hexham. +His services to the Church are enumerated. + +An important step is taken at this time by the Northern Picts in the +acceptance of the Roman rules with regard to Easter and the tonsure. The +letter of Abbot Ceolfrid of Wearmouth and Jarrow to the Pictish king +Naiton on this subject is quoted at length. Soon after, Iona yields to the +preaching of Egbert, and receives the Catholic usages. Egbert dies in 729. +In Chapter 23 a number of events are briefly mentioned; the death of +Wictred of Kent in 725, and the succession of his sons, the death of the +learned Tobias, Bishop of Rochester, in 726, the appearance of two comets +in 729, followed by the devastation of Gaul by the Saracens, the death of +the Northumbrian king Osric, and succession of Ceolwulf in 729; finally, +the death of Archbishop Bertwald in 731 and the succession of Tatwine. +Then follows an account of the state of the English episcopate in 731, the +year in which Bede finished the History. The relations of the English with +Picts, Scots, and Britons are described, and some allusion is made to the +growth of monasticism in this time of external peace. + +The book closes in Chapter 24 with a chronological summary of the whole +work, an autobiographical sketch of the author, and a list of his works. + + + + + +LIFE OF BEDE + + +Few lives afford less material for the biographer than Bede's; few seem to +possess a more irresistible fascination. Often as the simple story has +been told, the desire to tell it afresh appears to be perennial. And yet +it is perhaps as wholly devoid of incident as any life could be. The short +autobiographical sketch at the end of the "Ecclesiastical History" tells +us practically all: that he was born in the territory of the twin +monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow; that at the age of seven he was sent by +his kinsfolk to be brought up, first under the Abbot Benedict, afterwards +under Ceolfrid; that in his nineteenth year (the canonical age was +twenty-five) he was admitted to the diaconate, and received priest's +orders in his thirtieth year, in both instances at the hands of John, +Bishop of Hexham, and by order of the Abbot Ceolfrid; that he spent his +whole life in the monastery in learning, in teaching, and in writing, and +in the observance of the monastic rule and attendance at the daily +services of the Church. Of his family we know nothing; the name Beda +appears to have been not uncommon. The fact that he was handed over by +kinsmen ("cura propinquorum") to Abbot Benedict would seem to imply that +he was an orphan when he entered the monastery at the age of seven, but it +was not unusual for parents to dedicate their infant children to the +religious life, in many cases even at an earlier age than Bede's. We may +compare the story of the little boy, Aesica, at Barking, related by Bede, +and of Elfled, the daughter of Oswy, dedicated by her father before she +was a year old. + +The epithet "Venerable," commonly attached to his name, has given rise to +more than one legend. It was apparently first applied to him in the ninth +century, and is said to have been an appellation of priests. The best +known of these legends is Fuller's story of a certain "dunce monk" who set +about writing Bede's epitaph, and being unable to complete the verse, "Hic +sunt in fossa Bedae ... ossa," went to bed with his task unfinished. +Returning to it in the morning, he found that an angel had filled the gap +with the word "venerabilis." Another account tells how Bede, in his old +age, when his eyes were dim, was induced by certain "mockers" to preach, +under the mistaken belief that the people were assembled to hear him. As +he ended his sermon with a solemn invocation of the Trinity, the angels +(in one version it is the stones of a rocky valley) responded "Amen, very +venerable Bede." + +The land on which Bede was born was granted by Egfrid to Benedict Biscop +for the foundation of the monasteries a short time after the birth of +Bede. Wearmouth was founded in 674, Jarrow in 681 or 682. Bede was among +those members of the community who were transferred to Jarrow under Abbot +Ceolfrid, and under his rule and that of his successor, Huaetbert, he +passed his life. With regard to the chief dates, the authorities differ, +Simeon of Durham and others placing his birth as late as 677. Bede himself +tells us that he was in his fifty-ninth year when he wrote the short +autobiography at the end of the History. That work was finished in 731, +and there seems to be no good reason to suppose that the autobiographical +sketch was written at a later time. We may infer then that he was born in +673, that he was ordained deacon in 691 and priest in 702. For his death, +735, the date given in the "Continuation," seems to be supported by the +evidence of the letter of Cuthbert to Cuthwin (_v. infra_). From this it +appears that he died on a Wednesday, which nevertheless is called +Ascension Day, implying, doubtless, that his death occurred on the eve, +after the festival had begun, according to ecclesiastical reckoning. It is +further explained that Ascension Day was on the 26th of May ("VII Kal. +Junii"),(1) which was actually the case in the year 735. + +Beyond the testimony borne to his exceptional diligence as a student in a +letter from Alcuin to the monks of Wearmouth and Jarrow, we hear nothing +of his childhood and early youth. One anecdote in the Anonymous History of +the Abbots may perhaps refer to him, though no name is given. It tells +how, when the plague of 686 devastated the monastery, the Abbot Ceolfrid, +for lack of fit persons to assist at the daily offices, decided to recite +the psalms without antiphons, except at vespers and matins. But after a +week's trial, unable to bear it any longer, he restored the antiphons to +their proper place, and with the help of one little boy carried on the +services in the usual manner. This little boy is described as being, at +the time the History was written, a priest of that monastery who "duly, +both by his words and writings, commends the Abbot's praiseworthy deeds to +all who seek to know them," and he has generally been supposed to be Bede. + +In the "Ecclesiastical History" (IV, 3) there is an allusion to Bede's +teachers, one of whom, Trumbert, educated at Lastingham under Ceadda, is +mentioned by name. The monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow must have offered +exceptional facilities for study. Benedict had enriched it with many +treasures which he brought with him from his travels. Chief among these +was the famous library which he founded and which was enlarged by Abbot +Ceolfrid. Here Bede acquired that wide and varied learning revealed in his +historical, scientific, and theological works. He studied with particular +care and reverence the patristic writings; his theological treatises were, +as he says, "compiled out of the works of the venerable Fathers." He must +have had a considerable knowledge of Greek, probably he knew some Hebrew. +Though he is not wholly free from the mediaeval churchman's distrust of +pagan authors, he constantly betrays his acquaintance with them, and the +sense of form which must unconsciously influence the student of classical +literature has passed into his own writings and preserved him from the +barbarism of monkish Latin. His style is singularly clear, simple, and +fluent, as free from obscurity as from affectation and bombast. + +Thus was the foundation laid of that sound learning upon which his +widespread influence both as a teacher and writer was reared. "I always +took delight," he tells us, "in learning, or teaching, or writing." +Probably his writing was, as is so often the case, the outcome of his +teaching; his object in both is to meet "the needs of the brethren." One +of his pupils was Archbishop Egbert, the founder of the school of York, +which gave a fresh impulse to learning, not only in England, but through +Alcuin in France, at a time when a revival was most to be desired. + +It was to Egbert that he paid one of the only two visits which he records. +In the "Epistola ad Ecgbertum" he alludes to a short stay he had made with +him the year before, and declines, on account of the illness which proved +to be his last, an invitation to visit him again. He visited Lindisfarne +in connection with his task of writing the life of Cuthbert. Otherwise we +have no authentic record of any absence from the monastery. The story that +he went to Rome at the request of Pope Sergius, founded on a statement of +William of Malmesbury, is now regarded as highly improbable. The oldest +MS. of the letter of Sergius, requesting Ceolfrid to send one of his monks +to Rome, has no mention of the name of Bede. If such an event had ever +disturbed his accustomed course of life, it is inconceivable that he +should nowhere allude to it. Still less is the assertion that he lived and +taught at Cambridge one which need be seriously debated by the present +generation. + +We may fairly assume that, except for a few short absences such as the +visits to York and Lindisfarne, his whole life was spent in the monastery. +It must have been a life of unremitting toil. His writings, numerous as +they are, covering a wide range of subjects and involving the severest +study, can only have been a part of his work; he had, besides, his duties +as priest, teacher, and member of a religious community to fulfil. Even +the manual labour of his literary work must have been considerable. He did +not employ an amanuensis, and he had not the advantages with regard to +copyists which a member of one of the larger monasteries might have had. +"Ipse mihi dictator simul notarius (= shorthand writer) et librarius (= +copyist)," he writes. Yet he never flags. Through all the outward monotony +of his days his own interest remains fresh. He "takes delight" ("dulce +habui") in it all. It is a life full of eager activity in intellectual +things, of a keen and patriotic interest in the wider life beyond the +monastery walls, which shows itself sadly enough in his reflections on the +evils of the times, of the ardent charity which spends itself in labour +for the brethren, and, pervading the whole, that spirit of quiet obedience +and devotion which his own simple words describe as "the observance of +monastic rule and the daily charge of singing in the Church." We can +picture him, at the appointed hours, breaking off his absorbing +occupations to take his place at the daily offices, lest, as he believed, +he should fail to meet the angels there. Alcuin records a saying of his, +"I know that angels visit the canonical hours and the congregations of the +brethren. What if they do not find me among the brethren? May they not +say, 'Where is Bede?' " + +It is probably here, in this harmony of work and devotion, that we may +find the secret of the fascination in the record of his uneventful days. +It reconciles the sharp antithesis between the active and the +contemplative life. It seems to attain to that ideal of "toil unsever'd +from tranquillity" which haunts us all, but which we have almost ceased to +associate with the life of man under present conditions. Balance, +moderation, or rather, that rare quality which has been well called "the +sanity of saintliness,"(2) these give a unity to the life of Bede and +preserve him from the exaggerations of the conventual ideal. With all his +admiration for the ascetic life, he recognizes human limitations. It is +cheering to find that even he felt the need of a holiday. "Having +completed," he writes, "the third book of the Commentary on Samuel, I +thought I would rest awhile, and, after recovering in that way my delight +in study and writing, proceed to take in hand the fourth." Intellectual +power commands his homage, but his mind is open to the appreciation of all +forms of excellence. It is the unlearned brother, unfit for study and +occupied in manual labour, to whom, in his story, it is vouchsafed to hear +the singing of the angels who came to summon Ceadda to his rest. The life +of devotion ranks highest in his estimation, but he records with approval +how St. Cuthbert thought "that to afford the weak brethren the help of his +exhortation stood in the stead of prayer, knowing that He Who said 'Thou +shalt love the Lord thy God,' said likewise, 'Thou shalt love thy +neighbour as thyself.' " He tells us how St. Gregory bewailed his own loss +in being forced by his office to be entangled in worldly affairs. "But," +adds the human-hearted biographer, "it behoves us to believe that he lost +nothing of his monastic perfection by reason of his pastoral charge, but +rather that he gained greater profit through the labour of converting +many, than by the former calm of his private life." Yet he holds that this +immunity from the evil influence of the world was chiefly due to Gregory's +care in organizing his house like a monastery and safeguarding the +opportunities for prayer and devotional study, even while he was immersed +in affairs at the court of Constantinople, and afterwards, when he held +the most onerous office in the Church. + +This quality of sanity shows itself again in an unusual degree of fairness +to opponents. The Paschal error, indeed, moves his indignation in a manner +which is incomprehensible and distasteful to the modern reader, but even +in the perverse and erring Celts he can recognize "a zeal of God, though +not according to knowledge." Aidan's holiness of life wins from him a warm +tribute of admiration. In the monks of Iona, the stronghold of the Celtic +system, he can perceive the fruit of good works and find an excuse for +their error in their isolated situation. In the British Church it is the +lack of missionary zeal, rather than their attitude towards the Easter +question, which calls forth his strongest condemnation. + +A characteristic akin to this is his love of truth. As a historian, it +shows itself in his scrupulous care in investigating evidence and in +acknowledging the sources from which he draws. Nowhere is his intellectual +honesty more apparent than in dealing with what he believes to be the +miraculous element in his history. In whatever way we may regard these +anecdotes, there can be no doubt that Bede took the utmost pains to assure +himself of their authenticity. He is careful to acquire, if possible, +first-hand evidence; where this cannot be obtained, he scrupulously +mentions the lack of it. He admits only the testimony of witnesses of high +character and generally quotes them by name. + +These are but a few of the glimpses afforded us of the personality of +Bede, a personality never obtruded, but everywhere unconsciously revealed +in his work. Everywhere we find the impress of a mind of wide intellectual +grasp, a character of the highest saintliness, and a gentle refinement of +thought and feeling. The lofty spirituality of Bede, his great learning +and scholarly attainment are the more striking when we reflect how +recently his nation had emerged from barbarism and received Christianity +and the culture which it brought with it to these shores. + +The letter in which he declines Egbert's invitation on the plea of illness +is dated November, 734. If we may assume that his death took place on the +eve of Ascension Day in 735, no long period of enfeebled health clouded +the close of his life, and weakness never interrupted his work. His death +has been described by his pupil, Cuthbert, who afterwards became Abbot of +Wearmouth and Jarrow in succession to Huaetbert, in the letter quoted +below. He was first buried at Jarrow but, according to Simeon of Durham, +his relics were stolen by the priest, Elfred, and carried to Durham. In +1104, when the bones of Cuthbert were translated to the new Cathedral, +those of Bede were found with them. Not long after, Hugh de Puisac erected +a shrine of gold and silver, adorned with jewels, in which he placed them, +along with the relics of many other saints. The shrine disappeared at the +Reformation, and only the stone on which it rested remains.(3) + + + + +Letter of Cuthbert to Cuthwin. + + +"To his fellow-lector, Cuthwin, beloved in Christ, Cuthbert, his +fellow-student, greeting and salvation for ever in the Lord. I have very +gladly received the gift which thou sentest to me, and with much joy have +read thy devout and learned letter, wherein I found that which I greatly +desired, to wit, that masses and holy prayers are diligently offered by +you for our father and master Bede, beloved of God. Wherefore I rejoice, +rather for love of him than from confidence in my own power, to relate in +few words after what manner he departed out of this world, understanding +also that thou hast desired and asked this of me. He was troubled with +weakness and chiefly with difficulty in breathing, yet almost without +pain, for about a fortnight before the day of our Lord's Resurrection; and +thus he afterwards passed his time, cheerful and rejoicing, giving thanks +to Almighty God every day and night, nay, every hour, till the day of our +Lord's Ascension, to wit, the twenty-sixth day of May, and daily gave +lessons to us, his disciples; and whatsoever remained of the day he spent +in singing psalms, as far as he was able; he also strove to pass all the +night joyfully in prayer and thanksgiving to God, save only when a short +sleep prevented it; and then he no sooner awoke than he straightway began +again to repeat the well-known sacred songs, and ceased not to give thanks +to God with uplifted hands. I declare with truth that I have never seen +with my eyes, or heard with my ears, any man so earnest in giving thanks +to the living God. O truly blessed man! He repeated the words of St. Paul +the Apostle, 'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living +God,' and much more out of Holy Scripture; wherein also he admonished us +to think of our last hour, and to arise out of the sleep of the soul; and +being learned in our native poetry, he said also in our tongue, concerning +the dread parting of souls from the body: + + + Fore then neidfaerae + naenig uiuurthit + thonc suotturra + than him tharf sie + to ymb hycggannae + aer his hin iongae + huaet his gastae + godaes aeththa yflaes + aefter deothdaege + doemid uueorthae. + + +Which being interpreted is: "Before the inevitable journey hence, no man +is wiser than is needful that he may consider, ere the soul departs, what +good or evil it hath done and how it shall be judged after its departure." + +"He also sang antiphons for our comfort and his own. One of these is, 'O +King of Glory, Lord of all power, Who, triumphing this day, didst ascend +above all the heavens, leave us not comfortless, but send to us the +promise of the Father, even the Spirit of Truth--Hallelujah.' And when he +came to the words, 'leave us not comfortless,' he burst into tears and +wept much. And an hour after, he fell to repeating what he had begun. And +this he did the whole day, and we, hearing it, mourned with him and wept. +Now we read and now we lamented, nay, we wept even as we read. In such +rapture we passed the fifty days' festival(4) till the aforesaid day; and +he rejoiced greatly and gave God thanks, because he had been accounted +worthy to suffer such weakness. And he often said, 'God scourgeth every +son whom He receiveth'; and the words of St. Ambrose, 'I have not so lived +as to be ashamed to live among you; but neither do I fear to die, because +we have a merciful Lord.' And during those days, besides the lessons we +had daily from him, and the singing of the Psalms, there were two +memorable works, which he strove to finish; to wit, his translation of the +Gospel of St. John, from the beginning, as far as the words, 'But what are +they among so many?' into our own tongue, for the benefit of the Church of +God; and some selections from the books of Bishop Isidore, saying, 'I +would not have my boys read a lie, nor labour herein without profit after +my death.' + +"When the Tuesday before the Ascension of our Lord came, he began to +suffer still more in his breathing, and there was some swelling in his +feet. But he went on teaching all that day and dictating cheerfully, and +now and then said among other things, 'Learn quickly, I know not how long +I shall endure, and whether my Maker will not soon take me away.' But to +us it seemed that haply he knew well the time of his departure; and so he +spent the night, awake, in giving of thanks. And when the morning dawned, +that is, on the Wednesday, he bade us write with all speed what we had +begun. And this we did until the third hour. And from the third hour we +walked in procession with the relics of the saints, according to the +custom of that day.(5) And there was one of us with him who said to him, +'There is still one chapter wanting of the book which thou hast been +dictating, but I deem it burdensome for thee to be questioned any +further.' He answered, 'Nay, it is light, take thy pen and make ready, and +write quickly.' And this was done. But at the ninth hour he said to me, 'I +have certain treasures in my coffer, some spices, napkins and incense; run +quickly and bring the priests of our monastery to me, that I may +distribute among them the gifts which God has bestowed on me.' And this I +did trembling, and when they were come, he spoke to every one of them, +admonishing and entreating them that they should diligently offer masses +and prayers for him, and they promised readily. But they all mourned and +wept, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, because they +thought that they should see his face no long time in this world. But they +rejoiced for that he said, 'It is time for me, if it be my Maker's will, +to be set free from the flesh, and come to Him Who, when as yet I was not, +formed me out of nothing. I have lived long; and well has my pitiful judge +disposed my life for me; the time of my release is at hand; for my soul +longs to see Christ my King in His beauty.' Having said this and much more +for our profit and edification, he passed his last day in gladness till +the evening; and the aforesaid boy, whose name was Wilbert, still said, +'Dear master, there is yet one sentence not written.' He answered, 'It is +well, write it.' Soon after, the boy said, 'Now it is written.' And he +said, 'It is well, thou hast said truly, it is finished. Take my head in +thy hands, for I rejoice greatly to sit facing my holy place where I was +wont to pray, that I too, sitting there, may call upon my Father.' And +thus on the pavement of his little cell, chanting 'Glory be to the Father, +and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,' and the rest, he breathed his +last. + +"And without doubt we must believe that inasmuch as he had always been +devout and earnest on earth in the praise of God, his soul was carried by +angels to the joys of Heaven which he desired. And all who heard him or +beheld the death of our father Bede, said that they had never seen any +other end his life in so great devotion and peace. For, as thou hast +heard, so long as the soul abode in the body, he chanted the 'Gloria +Patri' and other words to the glory of God, and with outstretched hands +ceased not to give thanks to God. + +"But know this, that much could be told and written concerning him, but my +want of learning cuts short my words. Nevertheless, with the help of God, +I purpose at leisure to write more fully concerning him, of those things +which I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears." + + + + + +ERRATA + + +Page 9, headline, _for_ "54 A.D." _read_ "54 B.C." + +Page 21, headline, _for_ "394 A.D." _read_ "395 A.D." + +Page 214, note 4, _for_ "cc." _read_ "pp." [Transcriber's Note: This is +the footnote to Bright.] + +Page 215, note 1, _for_ "St. James 'the Less' " _read_ "James, 'the Lord's +brother.' " [Transcriber's Note: This is the footnote to "the Eastern."] + +Page 220, note 2, _for_ "Lumley" _read_ "Lumby." [Transcriber's Note: This +is the footnote starting "A stone."] + +Page 254, note 1, line 4, _for_ "existence" _read_ "co-existence." +[Transcriber's Note: This is the footnote starting "Eutyches was +Archimandrite."] + +Page 316, line 7, _for_ "Gedmund" _read_ "Gebmund." + +Page 346, note 6, _for_ "p. 56" _read_ "p. 356." [Transcriber's Note: This +is the footnote starting "Ripon, _v. infra_"] + + + + + +PREFACE + + +_To the most glorious king Ceolwulf._(_6_)_ Bede, the servant of Christ +and Priest._ + +I formerly, at your request, most readily sent to you the Ecclesiastical +History of the English Nation, which I had lately published, for you to +read and judge; and I now send it again to be transcribed, and more fully +studied at your leisure. And I rejoice greatly at the sincerity and zeal, +with which you not only diligently give ear to hear the words of Holy +Scripture, but also industriously take care to become acquainted with the +actions and sayings of former men of renown, especially of our own nation. +For if history relates good things of good men, the attentive hearer is +excited to imitate that which is good; or if it recounts evil things of +wicked persons, none the less the conscientious and devout hearer or +reader, shunning that which is hurtful and wrong, is the more earnestly +fired to perform those things which he knows to be good, and worthy of the +service of God. And as you have carefully marked this, you are desirous +that the said history should be more fully made known to yourself, and to +those over whom the Divine Authority has appointed you governor, from your +great regard to the common good. But to the end that I may remove all +occasion of doubting what I have written, both from yourself and other +readers or hearers of this history, I will take care briefly to show you +from what authors I chiefly learned the same. + +My principal authority and aid in this work was the most learned and +reverend Abbot Albinus;(7) who, educated in the Church of Canterbury by +those venerable and learned men, Archbishop Theodore(8) of blessed memory, +and the Abbot Hadrian,(9) transmitted to me by Nothelm,(10) the pious +priest of the Church of London, either in writing, or by word of mouth of +the same Nothelm, all that he thought worthy of memory that had been done +in the province of Kent, or the adjacent parts, by the disciples of the +blessed Pope Gregory,(11) as he had learned the same either from written +records, or the traditions of his predecessors. The same Nothelm, +afterwards went to Rome, and having, with leave of the present Pope +Gregory,(12) searched into the archives of the Holy Roman Church, found +there some epistles of the blessed Pope Gregory, and other popes; and, +returning home, by the advice of the aforesaid most reverend father +Albinus, brought them to me, to be inserted in my history. Thus, from the +beginning of this volume to the time when the English nation received the +faith of Christ, we have acquired matter from the writings of former men, +gathered from various sources; but from that time till the present, what +was transacted in the Church of Canterbury by the disciples of the blessed +Pope Gregory or their successors, and under what kings the same happened, +has been conveyed to us, as we have said, by Nothelm through the industry +of the aforesaid Abbot Albinus. They also partly informed me by what +bishops and under what kings the provinces of the East and West Saxons, as +also of the East Angles, and of the Northumbrians, received the grace of +the Gospel. In short, I was chiefly encouraged to undertake this work by +the exhortations of the same Albinus. In like manner, Daniel,(13) the most +reverend Bishop of the West Saxons, who is still living, communicated to +me in writing some things relating to the Ecclesiastical History of that +province, and the adjoining one of the South Saxons, as also of the Isle +of Wight. But how, by the ministry of those holy priests of Christ, +Cedd(14) and Ceadda,(15) the province of the Mercians was brought to the +faith of Christ, which they knew not before, and how that of the East +Saxons recovered the faith after having rejected it, and how those fathers +lived and died, we learned from the brethren of the monastery, which was +built by them, and is called Laestingaeu.(16) Further, what ecclesiastical +matters took place in the province of the East Angles, was partly made +known to us from the writings and tradition of former men, and partly by +the account of the most reverend Abbot Esi.(17) What was done with regard +to the faith of Christ, and what was the episcopal succession in the +province of Lindsey,(18) we had either from the letters of the most +reverend prelate Cynibert,(19) or by word of mouth from other persons of +good credit. But what was done in the Church in the different parts of the +province of Northumbria from the time when they received the faith of +Christ till this present, I received not on the authority of any one man, +but by the faithful testimony of innumerable witnesses, who might know or +remember the same; besides what I had of my own knowledge. Wherein it is +to be observed, that what I have written concerning our most holy father, +Bishop Cuthbert,(20) either in this volume, or in my account of his life +and actions, I partly took from what I found written of him by the +brethren of the Church of Lindisfarne,(21) accepting without reserve the +statements I found there; but at the same time took care to add such +things as I could myself have knowledge of by the faithful testimony of +trustworthy informants. And I humbly entreat the reader, that if he shall +find in these our writings anything not delivered according to the truth, +he will not lay the blame of it on me, for, as the true rule of history +requires, withholding nothing, I have laboured to commit to writing such +things as I could gather from common report, for the instruction of +posterity. + +Moreover, I beseech all men who shall hear or read this history of our +nation, that for my infirmities both of mind and body, they will offer up +frequent intercessions to the throne of Grace. And I further pray, that in +recompense for the labour wherewith I have recorded in the several +provinces and more important places those events which I considered worthy +of note and of interest to their inhabitants, I may for my reward have the +benefit of their pious prayers. + + + + + +BOOK I + + + + +Chap. I. Of the Situation of Britain and Ireland, and of their ancient +inhabitants. + + +Britain, an island in the Atlantic, formerly called Albion, lies to the +north-west, facing, though at a considerable distance, the coasts of +Germany, France, and Spain, which form the greatest part of Europe. It +extends 800 miles in length towards the north, and is 200 miles in +breadth, except where several promontories extend further in breadth, by +which its compass is made to be 4,875 miles.(22) To the south lies Belgic +Gaul. To its nearest shore there is an easy passage from the city of +Rutubi Portus, by the English now corrupted into Reptacaestir.(23) The +distance from here across the sea to Gessoriacum,(24) the nearest shore in +the territory of the Morini,(25) is fifty miles, or as some writers say, +450 furlongs. On the other side of the island, where it opens upon the +boundless ocean, it has the islands called Orcades. Britain is rich in +grain and trees, and is well adapted for feeding cattle and beasts of +burden. It also produces vines in some places, and has plenty of land and +water fowl of divers sorts; it is remarkable also for rivers abounding in +fish, and plentiful springs. It has the greatest plenty of salmon and +eels; seals are also frequently taken, and dolphins, as also whales; +besides many sorts of shell-fish, such as mussels, in which are often +found excellent pearls of all colours, red, purple, violet and green, but +chiefly white. There is also a great abundance of snails, of which the +scarlet dye is made, a most beautiful red, which never fades with the heat +of the sun or exposure to rain, but the older it is, the more beautiful it +becomes. It has both salt and hot springs, and from them flow rivers which +furnish hot baths, proper for all ages and both sexes, in separate places, +according to their requirements. For water, as St. Basil says,(26) +receives the quality of heat, when it runs along certain metals, and +becomes not only hot but scalding. Britain is rich also in veins of +metals, as copper, iron, lead, and silver; it produces a great deal of +excellent jet, which is black and sparkling, and burns when put to the +fire, and when set on fire, drives away serpents; being warmed with +rubbing, it attracts whatever is applied to it, like amber. The island was +formerly distinguished by twenty-eight famous cities, besides innumerable +forts, which were all strongly secured with walls, towers, gates, and +bars. And, because it lies almost under the North Pole, the nights are +light in summer, so that at midnight the beholders are often in doubt +whether the evening twilight still continues, or that of the morning has +come; since the sun at night returns to the east in the northern regions +without passing far beneath the earth. For this reason the days are of a +great length in summer, and on the other hand, the nights in winter are +eighteen hours long, for the sun then withdraws into southern parts. In +like manner the nights are very short in summer, and the days in winter, +that is, only six equinoctial hours. Whereas, in Armenia, Macedonia, +Italy, and other countries of the same latitude, the longest day or night +extends but to fifteen hours, and the shortest to nine. + +There are in the island at present, following the number of the books in +which the Divine Law was written, five(27) languages of different nations +employed in the study and confession of the one self-same knowledge, which +is of highest truth and true sublimity, to wit, English, British, +Scottish, Pictish, and Latin, the last having become common to all by the +study of the Scriptures. But at first this island had no other inhabitants +but the Britons, from whom it derived its name, and who, coming over into +Britain, as is reported, from Armorica,(28) possessed themselves of the +southern parts thereof. Starting from the south, they had occupied the +greater part of the island, when it happened, that the nation of the +Picts, putting to sea from Scythia,(29) as is reported, in a few ships of +war, and being driven by the winds beyond the bounds of Britain, came to +Ireland and landed on its northern shores. There, finding the nation of +the Scots, they begged to be allowed to settle among them, but could not +succeed in obtaining their request. Ireland is the largest island next to +Britain, and lies to the west of it; but as it is shorter than Britain to +the north, so, on the other hand, it runs out far beyond it to the south, +over against the northern part of Spain, though a wide sea lies between +them. The Picts then, as has been said, arriving in this island by sea, +desired to have a place granted them in which they might settle. The Scots +answered that the island could not contain them both; but "We can give you +good counsel," said they, "whereby you may know what to do; we know there +is another island, not far from ours, to the eastward, which we often see +at a distance, when the days are clear. If you will go thither, you can +obtain settlements; or, if any should oppose you, we will help you." The +Picts, accordingly, sailing over into Britain, began to inhabit the +northern parts thereof, for the Britons had possessed themselves of the +southern. Now the Picts had no wives, and asked them of the Scots; who +would not consent to grant them upon any other terms, than that when any +question should arise, they should choose a king from the female royal +race rather than from the male: which custom, as is well known, has been +observed among the Picts to this day.(30) In process of time, Britain, +besides the Britons and the Picts, received a third nation, the Scots, +who, migrating from Ireland under their leader, Reuda, either by fair +means, or by force of arms, secured to themselves those settlements among +the Picts which they still possess. From the name of their commander, they +are to this day called Dalreudini; for, in their language, Dal signifies a +part.(31) + +Ireland is broader than Britain and has a much healthier and milder +climate; for the snow scarcely ever lies there above three days: no man +makes hay in the summer for winter's provision, or builds stables for his +beasts of burden. No reptiles are found there, and no snake can live +there; for, though snakes are often carried thither out of Britain, as +soon as the ship comes near the shore, and the scent of the air reaches +them, they die. On the contrary, almost all things in the island are +efficacious against poison. In truth, we have known that when men have +been bitten by serpents, the scrapings of leaves of books that were +brought out of Ireland, being put into water, and given them to drink, +have immediately absorbed the spreading poison, and assuaged the swelling. + +The island abounds in milk and honey, nor is there any lack of vines, +fish, or fowl; and it is noted for the hunting of stags and roe-deer. It +is properly the country of the Scots, who, migrating from thence, as has +been said, formed the third nation in Britain in addition to the Britons +and the Picts. + +There is a very large gulf of the sea, which formerly divided the nation +of the Britons from the Picts; it runs from the west far into the land, +where, to this day, stands a strong city of the Britons, called +Alcluith.(32) The Scots, arriving on the north side of this bay, settled +themselves there. + + + + +Chap. II. How Caius Julius Caesar was the first Roman that came into +Britain. + + +Now Britain had never been visited by the Romans, and was entirely unknown +to them before the time of Caius Julius Caesar, who, in the year 693 after +the foundation of Rome, but the sixtieth year(33) before the Incarnation +of our Lord, was consul with Lucius Bibulus. While he was making war upon +the Germans and the Gauls, who were divided only by the river Rhine, he +came into the province of the Morini, whence is the nearest and shortest +passage into Britain. Here, having provided about eighty ships of burden +and fast-sailing vessels, he sailed over into Britain; where, being first +roughly handled in a battle, and then caught in a storm, he lost a +considerable part of his fleet, no small number of foot-soldiers, and +almost all his cavalry. Returning into Gaul, he put his legions into +winter-quarters, and gave orders for building six hundred sail of both +sorts. With these he again crossed over early in spring into Britain, but, +whilst he was marching with the army against the enemy, the ships, riding +at anchor, were caught in a storm and either dashed one against another, +or driven upon the sands and wrecked. Forty of them were lost, the rest +were, with much difficulty, repaired. Caesar's cavalry was, at the first +encounter, defeated by the Britons, and there Labienus, the tribune, was +slain. In the second engagement, with great hazard to his men, he defeated +the Britons and put them to flight. Thence he proceeded to the river +Thames, where a great multitude of the enemy had posted themselves on the +farther side of the river, under the command of Cassobellaunus,(34) and +fenced the bank of the river and almost all the ford under water with +sharp stakes: the remains of these are to be seen to this day, apparently +about the thickness of a man's thigh, cased with lead, and fixed immovably +in the bottom of the river. This being perceived and avoided by the +Romans, the barbarians, not able to stand the charge of the legions, hid +themselves in the woods, whence they grievously harassed the Romans with +repeated sallies. In the meantime, the strong state of the +Trinovantes,(35) with their commander Androgius,(36) surrendered to +Caesar, giving him forty hostages. Many other cities, following their +example, made a treaty with the Romans. Guided by them, Caesar at length, +after severe fighting, took the town of Cassobellaunus,(37) situated +between two marshes, fortified by sheltering woods, and plentifully +furnished with all necessaries. After this, Caesar returned from Britain +into Gaul, but he had no sooner put his legions into winter quarters, than +he was suddenly beset and distracted with wars and sudden risings on every +side. + + + + +Chap. III. How Claudius, the second of the Romans who came into Britain, +brought the islands Orcades into subjection to the Roman empire; and +Vespasian, sent by him, reduced the Isle of Wight under the dominion of +the Romans. + + +In the year of Rome 798,(38) Claudius, fourth emperor from Augustus, being +desirous to approve himself a prince beneficial to the republic, and +eagerly bent upon war and conquest on every side, undertook an expedition +into Britain, which as it appeared, was roused to rebellion by the refusal +of the Romans to give up certain deserters. No one before or after Julius +Caesar had dared to land upon the island. Claudius crossed over to it, and +within a very few days, without any fighting or bloodshed, the greater +part of the island was surrendered into his hands. He also added to the +Roman empire the Orcades,(39) which lie in the ocean beyond Britain, and, +returning to Rome in the sixth month after his departure, he gave his son +the title of Britannicus. This war he concluded in the fourth year of his +reign, which is the forty-sixth from the Incarnation of our Lord. In which +year there came to pass a most grievous famine in Syria, which is recorded +in the Acts of the Apostles to have been foretold by the prophet Agabus. + +Vespasian,(40) who was emperor after Nero, being sent into Britain by the +same Claudius, brought also under the Roman dominion the Isle of Wight, +which is close to Britain on the south, and is about thirty miles in +length from east to west, and twelve from north to south; being six miles +distant from the southern coast of Britain at the east end, and three at +the west. Nero, succeeding Claudius in the empire, undertook no wars at +all; and, therefore, among countless other disasters brought by him upon +the Roman state, he almost lost Britain; for in his time two most notable +towns were there taken and destroyed. + + + + +Chap. IV. How Lucius, king of Britain, writing to Pope Eleutherus, desired +to be made a Christian. + + +In the year of our Lord 156, Marcus Antoninus Verus,(41) the fourteenth +from Augustus, was made emperor, together with his brother, Aurelius +Commodus. In their time, whilst the holy Eleutherus presided over the +Roman Church, Lucius, king of Britain, sent a letter to him, entreating +that by a mandate from him he might be made a Christian.(42) He soon +obtained his pious request, and the Britons preserved the faith, which +they had received, uncorrupted and entire, in peace and tranquillity until +the time of the Emperor Diocletian. + + + + +Chap. V. How the Emperor Severus divided from the rest by a rampart that +part of Britain which had been recovered. + + +In the year of our Lord 189, Severus, an African, born at Leptis, in the +province of Tripolis, became emperor.(43) He was the seventeenth from +Augustus, and reigned seventeen years. Being naturally of a harsh +disposition, and engaged in many wars, he governed the state vigorously, +but with much trouble. Having been victorious in all the grievous civil +wars which happened in his time, he was drawn into Britain by the revolt +of almost all the confederated tribes; and, after many great and severe +battles, he thought fit to divide that part of the island, which he had +recovered, from the other unconquered nations, not with a wall, as some +imagine, but with a rampart.(44) For a wall is made of stones, but a +rampart, with which camps are fortified to repel the assaults of enemies, +is made of sods, cut out of the earth, and raised high above the ground, +like a wall, having in front of it the trench whence the sods were taken, +with strong stakes of wood fixed above it. Thus Severus drew a great +trench and strong rampart, fortified with several towers, from sea to sea. +And there, at York, he fell sick afterwards and died, leaving two sons, +Bassianus and Geta;(45) of whom Geta died, adjudged an enemy of the State; +but Bassianus, having taken the surname of Antonius, obtained the empire. + + + + +Chap. VI. Of the reign of Diocletian, and how he persecuted the +Christians. + + +In the year of our Lord 286,(46) Diocletian, the thirty-third from +Augustus, and chosen emperor by the army, reigned twenty years, and +created Maximian, surnamed Herculius, his colleague in the empire. In +their time, one Carausius,(47) of very mean birth, but a man of great +ability and energy, being appointed to guard the sea-coasts, then infested +by the Franks and Saxons, acted more to the prejudice than to the +advantage of the commonwealth, by not restoring to its owners any of the +booty taken from the robbers, but keeping all to himself; thus giving rise +to the suspicion that by intentional neglect he suffered the enemy to +infest the frontiers. When, therefore, an order was sent by Maximian that +he should be put to death, he took upon him the imperial purple, and +possessed himself of Britain, and having most valiantly conquered and held +it for the space of seven years, he was at length put to death by the +treachery of his associate Allectus.(48) The usurper, having thus got the +island from Carausius, held it three years, and was then vanquished by +Asclepiodotus,(49) the captain of the Praetorian guards, who thus at the +end of ten years restored Britain to the Roman empire. + +Meanwhile, Diocletian in the east, and Maximian Herculius in the west, +commanded the churches to be destroyed, and the Christians to be +persecuted and slain. This persecution was the tenth since the reign of +Nero, and was more lasting and cruel than almost any before it; for it was +carried on incessantly for the space of ten years, with burning of +churches, proscription of innocent persons, and the slaughter of martyrs. +Finally, Britain also attained to the great glory of bearing faithful +witness to God. + + + + +Chap. VII. The Passion of St. Alban and his companions, who at that time +shed their blood for our Lord. + + +At that time suffered St. Alban,(50) of whom the priest Fortunatus,(51) in +the Praise of Virgins, where he makes mention of the blessed martyrs that +came to the Lord from all parts of the world, says: + + + And fruitful Britain noble Alban rears. + + +This Alban, being yet a pagan, at the time when at the bidding of +unbelieving rulers all manner of cruelty was practised against the +Christians, gave entertainment in his house to a certain clerk,(52) flying +from his persecutors. This man he observed to be engaged in continual +prayer and watching day and night; when on a sudden the Divine grace +shining on him, he began to imitate the example of faith and piety which +was set before him, and being gradually instructed by his wholesome +admonitions, he cast off the darkness of idolatry, and became a Christian +in all sincerity of heart. The aforesaid clerk having been some days +entertained by him, it came to the ears of the impious prince, that a +confessor of Christ, to whom a martyr's place had not yet been assigned, +was concealed at Alban's house. Whereupon he sent some soldiers to make a +strict search after him. When they came to the martyr's hut, St. Alban +presently came forth to the soldiers, instead of his guest and master, in +the habit or long coat which he wore, and was bound and led before the +judge. + +It happened that the judge, at the time when Alban was carried before him, +was standing at the altar, and offering sacrifice to devils. When he saw +Alban, being much enraged that he should thus, of his own accord, dare to +put himself into the hands of the soldiers, and incur such danger on +behalf of the guest whom he had harboured, he commanded him to be dragged +to the images of the devils, before which he stood, saying, "Because you +have chosen to conceal a rebellious and sacrilegious man, rather than to +deliver him up to the soldiers, that his contempt of the gods might meet +with the penalty due to such blasphemy, you shall undergo all the +punishment that was due to him, if you seek to abandon the worship of our +religion." But St. Alban, who had voluntarily declared himself a Christian +to the persecutors of the faith, was not at all daunted by the prince's +threats, but putting on the armour of spiritual warfare, publicly declared +that he would not obey his command. Then said the judge, "Of what family +or race are you?"--"What does it concern you," answered Alban, "of what +stock I am? If you desire to hear the truth of my religion, be it known to +you, that I am now a Christian, and free to fulfil Christian duties."--"I +ask your name," said the judge; "tell me it immediately."--"I am called +Alban by my parents," replied he; "and I worship ever and adore the true +and living God, Who created all things." Then the judge, filled with +anger, said, "If you would enjoy the happiness of eternal life, do not +delay to offer sacrifice to the great gods." Alban rejoined, "These +sacrifices, which by you are offered to devils, neither can avail the +worshippers, nor fulfil the desires and petitions of the suppliants. +Rather, whosoever shall offer sacrifice to these images, shall receive the +everlasting pains of hell for his reward." + +The judge, hearing these words, and being much incensed, ordered this holy +confessor of God to be scourged by the executioners, believing that he +might by stripes shake that constancy of heart, on which he could not +prevail by words. He, being most cruelly tortured, bore the same +patiently, or rather joyfully, for our Lord's sake. When the judge +perceived that he was not to be overcome by tortures, or withdrawn from +the exercise of the Christian religion, he ordered him to be put to death. +Being led to execution, he came to a river, which, with a most rapid +course, ran between the wall of the town and the arena where he was to be +executed.(53) He there saw a great multitude of persons of both sexes, and +of divers ages and conditions, who were doubtless assembled by Divine +inspiration, to attend the blessed confessor and martyr, and had so filled +the bridge over the river, that he could scarce pass over that evening. In +truth, almost all had gone out, so that the judge remained in the city +without attendance. St. Alban, therefore, urged by an ardent and devout +wish to attain the sooner to martyrdom, drew near to the stream, and +lifted up his eyes to heaven, whereupon the channel was immediately dried +up, and he perceived that the water had given place and made way for him +to pass. Among the rest, the executioner, who should have put him to +death, observed this, and moved doubtless by Divine inspiration hastened +to meet him at the appointed place of execution, and casting away the +sword which he had carried ready drawn, fell at his feet, praying +earnestly that he might rather be accounted worthy to suffer with the +martyr, whom he was ordered to execute, or, if possible, instead of him. + +Whilst he was thus changed from a persecutor into a companion in the faith +and truth, and the other executioners rightly hesitated to take up the +sword which was lying on the ground, the holy confessor, accompanied by +the multitude, ascended a hill, about half a mile from the arena, +beautiful, as was fitting, and of most pleasing appearance, adorned, or +rather clothed, everywhere with flowers of many colours, nowhere steep or +precipitous or of sheer descent, but with a long, smooth natural slope, +like a plain, on its sides, a place altogether worthy from of old, by +reason of its native beauty, to be consecrated by the blood of a blessed +martyr. On the top of this hill, St. Alban prayed that God would give him +water, and immediately a living spring, confined in its channel, sprang up +at his feet, so that all men acknowledged that even the stream had yielded +its service to the martyr. For it was impossible that the martyr, who had +left no water remaining in the river, should desire it on the top of the +hill, unless he thought it fitting. The river then having done service and +fulfilled the pious duty, returned to its natural course, leaving a +testimony of its obedience.(54) Here, therefore, the head of the undaunted +martyr was struck off, and here he received the crown of life, which God +has promised to them that love him. But he who laid impious hands on the +holy man's neck was not permitted to rejoice over his dead body; for his +eyes dropped upon the ground at the same moment as the blessed martyr's +head fell. + +At the same time was also beheaded the soldier, who before, through the +Divine admonition, refused to strike the holy confessor. Of whom it is +apparent, that though he was not purified by the waters of baptism, yet he +was cleansed by the washing of his own blood, and rendered worthy to enter +the kingdom of heaven. Then the judge, astonished at the unwonted sight of +so many heavenly miracles, ordered the persecution to cease immediately, +and began to honour the death of the saints, by which he once thought that +they might have been turned from their zeal for the Christian faith. The +blessed Alban suffered death on the twenty-second day of June, near the +city of Verulam,(55) which is now by the English nation called +Verlamacaestir, or Vaeclingacaestir, where afterwards, when peaceable +Christian times were restored, a church of wonderful workmanship, and +altogether worthy to commemorate his martyrdom, was erected.(56) In which +place the cure of sick persons and the frequent working of wonders cease +not to this day. + +At that time suffered Aaron and Julius,(57) citizens of the City of +Legions,(58) and many more of both sexes in divers places; who, after that +they had endured sundry torments, and their limbs had been mangled after +an unheard-of manner, when their warfare was accomplished, yielded their +souls up to the joys of the heavenly city. + + + + +Chap. VIII. How, when the persecution ceased, the Church in Britain +enjoyed peace till the time of the Arian heresy. + + +When the storm of persecution ceased, the faithful Christians, who, during +the time of danger, had hidden themselves in woods and deserts and secret +caves, came forth and rebuilt the churches which had been levelled to the +ground; founded, erected, and finished the cathedrals raised in honour of +the holy martyrs, and, as if displaying their conquering standards in all +places, celebrated festivals and performed their sacred rites with pure +hearts and lips. This peace continued in the Christian churches of Britain +until the time of the Arian madness, which, having corrupted the whole +world, infected this island also, so far removed from the rest of the +world, with the poison of its error; and when once a way was opened across +the sea for that plague, straightway all the taint of every heresy fell +upon the island, ever desirous to hear some new thing, and never holding +firm to any sure belief. + +At this time Constantius, who, whilst Diocletian was alive, governed Gaul +and Spain, a man of great clemency and urbanity, died in Britain. This man +left his son Constantine,(59) born of Helena, his concubine, emperor of +the Gauls. Eutropius writes that Constantine, being created emperor in +Britain, succeeded his father in the sovereignty. In his time the Arian +heresy broke out, and although it was exposed and condemned in the Council +of Nicaea,(60) nevertheless, the deadly poison of its evil spread, as has +been said, to the Churches in the islands, as well as to those of the rest +of the world. + + + + +Chap. IX. How during the reign of Gratian, Maximus, being created Emperor +in Britain, returned into Gaul with a mighty army. + + +In the year of our Lord 377,(61) Gratian, the fortieth from Augustus, held +the empire for six years after the death of Valens; though he had long +before reigned with his uncle Valens, and his brother Valentinian. Finding +the condition of the commonwealth much impaired, and almost gone to ruin, +and impelled by the necessity of restoring it, he invested the Spaniard, +Theodosius, with the purple at Sirmium, and made him emperor of Thrace and +the Eastern provinces. At that time, Maximus,(62) a man of energy and +probity, and worthy of the title of Augustus, if he had not broken his +oath of allegiance, was made emperor by the army somewhat against his +will, passed over into Gaul, and there by treachery slew the Emperor +Gratian, who in consternation at his sudden invasion, was attempting to +escape into Italy. His brother, the Emperor Valentinian, expelled from +Italy, fled into the East, where he was entertained by Theodosius with +fatherly affection, and soon restored to the empire, for Maximus the +tyrant, being shut up in Aquileia, was there taken by them and put to +death. + + + + +Chap. X. How, in the reign of Arcadius, Pelagius, a Briton, insolently +impugned the Grace of God. + + +In the year of our Lord 394,(63) Arcadius, the son of Theodosius, the +forty-third from Augustus, succeeding to the empire, with his brother +Honorius, held it thirteen years. In his time, Pelagius,(64) a Briton, +spread far and near the infection of his perfidious doctrine, denying the +assistance of the Divine grace, being seconded therein by his associate +Julianus of Campania,(65) who was impelled by an uncontrolled desire to +recover his bishopric, of which he had been deprived. St. Augustine, and +the other orthodox fathers, quoted many thousand catholic authorities +against them, but failed to amend their folly; nay, more, their madness +being rebuked was rather increased by contradiction than suffered by them +to be purified through adherence to the truth; which Prosper, the +rhetorician,(66) has beautifully expressed thus in heroic(67) verse:-- + + + They tell that one, erewhile consumed with gnawing spite, + snake-like attacked Augustine in his writings. Who urged the + wretched viper to raise from the ground his head, howsoever hidden + in dens of darkness? Either the sea-girt Britons reared him with + the fruit of their soil, or fed on Campanian pastures his heart + swells with pride. + + + + +Chap. XI. How during the reign of Honorius, Gratian and Constantine were +created tyrants in Britain; and soon after the former was slain in +Britain, and the latter in Gaul. + + +In the year of our Lord 407,(68) Honorius, the younger son of Theodosius, +and the forty-fourth from Augustus, being emperor, two years before the +invasion of Rome by Alaric, king of the Goths, when the nations of the +Alani, Suevi, Vandals, and many others with them, having defeated the +Franks and passed the Rhine, ravaged all Gaul, Gratianus, a citizen of the +country, was set up as tyrant in Britain and killed. In his place, +Constantine, one of the meanest soldiers, only for the hope afforded by +his name, and without any worth to recommend him, was chosen emperor. As +soon as he had taken upon him the command, he crossed over into Gaul, +where being often imposed upon by the barbarians with untrustworthy +treaties, he did more harm than good to the Commonwealth.(69) Whereupon +Count Constantius,(70) by the command of Honorius, marching into Gaul with +an army, besieged him in the city of Arles, took him prisoner, and put him +to death. His son Constans, a monk, whom he had created Caesar, was also +put to death by his own follower Count Gerontius,(71) at Vienne. + +Rome was taken by the Goths, in the year from its foundation, 1164.(72) +Then the Romans ceased to rule in Britain, almost 470 years after Caius +Julius Caesar came to the island. They dwelt within the rampart, which, as +we have mentioned, Severus made across the island, on the south side of +it, as the cities, watch-towers,(73) bridges, and paved roads there made +testify to this day; but they had a right of dominion over the farther +parts of Britain, as also over the islands that are beyond Britain. + + + + +Chap. XII. How the Britons, being ravaged by the Scots and Picts, sought +succour from the Romans, who coming a second time, built a wall across the +island; but when this was broken down at once by the aforesaid enemies, +they were reduced to greater distress than before. + + +From that time, the British part of Britain, destitute of armed soldiers, +of all military stores, and of the whole flower of its active youth, who +had been led away by the rashness of the tyrants never to return, was +wholly exposed to rapine, the people being altogether ignorant of the use +of weapons. Whereupon they suffered many years from the sudden invasions +of two very savage nations from beyond the sea, the Scots from the west, +and the Picts from the north. We call these nations from beyond the sea, +not on account of their being seated out of Britain, but because they were +separated from that part of it which was possessed by the Britons, two +broad and long inlets of the sea lying between them, one of which runs +into the interior of Britain, from the Eastern Sea, and the other from the +Western, though they do not reach so far as to touch one another. The +eastern has in the midst of it the city Giudi.(74) On the Western Sea, +that is, on its right shore, stands the city of Alcluith,(75) which in +their language signifies the Rock Cluith, for it is close by the river of +that name. + +On account of the attacks of these nations, the Britons sent messengers to +Rome with letters piteously praying for succour, and promising perpetual +subjection, provided that the impending enemy should be driven away. An +armed legion was immediately sent them, which, arriving in the island, and +engaging the enemy, slew a great multitude of them, drove the rest out of +the territories of their allies, and having in the meanwhile delivered +them from their worst distress, advised them to build a wall between the +two seas across the island, that it might secure them by keeping off the +enemy. So they returned home with great triumph. But the islanders +building the wall which they had been told to raise, not of stone, since +they had no workmen capable of such a work, but of sods, made it of no +use. Nevertheless, they carried it for many miles between the two bays or +inlets of the sea of which we have spoken;(76) to the end that where the +protection of the water was wanting, they might use the rampart to defend +their borders from the irruptions of the enemies. Of the work there +erected, that is, of a rampart of great breadth and height, there are +evident remains to be seen at this day. It begins at about two miles' +distance from the monastery of Aebbercurnig,(77) west of it, at a place +called in the Pictish language Peanfahel,(78) but in the English tongue, +Penneltun, and running westward, ends near the city of Alcluith. + +But the former enemies, when they perceived that the Roman soldiers were +gone, immediately coming by sea, broke into the borders, trampled and +overran all places, and like men mowing ripe corn, bore down all before +them. Hereupon messengers were again sent to Rome miserably imploring aid, +lest their wretched country should be utterly blotted out, and the name of +a Roman province, so long renowned among them, overthrown by the cruelties +of foreign races, might become utterly contemptible. A legion was +accordingly sent again, and, arriving unexpectedly in autumn, made great +slaughter of the enemy, obliging all those that could escape, to flee +beyond the sea; whereas before, they were wont yearly to carry off their +booty without any opposition. Then the Romans declared to the Britons, +that they could not for the future undertake such troublesome expeditions +for their sake, and advised them rather to take up arms and make an effort +to engage their enemies, who could not prove too powerful for them, unless +they themselves were enervated by cowardice. Moreover, thinking that it +might be some help to the allies, whom they were forced to abandon, they +constructed a strong stone wall from sea to sea, in a straight line +between the towns that had been there built for fear of the enemy, where +Severus also had formerly built a rampart.(79) This famous wall, which is +still to be seen, was raised at public and private expense, the Britons +also lending their assistance. It is eight feet in breadth, and twelve in +height, in a straight line from east to west, as is still evident to +beholders. This being presently finished, they gave the dispirited people +good advice, and showed them how to furnish themselves with arms. Besides, +they built towers to command a view of the sea, at intervals, on the +southern coast, where their ships lay, because there also the invasions of +the barbarians were apprehended, and so took leave of their allies, never +to return again. + +After their departure to their own country, the Scots and Picts, +understanding that they had refused to return, at once came back, and +growing more confident than they had been before, occupied all the +northern and farthest part of the island, driving out the natives, as far +as the wall. Hereupon a timorous guard was placed upon the fortification, +where, dazed with fear, they became ever more dispirited day by day. On +the other side, the enemy constantly attacked them with barbed weapons, by +which the cowardly defenders were dragged in piteous fashion from the +wall, and dashed against the ground. At last, the Britons, forsaking their +cities and wall, took to flight and were scattered. The enemy pursued, and +forthwith followed a massacre more grievous than ever before; for the +wretched natives were torn in pieces by their enemies, as lambs are torn +by wild beasts. Thus, being expelled from their dwellings and lands, they +saved themselves from the immediate danger of starvation by robbing and +plundering one another, adding to the calamities inflicted by the enemy +their own domestic broils, till the whole country was left destitute of +food except such as could be procured in the chase. + + + + +Chap. XIII. How in the reign of Theodosius the younger, in whose time +Palladius was sent to the Scots that believed in Christ, the Britons +begging assistance of AEtius, the consul, could not obtain it. [446 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 423, Theodosius, the younger, the forty-fifth from +Augustus, succeeded Honorius and governed the Roman empire twenty-six +years. In the eighth year of his reign,(80) Palladius was sent by +Celestinus, the Roman pontiff, to the Scots that believed in Christ, to be +their first bishop. In the twenty-third year of his reign, Aetius,(81) a +man of note and a patrician, discharged his third consulship with +Symmachus for his colleague. To him the wretched remnant of the Britons +sent a letter, which began thus:--"To Aetius, thrice Consul, the groans of +the Britons." And in the sequel of the letter they thus unfolded their +woes:--"The barbarians drive us to the sea; the sea drives us back to the +barbarians: between them we are exposed to two sorts of death; we are +either slaughtered or drowned." Yet, for all this, they could not obtain +any help from him, as he was then engaged in most serious wars with Bledla +and Attila, kings of the Huns. And though the year before this(82) Bledla +had been murdered by the treachery of his own brother Attila, yet Attila +himself remained so intolerable an enemy to the Republic, that he ravaged +almost all Europe, attacking and destroying cities and castles. At the +same time there was a famine at Constantinople, and soon after a plague +followed; moreover, a great part of the wall of that city, with +fifty-seven towers, fell to the ground. Many cities also went to ruin, and +the famine and pestilential state of the air destroyed thousands of men +and cattle. + + + + +Chap. XIV. How the Britons, compelled by the great famine, drove the +barbarians out of their territories; and soon after there ensued, along +with abundance of corn, decay of morals, pestilence, and the downfall of +the nation. + + +In the meantime, the aforesaid famine distressing the Britons more and +more, and leaving to posterity a lasting memory of its mischievous +effects, obliged many of them to submit themselves to the depredators; +though others still held out, putting their trust in God, when human help +failed. These continually made raids from the mountains, caves, and woods, +and, at length, began to inflict severe losses on their enemies, who had +been for so many years plundering the country. The bold Irish robbers +thereupon returned home, intending to come again before long. The Picts +then settled down in the farthest part of the island and afterwards +remained there, but they did not fail to plunder and harass the Britons +from time to time. + +Now, when the ravages of the enemy at length abated, the island began to +abound with such plenty of grain as had never been known in any age +before; along with plenty, evil living increased, and this was immediately +attended by the taint of all manner of crime; in particular, cruelty, +hatred of truth, and love of falsehood; insomuch, that if any one among +them happened to be milder than the rest, and more inclined to truth, all +the rest abhorred and persecuted him unrestrainedly, as if he had been the +enemy of Britain. Nor were the laity only guilty of these things, but even +our Lord's own flock, with its shepherds, casting off the easy yoke of +Christ, gave themselves up to drunkenness, enmity, quarrels, strife, envy, +and other such sins. In the meantime, on a sudden, a grievous plague fell +upon that corrupt generation, which soon destroyed such numbers of them, +that the living scarcely availed to bury the dead: yet, those that +survived, could not be recalled from the spiritual death, which they had +incurred through their sins, either by the death of their friends, or the +fear of death. Whereupon, not long after, a more severe vengeance for +their fearful crimes fell upon the sinful nation. They held a council to +determine what was to be done, and where they should seek help to prevent +or repel the cruel and frequent incursions of the northern nations; and in +concert with their King Vortigern,(83) it was unanimously decided to call +the Saxons to their aid from beyond the sea, which, as the event plainly +showed, was brought about by the Lord's will, that evil might fall upon +them for their wicked deeds. + + + + +Chap. XV. How the Angles, being invited into Britain, at first drove off +the enemy; but not long after, making a league with them, turned their +weapons against their allies. + + +In the year of our Lord 449,(84) Marcian, the forty-sixth from Augustus, +being made emperor with Valentinian, ruled the empire seven years. Then +the nation of the Angles, or Saxons,(85) being invited by the aforesaid +king,(86) arrived in Britain with three ships of war and had a place in +which to settle assigned to them by the same king, in the eastern part of +the island, on the pretext of fighting in defence of their country, whilst +their real intentions were to conquer it. Accordingly they engaged with +the enemy, who were come from the north to give battle, and the Saxons +obtained the victory. When the news of their success and of the fertility +of the country, and the cowardice of the Britons, reached their own home, +a more considerable fleet was quickly sent over, bringing a greater number +of men, and these, being added to the former army, made up an invincible +force. The newcomers received of the Britons a place to inhabit among +them, upon condition that they should wage war against their enemies for +the peace and security of the country, whilst the Britons agreed to +furnish them with pay. Those who came over were of the three most powerful +nations of Germany--Saxons, Angles, and Jutes. From the Jutes are descended +the people of Kent, and of the Isle of Wight, including those in the +province of the West-Saxons who are to this day called Jutes, seated +opposite to the Isle of Wight. From the Saxons, that is, the country which +is now called Old Saxony, came the East-Saxons, the South-Saxons, and the +West-Saxons. From the Angles, that is, the country which is called +Angulus,(87) and which is said, from that time, to have remained desert to +this day, between the provinces of the Jutes and the Saxons, are descended +the East-Angles, the Midland-Angles, the Mercians, all the race of the +Northumbrians, that is, of those nations that dwell on the north side of +the river Humber, and the other nations of the Angles. The first +commanders are said to have been the two brothers Hengist and Horsa. Of +these Horsa was afterwards slain in battle by the Britons,(88) and a +monument, bearing his name, is still in existence in the eastern parts of +Kent. They were the sons of Victgilsus, whose father was Vitta, son of +Vecta, son of Woden; from whose stock the royal race of many provinces +trace their descent. In a short time, swarms of the aforesaid nations came +over into the island, and the foreigners began to increase so much, that +they became a source of terror to the natives themselves who had invited +them. Then, having on a sudden entered into league with the Picts, whom +they had by this time repelled by force of arms, they began to turn their +weapons against their allies. At first, they obliged them to furnish a +greater quantity of provisions; and, seeking an occasion of quarrel, +protested, that unless more plentiful supplies were brought them, they +would break the league, and ravage all the island; nor were they backward +in putting their threats into execution. In short, the fire kindled by the +hands of the pagans, proved God's just vengeance for the crimes of the +people; not unlike that which, being of old lighted by the Chaldeans, +consumed the walls and all the buildings of Jerusalem. For here, too, +through the agency of the pitiless conqueror, yet by the disposal of the +just Judge, it ravaged all the neighbouring cities and country, spread the +conflagration from the eastern to the western sea, without any opposition, +and overran the whole face of the doomed island. Public as well as private +buildings were overturned; the priests were everywhere slain before the +altars; no respect was shown for office, the prelates with the people were +destroyed with fire and sword; nor were there any left to bury those who +had been thus cruelly slaughtered. Some of the miserable remnant, being +taken in the mountains, were butchered in heaps. Others, spent with +hunger, came forth and submitted themselves to the enemy, to undergo for +the sake of food perpetual servitude, if they were not killed upon the +spot. Some, with sorrowful hearts, fled beyond the seas. Others, remaining +in their own country, led a miserable life of terror and anxiety of mind +among the mountains, woods and crags. + + + + +Chap. XVI. How the Britons obtained their first victory over the Angles, +under the command of Ambrosius, a Roman. + + +When the army of the enemy, having destroyed and dispersed the natives, +had returned home to their own settlements,(89) the Britons began by +degrees to take heart, and gather strength, sallying out of the lurking +places where they had concealed themselves, and with one accord imploring +the Divine help, that they might not utterly be destroyed. They had at +that time for their leader, Ambrosius Aurelianus,(90) a man of worth, who +alone, by chance, of the Roman nation had survived the storm, in which his +parents, who were of the royal race, had perished. Under him the Britons +revived, and offering battle to the victors, by the help of God, gained +the victory. From that day, sometimes the natives, and sometimes their +enemies, prevailed, till the year of the siege of Badon-hill,(91) when +they made no small slaughter of those enemies, about forty-four years +after their arrival in England. But of this hereafter. + + + + +Chap. XVII. How Germanus the Bishop, sailing into Britain with Lupus, +first quelled the tempest of the sea, and afterwards that of the +Pelagians, by Divine power. [429 A.D.] + + +Some few years before their arrival, the Pelagian heresy, brought over by +Agricola, the son of Severianus,(92) a Pelagian bishop, had corrupted with +its foul taint the faith of the Britons. But whereas they absolutely +refused to embrace that perverse doctrine, and blaspheme the grace of +Christ, yet were not able of themselves to confute the subtilty of the +unholy belief by force of argument, they bethought them of wholesome +counsels and determined to crave aid of the Gallican prelates in that +spiritual warfare. Hereupon, these, having assembled a great synod, +consulted together to determine what persons should be sent thither to +sustain the faith, and by unanimous consent, choice was made of the +apostolic prelates, Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus of Troyes,(93) +to go into Britain to confirm the people's faith in the grace of God. With +ready zeal they complied with the request and commands of the Holy Church, +and put to sea. The ship sped safely with favouring winds till they were +halfway between the coast of Gaul and Britain. There on a sudden they were +obstructed by the malevolence of demons, who were jealous that men of such +eminence and piety should be sent to bring back the people to salvation. +They raised storms, and darkened the sky with clouds. The sails could not +support the fury of the winds, the sailors' skill was forced to give way, +the ship was sustained by prayer, not by strength, and as it happened, +their spiritual leader and bishop, being spent with weariness, had fallen +asleep. Then, as if because resistance flagged, the tempest gathered +strength, and the ship, overwhelmed by the waves, was ready to sink. Then +the blessed Lupus and all the rest, greatly troubled, awakened their +elder, that he might oppose the raging elements. He, showing himself the +more resolute in proportion to the greatness of the danger, called upon +Christ, and having, in the name of the Holy Trinity, taken and sprinkled a +little water, quelled the raging waves, admonished his companion, +encouraged all, and all with one consent uplifted their voices in prayer. +Divine help was granted, the enemies were put to flight, a cloudless calm +ensued, the winds veering about set themselves again to forward their +voyage, the sea was soon traversed, and they reached the quiet of the +wished-for shore. A multitude flocking thither from all parts, received +the bishops, whose coming had been foretold by the predictions even of +their adversaries. For the evil spirits declared their fear, and when the +bishops expelled them from the bodies of the possessed, they made known +the nature of the tempest, and the dangers they had occasioned, and +confessed that they had been overcome by the merits and authority of these +men. + +In the meantime the bishops speedily filled the island of Britain with the +fame of their preaching and miracles; and the Word of God was by them +daily preached, not only in the churches, but even in the streets and +fields, so that the faithful and Catholic were everywhere confirmed, and +those who had been perverted accepted the way of amendment. Like the +Apostles, they acquired honour and authority through a good conscience, +learning through the study of letters, and the power of working miracles +through their merits. Thus the whole country readily came over to their +way of thinking; the authors of the erroneous belief kept themselves in +hiding, and, like evil spirits, grieved for the loss of the people that +were rescued from them. At length, after long deliberation, they had the +boldness to enter the lists.(94) They came forward in all the splendour of +their wealth, with gorgeous apparel, and supported by a numerous +following; choosing rather to hazard the contest, than to undergo among +the people whom they had led astray, the reproach of having been silenced, +lest they should seem by saying nothing to condemn themselves. An immense +multitude had been attracted thither with their wives and children. The +people were present as spectators and judges; the two parties stood there +in very different case; on the one side was Divine faith, on the other +human presumption; on the one side piety, on the other pride; on the one +side Pelagius, the founder of their faith, on the other Christ. The +blessed bishops permitted their adversaries to speak first, and their +empty speech long took up the time and filled the ears with meaningless +words. Then the venerable prelates poured forth the torrent of their +eloquence and showered upon them the words of Apostles and Evangelists, +mingling the Scriptures with their own discourse and supporting their +strongest assertions by the testimony of the written Word. Vainglory was +vanquished and unbelief refuted; and the heretics, at every argument put +before them, not being able to reply, confessed their errors. The people, +giving judgement, could scarce refrain from violence, and signified their +verdict by their acclamations. + + + + +Chap. XVIII. How the some holy man gave sight to the blind daughter of a +tribune, and then coming to St. Alban, there received of his relics, and +left other relics of the blessed Apostles and other martyrs. [429 A.D.] + + +After this, a certain man, who held the office of tribune, came forward +with his wife, and brought his blind daughter, a child of ten years of +age, to be healed of the bishops. They ordered her to be brought to their +adversaries, who, being rebuked by their own conscience, joined their +entreaties to those of the child's parents, and besought the bishops that +she might be healed. They, therefore, perceiving their adversaries to +yield, poured forth a short prayer, and then Germanus, full of the Holy +Ghost, invoking the Trinity, at once drew from his side a casket which +hung about his neck, containing relics of the saints, and, taking it in +his hands, applied it in the sight of all to the girl's eyes, which were +immediately delivered from darkness and filled with the light of truth. +The parents rejoiced, and the people were filled with awe at the miracle; +and after that day, the heretical beliefs were so fully obliterated from +the minds of all, that they thirsted for and sought after the doctrine of +the bishops. + +This damnable heresy being thus suppressed, and the authors thereof +confuted, and all the people settled in the purity of the faith, the +bishops went to the tomb of the martyr, the blessed Alban, to give thanks +to God through him. There Germanus, having with him relics of all the +Apostles, and of divers martyrs, after offering up his prayers, commanded +the tomb to be opened, that he might lay therein the precious gifts; +judging it fitting, that the limbs of saints brought together from divers +countries, as their equal merits had procured them admission into heaven, +should find shelter in one tomb. These being honourably bestowed, and laid +together, he took up a handful of dust from the place where the blessed +martyr's blood had been shed, to carry away with him. In this dust the +blood had been preserved, showing that the slaughter of the martyrs was +red, though the persecutor was pale in death.(95) In consequence of these +things, an innumerable multitude of people was that day converted to the +Lord. + + + + +Chap. XIX. How the same holy man, being detained there by sickness, by his +prayers quenched a fire that had broken out among the houses, and was +himself cured of his infirmity by a vision. [429 A.D.] + + +As they were returning thence, the treacherous enemy, having, as it +chanced, prepared a snare, caused Germanus to bruise his foot by a fall, +not knowing that, as it was with the blessed Job, his merits would be but +increased by bodily affliction. Whilst he was thus detained some time in +the same place by his infirmity, a fire broke out in a cottage +neighbouring to that in which he was; and having burned down the other +houses which were thatched with reed, fanned by the wind, was carried on +to the dwelling in which he lay. The people all flocked to the prelate, +entreating that they might lift him in their arms, and save him from the +impending danger. But he rebuked them, and in the assurance of his faith, +would not suffer himself to be removed. The whole multitude, in terror and +despair, ran to oppose the conflagration; but, for the greater +manifestation of the Divine power, whatsoever the crowd endeavoured to +save, was destroyed; and what the sick and helpless man defended, the +flame avoided and passed by, though the house that sheltered the holy man +lay open to it,(96) and while the fire raged on every side, the place in +which he lay appeared untouched, amid the general conflagration. The +multitude rejoiced at the miracle, and was gladly vanquished by the power +of God. A great crowd of people watched day and night before the humble +cottage; some to have their souls healed, and some their bodies. All that +Christ wrought in the person of his servant, all the wonders the sick man +performed cannot be told. Moreover, he would suffer no medicines to be +applied to his infirmity; but one night he saw one clad in garments as +white as snow, standing by him, who reaching out his hand, seemed to raise +him up, and ordered him to stand firm upon his feet; from which time his +pain ceased, and he was so perfectly restored, that when the day came, +with good courage he set forth upon his journey. + + + + +Chap. XX. How the same Bishops brought help from Heaven to the Britons in +a battle, and then returned home. [430 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, the Saxons and Picts, with their united forces, made war +upon the Britons, who in these straits were compelled to take up arms. In +their terror thinking themselves unequal to their enemies, they implored +the assistance of the holy bishops; who, hastening to them as they had +promised, inspired so much confidence into these fearful people, that one +would have thought they had been joined by a mighty army. Thus, by these +apostolic leaders, Christ Himself commanded in their camp. The holy days +of Lent were also at hand, and were rendered more sacred by the presence +of the bishops, insomuch that the people being instructed by daily +sermons, came together eagerly to receive the grace of baptism. For a +great multitude of the army desired admission to the saving waters, and a +wattled church was constructed for the Feast of the Resurrection of our +Lord, and so fitted up for the army in the field as if it were in a city. +Still wet with the baptismal water the troops set forth; the faith of the +people was fired; and where arms had been deemed of no avail, they looked +to the help of God. News reached the enemy of the manner and method of +their purification,(97) who, assured of success, as if they had to deal +with an unarmed host, hastened forward with renewed eagerness. But their +approach was made known by scouts. When, after the celebration of Easter, +the greater part of the army, fresh from the font, began to take up arms +and prepare for war, Germanus offered to be their leader. He picked out +the most active, explored the country round about, and observed, in the +way by which the enemy was expected, a valley encompassed by hills(98) of +moderate height. In that place he drew up his untried troops, himself +acting as their general. And now a formidable host of foes drew near, +visible, as they approached, to his men lying in ambush. Then, on a +sudden, Germanus, bearing the standard, exhorted his men, and bade them +all in a loud voice repeat his words. As the enemy advanced in all +security, thinking to take them by surprise, the bishops three times +cried, "Hallelujah." A universal shout of the same word followed, and the +echoes from the surrounding hills gave back the cry on all sides, the +enemy was panic-stricken, fearing, not only the neighbouring rocks, but +even the very frame of heaven above them; and such was their terror, that +their feet were not swift enough to save them. They fled in disorder, +casting away their arms, and well satisfied if, even with unprotected +bodies, they could escape the danger; many of them, flying headlong in +their fear, were engulfed by the river which they had crossed. The +Britons, without a blow, inactive spectators of the victory they had +gained, beheld their vengeance complete. The scattered spoils were +gathered up, and the devout soldiers rejoiced in the success which Heaven +had granted them. The prelates thus triumphed over the enemy without +bloodshed, and gained a victory by faith, without the aid of human force. +Thus, having settled the affairs of the island, and restored tranquillity +by the defeat of the invisible foes, as well as of enemies in the flesh, +they prepared to return home. Their own merits, and the intercession of +the blessed martyr Alban, obtained for them a calm passage, and the happy +vessel restored them in peace to the desires of their people. + + + + +Chap. XXI. How, when the Pelagian heresy began to spring up afresh, +Germanus, returning to Britain with Severus, first restored bodily +strength to a lame youth, then spiritual health to the people of God, +having condemned or converted the Heretics. [447 A.D.] + + +Not long after, news was brought from the same island, that certain +persons were again attempting to teach and spread abroad the Pelagian +heresy, and again the holy Germanus was entreated by all the priests, that +he would defend the cause of God, which he had before maintained. He +speedily complied with their request; and taking with him Severus,(99) a +man of singular sanctity, who was disciple to the blessed father, Lupus, +bishop of Troyes, and at that time, having been ordained bishop of the +Treveri, was preaching the Word of God to the tribes of Upper Germany, put +to sea, and with favouring winds and calm waters sailed to Britain.(100) + +In the meantime, the evil spirits, speeding through the whole island, were +constrained against their will to foretell that Germanus was coming, +insomuch, that one Elafius, a chief of that region, without tidings from +any visible messenger, hastened to meet the holy men, carrying with him +his son, who in the very flower of his youth laboured under a grievous +infirmity; for the sinews of the knee were wasted and shrunk, so that the +withered limb was denied the power to walk. All the country followed this +Elafius. The bishops arrived, and were met by the ignorant multitude, whom +they blessed, and preached the Word of God to them. They found the people +constant in the faith as they had left them; and learning that but few had +gone astray, they sought out the authors of the evil and condemned them. +Then suddenly Elafius cast himself at the feet of the bishops, presenting +his son, whose distress was visible and needed no words to express it. All +were grieved, but especially the bishops, who, filled with pity, invoked +the mercy of God; and straightway the blessed Germanus, causing the youth +to sit down, touched the bent and feeble knee and passed his healing hand +over all the diseased part. At once health was restored by the power of +his touch, the withered limb regained its vigour, the sinews resumed their +task, and the youth was, in the presence of all the people, delivered +whole to his father. The multitude was amazed at the miracle, and the +Catholic faith was firmly established in the hearts of all; after which, +they were, in a sermon, exhorted to amend their error. By the judgement of +all, the exponents of the heresy, who had been banished from the island, +were brought before the bishops, to be conveyed into the continent, that +the country might be rid of them, and they corrected of their errors. So +it came to pass that the faith in those parts continued long after pure +and untainted. Thus when they had settled all things, the blessed prelates +returned home as prosperously as they had come. + +But Germanus, after this, went to Ravenna to intercede for the +tranquillity of the Armoricans,(101) where, after being very honourably +received by Valentinian and his mother, Placidia, he departed hence to +Christ; his body was conveyed to his own city with a splendid retinue, and +mighty works attended his passage to the grave. Not long after, +Valentinian was murdered by the followers of Aetius, the patrician, whom +he had put to death, in the sixth(102) year of the reign of Marcian, and +with him ended the empire of the West. + + + + +Chap. XXII. How the Britons, being for a time at rest from foreign +invasions, wore themselves out by civil wars, and at the same time gave +themselves up to more heinous crimes. + + +In the meantime, in Britain, there was some respite from foreign, but not +from civil war. The cities destroyed by the enemy and abandoned remained +in ruins; and the natives, who had escaped the enemy, now fought against +each other. Nevertheless, the kings, priests, private men, and the +nobility, still remembering the late calamities and slaughters, in some +measure kept within bounds; but when these died, and another generation +succeeded, which knew nothing of those times, and was only acquainted with +the existing peaceable state of things, all the bonds of truth and justice +were so entirely broken, that there was not only no trace of them +remaining, but only very few persons seemed to retain any memory of them +at all. To other crimes beyond description, which their own historian, +Gildas,(103) mournfully relates, they added this--that they never preached +the faith to the Saxons, or English, who dwelt amongst them. Nevertheless, +the goodness of God did not forsake his people, whom he foreknew, but sent +to the aforesaid nation much more worthy heralds of the truth, to bring it +to the faith. + + + + +Chap. XXIII. How the holy Pope Gregory sent Augustine, with other monks, +to preach to the English nation, and encouraged them by a letter of +exhortation, not to desist from their labour. [596 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 582, Maurice, the fifty-fourth from Augustus, +ascended the throne, and reigned twenty-one years. In the tenth year of +his reign, Gregory,(104) a man eminent in learning and the conduct of +affairs, was promoted to the Apostolic see of Rome, and presided over it +thirteen years, six months and ten days. He, being moved by Divine +inspiration, in the fourteenth year of the same emperor, and about the one +hundred and fiftieth after the coming of the English into Britain, sent +the servant of God, Augustine,(105) and with him divers other monks, who +feared the Lord, to preach the Word of God to the English nation. They +having, in obedience to the pope's commands, undertaken that work, when +they had gone but a little way on their journey, were seized with craven +terror, and began to think of returning home, rather than proceed to a +barbarous, fierce, and unbelieving nation, to whose very language they +were strangers; and by common consent they decided that this was the safer +course. At once Augustine, who had been appointed to be consecrated +bishop, if they should be received by the English, was sent back, that he +might, by humble entreaty, obtain of the blessed Gregory, that they should +not be compelled to undertake so dangerous, toilsome, and uncertain a +journey. The pope, in reply, sent them a letter of exhortation, persuading +them to set forth to the work of the Divine Word, and rely on the help of +God. The purport of which letter was as follows: + +"_Gregory, the servant of the servants of God, to the servants of our +Lord._ Forasmuch as it had been better not to begin a good work, than to +think of desisting from one which has been begun, it behoves you, my +beloved sons, to fulfil with all diligence the good work, which, by the +help of the Lord, you have undertaken. Let not, therefore, the toil of the +journey, nor the tongues of evil-speaking men, discourage you; but with +all earnestness and zeal perform, by God's guidance, that which you have +set about; being assured, that great labour is followed by the greater +glory of an eternal reward. When Augustine, your Superior, returns, whom +we also constitute your abbot, humbly obey him in all things; knowing, +that whatsoever you shall do by his direction, will, in all respects, be +profitable to your souls. Almighty God protect you with His grace, and +grant that I may, in the heavenly country, see the fruits of your labour, +inasmuch as, though I cannot labour with you, I shall partake in the joy +of the reward, because I am willing to labour. God keep you in safety, my +most beloved sons. Given the 23rd of July, in the fourteenth year of the +reign of our most religious lord, Mauritius Tiberius Augustus, the +thirteenth year after the consulship of our lord aforesaid, and the +fourteenth indiction."(106) + + + + +Chap. XXIV. How he wrote to the bishop of Arles to entertain them. [596 +A.D.] + + +The same venerable pope also sent at the same time a letter to Aetherius, +archbishop of Arles,(107) exhorting him to give favourable entertainment +to Augustine on his way to Britain; which letter was in these words: + +"_To his most reverend and holy brother and fellow bishop Aetherius, +Gregory, the servant of the servants of God._ Although religious men stand +in need of no recommendation with priests who have the charity which is +pleasing to God; yet because an opportunity of writing has occurred, we +have thought fit to send this letter to you, Brother, to inform you, that +with the help of God we have directed thither, for the good of souls, the +bearer of these presents, Augustine, the servant of God, of whose zeal we +are assured, with other servants of God, whom it is requisite that your +Holiness readily assist with priestly zeal, affording him all the comfort +in your power. And to the end that you may be the more ready in your help, +we have enjoined him to inform you particularly of the occasion of his +coming; knowing, that when you are acquainted with it, you will, as the +matter requires, for the sake of God, dutifully dispose yourself to give +him comfort. We also in all things recommend to your charity, +Candidus,(108) the priest, our common son, whom we have transferred to the +administration of a small patrimony in our Church. God keep you in safety, +most reverend brother. Given the 23rd day of July, in the fourteenth year +of the reign of our most religious lord, Mauritius Tiberius Augustus, the +thirteenth year after the consulship of our lord aforesaid, and the +fourteenth indiction." + + + + +Chap. XXV. How Augustine, coming into Britain, first preached in the Isle +of Thanet to the King of Kent, and having obtained licence from him, went +into Kent, in order to preach therein. [597 A.D.] + + +Augustine, thus strengthened by the encouragement of the blessed Father +Gregory, returned to the work of the Word of God, with the servants of +Christ who were with him, and arrived in Britain. The powerful Ethelbert +was at that time king of Kent;(109) he had extended his dominions as far +as the boundary formed by the great river Humber, by which the Southern +Saxons are divided from the Northern. On the east of Kent is the large +Isle of Thanet, containing, according to the English way of reckoning, 600 +families,(110) divided from the mainland by the river Wantsum,(111) which +is about three furlongs in breadth, and which can be crossed only in two +places; for at both ends it runs into the sea. On this island landed(112) +the servant of the Lord, Augustine, and his companions, being, as is +reported, nearly forty men. They had obtained, by order of the blessed +Pope Gregory, interpreters of the nation of the Franks,(113) and sending +to Ethelbert, signified that they were come from Rome, and brought a +joyful message, which most undoubtedly assured to those that hearkened to +it everlasting joys in heaven, and a kingdom that would never end, with +the living and true God. The king hearing this, gave orders that they +should stay in the island where they had landed, and be furnished with +necessaries, till he should consider what to do with them. For he had +before heard of the Christian religion, having a Christian wife of the +royal family of the Franks, called Bertha;(114) whom he had received from +her parents, upon condition that she should be permitted to preserve +inviolate the rites of her religion with the Bishop Liudhard,(115) who was +sent with her to support her in the faith. Some days after, the king came +into the island, and sitting in the open air, ordered Augustine and his +companions to come and hold a conference with him. For he had taken +precaution that they should not come to him in any house, lest, by so +coming, according to an ancient superstition, if they practised any +magical arts, they might impose upon him, and so get the better of him. +But they came endued with Divine, not with magic power, bearing a silver +cross for their banner, and the image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a +board; and chanting litanies, they offered up their prayers to the Lord +for the eternal salvation both of themselves and of those to whom and for +whom they had come. When they had sat down, in obedience to the king's +commands, and preached to him and his attendants there present the Word of +life, the king answered thus: "Your words and promises are fair, but +because they are new to us, and of uncertain import, I cannot consent to +them so far as to forsake that which I have so long observed with the +whole English nation. But because you are come from far as strangers into +my kingdom, and, as I conceive, are desirous to impart to us those things +which you believe to be true, and most beneficial, we desire not to harm +you, but will give you favourable entertainment, and take care to supply +you with all things necessary to your sustenance; nor do we forbid you to +preach and gain as many as you can to your religion." Accordingly he gave +them an abode in the city of Canterbury,(116) which was the metropolis of +all his dominions, and, as he had promised, besides supplying them with +sustenance, did not refuse them liberty to preach. It is told that, as +they drew near to the city, after their manner, with the holy cross, and +the image of our sovereign Lord and King, Jesus Christ, they sang in +concert this litany: "We beseech thee, O Lord, for Thy great mercy, that +Thy wrath and anger be turned away from this city, and from Thy holy +house, for we have sinned. Hallelujah." + + + + +Chap. XXVI. How St. Augustine in Kent followed the doctrine and manner of +life of the primitive Church, and settled his episcopal see in the royal +city. [597 A.D.] + + +As soon as they entered the dwelling-place assigned to them, they began to +imitate the Apostolic manner of life in the primitive Church; applying +themselves to constant prayer, watchings, and fastings; preaching the Word +of life to as many as they could; despising all worldly things, as in +nowise concerning them; receiving only their necessary food from those +they taught; living themselves in all respects conformably to what they +taught, and being always ready to suffer any adversity, and even to die +for that truth which they preached. In brief, some believed and were +baptized, admiring the simplicity of their blameless life, and the +sweetness of their heavenly doctrine. There was on the east side of the +city, a church dedicated of old to the honour of St. Martin,(117) built +whilst the Romans were still in the island, wherein the queen, who, as has +been said before, was a Christian, was wont to pray. In this they also +first began to come together, to chant the Psalms, to pray, to celebrate +Mass, to preach, and to baptize, till when the king had been converted to +the faith, they obtained greater liberty to preach everywhere and build or +repair churches. + +When he, among the rest, believed and was baptized, attracted by the pure +life of these holy men and their gracious promises, the truth of which +they established by many miracles, greater numbers began daily to flock +together to hear the Word, and, forsaking their heathen rites, to have +fellowship, through faith, in the unity of Christ's Holy Church. It is +told that the king, while he rejoiced at their conversion and their faith, +yet compelled none to embrace Christianity, but only showed more affection +to the believers, as to his fellow citizens in the kingdom of Heaven. For +he had learned from those who had instructed him and guided him to +salvation, that the service of Christ ought to be voluntary, not by +compulsion. Nor was it long before he gave his teachers a settled +residence suited to their degree in his metropolis of Canterbury, with +such possessions of divers sorts as were necessary for them. + + + + +Chap. XXVII. How St. Augustine, being made a bishop, sent to acquaint Pope +Gregory with what had been done in Britain, and asked and received +replies, of which he stood in need. [597-601 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, Augustine, the man of God, went to Arles, and, according +to the orders received from the holy Father Gregory, was ordained +archbishop of the English nation,(118) by Aetherius,(119) archbishop of +that city. Then returning into Britain, he sent Laurentius the the +priest(120) and Peter the monk(121) to Rome, to acquaint Pope Gregory, +that the English nation had received the faith of Christ, and that he was +himself made their bishop. At the same time, he desired his solution of +some doubts which seemed urgent to him. He soon received fitting answers +to his questions, which we have also thought meet to insert in this our +history: + +_The First Question of the blessed Augustine, Bishop of the Church of +Canterbury._--Concerning bishops, what should be their manner of +conversation towards their clergy? or into how many portions the offerings +of the faithful at the altar are to be divided? and how the bishop is to +act in the Church? + +_Gregory, Pope of the City of Rome, answers._--Holy Scripture, in which we +doubt not you are well versed, testifies to this, and in particular the +Epistles of the Blessed Paul to Timothy, wherein he endeavours to show him +what should be his manner of conversation in the house of God; but it is +the custom of the Apostolic see to prescribe these rules to bishops when +they are ordained: that all emoluments which accrue, are to be divided +into four portions;--one for the bishop and his household, for hospitality +and entertainment of guests; another for the clergy; a third for the poor; +and the fourth for the repair of churches. But in that you, my brother, +having been instructed in monastic rules, must not live apart from your +clergy in the Church of the English, which has been lately, by the will of +God, converted to the faith, you must establish the manner of conversation +of our fathers in the primitive Church, among whom, none said that aught +of the things which they possessed was his own, but they had all things +common. + +But if there are any clerks not received into holy orders,(122) who cannot +live continent, they are to take wives, and receive their stipends outside +of the community; because we know that it is written concerning the same +fathers of whom we have spoken that a distribution was made unto every man +according as he had need. Care is also to be taken of their stipends, and +provision to be made, and they are to be kept under ecclesiastical rule, +that they may live orderly, and attend to singing of psalms, and, by the +help of God, preserve their hearts and tongues and bodies from all that is +unlawful. But as for those that live in common, there is no need to say +anything of assigning portions, or dispensing hospitality and showing +mercy; inasmuch as all that they have over is to be spent in pious and +religious works, according to the teaching of Him who is the Lord and +Master of all, "Give alms of such things as ye have over, and behold all +things are clean unto you."(123) + +_Augustine's Second Question._--Whereas the faith is one and the same, are +there different customs in different Churches? and is one custom of Masses +observed in the holy Roman Church, and another in the Church of Gaul?(124) + +_Pope Gregory answers._--You know, my brother, the custom of the Roman +Church in which you remember that you were bred up. But my will is, that +if you have found anything, either in the Roman, or the Gallican, or any +other Church, which may be more acceptable to Almighty God, you should +carefully make choice of the same, and sedulously teach the Church of the +English, which as yet is new in the faith, whatsoever you can gather from +the several Churches. For things are not to be loved for the sake of +places, but places for the sake of good things. Choose, therefore, from +every Church those things that are pious, religious, and right, and when +you have, as it were, made them up into one bundle, let the minds of the +English be accustomed thereto. + +_Augustine's Third Question._--I beseech you, what punishment must be +inflicted on one who steals anything from a church? + +_Gregory answers._--You may judge, my brother, by the condition of the +thief, in what manner he is to be corrected. For there are some, who, +having substance, commit theft; and there are others, who transgress in +this matter through want. Wherefore it is requisite, that some be punished +with fines, others with stripes; some with more severity, and some more +mildly. And when the severity is greater, it is to proceed from charity, +not from anger; because this is done for the sake of him who is corrected, +that he may not be delivered up to the fires of Hell. For it behoves us to +maintain discipline among the faithful, as good parents do with their +children according to the flesh, whom they punish with stripes for their +faults, and yet they design to make those whom they chastise their heirs, +and preserve their possessions for those whom they seem to visit in wrath. +This charity is, therefore, to be kept in mind, and it dictates the +measure of the punishment, so that the mind may do nothing beyond the rule +prescribed by reason. You will add to this, how men are to restore those +things which they have stolen from the church. But let not the Church take +more than it has lost of its worldly possessions, or seek gain from +vanities. + +_Augustine's Fourth Question._--Whether two full brothers may marry two +sisters, who are of a family far removed from them? + +_Gregory answers._--Most assuredly this may lawfully be done; for nothing +is found in Holy Writ on this matter that seems to contradict it. + +_Augustine's Fifth Question._--To what degree may the faithful marry with +their kindred? and is it lawful to marry a stepmother or a brother's wife? + +_Gregory answers._--A certain secular law in the Roman commonwealth allows, +that the son and daughter of a brother and sister,(125) or of two full +brothers, or two sisters, may be joined in matrimony; but we have found, +by experience, that the offspring of such wedlock cannot grow up; and the +Divine law forbids a man to "uncover the nakedness of his kindred." Hence +of necessity it must be the third or fourth generation of the faithful, +that can be lawfully joined in matrimony; for the second, which we have +mentioned, must altogether abstain from one another. To marry with one's +stepmother is a heinous crime, because it is written in the Law, "Thou +shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father:" now the son, indeed, +cannot uncover his father's nakedness; but in regard that it is written, +"They twain shall be one flesh," he that presumes to uncover the nakedness +of his stepmother, who was one flesh with his father, certainly uncovers +the nakedness of his father. It is also prohibited to marry with a +sister-in-law, because by the former union she is become the brother's +flesh. For which thing also John the Baptist was beheaded, and obtained +the crown of holy martyrdom. For, though he was not ordered to deny +Christ, and it was not for confessing Christ that he was killed, yet +inasmuch as the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, said, "I am the Truth," +because John was killed for the truth, he also shed his blood for Christ. + +But forasmuch as there are many of the English, who, whilst they were +still heathens, are said to have been joined in this unholy union, when +they attain to the faith they are to be admonished to abstain, and be made +to know that this is a grievous sin. Let them fear the dread judgement of +God, lest, for the gratification of their carnal desires, they incur the +torments of eternal punishment. Yet they are not on this account to be +deprived of the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, lest they +should seem to be punished for those things which they did through +ignorance before they had received Baptism. For in these times the Holy +Church chastises some things with zeal, and tolerates some in mercy, and +is blind to some in her wisdom, and so, by forbearance and blindness often +suppresses the evil that stands in her way. But all that come to the faith +are to be admonished not to presume to do such things. And if any shall be +guilty of them, they are to be excluded from the Communion of the Body and +Blood of Christ. For as the offence is, in some measure, to be tolerated +in those who did it through ignorance, so it is to be rigorously punished +in those who do not fear to sin knowingly. + +_Augustine's Sixth Question._--Whether a bishop may be consecrated without +other bishops being present, if there be so great a distance between them, +that they cannot easily come together? + +_Gregory answers._--In the Church of England, of which you are as yet the +only bishop, you cannot otherwise ordain a bishop than in the absence of +other bishops. For when do bishops come over from Gaul, that they may be +present as witnesses to you in ordaining a bishop? But we would have you, +my brother, to ordain bishops in such a manner, that the said bishops may +not be far asunder, to the end that there be no lack, but that at the +ordination of a bishop other pastors also, whose presence is of great +benefit, should easily come together.(126) Thus, when, by the help of God, +bishops shall have been ordained in places near to one another, no +ordination of a bishop is to take place without assembling three or four +bishops. For, even in spiritual affairs, we may take example by the +temporal, that they may be wisely and discreetly conducted. For surely, +when marriages are celebrated in the world, some married persons are +assembled, that those who went before in the way of matrimony, may also +partake in the joy of the new union. Why, then, at this spiritual +ordinance, wherein, by means of the sacred ministry, man is joined to God, +should not such persons be assembled, as may either rejoice in the +advancement of the new bishop, or jointly pour forth their prayers to +Almighty God for his preservation? + +_Augustine's Seventh Question._--How are we to deal with the bishops of +Gaul and Britain? + +_Gregory answers._--We give you no authority over the bishops of Gaul, +because the bishop of Arles received the pall(127) in the old times of my +predecessors, and we must by no means deprive him of the authority he has +received. If it shall therefore happen, my brother, that you go over into +the province of Gaul, you are to concert with the said bishop of Arles, +how, if there be any faults among the bishops, they may be amended. And if +he shall be lukewarm in keeping up discipline, he is to be fired by your +zeal; to whom we have also written, that aided by the presence of your +Holiness in Gaul, he should exert himself to the utmost, and put away from +the behaviour of the bishops all that is opposed to the command of our +Creator. But you shall not have power to go beyond your own authority and +judge the bishops of Gaul, but by persuading, and winning them, and +showing good works for them to imitate, you shall recall the perverted to +the pursuit of holiness; for it is written in the Law, "When thou comest +into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest bruise the ears +with thine hand and eat; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy +neighbours' standing corn."(128) For thou mayest not apply the sickle of +judgement in that harvest which thou seest to have been committed to +another; but by the influence of good works thou shalt clear the Lord's +wheat of the chaff of its vices, and convert it by exhortation and +persuasion in the body of the Church, as it were, by eating. But +whatsoever is to be done by authority, must be transacted with the +aforesaid bishop of Arles, lest that should be omitted, which the ancient +institution of the fathers has appointed.(129) But as for all the bishops +of Britain, we commit them to your care, that the unlearned may be taught, +the weak strengthened by persuasion, and the perverse corrected by +authority. + +_Augustine's Eighth Question._--Whether a woman with child ought to be +baptized? Or when she has brought forth, after what time she may come into +the church? As also, after how many days the infant born may be baptized, +lest he be prevented by death? Or how long after her husband may have +carnal knowledge of her? Or whether it is lawful for her to come into the +church when she has her courses, or to receive the Sacrament of Holy +Communion? Or whether a man, under certain circumstances, may come into +the church before he has washed with water? Or approach to receive the +Mystery of the Holy Communion? All which things are requisite to be known +by the ignorant nation of the English. + +_Gregory answers._--I do not doubt but that these questions have been put +to you, my brother, and I think I have already answered you therein. But I +believe you would wish the opinion which you yourself might give and hold +to be confirmed by my reply also. Why should not a woman with child be +baptized, since the fruitfulness of the flesh is no offence in the eyes of +Almighty God? For when our first parents sinned in Paradise, they +forfeited the immortality which they had received, by the just judgement +of God. Because, therefore, Almighty God would not for their fault wholly +destroy the human race, he both deprived man of immortality for his sin, +and, at the same time, of his great goodness and loving-kindness, reserved +to him the power of propagating his race after him. On what ground, then, +can that which is preserved to human nature by the free gift of Almighty +God, be excluded from the privilege of Holy Baptism? For it is very +foolish to imagine that the gift can be opposed to grace in that Mystery +in which all sin is blotted out. When a woman is delivered, after how many +days she may come into the church, you have learnt from the teaching of +the Old Testament, to wit, that she is to abstain for a male child +thirty-three days, and sixty-six for a female. Now you must know that this +is to be received in a mystery; for if she enters the church the very hour +that she is delivered, to return thanks, she is not guilty of any sin; +because the pleasure of the flesh is a fault, and not the pain; but the +pleasure is in the copulation of the flesh, whereas there is pain in +bringing forth the child. Wherefore it is said to the first mother of all, +"In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children." If, therefore, we forbid a +woman that has brought forth, to enter the church, we make a crime of her +very punishment. To baptize either a woman who has brought forth, if there +be danger of death, even the very hour that she brings forth, or that +which she has brought forth the very hour it is born, is in no way +prohibited, because, as the grace of the Holy Mystery is to be with much +discretion provided for those who are in full life and capable of +understanding, so is it to be without any delay administered to the dying; +lest, while a further time is sought to confer the Mystery of redemption, +if a small delay intervene, the person that is to be redeemed be dead and +gone. + +Her husband is not to approach her, till the infant born be weaned. An +evil custom is sprung up in the lives of married people, in that women +disdain to suckle the children whom they bring forth, and give them to +other women to suckle; which seems to have been invented on no other +account but incontinency; because, as they will not be continent, they +will not suckle the children whom they bear. Those women, therefore, who, +from evil custom, give their children to others to bring up, must not +approach their husbands till the time of purification is past. For even +when there has been no child-birth, women are forbidden to do so, whilst +they have their courses, insomuch that the Law condemns to death any man +that shall approach unto a woman during her uncleanness. Yet the woman, +nevertheless, must not be forbidden to come into the church whilst she has +her courses; because the superfluity of nature cannot be imputed to her as +a crime; and it is not just that she should be refused admittance into the +church, for that which she suffers against her will. For we know, that the +woman who had the issue of blood, humbly approaching behind our Lord's +back, touched the hem of his garment, and her infirmity immediately +departed from her. If, therefore, she that had an issue of blood might +commendably touch the garment of our Lord, why may not she, who has her +courses, lawfully enter into the church of God? But you may say, Her +infirmity compelled her, whereas these we speak of are bound by custom. +Consider, then, most dear brother, that all we suffer in this mortal +flesh, through the infirmity of our nature, is ordained by the just +judgement of God after the fall; for to hunger, to thirst, to be hot, to +be cold, to be weary, is from the infirmity of our nature; and what else +is it to seek food against hunger, drink against thirst, air against heat, +clothes against cold, rest against weariness, than to procure a remedy +against distempers? Thus to a woman her courses are a distemper. If, +therefore, it was a commendable boldness in her, who in her disease +touched our Lord's garment, why may not that which is allowed to one +infirm person, be granted to all women, who, through the fault of their +nature, are rendered infirm? + +She must not, therefore, be forbidden to receive the Mystery of the Holy +Communion during those days. But if any one out of profound respect does +not presume to do it, she is to be commended; yet if she receives it, she +is not to be judged. For it is the part of noble minds in some manner to +acknowledge their faults, even when there is no fault; because very often +that is done without a fault, which, nevertheless, proceeded from a fault. +Thus, when we are hungry, it is no sin to eat; yet our being hungry +proceeds from the sin of the first man. The courses are no sin in women, +because they happen naturally; yet, because our nature itself is so +depraved, that it appears to be defiled even without the concurrence of +the will, a defect arises from sin, and thereby human nature may itself +know what it is become by judgement. And let man, who wilfully committed +the offence, bear the guilt of that offence against his will. And, +therefore, let women consider with themselves, and if they do not presume, +during their courses, to approach the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of +our Lord, they are to be commended for their praiseworthy consideration; +but when they are carried away with love of the same Mystery to receive it +according to the custom of the religious life, they are not to be +restrained, as we said before. For as in the Old Testament the outward +works are observed, so in the New Testament, that which is outwardly done, +is not so diligently regarded as that which is inwardly thought, that the +punishment may be with discernment. For whereas the Law forbids the eating +of many things as unclean, yet our Lord says in the Gospel, "Not that +which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of +the mouth, this defileth a man." And afterwards he added, expounding the +same, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts." Where it is abundantly +shown, that that is declared by Almighty God to be polluted in deed, which +springs from the root of a polluted thought. Whence also Paul the Apostle +says, "Unto the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled +and unbelieving, nothing is pure." And presently, declaring the cause of +that defilement, he adds, "For even their mind and conscience is defiled." +If, therefore, meat is not unclean to him whose mind is not unclean, why +shall that which a woman suffers according to nature, with a clean mind, +be imputed to her as uncleanness? + +A man who has approached his own wife is not to enter the church unless +washed with water, nor is he to enter immediately although washed. The Law +prescribed to the ancient people, that a man in such cases should be +washed with water, and not enter into the church before the setting of the +sun. Which, nevertheless, may be understood spiritually, because a man +acts so when the mind is led by the imagination to unlawful concupiscence; +for unless the fire of concupiscence be first driven from his mind, he is +not to think himself worthy of the congregation of the brethren, while he +sees himself burdened by the iniquity of a perverted will. For though +divers nations have divers opinions concerning this affair, and seem to +observe different rules, it was always the custom of the Romans, from +ancient times, for such an one to seek to be cleansed by washing, and for +some time reverently to forbear entering the church. Nor do we, in so +saying, assign matrimony to be a fault; but forasmuch as lawful +intercourse cannot be had without the pleasure of the flesh, it is proper +to forbear entering the holy place, because the pleasure itself cannot be +without a fault. For he was not born of adultery or fornication, but of +lawful marriage, who said, "Behold I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin +my mother brought me forth." For he who knew himself to have been +conceived in iniquity, lamented that he was born from sin, because he +bears the defect, as a tree bears in its bough the sap it drew from the +root. In which words, however, he does not call the union of the married +couple iniquity, but the will itself. For there are many things which are +lawful and permitted, and yet we are somewhat defiled in doing them. As +very often by being angry we correct faults, and at the same time disturb +our own peace of mind; and though that which we do is right, yet it is not +to be approved that our mind should be disturbed. For he who said, "My eye +was disturbed with anger," had been angry at the vices of sinners. Now, +seeing that only a calm mind can rest in the light of contemplation, he +grieved that his eye was disturbed with anger; because, whilst he was +correcting evil actions below, he was obliged to be confused and disturbed +with regard to the contemplation of the highest things. Anger against vice +is, therefore, commendable, and yet painful to a man, because he thinks +that by his mind being agitated, he has incurred some guilt. Lawful +commerce, therefore, must be for the sake of children, not of pleasure; +and must be to procure offspring, not to satisfy vices. But if any man is +led not by the desire of pleasure, but only for the sake of getting +children, such a man is certainly to be left to his own judgement, either +as to entering the church, or as to receiving the Mystery of the Body and +Blood of our Lord, which he, who being placed in the fire cannot burn, is +not to be forbidden by us to receive. But when, not the love of getting +children, but of pleasure prevails, the pair have cause to lament their +deed. For this the holy preaching concedes to them, and yet fills the mind +with dread of the very concession. For when Paul the Apostle said, "Let +him that cannot contain have his own wife;" he presently took care to +subjoin, "But this I say by way of permission, not of commandment." For +that is not granted by way of permission which is lawful, because it is +just; and, therefore, that which he said he permitted, he showed to be an +offence. + +It is seriously to be considered, that when God was about to speak to the +people on Mount Sinai, He first commanded them to abstain from women. And +if purity of body was there so carefully required, where God spoke to the +people by the means of a creature as His representative, that those who +were to hear the words of God should abstain; how much more ought women, +who receive the Body of Almighty God, to preserve themselves in purity of +flesh, lest they be burdened with the very greatness of that inestimable +Mystery? For this reason also, it was said to David, concerning his men, +by the priest, that if they were clean in this particular, they should +receive the shewbread, which they would not have received at all, had not +David first declared them to be clean. Then the man, who, afterwards, has +been washed with water, is also capable of receiving the Mystery of the +Holy Communion, when it is lawful for him, according to what has been +before declared, to enter the church. + +_Augustine's Ninth Question._--Whether after an illusion, such as is wont +to happen in a dream, any man may receive the Body of our Lord, or if he +be a priest, celebrate the Divine Mysteries? + +_Gregory answers._--The Testament of the Old Law, as has been said already +in the article above, calls such a man polluted, and allows him not to +enter into the church till the evening, after being washed with water. +Which, nevertheless, a spiritual people, taking in another sense, will +understand in the same manner as above; because he is imposed upon as it +were in a dream, who, being tempted with uncleanness, is defiled by real +representations in thought, and he is to be washed with water, that he may +cleanse away the sins of thought with tears; and unless the fire of +temptation depart before, may know himself to be in a manner guilty until +the evening. But a distinction is very necessary in that illusion, and one +must carefully consider what causes it to arise in the mind of the person +sleeping; for sometimes it proceeds from excess of eating or drinking; +sometimes from the superfluity or infirmity of nature, and sometimes from +the thoughts. And when it happens either through superfluity or infirmity +of nature, such an illusion is not to be feared at all, because it is to +be lamented, that the mind of the person, who knew nothing of it, suffers +the same, rather than that he occasioned it. But when the appetite of +gluttony commits excess in food, and thereupon the receptacles of the +humours are oppressed, the mind thence contracts some guilt; yet not so +much as to hinder the receiving of the Holy Mystery, or celebrating Mass, +when a holy day requires it, or necessity obliges the Mystery to be shown +forth, because there is no other priest in the place; for if there be +others who can perform the ministry, the illusion proceeding from +over-eating ought not to exclude a man from receiving the sacred Mystery; +but I am of opinion he ought humbly to abstain from offering the sacrifice +of the Mystery, but not from receiving it, unless the mind of the person +sleeping has been disturbed with some foul imagination. For there are +some, who for the most part so suffer the illusion, that their mind, even +during the sleep of the body, is not defiled with filthy thoughts. In +which case, one thing is evident, that the mind is guilty, not being +acquitted even in its own judgement; for though it does not remember to +have seen anything whilst the body was sleeping, yet it calls to mind +that, when the body was awake, it fell into gluttony. But if the illusion +of the sleeper proceeds from evil thoughts when he was awake, then its +guilt is manifest to the mind; for the man perceives from what root that +defilement sprang, because what he had consciously thought of, that he +afterwards unconsciously endured. But it is to be considered, whether that +thought was no more than a suggestion, or proceeded to delight, or, what +is worse, consented to sin. For all sin is committed in three ways, viz., +by suggestion, by delight, and by consent. Suggestion comes from the +Devil, delight from the flesh, and consent from the spirit. For the +serpent suggested the first offence, and Eve, as flesh, took delight in +it, but Adam, as the spirit, consented. And when the mind sits in +judgement on itself, it must clearly distinguish between suggestion and +delight, and between delight and consent. For when the evil spirit +suggests a sin to the mind, if there ensue no delight in the sin, the sin +is in no way committed; but when the flesh begins to take delight in it, +then sin begins to arise. But if it deliberately consents, then the sin is +known to be full-grown. The seed, therefore, of sin is in the suggestion, +the nourishment of it in delight, its maturity in the consent. And it +often happens that what the evil spirit sows in the thought, in that the +flesh begins to find delight, and yet the soul does not consent to that +delight. And whereas the flesh cannot be delighted without the mind, yet +the mind struggling against the pleasures of the flesh, is after a manner +unwillingly bound by the carnal delight, so that through reason it opposes +it, and does not consent, yet being bound by delight, it grievously +laments being so bound. Wherefore that great soldier of our Lord's host, +groaned and said, "I see another law in my members warring against the law +of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in +my members." Now if he was a captive, he did not fight; but he did fight; +wherefore he was a captive and at the same time therefore fought against +the law of the mind, which the law that is in the members opposed; but if +he fought, he was no captive. Thus, then, man is, as I may say, a captive +and yet free. Free on account of justice, which he loves, a captive by the +delight which he unwillingly bears within him. + + + + +Chap. XXVIII. How Pope Gregory wrote to the bishop of Arles to help +Augustine in the work of God. [601 A.D.] + + +Thus far the answers of the holy Pope Gregory, to the questions of the +most reverend prelate, Augustine. Now the letter, which he says he had +written to the bishop of Arles, was directed to Vergilius, successor to +Aetherius,(130) and was in the following words: + +"_To his most reverend and holy brother and fellow bishop, Vergilius; +Gregory, servant of the servants of God._ With how much kindness brethren, +coming of their own accord, are to be entertained, is shown by this, that +they are for the most part invited for the sake of brotherly love. +Therefore, if our common brother, Bishop Augustine, shall happen to come +to you, let your love, as is becoming, receive him with so great kindness +and affection, that it may refresh him by the benefit of its consolation +and show to others how brotherly charity is to be cultivated. And, since +it often happens that those who are at a distance first learn from others +the things that need correction, if he bring before you, my brother, any +sins of bishops or others, do you, in conjunction with him, carefully +inquire into the same, and show yourself so strict and earnest with regard +to those things which offend God and provoke His wrath, that for the +amendment of others, the punishment may fall upon the guilty, and the +innocent may not suffer under false report. God keep you in safety, most +reverend brother. Given the 22nd day of June, in the nineteenth year of +the reign of our most religious lord, Mauritius Tiberius Augustus, the +eighteenth year after the consulship of our said lord, and the fourth +indiction." + + + + +Chap. XXIX. How the same Pope sent to Augustine the Pall and a letter, +along with several ministers of the Word. [601 A.D.] + + +Moreover, the same Pope Gregory, hearing from Bishop Augustine, that the +harvest which he had was great and the labourers but few, sent to him, +together with his aforesaid envoys, certain fellow labourers and ministers +of the Word, of whom the chief and foremost were Mellitus, Justus, +Paulinus, and Rufinianus,(131) and by them all things in general that were +necessary for the worship and service of the Church, to wit, sacred +vessels and altar-cloths, also church-furniture, and vestments for the +bishops and clerks, as likewise relics of the holy Apostles and martyrs; +besides many manuscripts. He also sent a letter, wherein he signified that +he had despatched the pall to him, and at the same time directed how he +should constitute bishops in Britain. The letter was in these words: + +"_To his most reverend and holy brother and fellow bishop, Augustine; +Gregory, the servant of the servants of God._ Though it be certain, that +the unspeakable rewards of the eternal kingdom are reserved for those who +labour for Almighty God, yet it is requisite that we bestow on them the +benefit of honours, to the end that they may by this recompense be +encouraged the more vigorously to apply themselves to the care of their +spiritual work. And, seeing that the new Church of the English is, through +the bounty of the Lord, and your labours, brought to the grace of God, we +grant you the use of the pall in the same, only for the celebration of the +solemn service of the Mass; that so you may ordain twelve bishops in +different places, who shall be subject to your jurisdiction. But the +bishop of London shall, for the future, be always consecrated by his own +synod, and receive the pall, which is the token of his office, from this +holy and Apostolic see, which I, by the grace of God, now serve. But we +would have you send to the city of York such a bishop as you shall think +fit to ordain; yet so, that if that city, with the places adjoining, shall +receive the Word of God, that bishop shall also ordain twelve bishops, and +enjoy the honour of a metropolitan; for we design, if we live, by the help +of God, to bestow on him also the pall; and yet we would have him to be +subject to your authority, my brother; but after your decease, he shall so +preside over the bishops he shall have ordained, as to be in no way +subject to the jurisdiction of the bishop of London. But for the future +let there be this distinction as regards honour between the bishops of the +cities of London and York, that he who has been first ordained have the +precedence.(132) But let them take counsel and act in concert and with one +mind dispose whatsoever is to be done for zeal of Christ; let them judge +rightly, and carry out their judgement without dissension. + +"But to you, my brother, shall, by the authority of our God and Lord Jesus +Christ, be subject not only those bishops whom you shall ordain, and those +that shall be ordained by the bishop of York, but also all the prelates in +Britain; to the end that from the words and manner of life of your +Holiness they may learn the rule of a right belief and a good life, and +fulfilling their office in faith and righteousness, they may, when it +shall please the Lord, attain to the kingdom of Heaven. God preserve you +in safety, most reverend brother. + +"Given the 22nd of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our most +religious lord, Mauritius Tiberius Augustus, the eighteenth year after the +consulship of our said lord, and the fourth indiction." + + + + +Chap. XXX. A copy of the letter which Pope Gregory sent to the Abbot +Mellitus, then going into Britain. [601 A.D.] + + +The aforesaid envoys having departed, the blessed Father Gregory sent +after them a letter worthy to be recorded, wherein he plainly shows how +carefully he watched over the salvation of our country. The letter was as +follows: + +"_To his most beloved son, the Abbot Mellitus; Gregory, the servant of the +servants of God._ We have been much concerned, since the departure of our +people that are with you, because we have received no account of the +success of your journey. Howbeit, when Almighty God has led you to the +most reverend Bishop Augustine, our brother, tell him what I have long +been considering in my own mind concerning the matter of the English +people; to wit, that the temples of the idols in that nation ought not to +be destroyed; but let the idols that are in them be destroyed; let water +be consecrated and sprinkled in the said temples, let altars be erected, +and relics placed there. For if those temples are well built, it is +requisite that they be converted from the worship of devils to the service +of the true God; that the nation, seeing that their temples are not +destroyed, may remove error from their hearts, and knowing and adoring the +true God, may the more freely resort to the places to which they have been +accustomed. And because they are used to slaughter many oxen in sacrifice +to devils, some solemnity must be given them in exchange for this, as that +on the day of the dedication, or the nativities of the holy martyrs, whose +relics are there deposited, they should build themselves huts of the +boughs of trees about those churches which have been turned to that use +from being temples, and celebrate the solemnity with religious feasting, +and no more offer animals to the Devil, but kill cattle and glorify God in +their feast, and return thanks to the Giver of all things for their +abundance; to the end that, whilst some outward gratifications are +retained, they may the more easily consent to the inward joys. For there +is no doubt that it is impossible to cut off every thing at once from +their rude natures; because he who endeavours to ascend to the highest +place rises by degrees or steps, and not by leaps. Thus the Lord made +Himself known to the people of Israel in Egypt; and yet He allowed them +the use, in His own worship, of the sacrifices which they were wont to +offer to the Devil, commanding them in His sacrifice to kill animals, to +the end that, with changed hearts, they might lay aside one part of the +sacrifice, whilst they retained another; and although the animals were the +same as those which they were wont to offer, they should offer them to the +true God, and not to idols; and thus they would no longer be the same +sacrifices. This then, dearly beloved, it behoves you to communicate to +our aforesaid brother, that he, being placed where he is at present, may +consider how he is to order all things. God preserve you in safety, most +beloved son. + +"Given the 17th of June,(133) in the nineteenth year of the reign of our +most religious lord, Mauritius Tiberius Augustus, the eighteenth year +after the consulship of our said lord, and the fourth indiction." + + + + +Chap. XXXI. How Pope Gregory, by letter, exhorted Augustine not to glory +in his miracles. [601 A.D.] + + +At which time he also sent Augustine a letter concerning the miracles that +he had heard had been wrought by him; wherein he admonishes him not to +incur the danger of being puffed up by the number of them. The letter was +in these words: + +"I know, dearly beloved brother, that Almighty God, by means of you, shows +forth great miracles to the nation which it was His will to choose. +Wherefore you must needs rejoice with fear, and fear with joy concerning +that heavenly gift; for you will rejoice because the souls of the English +are by outward miracles drawn to inward grace; but you will fear, lest, +amidst the wonders that are wrought, the weak mind may be puffed up with +self-esteem, and that whereby it is outwardly raised to honour cause it +inwardly to fall through vain-glory. For we must call to mind, that when +the disciples returned with joy from preaching, and said to their Heavenly +Master, 'Lord, even the devils are subject to us through Thy Name;' +forthwith they received the reply, 'In this rejoice not; but rather +rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.'(134) For their minds +were set on private and temporal joys, when they rejoiced in miracles; but +they are recalled from the private to the common joy, and from the +temporal to the eternal, when it is said to them, 'Rejoice in this, +because your names are written in heaven.' For all the elect do not work +miracles, and yet the names of all are written in heaven. For those who +are disciples of the truth ought not to rejoice, save for that good thing +which all men enjoy as well as they, and in which their joy shall be +without end. + +"It remains, therefore, most dear brother, that amidst those outward +actions, which you perform through the power of the Lord, you should +always carefully judge yourself in your heart, and carefully understand +both what you are yourself, and how much grace is bestowed upon that same +nation, for the conversion of which you have received even the gift of +working miracles. And if you remember that you have at any time sinned +against our Creator, either by word or deed, always call it to mind, to +the end that the remembrance of your guilt may crush the vanity which +rises in your heart. And whatsoever gift of working miracles you either +shall receive, or have received, consider the same, not as conferred on +you, but on those for whose salvation it has been given you." + + + + +Chap. XXXII. How Pope Gregory sent letters and gifts to King Ethelbert. +[601 A.D.] + + +The same blessed Pope Gregory, at the same time, sent a letter to King +Ethelbert, with many gifts of divers sorts; being desirous to glorify the +king with temporal honours, at the same time that he rejoiced that through +his own labour and zeal he had attained to the knowledge of heavenly +glory. The copy of the said letter is as follows: + +"_To the most glorious lord, and his most excellent son, Ethelbert, king +of the English, Bishop Gregory._ Almighty God advances good men to the +government of nations, that He may by their means bestow the gifts of His +loving-kindness on those over whom they are placed. This we know to have +come to pass in the English nation, over whom your Highness was placed, to +the end, that by means of the blessings which are granted to you, heavenly +benefits might also be conferred on your subjects. Therefore, my +illustrious son, do you carefully guard the grace which you have received +from the Divine goodness, and be eager to spread the Christian faith among +the people under your rule; in all uprightness increase your zeal for +their conversion; suppress the worship of idols; overthrow the structures +of the temples; establish the manners of your subjects by much cleanness +of life, exhorting, terrifying, winning, correcting, and showing forth an +example of good works, that you may obtain your reward in Heaven from Him, +Whose Name and the knowledge of Whom you have spread abroad upon earth. +For He, Whose honour you seek and maintain among the nations, will also +render your Majesty's name more glorious even to posterity. + +"For even so the most pious emperor, Constantine, of old, recovering the +Roman commonwealth from the false worship of idols, brought it with +himself into subjection to Almighty God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and turned +to Him with his whole mind, together with the nations under his rule. +Whence it followed, that his praises transcended the fame of former +princes; and he excelled his predecessors in renown as much as in good +works. Now, therefore, let your Highness hasten to impart to the kings and +peoples that are subject to you, the knowledge of one God, Father, Son, +and Holy Ghost; that you may surpass the ancient kings of your nation in +praise and merit, and while you cause the sins of others among your own +subjects to be blotted out, become the more free from anxiety with regard +to your own sins before the dread judgement of Almighty God. + +"Willingly hear, devoutly perform, and studiously retain in your memory, +whatsoever counsel shall be given you by our most reverend brother, Bishop +Augustine, who is trained up in the monastic rule, full of the knowledge +of Holy Scripture, and, by the help of God, endued with good works; for if +you give ear to him when he speaks on behalf of Almighty God, the sooner +will Almighty God hear his prayers for you. But if (which God forbid!) you +slight his words, how shall Almighty God hear him on your behalf, when you +neglect to hear him on behalf of God? Unite yourself, therefore, to him +with all your mind, in the fervour of faith, and further his endeavours, +by that virtue which God has given you, that He may make you partaker of +His kingdom, Whose faith you cause to be received and maintained in your +own. + +"Besides, we would have your Highness know that, as we find in Holy +Scripture from the words of the Almighty Lord, the end of this present +world, and the kingdom of the saints, which will never come to an end, is +at hand. But as the end of the world draws near, many things are about to +come upon us which were not before, to wit, changes in the air, and +terrors from heaven, and tempests out of the order of the seasons, wars, +famines, pestilences, earthquakes in divers places; which things will not, +nevertheless, all happen in our days, but will all follow after our days. +If, therefore, you perceive that any of these things come to pass in your +country, let not your mind be in any way disturbed; for these signs of the +end of the world are sent before, for this reason, that we may take heed +to our souls, and be watchful for the hour of death, and may be found +prepared with good works to meet our Judge. Thus much, my illustrious son, +I have said in few words, with intent that when the Christian faith is +spread abroad in your kingdom, our discourse to you may also be more +copious, and we may desire to say the more, as joy for the full conversion +of your nation is increased in our mind. + +"I have sent you some small gifts, which will not appear small to you, +when received by you with the blessing of the blessed Apostle, Peter. May +Almighty God, therefore, perfect in you His grace which He has begun, and +prolong your life here through a course of many years, and in the fulness +of time receive you into the congregation of the heavenly country. May the +grace of God preserve you in safety, my most excellent lord and son. + +"Given the 22nd day of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our +most religious lord, Mauritius Tiberius Augustus, in the eighteenth year +after his consulship, and the fourth indiction." + + + + +Chap. XXXIII. How Augustine repaired the church of our Saviour, and built +the monastery of the blessed Peter the Apostle; and concerning Peter the +first abbot of the same. + + +Augustine having had his episcopal see granted him in the royal city, as +has been said, recovered therein, with the support of the king, a church, +which he was informed had been built of old by the faithful among the +Romans, and consecrated it in the name of the Holy Saviour, our Divine +Lord Jesus Christ, and there established a residence for himself and all +his successors.(135) He also built a monastery not far from the city to +the eastward, in which, by his advice, Ethelbert erected from the +foundation the church of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul,(136) and +enriched it with divers gifts; wherein the bodies of the same Augustine, +and of all the bishops of Canterbury, and of the kings of Kent, might be +buried. Nevertheless, it was not Augustine himself who consecrated that +church, but Laurentius, his successor. + +The first abbot of that monastery was the priest Peter,(137) who, being +sent on a mission into Gaul, was drowned in a bay of the sea, which is +called Amfleat,(138) and committed to a humble tomb by the inhabitants of +the place; but since it was the will of Almighty God to reveal his merits, +a light from Heaven was seen over his grave every night; till the +neighbouring people who saw it, perceiving that he had been a holy man +that was buried there, and inquiring who and whence he was, carried away +the body, and interred it in the church, in the city of Boulogne, with the +honour due to so great a person. + + + + +Chap. XXXIV. How Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, having vanquished +the nations of the Scots, expelled them from the territories of the +English. [603 A.D.] + + +At this time, the brave and ambitious king, Ethelfrid,(139) governed the +kingdom of the Northumbrians, and ravaged the Britons more than all the +chiefs of the English, insomuch that he might be compared to Saul of old, +king of the Israelites, save only in this, that he was ignorant of Divine +religion. For he conquered more territories from the Britons than any +other chieftain or king, either subduing the inhabitants and making them +tributary, or driving them out and planting the English in their places. +To him might justly be applied the saying of the patriarch blessing his +son in the person of Saul, "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf; in the morning +he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil."(140) +Hereupon, Aedan, king of the Scots that dwell in Britain,(141) being +alarmed by his success, came against him with a great and mighty army, but +was defeated and fled with a few followers; for almost all his army was +cut to pieces at a famous place, called Degsastan, that is, Degsa +Stone.(142) In which battle also Theodbald, brother to Ethelfrid, was +killed, with almost all the forces he commanded. This war Ethelfrid +brought to an end in the year of our Lord 603, the eleventh of his own +reign, which lasted twenty-four years, and the first year of the reign of +Phocas, who then was at the head of the Roman empire. From that time, no +king of the Scots durst come into Britain to make war on the English to +this day. + + + + + +BOOK II + + + + +Chap. I. Of the death of the blessed Pope Gregory.(143) [604 A.D.] + + +At this time, that is, in the year of our Lord 605,(144) the blessed Pope +Gregory, after having most gloriously governed the Roman Apostolic see +thirteen years, six months, and ten days, died, and was translated to an +eternal abode in the kingdom of Heaven. Of whom, seeing that by his zeal +he converted our nation, the English, from the power of Satan to the faith +of Christ, it behoves us to discourse more at large in our Ecclesiastical +History, for we may rightly, nay, we must, call him our apostle; because, +as soon as he began to wield the pontifical power over all the world, and +was placed over the Churches long before converted to the true faith, he +made our nation, till then enslaved to idols, the Church of Christ, so +that concerning him we may use those words of the Apostle; "if he be not +an apostle to others, yet doubtless he is to us; for the seal of his +apostleship are we in the Lord."(145) + +He was by nation a Roman, son of Gordianus, tracing his descent from +ancestors that were not only noble, but religious. Moreover Felix, once +bishop of the same Apostolic see, a man of great honour in Christ and in +the Church, was his forefather.(146) Nor did he show his nobility in +religion by less strength of devotion than his parents and kindred. But +that nobility of this world which was seen in him, by the help of the +Divine Grace, he used only to gain the glory of eternal dignity; for soon +quitting his secular habit, he entered a monastery, wherein he began to +live with so much grace of perfection that (as he was wont afterwards with +tears to testify) his mind was above all transitory things; that he rose +superior to all that is subject to change; that he used to think of +nothing but what was heavenly; that, whilst detained by the body, he broke +through the bonds of the flesh by contemplation; and that he even loved +death, which is a penalty to almost all men, as the entrance into life, +and the reward of his labours. This he used to say of himself, not to +boast of his progress in virtue, but rather to bewail the falling off +which he imagined he had sustained through his pastoral charge. Indeed, +once in a private conversation with his deacon, Peter, after having +enumerated the former virtues of his soul, he added sorrowfully, "But now, +on account of the pastoral charge, it is entangled with the affairs of +laymen, and, after so fair an appearance of inward peace, is defiled with +the dust of earthly action. And having wasted itself on outward things, by +turning aside to the affairs of many men, even when it desires the inward +things, it returns to them undoubtedly impaired. I therefore consider what +I endure, I consider what I have lost, and when I behold what I have +thrown away, that which I bear appears the more grievous." + +So spake the holy man constrained by his great humility. But it behoves us +to believe that he lost nothing of his monastic perfection by reason of +his pastoral charge, but rather that he gained greater profit through the +labour of converting many, than by the former calm of his private life, +and chiefly because, whilst holding the pontifical office, he set about +organizing his house like a monastery. And when first drawn from the +monastery, ordained to the ministry of the altar, and sent to +Constantinople as representative(147) of the Apostolic see, though he now +took part in the secular affairs of the palace, yet he did not abandon the +fixed course of his heavenly life; for some of the brethren of his +monastery, who had followed him to the royal city in their brotherly love, +he employed for the better observance of monastic rule, to the end that at +all times, by their example, as he writes himself, he might be held fast +to the calm shore of prayer, as it were, with the cable of an anchor, +whilst he should be tossed up and down by the ceaseless waves of worldly +affairs; and daily in the intercourse of studious reading with them, +strengthen his mind shaken with temporal concerns. By their company he was +not only guarded against the assaults of the world, but more and more +roused to the exercises of a heavenly life. + +For they persuaded him to interpret by a mystical exposition the book of +the blessed Job,(148) which is involved in great obscurity; nor could he +refuse to undertake that work, which brotherly affection imposed on him +for the future benefit of many; but in a wonderful manner, in five and +thirty books of exposition, he taught how that same book is to be +understood literally; how to be referred to the mysteries of Christ and +the Church; and in what sense it is to be adapted to every one of the +faithful. This work he began as papal representative in the royal city, +but finished it at Rome after being made pope. Whilst he was still in the +royal city, by the help of the grace of Catholic truth, he crushed in its +first rise a new heresy which sprang up there, concerning the state of our +resurrection. For Eutychius,(149) bishop of that city, taught, that our +body, in the glory of resurrection, would be impalpable, and more subtile +than wind and air. The blessed Gregory hearing this, proved by force of +truth, and by the instance of the Resurrection of our Lord, that this +doctrine was every way opposed to the orthodox faith. For the Catholic +faith holds that our body, raised by the glory of immortality, is indeed +rendered subtile by the effect of spiritual power, but is palpable by the +reality of nature; according to the example of our Lord's Body, concerning +which, when risen from the dead, He Himself says to His disciples, "Handle +Me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me +have."(150) In maintaining this faith, the venerable Father Gregory so +earnestly strove against the rising heresy, and with the help of the most +pious emperor, Tiberius Constantine,(151) so fully suppressed it, that +none has been since found to revive it. + +He likewise composed another notable book, the "Liber Pastoralis," wherein +he clearly showed what sort of persons ought to be preferred to rule the +Church; how such rulers ought to live; with how much discrimination they +ought to instruct the different classes of their hearers, and how +seriously to reflect every day on their own frailty. He also wrote forty +homilies on the Gospel, which he divided equally into two volumes; and +composed four books of Dialogues, in which, at the request of his deacon, +Peter, he recounted the virtues of the more renowned saints of Italy, whom +he had either known or heard of, as a pattern of life for posterity; to +the end that, as he taught in his books of Expositions what virtues men +ought to strive after, so by describing the miracles of saints, he might +make known the glory of those virtues. Further, in twenty-two homilies, he +showed how much light is latent in the first and last parts of the prophet +Ezekiel, which seemed the most obscure. Besides which, he wrote the "Book +of Answers,"(152) to the questions of the holy Augustine, the first bishop +of the English nation, as we have shown above, inserting the same book +entire in this history; and the useful little "Synodical Book,"(153) which +he composed with the bishops of Italy on necessary matters of the Church; +as well as private letters to certain persons. And it is the more +wonderful that he could write so many lengthy works, seeing that almost +all the time of his youth, to use his own words, he was frequently +tormented with internal pain, constantly enfeebled by the weakness of his +digestion, and oppressed by a low but persistent fever. But in all these +troubles, forasmuch as he carefully reflected that, as the Scripture +testifies,(154) "He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth," the more +severely he suffered under those present evils, the more he assured +himself of his eternal hope. + +Thus much may be said of his immortal genius, which could not be crushed +by such severe bodily pains. Other popes applied themselves to building +churches or adorning them with gold and silver, but Gregory was wholly +intent upon gaining souls. Whatsoever money he had, he took care to +distribute diligently and give to the poor, that his righteousness might +endure for ever, and his horn be exalted with honour; so that the words of +the blessed Job might be truly said of him,(155) "When the ear heard me, +then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: +because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that +had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came +upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on +righteousness, and it clothed me; my judgement was as a robe and a diadem. +I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the +poor; and the cause which I knew not, I searched out. And I brake the jaws +of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth." And a little +after: "If I have withheld," says he, "the poor from their desire; or have +caused the eyes of the widow to fail; or have eaten my morsel myself +alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof: (for from my youth +compassion grew up with me, and from my mother's womb it came forth with +me."(156)) + +To his works of piety and righteousness this also may be added, that he +saved our nation, by the preachers he sent hither, from the teeth of the +old enemy, and made it partaker of eternal liberty. Rejoicing in the faith +and salvation of our race, and worthily commending it with praise, he +says, in his exposition of the blessed Job, "Behold, the tongue of +Britain, which only knew how to utter barbarous cries, has long since +begun to raise the Hebrew Hallelujah to the praise of God! Behold, the +once swelling ocean now serves prostrate at the feet of the saints; and +its wild upheavals, which earthly princes could not subdue with the sword, +are now, through the fear of God, bound by the lips of priests with words +alone; and the heathen that stood not in awe of troops of warriors, now +believes and fears the tongues of the humble! For he has received a +message from on high and mighty works are revealed; the strength of the +knowledge of God is given him, and restrained by the fear of the Lord, he +dreads to do evil, and with all his heart desires to attain to everlasting +grace." In which words the blessed Gregory shows us this also, that St. +Augustine and his companions brought the English to receive the truth, not +only by the preaching of words, but also by showing forth heavenly signs. + +The blessed Pope Gregory, among other things, caused Masses to be +celebrated in the churches of the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, over +their bodies. And in the celebration of Masses, he added three petitions +of the utmost perfection: "And dispose our days in thy peace, and bid us +to be preserved from eternal damnation, and to be numbered in the flock of +thine elect."(157) + +He governed the Church in the days of the Emperors Mauritius and Phocas, +and passing out of this life in the second year of the same Phocas,(158) +he departed to the true life which is in Heaven. His body was buried in +the church of the blessed Apostle Peter before the sacristy, on the 12th +day of March, to rise one day in the same body in glory with the rest of +the holy pastors of the Church. On his tomb was written this epitaph: + + + Receive, O Earth, his body taken from thine own; thou canst + restore it, when God calls to life. His spirit rises to the stars; + the claims of death shall not avail against him, for death itself + is but the way to new life. In this tomb are laid the limbs of a + great pontiff, who yet lives for ever in all places in countless + deeds of mercy. Hunger and cold he overcame with food and raiment, + and shielded souls from the enemy by his holy teaching. And + whatsoever he taught in word, that he fulfilled in deed, that he + might be a pattern, even as he spake words of mystic meaning. By + his guiding love he brought the Angles to Christ, gaining armies + for the Faith from a new people. This was thy toil, thy task, thy + care, thy aim as shepherd, to offer to thy Lord abundant increase + of the flock. So, Consul of God, rejoice in this thy triumph, for + now thou hast the reward of thy works for evermore. + + +Nor must we pass by in silence the story of the blessed Gregory, handed +down to us by the tradition of our ancestors, which explains his earnest +care for the salvation of our nation. It is said that one day, when some +merchants had lately arrived at Rome, many things were exposed for sale in +the market place, and much people resorted thither to buy: Gregory himself +went with the rest, and saw among other wares some boys put up for sale, +of fair complexion, with pleasing countenances, and very beautiful hair. +When he beheld them, he asked, it is said, from what region or country +they were brought? and was told, from the island of Britain, and that the +inhabitants were like that in appearance. He again inquired whether those +islanders were Christians, or still involved in the errors of paganism, +and was informed that they were pagans. Then fetching a deep sigh from the +bottom of his heart, "Alas! what pity," said he, "that the author of +darkness should own men of such fair countenances; and that with such +grace of outward form, their minds should be void of inward grace." He +therefore again asked, what was the name of that nation? and was answered, +that they were called Angles. "Right," said he, "for they have an angelic +face, and it is meet that such should be co-heirs with the Angels in +heaven. What is the name of the province from which they are brought?" It +was replied, that the natives of that province were called Deiri.(159) +"Truly are they _De ira_," said he, "saved from wrath, and called to the +mercy of Christ. How is the king of that province called?" They told him +his name was Aelli;(160) and he, playing upon the name, said, "Allelujah, +the praise of God the Creator must be sung in those parts." + +Then he went to the bishop of the Roman Apostolic see(161) (for he was not +himself then made pope), and entreated him to send some ministers of the +Word into Britain to the nation of the English, that it might be converted +to Christ by them; declaring himself ready to carry out that work with the +help of God, if the Apostolic Pope should think fit to have it done. But +not being then able to perform this task, because, though the Pope was +willing to grant his request, yet the citizens of Rome could not be +brought to consent that he should depart so far from the city, as soon as +he was himself made Pope, he carried out the long-desired work, sending, +indeed, other preachers, but himself by his exhortations and prayers +helping the preaching to bear fruit. This account, which we have received +from a past generation, we have thought fit to insert in our +Ecclesiastical History. + + + + +Chap. II. How Augustine admonished the bishops of the Britons on behalf of +Catholic peace, and to that end wrought a heavenly miracle in their +presence; and of the vengeance that pursued them for their contempt. +[_Circ._ 603 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, Augustine, with the help of King Ethelbert, drew together +to a conference the bishops and doctors of the nearest province of the +Britons, at a place which is to this day called, in the English language, +Augustine's Ac, that is, Augustine's Oak,(162) on the borders of the +Hwiccas(163) and West Saxons; and began by brotherly admonitions to +persuade them to preserve Catholic peace with him, and undertake the +common labour of preaching the Gospel to the heathen for the Lord's sake. +For they did not keep Easter Sunday at the proper time, but from the +fourteenth to the twentieth moon; which computation is contained in a +cycle of eighty-four years.(164) Besides, they did many other things which +were opposed to the unity of the church.(165) When, after a long +disputation, they did not comply with the entreaties, exhortations, or +rebukes of Augustine and his companions, but preferred their own +traditions before all the Churches which are united in Christ throughout +the world, the holy father, Augustine, put an end to this troublesome and +tedious contention, saying, "Let us entreat God, who maketh men to be of +one mind in His Father's house, to vouchsafe, by signs from Heaven, to +declare to us which tradition is to be followed; and by what path we are +to strive to enter His kingdom. Let some sick man be brought, and let the +faith and practice of him, by whose prayers he shall be healed, be looked +upon as hallowed in God's sight and such as should be adopted by all." His +adversaries unwillingly consenting, a blind man of the English race was +brought, who having been presented to the British bishops, found no +benefit or healing from their ministry; at length, Augustine, compelled by +strict necessity, bowed his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, +praying that He would restore his lost sight to the blind man, and by the +bodily enlightenment of one kindle the grace of spiritual light in the +hearts of many of the faithful. Immediately the blind man received sight, +and Augustine was proclaimed by all to be a true herald of the light from +Heaven. The Britons then confessed that they perceived that it was the +true way of righteousness which Augustine taught; but that they could not +depart from their ancient customs without the consent and sanction of +their people. They therefore desired that a second time a synod might be +appointed, at which more of their number should be present. + +This being decreed, there came, it is said, seven bishops of the +Britons,(166) and many men of great learning, particularly from their most +celebrated monastery, which is called, in the English tongue, +Bancornaburg,(167) and over which the Abbot Dinoot(168) is said to have +presided at that time. They that were to go to the aforesaid council, +betook themselves first to a certain holy and discreet man, who was wont +to lead the life of a hermit among them, to consult with him, whether they +ought, at the preaching of Augustine, to forsake their traditions. He +answered, "If he is a man of God, follow him."--"How shall we know that?" +said they. He replied, "Our Lord saith, Take My yoke upon you, and learn +of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; if therefore, Augustine is meek +and lowly of heart, it is to be believed that he bears the yoke of Christ +himself, and offers it to you to bear. But, if he is harsh and proud, it +is plain that he is not of God, nor are we to regard his words." They said +again, "And how shall we discern even this?"--"Do you contrive," said the +anchorite, "that he first arrive with his company at the place where the +synod is to be held; and if at your approach he rises up to you, hear him +submissively, being assured that he is the servant of Christ; but if he +despises you, and does not rise up to you, whereas you are more in number, +let him also be despised by you." + +They did as he directed; and it happened, that as they approached, +Augustine was sitting on a chair. When they perceived it, they were angry, +and charging him with pride, set themselves to contradict all he said. He +said to them, "Many things ye do which are contrary to our custom, or +rather the custom of the universal Church, and yet, if you will comply +with me in these three matters, to wit, to keep Easter at the due time; to +fulfil the ministry of Baptism, by which we are born again to God, +according to the custom of the holy Roman Apostolic Church;(169) and to +join with us in preaching the Word of God to the English nation, we will +gladly suffer all the other things you do, though contrary to our +customs." They answered that they would do none of those things, nor +receive him as their archbishop; for they said among themselves, "if he +would not rise up to us now, how much more will he despise us, as of no +account, if we begin to be under his subjection?" Then the man of God, +Augustine, is said to have threatened them, that if they would not accept +peace with their brethren, they should have war from their enemies; and, +if they would not preach the way of life to the English nation, they +should suffer at their hands the vengeance of death. All which, through +the dispensation of the Divine judgement, fell out exactly as he had +predicted. + +For afterwards the warlike king of the English, Ethelfrid,(170) of whom we +have spoken, having raised a mighty army, made a very great slaughter of +that heretical nation, at the city of Legions,(171) which by the English +is called Legacaestir, but by the Britons more rightly Carlegion. Being +about to give battle, he observed their priests, who were come together to +offer up their prayers to God for the combatants, standing apart in a +place of greater safety; he inquired who they were, and what they came +together to do in that place. Most of them were of the monastery of +Bangor,(172) in which, it is said, there was so great a number of monks, +that the monastery being divided into seven parts, with a superior set +over each, none of those parts contained less than three hundred men, who +all lived by the labour of their hands. Many of these, having observed a +fast of three days, had come together along with others to pray at the +aforesaid battle, having one Brocmail(173) for their protector, to defend +them, whilst they were intent upon their prayers, against the swords of +the barbarians. King Ethelfrid being informed of the occasion of their +coming, said, "If then they cry to their God against us, in truth, though +they do not bear arms, yet they fight against us, because they assail us +with their curses." He, therefore, commanded them to be attacked first, +and then destroyed the rest of the impious army, not without great loss of +his own forces. About twelve hundred of those that came to pray are said +to have been killed, and only fifty to have escaped by flight. Brocmail, +turning his back with his men, at the first approach of the enemy, left +those whom he ought to have defended unarmed and exposed to the swords of +the assailants. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of the holy Bishop +Augustine, though he himself had been long before taken up into the +heavenly kingdom, that the heretics should feel the vengeance of temporal +death also, because they had despised the offer of eternal salvation. + + + + +Chap. III. How St. Augustine made Mellitus and Justus bishops; and of his +death. [604 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 604, Augustine, Archbishop of Britain, ordained +two bishops, to wit, Mellitus and Justus;(174) Mellitus to preach to the +province of the East-Saxons, who are divided from Kent by the river +Thames, and border on the Eastern sea. Their metropolis is the city of +London, which is situated on the bank of the aforesaid river, and is the +mart of many nations resorting to it by sea and land. At that time, +Sabert, nephew to Ethelbert through his sister Ricula, reigned over the +nation, though he was under subjection to Ethelbert, who, as has been said +above, had command over all the nations of the English as far as the river +Humber. But when this province also received the word of truth, by the +preaching of Mellitus, King Ethelbert built the church of St. Paul the +Apostle,(175) in the city of London, where he and his successors should +have their episcopal see. As for Justus, Augustine ordained him bishop in +Kent, at the city of Dorubrevis, which the English call +Hrofaescaestrae,(176) from one that was formerly the chief man of it, +called Hrof. It is about twenty-four miles distant from the city of +Canterbury to the westward, and in it King Ethelbert dedicated a church to +the blessed Apostle Andrew,(177) and bestowed many gifts on the bishops of +both those churches, as well as on the Bishop of Canterbury, adding lands +and possessions for the use of those who were associated with the bishops. + +After this, the beloved of God, our father Augustine, died,(178) and his +body was laid outside, close by the church of the blessed Apostles, Peter +and Paul, above spoken of, because it was not yet finished, nor +consecrated, but as soon as it was consecrated,(179) the body was brought +in, and fittingly buried in the north chapel(180) thereof; wherein also +were interred the bodies of all the succeeding archbishops, except two +only, Theodore and Bertwald, whose bodies are in the church itself, +because the aforesaid chapel could contain no more.(181) Almost in the +midst of this chapel is an altar dedicated in honour of the blessed Pope +Gregory, at which every Saturday memorial Masses are celebrated for the +archbishops by a priest of that place. On the tomb of Augustine is +inscribed this epitaph: + +"Here rests the Lord Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, who, being +of old sent hither by the blessed Gregory, Bishop of the city of Rome, and +supported by God in the working of miracles, led King Ethelbert and his +nation from the worship of idols to the faith of Christ, and having ended +the days of his office in peace, died the 26th day of May, in the reign of +the same king." + + + + +Chap. IV. How Laurentius and his bishops admonished the Scots to observe +the unity of the Holy Church, particularly in keeping of Easter; and how +Mellitus went to Rome. + + +Laurentius(182) succeeded Augustine in the bishopric, having been ordained +thereto by the latter, in his lifetime, lest, upon his death, the Church, +as yet in so unsettled a state, might begin to falter, if it should be +destitute of a pastor, though but for one hour. Wherein he also followed +the example of the first pastor of the Church, that is, of the most +blessed Peter, chief of the Apostles, who, having founded the Church of +Christ at Rome, is said to have consecrated Clement to help him in +preaching the Gospel, and at the same time to be his successor. +Laurentius, being advanced to the rank of archbishop, laboured +indefatigably, both by frequent words of holy exhortation and constant +example of good works to strengthen the foundations of the Church, which +had been so nobly laid, and to carry it on to the fitting height of +perfection. In short, he not only took charge of the new Church formed +among the English, but endeavoured also to bestow his pastoral care upon +the tribes of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, as also of the Scots, +who inhabit the island of Ireland,(183) which is next to Britain. For when +he understood that the life and profession of the Scots in their aforesaid +country, as well as of the Britons in Britain, was not truly in accordance +with the practice of the Church in many matters, especially that they did +not celebrate the festival of Easter at the due time, but thought that the +day of the Resurrection of our Lord ought, as has been said above, to be +observed between the 14th and 20th of the moon; he wrote, jointly with his +fellow bishops, a hortatory epistle, entreating and conjuring them to keep +the unity of peace and Catholic observance with the Church of Christ +spread throughout the world. The beginning of which epistle is as follows: + +"_To our most dear brethren, the Lords Bishops and Abbots throughout all +the country of the Scots,_(_184_)_ Laurentius, Mellitus, and Justus, +Bishops, servants of the servants of God._ When the Apostolic see, +according to the universal custom which it has followed elsewhere, sent us +to these western parts to preach to pagan nations, and it was our lot to +come into this island, which is called Britain, before we knew them, we +held both the Britons and Scots in great esteem for sanctity, believing +that they walked according to the custom of the universal Church; but +becoming acquainted with the Britons, we thought that the Scots had been +better. Now we have learnt from Bishop Dagan,(185) who came into this +aforesaid island, and the Abbot Columban,(186) in Gaul, that the Scots in +no way differ from the Britons in their walk; for when Bishop Dagan came +to us, not only did he refuse to eat at the same table, but even to eat in +the same house where we were entertained." + +Also Laurentius with his fellow bishops wrote a letter to the bishops of +the Britons, suitable to his degree, by which he endeavoured to confirm +them in Catholic unity; but what he gained by so doing the present times +still show. + +About this time, Mellitus, bishop of London, went to Rome, to confer with +the Apostolic Pope Boniface about the necessary affairs of the English +Church. And the same most reverend pope, assembling a synod of the bishops +of Italy,(187) to prescribe rules for the life and peace of the monks, +Mellitus also sat among them, in the eighth year of the reign of the +Emperor Phocas, the thirteenth indiction, on the 27th of February,(188) to +the end that he also might sign and confirm by his authority whatsoever +should be regularly decreed, and on his return into Britain might carry +the decrees to the Churches of the English, to be committed to them and +observed; together with letters which the same pope sent to the beloved of +God, Archbishop Laurentius, and to all the clergy; as likewise to King +Ethelbert and the English nation. This pope was Boniface, the fourth after +the blessed Gregory, bishop of the city of Rome. He obtained for the +Church of Christ from the Emperor Phocas the gift of the temple at Rome +called by the ancients Pantheon, as representing all the gods; wherein he, +having purified it from all defilement, dedicated a church to the holy +Mother of God, and to all Christ's martyrs, to the end that, the company +of devils being expelled, the blessed company of the saints might have +therein a perpetual memorial.(189) + + + + +Chap. V. How, after the death of the kings Ethelbert and Sabert, their +successors restored idolatry; for which reason, both Mellitus and Justus +departed out of Britain. [616 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 616, which is the twenty-first year after +Augustine and his company were sent to preach to the English nation, +Ethelbert, king of Kent, having most gloriously governed his temporal +kingdom fifty-six years, entered into the eternal joys of the kingdom of +Heaven. He was the third of the English kings who ruled over all the +southern provinces that are divided from the northern by the river Humber +and the borders contiguous to it;(190) but the first of all that ascended +to the heavenly kingdom. The first who had the like sovereignty was Aelli, +king of the South-Saxons; the second, Caelin, king of the West-Saxons, +who, in their own language, is called Ceaulin; the third, as has been +said, was Ethelbert, king of Kent; the fourth was Redwald, king of the +East-Angles, who, even in the life-time of Ethelbert, had been acquiring +the leadership for his own race. The fifth was Edwin, king of the +Northumbrian nation, that is, of those who live in the district to the +north of the river Humber; his power was greater; he had the overlordship +over all the nations who inhabit Britain, both English and British, except +only the people of Kent; and he reduced also under the dominion of the +English, the Mevanian Islands(191) of the Britons, lying between Ireland +and Britain; the sixth was Oswald, the most Christian king of the +Northumbrians, whose kingdom was within the same bounds; the seventh, his +brother Oswy, ruled over a kingdom of like extent for a time, and for the +most part subdued and made tributary the nations of the Picts and Scots, +who occupy the northern parts of Britain: but of that hereafter. + +King Ethelbert died on the 24th day of the month of February, twenty-one +years after he had received the faith,(192) and was buried in St. Martin's +chapel within the church of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, where +also lies his queen, Bertha. Among other benefits which he conferred upon +his nation in his care for them, he established, with the help of his +council of wise men,(193) judicial decisions, after the Roman model; which +are written in the language of the English, and are still kept and +observed by them. Among which, he set down first what satisfaction should +be given by any one who should steal anything belonging to the Church, the +bishop, or the other clergy, for he was resolved to give protection to +those whom he had received along with their doctrine. + +This Ethelbert was the son of Irminric, whose father was Octa, whose +father was Oeric, surnamed Oisc, from whom the kings of Kent are wont to +be called Oiscings.(194) His father was Hengist, who, being invited by +Vortigern, first came into Britain, with his son Oisc, as has been said +above. + +But after the death of Ethelbert, the accession of his son Eadbald proved +very harmful to the still tender growth of the new Church; for he not only +refused to accept the faith of Christ, but was also defiled with such +fornication, as the Apostle testifies, as is not so much as named among +the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.(195) By both which +crimes he gave occasion to those to return to their former uncleanness, +who, under his father, had, either for favour or fear of the king, +submitted to the laws of the faith and of a pure life. Nor did the +unbelieving king escape without the scourge of Divine severity in +chastisement and correction; for he was troubled with frequent fits of +madness, and possessed by an unclean spirit. The storm of this disturbance +was increased by the death of Sabert, king of the East Saxons, who +departing to the heavenly kingdom, left three sons, still pagans, to +inherit his temporal crown. They immediately began openly to give +themselves up to idolatry, which, during their father's lifetime, they had +seemed somewhat to abandon, and they granted free licence to their +subjects to serve idols. And when they saw the bishop, whilst celebrating +Mass in the church, give the Eucharist to the people, filled, as they +were, with folly and ignorance, they said to him, as is commonly reported, +"Why do you not give us also that white bread, which you used to give to +our father Saba (for so they were wont to call him), and which you still +continue to give to the people in the church?" To whom he answered, "If +you will be washed in that font of salvation, in which your father was +washed, you may also partake of the holy Bread of which he partook; but if +you despise the laver of life, you can in no wise receive the Bread of +life." They replied, "We will not enter into that font, because we know +that we do not stand in need of it, and yet we will be refreshed by that +bread." And being often earnestly admonished by him, that this could by no +means be done, nor would any one be admitted to partake of the sacred +Oblation without the holy cleansing, at last, they said, filled with rage, +"If you will not comply with us in so small a matter as that which we +require, you shall not stay in our province." And they drove him out and +bade him and his company depart from their kingdom. Being driven thence, +he came into Kent, to take counsel with his fellow bishops, Laurentius and +Justus, and learn what was to be done in that case; and with one consent +they determined that it was better for them all to return to their own +country, where they might serve God in freedom of mind, than to continue +to no purpose among barbarians, who had revolted from the faith. Mellitus +and Justus accordingly went away first, and withdrew into the parts of +Gaul, intending there to await the event. But the kings, who had driven +from them the herald of the truth, did not continue long unpunished in +their worship of devils. For marching out to battle against the nation of +the Gewissi,(196) they were all slain with their army. Nevertheless, the +people, having been once turned to wickedness, though the authors of it +were destroyed, would not be corrected, nor return to the unity of faith +and charity which is in Christ. + + + + +Chap. VI. How Laurentius, being reproved by the Apostle Peter, converted +King Eadbald to Christ; and how the king soon recalled Mellitus and Justus +to preach the Word. [617-618 A.D.] + + +Laurentius, being about to follow Mellitus and Justus, and to quit +Britain, ordered his bed to be laid that night in the church of the +blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, which has been often mentioned before; +wherein having laid himself to rest, after he had with tears poured forth +many prayers to God for the state of the Church, he fell asleep; in the +dead of night, the blessed chief of the Apostles appeared to him, and +scourging him grievously a long time, asked of him with apostolic +severity, why he was forsaking the flock which he had committed to him? or +to what shepherd he was leaving, by his flight, Christ's sheep that were +in the midst of wolves? "Hast thou," he said, "forgotten my example, who, +for the sake of those little ones, whom Christ commended to me in token of +His affection, underwent at the hands of infidels and enemies of Christ, +bonds, stripes, imprisonment, afflictions, and lastly, death itself, even +the death of the cross, that I might at last be crowned with Him?" +Laurentius, the servant of Christ, roused by the scourging of the blessed +Peter and his words of exhortation, went to the king as soon as morning +broke, and laying aside his garment, showed the scars of the stripes which +he had received. The king, astonished, asked who had presumed to inflict +such stripes on so great a man. And when he heard that for the sake of his +salvation the bishop had suffered these cruel blows at the hands of the +Apostle of Christ, he was greatly afraid; and abjuring the worship of +idols, and renouncing his unlawful marriage, he received the faith of +Christ, and being baptized, promoted and supported the interests of the +Church to the utmost of his power. + +He also sent over into Gaul, and recalled Mellitus and Justus, and bade +them return to govern their churches in freedom. They came back one year +after their departure, and Justus returned to the city of Rochester, where +he had before presided; but the people of London would not receive Bishop +Mellitus, choosing rather to be under their idolatrous high priests; for +King Eadbald had not so much authority in the kingdom as his father, and +was not able to restore the bishop to his church against the will and +consent of the pagans. But he and his nation, after his conversion to the +Lord, sought to obey the commandments of God. Lastly, he built the church +of the holy Mother of God,(197) in the monastery of the most blessed chief +of the Apostles, which was afterwards consecrated by Archbishop Mellitus. + + + + +Chap. VII. How Bishop Mellitus by prayer quenched a fire in his city. [619 +A.D.] + + +In this king's reign, the blessed Archbishop Laurentius was taken up to +the heavenly kingdom: he was buried in the church and monastery of the +holy Apostle Peter, close by his predecessor Augustine, on the 2nd day of +the month of February.(198) Mellitus, who was bishop of London, succeeded +to the see of Canterbury, being the third archbishop from Augustine; +Justus, who was still living, governed the church of Rochester. These +ruled the Church of the English with much care and industry, and received +letters of exhortation from Boniface,(199) bishop of the Roman Apostolic +see, who presided over the Church after Deusdedit, in the year of our Lord +619. Mellitus laboured under the bodily infirmity of gout, but his mind +was sound and active, cheerfully passing over all earthly things, and +always aspiring to love, seek, and attain to those which are celestial. He +was noble by birth, but still nobler by the elevation of his mind. + +In short, that I may give one instance of his power, from which the rest +may be inferred, it happened once that the city of Canterbury, being set +on fire through carelessness, was in danger of being consumed by the +spreading conflagration; water was thrown on the fire in vain; a +considerable part of the city was already destroyed, and the fierce flames +were advancing towards the bishop's abode, when he, trusting in God, where +human help failed, ordered himself to be carried towards the raging masses +of fire which were spreading on every side. The church of the four crowned +Martyrs(200) was in the place where the fire raged most fiercely. The +bishop, being carried thither by his servants, weak as he was, set about +averting by prayer the danger which the strong hands of active men had not +been able to overcome with all their exertions. Immediately the wind, +which blowing from the south had spread the conflagration throughout the +city, veered to the north, and thus prevented the destruction of those +places that had been exposed to its full violence, then it ceased entirely +and there was a calm, while the flames likewise sank and were +extinguished. And because the man of God burned with the fire of divine +love, and was wont to drive away the storms of the powers of the air, by +his frequent prayers and at his bidding, from doing harm to himself, or +his people, it was meet that he should be allowed to prevail over the +winds and flames of this world, and to obtain that they should not injure +him or his. + +This archbishop also, having ruled the church five years, departed to +heaven in the reign of King Eadbald, and was buried with his fathers in +the monastery and church, which we have so often mentioned, of the most +blessed chief of the Apostles, in the year of our Lord 624, on the 24th +day of April. + + + + +Chap. VIII. How Pope Boniface sent the Pall and a letter to Justus, +successor to Mellitus. [624 A.D.] + + +Justus, bishop of the church of Rochester, immediately succeeded Mellitus +in the archbishopric. He consecrated Romanus bishop of that see in his own +stead, having obtained authority to ordain bishops from Pope Boniface, +whom we mentioned above as successor to Deusdedit: of which licence this +is the form: + +"_Boniface, to his most beloved brother Justus._ We have learnt not only +from the contents of your letter addressed to us, but from the fulfilment +granted to your work, how faithfully and vigilantly you have laboured, my +brother, for the Gospel of Christ; for Almighty God has not forsaken +either the mystery of His Name, or the fruit of your labours, having +Himself faithfully promised to the preachers of the Gospel, 'Lo! I am with +you alway, even unto the end of the world';(201) which promise His mercy +has particularly manifested in this ministry imposed upon you, opening the +hearts of the nations to receive the wondrous mystery of your preaching. +For He has blessed with a rich reward your Eminence's acceptable course, +by the support of His loving kindness; granting a plentiful increase to +your labours in the faithful management of the talents committed to you, +and bestowing it on that which you might confirm to many generations.(202) +This is conferred on you by that recompense whereby, constantly +persevering in the ministry imposed upon you, you have awaited with +praiseworthy patience the redemption of that nation, and that they might +profit by your merits, salvation has been bestowed on them. For our Lord +Himself says, 'He that endureth to the end shall be saved.'(203) You are, +therefore, saved by the hope of patience, and the virtue of endurance, to +the end that the hearts of unbelievers, being cleansed from their natural +disease of superstition, might obtain the mercy of their Saviour: for +having received letters from our son Adulwald,(204) we perceive with how +much knowledge of the Sacred Word you, my brother, have brought his mind +to the belief in true conversion and the certainty of the faith. +Therefore, firmly confiding in the long-suffering of the Divine clemency, +we believe that, through the ministry of your preaching, there will ensue +most full salvation not only of the nations subject to him, but also of +their neighbours; to the end, that as it is written, the recompense of a +perfect work may be conferred on you by the Lord, the Rewarder of all the +just; and that the universal confession of all nations, having received +the mystery of the Christian faith, may declare, that in truth 'Their +sound is gone out into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the +world.'(205) + +"We have also, my brother, moved by the warmth of our goodwill, sent you +by the bearer of these presents, the pall, giving you authority to use it +only in the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries; granting to you likewise +to ordain bishops when there shall be occasion, through the Lord's mercy; +that so the Gospel of Christ, by the preaching of many, may be spread +abroad in all the nations that are not yet converted. You must, therefore, +endeavour, my brother, to preserve with unblemished sincerity of mind that +which you have received through the kindness of the Apostolic see, bearing +in mind what it is that is represented by the honourable vestment which +you have obtained to be borne on your shoulders. And imploring the Divine +mercy, study to show yourself such that you may present before the +tribunal of the Supreme Judge that is to come, the rewards of the favour +granted to you, not with guiltiness, but with the benefit of souls. + +"God preserve you in safety, most dear brother!" + + + + +Chap. IX. Of the reign of King Edwin, and how Paulinus, coming to preach +the Gospel, first converted his daughter and others to the mysteries of +the faith of Christ. [625-626 A.D.] + + +At this time the nation of the Northumbrians, that is, the English tribe +dwelling on the north side of the river Humber, with their king, +Edwin,(206) received the Word of faith through the preaching of +Paulinus,(207) of whom we have before spoken. This king, as an earnest of +his reception of the faith, and his share in the heavenly kingdom, +received an increase also of his temporal realm, for he reduced under his +dominion all the parts of Britain(208) that were provinces either of the +English, or of the Britons, a thing which no English king had ever done +before; and he even subjected to the English the Mevanian islands, as has +been said above.(209) The more important of these, which is to the +southward, is the larger in extent, and more fruitful, containing nine +hundred and sixty families, according to the English computation; the +other contains above three hundred. + +The occasion of this nation's reception of the faith was the alliance by +marriage of their aforesaid king with the kings of Kent, for he had taken +to wife Ethelberg, otherwise called Tata,(210) daughter to King Ethelbert. +When he first sent ambassadors to ask her in marriage of her brother +Eadbald, who then reigned in Kent, he received the answer, "That it was +not lawful to give a Christian maiden in marriage to a pagan husband, lest +the faith and the mysteries of the heavenly King should be profaned by her +union with a king that was altogether a stranger to the worship of the +true God." This answer being brought to Edwin by his messengers, he +promised that he would in no manner act in opposition to the Christian +faith, which the maiden professed; but would give leave to her, and all +that went with her, men and women, bishops and clergy, to follow their +faith and worship after the custom of the Christians. Nor did he refuse to +accept that religion himself, if, being examined by wise men, it should be +found more holy and more worthy of God. + +So the maiden was promised, and sent to Edwin, and in accordance with the +agreement, Paulinus, a man beloved of God, was ordained bishop, to go with +her, and by daily exhortations, and celebrating the heavenly Mysteries, to +confirm her and her company, lest they should be corrupted by intercourse +with the pagans. Paulinus was ordained bishop by the Archbishop Justus, on +the 21st day of July, in the year of our Lord 625, and so came to King +Edwin with the aforesaid maiden as an attendant on their union in the +flesh. But his mind was wholly bent upon calling the nation to which he +was sent to the knowledge of truth; according to the words of the Apostle, +"To espouse her to the one true Husband, that he might present her as a +chaste virgin to Christ."(211) Being come into that province, he laboured +much, not only to retain those that went with him, by the help of God, +that they should not abandon the faith, but, if haply he might, to convert +some of the pagans to the grace of the faith by his preaching. But, as the +Apostle says, though he laboured long in the Word, "The god of this world +blinded the minds of them that believed not, lest the light of the +glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them."(212) + +The next year there came into the province one called Eumer, sent by the +king of the West-Saxons, whose name was Cuichelm,(213) to lie in wait for +King Edwin, in hopes at once to deprive him of his kingdom and his life. +He had a two-edged dagger, dipped in poison, to the end that, if the wound +inflicted by the weapon did not avail to kill the king, it might be aided +by the deadly venom. He came to the king on the first day of the Easter +festival,(214) at the river Derwent, where there was then a royal +township,(215) and being admitted as if to deliver a message from his +master, whilst unfolding in cunning words his pretended embassy, he +started up on a sudden, and unsheathing the dagger under his garment, +assaulted the king. When Lilla, the king's most devoted servant, saw this, +having no buckler at hand to protect the king from death, he at once +interposed his own body to receive the blow; but the enemy struck home +with such force, that he wounded the king through the body of the +slaughtered thegn. Being then attacked on all sides with swords, in the +confusion he also slew impiously with his dagger another of the thegns, +whose name was Forthhere. + +On that same holy Easter night, the queen had brought forth to the king a +daughter, called Eanfled. The king, in the presence of Bishop Paulinus, +gave thanks to his gods for the birth of his daughter; and the bishop, on +his part, began to give thanks to Christ, and to tell the king, that by +his prayers to Him he had obtained that the queen should bring forth the +child in safety, and without grievous pain. The king, delighted with his +words, promised, that if God would grant him life and victory over the +king by whom the murderer who had wounded him had been sent, he would +renounce his idols, and serve Christ; and as a pledge that he would +perform his promise, he delivered up that same daughter to Bishop +Paulinus, to be consecrated to Christ. She was the first to be baptized of +the nation of the Northumbrians, and she received Baptism on the holy day +of Pentecost, along with eleven others of her house.(216) At that time, +the king, being recovered of the wound which he had received, raised an +army and marched against the nation of the West-Saxons; and engaging in +war, either slew or received in surrender all those of whom he learned +that they had conspired to murder him. So he returned victorious into his +own country, but he would not immediately and unadvisedly embrace the +mysteries of the Christian faith, though he no longer worshipped idols, +ever since he made the promise that he would serve Christ; but first took +heed earnestly to be instructed at leisure by the venerable Paulinus, in +the knowledge of faith, and to confer with such as he knew to be the +wisest of his chief men, inquiring what they thought was fittest to be +done in that case. And being a man of great natural sagacity, he often sat +alone by himself a long time in silence, deliberating in the depths of his +heart how he should proceed, and to which religion he should adhere. + + + + +Chap. X. How Pope Boniface, by letter, exhorted the same king to embrace +the faith. [_Circ._ 625 A.D.] + + +At this time he received a letter from Pope Boniface(217) exhorting him to +embrace the faith, which was as follows: + + + COPY OF THE LETTER OF THE MOST BLESSED AND APOSTOLIC POPE OF THE + CHURCH OF THE CITY OF ROME, BONIFACE, ADDRESSED TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS + EDWIN, KING OF THE ENGLISH. + + "_To the illustrious Edwin, king of the English, Bishop Boniface, + the servant of the servants of God._ Although the power of the + Supreme Deity cannot be expressed by the function of human speech, + seeing that, by its own greatness, it so consists in invisible and + unsearchable eternity, that no keenness of wit can comprehend or + express how great it is; yet inasmuch as His Humanity, having + opened the doors of the heart to receive Himself, mercifully, by + secret inspiration, puts into the minds of men such things as It + reveals concerning Itself,(218) we have thought fit to extend our + episcopal care so far as to make known to you the fulness of the + Christian faith; to the end that, bringing to your knowledge the + Gospel of Christ, which our Saviour commanded should be preached + to all nations, we might offer to you the cup of the means of + salvation.(219) + + "Thus the goodness of the Supreme Majesty, which, by the word + alone of His command, made and created all things, the heaven, the + earth, the sea, and all that in them is, disposing the order by + which they should subsist, hath, ordaining all things, with the + counsel of His co-eternal Word, and the unity of the Holy Spirit, + made man after His own image and likeness, forming him out of the + mire of the earth; and granted him such high privilege of + distinction, as to place him above all else; so that, preserving + the bounds of the law of his being, his substance should be + established to eternity. This God,--Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, + the undivided Trinity,--from the east unto the west, through faith + by confession to the saving of their souls, men worship and adore + as the Creator of all things, and their own Maker; to Whom also + the heights of empire and the powers of the world are subject, + because the pre-eminence of all kingdoms is granted by His + disposition. It hath pleased Him, therefore, in the mercy of His + loving kindness, and for the greater benefit of all His + creatures,(220) by the fire of His Holy Spirit wonderfully to + kindle the cold hearts even of the nations seated at the + extremities of the earth in the knowledge of Himself. + + "For we suppose, since the two countries are near together, that + your Highness has fully understood what the clemency of our + Redeemer has effected in the enlightenment of our illustrious son, + King Eadbald, and the nations under his rule; we therefore trust, + with assured confidence that, through the long-suffering of + Heaven, His wonderful gift will be also conferred on you; since, + indeed, we have learnt that your illustrious consort, who is + discerned to be one flesh with you, has been blessed with the + reward of eternity, through the regeneration of Holy Baptism. We + have, therefore, taken care by this letter, with all the goodwill + of heartfelt love, to exhort your Highness, that, abhorring idols + and their worship, and despising the foolishness of temples, and + the deceitful flatteries of auguries, you believe in God the + Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, to + the end that, believing and being released from the bonds of + captivity to the Devil, you may, through the co-operating power of + the Holy and undivided Trinity, be partaker of the eternal life. + + "How great guilt they lie under, who adhere in their worship to + the pernicious superstition of idolatry, appears by the examples + of the perishing of those whom they worship. Wherefore it is said + of them by the Psalmist, 'All the gods of the nations are + devils,(221) but the Lord made the heavens.' And again, 'Eyes have + they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; noses + have they, but they smell not; they have hands, but they handle + not; feet have they, but they walk not. Therefore they are made + like unto those that place the hope of their confidence in + them.'(222) For how can they have power to help any man, that are + made out of corruptible matter, by the hands of your inferiors and + subjects, and on which, by employing human art, you have bestowed + a lifeless similitude of members? which, moreover, unless they be + moved by you, will not be able to walk; but, like a stone fixed in + one place, being so formed, and having no understanding, sunk in + insensibility, have no power of doing harm or good. We cannot, + therefore, by any manner of discernment conceive how you come to + be so deceived as to follow and worship those gods, to whom you + yourselves have given the likeness of a body. + + "It behoves you, therefore, by taking upon you the sign of the + Holy Cross, by which the human race has been redeemed, to root out + of your hearts all the accursed deceitfulness of the snares of the + Devil, who is ever the jealous foe of the works of the Divine + Goodness, and to put forth your hands and with all your might set + to work to break in pieces and destroy those which you have + hitherto fashioned of wood or stone to be your gods. For the very + destruction and decay of these, which never had the breath of life + in them, nor could in any wise receive feeling from their makers, + may plainly teach you how worthless that was which you hitherto + worshipped. For you yourselves, who have received the breath of + life from the Lord, are certainly better than these which are + wrought with hands, seeing that Almighty God has appointed you to + be descended, after many ages and through many generations, from + the first man whom he formed. Draw near, then, to the knowledge of + Him Who created you, Who breathed the breath of life into you, Who + sent His only-begotten Son for your redemption, to save you from + original sin, that being delivered from the power of the Devil's + perversity and wickedness, He might bestow on you a heavenly + reward. + + "Hearken to the words of the preachers, and the Gospel of God, + which they declare to you, to the end that, believing, as has been + said before more than once, in God the Father Almighty, and in + Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Ghost, and the indivisible + Trinity, having put to flight the thoughts of devils, and driven + from you the temptations of the venomous and deceitful enemy, and + being born again of water and the Holy Ghost, you may, through the + aid of His bounty, dwell in the brightness of eternal glory with + Him in Whom you shall have believed. + + "We have, moreover, sent you the blessing of your protector, the + blessed Peter, chief of the Apostles, to wit, a shirt of proof + with one gold ornament, and one cloak of Ancyra, which we pray + your Highness to accept with all the goodwill with which it is + sent by us." + + + + +Chap. XI. How Pope Boniface advised the king's consort to use her best +endeavours for his salvation. [_Circ._ 625 A.D.] + + +The same pope also wrote to King Edwin's consort, Ethelberg, to this +effect: + + + THE COPY OF THE LETTER OF THE MOST BLESSED AND APOSTOLIC BONIFACE, + POPE OF THE CITY OF ROME, TO ETHELBERG, KING EDWIN'S QUEEN. + + "_To the illustrious lady his daughter, Queen Ethelberg, Boniface, + bishop, servant of the servants of God._ The goodness of our + Redeemer has in His abundant Providence offered the means of + salvation to the human race, which He rescued, by the shedding of + His precious Blood, from the bonds of captivity to the Devil; to + the end that, when He had made known His name in divers ways to + the nations, they might acknowledge their Creator by embracing the + mystery of the Christian faith. And this the mystical purification + of your regeneration plainly shows to have been bestowed upon the + mind of your Highness by God's gift. Our heart, therefore, has + greatly rejoiced in the benefit bestowed by the bounty of the + Lord, for that He has vouchsafed, in your confession, to kindle a + spark of the orthodox religion, by which He might the more easily + inflame with the love of Himself the understanding, not only of + your illustrious consort, but also of all the nation that is + subject to you. + + "For we have been informed by those, who came to acquaint us with + the laudable conversion of our illustrious son, King Eadbald, that + your Highness, also, having received the wonderful mystery of the + Christian faith, continually excels in the performance of works + pious and acceptable to God; that you likewise carefully refrain + from the worship of idols, and the deceits of temples and + auguries, and with unimpaired devotion, give yourself so wholly to + the love of your Redeemer, as never to cease from lending your aid + in spreading the Christian faith. But when our fatherly love + earnestly inquired concerning your illustrious consort, we were + given to understand, that he still served abominable idols, and + delayed to yield obedience in giving ear to the voice of the + preachers. This occasioned us no small grief, that he that is one + flesh with you still remained a stranger to the knowledge of the + supreme and undivided Trinity. Whereupon we, in our fatherly care, + have not delayed to admonish and exhort your Christian Highness, + to the end that, filled with the support of the Divine + inspiration, you should not defer to strive, both in season and + out of season, that with the co-operating power of our Lord and + Saviour Jesus Christ, your husband also may be added to the number + of Christians; that so you may uphold the rights of marriage in + the bond of a holy and unblemished union. For it is written, 'They + twain shall be one flesh.'(223) How then can it be said, that + there is unity in the bond between you, if he continues a stranger + to the brightness of your faith, separated from it by the darkness + of detestable error? + + "Wherefore, applying yourself continually to prayer, do not cease + to beg of the long-suffering of the Divine Mercy the benefits of + his illumination; to the end, that those whom the union of carnal + affection has manifestly made in a manner to be one body, may, + after this life continue in perpetual fellowship, by the unity of + faith. Persist, therefore, illustrious daughter, and to the utmost + of your power endeavour to soften the hardness of his heart by + carefully making known to him the Divine precepts; pouring into + his mind a knowledge of the greatness of that mystery which you + have received by faith, and of the marvellous reward which, by the + new birth, you have been made worthy to obtain. Inflame the + coldness of his heart by the message of the Holy Ghost, that he + may put from him the deadness of an evil worship, and the warmth + of the Divine faith may kindle his understanding through your + frequent exhortations; and so the testimony of Holy Scripture may + shine forth clearly, fulfilled by you, 'The unbelieving husband + shall be saved by the believing wife.'(224) For to this end you + have obtained the mercy of the Lord's goodness, that you might + restore with increase to your Redeemer the fruit of faith and of + the benefits entrusted to your hands. That you may be able to + fulfil this task, supported by the help of His loving kindness we + do not cease to implore with frequent prayers. + + "Having premised thus much, in pursuance of the duty of our + fatherly affection, we exhort you, that when the opportunity of a + bearer shall offer, you will with all speed comfort us with the + glad tidings of the wonderful work which the heavenly Power shall + vouchsafe to perform by your means in the conversion(225) of your + consort, and of the nation subject to you; to the end, that our + solicitude, which earnestly awaits the fulfilment of its desire in + the soul's salvation of you and yours, may, by hearing from you, + be set at rest; and that we, discerning more fully the light of + the Divine propitiation shed abroad in you, may with a joyful + confession abundantly return due thanks to God, the Giver of all + good things, and to the blessed Peter, the chief of the Apostles. + + "We have, moreover, sent you the blessing of your protector, the + blessed Peter, the chief of the Apostles, to wit, a silver + looking-glass, and a gilded ivory comb, which we pray your + Highness to accept with all the goodwill with which it is sent by + us." + + + + +Chap. XII. How Edwin was persuaded to believe by a vision which he had +once seen when he was in exile. [_Circ._ 616 A.D.] + + +Thus wrote the aforesaid Pope Boniface for the salvation of King Edwin and +his nation. But a heavenly vision, which the Divine Goodness was pleased +once to reveal to this king, when he was in banishment at the court of +Redwald, king of the Angles,(226) was of no little use in urging him to +receive and understand the doctrines of salvation. For when Paulinus +perceived that it was a difficult task to incline the king's proud mind to +the humility of the way of salvation and the reception of the mystery of +the life-giving Cross, and at the same time was employing the word of +exhortation with men, and prayer to the Divine Goodness, for the salvation +of Edwin and his subjects; at length, as we may suppose, it was shown him +in spirit what the nature of the vision was that had been formerly +revealed from Heaven to the king. Then he lost no time, but immediately +admonished the king to perform the vow which he had made, when he received +the vision, promising to fulfil it, if he should be delivered from the +troubles of that time, and advanced to the throne. + +The vision was this. When Ethelfrid,(227) his predecessor, was persecuting +him, he wandered for many years as an exile, hiding in divers places and +kingdoms, and at last came to Redwald, beseeching him to give him +protection against the snares of his powerful persecutor. Redwald +willingly received him, and promised to perform what was asked of him. But +when Ethelfrid understood that he had appeared in that province, and that +he and his companions were hospitably entertained by Redwald, he sent +messengers to bribe that king with a great sum of money to murder him, but +without effect. He sent a second and a third time, offering a greater +bribe each time, and, moreover, threatening to make war on him if his +offer should be despised. Redwald, whether terrified by his threats, or +won over by his gifts, complied with this request, and promised either to +kill Edwin, or to deliver him up to the envoys. A faithful friend of his, +hearing of this, went into his chamber, where he was going to bed, for it +was the first hour of the night; and calling him out, told him what the +king had promised to do with him, adding, "If, therefore, you are willing, +I will this very hour conduct you out of this province, and lead you to a +place where neither Redwald nor Ethelfrid shall ever find you." He +answered, "I thank you for your good will, yet I cannot do what you +propose, and be guilty of being the first to break the compact I have made +with so great a king, when he has done me no harm, nor shown any enmity to +me; but, on the contrary, if I must die, let it rather be by his hand than +by that of any meaner man. For whither shall I now fly, when I have for so +many long years been a vagabond through all the provinces of Britain, to +escape the snares of my enemies?" His friend went away; Edwin remained +alone without, and sitting with a heavy heart before the palace, began to +be overwhelmed with many thoughts, not knowing what to do, or which way to +turn. + +When he had remained a long time in silent anguish of mind, consumed with +inward fire,(228) on a sudden in the stillness of the dead of night he saw +approaching a person, whose face and habit were strange to him, at sight +of whom, seeing that he was unknown and unlooked for, he was not a little +startled. The stranger coming close up, saluted him, and asked why he sat +there in solitude on a stone troubled and wakeful at that time, when all +others were taking their rest, and were fast asleep. Edwin, in his turn, +asked, what it was to him, whether he spent the night within doors or +abroad. The stranger, in reply, said, "Do not think that I am ignorant of +the cause of your grief, your watching, and sitting alone without. For I +know of a surety who you are, and why you grieve, and the evils which you +fear will soon fall upon you. But tell me, what reward you would give the +man who should deliver you out of these troubles, and persuade Redwald +neither to do you any harm himself, nor to deliver you up to be murdered +by your enemies." Edwin replied, that he would give such an one all that +he could in return for so great a benefit. The other further added, "What +if he should also assure you, that your enemies should be destroyed, and +you should be a king surpassing in power, not only all your own ancestors, +but even all that have reigned before you in the English nation?" Edwin, +encouraged by these questions, did not hesitate to promise that he would +make a fitting return to him who should confer such benefits upon him. +Then the other spoke a third time and said, "But if he who should truly +foretell that all these great blessings are about to befall you, could +also give you better and more profitable counsel for your life and +salvation than any of your fathers or kindred ever heard, do you consent +to submit to him, and to follow his wholesome guidance?" Edwin at once +promised that he would in all things follow the teaching of that man who +should deliver him from so many great calamities, and raise him to a +throne. + +Having received this answer, the man who talked to him laid his right hand +on his head saying, "When this sign shall be given you, remember this +present discourse that has passed between us, and do not delay the +performance of what you now promise." Having uttered these words, he is +said to have immediately vanished. So the king perceived that it was not a +man, but a spirit, that had appeared to him. + +Whilst the royal youth still sat there alone, glad of the comfort he had +received, but still troubled and earnestly pondering who he was, and +whence he came, that had so talked to him, his aforesaid friend came to +him, and greeting him with a glad countenance, "Rise," said he, "go in; +calm and put away your anxious cares, and compose yourself in body and +mind to sleep; for the king's resolution is altered, and he designs to do +you no harm, but rather to keep his pledged faith; for when he had +privately made known to the queen his intention of doing what I told you +before, she dissuaded him from it, reminding him that it was altogether +unworthy of so great a king to sell his good friend in such distress for +gold, and to sacrifice his honour, which is more valuable than all other +adornments, for the love of money." In short, the king did as has been +said, and not only refused to deliver up the banished man to his enemy's +messengers, but helped him to recover his kingdom. For as soon as the +messengers had returned home, he raised a mighty army to subdue Ethelfrid; +who, meeting him with much inferior forces, (for Redwald had not given him +time to gather and unite all his power,) was slain on the borders of the +kingdom of Mercia, on the east side of the river that is called Idle.(229) +In this battle, Redwald's son, called Raegenheri, was killed. Thus Edwin, +in accordance with the prophecy he had received, not only escaped the +danger from his enemy, but, by his death, succeeded the king on the +throne. + +King Edwin, therefore, delaying to receive the Word of God at the +preaching of Paulinus, and being wont for some time, as has been said, to +sit many hours alone, and seriously to ponder with himself what he was to +do, and what religion he was to follow, the man of God came to him one +day, laid his right hand on his head, and asked, whether he knew that +sign? The king, trembling, was ready to fall down at his feet, but he +raised him up, and speaking to him with the voice of a friend, said, +"Behold, by the gift of God you have escaped the hands of the enemies whom +you feared. Behold, you have obtained of His bounty the kingdom which you +desired. Take heed not to delay to perform your third promise; accept the +faith, and keep the precepts of Him Who, delivering you from temporal +adversity, has raised you to the honour of a temporal kingdom; and if, +from this time forward, you shall be obedient to His will, which through +me He signifies to you, He will also deliver you from the everlasting +torments of the wicked, and make you partaker with Him of His eternal +kingdom in heaven." + + + + +Chap. XIII. Of the Council he held with his chief men concerning their +reception of the faith of Christ, and how the high priest profaned his own +altars. [627 A.D.] + + +The king, hearing these words, answered, that he was both willing and +bound to receive the faith which Paulinus taught; but that he would confer +about it with his chief friends and counsellors, to the end that if they +also were of his opinion, they might all together be consecrated to Christ +in the font of life. Paulinus consenting, the king did as he said; for, +holding a council with the wise men,(230) he asked of every one in +particular what he thought of this doctrine hitherto unknown to them, and +the new worship of God that was preached? The chief of his own priests, +Coifi, immediately answered him, "O king, consider what this is which is +now preached to us; for I verily declare to you what I have learnt beyond +doubt, that the religion which we have hitherto professed has no virtue in +it and no profit. For none of your people has applied himself more +diligently to the worship of our gods than I; and yet there are many who +receive greater favours from you, and are more preferred than I, and are +more prosperous in all that they undertake to do or to get. Now if the +gods were good for any thing, they would rather forward me, who have been +careful to serve them with greater zeal. It remains, therefore, that if +upon examination you find those new doctrines, which are now preached to +us, better and more efficacious, we hasten to receive them without any +delay." + +Another of the king's chief men, approving of his wise words and +exhortations, added thereafter: "The present life of man upon earth, O +king, seems to me, in comparison with that time which is unknown to us, +like to the swift flight of a sparrow through the house wherein you sit at +supper in winter, with your ealdormen and thegns, while the fire blazes in +the midst, and the hall is warmed, but the wintry storms of rain or snow +are raging abroad. The sparrow, flying in at one door and immediately out +at another, whilst he is within, is safe from the wintry tempest; but +after a short space of fair weather, he immediately vanishes out of your +sight, passing from winter into winter again. So this life of man appears +for a little while, but of what is to follow or what went before we know +nothing at all. If, therefore, this new doctrine tells us something more +certain, it seems justly to deserve to be followed." The other elders and +king's counsellors, by Divine prompting, spoke to the same effect. + +But Coifi added, that he wished more attentively to hear Paulinus +discourse concerning the God Whom he preached. When he did so, at the +king's command, Coifi, hearing his words, cried out, "This long time I +have perceived that what we worshipped was naught; because the more +diligently I sought after truth in that worship, the less I found it. But +now I freely confess, that such truth evidently appears in this preaching +as can confer on us the gifts of life, of salvation, and of eternal +happiness. For which reason my counsel is, O king, that we instantly give +up to ban and fire those temples and altars which we have consecrated +without reaping any benefit from them." In brief, the king openly assented +to the preaching of the Gospel by Paulinus, and renouncing idolatry, +declared that he received the faith of Christ: and when he inquired of the +aforesaid high priest of his religion, who should first desecrate the +altars and temples of their idols, with the precincts that were about +them, he answered, "I; for who can more fittingly than myself destroy +those things which I worshipped in my folly, for an example to all others, +through the wisdom which has been given me by the true God?" Then +immediately, in contempt of his vain superstitions, he desired the king to +furnish him with arms and a stallion, that he might mount and go forth to +destroy the idols; for it was not lawful before for the high priest either +to carry arms, or to ride on anything but a mare. Having, therefore, girt +a sword about him, with a spear in his hand, he mounted the king's +stallion, and went his way to the idols. The multitude, beholding it, +thought that he was mad; but as soon as he drew near the temple he did not +delay to desecrate it by casting into it the spear which he held; and +rejoicing in the knowledge of the worship of the true God, he commanded +his companions to tear down and set on fire the temple, with all its +precincts. This place where the idols once stood is still shown, not far +from York, to the eastward, beyond the river Derwent, and is now called +Godmunddingaham,(231) where the high priest, by the inspiration of the +true God, profaned and destroyed the altars which he had himself +consecrated.(232) + + + + +Chap. XIV. How King Edwin and his nation became Christians; and where +Paulinus baptized them. [627 A.D.] + + +King Edwin, therefore, with all the nobility of the nation, and a large +number of the common sort, received the faith, and the washing of holy +regeneration, in the eleventh year of his reign, which is the year of our +Lord 627, and about one hundred and eighty after the coming of the English +into Britain. He was baptized at York, on the holy day of Easter,(233) +being the 12th of April, in the church of St. Peter the Apostle, which he +himself had built of timber there in haste, whilst he was a catechumen +receiving instruction in order to be admitted to baptism. In that city +also he bestowed upon his instructor and bishop, Paulinus, his episcopal +see. But as soon as he was baptized, he set about building, by the +direction of Paulinus, in the same place a larger and nobler church of +stone, in the midst whereof the oratory which he had first erected should +be enclosed.(234) Having, therefore, laid the foundation, he began to +build the church square, encompassing the former oratory. But before the +walls were raised to their full height, the cruel death(235) of the king +left that work to be finished by Oswald his successor. Paulinus, for the +space of six years from this time, that is, till the end of the king's +reign, with his consent and favour, preached the Word of God in that +country, and as many as were foreordained to eternal life believed and +were baptized. Among them were Osfrid and Eadfrid, King Edwin's sons who +were both born to him, whilst he was in banishment, of Quenburga, the +daughter of Cearl, king of the Mercians. + +Afterwards other children of his, by Queen Ethelberg, were baptized, +Ethelhun and his daughter Ethelthryth, and another, Wuscfrea, a son; the +first two were snatched out of this life whilst they were still in the +white garments of the newly-baptized,(236) and buried in the church at +York. Yffi,(237) the son of Osfrid, was also baptized, and many other +noble and royal persons. So great was then the fervour of the faith, as is +reported, and the desire for the laver of salvation among the nation of +the Northumbrians, that Paulinus at a certain time coming with the king +and queen to the royal township, which is called Adgefrin,(238) stayed +there with them thirty-six days, fully occupied in catechizing and +baptizing; during which days, from morning till night, he did nothing else +but instruct the people resorting from all villages and places, in +Christ's saving Word; and when they were instructed, he washed them with +the water of absolution in the river Glen,(239) which is close by. This +township, under the following kings, was abandoned, and another was built +instead of it, at the place called Maelmin.(240) + +These things happened in the province of the Bernicians; but in that of +the Deiri also, where he was wont often to be with the king, he baptized +in the river Swale, which runs by the village of Cataract;(241) for as yet +oratories, or baptisteries, could not be built in the early infancy of the +Church in those parts. But in Campodonum,(242) where there was then a +royal township, he built a church which the pagans, by whom King Edwin was +slain, afterwards burnt, together with all the place. Instead of this +royal seat the later kings built themselves a township in the country +called Loidis.(243) But the altar, being of stone, escaped the fire and is +still preserved in the monastery of the most reverend abbot and priest, +Thrydwulf, which is in the forest of Elmet.(244) + + + + +Chap. XV. How the province of the East Angles received the faith of +Christ. [627-628 A.D.] + + +Edwin was so zealous for the true worship, that he likewise persuaded +Earpwald, king of the East Angles, and son of Redwald, to abandon his +idolatrous superstitions, and with his whole province to receive the faith +and mysteries of Christ. And indeed his father Redwald had long before +been initiated into the mysteries of the Christian faith in Kent, but in +vain; for on his return home, he was seduced by his wife and certain +perverse teachers, and turned aside from the sincerity of the faith; and +thus his latter state was worse than the former; so that, like the +Samaritans of old, he seemed at the same time to serve Christ and the gods +whom he served before; and in the same temple he had an altar for the +Christian Sacrifice, and another small one at which to offer victims to +devils. Aldwulf,(245) king of that same province, who lived in our time, +testifies that this temple had stood until his time, and that he had seen +it when he was a boy. The aforesaid King Redwald was noble by birth, +though ignoble in his actions, being the son of Tytilus, whose father was +Uuffa, from whom the kings of the East Angles are called Uuffings.(246) + +Earpwald, not long after he had embraced the Christian faith, was slain by +one Ricbert, a pagan; and from that time the province was in error for +three years, till Sigbert succeeded to the kingdom,(247) brother to the +same Earpwald, a most Christian and learned man, who was banished, and +went to live in Gaul during his brother's life, and was there initiated +into the mysteries of the faith, whereof he made it his business to cause +all his province to partake as soon as he came to the throne. His +exertions were nobly promoted by Bishop Felix,(248) who, coming to +Honorius, the archbishop,(249) from the parts of Burgundy, where he had +been born and ordained, and having told him what he desired, was sent by +him to preach the Word of life to the aforesaid nation of the Angles. Nor +were his good wishes in vain; for the pious labourer in the spiritual +field reaped therein a great harvest of believers, delivering all that +province (according to the inner signification of his name) from long +iniquity and unhappiness, and bringing it to the faith and works of +righteousness, and the gifts of everlasting happiness. He had the see of +his bishopric appointed him in the city Dommoc,(250) and having presided +over the same province with pontifical authority seventeen years, he ended +his days there in peace. + + + + +Chap. XVI. How Paulinus preached in the province of Lindsey; and of the +character of the reign of Edwin. [_Circ._ 628 A.D.] + + +Paulinus also preached the Word to the province of Lindsey,(251) which is +the first on the south side of the river Humber, stretching as far as the +sea; and he first converted to the Lord the reeve of the city of Lincoln, +whose name was Blaecca, with his whole house. He likewise built, in that +city, a stone church of beautiful workmanship; the roof of which has +either fallen through long neglect, or been thrown down by enemies, but +the walls are still to be seen standing, and every year miraculous cures +are wrought in that place, for the benefit of those who have faith to seek +them. In that church, when Justus had departed to Christ, Paulinus +consecrated Honorius bishop in his stead, as will be hereafter mentioned +in its proper place.(252) A certain priest and abbot of the monastery of +Peartaneu,(253) a man of singular veracity, whose name was Deda, told me +concerning the faith of this province that an old man had informed him +that he himself had been baptized at noon-day, by Bishop Paulinus, in the +presence of King Edwin, and with him a great multitude of the people, in +the river Trent, near the city, which in the English tongue is called +Tiouulfingacaestir;(254) and he was also wont to describe the person of +the same Paulinus, saying that he was tall of stature, stooping somewhat, +his hair black, his visage thin, his nose slender and aquiline, his aspect +both venerable and awe-inspiring. He had also with him in the ministry, +James, the deacon,(255) a man of zeal and great fame in Christ and in the +church, who lived even to our days. + +It is told that there was then such perfect peace in Britain, wheresoever +the dominion of King Edwin extended, that, as is still proverbially said, +a woman with her new-born babe might walk throughout the island, from sea +to sea, without receiving any harm. That king took such care for the good +of his nation, that in several places where he had seen clear springs near +the highways, he caused stakes to be fixed, with copper drinking-vessels +hanging on them, for the refreshment of travellers; nor durst any man +touch them for any other purpose than that for which they were designed, +either through the great dread they had of the king, or for the affection +which they bore him. His dignity was so great throughout his dominions, +that not only were his banners borne before him in battle, but even in +time of peace, when he rode about his cities, townships, or provinces, +with his thegns, the standard-bearer was always wont to go before him. +Also, when he walked anywhere along the streets, that sort of banner which +the Romans call Tufa,(256) and the English, Thuuf, was in like manner +borne before him. + + + + +Chap. XVII. How Edwin received letters of exhortation from Pope Honorius, +who also sent the pall to Paulinus. [634 A.D.] + + +At that time Honorius, successor to Boniface, was Bishop of the Apostolic +see. When he learned that the nation of the Northumbrians, with their +king, had been, by the preaching of Paulinus, converted to the faith and +confession of Christ, he sent the pall to the said Paulinus, and with it +letters of exhortation to King Edwin, with fatherly love inflaming his +zeal, to the end that he and his people should persist in belief of the +truth which they had received. The contents of which letter were as +follow: + +"_To his most noble son, and excellent lord, Edwin king of the Angles, +Bishop Honorius, servant of the servants of God, greeting._ The +wholeheartedness of your Christian Majesty, in the worship of your +Creator, is so inflamed with the fire of faith, that it shines out far and +wide, and, being reported throughout the world, brings forth plentiful +fruits of your labours. For the terms of your kingship you know to be +this, that taught by orthodox preaching the knowledge of your King and +Creator, you believe and worship God, and as far as man is able, pay Him +the sincere devotion of your mind. For what else are we able to offer to +our God, but our readiness to worship Him and to pay Him our vows, +persisting in good actions, and confessing Him the Creator of mankind? +And, therefore, most excellent son, we exhort you with such fatherly love +as is meet, to labour to preserve this gift in every way, by earnest +striving and constant prayer, in that the Divine Mercy has vouchsafed to +call you to His grace; to the end that He, Who has been pleased to deliver +you from all errors, and bring you to the knowledge of His name in this +present world, may likewise prepare a place for you in the heavenly +country. Employing yourself, therefore, in reading frequently the works of +my lord Gregory, your Evangelist, of apostolic memory, keep before your +eyes that love of his doctrine, which he zealously bestowed for the sake +of your souls; that his prayers may exalt your kingdom and people, and +present you faultless before Almighty God. We are preparing with a willing +mind immediately to grant those things which you hoped would be by us +ordained for your bishops, and this we do on account of the sincerity of +your faith, which has been made known to us abundantly in terms of praise +by the bearers of these presents. We have sent two palls to the two +metropolitans, Honorius and Paulinus;(257) to the intent, that when either +of them shall be called out of this world to his Creator, the other may, +by this authority of ours, substitute another bishop in his place; which +privilege we are induced to grant by the warmth of our love for you, as +well as by reason of the great extent of the provinces which lie between +us and you; that we may in all things support your devotion and likewise +satisfy your desires. May God's grace preserve your Highness in safety!" + + + + +Chap. XVIII. How Honorius, who succeeded Justus in the bishopric of +Canterbury, received the pall and letters from Pope Honorius. [634 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, Archbishop Justus was taken up to the heavenly kingdom, +on the 10th of November,(258) and Honorius, who was elected to the see in +his stead, came to Paulinus to be ordained, and meeting him at Lincoln was +there consecrated the fifth prelate of the Church of Canterbury from +Augustine. To him also the aforesaid Pope Honorius sent the pall, and a +letter, wherein he ordains the same that he had before ordained in his +epistle to King Edwin, to wit, that when either the Archbishop of +Canterbury or of York shall depart this life, the survivor, being of the +same degree, shall have power to ordain another bishop in the room of him +that is departed; that it might not be necessary always to undertake the +toilsome journey to Rome, at so great a distance by sea and land, to +ordain an archbishop. Which letter we have also thought fit to insert in +this our history: + +"_Honorius to his most beloved brother Honorius:_ Among the many good +gifts which the mercy of our Redeemer is pleased to bestow on His servants +He grants to us in His bounty, graciously conferred on us by His goodness, +the special blessing of realizing by brotherly intercourse, as it were +face to face, our mutual love. For which gift we continually render thanks +to His Majesty; and we humbly beseech Him, that He will ever confirm your +labour, beloved, in preaching the Gospel, and bringing forth fruit, and +following the rule of your master and head, the holy Gregory; and that, +for the advancement of His Church, He may by your means raise up further +increase; to the end, that through faith and works, in the fear and love +of God, what you and your predecessors have already gained from the seed +sown by our lord Gregory, may grow strong and be further extended; that so +the promises spoken by our Lord may hereafter be brought to pass in you; +and that these words may summon you to everlasting happiness: 'Come unto +Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.'(259) +And again, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful +over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou +into the joy of thy Lord.'(260) And we, most beloved brothers, sending you +first these words of exhortation out of our enduring charity, do not fail +further to grant those things which we perceive may be suitable for the +privileges of your Churches. + +"Wherefore, in accordance with your request, and that of the kings our +sons,(261) we do hereby in the name of the blessed Peter, chief of the +Apostles, grant you authority, that when the Divine Grace shall call +either of you to Himself, the survivor shall ordain a bishop in the room +of him that is deceased. To which end also we have sent a pall to each of +you, beloved, for celebrating the said ordination; that by the authority +which we hereby commit to you, you may make an ordination acceptable to +God; because the long distance of sea and land that lies between us and +you, has obliged us to grant you this, that no loss may happen to your +Church in any way, on any pretext whatever, but that the devotion of the +people committed to you may increase the more. God preserve you in safety, +most dear brother! Given the 11th day of June, in the reign of these our +lords and emperors, in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of Heraclius, +and the twenty-third after his consulship; and in the twenty-third of his +son Constantine, and the third after his consulship; and in the third year +of the most prosperous Caesar, his son Heraclius,(262) the seventh +indiction; that is, in the year of our Lord, 634." + + + + +Chap. XIX. How the aforesaid Honorius first, and afterwards John, wrote +letters to the nation of the Scots, concerning the observance of Easter, +and the Pelagian heresy. [640 A.D.] + + +The same Pope Honorius also wrote to the Scots,(263) whom he had found to +err in the observance of the holy Festival of Easter, as has been shown +above, with subtlety of argument exhorting them not to think themselves, +few as they were, and placed in the utmost borders of the earth, wiser +than all the ancient and modern Churches of Christ, throughout the world; +and not to celebrate a different Easter, contrary to the Paschal +calculation and the decrees of all the bishops upon earth sitting in +synod. Likewise John,(264) who succeeded Severinus, successor to the same +Honorius, being yet but Pope elect, sent to them letters of great +authority and erudition for the purpose of correcting the same error; +evidently showing, that Easter Sunday is to be found between the fifteenth +of the moon and the twenty-first, as was approved in the Council of +Nicaea.(265) He also in the same epistle admonished them to guard against +the Pelagian heresy,(266) and reject it, for he had been informed that it +was again springing up among them. The beginning of the epistle was as +follows: + +"_To our most beloved and most holy Tomianus, Columbanus, Cromanus, +Dinnaus, and Baithanus, bishops; to __ Cromanus, Ernianus, Laistranus, +Scellanus, and Segenus, priests; to Saranus and the rest of the Scottish +doctors and abbots, Hilarus, the arch-presbyter, and vice-gerent of the +holy Apostolic See; John, the deacon, and elect in the name of God; +likewise John, the chief of the notaries and vice-gerent of the holy +Apostolic See, and John, the servant of God, and counsellor of the same +Apostolic See._(267) The writings which were brought by the bearers to +Pope Severinus, of holy memory, were left, when he departed from the light +of this world, without an answer to the questions contained in them. Lest +any obscurity should long remain undispelled in a matter of so great +moment, we opened the same, and found that some in your province, +endeavouring to revive a new heresy out of an old one, contrary to the +orthodox faith, do through the darkness of their minds reject our Easter, +when Christ was sacrificed; and contend that the same should be kept with +the Hebrews on the fourteenth of the moon."(268) + +By this beginning of the epistle it evidently appears that this heresy +arose among them in very late times, and that not all their nation, but +only some of them, were involved in the same. + +After having laid down the manner of keeping Easter, they add this +concerning the Pelagians in the same epistle: + +"And we have also learnt that the poison of the Pelagian heresy again +springs up among you; we, therefore, exhort you, that you put away from +your thoughts all such venomous and superstitious wickedness. For you +cannot be ignorant how that execrable heresy has been condemned; for it +has not only been abolished these two hundred years, but it is also daily +condemned by us and buried under our perpetual ban; and we exhort you not +to rake up the ashes of those whose weapons have been burnt. For who would +not detest that insolent and impious assertion, 'That man can live without +sin of his own free will, and not through the grace of God?' And in the +first place, it is blasphemous folly to say that man is without sin, which +none can be, but only the one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ +Jesus, Who was conceived and born without sin; for all other men, being +born in original sin, are known to bear the mark of Adam's transgression, +even whilst they are without actual sin, according to the saying of the +prophet, 'For behold, I was conceived in iniquity; and in sin did my +mother give birth to me.' "(269) + + + + +Chap. XX. How Edwin being slain, Paulinus returned into Kent, and had the +bishopric of Rochester conferred upon him. [633 A.D.] + + +Edwin reigned most gloriously seventeen years over the nations of the +English and the Britons, six whereof, as has been said, he also was a +soldier in the kingdom of Christ. Caedwalla,(270) king of the Britons, +rebelled against him, being supported by the vigorous Penda, of the royal +race of the Mercians, who from that time governed that nation for +twenty-two years with varying success. A great battle being fought in the +plain that is called Haethfelth,(271) Edwin was killed on the 12th of +October, in the year of our Lord 633, being then forty-eight years of age, +and all his army was either slain or dispersed. In the same war also, +Osfrid,(272) one of his sons, a warlike youth, fell before him; +Eadfrid,(273) another of them, compelled by necessity, went over to King +Penda, and was by him afterwards slain in the reign of Oswald, contrary to +his oath. At this time a great slaughter was made in the Church and nation +of the Northumbrians; chiefly because one of the chiefs, by whom it was +carried on, was a pagan, and the other a barbarian, more cruel than a +pagan; for Penda, with all the nation of the Mercians, was an idolater, +and a stranger to the name of Christ; but Caedwalla, though he professed +and called himself a Christian, was so barbarous in his disposition and +manner of living, that he did not even spare women and innocent children, +but with bestial cruelty put all alike to death by torture, and overran +all their country in his fury for a long time, intending to cut off all +the race of the English within the borders of Britain. Nor did he pay any +respect to the Christian religion which had sprung up among them; it being +to this day the custom of the Britons to despise the faith and religion of +the English, and to have no part with them in anything any more than with +pagans. King Edwin's head was brought to York, and afterwards taken into +the church of the blessed Peter the Apostle, which he had begun, but which +his successor Oswald finished, as has been said before. It was laid in the +chapel of the holy Pope Gregory, from whose disciples he had received the +word of life.(274) + +The affairs of the Northumbrians being thrown into confusion at the moment +of this disaster, when there seemed to be no prospect of safety except in +flight, Paulinus, taking with him Queen Ethelberg, whom he had before +brought thither, returned into Kent by sea, and was very honourably +received by the Archbishop Honorius and King Eadbald. He came thither +under the conduct of Bassus, a most valiant thegn of King Edwin, having +with him Eanfled, the daughter, and Wuscfrea, the son of Edwin, as well as +Yffi, the son of Osfrid, Edwin's son.(275) Afterwards Ethelberg, for fear +of the kings Eadbald and Oswald,(276) sent Wuscfrea and Yffi over into +Gaul to be bred up by King Dagobert,(277) who was her friend; and there +they both died in infancy, and were buried in the church with the honour +due to royal children and to Christ's innocents. He also brought with him +many rich goods of King Edwin, among which were a large gold cross, and a +golden chalice, consecrated to the service of the altar, which are still +preserved, and shown in the church of Canterbury. + +At that time the church of Rochester had no pastor, for Romanus,(278) the +bishop thereof, being sent on a mission to Pope Honorius by Archbishop +Justus, was drowned in the Italian Sea; and thus Paulinus, at the request +of Archbishop Honorius and King Eadbald, took upon him the charge of the +same, and held it until he too, in his own time, departed to heaven, with +the fruits of his glorious labours; and, dying in that Church, he left +there the pall which he had received from the Pope of Rome. He had left +behind him in his Church at York, James, the deacon,(279) a true churchman +and a holy man, who continuing long after in that Church, by teaching and +baptizing, rescued much prey from the ancient enemy; and from him the +village, where he chiefly dwelt, near Cataract,(280) has its name to this +day. He had great skill in singing in church, and when the province was +afterwards restored to peace, and the number of the faithful increased, he +began to teach church music to many, according to the custom of the +Romans, or of the Cantuarians.(281) And being old and full of days, as the +Scripture says, he went the way of his fathers. + + + + + +BOOK III + + + + +Chap. I. How King Edwin's next successors lost both the faith of their +nation and the kingdom; but the most Christian King Oswald retrieved both. +[633 A.D.] + + +Edwin being slain in battle, the kingdom of the Deiri, to which province +his family belonged, and where he first began to reign, passed to Osric, +the son of his uncle Aelfric, who, through the preaching of Paulinus, had +also received the mysteries of the faith. But the kingdom of the +Bernicians--for into these two provinces the nation of the Northumbrians +was formerly divided(282)--passed to Eanfrid, the son of Ethelfrid,(283) +who derived his origin from the royal family of that province. For all the +time that Edwin reigned, the sons of the aforesaid Ethelfrid, who had +reigned before him, with many of the younger nobility, lived in banishment +among the Scots or Picts, and were there instructed according to the +doctrine of the Scots, and were renewed with the grace of Baptism. Upon +the death of the king, their enemy, they were allowed to return home, and +the aforesaid Eanfrid, as the eldest of them, became king of the +Bernicians. Both those kings,(284) as soon as they obtained the government +of their earthly kingdoms, abjured and betrayed the mysteries of the +heavenly kingdom to which they had been admitted, and again delivered +themselves up to defilement and perdition through the abominations of +their former idolatry. + +But soon after, the king of the Britons, Caedwalla,(285) the unrighteous +instrument of rightful vengeance, slew them both. First, in the following +summer, he put Osric to death; for, being rashly besieged by him in the +municipal town,(286) he sallied out on a sudden with all his forces, took +him by surprise, and destroyed him and all his army. Then, when he had +occupied the provinces of the Northumbrians for a whole year,(287) not +ruling them like a victorious king, but ravaging them like a furious +tyrant, he at length put an end to Eanfrid, in like manner, when he +unadvisedly came to him with only twelve chosen soldiers, to sue for +peace. To this day, that year is looked upon as ill-omened, and hateful to +all good men; as well on account of the apostacy of the English kings, who +had renounced the mysteries of the faith, as of the outrageous tyranny of +the British king. Hence it has been generally agreed, in reckoning the +dates of the kings, to abolish the memory of those faithless monarchs, and +to assign that year to the reign of the following king, Oswald, a man +beloved of God. This king, after the death of his brother Eanfrid,(288) +advanced with an army, small, indeed, in number, but strengthened with the +faith of Christ; and the impious commander of the Britons, in spite of his +vast forces, which he boasted nothing could withstand, was slain at a +place called in the English tongue Denisesburna, that is, the brook of +Denis.(289) + + + + +Chap. II. How, among innumerable other miracles of healing wrought by the +wood of the cross, which King Oswald, being ready to engage against the +barbarians, erected, a certain man had his injured arm healed. [634 A.D.] + + +The place is shown to this day, and held in much veneration, where Oswald, +being about to engage in this battle, erected the symbol of the Holy +Cross, and knelt down and prayed to God that he would send help from +Heaven to his worshippers in their sore need. Then, we are told, that the +cross being made in haste, and the hole dug in which it was to be set up, +the king himself, in the ardour of his faith, laid hold of it and held it +upright with both his hands, till the earth was heaped up by the soldiers +and it was fixed. Thereupon, uplifting his voice, he cried to his whole +army, "Let us all kneel, and together beseech the true and living God +Almighty in His mercy to defend us from the proud and cruel enemy; for He +knows that we have undertaken a just war for the safety of our nation." +All did as he had commanded, and accordingly advancing towards the enemy +with the first dawn of day, they obtained the victory, as their faith +deserved. In the place where they prayed very many miracles of healing are +known to have been wrought, as a token and memorial of the king's faith; +for even to this day, many are wont to cut off small splinters from the +wood of the holy cross, and put them into water, which they give to sick +men or cattle to drink, or they sprinkle them therewith, and these are +presently restored to health. + +The place is called in the English tongue Hefenfelth, or the Heavenly +Field,(290) which name it undoubtedly received of old as a presage of what +was afterwards to happen, denoting, that the heavenly trophy was to be +erected, the heavenly victory begun, and heavenly miracles shown forth to +this day. The place is near the wall in the north which the Romans +formerly drew across the whole of Britain from sea to sea, to restrain the +onslaught of the barbarous nations, as has been said before. Hither also +the brothers of the church of Hagustald,(291) which is not far distant, +long ago made it their custom to resort every year, on the day before that +on which King Oswald was afterwards slain, to keep vigils there for the +health of his soul, and having sung many psalms of praise, to offer for +him in the morning the sacrifice of the Holy Oblation. And since that good +custom has spread, they have lately built a church there, which has +attached additional sanctity and honour in the eyes of all men to that +place;(292) and this with good reason; for it appears that there was no +symbol of the Christian faith, no church, no altar erected throughout all +the nation of the Bernicians, before that new leader in war, prompted by +the zeal of his faith, set up this standard of the Cross as he was going +to give battle to his barbarous enemy. + +Nor is it foreign to our purpose to relate one of the many miracles that +have been wrought at this cross. One of the brothers of the same church of +Hagulstald, whose name is Bothelm, and who is still living, a few years +ago, walking carelessly on the ice at night, suddenly fell and broke his +arm; he was soon tormented with a most grievous pain in the broken part, +so that he could not lift his arm to his mouth for the anguish. Hearing +one morning that one of the brothers designed to go up to the place of the +holy cross, he desired him, on his return, to bring him a piece of that +sacred wood, saying, he believed that with the mercy of God he might +thereby be healed. The brother did as he was desired; and returning in the +evening, when the brothers were sitting at table, gave him some of the old +moss which grew on the surface of the wood. As he sat at table, having no +place to bestow the gift which was brought him, he put it into his bosom; +and forgetting, when he went to bed, to put it away, left it in his bosom. +Awaking in the middle of the night, he felt something cold lying by his +side, and putting his hand upon it to feel what it was, he found his arm +and hand as sound as if he had never felt any such pain. + + + + +Chap. III. How the same king Oswald, asking a bishop of the Scottish +nation, had Aidan sent him, and granted him an episcopal see in the Isle +of Lindisfarne. [635 A.D.] + + +The same Oswald, as soon as he ascended the throne, being desirous that +all the nation under his rule should be endued with the grace of the +Christian faith, whereof he had found happy experience in vanquishing the +barbarians, sent to the elders of the Scots,(293) among whom himself and +his followers, when in banishment, had received the sacrament of Baptism, +desiring that they would send him a bishop, by whose instruction and +ministry the English nation, which he governed, might learn the privileges +and receive the Sacraments of the faith of our Lord. Nor were they slow in +granting his request; for they sent him Bishop Aidan, a man of singular +gentleness, piety, and moderation; having a zeal of God, but not fully +according to knowledge; for he was wont to keep Easter Sunday according to +the custom of his country, which we have before so often mentioned,(294) +from the fourteenth to the twentieth of the moon; the northern province of +the Scots, and all the nation of the Picts, at that time still celebrating +Easter after that manner, and believing that in this observance they +followed the writings of the holy and praiseworthy Father Anatolius.(295) +Whether this be true, every instructed person can easily judge. But the +Scots which dwelt in the South of Ireland had long since, by the +admonition of the Bishop of the Apostolic see, learned to observe Easter +according to the canonical custom.(296) + +On the arrival of the bishop, the king appointed him his episcopal see in +the island of Lindisfarne,(297) as he desired. Which place, as the tide +ebbs and flows, is twice a day enclosed by the waves of the sea like an +island; and again, twice, when the beach is left dry, becomes contiguous +with the land. The king also humbly and willingly in all things giving ear +to his admonitions, industriously applied himself to build up and extend +the Church of Christ in his kingdom; wherein, when the bishop, who was not +perfectly skilled in the English tongue, preached the Gospel, it was a +fair sight to see the king himself interpreting the Word of God to his +ealdormen and thegns, for he had thoroughly learned the language of the +Scots during his long banishment. From that time many came daily into +Britain from the country of the Scots, and with great devotion preached +the Word to those provinces of the English, over which King Oswald +reigned, and those among them that had received priest's orders,(298) +administered the grace of Baptism to the believers. Churches were built in +divers places; the people joyfully flocked together to hear the Word; +lands and other property were given of the king's bounty to found +monasteries; English children, as well as their elders, were instructed by +their Scottish teachers in study and the observance of monastic +discipline. For most of those who came to preach were monks. Bishop Aidan +was himself a monk, having been sent out from the island called Hii,(299) +whereof the monastery was for a long time the chief of almost all those of +the northern Scots,(300) and all those of the Picts, and had the direction +of their people. That island belongs to Britain, being divided from it by +a small arm of the sea, but had been long since given by the Picts, who +inhabit those parts of Britain, to the Scottish monks, because they had +received the faith of Christ through their preaching. + + + + +Chap. IV. When the nation of the Picts received the faith of Christ. [565 +A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 565, when Justin, the younger, the successor of +Justinian, obtained the government of the Roman empire, there came into +Britain from Ireland a famous priest and abbot, marked as a monk by habit +and manner of life, whose name was Columba,(301) to preach the word of God +to the provinces of the northern Picts, who are separated from the +southern parts belonging to that nation by steep and rugged mountains. For +the southern Picts, who dwell on this side of those mountains, had, it is +said, long before forsaken the errors of idolatry, and received the true +faith by the preaching of Bishop Ninias,(302) a most reverend and holy man +of the British nation, who had been regularly instructed at Rome in the +faith and mysteries of the truth; whose episcopal see, named after St. +Martin the bishop, and famous for a church dedicated to him (wherein +Ninias himself and many other saints rest in the body), is now in the +possession of the English nation. The place belongs to the province of the +Bernicians, and is commonly called the White House,(303) because he there +built a church of stone, which was not usual among the Britons. + +Columba came into Britain in the ninth year of the reign of Bridius, who +was the son of Meilochon,(304) and the powerful king of the Pictish +nation, and he converted that nation to the faith of Christ, by his +preaching and example. Wherefore he also received of them the gift of the +aforesaid island whereon to found a monastery. It is not a large island, +but contains about five families, according to the English computation; +his successors hold it to this day; he was also buried therein, having +died at the age of seventy-seven, about thirty-two years after he came +into Britain to preach.(305) Before he crossed over into Britain, he had +built a famous monastery in Ireland, which, from the great number of oaks, +is in the Scottish tongue called Dearmach--The Field of Oaks.(306) From +both these monasteries, many others had their beginning through his +disciples, both in Britain and Ireland; but the island monastery where his +body lies, has the pre-eminence among them all. + +That island has for its ruler an abbot, who is a priest, to whose +jurisdiction all the province, and even the bishops, contrary to the usual +method, are bound to be subject, according to the example of their first +teacher, who was not a bishop, but a priest and monk;(307) of whose life +and discourses some records are said to be preserved by his disciples. But +whatsoever he was himself, this we know for certain concerning him, that +he left successors renowned for their continence, their love of God, and +observance of monastic rules. It is true they employed doubtful cycles in +fixing the time of the great festival, as having none to bring them the +synodal decrees for the observance of Easter, by reason of their being so +far away from the rest of the world; but they earnestly practised such +works of piety and chastity as they could learn from the Prophets, the +Gospels and the Apostolic writings. This manner of keeping Easter +continued among them no little time, to wit, for the space of 150 years, +till the year of our Lord 715. + +But then the most reverend and holy father and priest, Egbert,(308) of the +English nation, who had long lived in banishment in Ireland for the sake +of Christ, and was most learned in the Scriptures, and renowned for long +perfection of life, came among them, corrected their error, and led them +to observe the true and canonical day of Easter; which, nevertheless, they +did not always keep on the fourteenth of the moon with the Jews, as some +imagined, but on Sunday, although not in the proper week.(309) For, as +Christians, they knew that the Resurrection of our Lord, which happened on +the first day of the week, was always to be celebrated on the first day of +the week; but being rude and barbarous, they had not learned when that +same first day after the Sabbath, which is now called the Lord's day, +should come. But because they had not failed in the grace of fervent +charity, they were accounted worthy to receive the full knowledge of this +matter also, according to the promise of the Apostle, "And if in any thing +ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."(310) Of +which we shall speak more fully hereafter in its proper place. + + + + +Chap. V. Of the life of Bishop Aidan. [635 A.D.] + + +From this island, then, and the fraternity of these monks, Aidan was sent +to instruct the English nation in Christ, having received the dignity of a +bishop. At that time Segeni,(311) abbot and priest, presided over that +monastery. Among other lessons in holy living, Aidan left the clergy a +most salutary example of abstinence and continence; it was the highest +commendation of his doctrine with all men, that he taught nothing that he +did not practise in his life among his brethren; for he neither sought nor +loved anything of this world, but delighted in distributing immediately +among the poor whom he met whatsoever was given him by the kings or rich +men of the world. He was wont to traverse both town and country on foot, +never on horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity; to the end +that, as he went, he might turn aside to any whomsoever he saw, whether +rich or poor, and call upon them, if infidels, to receive the mystery of +the faith, or, if they were believers, strengthen them in the faith, and +stir them up by words and actions to giving of alms and the performance of +good works. + +His course of life was so different from the slothfulness of our times, +that all those who bore him company, whether they were tonsured or laymen, +had to study either reading the Scriptures, or learning psalms. This was +the daily employment of himself and all that were with him, wheresoever +they went; and if it happened, which was but seldom, that he was invited +to the king's table, he went with one or two clerks, and having taken a +little food, made haste to be gone, either to read with his brethren or to +pray. At that time, many religious men and women, led by his example, +adopted the custom of prolonging their fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, +till the ninth hour, throughout the year, except during the fifty days +after Easter. Never, through fear or respect of persons, did he keep +silence with regard to the sins of the rich; but was wont to correct them +with a severe rebuke. He never gave money to the powerful men of the +world, but only food, if he happened to entertain them; and, on the +contrary, whatsoever gifts of money he received from the rich, he either +distributed, as has been said, for the use of the poor, or bestowed in +ransoming such as had been wrongfully sold for slaves. Moreover, he +afterwards made many of those he had ransomed his disciples, and after +having taught and instructed them, advanced them to priest's orders. + +It is said, that when King Oswald had asked a bishop of the Scots to +administer the Word of faith to him and his nation, there was first sent +to him another man of more harsh disposition,(312) who, after preaching +for some time to the English and meeting with no success, not being gladly +heard by the people, returned home, and in an assembly of the elders +reported, that he had not been able to do any good by his teaching to the +nation to whom he had been sent, because they were intractable men, and of +a stubborn and barbarous disposition. They then, it is said, held a +council and seriously debated what was to be done, being desirous that the +nation should obtain the salvation it demanded, but grieving that they had +not received the preacher sent to them. Then said Aidan, who was also +present in the council, to the priest in question, "Methinks, brother, +that you were more severe to your unlearned hearers than you ought to have +been, and did not at first, conformably to the Apostolic rule, give them +the milk of more easy doctrine, till, being by degrees nourished with the +Word of God, they should be capable of receiving that which is more +perfect and of performing the higher precepts of God." Having heard these +words, all present turned their attention to him and began diligently to +weigh what he had said, and they decided that he was worthy to be made a +bishop, and that he was the man who ought to be sent to instruct the +unbelieving and unlearned; since he was found to be endued preeminently +with the grace of discretion, which is the mother of the virtues. So they +ordained him and sent him forth to preach; and, as time went on, his other +virtues became apparent, as well as that temperate discretion which had +marked him at first. + + + + +Chap. VI. Of King Oswald's wonderful piety and religion. [635-642 A.D.] + + +King Oswald, with the English nation which he governed, being instructed +by the teaching of this bishop, not only learned to hope for a heavenly +kingdom unknown to his fathers, but also obtained of the one God, Who made +heaven and earth, a greater earthly kingdom than any of his ancestors. In +brief, he brought under his dominion all the nations and provinces of +Britain, which are divided into four languages, to wit, those of the +Britons, the Picts, the Scots, and the English.(313) Though raised to that +height of regal power, wonderful to relate, he was always humble, kind, +and generous to the poor and to strangers. + +To give one instance, it is told, that when he was once sitting at dinner, +on the holy day of Easter, with the aforesaid bishop, and a silver dish +full of royal dainties was set before him, and they were just about to put +forth their hands to bless the bread, the servant, whom he had appointed +to relieve the needy, came in on a sudden, and told the king, that a great +multitude of poor folk from all parts was sitting in the streets begging +alms of the king; he immediately ordered the meat set before him to be +carried to the poor, and the dish to be broken in pieces and divided among +them. At which sight, the bishop who sat by him, greatly rejoicing at such +an act of piety, clasped his right hand and said, "May this hand never +decay." This fell out according to his prayer, for his hands with the arms +being cut off from his body, when he was slain in battle, remain +uncorrupted to this day, and are kept in a silver shrine, as revered +relics, in St. Peter's church in the royal city,(314) which has taken its +name from Bebba, one of its former queens. Through this king's exertions +the provinces of the Deiri and the Bernicians, which till then had been at +variance, were peacefully united and moulded into one people. He was +nephew to King Edwin through his sister Acha; and it was fit that so great +a predecessor should have in his own family such an one to succeed him in +his religion and sovereignty. + + + + +Chap. VII. How the West Saxons received the Word of God by the preaching +of Birinus; and of his successors, Agilbert and Leutherius. [635-670 A.D.] + + +At that time, the West Saxons, formerly called Gewissae,(315) in the reign +of Cynegils,(316) received the faith of Christ, through the preaching of +Bishop Birinus,(317) who came into Britain by the counsel of Pope +Honorius;(318) having promised in his presence that he would sow the seed +of the holy faith in the farthest inland regions of the English, where no +other teacher had been before him. Hereupon at the bidding of the Pope he +received episcopal consecration from Asterius, bishop of Genoa;(319) but +on his arrival in Britain, he first came to the nation of the Gewissae, +and finding all in that place confirmed pagans, he thought it better to +preach the Word there, than to proceed further to seek for other hearers +of his preaching. + +Now, as he was spreading the Gospel in the aforesaid province, it happened +that when the king himself, having received instruction as a catechumen, +was being baptized together with his people, Oswald, the most holy and +victorious king of the Northumbrians, being present, received him as he +came forth from baptism, and by an honourable alliance most acceptable to +God, first adopted as his son, thus born again and dedicated to God, the +man whose daughter(320) he was about to receive in marriage. The two kings +gave to the bishop the city called Dorcic,(321) there to establish his +episcopal see; where having built and consecrated churches, and by his +pious labours called many to the Lord, he departed to the Lord, and was +buried in the same city; but many years after, when Haedde was +bishop,(322) he was translated thence to the city of Venta,(323) and laid +in the church of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul. + +When the king died, his son Coinwalch(324) succeeded him on the throne, +but refused to receive the faith and the mysteries of the heavenly +kingdom; and not long after he lost also the dominion of his earthly +kingdom; for he put away the sister of Penda, king of the Mercians, whom +he had married, and took another wife; whereupon a war ensuing, he was by +him deprived of his kingdom, and withdrew to Anna, king of the East +Angles, where he lived three years in banishment, and learned and received +the true faith; for the king, with whom he lived in his banishment, was a +good man, and happy in a good and saintly offspring, as we shall show +hereafter.(325) + +But when Coinwalch was restored to his kingdom, there came into that +province out of Ireland, a certain bishop called Agilbert,(326) a native +of Gaul, but who had then lived a long time in Ireland, for the purpose of +reading the Scriptures. He attached himself to the king, and voluntarily +undertook the ministry of preaching. The king, observing his learning and +industry, desired him to accept an episcopal see there and remain as the +bishop of his people. Agilbert complied with the request, and presided +over that nation as their bishop for many years. At length the king, who +understood only the language of the Saxons, weary of his barbarous tongue, +privately brought into the province another bishop, speaking his own +language, by name Wini,(327) who had also been ordained in Gaul; and +dividing his province into two dioceses, appointed this last his episcopal +see in the city of Venta, by the Saxons called Wintancaestir.(328) +Agilbert, being highly offended, that the king should do this without +consulting him, returned into Gaul, and being made bishop of the city of +Paris, died there, being old and full of days. Not many years after his +departure out of Britain, Wini was also expelled from his bishopric by the +same king, and took refuge with Wulfhere, king of the Mercians, of whom he +purchased for money the see of the city of London,(329) and remained +bishop thereof till his death. Thus the province of the West Saxons +continued no small time without a bishop. + +During which time, the aforesaid king of that nation, sustaining +repeatedly very great losses in his kingdom from his enemies, at length +bethought himself, that as he had been before expelled from the throne for +his unbelief, he had been restored when he acknowledged the faith of +Christ; and he perceived that his kingdom, being deprived of a bishop, was +justly deprived also of the Divine protection. He, therefore, sent +messengers into Gaul to Agilbert, with humble apologies entreating him to +return to the bishopric of his nation. But he excused himself, and +protested that he could not go, because he was bound to the bishopric of +his own city and diocese; notwithstanding, in order to give him some help +in answer to his earnest request, he sent thither in his stead the priest +Leutherius,(330) his nephew, to be ordained as his bishop, if he thought +fit, saying that he thought him worthy of a bishopric. The king and the +people received him honourably, and asked Theodore, then Archbishop of +Canterbury, to consecrate him as their bishop. He was accordingly +consecrated in the same city, and many years diligently governed the whole +bishopric of the West Saxons by synodical authority. + + + + +Chap. VIII. How Earconbert, King of Kent, ordered the idols to be +destroyed; and of his daughter Earcongota, and his kinswoman Ethelberg, +virgins consecrated to God. [640 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 640, Eadbald,(331) king of Kent, departed this +life, and left his kingdom to his son Earconbert, who governed it most +nobly twenty-four years and some months. He was the first of the English +kings that of his supreme authority commanded the idols throughout his +whole kingdom to be forsaken and destroyed, and the fast of forty days to +be observed; and that the same might not be lightly neglected, he +appointed fitting and condign punishments for the offenders. His daughter +Earcongota, as became the offspring of such a parent, was a most virtuous +virgin, serving God in a monastery in the country of the Franks, built by +a most noble abbess, named Fara, at a place called In Brige;(332) for at +that time but few monasteries had been built in the country of the Angles, +and many were wont, for the sake of monastic life, to repair to the +monasteries of the Franks or Gauls; and they also sent their daughters +there to be instructed, and united to their Heavenly Bridegroom, +especially in the monasteries of Brige, of Cale,(333) and Andilegum.(334) +Among whom was also Saethryth,(335) daughter of the wife of Anna, king of +the East Angles, above mentioned; and Ethelberg,(336) the king's own +daughter; both of whom, though strangers, were for their virtue made +abbesses of the monastery of Brige. Sexburg,(337) that king's elder +daughter, wife to Earconbert, king of Kent, had a daughter called +Earcongota,(338) of whom we are about to speak. + +Many wonderful works and miracles of this virgin, dedicated to God, are to +this day related by the inhabitants of that place; but for us it shall +suffice to say something briefly of her departure out of this world to the +heavenly kingdom. The day of her summoning drawing near, she began to +visit in the monastery the cells of the infirm handmaidens of Christ, and +particularly those that were of a great age, or most noted for their +virtuous life, and humbly commending herself to their prayers, she let +them know that her death was at hand, as she had learnt by revelation, +which she said she had received in this manner. She had seen a band of +men, clothed in white, come into the monastery, and being asked by her +what they wanted, and what they did there, they answered, "They had been +sent thither to carry away with them the gold coin that had been brought +thither from Kent." Towards the close of that same night, as morning began +to dawn, leaving the darkness of this world, she departed to the light of +heaven. Many of the brethren of that monastery who were in other houses, +declared they had then plainly heard choirs of singing angels, and, as it +were, the sound of a multitude entering the monastery. Whereupon going out +immediately to see what it might be, they beheld a great light coming down +from heaven, which bore that holy soul, set loose from the bonds of the +flesh, to the eternal joys of the celestial country. They also tell of +other miracles that were wrought that night in the same monastery by the +power of God; but as we must proceed to other matters, we leave them to be +related by those whose concern they are. The body of this venerable virgin +and bride of Christ was buried in the church of the blessed protomartyr, +Stephen. It was thought fit, three days after, to take up the stone that +covered the tomb, and to raise it higher in the same place, and whilst +they were doing this, so sweet a fragrance rose from below, that it seemed +to all the brethren and sisters there present, as if a store of balsam had +been opened. + +Her aunt also, Ethelberg, of whom we have spoken, preserved the glory, +acceptable to God, of perpetual virginity, in a life of great self-denial, +but the extent of her virtue became more conspicuous after her death. +Whilst she was abbess, she began to build in her monastery a church, in +honour of all the Apostles, wherein she desired that her body should be +buried; but when that work was advanced half way, she was prevented by +death from finishing it, and was buried in the place in the church which +she had chosen. After her death, the brothers occupied themselves with +other things, and this structure was left untouched for seven years, at +the expiration whereof they resolved, by reason of the greatness of the +work, wholly to abandon the building of the church, and to remove the +abbess's bones thence to some other church that was finished and +consecrated. On opening her tomb, they found the body as untouched by +decay as it had been free from the corruption of carnal concupiscence, and +having washed it again and clothed it in other garments, they removed it +to the church of the blessed Stephen, the Martyr. And her festival is wont +to be celebrated there with much honour on the 7th of July. + + + + +Chap. IX. How miracles of healing have been frequently wrought in the +place where King Oswald was killed; and how, first, a traveller's horse +was restored and afterwards a young girl cured of the palsy. [642 A.D.] + + +Oswald, the most Christian king of the Northumbrians, reigned nine years, +including that year which was held accursed for the barbarous cruelty of +the king of the Britons and the reckless apostacy of the English kings; +for, as was said above,(339) it is agreed by the unanimous consent of all, +that the names and memory of the apostates should be erased from the +catalogue of the Christian kings, and no year assigned to their reign. +After which period, Oswald was killed in a great battle, by the same pagan +nation and pagan king of the Mercians, who had slain his predecessor +Edwin, at a place called in the English tongue Maserfelth,(340) in the +thirty-eighth year of his age, on the fifth day of the month of +August.(341) + +How great his faith was towards God, and how remarkable his devotion, has +been made evident by miracles even after his death; for, in the place +where he was killed by the pagans, fighting for his country, sick men and +cattle are frequently healed to this day. Whence it came to pass that many +took up the very dust of the place where his body fell, and putting it +into water, brought much relief with it to their friends who were sick. +This custom came so much into use, that the earth being carried away by +degrees, a hole was made as deep as the height of a man. Nor is it +surprising that the sick should be healed in the place where he died; for, +whilst he lived, he never ceased to provide for the poor and the sick, and +to bestow alms on them, and assist them. Many miracles are said to have +been wrought in that place, or with the dust carried from it; but we have +thought it sufficient to mention two, which we have heard from our elders. + +It happened, not long after his death, that a man was travelling on +horseback near that place, when his horse on a sudden fell sick, stood +still, hung his head, and foamed at the mouth, and, at length, as his pain +increased, he fell to the ground; the rider dismounted, and taking off his +saddle,(342) waited to see whether the beast would recover or die. At +length, after writhing for a long time in extreme anguish, the horse +happened in his struggles to come to the very place where the great king +died. Immediately the pain abated, the beast ceased from his frantic +kicking, and, after the manner of horses, as if resting from his +weariness, he rolled from side to side, and then starting up, perfectly +recovered, began to graze hungrily on the green herbage. The rider +observing this, and being an intelligent man, concluded that there must be +some wonderful sanctity in the place where the horse had been healed, and +he marked the spot. After which he again mounted his horse, and went on to +the inn where he intended to stop. On his arrival he found a girl, niece +to the landlord, who had long been sick of the palsy; and when the members +of the household, in his presence, lamented the girl's grievous calamity, +he gave them an account of the place where his horse had been cured. In +brief, she was put into a wagon and carried to the place and laid down +there. At first she slept awhile, and when she awoke, found herself healed +of her infirmity. Upon which she called for water, washed her face, +arranged her hair, put a kerchief on her head, and returned home on foot, +in good health, with those who had brought her. + + + + +Chap. X. How the dust of that place prevailed against fire. [After 642 +A.D.] + + +About the same time, another traveller, a Briton, as is reported, happened +to pass by the same place, where the aforesaid battle was fought. +Observing one particular spot of ground greener and more beautiful than +any other part of the field, he had the wisdom to infer that the cause of +the unusual greenness in that place must be that some person of greater +holiness than any other in the army had been killed there. He therefore +took along with him some of the dust of that piece of ground, tying it up +in a linen cloth, supposing, as was indeed the case, that it would be of +use for curing sick people, and proceeding on his journey, came in the +evening to a certain village, and entered a house where the villagers were +feasting at supper. Being received by the owners of the house, he sat down +with them at the entertainment, hanging the cloth, with the dust which he +had carried in it, on a post in the wall. They sat long at supper and +drank deep. Now there was a great fire in the middle of the room, and it +happened that the sparks flew up and caught the roof of the house, which +being made of wattles and thatch, was suddenly wrapped in flames; the +guests ran out in panic and confusion, but they were not able to save the +burning house, which was rapidly being destroyed. Wherefore the house was +burnt down, and only that post on which the dust hung in the linen cloth +remained safe and untouched by the fire. When they beheld this miracle, +they were all amazed, and inquiring into it diligently, learned that the +dust had been taken from the place where the blood of King Oswald had been +shed. These wonderful works being made known and reported abroad, many +began daily to resort to that place, and received the blessing of health +for themselves and their friends. + + + + +Chap. XI. How a light from Heaven stood all night over his relics, and how +those possessed with devils were healed by them. [679-697 A.D.] + + +Among the rest, I think we ought not to pass over in silence the miracles +and signs from Heaven that were shown when King Oswald's bones were found, +and translated into the church where they are now preserved. This was done +by the zealous care of Osthryth, queen of the Mercians,(343) the daughter +of his brother Oswy, who reigned after him, as shall be said hereafter. + +There is a famous monastery in the province of Lindsey, called +Beardaneu,(344) which that queen and her husband Ethelred greatly loved +and venerated, conferring upon it many honours. It was here that she was +desirous to lay the revered bones of her uncle. When the wagon in which +those bones were carried arrived towards evening at the aforesaid +monastery, they that were in it were unwilling to admit them, because, +though they knew him to be a holy man, yet, as he was a native of another +province, and had obtained the sovereignty over them, they retained their +ancient aversion to him even after his death. Thus it came to pass that +the relics were left in the open air all that night, with only a large +tent spread over the wagon which contained them. But it was revealed by a +sign from Heaven with how much reverence they ought to be received by all +the faithful; for all that night, a pillar of light, reaching from the +wagon up to heaven, was visible in almost every part of the province of +Lindsey. Hereupon, in the morning, the brethren of that monastery who had +refused it the day before, began themselves earnestly to pray that those +holy relics, beloved of God, might be laid among them. Accordingly, the +bones, being washed, were put into a shrine which they had made for that +purpose, and placed in the church, with due honour; and that there might +be a perpetual memorial of the royal character of this holy man, they hung +up over the monument his banner of gold and purple. Then they poured out +the water in which they had washed the bones, in a corner of the +cemetery.(345) From that time, the very earth which received that holy +water, had the power of saving grace in casting out devils from the bodies +of persons possessed. + +Lastly, when the aforesaid queen afterwards abode some time in that +monastery, there came to visit her a certain venerable abbess, who is +still living, called Ethelhild, the sister of the holy men, Ethelwin(346) +and Aldwin, the first of whom was bishop in the province of Lindsey, the +other abbot of the monastery of Peartaneu;(347) not far from which was the +monastery of Ethelhild. When this lady was come, in a conversation between +her and the queen, the discourse, among other things, turning upon Oswald, +she said, that she also had that night seen the light over his relics +reaching up to heaven. The queen thereupon added, that the very dust of +the pavement on which the water that washed the bones had been poured out, +had already healed many sick persons. The abbess thereupon desired that +some of that health-bringing dust might be given her, and, receiving it, +she tied it up in a cloth, and, putting it into a casket, returned home. +Some time after, when she was in her monastery, there came to it a guest, +who was wont often in the night to be on a sudden grievously tormented +with an unclean spirit; he being hospitably entertained, when he had gone +to bed after supper, was suddenly seized by the Devil, and began to cry +out, to gnash his teeth, to foam at the mouth, and to writhe and distort +his limbs. None being able to hold or bind him, the servant ran, and +knocking at the door, told the abbess. She, opening the monastery door, +went out herself with one of the nuns to the men's apartment, and calling +a priest, desired that he would go with her to the sufferer. Being come +thither, and seeing many present, who had not been able, by their efforts, +to hold the tormented person and restrain his convulsive movements, the +priest used exorcisms, and did all that he could to assuage the madness of +the unfortunate man, but, though he took much pains, he could not prevail. +When no hope appeared of easing him in his ravings, the abbess bethought +herself of the dust, and immediately bade her handmaiden go and fetch her +the casket in which it was. As soon as she came with it, as she had been +bidden, and was entering the hall of the house, in the inner part whereof +the possessed person was writhing in torment, he suddenly became silent, +and laid down his head, as if he had been falling asleep, stretching out +all his limbs to rest. "Silence fell upon all and intent they gazed,"(348) +anxiously waiting to see the end of the matter. And after about the space +of an hour the man that had been tormented sat up, and fetching a deep +sigh, said, "Now I am whole, for I am restored to my senses." They +earnestly inquired how that came to pass, and he answered, "As soon as +that maiden drew near the hall of this house, with the casket she brought, +all the evil spirits that vexed me departed and left me, and were no more +to be seen." Then the abbess gave him a little of that dust, and the +priest having prayed, he passed that night in great peace; nor was he, +from that time forward, alarmed by night, or in any way troubled by his +old enemy. + + + + +Chap. XII. How a little boy was cured of a fever at his tomb. + + +Some time after, there was a certain little boy in the said monastery, who +had been long grievously troubled with a fever; he was one day anxiously +expecting the hour when his fit was to come on, when one of the brothers, +coming in to him, said, "Shall I tell you, my son, how you may be cured of +this sickness? Rise, enter the church, and go close to Oswald's tomb; sit +down and stay there quiet and do not leave it; do not come away, or stir +from the place, till the time is past, when the fever leaves you: then I +will go in and fetch you away." The boy did as he was advised, and the +disease durst not assail him as he sat by the saint's tomb; but fled in +such fear that it did not dare to touch him, either the second or third +day, or ever after. The brother that came from thence, and told me this, +added, that at the time when he was talking with me, the young man was +then still living in the monastery, on whom, when a boy, that miracle of +healing had been wrought. Nor need we wonder that the prayers of that king +who is now reigning with our Lord, should be very efficacious with Him, +since he, whilst yet governing his temporal kingdom, was always wont to +pray and labour more for that which is eternal. Nay, it is said, that he +often continued in prayer from the hour of morning thanksgiving(349) till +it was day; and that by reason of his constant custom of praying or giving +thanks to God, he was wont always, wherever he sat, to hold his hands on +his knees with the palms turned upwards. It is also commonly affirmed and +has passed into a proverb, that he ended his life in prayer; for when he +was beset with the weapons of his enemies, and perceived that death was at +hand, he prayed for the souls of his army. Whence it is proverbially said, +" 'Lord have mercy on their souls,' said Oswald, as he fell to the +ground." + +Now his bones were translated to the monastery which we have mentioned, +and buried therein: but the king who slew him commanded his head, and +hands, with the arms, to be cut off from the body, and set upon stakes. +But his successor in the throne, Oswy, coming thither the next year with +his army, took them down, and buried his head in the cemetery of the +church of Lindisfarne,(350) and the hands and arms in his royal city.(351) + + + + +Chap. XIII. How a certain person in Ireland was restored, when at the +point of death, by his relics. + + +Nor was the fame of the renowned Oswald confined to Britain, but, +spreading rays of healing light even beyond the sea, reached also to +Germany and Ireland. For the most reverend prelate, Acca,(352) is wont to +relate, that when, in his journey to Rome,(353) he and his bishop Wilfrid +stayed some time with Wilbrord,(354) the holy archbishop of the Frisians, +he often heard him tell of the wonders which had been wrought in that +province at the relics of that most worshipful king. And he used to say +that in Ireland, when, being yet only a priest, he led the life of a +stranger and pilgrim for love of the eternal country, the fame of that +king's sanctity was already spread far and near in that island also. One +of the miracles, among the rest, which he related, we have thought fit to +insert in this our history. + +"At the time," said he, "of the plague which made such widespread havoc in +Britain and Ireland, among others, a certain scholar of the Scottish race +was smitten with the disease, a man learned in the study of letters, but +in no way careful or studious of his eternal salvation; who, seeing his +death near at hand, began to fear and tremble lest, as soon as he was +dead, he should be hurried away to the prison-house of Hell for his sins. +He called me, for I was near, and trembling and sighing in his weakness, +with a lamentable voice made his complaint to me, after this manner: 'You +see that my bodily distress increases, and that I am now reduced to the +point of death. Nor do I question but that after the death of my body, I +shall be immediately snatched away to the everlasting death of my soul, +and cast into the torments of hell, since for a long time, amidst all my +reading of divine books, I have suffered myself to be ensnared by sin, +instead of keeping the commandments of God. But it is my resolve, if the +Divine Mercy shall grant me a new term of life, to correct my sinful +habits, and wholly to devote anew my mind and life to obedience to the +Divine will. But I know that I have no merits of my own whereby to obtain +a prolongation of life, nor can I hope to have it, unless it shall please +God to forgive me, wretched and unworthy of pardon as I am, through the +help of those who have faithfully served him. We have heard, and the +report is widespread, that there was in your nation a king, of wonderful +sanctity, called Oswald, the excellency of whose faith and virtue has been +made famous even after his death by the working of many miracles. I +beseech you, if you have any relics of his in your keeping, that you will +bring them to me; if haply the Lord shall be pleased, through his merits, +to have mercy on me.' I answered, 'I have indeed a part of the stake on +which his head was set up by the pagans, when he was killed, and if you +believe with steadfast heart, the Divine mercy may, through the merits of +so great a man, both grant you a longer term of life here, and render you +worthy to be admitted into eternal life.' He answered immediately that he +had entire faith therein. Then I blessed some water, and put into it a +splinter of the aforesaid oak, and gave it to the sick man to drink. He +presently found ease, and, recovering of his sickness, lived a long time +after; and, being entirely converted to God in heart and deed, wherever he +went, he spoke of the goodness of his merciful Creator, and the honour of +His faithful servant." + + + + +Chap. XIV. How on the death of Paulinus, Ithamar was made bishop of +Rochester in his stead; and of the wonderful humility of King Oswin, who +was cruelly slain by Oswy. [644-651 A.D.] + + +Oswald being translated to the heavenly kingdom, his brother Oswy,(355) a +young man of about thirty years of age, succeeded him on the throne of his +earthly kingdom, and held it twenty-eight years with much trouble, being +attacked by the pagan nation of the Mercians, that had slain his brother, +as also by his son Alchfrid,(356) and by his nephew Oidilwald,(357) the +son of his brother who reigned before him. In his second year, that is, in +the year of our Lord 644, the most reverend Father Paulinus, formerly +Bishop of York, but at that time Bishop of the city of Rochester, departed +to the Lord, on the 10th day of October, having held the office of a +bishop nineteen years, two months, and twenty-one days; and was buried in +the sacristy of the blessed Apostle Andrew,(358) which King Ethelbert had +built from the foundation, in the same city of Rochester. In his place, +Archbishop Honorius ordained Ithamar,(359) of the Kentish nation, but not +inferior to his predecessors in learning and conduct of life. + +Oswy, during the first part of his reign, had a partner in the royal +dignity called Oswin, of the race of King Edwin, and son to Osric(360) of +whom we have spoken above, a man of wonderful piety and devotion, who +governed the province of the Deiri seven years in very great prosperity, +and was himself beloved by all men. But Oswy, who governed all the other +northern part of the nation beyond the Humber, that is, the province of +the Bernicians, could not live at peace with him; and at last, when the +causes of their disagreement increased, he murdered him most cruelly. For +when each had raised an army against the other, Oswin perceived that he +could not maintain a war against his enemy who had more auxiliaries than +himself, and he thought it better at that time to lay aside all thoughts +of engaging, and to reserve himself for better times. He therefore +disbanded the army which he had assembled, and ordered all his men to +return to their own homes, from the place that is called +Wilfaraesdun,(361) that is, Wilfar's Hill, which is about ten miles +distant from the village called Cataract, towards the north-west. He +himself, with only one trusty thegn, whose name was Tondhere, withdrew and +lay concealed in the house of Hunwald, a noble,(362) whom he imagined to +be his most assured friend. But, alas! it was far otherwise; for Hunwald +betrayed him, and Oswy, by the hands of his reeve, Ethilwin, foully slew +him and the thegn aforesaid. This happened on the 20th of August, in the +ninth year of his reign, at a place called Ingetlingum, where afterwards, +to atone for this crime, a monastery was built,(363) wherein prayers +should be daily offered up to God for the redemption of the souls of both +kings, to wit, of him that was murdered, and of him that commanded the +murder. + +King Oswin was of a goodly countenance, and tall of stature, pleasant in +discourse, and courteous in behaviour; and bountiful to all, gentle and +simple alike; so that he was beloved by all men for the royal dignity of +his mind and appearance and actions, and men of the highest rank came from +almost all provinces to serve him. Among all the graces of virtue and +moderation by which he was distinguished and, if I may say so, blessed in +a special manner, humility is said to have been the greatest, which it +will suffice to prove by one instance. + +He had given a beautiful horse to Bishop Aidan, to use either in crossing +rivers, or in performing a journey upon any urgent necessity, though the +Bishop was wont to travel ordinarily on foot. Some short time after, a +poor man meeting the Bishop, and asking alms, he immediately dismounted, +and ordered the horse, with all his royal trappings, to be given to the +beggar; for he was very compassionate, a great friend to the poor, and, in +a manner, the father of the wretched. This being told to the king, when +they were going in to dinner, he said to the Bishop, "What did you mean, +my lord Bishop, by giving the poor man that royal horse, which it was +fitting that you should have for your own use? Had not we many other +horses of less value, or things of other sorts, which would have been good +enough to give to the poor, instead of giving that horse, which I had +chosen and set apart for your own use?" Thereupon the Bishop answered, +"What do you say, O king? Is that son of a mare more dear to you than that +son of God?" Upon this they went in to dinner, and the Bishop sat in his +place; but the king, who had come in from hunting, stood warming himself, +with his attendants, at the fire. Then, on a sudden, whilst he was warming +himself, calling to mind what the bishop had said to him, he ungirt his +sword, and gave it to a servant, and hastened to the Bishop and fell down +at his feet, beseeching him to forgive him; "For from this time forward," +said he, "I will never speak any more of this, nor will I judge of what or +how much of our money you shall give to the sons of God." The bishop was +much moved at this sight, and starting up, raised him, saying that he was +entirely reconciled to him, if he would but sit down to his meat, and lay +aside all sorrow. The king, at the bishop's command and request, was +comforted, but the bishop, on the other hand, grew sad and was moved even +to tears. His priest then asking him, in the language of his country, +which the king and his servants did not understand, why he wept, "I know," +said he, "that the king will not live long; for I never before saw a +humble king; whence I perceive that he will soon be snatched out of this +life, because this nation is not worthy of such a ruler." Not long after, +the bishop's gloomy foreboding was fulfilled by the king's sad death, as +has been said above. But Bishop Aidan himself was also taken out of this +world, not more than twelve days after the death of the king he loved, on +the 31st of August,(364) to receive the eternal reward of his labours from +the Lord. + + + + +Chap. XV. How Bishop Aidan foretold to certain seamen that a storm would +arise, and gave them some holy oil to calm it. [Between 642 and 645 A.D.] + + +How great the merits of Aidan were, was made manifest by the Judge of the +heart, with the testimony of miracles, whereof it will suffice to mention +three, that they may not be forgotten. A certain priest, whose name was +Utta,(365) a man of great weight and sincerity, and on that account +honoured by all men, even the princes of the world, was sent to Kent, to +bring thence, as wife for King Oswy, Eanfled,(366) the daughter of King +Edwin, who had been carried thither when her father was killed. Intending +to go thither by land, but to return with the maiden by sea, he went to +Bishop Aidan, and entreated him to offer up his prayers to the Lord for +him and his company, who were then to set out on so long a journey. He, +blessing them, and commending them to the Lord, at the same time gave them +some holy oil, saying, "I know that when you go on board ship, you will +meet with a storm and contrary wind; but be mindful to cast this oil I +give you into the sea, and the wind will cease immediately; you will have +pleasant calm weather to attend you and send you home by the way that you +desire." + +All these things fell out in order, even as the bishop had foretold. For +first, the waves of the sea raged, and the sailors endeavoured to ride it +out at anchor, but all to no purpose; for the sea sweeping over the ship +on all sides and beginning to fill it with water, they all perceived that +death was at hand and about to overtake them. The priest at last, +remembering the bishop's words, laid hold of the phial and cast some of +the oil into the sea, which at once, as had been foretold, ceased from its +uproar. Thus it came to pass that the man of God, by the spirit of +prophecy, foretold the storm that was to come to pass, and by virtue of +the same spirit, though absent in the body, calmed it when it had arisen. +The story of this miracle was not told me by a person of little credit, +but by Cynimund, a most faithful priest of our church,(367) who declared +that it was related to him by Utta, the priest, in whose case and through +whom the same was wrought. + + + + +Chap. XVI. How the same Aidan, by his prayers, saved the royal city when +it was fired by the enemy [Before 651 A.D.] + + +Another notable miracle of the same father is related by many such as were +likely to have knowledge thereof; for during the time that he was bishop, +the hostile army of the Mercians, under the command of Penda, cruelly +ravaged the country of the Northumbrians far and near, even to the royal +city,(368) which has its name from Bebba, formerly its queen. Not being +able to take it by storm or by siege, he endeavoured to burn it down; and +having pulled down all the villages in the neighbourhood of the city, he +brought thither an immense quantity of beams, rafters, partitions, wattles +and thatch, wherewith he encompassed the place to a great height on the +land side, and when he found the wind favourable, he set fire to it and +attempted to burn the town. + +At that time, the most reverend Bishop Aidan was dwelling in the Isle of +Farne,(369) which is about two miles from the city; for thither he was +wont often to retire to pray in solitude and silence; and, indeed, this +lonely dwelling of his is to this day shown in that island. When he saw +the flames of fire and the smoke carried by the wind rising above the city +walls, he is said to have lifted up his eyes and hands to heaven, and +cried with tears, "Behold, Lord, how great evil is wrought by Penda!" +These words were hardly uttered, when the wind immediately veering from +the city, drove back the flames upon those who had kindled them, so that +some being hurt, and all afraid, they forebore any further attempts +against the city, which they perceived to be protected by the hand of God. + + + + +Chap. XVII. How a prop of the church on which Bishop Aidan was leaning +when he died, could not be consumed when the rest of the Church was on +fire; and concerning his inward life. [651 A.D.] + + +Aidan was in the king's township, not far from the city of which we have +spoken above, at the time when death caused him to quit the body, after he +had been bishop sixteen(370) years; for having a church and a chamber in +that place, he was wont often to go and stay there, and to make excursions +from it to preach in the country round about, which he likewise did at +other of the king's townships, having nothing of his own besides his +church and a few fields about it. When he was sick they set up a tent for +him against the wall at the west end of the church, and so it happened +that he breathed his last, leaning against a buttress that was on the +outside of the church to strengthen the wall. He died in the seventeenth +year of his episcopate, on the 31st of August.(371) His body was thence +presently translated to the isle of Lindisfarne, and buried in the +cemetery of the brethren. Some time after, when a larger church was built +there and dedicated in honour of the blessed prince of the Apostles, his +bones were translated thither, and laid on the right side of the altar, +with the respect due to so great a prelate. + +Finan,(372) who had likewise been sent thither from Hii, the island +monastery of the Scots, succeeded him, and continued no small time in the +bishopric. It happened some years after, that Penda, king of the Mercians, +coming into these parts with a hostile army, destroyed all he could with +fire and sword, and the village where the bishop died, along with the +church above mentioned, was burnt down; but it fell out in a wonderful +manner that the buttress against which he had been leaning when he died, +could not be consumed by the fire which devoured all about it. This +miracle being noised abroad, the church was soon rebuilt in the same +place, and that same buttress was set up on the outside, as it had been +before, to strengthen the wall. It happened again, some time after, that +the village and likewise the church were carelessly burned down the second +time. Then again, the fire could not touch the buttress; and, +miraculously, though the fire broke through the very holes of the nails +wherewith it was fixed to the building, yet it could do no hurt to the +buttress itself. When therefore the church was built there the third time, +they did not, as before, place that buttress on the outside as a support +of the building, but within the church, as a memorial of the miracle; +where the people coming in might kneel, and implore the Divine mercy. And +it is well known that since then many have found grace and been healed in +that same place, as also that by means of splinters cut off from the +buttress, and put into water, many more have obtained a remedy for their +own infirmities and those of their friends.(373) + +I have written thus much concerning the character and works of the +aforesaid Aidan, in no way commending or approving his lack of wisdom with +regard to the observance of Easter; nay, heartily detesting it, as I have +most manifestly proved in the book I have written, "De Temporibus";(374) +but, like an impartial historian, unreservedly relating what was done by +or through him, and commending such things as are praiseworthy in his +actions, and preserving the memory thereof for the benefit of the readers; +to wit, his love of peace and charity; of continence and humility; his +mind superior to anger and avarice, and despising pride and vainglory; his +industry in keeping and teaching the Divine commandments, his power of +study and keeping vigil; his priestly authority in reproving the haughty +and powerful, and at the same time his tenderness in comforting the +afflicted, and relieving or defending the poor. To be brief, so far as I +have learnt from those that knew him, he took care to neglect none of +those things which he found in the Gospels and the writings of Apostles +and prophets, but to the utmost of his power endeavoured to fulfil them +all in his deeds. + +These things I greatly admire and love in the aforesaid bishop, because I +do not doubt that they were pleasing to God; but I do not approve or +praise his observance of Easter at the wrong time, either through +ignorance of the canonical time appointed, or, if he knew it, being +prevailed on by the authority of his nation not to adopt it.(375) Yet this +I approve in him, that in the celebration of his Easter, the object which +he had at heart and reverenced and preached was the same as ours, to wit, +the redemption of mankind, through the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension +into Heaven of the Man Christ Jesus, who is the mediator between God and +man. And therefore he always celebrated Easter, not as some falsely +imagine, on the fourteenth of the moon, like the Jews, on any day of the +week, but on the Lord's day, from the fourteenth to the twentieth of the +moon; and this he did from his belief that the Resurrection of our Lord +happened on the first day of the week, and for the hope of our +resurrection, which also he, with the holy Church, believed would truly +happen on that same first day of the week, now called the Lord's day. + + + + +Chap. XVIII. Of the life and death of the religious King Sigbert. [_Circ._ +631 A.D.] + + +At this time, the kingdom of the East Angles, after the death of Earpwald, +the successor of Redwald, was governed by his brother Sigbert,(376) a good +and religious man, who some time before had been baptized in Gaul, whilst +he lived in banishment, a fugitive from the enmity of Redwald. When he +returned home, as soon as he ascended the throne, being desirous to +imitate the good institutions which he had seen in Gaul, he founded a +school wherein boys should be taught letters, and was assisted therein by +Bishop Felix, who came to him from Kent, and who furnished them with +masters and teachers after the manner of the people of Kent.(377) + +This king became so great a lover of the heavenly kingdom, that at last, +quitting the affairs of his kingdom, and committing them to his kinsman +Ecgric, who before had a share in that kingdom, he entered a monastery, +which he had built for himself, and having received the tonsure, applied +himself rather to do battle for a heavenly throne. A long time after this, +it happened that the nation of the Mercians, under King Penda, made war on +the East Angles; who finding themselves no match for their enemy, +entreated Sigbert to go with them to battle, to encourage the soldiers. He +was unwilling and refused, upon which they drew him against his will out +of the monastery, and carried him to the army, hoping that the soldiers +would be less afraid and less disposed to flee in the presence of one who +had formerly been an active and distinguished commander. But he, still +mindful of his profession, surrounded, as he was, by a royal army, would +carry nothing in his hand but a wand, and was killed with King Ecgric; and +the pagans pressing on, all their army was either slaughtered or +dispersed. + +They were succeeded in the kingdom by Anna,(378) the son of Eni, of the +blood royal, a good man, and the father of good children, of whom, in the +proper place, we shall speak hereafter. He also was afterwards slain like +his predecessors by the same pagan chief of the Mercians. + + + + +Chap. XIX. How Fursa built a monastery among the East Angles, and of his +visions and sanctity, to which, his flesh remaining uncorrupted after +death bore testimony. [_Circ._ 633 A.D.] + + +Whilst Sigbert still governed the kingdom, there came out of Ireland a +holy man called Fursa,(379) renowned both for his words and actions, and +remarkable for singular virtues, being desirous to live as a stranger and +pilgrim for the Lord's sake, wherever an opportunity should offer. On +coming into the province of the East Angles, he was honourably received by +the aforesaid king, and performing his wonted task of preaching the +Gospel, by the example of his virtue and the influence of his words, +converted many unbelievers to Christ, and confirmed in the faith and love +of Christ those that already believed. + +Here he fell into some infirmity of body, and was thought worthy to see a +vision of angels; in which he was admonished diligently to persevere in +the ministry of the Word which he had undertaken, and indefatigably to +apply himself to his usual watching and prayers; inasmuch as his end was +certain, but the hour thereof uncertain, according to the saying of our +Lord, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour."(380) +Being confirmed by this vision, he set himself with all speed to build a +monastery on the ground which had been given him by King Sigbert, and to +establish a rule of life therein. This monastery was pleasantly situated +in the woods, near the sea; it was built within the area of a fort, which +in the English language is called Cnobheresburg, that is, Cnobhere's +Town;(381) afterwards, Anna, king of that province, and certain of the +nobles, embellished it with more stately buildings and with gifts. + +This man was of noble Scottish(382) blood, but much more noble in mind +than in birth. From his boyish years, he had earnestly applied himself to +reading sacred books and observing monastic discipline, and, as is most +fitting for holy men, he carefully practised all that he learned to be +right. + +Now, in course of time he himself built a monastery,(383) wherein he might +with more freedom devote himself to his heavenly studies. There, falling +sick, as the book concerning his life clearly informs us, he fell into a +trance, and quitting his body from the evening till cockcrow, he was +accounted worthy to behold the sight of the choirs of angels, and to hear +their glad songs of praise. He was wont to declare, that among other +things he distinctly heard this refrain: "The saints shall go from +strength to strength."(384) And again, "The God of gods shall be seen in +Sion."(385) Being restored to his body, and again taken from it three days +after, he not only saw the greater joys of the blessed, but also fierce +conflicts of evil spirits, who by frequent accusations wickedly +endeavoured to obstruct his journey to heaven; but the angels protected +him, and all their endeavours were in vain. Concerning all these matters, +if any one desires to be more fully informed, to wit, with what subtlety +of deceit the devils recounted both his actions and idle words, and even +his thoughts, as if they had been written down in a book; and what joyous +or grievous tidings he learned from the holy angels and just men who +appeared to him among the angels; let him read the little book of his life +which I have mentioned, and I doubt not that he will thereby reap much +spiritual profit. + +But there is one thing among the rest, which we have thought it may be +beneficial to many to insert in this history. When he had been taken up on +high, he was bidden by the angels that conducted him to look back upon the +world. Upon which, casting his eyes downward, he saw, as it were, a dark +valley in the depths underneath him. He also saw four fires in the air, +not far distant from each other. Then asking the angels, what fires those +were, he was told, they were the fires which would kindle and consume the +world. One of them was of falsehood, when we do not fulfil that which we +promised in Baptism, to renounce the Devil and all his works. The next was +of covetousness, when we prefer the riches of the world to the love of +heavenly things. The third was of discord, when we do not fear to offend +our neighbour even in needless things. The fourth was of ruthlessness when +we think it a light thing to rob and to defraud the weak. These fires, +increasing by degrees, extended so as to meet one another, and united in +one immense flame. When it drew near, fearing for himself, he said to the +angel, "Lord, behold the fire draws near to me." The angel answered, "That +which you did not kindle will not burn you; for though this appears to be +a terrible and great pyre, yet it tries every man according to the merits +of his works; for every man's concupiscence shall burn in this fire; for +as a man burns in the body through unlawful pleasure, so, when set free +from the body, he shall burn by the punishment which he has deserved." + +Then he saw one of the three angels, who had been his guides throughout +both visions, go before and divide the flaming fires, whilst the other +two, flying about on both sides, defended him from the danger of the fire. +He also saw devils flying through the fire, raising the flames of war +against the just. Then followed accusations of the envious spirits against +himself, the defence of the good spirits, and a fuller vision of the +heavenly hosts; as also of holy men of his own nation, who, as he had +learnt, had worthily held the office of priesthood in old times, and who +were known to fame; from whom he heard many things very salutary to +himself, and to all others that would listen to them. When they had ended +their discourse, and returned to Heaven with the angelic spirits, there +remained with the blessed Fursa, the three angels of whom we have spoken +before, and who were to bring him back to the body. And when they +approached the aforesaid great fire, the angel divided the flame, as he +had done before; but when the man of God came to the passage so opened +amidst the flames, the unclean spirits, laying hold of one of those whom +they were burning in the fire, cast him against him, and, touching his +shoulder and jaw, scorched them. He knew the man, and called to mind that +he had received his garment when he died. The holy angel, immediately +laying hold of the man, threw him back into the fire, and the malignant +enemy said, "Do not reject him whom you before received; for as you +received the goods of the sinner, so you ought to share in his +punishment." But the angel withstood him, saying, "He did not receive them +through avarice, but in order to save his soul." The fire ceased, and the +angel, turning to him, said, "That which you kindled burned you; for if +you had not received the money of this man that died in his sins, his +punishment would not burn you." And he went on to speak with wholesome +counsel of what ought to be done for the salvation of such as repented in +the hour of death. + +Being afterwards restored to the body, throughout the whole course of his +life he bore the mark of the fire which he had felt in the spirit, visible +to all men on his shoulder and jaw; and the flesh openly showed, in a +wonderful manner, what the spirit had suffered in secret. He always took +care, as he had done before, to teach all men the practice of virtue, as +well by his example, as by preaching. But as for the story of his visions, +he would only relate them to those who, from desire of repentance, +questioned him about them. An aged brother of our monastery is still +living, who is wont to relate that a very truthful and religious man told +him, that he had seen Fursa himself in the province of the East Angles, +and heard those visions from his lips; adding, that though it was in +severe winter weather and a hard frost, and the man was sitting in a thin +garment when he told the story, yet he sweated as if it had been in the +heat of mid-summer, by reason of the great terror or joy of which he +spoke. + +To return to what we were saying before, when, after preaching the Word of +God many years in Scotland,(386) he could not well endure the disturbance +of the crowds that resorted to him, leaving all that he looked upon as his +own, he departed from his native island, and came with a few brothers +through the Britons into the province of the English, and preaching the +Word there, as has been said, built a famous monastery.(387) When this was +duly carried out, he became desirous to rid himself of all business of +this world, and even of the monastery itself, and forthwith left the care +of it and of its souls, to his brother Fullan, and the priests Gobban and +Dicull,(388) and being himself free from all worldly affairs, resolved to +end his life as a hermit. He had another brother called Ultan, who, after +a long monastic probation, had also adopted the life of an anchorite. So, +seeking him out alone, he lived a whole year with him in self-denial and +prayer, and laboured daily with his hands. + +Afterwards seeing the province thrown into confusion by the irruptions of +the pagans,(389) and foreseeing that the monasteries would also be in +danger, he left all things in order, and sailed over into Gaul, and being +there honourably entertained by Clovis, king of the Franks,(390) or by the +patrician Ercinwald, he built a monastery in the place called +Latineacum,(391) and falling sick not long after, departed this life. The +same Ercinwald, the patrician, took his body, and kept it in the porch of +a church he was building in his town of Perrona,(392) till the church +itself should be dedicated. This happened twenty-seven days after, and the +body being taken from the porch, to be re-buried near the altar, was found +as whole as if he had died that very hour. And again, four years after, +when a more beautiful shrine had been built to receive his body to the +east of the altar, it was still found without taint of corruption, and was +translated thither with due honour; where it is well known that his +merits, through the divine operation, have been declared by many miracles. +We have briefly touched upon these matters as well as the incorruption of +his body, that the lofty nature of the man may be better known to our +readers. All which, as also concerning the comrades of his warfare, +whosoever will read it, will find more fully described in the book of his +life. + + + + +Chap. XX. How, when Honorius died, Deusdedit became Archbishop of +Canterbury; and of those who were at that time bishops of the East Angles, +and of the church of Rochester. [653 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, Felix, bishop of the East Angles, dying, when he had held +that see seventeen years,(393) Honorius ordained Thomas his deacon, of the +province of the Gyrwas,(394) in his place; and he being taken from this +life when he had been bishop five years, Bertgils, surnamed Boniface,(395) +of the province of Kent, was appointed in his stead. Honorius(396) himself +also, having run his course, departed this life in the year of our Lord +653, on the 30th of September; and when the see had been vacant a year and +six months, Deusdedit(397) of the nation of the West Saxons, was chosen +the sixth Archbishop of Canterbury. To ordain him, Ithamar,(398) bishop of +Rochester, came thither. His ordination was on the 26th of March, and he +ruled the church nine years, four months, and two days; and when Ithamar +died, he consecrated in his place Damian,(399) who was of the race of the +South Saxons. + + + + +Chap. XXI. How the province of the Midland Angles became Christian under +King Peada. [653 A.D.] + + +At this time, the Middle Angles, that is, the Angles of the Midland +country,(400) under their Prince Peada, the son of King Penda, received +the faith and mysteries of the truth. Being an excellent youth, and most +worthy of the name and office of a king, he was by his father elevated to +the throne of that nation, and came to Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, +requesting to have his daughter Alchfled(401) given him to wife; but he +could not obtain his desire unless he would receive the faith of Christ, +and be baptized, with the nation which he governed. When he heard the +preaching of the truth, the promise of the heavenly kingdom, and the hope +of resurrection and future immortality, he declared that he would +willingly become a Christian, even though he should not obtain the maiden; +being chiefly prevailed on to receive the faith by King Oswy's son +Alchfrid,(402) who was his brother-in-law and friend, for he had married +his sister Cyneburg,(403) the daughter of King Penda. + +Accordingly he was baptized by Bishop Finan, with all his nobles and +thegns,(404) and their servants, that came along with him, at a noted +township, belonging to the king, called At the Wall.(405) And having +received four priests, who by reason of their learning and good life were +deemed proper to instruct and baptize his nation, he returned home with +much joy. These priests were Cedd and Adda, and Betti and Diuma;(406) the +last of whom was by nation a Scot, the others English. Adda was brother to +Utta, whom we have mentioned before,(407) a renowned priest, and abbot of +the monastery which is called At the Goat's Head.(408) The aforesaid +priests, arriving in the province with the prince, preached the Word, and +were heard willingly; and many, as well of the nobility as the common +sort, renouncing the abominations of idolatry, were daily washed in the +fountain of the faith. + +Nor did King Penda forbid the preaching of the Word even among his people, +the Mercians, if any were willing to hear it; but, on the contrary, he +hated and despised those whom he perceived to be without the works of +faith, when they had once received the faith of Christ, saying, that they +were contemptible and wretched who scorned to obey their God, in whom they +believed. These things were set on foot two years before the death of King +Penda. + +But when he was slain, and the most Christian king, Oswy, succeeded him in +the throne, as we shall hereafter relate, Diuma,(409) one of the aforesaid +four priests, was made bishop of the Midland Angles, as also of the +Mercians, being ordained by Bishop Finan; for the scarcity of priests made +it necessary that one prelate should be set over two nations. Having in a +short time gained many people to the Lord, he died among the Midland +Angles, in the country called Infeppingum;(410) and Ceollach, also of the +Scottish nation, succeeded him in the bishopric. But he, not long after, +left his bishopric, and returned to the island of Hii,(411) which, among +the Scots, was the chief and head of many monasteries. His successor in +the bishopric was Trumhere,(412) a godly man, and trained in the monastic +life, an Englishman, but ordained bishop by the Scots. This happened in +the days of King Wulfhere, of whom we shall speak hereafter. + + + + +Chap. XXII. How under King Sigbert, through the preaching of Cedd, the +East Saxons again received the faith, which they had before cast off. [653 +A.D.] + + +At that time, also, the East Saxons, at the instance of King Oswy, again +received the faith, which they had formerly cast off when they expelled +Mellitus, their bishop.(413) For Sigbert,(414) who reigned next to Sigbert +surnamed The Little, was then king of that nation, and a friend to King +Oswy, who, when Sigbert came to the province of the Northumbrians to visit +him, as he often did, used to endeavour to convince him that those could +not be gods that had been made by the hands of men; that a stock or a +stone could not be proper matter to form a god, the residue whereof was +either burned in the fire, or framed into any vessels for the use of men, +or else was cast out as refuse, trampled on and turned into dust. That God +is rather to be understood as incomprehensible in majesty and invisible to +human eyes, almighty, eternal, the Creator of heaven and earth and of +mankind; Who governs and will judge the world in righteousness, Whose +eternal abode must be believed to be in Heaven, and not in base and +perishable metal; and that it ought in reason to be concluded, that all +those who learn and do the will of Him by Whom they were created, will +receive from Him eternal rewards. King Oswy having often, with friendly +counsel, like a brother, said this and much more to the like effect to +King Sigbert, at length, aided by the consent of his friends, he believed, +and after he had consulted with those about him, and exhorted them, when +they all agreed and assented to the faith, he was baptized with them by +Bishop Finan, in the king's township above spoken of, which is called At +the Wall,(415) because it is close by the wall which the Romans formerly +drew across the island of Britain, at the distance of twelve miles from +the eastern sea. + +King Sigbert, having now become a citizen of the eternal kingdom, returned +to the seat of his temporal kingdom, requesting of King Oswy that he would +give him some teachers, to convert his nation to the faith of Christ, and +cleanse them in the fountain of salvation. Wherefore Oswy, sending into +the province of the Midland Angles, summoned the man of God, Cedd,(416) +and, giving him another priest for his companion, sent them to preach the +Word to the East Saxons. When these two, travelling to all parts of that +country, had gathered a numerous Church to the Lord, it happened once that +Cedd returned home, and came to the church of Lindisfarne to confer with +Bishop Finan; who, finding that the work of the Gospel had prospered in +his hands, made him bishop of the nation of the East Saxons, calling to +him two other bishops(417) to assist at the ordination. Cedd, having +received the episcopal dignity, returned to his province, and pursuing the +work he had begun with more ample authority, built churches in divers +places, and ordained priests and deacons to assist him in the Word of +faith, and the ministry of Baptism,(418) especially in the city which, in +the language of the Saxons, is called Ythancaestir,(419) as also in that +which is named Tilaburg.(420) The first of these places is on the bank of +the Pant, the other on the bank of the Thames. In these, gathering a flock +of Christ's servants, he taught them to observe the discipline of a rule +of life, as far as those rude people were then capable of receiving it. + +Whilst the teaching of the everlasting life was thus, for no small time, +making daily increase in that province to the joy of the king and of all +the people, it happened that the king, at the instigation of the enemy of +all good men, was murdered by his own kindred. They were two brothers who +did this wicked deed; and being asked what had moved them to it, they had +nothing else to answer, but that they had been incensed against the king, +and hated him, because he was too apt to spare his enemies, and calmly +forgave the wrongs they had done him, upon their entreaty. Such was the +crime for which the king was killed, because he observed the precepts of +the Gospel with a devout heart; but in this innocent death his real +offence was also punished, according to the prediction of the man of God. +For one of those nobles(421) that murdered him was unlawfully married, and +when the bishop was not able to prevent or correct the sin, he +excommunicated him, and commanded all that would give ear to him not to +enter this man's house, nor to eat of his meat. But the king made light of +this command, and being invited by the noble, went to a banquet at his +house. As he was going thence, the bishop met him. The king, beholding +him, immediately dismounted from his horse, trembling, and fell down at +his feet, begging pardon for his offence; for the bishop, who was likewise +on horseback, had also alighted. Being much incensed, he touched the +prostrate king with the rod he held in his hand, and spoke thus with the +authority of his office: "I tell thee, forasmuch as thou wouldest not +refrain from the house of that sinful and condemned man, thou shalt die in +that very house." Yet it is to be believed, that such a death of a +religious man not only blotted out his offence, but even added to his +merit; because it happened on account of his piety and his observance of +the commands of Christ. + +Sigbert was succeeded in the kingdom by Suidhelm,(422) the son of Sexbald, +who was baptized by the same Cedd, in the province of the East Angles, in +the royal township, called Rendlaesham,(423) that is, Rendil's Dwelling; +and Ethelwald,(424) king of the East Angles, brother to Anna, king of the +same people, received him as he came forth from the holy font. + + + + +Chap. XXIII. How Bishop Cedd, having a place for building a monastery +given him by King Ethelwald, consecrated it to the Lord with prayer and +fasting; and concerning his death. [659-664 A.D.] + + +The same man of God, whilst he was bishop among the East Saxons, was also +wont oftentimes to visit his own province, Northumbria, for the purpose of +exhortation. Oidilwald,(425) the son of King Oswald, who reigned among the +Deiri, finding him a holy, wise, and good man, desired him to accept some +land whereon to build a monastery, to which the king himself might +frequently resort, to pray to the Lord and hear the Word, and where he +might be buried when he died; for he believed faithfully that he should +receive much benefit from the daily prayers of those who were to serve the +Lord in that place. The king had before with him a brother of the same +bishop, called Caelin, a man no less devoted to God, who, being a priest, +was wont to administer to him and his house the Word and the Sacraments of +the faith; by whose means he chiefly came to know and love the bishop. So +then, complying with the king's desires, the Bishop chose himself a place +whereon to build a monastery among steep and distant mountains, which +looked more like lurking-places for robbers and dens of wild beasts, than +dwellings of men; to the end that, according to the prophecy of Isaiah, +"In the habitation of dragons, where each lay, might be grass with reeds +and rushes;"(426) that is, that the fruits of good works should spring up, +where before beasts were wont to dwell, or men to live after the manner of +beasts. + +But the man of God, desiring first to cleanse the place which he had +received for the monastery from stain of former crimes, by prayer and +fasting, and so to lay the foundations there, requested of the king that +he would give him opportunity and leave to abide there for prayer all the +time of Lent, which was at hand. All which days, except Sundays, he +prolonged his fast till the evening, according to custom, and then took no +other sustenance than a small piece of bread, one hen's egg, and a little +milk and water. This, he said, was the custom of those of whom he had +learned the rule of regular discipline, first to consecrate to the Lord, +by prayer and fasting, the places which they had newly received for +building a monastery or a church. When there were ten days of Lent still +remaining, there came a messenger to call him to the king; and he, that +the holy work might not be intermitted, on account of the king's affairs, +entreated his priest, Cynibill, who was also his own brother, to complete +his pious undertaking. Cynibill readily consented, and when the duty of +fasting and prayer was over, he there built the monastery, which is now +called Laestingaeu,(427) and established therein religious customs +according to the use of Lindisfarne, where he had been trained. + +When Cedd had for many years held the office of bishop in the aforesaid +province, and also taken charge of this monastery, over which he placed +provosts,(428) it happened that he came thither at a time when there was +plague, and fell sick and died. He was first buried without the walls; but +in the process of time a church was built of stone in the monastery, in +honour of the Blessed Mother of God, and his body was laid in it, on the +right side of the altar. + +The bishop left the monastery to be governed after him by his brother +Ceadda,(429) who was afterwards made bishop, as shall be told hereafter. +For, as it rarely happens, the four brothers we have mentioned, Cedd and +Cynibill, and Caelin and Ceadda, were all celebrated priests of the Lord, +and two of them also came to be bishops. When the brethren who were in his +monastery, in the province of the East Saxons,(430) heard that the bishop +was dead and buried in the province of the Northumbrians, about thirty men +of that monastery came thither, being desirous either to live near the +body of their father, if it should please God, or to die and be buried +there. Being gladly received by their brethren and fellow soldiers in +Christ, all of them died there struck down by the aforesaid pestilence, +except one little boy, who is known to have been saved from death by the +prayers of his spiritual father. For being alive long after, and giving +himself to the reading of Scripture, he was told that he had not been +regenerated by the water of Baptism, and being then cleansed in the laver +of salvation, he was afterwards promoted to the order of priesthood, and +was of service to many in the church. I do not doubt that he was delivered +at the point of death, as I have said, by the intercession of his father, +to whose body he had come for love of him, that so he might himself avoid +eternal death, and by teaching, offer the ministry of life and salvation +to others of the brethren. + + + + +Chap. XXIV. How when King Penda was slain, the province of the Mercians +received the faith of Christ, and Oswy gave possessions and territories to +God, for building monasteries, as a thank offering for the victory +obtained. [655 A.D.] + + +At this time, King Oswy was exposed to the cruel and intolerable invasions +of Penda, king of the Mercians, whom we have so often mentioned, and who +had slain his brother;(431) at length, compelled by his necessity, he +promised to give him countless gifts and royal marks of honour greater +than can be believed, to purchase peace; provided that he would return +home, and cease to waste and utterly destroy the provinces of his kingdom. +The pagan king refused to grant his request, for he had resolved to blot +out and extirpate all his nation, from the highest to the lowest; +whereupon King Oswy had recourse to the protection of the Divine pity for +deliverance from his barbarous and pitiless foe, and binding himself by a +vow, said, "If the pagan will not accept our gifts, let us offer them to +Him that will, the Lord our God." He then vowed, that if he should win the +victory, he would dedicate his daughter to the Lord in holy virginity, and +give twelve pieces of land whereon to build monasteries. After this he +gave battle with a very small army: indeed, it is reported that the pagans +had thirty times the number of men; for they had thirty legions, drawn up +under most noted commanders.(432) King Oswy and his son Alchfrid met them +with a very small army, as has been said, but trusting in Christ as their +Leader; his other son, Egfrid,(433) was then kept as a hostage at the +court of Queen Cynwise,(434) in the province of the Mercians. King +Oswald's son Oidilwald,(435) who ought to have supported them, was on the +enemy's side, and led them on to fight against his country and his uncle; +though, during the battle, he withdrew, and awaited the event in a place +of safety. The engagement began, the pagans were put to flight or killed, +the thirty royal commanders, who had come to Penda's assistance, were +almost all of them slain; among whom was Ethelhere,(436) brother and +successor to Anna, king of the East Angles. He had been the occasion of +the war, and was now killed, having lost his army and auxiliaries. The +battle was fought near the river Winwaed,(437) which then, owing to the +great rains, was in flood, and had overflowed its banks, so that many more +were drowned in the flight than destroyed in battle by the sword. + +Then King Oswy, according to the vow he had made to the Lord, returned +thanks to God for the victory granted him, and gave his daughter +Elfled,(438) who was scarce a year old, to be consecrated to Him in +perpetual virginity; bestowing also twelve small estates of land, wherein +the practice of earthly warfare should cease, and place and means should +be afforded to devout and zealous monks to wage spiritual warfare, and +pray for the eternal peace of his nation. Of these estates six were in the +province of the Deiri, and the other six in that of the Bernicians. Each +of the estates contained ten families, that is, a hundred and twenty in +all. The aforesaid daughter of King Oswy, who was to be dedicated to God, +entered the monastery called Heruteu,(439) or, "The Island of the Hart," +at that time ruled by the Abbess Hilda,(440) who, two years after, having +acquired an estate of ten families, at the place called +Streanaeshalch,(441) built a monastery there, in which the aforesaid +king's daughter was first trained in the monastic life and afterwards +became abbess; till, at the age of fifty-nine, the blessed virgin departed +to be united to her Heavenly Bridegroom. In this monastery, she and her +father, Oswy, her mother, Eanfled, her mother's father, Edwin,(442) and +many other noble persons, are buried in the church of the holy Apostle +Peter. King Oswy concluded this war in the district of Loidis, in the +thirteenth year of his reign, on the 15th of November,(443) to the great +benefit of both nations; for he delivered his own people from the hostile +depredations of the pagans, and, having made an end of their heathen +chief, converted the Mercians and the adjacent provinces to the grace of +the Christian faith. + +Diuma was made the first bishop of the Mercians, as also of Lindsey and +the Midland Angles, as has been said above,(444) and he died and was +buried among the Midland Angles. The second was Ceollach,(445) who, giving +up his episcopal office before his death, returned into Scotland. Both +these bishops belonged to the nation of the Scots. The third was Trumhere, +an Englishman, but educated and ordained by the Scots. He was abbot of the +monastery that is called Ingetlingum,(446) and is the place where King +Oswin was killed, as has been said above; for Queen Eanfled, his +kinswoman, in expiation of his unjust death, begged of King Oswy that he +would give Trumhere, the aforesaid servant of God, a place there to build +a monastery, because he also was kinsman to the slaughtered king; in which +monastery continual prayers should be offered up for the eternal welfare +of the kings, both of him that was murdered, and of him that commanded the +murder. The same King Oswy governed the Mercians, as also the people of +the other southern provinces, three years after he had slain King Penda; +and he likewise subdued the greater part of the Picts to the dominion of +the English. + +At this time he gave to the above-mentioned Peada, son to King Penda, +because he was his kinsman, the kingdom of the Southern Mercians,(447) +consisting, as is said, of 5,000 families, divided by the river Trent from +the Northern Mercians, whose land contains 7,000 families; but Peada was +foully slain in the following spring, by the treachery, as is said, of his +wife,(448) during the very time of the Easter festival. Three years after +the death of King Penda, the Mercian chiefs, Immin, and Eafa, and Eadbert, +rebelled against King Oswy, setting up for their king, Wulfhere,(449) son +to the said Penda, a youth whom they had kept concealed; and expelling the +ealdormen of the foreign king, they bravely recovered at once their +liberty and their lands; and being thus free, together with their king, +they rejoiced to serve Christ the true King, for the sake of an +everlasting kingdom in heaven. This king governed the Mercians seventeen +years, and had for his first bishop Trumhere,(450) above spoken of; the +second was Jaruman;(451) the third Ceadda;(452) the fourth Wynfrid.(453) +All these, succeeding each other in order under King Wulfhere, discharged +episcopal duties to the Mercian nation. + + + + +Chap. XXV. How the question arose about the due time of keeping Easter, +with those that came out of Scotland.(454) [664 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, Bishop Aidan being taken away from this life, Finan, who +was ordained and sent by the Scots, succeeded him in the bishopric, and +built a church in the Isle of Lindisfarne, fit for the episcopal see; +nevertheless, after the manner of the Scots, he made it, not of stone, but +entirely of hewn oak, and covered it with reeds; and it was afterwards +dedicated in honour of the blessed Peter the Apostle, by the most reverend +Archbishop Theodore. Eadbert,(455) also bishop of that place, took off the +thatch, and caused it to be covered entirely, both roof and walls, with +plates of lead. + +At this time, a great and frequently debated question arose about the +observance of Easter;(456) those that came from Kent or Gaul affirming, +that the Scots celebrated Easter Sunday contrary to the custom of the +universal Church. Among them was a most zealous defender of the true +Easter, whose name was Ronan,(457) a Scot by nation, but instructed in the +rule of ecclesiastical truth in Gaul or Italy. Disputing with Finan, he +convinced many, or at least induced them to make a more strict inquiry +after the truth; yet he could not prevail upon Finan, but, on the +contrary, embittered him the more by reproof, and made him a professed +opponent of the truth, for he was of a violent temper. James,(458) +formerly the deacon of the venerable Archbishop Paulinus, as has been said +above, observed the true and Catholic Easter, with all those that he could +instruct in the better way. Queen Eanfled and her followers also observed +it as she had seen it practised in Kent, having with her a Kentish priest +who followed the Catholic observance, whose name was Romanus. Thus it is +said to have sometimes happened in those times that Easter was twice +celebrated in one year; and that when the king, having ended his fast, was +keeping Easter, the queen and her followers were still fasting, and +celebrating Palm Sunday. Whilst Aidan lived, this difference about the +observance of Easter was patiently tolerated by all men, for they well +knew, that though he could not keep Easter contrary to the custom of those +who had sent him, yet he industriously laboured to practise the works of +faith, piety, and love, according to the custom of all holy men; for which +reason he was deservedly beloved by all, even by those who differed in +opinion concerning Easter, and was held in veneration, not only by less +important persons, but even by the bishops, Honorius of Canterbury, and +Felix of the East Angles. + +But after the death of Finan, who succeeded him, when Colman, who was also +sent from Scotland,(459) came to be bishop, a greater controversy arose +about the observance of Easter, and other rules of ecclesiastical life. +Whereupon this question began naturally to influence the thoughts and +hearts of many who feared, lest haply, having received the name of +Christians, they might run, or have run, in vain. This reached the ears of +the rulers, King Oswy and his son Alchfrid. Now Oswy, having been +instructed and baptized by the Scots, and being very perfectly skilled in +their language, thought nothing better than what they taught; but +Alchfrid, having for his teacher in Christianity the learned Wilfrid,(460) +who had formerly gone to Rome to study ecclesiastical doctrine, and spent +much time at Lyons with Dalfinus,(461) archbishop of Gaul, from whom also +he had received the crown of ecclesiastical tonsure, rightly thought that +this man's doctrine ought to be preferred before all the traditions of the +Scots. For this reason he had also given him a monastery of forty +families, at a place called Inhrypum;(462) which place, not long before, +he had given for a monastery to those that were followers of the Scots; +but forasmuch as they afterwards, being left to their choice, preferred to +quit the place rather than alter their custom, he gave it to him, whose +life and doctrine were worthy of it. + +Agilbert, bishop of the West Saxons,(463) above-mentioned, a friend of +King Alchfrid and of Abbot Wilfrid, had at that time come into the +province of the Northumbrians, and was staying some time among them; at +the request of Alchfrid, he made Wilfrid a priest in his aforesaid +monastery. He had in his company a priest, whose name was Agatho.(464) The +question being raised there concerning Easter and the tonsure and other +ecclesiastical matters, it was arranged, that a synod should be held in +the monastery of Streanaeshalch,(465) which signifies the Bay of the +Lighthouse, where the Abbess Hilda,(466) a woman devoted to the service of +God, then ruled; and that there this question should be decided. The +kings, both father and son, came thither, and the bishops, Colman with his +Scottish clerks, and Agilbert with the priests Agatho and Wilfrid. James +and Romanus were on their side; but the Abbess Hilda and her followers +were for the Scots, as was also the venerable Bishop Cedd,(467) long +before ordained by the Scots, as has been said above, and he acted in that +council as a most careful interpreter for both parties. + +King Oswy first made an opening speech, in which he said that it behoved +those who served one God to observe one rule of life; and as they all +expected the same kingdom in heaven, so they ought not to differ in the +celebration of the heavenly mysteries; but rather to inquire which was the +truer tradition, that it might be followed by all in common; he then +commanded his bishop, Colman, first to declare what the custom was which +he observed, and whence it derived its origin. Then Colman said, "The +Easter which I keep, I received from my elders, who sent me hither as +bishop; all our forefathers, men beloved of God, are known to have +celebrated it after the same manner; and that it may not seem to any +contemptible and worthy to be rejected, it is the same which the blessed +John the Evangelist, the disciple specially beloved of our Lord, with all +the churches over which he presided, is recorded to have celebrated."(468) +When he had said thus much, and more to the like effect, the king +commanded Agilbert to make known the manner of his observance and to show +whence it was derived, and on what authority he followed it. Agilbert +answered, "I beseech you, let my disciple, the priest Wilfrid, speak in my +stead; because we both concur with the other followers of the +ecclesiastical tradition that are here present, and he can better and more +clearly explain our opinion in the English language, than I can by an +interpreter." + +Then Wilfrid, being ordered by the king to speak, began thus:--"The Easter +which we keep, we saw celebrated by all at Rome, where the blessed +Apostles, Peter and Paul, lived, taught, suffered, and were buried; we saw +the same done by all in Italy and in Gaul, when we travelled through those +countries for the purpose of study and prayer. We found it observed in +Africa, Asia, Egypt, Greece, and all the world, wherever the Church of +Christ is spread abroad, among divers nations and tongues, at one and the +same time; save only among these and their accomplices in obstinacy, I +mean the Picts and the Britons, who foolishly, in these two remote islands +of the ocean, and only in part even of them, strive to oppose all the rest +of the world." When he had so said, Colman answered, "It is strange that +you choose to call our efforts foolish, wherein we follow the example of +so great an Apostle, who was thought worthy to lean on our Lord's bosom, +when all the world knows him to have lived most wisely." Wilfrid replied, +"Far be it from us to charge John with folly, for he literally observed +the precepts of the Mosaic Law, whilst the Church was still Jewish in many +points, and the Apostles, lest they should give cause of offence to the +Jews who were among the Gentiles, were not able at once to cast off all +the observances of the Law which had been instituted by God, in the same +way as it is necessary that all who come to the faith should forsake the +idols which were invented by devils. For this reason it was, that Paul +circumcised Timothy,(469) that he offered sacrifice in the temple,(470) +that he shaved his head with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth;(471) for no +other advantage than to avoid giving offence to the Jews. Hence it was, +that James said to the same Paul, 'Thou seest, brother, how many thousands +of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the +Law.'(472) And yet, at this time, when the light of the Gospel is +spreading throughout the world, it is needless, nay, it is not lawful, for +the faithful either to be circumcised, or to offer up to God sacrifices of +flesh. So John, according to the custom of the Law, began the celebration +of the feast of Easter, on the fourteenth day of the first month, in the +evening, not regarding whether the same happened on a Saturday, or any +other week-day. But when Peter preached at Rome, being mindful that our +Lord arose from the dead, and gave to the world the hope of resurrection, +on the first day of the week, he perceived that Easter ought to be kept +after this manner: he always awaited the rising of the moon on the +fourteenth day of the first month in the evening, according to the custom +and precepts of the Law, even as John did. And when that came, if the +Lord's day, then called the first day of the week, was the next day, he +began that very evening to celebrate Easter, as we all do at the present +time. But if the Lord's day did not fall the next morning after the +fourteenth moon, but on the sixteenth, or the seventeenth, or any other +moon till the twenty-first, he waited for that, and on the Saturday +before, in the evening, began to observe the holy solemnity of Easter. +Thus it came to pass, that Easter Sunday was only kept from the fifteenth +moon to the twenty-first. Nor does this evangelical and apostolic +tradition abolish the Law, but rather fulfil it; the command being to keep +the passover from the fourteenth moon of the first month in the evening to +the twenty-first moon of the same month in the evening; which observance +all the successors of the blessed John in Asia, since his death, and all +the Church throughout the world, have since followed; and that this is the +true Easter, and the only one to be celebrated by the faithful, was not +newly decreed by the council of Nicaea, but only confirmed afresh; as the +history of the Church informs us.(473) + +"Thus it is plain, that you, Colman, neither follow the example of John, +as you imagine, nor that of Peter, whose tradition you oppose with full +knowledge, and that you neither agree with the Law nor the Gospel in the +keeping of your Easter. For John, keeping the Paschal time according to +the decree of the Mosaic Law, had no regard to the first day of the week, +which you do not practise, seeing that you celebrate Easter only on the +first day after the Sabbath. Peter celebrated Easter Sunday between the +fifteenth and the twenty-first moon, which you do not practise, seeing +that you observe Easter Sunday from the fourteenth to the twentieth moon; +so that you often begin Easter on the thirteenth moon in the evening, +whereof neither the Law made any mention, nor did our Lord, the Author and +Giver of the Gospel, on that day either eat the old passover in the +evening, or deliver the Sacraments of the New Testament, to be celebrated +by the Church, in memory of His Passion, but on the fourteenth. Besides, +in your celebration of Easter, you utterly exclude the twenty-first moon, +which the Law ordered to be specially observed. Thus, as I have said +before, you agree neither with John nor Peter, nor with the Law, nor the +Gospel, in the celebration of the greatest festival." + +To this Colman rejoined: "Did the holy Anatolius,(474) much commended in +the history of the Church, judge contrary to the Law and the Gospel, when +he wrote, that Easter was to be celebrated from the fourteenth to the +twentieth moon? Is it to be believed that our most reverend Father Columba +and his successors, men beloved by God, who kept Easter after the same +manner, judged or acted contrary to the Divine writings? Whereas there +were many among them, whose sanctity was attested by heavenly signs and +miracles which they wrought; whom I, for my part, doubt not to be saints, +and whose life, customs, and discipline I never cease to follow." + +"It is evident," said Wilfrid, "that Anatolius was a most holy, learned, +and commendable man; but what have you to do with him, since you do not +observe his decrees? For he undoubtedly, following the rule of truth in +his Easter, appointed a cycle of nineteen years, which either you are +ignorant of, or if you know it, though it is kept by the whole Church of +Christ, yet you despise it as a thing of naught. He so computed the +fourteenth moon in our Lord's Paschal Feast, that according to the custom +of the Egyptians, he acknowledged it to be the fifteenth moon on that same +day in the evening; so in like manner he assigned the twentieth to +Easter-Sunday, as believing that to be the twenty-first moon, when the sun +had set. That you are ignorant of the rule of this distinction is proved +by this, that you sometimes manifestly keep Easter before the full moon, +that is, on the thirteenth day. Concerning your Father Columba and his +followers, whose sanctity you say you imitate, and whose rule and precepts +confirmed by signs from Heaven you say that you follow, I might answer, +then when many, in the day of judgement, shall say to our Lord, that in +His name they have prophesied, and have cast out devils, and done many +wonderful works, our Lord will reply, that He never knew them. But far be +it from me to speak thus of your fathers, for it is much more just to +believe good than evil of those whom we know not. Wherefore I do not deny +those also to have been God's servants, and beloved of God, who with rude +simplicity, but pious intentions, have themselves loved Him. Nor do I +think that such observance of Easter did them much harm, as long as none +came to show them a more perfect rule to follow; for assuredly I believe +that, if any teacher, reckoning after the Catholic manner, had come among +them, they would have as readily followed his admonitions, as they are +known to have kept those commandments of God, which they had learned and +knew. + +"But as for you and your companions, you certainly sin, if, having heard +the decrees of the Apostolic see, nay, of the universal Church, confirmed, +as they are, by Holy Scripture, you scorn to follow them; for, though your +fathers were holy, do you think that those few men, in a corner of the +remotest island, are to be preferred before the universal Church of Christ +throughout the world? And if that Columba of yours, (and, I may say, ours +also, if he was Christ's servant,) was a holy man and powerful in +miracles, yet could he be preferred before the most blessed chief of the +Apostles, to whom our Lord said, 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I +will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, +and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven?' "(475) + +When Wilfrid had ended thus, the king said, "Is it true, Colman, that +these words were spoken to Peter by our Lord?" He answered, "It is true, O +king!" Then said he, "Can you show any such power given to your Columba?" +Colman answered, "None." Then again the king asked, "Do you both agree in +this, without any controversy, that these words were said above all to +Peter, and that the keys of the kingdom of Heaven were given to him by our +Lord?" They both answered, "Yes." Then the king concluded, "And I also say +unto you, that he is the door-keeper, and I will not gainsay him, but I +desire, as far as I know and am able, in all things to obey his laws, lest +haply when I come to the gates of the kingdom of Heaven, there should be +none to open them, he being my adversary who is proved to have the keys." +The king having said this, all who were seated there or standing by, both +great and small, gave their assent, and renouncing the less perfect +custom, hastened to conform to that which they had found to be better. + + + + +Chap. XXVI. How Colman, being worsted, returned home; and Tuda succeeded +him in the bishopric; and of the state of the church under those teachers. +[664 A.D.] + + +The disputation being ended, and the assembly broken up, Agilbert returned +home. Colman, perceiving that his doctrine was rejected, and his party +despised, took with him those who wished to follow him, to wit, such as +would not accept the Catholic Easter and the tonsure in the form of a +crown,(476) (for there was no small dispute about that also,) and went +back into Scotland,(477) to consult with his people what was to be done in +this case. Cedd, forsaking the practices of the Scots, returned to his +bishopric, having submitted to the Catholic observance of Easter. This +debate took place in the year of our Lord 664, which was the twenty-second +year of the reign of King Oswy, and the thirtieth of the episcopate of the +Scots among the English; for Aidan was bishop seventeen years, Finan ten, +and Colman three. + +When Colman had gone back into his own country, Tuda, the servant of +Christ, was made bishop of the Northumbrians(478) in his place, having +been instructed and ordained bishop among the Southern Scots, having also +the crown of the ecclesiastical tonsure, according to the custom of that +province, and observing the Catholic rule with regard to the time of +Easter.(479) He was a good and religious man, but he governed the church a +very short time; he had come from Scotland(480) whilst Colman was yet +bishop, and, both by word and deed, diligently taught all men those things +that appertain to the faith and truth. But Eata,(481) who was abbot of the +monastery called Mailros,(482) a man most reverend and gentle, was +appointed abbot over the brethren that chose to remain in the church of +Lindisfarne, when the Scots went away. It is said that Colman, upon his +departure, requested and obtained this of King Oswy, because Eata was one +of Aidan's twelve boys of the English nation,(483) whom he received in the +early years of his episcopate, to be instructed in Christ; for the king +greatly loved Bishop Colman on account of his innate discretion. This is +that Eata, who, not long after, was made bishop of the same church of +Lindisfarne. Colman carried home with him part of the bones of the most +reverend Father Aidan, and left part of them in the church where he had +presided, ordering them to be interred in the sacristy. + +The place which they governed shows how frugal and temperate he and his +predecessors were, for there were very few houses besides the church found +at their departure; indeed, no more than were barely sufficient to make +civilized life possible; they had also no money, but only cattle; for if +they received any money from rich persons, they immediately gave it to the +poor; there being no need to gather money, or provide houses for the +entertainment of the great men of the world; for such never resorted to +the church, except to pray and hear the Word of God. The king himself, +when occasion required, came only with five or six servants, and having +performed his devotions in the church, departed. But if they happened to +take a repast there, they were satisfied with the plain, daily food of the +brethren, and required no more. For the whole care of those teachers was +to serve God, not the world--to feed the soul, and not the belly. + +For this reason the religious habit was at that time held in great +veneration; so that wheresoever any clerk or monk went, he was joyfully +received by all men, as God's servant; and even if they chanced to meet +him upon the way, they ran to him, and with bowed head, were glad to be +signed with the cross by his hand, or blessed by his lips. Great attention +was also paid to their exhortations; and on Sundays they flocked eagerly +to the church, or the monasteries, not to feed their bodies, but to hear +the Word of God; and if any priest happened to come into a village, the +inhabitants came together and asked of him the Word of life; for the +priests and clerks went to the villages for no other reason than to +preach, baptize, visit the sick, and, in a word, to take care of souls; +and they were so purified from all taint of avarice, that none of them +received lands and possessions for building monasteries, unless they were +compelled to do so by the temporal authorities; which custom was for some +time after universally observed in the churches of the Northumbrians. But +enough has now been said on this subject. + + + + +Chap. XXVII. How Egbert, a holy man of the English nation, led a monastic +life in Ireland. [664 A.D.] + + +In the same year of our Lord 664, there happened an eclipse of the sun, on +the third day of May,(484) about the tenth hour of the day. In the same +year, a sudden pestilence(485) depopulated first the southern parts of +Britain, and afterwards attacking the province of the Northumbrians, +ravaged the country far and near, and destroyed a great multitude of men. +By this plague the aforesaid priest of the Lord, Tuda,(486) was carried +off, and was honourably buried in the monastery called Paegnalaech.(487) +Moreover, this plague prevailed no less disastrously in the island of +Ireland. Many of the nobility, and of the lower ranks of the English +nation, were there at that time, who, in the days of the Bishops Finan and +Colman, forsaking their native island, retired thither, either for the +sake of sacred studies, or of a more ascetic life; and some of them +presently devoted themselves faithfully to a monastic life, others chose +rather to apply themselves to study, going about from one master's cell to +another. The Scots willingly received them all, and took care to supply +them with daily food without cost, as also to furnish them with books for +their studies, and teaching free of charge. + +Among these were Ethelhun and Egbert,(488) two youths of great capacity, +of the English nobility. The former of whom was brother to Ethelwin,(489) +a man no less beloved by God, who also at a later time went over into +Ireland to study, and having been well instructed, returned into his own +country, and being made bishop in the province of Lindsey, long and nobly +governed the Church. These two being in the monastery which in the +language of the Scots is called Rathmelsigi,(490) and having lost all +their companions, who were either cut off by the plague, or dispersed into +other places, were both seized by the same sickness, and grievously +afflicted. Of these, Egbert, (as I was informed by a priest venerable for +his age, and of great veracity, who declared he had heard the story from +his own lips,) concluding that he was at the point of death, went out of +the chamber, where the sick lay, in the morning, and sitting alone in a +fitting place, began seriously to reflect upon his past actions, and, +being full of compunction at the remembrance of his sins, bedewed his face +with tears, and prayed fervently to God that he might not die yet, before +he could forthwith more fully make amends for the careless offences which +he had committed in his boyhood and infancy, or might further exercise +himself in good works. He also made a vow that he would spend all his life +abroad and never return into the island of Britain, where he was born; +that besides singing the psalms at the canonical hours, he would, unless +prevented by bodily infirmity, repeat the whole Psalter daily to the +praise of God; and that he would every week fast one whole day and night. +Returning home, after his tears and prayers and vows, he found his +companion asleep; and going to bed himself, he began to compose himself to +rest. When he had lain quiet awhile, his comrade awaking, looked on him, +and said, "Alas! Brother Egbert, what have you done? I was in hopes that +we should have entered together into life everlasting; but know that your +prayer is granted." For he had learned in a vision what the other had +requested, and that he had obtained his request. + +In brief, Ethelhun died the next night; but Egbert, throwing off his +sickness, recovered and lived a long time after to grace the episcopal +office, which he received, by deeds worthy of it;(491) and blessed with +many virtues, according to his desire, lately, in the year of our Lord +729, being ninety years of age, he departed to the heavenly kingdom. He +passed his life in great perfection of humility, gentleness, continence, +simplicity, and justice. Thus he was a great benefactor, both to his own +people, and to those nations of the Scots and Picts among whom he lived in +exile, by the example of his life, his earnestness in teaching, his +authority in reproving, and his piety in giving away of those things which +he received from the rich. He also added this to the vows which we have +mentioned: during Lent, he would eat but one meal a day, allowing himself +nothing but bread and thin milk, and even that by measure. The milk, new +the day before, he kept in a vessel, and skimming off the cream in the +morning, drank the rest, as has been said, with a little bread. Which sort +of abstinence he likewise always observed forty days before the Nativity +of our Lord, and as many after the solemnity of Pentecost, that is, of the +fifty days' festival. + + + + +Chap. XXVIII. How, when Tuda was dead, Wilfrid was ordained, in Gaul, and +Ceadda, among the West Saxons, to be bishops for the province of the +Northumbrians. [664 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, King Alchfrid sent the priest, Wilfrid, to the king of +Gaul,(492) in order that he should cause him to be consecrated bishop for +himself and his people. That prince sent him to be ordained by +Agilbert,(493) of whom we have before spoken, and who, having left +Britain, was made bishop of the city of Paris;(494) and by him Wilfrid was +honourably consecrated, several bishops meeting together for that purpose +in a village belonging to the king, called In Compendio.(495) He stayed +some time in the parts beyond the sea for his ordination, and King Oswy, +following the example of his son's zeal, sent into Kent a holy man, of +modest character, well read in the Scripture, and diligently practising +those things which he had learned therein, to be ordained bishop of the +church of York. This was a priest called Ceadda,(496) brother to the most +reverend prelate Cedd, of whom mention has been often made, and abbot of +the monastery of Laestingaeu. With him the king also sent his priest +Eadhaed,(497) who was afterwards, in the reign of Egfrid,(498) made bishop +of the church of Ripon. Now when they arrived in Kent, they found that +Archbishop Deusdedit had departed this life, and no other bishop was as +yet appointed in his place; whereupon they betook themselves to the +province of the West Saxons, where Wini was bishop, and by him Ceadda was +consecrated; two bishops of the British nation, who kept Easter Sunday, as +has been often said, contrary to the canonical manner, from the fourteenth +to the twentieth moon, being called in to assist at the ordination; for at +that time there was no other bishop in all Britain canonically ordained, +except Wini.(499) + +So Ceadda, being consecrated bishop, began immediately to labour for +ecclesiastical truth and purity of doctrine; to apply himself to humility, +self-denial, and study; to travel about, not on horseback, but after the +manner of the Apostles, on foot, to preach the Gospel in towns, the open +country, cottages, villages, and castles; for he was one of the disciples +of Aidan, and endeavoured to instruct his people by the same manner of +life and character, after his and his own brother Cedd's example. Wilfrid +also having been now made a bishop, came into Britain, and in like manner +by his teaching brought into the English Church many rules of Catholic +observance. Whence it followed, that the Catholic principles daily gained +strength, and all the Scots that dwelt in England either conformed to +these, or returned into their own country. + + + + +Chap. XXIX. How the priest Wighard was sent from Britain to Rome, to be +ordained archbishop; of his death there, and of the letters of the +Apostolic Pope giving an account thereof. [667 A.D.] + + +At this time the most noble kings of the English, Oswy, of the province of +the Northumbrians, and Egbert of Kent, consulted together to determine +what ought to be done about the state of the English Church, for Oswy, +though educated by the Scots, had rightly perceived that the Roman was the +Catholic and Apostolic Church. They selected, with the consent and by the +choice of the holy Church of the English nation, a priest named +Wighard,(500) one of Bishop Deusdedit's clergy, a good man and fitted for +the episcopate, and sent him to Rome to be ordained bishop, to the end +that, having been raised to the rank of an archbishop, he might ordain +Catholic prelates for the Churches of the English nation throughout all +Britain. But Wighard, arriving at Rome, was cut off by death, before he +could be consecrated bishop, and the following letter was sent back into +Britain to King Oswy:-- + +"_To the most excellent lord, our son, Oswy, king of the __ Saxons, +Vitalian,_(_501_)_ bishop, servant of the servants of God._ We have +received to our comfort your Excellency's letters; by reading whereof we +are acquainted with your most pious devotion and fervent love of the +blessed life; and know that by the protecting hand of God you have been +converted to the true and Apostolic faith, in hope that even as you reign +in your own nation, so you may hereafter reign with Christ. Blessed be the +nation, therefore, that has been found worthy to have as its king one so +wise and a worshipper of God; forasmuch as he is not himself alone a +worshipper of God, but also studies day and night the conversion of all +his subjects to the Catholic and Apostolic faith, to the redemption of his +own soul. Who would not rejoice at hearing such glad tidings? Who would +not exult and be joyful at these good works? For your nation has believed +in Christ the Almighty God, according to the words of the Divine prophets, +as it is written in Isaiah, 'In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, +which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles +seek.'(502) And again, 'Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people +from far.'(503) And a little after, 'It is a light thing that thou +shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the +outcast of Israel. I have given thee for a light to the Gentiles, that +thou mayst be my salvation unto the end of the earth.'(504) And again, +'Kings shall see, princes also shall arise and worship.'(505) And +immediately after, 'I have given thee for a covenant of the people, to +establish the earth, and possess the scattered heritages; that thou mayest +say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show +yourselves.'(506) And again, 'I the Lord have called thee in +righteousness, and have held thine hand, and have kept thee, and have +given thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to +open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoner from the prison, and them +that sit in darkness from the prison-house.'(507) + +"Behold, most excellent son, how it is plain as day that it was prophesied +not only of you, but also of all the nations, that they should believe in +Christ, the Creator of all things. Wherefore it behoves your Highness, as +being a member of Christ, in all things continually to follow the pious +rule of the chief of the Apostles, in celebrating Easter, and in all +things delivered by the holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, whose doctrine +daily enlightens the hearts of believers, even as the two lights of heaven +illumine the world." + +And after some lines, wherein he speaks of celebrating the true Easter +uniformly throughout all the world,-- + +"Finally," he adds, "we have not been able now, on account of the length +of the journey, to find a man, apt to teach, and qualified in all respects +to be a bishop, according to the tenor of your letters.(508) But, +assuredly, as soon as such a fit person shall be found, we will send him +well instructed to your country, that he may, by word of mouth, and +through the Divine oracles, with the blessing of God, root out all the +enemy's tares throughout your island. We have received the presents sent +by your Highness to the blessed chief of the Apostles, for an eternal +memorial of him, and return you thanks, and always pray for your safety +with the clergy of Christ. But he that brought these presents has been +removed out of this world, and is buried at the threshold of the Apostles, +for whom we have been much grieved, because he died here. Nevertheless, we +have caused the blessed gifts of the saints, that is, the relics of the +blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, and of the holy martyrs, Laurentius, +John, and Paul, and Gregory, and Pancratius,(509) to be given to your +servants, the bearers of these our letters, to be by them delivered to +your Excellency. And to your consort(510) also, our spiritual daughter, we +have by the aforesaid bearers sent a cross, with a gold key to it, made +out of the most holy chains of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul; for, +hearing of her pious zeal, all the Apostolic see rejoices with us, even as +her pious works smell sweet and blossom before God. + +"We therefore desire that your Highness should hasten, according to our +wish, to dedicate all your island to Christ our God; for assuredly you +have for your Protector, the Redeemer of mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ, +Who will prosper you in all things, that you may gather together a new +people of Christ, establishing there the Catholic and Apostolic faith. For +it is written, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, +and all these things shall be added unto you.'(511) Truly your Highness +seeks, and shall obtain, and all your islands shall be made subject to +you, even as we desire. Saluting your Excellency with fatherly affection, +we never cease to pray to the Divine Goodness, to vouchsafe to assist you +and yours in all good works, that you may reign with Christ in the world +to come. May the Heavenly Grace preserve your Excellency in safety!" + +In the next book we shall have a more suitable occasion to show who was +selected and consecrated in Wighard's place. + + + + +Chap. XXX. How the East Saxons, during a pestilence, returned to idolatry, +but were soon brought back from their error by the zeal of Bishop Jaruman. +[665 A.D.] + + +At the same time, the Kings Sighere and Sebbi,(512) though themselves +subject to Wulfhere, king of the Mercians, governed the province of the +East Saxons after Suidhelm, of whom we have spoken above.(513) When that +province was suffering from the aforesaid disastrous plague, Sighere, with +his part of the people, forsook the mysteries of the Christian faith, and +turned apostate. For the king himself, and many of the commons and nobles, +loving this life, and not seeking after another, or even not believing in +any other, began to restore the temples that had been abandoned, and to +adore idols, as if they might by those means be protected against the +plague. But Sebbi, his companion and co-heir in the kingdom, with all his +people, very devoutly preserved the faith which he had received, and, as +we shall show hereafter, ended his faithful life in great felicity. + +King Wulfhere, hearing that the faith of the province was in part +profaned, sent Bishop Jaruman,(514) who was successor to Trumhere, to +correct their error, and recall the province to the true faith. He acted +with much discretion, as I was informed by a priest who bore him company +in that journey, and had been his fellow labourer in the Word, for he was +a religious and good man, and travelling through all the country, far and +near, brought back both the people and the aforesaid king to the way of +righteousness, so that, either forsaking or destroying the temples and +altars which they had erected, they opened the churches, and gladly +confessed the Name of Christ, which they had opposed, choosing rather to +die in the faith of resurrection in Him, than to live in the abominations +of unbelief among their idols. Having thus accomplished their works, the +priests and teachers returned home with joy. + + + + + +BOOK IV + + + + +Chap. I. How when Deusdedit died, Wighard was sent to Rome to receive the +episcopate; but he dying there, Theodore was ordained archbishop, and sent +into Britain with the Abbot Hadrian. [664-669 A.D.] + + +In the above-mentioned year of the aforesaid eclipse(515) and of the +pestilence which followed it immediately, in which also Bishop Colman, +being overcome by the united effort of the Catholics, returned home,(516) +Deusdedit,(517) the sixth bishop of the church of Canterbury, died on the +14th of July. Earconbert,(518) also, king of Kent, departed this life the +same month and day; leaving his kingdom to his son Egbert, who held it for +nine years. The see then became vacant for no small time, until, the +priest Wighard,(519) a man of great learning in the teaching of the +Church, of the English race, was sent to Rome by King Egbert and Oswy, +king of the Northumbrians, as was briefly mentioned in the foregoing +book,(520) with a request that he might be ordained Archbishop of the +Church of England; and at the same time presents were sent to the +Apostolic pope, and many vessels of gold and silver. Arriving at Rome, +where Vitalian(521) presided at that time over the Apostolic see, and +having made known to the aforesaid Apostolic pope the occasion of his +journey, he was not long after carried off, with almost all his companions +who had come with him, by a pestilence which fell upon them. + +But the Apostolic pope having consulted about that matter, made diligent +inquiry for some one to send to be archbishop of the English Churches. +There was then in the monastery of Niridanum, which is not far from Naples +in Campania, an abbot called Hadrian,(522) by nation an African, well +versed in Holy Scripture, trained in monastic and ecclesiastical teaching, +and excellently skilled both in the Greek and Latin tongues. The pope, +sending for him, commanded him to accept the bishopric and go to Britain. +He answered, that he was unworthy of so great a dignity, but said that he +could name another, whose learning and age were fitter for the episcopal +office. He proposed to the pope a certain monk named Andrew, belonging to +a neighbouring nunnery(523) and he was by all that knew him judged worthy +of a bishopric; but the weight of bodily infirmity prevented him from +becoming a bishop. Then again Hadrian was urged to accept the episcopate; +but he desired a respite, to see whether in time he could find another to +be ordained bishop. + +There was at that time in Rome, a monk, called Theodore,(524) known to +Hadrian, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, a man instructed in secular and Divine +writings, as also in Greek and Latin; of high character and venerable age, +being sixty-six years old. Hadrian proposed him to the pope to be ordained +bishop, and prevailed; but upon the condition that he should himself +conduct him into Britain, because he had already travelled through Gaul +twice upon different occasions, and was, therefore, better acquainted with +the way, and was, moreover, sufficiently provided with men of his own; as +also, to the end that, being his fellow labourer in teaching, he might +take special care that Theodore should not, according to the custom of the +Greeks, introduce any thing contrary to the truth of the faith into the +Church where he presided.(525) Theodore, being ordained subdeacon, waited +four months for his hair to grow, that it might be shorn into the shape of +a crown; for he had before the tonsure of St. Paul,(526) the Apostle, +after the manner of the eastern people. He was ordained by Pope Vitalian, +in the year of our Lord 668, on Sunday, the 26th of March, and on the 27th +of May was sent with Hadrian to Britain.(527) + +They proceeded together by sea to Marseilles, and thence by land to Arles, +and having there delivered to John, archbishop of that city,(528) Pope +Vitalian's letters of recommendation, were by him detained till +Ebroin,(529) the king's mayor of the palace, gave them leave to go where +they pleased. Having received the same, Theodore went to Agilbert, bishop +of Paris,(530) of whom we have spoken above, and was by him kindly +received, and long entertained. But Hadrian went first to Emme, Bishop of +the Senones,(531) and then to Faro,(532) bishop of the Meldi, and lived in +comfort with them a considerable time; for the approach of winter had +obliged them to rest wherever they could. King Egbert, being informed by +sure messengers that the bishop they had asked of the Roman prelate was in +the kingdom of the Franks, sent thither his reeve,(533) Raedfrid, to +conduct him. He, having arrived there, with Ebroin's leave took Theodore +and conveyed him to the port called Quentavic;(534) where, falling sick, +he stayed some time, and as soon as he began to recover, sailed over into +Britain. But Ebroin detained Hadrian, suspecting that he went on some +mission from the Emperor to the kings of Britain, to the prejudice of the +kingdom of which he at that time had the chief charge; however, when he +found that in truth he had never had any such commission, he discharged +him, and permitted him to follow Theodore. As soon as he came to him, +Theodore gave him the monastery of the blessed Peter the Apostle,(535) +where the archbishops of Canterbury are wont to be buried, as I have said +before; for at his departure, the Apostolic lord had enjoined upon +Theodore that he should provide for him in his province, and give him a +suitable place to live in with his followers. + + + + +Chap. II. How Theodore visited all places; how the Churches of the English +began to be instructed in the study of Holy Scripture, and in the Catholic +truth; and how Putta was made bishop of the Church of Rochester in the +room of Damianus. [669 A.D.] + + +Theodore came to his Church in the second year after his consecration, on +Sunday, the 27th of May, and spent in it twenty-one years, three months, +and twenty-six days. Soon after, he visited all the island, wherever the +tribes of the English dwelt, for he was gladly received and heard by all +persons; and everywhere attended and assisted by Hadrian, he taught the +right rule of life, and the canonical custom of celebrating Easter. This +was the first archbishop whom all the English Church consented to obey. +And forasmuch as both of them were, as has been said before, fully +instructed both in sacred and in secular letters, they gathered a crowd of +disciples, and rivers of wholesome knowledge daily flowed from them to +water the hearts of their hearers; and, together with the books of Holy +Scripture, they also taught them the metrical art, astronomy, and +ecclesiastical arithmetic. A testimony whereof is, that there are still +living at this day some of their scholars, who are as well versed in the +Greek and Latin tongues as in their own, in which they were born. Nor were +there ever happier times since the English came into Britain; for having +brave Christian kings, they were a terror to all barbarous nations, and +the minds of all men were bent upon the joys of the heavenly kingdom of +which they had but lately heard; and all who desired to be instructed in +sacred studies had masters at hand to teach them. + +From that time also they began in all the churches of the English to learn +Church music, which till then had been only known in Kent. And, excepting +James, of whom we have spoken above,(536) the first teacher of singing in +the churches of the Northumbrians was Eddi, surnamed Stephen,(537) invited +from Kent by the most reverend Wilfrid, who was the first of the bishops +of the English nation that learned to deliver to the churches of the +English the Catholic manner of life.(538) + +Theodore, journeying through all parts, ordained bishops in fitting +places, and with their assistance corrected such things as he found +faulty. Among the rest, when he charged Bishop Ceadda with not having been +duly consecrated,(539) he, with great humility, answered, "If you know +that I have not duly received episcopal ordination, I willingly resign the +office, for I never thought myself worthy of it; but, though unworthy, for +obedience sake I submitted, when bidden to undertake it." Theodore, +hearing his humble answer, said that he should not resign the bishopric, +and he himself completed his ordination after the Catholic manner. Now at +the time when Deusdedit died, and a bishop for the church of Canterbury +was by request ordained and sent, Wilfrid was also sent from Britain into +Gaul to be ordained; and because he returned before Theodore, he ordained +priests and deacons in Kent till the archbishop should come to his see. +But when Theodore came to the city of Rochester, where the bishopric had +been long vacant by the death of Damian,(540) he ordained a man named +Putta,(541) trained rather in the teaching of the Church and more addicted +to simplicity of life than active in worldly affairs, but specially +skilful in Church music, after the Roman use, which he had learned from +the disciples of the blessed Pope Gregory.(542) + + + + +Chap. III. How the above-mentioned Ceadda was made Bishop of the province +of Mercians. Of his life, death, and burial. [669 A.D.] + + +At that time, the province of the Mercians was governed by King Wulfhere, +who, on the death of Jaruman,(543) desired of Theodore that a bishop +should be given to him and his people; but Theodore would not ordain a new +one for them, but requested of King Oswy that Ceadda might be their +bishop. He then lived in retirement at his monastery, which is at +Laestingaeu,(544) while Wilfrid administered the bishopric of York, and of +all the Northumbrians, and likewise of the Picts, as far as King Oswy was +able to extend his dominions. And, seeing that it was the custom of that +most reverend prelate to go about the work of the Gospel everywhere on +foot rather than on horseback, Theodore commanded him to ride whenever he +had a long journey to undertake; and finding him very unwilling, in his +zeal and love for his pious labour, he himself, with his own hands, lifted +him on horseback; for he knew him to be a holy man, and therefore obliged +him to ride wherever he had need to go. Ceadda having received the +bishopric of the Mercians and of Lindsey,(545) took care to administer it +with great perfection of life, according to the example of the ancient +fathers. King Wulfhere also gave him land of the extent of fifty families, +to build a monastery, at the place called Ad Barvae,(546) or "At the +Wood," in the province of Lindsey, wherein traces of the monastic life +instituted by him continue to this day. + +He had his episcopal see in the place called Lyccidfelth,(547) in which he +also died, and was buried, and where the see of the succeeding bishops of +that province continues to this day. He had built himself a retired +habitation not far from the church, wherein he was wont to pray and read +in private, with a few, it might be seven or eight of the brethren, as +often as he had any spare time from the labour and ministry of the Word. +When he had most gloriously governed the church in that province for two +years and a half, the Divine Providence so ordaining, there came round a +season like that of which Ecclesiastes says, "That there is a time to cast +away stones, and a time to gather stones together;"(548) for a plague fell +upon them, sent from Heaven, which, by means of the death of the flesh, +translated the living stones of the Church from their earthly places to +the heavenly building. And when, after many of the Church of that most +reverend prelate had been taken away out of the flesh, his hour also drew +near wherein he was to pass out of this world to the Lord, it happened one +day that he was in the aforesaid habitation with only one brother, called +Owini,(549) his other companions having upon some due occasion returned to +the church. Now Owini was a monk of great merit, having forsaken the world +with the sole desire of the heavenly reward; worthy in all respects to +have the secrets of the Lord revealed to him in special wise, and worthy +to have credit given by his hearers to what he said. For he had come with +Queen Ethelthryth(550) from the province of the East Angles, and was the +chief of her thegns, and governor of her house. As the fervour of his +faith increased, resolving to renounce the secular life, he did not go +about it slothfully, but so entirely forsook the things of this world, +that, quitting all that he had, clad in a plain garment, and carrying an +axe and hatchet in his hand, he came to the monastery of the same most +reverend father, which is called Laestingaeu. He said that he was not +entering the monastery in order to live in idleness, as some do, but to +labour; which he also confirmed by practice; for as he was less capable of +studying the Scriptures, the more earnestly he applied himself to the +labour of his hands. So then, forasmuch as he was reverent and devout, he +was kept by the bishop in the aforesaid habitation with the brethren, and +whilst they were engaged within in reading, he was without, doing such +things as were necessary. + +One day, when he was thus employed abroad, his companions having gone to +the church, as I began to tell, and the bishop was alone reading or +praying in the oratory of that place, on a sudden, as he afterwards said, +he heard a sweet sound of singing and rejoicing descend from heaven to +earth. This sound he said he first heard coming from the sky in the +south-east, above the winter sunrise, and that afterwards it drew near him +gradually, till it came to the roof of the oratory where the bishop was, +and entering therein, filled all the place and encompassed it about. He +listened attentively to what he heard, and after about half an hour, +perceived the same song of joy to ascend from the roof of the said +oratory, and to return to heaven in the same way as it came, with +unspeakable sweetness. When he had stood some time amazed, and earnestly +considering in his mind what this might be, the bishop opened the window +of the oratory, and making a sound with his hand, as he was often wont to +do, bade anyone who might be without to come in to him. He went hastily +in, and the bishop said to him, "Make haste to the church, and cause those +seven brothers to come hither, and do you come with them." When they were +come, he first admonished them to preserve the virtue of love and peace +among themselves, and towards all the faithful; and with unwearied +earnestness to follow the rules of monastic discipline, which they had +either been taught by him, and had seen him observe, or had found in the +words and actions of the former fathers. Then he added that the day of his +death was at hand; for, said he, "that gracious guest, who was wont to +visit our brethren, has vouchsafed also to come to me this day, and to +call me out of this world. Return, therefore, to the church, and speak to +the brethren, that in their prayers they commend my departure to the Lord, +and that they be mindful to prepare for their own, the hour whereof is +uncertain, by watching, and prayer, and good works." + +When he had spoken thus much and more to the same end, and they, having +received his blessing, had gone away in great sorrow, he who had heard the +heavenly song returned alone, and prostrating himself on the ground, said, +"I beseech you, father, may I be permitted to ask a question?"--"Ask what +you will," answered the bishop. Then he said, "I beseech you to tell me +what was that song which I heard as of a joyful company coming from heaven +upon this oratory, and after some time returning to heaven?" The bishop +answered: "If you heard the singing, and know of the coming of the +heavenly company, I command you, in the Name of the Lord, that you tell it +not to any before my death. But in truth they were angelic spirits, who +came to call me to my heavenly reward, which I have always loved and +longed after, and they promised that they would return seven days hence, +and take me away with them." Which was indeed fulfilled, as had been said +to him; for being presently seized with bodily infirmity, and the same +daily increasing, on the seventh day, as had been promised to him, when he +had prepared for death by receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord, his +saintly soul being delivered from the prison of the body, led, as may +justly be believed, by the attendant angels, he departed to the joys of +Heaven. + +It is no wonder that he joyfully beheld the day of his death, or rather +the day of the Lord, the coming whereof he had always been mindful to +await with earnest expectation. For with all his merits of continence, +humility, teaching, prayer, voluntary poverty, and other virtues, he was +so filled with the fear of the Lord, so mindful of his latter end in all +his actions, that, as I was wont to hear from one of the brothers who +instructed me in the Scriptures, and who had been bred in his monastery, +and under his direction, whose name was Trumbert, if it happened that +there blew a sudden strong gust of wind, when he was reading or doing any +other thing, he forthwith called upon the Lord for mercy, and begged that +it might be granted to all mankind. If the wind grew stronger, he closed +his book, and fell on his face, praying still more earnestly. But, if a +violent storm of wind or rain came on, or if the earth and air were filled +with the terror of thunder and lightning, he would go to the church, and +anxiously devote himself with all his heart to prayers and psalms till the +weather became calm. Being asked by his brethren why he did so, he +answered, "Have not you read--'The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and +the Highest gave his voice. Yea, he sent out his arrows and scattered +them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.'(551) For the Lord +moves the air, raises the winds, hurls lightning, and thunders from +heaven, to rouse the inhabitants of the earth to fear him; to put them in +mind of judgement to come; to dispel their pride, and confound their +boldness, by recalling to their thoughts that dread time, when the heavens +and the earth being on fire, He will come in the clouds, with great power +and majesty, to judge the quick and the dead. Wherefore," said he, "it +behoves us to respond to His heavenly admonition with due fear and love; +that, as often as the air is moved and He puts forth His hand threatening +to strike, but does not yet let it fall, we may immediately implore His +mercy; and searching the recesses of our hearts, and casting out the dregs +of our sins, we may carefully so act that we may never deserve to be +struck down." + +With this revelation and narrative of the aforesaid brother, concerning +the death of this prelate, agrees the account of the most reverend Father +Egbert, above spoken of,(552) who long and zealously led a monastic life +with the same Ceadda, when both were youths, in Ireland, in prayer and +self-denial and meditation on the Holy Scriptures. But whereas Ceadda +afterwards returned into his own country, Egbert continued to live abroad +for the Lord's sake till the end of his life. A long time after, Hygbald, +a man of great holiness and continence, who was an abbot in the province +of Lindsey,(553) came from Britain to visit him, and whilst, as became +holy men, they were discoursing of the life of the former fathers, and +rejoicing to imitate the same, mention was made of the most reverend +prelate, Ceadda; whereupon Egbert said, "I know a man in this island, +still in the flesh, who, when Ceadda passed away from this world, saw the +soul of his brother Cedd, with a company of angels, descending from +heaven, who, having taken Ceadda's soul along with them, returned again to +the heavenly kingdom." Whether he said this of himself, or some other, we +do not certainly know; but because it was said by so great a man, there +can be no doubt of the truth thereof. + +Ceadda died on the 2nd of March,(554) and was first buried by St. Mary's +Church, but afterwards, when the church of the most blessed chief of the +Apostles, Peter, was built in the same place, his bones were translated +into it. In both which places, as a testimony of his virtue, frequent +miracles of healing are wont to be wrought. And of late, a certain man +that had a frenzy, wandering about everywhere, arrived there in the +evening, unperceived or disregarded by the keepers of the place, and +having rested there the whole of the night, came forth in his right mind +the next morning, to the surprise and joy of all, and told what a cure had +been wrought on him through the goodness of God. The place of the +sepulchre is a wooden monument, made like a little house, covered, having +a hole in the wall, through which those that go thither for devotion are +wont to put in their hand and take out some of the dust. This they put +into water and give to sick cattle or men to drink, whereupon they are +presently eased of their infirmity, and restored to their desired health. + +In his place, Theodore ordained Wynfrid,(555) a man of good and sober +life, to preside, like his predecessors, over the bishoprics of the +Mercians, the Midland Angles, and Lindsey, of all which, Wulfhere, who was +still living, was king. Wynfrid was one of the clergy of the prelate he +succeeded, and had for no small time filled the office of deacon under +him. + + + + +Chap. IV. How Bishop Colman, having left Britain, built two monasteries in +the country of the Scots; the one for the Scots, the other for the English +whom he had taken along with him. [667 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, Colman, the Scottish bishop, departing from Britain,(556) +took along with him all the Scots whom he had gathered about him in the +isle of Lindisfarne, and also about thirty of the English nation, for both +these companies had been trained in duties of the monastic life; and +leaving some brothers in his church, he went first to the isle of +Hii,(557) whence he had been sent to preach the Word of God to the English +nation. Afterwards he retired to a small island, which is to the west of +Ireland, and at some distance from it, called in the language of the +Scots, Inisboufinde,(558) the Island of the White Heifer. Arriving there, +he built a monastery, and placed in it the monks he had brought of both +nations. But they could not agree among themselves, by reason that the +Scots, in the summer season, when the harvest was to be brought in, +leaving the monastery, wandered about through places known to them; but +returned again the next winter, and desired to use in common what the +English had provided. Colman sought to put an end to this dissension, and +travelling about far and near, he found a place in the island of Ireland +fitted to be the site of a monastery, which, in the language of the Scots, +is called Mageo.(559) He bought a small part of it of the chief to whom it +belonged, to build his monastery thereon; upon condition, that the monks +dwelling there should pray to the Lord for him who let them have the +place. Then at once building a monastery, with the assistance of the chief +and all the neighbouring people, he placed the English there, leaving the +Scots in the aforesaid island. This monastery is to this day occupied by +English inhabitants; being the same that, grown from a small beginning to +be very large, is commonly called Muigeo; and as all have long since been +brought to adopt better customs, it contains a notable society of monks, +who are gathered there from the province of the English, and live by the +labour of their own hands, after the example of the venerable fathers, +under a rule and a canonical abbot, in much continence and singleness of +life. + + + + +Chap. V. Of the death of the kings Oswy and Egbert, and of the synod held +at the place Herutford,(560) in which Archbishop Theodore presided. +[670-673 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 670,(561) being the second year after Theodore +arrived in England, Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, fell sick, and died, +in the fifty-eighth year of his age.(562) He at that time bore so great +affection to the Roman Apostolic usages, that he had designed, if he +recovered from his sickness, to go to Rome, and there to end his days at +the holy places, having asked Bishop Wilfrid, with a promise of no small +gift of money, to conduct him on his journey. He died on the 15th of +February, leaving his son Egfrid(563) his successor in the kingdom. In the +third year of his reign, Theodore assembled a council of bishops, along +with many other teachers of the church, who loved and were acquainted with +the canonical statutes of the fathers. When they were met together, he +began, in the spirit which became a bishop, to enjoin the observance of +such things as were in accordance with the unity and the peace of the +Church. The purport of the proceedings of this synod is as follows:--(564) + +"In the name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who reigns for ever +and governs His Church, it was thought meet that we should assemble, +according to the custom prescribed in the venerable canons, to treat about +the necessary affairs of the Church. We met on the 24th day of September, +the first indiction,(565) at the place which is called Herutford: I, +Theodore, albeit unworthy, appointed by the Apostolic see bishop of the +church of Canterbury; our fellow priest and brother, the most reverend +Bisi, bishop of the East Angles; and with us also our brother and fellow +priest, Wilfrid, bishop of the nation of the Northumbrians, represented by +his proxies. There were present also our brothers and fellow priests, +Putta, bishop of the Kentish castle, called Rochester; Leutherius, bishop +of the West Saxons, and Wynfrid, bishop of the province of the +Mercians.(566) When we were all met together, and had sat down in order, I +said, 'I beseech you, most dear brothers, for the fear and love of our +Redeemer, that we may all treat in common on behalf of our faith; to the +end that whatsoever has been decreed and defined by holy and approved +fathers, may be inviolably observed by all of us.' This and much more I +spoke tending to charity and the preservation of the unity of the Church; +and when I had ended my preface, I asked every one of them in order, +whether they consented to observe the things that had been of old +canonically decreed by the fathers? To which all our fellow priests +answered, 'Most assuredly we are all resolved to observe willingly and +heartily whatsoever is laid down in the canons of the holy fathers.' Then +forthwith I produced the said book of canons,(567) and in the presence of +them all showed ten articles in the same, which I had marked in several +places, because I knew them to be of the most importance to us, and +entreated that these might be most particularly received by them all. + +"Article I. That we all in common keep the holy day of Easter on the +Sunday after the fourteenth moon of the first month. + +"II. That no bishop intrude into the diocese of another, but be satisfied +with the government of the people committed to him. + +"III. That it shall not be lawful for any bishop to disturb in any matter +monasteries dedicated to God, nor to take away forcibly any part of their +property. + +"IV. That the monks themselves do not move from one place to another, that +is, from monastery to monastery, unless with the consent of their own +abbot; but that they continue in the obedience which they promised at the +time of their conversion. + +"V. That no clerk, forsaking his own bishop, shall wander about, or be +anywhere received without commendatory letters from his diocesan. But if +he shall be once received, and will not return when summoned, both the +receiver, and he that is received shall be under excommunication. + +"VI. That bishops and clergy, when travelling, shall be content with the +hospitality that is afforded them; and that it be not lawful for any one +of them to exercise any priestly function without leave of the bishop in +whose diocese he is known to be. + +"VII. That a synod be assembled twice a year; but on account of divers +hindrances, it was approved by all, that we should meet once a year, on +the 1st of August, at the place called Clofeshoch.(568) + +"VIII. That no bishop, through ambition, shall set himself above another; +but that they shall all observe the time and order of their consecration. + +"IX. The ninth Article was discussed in common, to the effect that more +bishops should be made, as the number of the faithful increased; but this +matter for the present was passed over.(569) + +"X. Of marriages; that nothing be allowed but lawful wedlock; that none +commit incest; no man leave his own wife, except it be, as the holy Gospel +teaches, for fornication. And if any man shall put away his own wife, +lawfully joined to him in matrimony, that he take no other, if he wishes +to be a true Christian, but continue as he is, or else be reconciled to +his own wife. + +"These articles being thus discussed and defined in common, to the end, +that for the future, no stumbling-block of contention might arise from any +one of us, or that things be falsely set forth, it was thought fit that +every one of us should, by the subscription of his own hand, confirm all +the particulars so defined. Which judgement, as defined by us, I dictated +to be written by Titillus our notary. Given in the month and indiction +aforesaid. Whosoever, therefore, shall attempt in any way to oppose or +infringe this decision, confirmed by our consent, and by the subscription +of our hands, according to the decree of the canons, must know, that he is +excluded from all sacerdotal functions, and from our fellowship. May the +Grace of God keep us in safety, living in the unity of His Holy Church." + +This synod was held in the year of our Lord 673. In which year Egbert, +king of Kent,(570) died in the month of July; his brother Hlothere(571) +succeeded him on the throne, which he held eleven years and seven months. +Bisi, the bishop of the East Angles, who is said to have been in the +aforesaid synod, a man of great saintliness and piety, was successor to +Boniface,(572) before spoken of; for when Boniface died, after having been +bishop seventeen years, he was ordained by Theodore and made bishop in his +place. Whilst he was still alive, but hindered by grievous infirmity from +administering his episcopal functions, two bishops, Aecci and Badwin, were +elected and consecrated in his place; from which time to the present, that +province has had two bishops.(573) + + + + +Chap. VI. How Wynfrid being deposed, Sexwulf received his bishopric, and +Earconwald was made bishop of the East Saxons. [675 A.D.] + + +Not long after these events, Theodore, the archbishop, taking offence at +some act of disobedience of Wynfrid, bishop of the Mercians,(574) deposed +him from his bishopric when he had held it but a few years, and in his +place ordained Sexwulf bishop,(575) who was founder and abbot of the +monastery which is called Medeshamstead,(576) in the country of the +Gyrwas.(577) Wynfrid, thus deposed, returned to his monastery which is +called Ad Barvae,(578) and there ended his life in holy conversation. + +Theodore then also appointed Earconwald,(579) bishop of the East Saxons, +in the city of London, over whom at that time reigned Sebbi and Sighere, +of whom mention has been made above.(580) This Earconwald's life and +conversation, as well when he was bishop as before that time, is said to +have been most holy, as is even now testified by heavenly miracles; for to +this day, his horse-litter, in which he was wont to be carried when sick, +is kept by his disciples, and continues to cure many of fevers and other +ailments; and not only sick persons who are laid under that litter, or +close by it, are cured; but the very splinters cut from it, when carried +to the sick, are wont immediately to bring healing to them. + +This man, before he was made bishop, had built two famous monasteries, the +one for himself, and the other for his sister Ethelburg,(581) and +established them both in regular discipline of the best kind. That for +himself was in the district of Sudergeona, by the river Thames, at a place +called Cerotaesei,(582) that is, the Island of Cerot; that for his sister +in the province of the East Saxons, at a place called In Berecingum,(583) +wherein she might be a mother and nurse of women devoted to God. Being put +into the government of that monastery, she showed herself in all respects +worthy of her brother the bishop, by her own holy life and by her regular +and pious care of those under her rule, as was also manifested by heavenly +miracles. + + + + +Chap. VII. How it was indicated by a light from heaven where the bodies of +the nuns should be buried in the monastery of Berecingum. [675 A.D.?] + + +In this monastery many miracles were wrought, accounts of which have been +committed to writing by those who were acquainted with them, that their +memory might be preserved, and succeeding generations edified, and these +are in the possession of many persons; some of them we also have taken +pains to include in our History of the Church. At the time of the +pestilence, already often mentioned,(584) which ravaged all the country +far and wide, it had also seized on that part of this monastery where the +men abode, and they were daily hurried away to the Lord. The careful +mother of the community began often to inquire of the sisters, when they +were gathered together; in what part of the monastery they desired to be +buried and a cemetery to be made, when the same affliction should fall +upon that part of the monastery in which the handmaids of the Lord dwelt +together apart from the men, and they should be snatched away out of this +world by the same destruction as the rest. Receiving no certain answer +from the sisters, though she often questioned them, she and all of them +received a most certain answer from the Divine Providence. For one night, +after matins had been sung, and those handmaids of Christ had gone out of +their chapel to the tombs of the brothers who had departed this life +before them, and were singing the customary songs of praise to the Lord, +on a sudden a light from heaven, like a great sheet, came down upon them +all, and struck them with such amazement, that, in consternation, they +even left off singing their hymn. But that resplendent light, in +comparison wherewith the sun at noon-day might seem dark, soon after, +rising from that place, removed to the south side of the monastery, that +is, to the westward of the chapel, and having continued there some time, +and rested upon those parts, in the sight of them all withdrew itself +again to heaven, leaving no doubt in the minds of all, but that the same +light, which was to lead or to receive the souls of those handmaids of +Christ into Heaven, also showed the place in which their bodies were to +rest and await the day of the resurrection. The radiance of this light was +so great, that one of the older brethren, who at the same time was in +their chapel with another younger than himself, related in the morning, +that the rays of light which came in at the crannies of the doors and +windows, seemed to exceed the utmost brightness of daylight. + + + + +Chap. VIII. How a little boy, dying in the same monastery, called upon a +virgin that was to follow him; and how another nun, at the point of +leaving her body, saw some small part of the future glory. [675 A.D.?] + + +There was, in the same monastery, a boy, not above three years old, called +Aesica; who, by reason of his tender age, was being brought up among the +virgins dedicated to God, there to learn his lessons. This child being +seized by the aforesaid pestilence, when his last hour was come, called +three times upon one of the virgins consecrated to Christ, speaking to her +by her own name, as if she had been present, Eadgyth! Eadgyth! Eadgyth! +and thus ending his temporal life, entered into that which is eternal. The +virgin, to whom he called, as he was dying, was immediately seized, where +she was, with the same sickness, and departing this life the same day on +which she had been summoned, followed him that called her into the +heavenly kingdom. + +Likewise, one of the same handmaids of God, being smitten with the same +disease, and reduced to the last extremity, began on a sudden, about +midnight, to cry out to them that ministered to her, desiring they would +put out the lamp that was lighted there. And, when she had done this many +times, and yet no one did her will, at last she said, "I know that you +think I am raving, when I say this, but be assured that it is not so; for +I tell you truly, that I see this house filled with so great a light, that +that lamp of yours seems to me to be altogether dark." And when still no +one replied to what she said, or did her bidding, she added, "Burn your +lamp, then, as long as you will; but know, that it is not my light, for my +light will come to me at the dawn of day." Then she began to tell, that a +certain man of God, who had died that same year, had appeared to her, +telling her that at the break of day she should depart to the eternal +light. The truth of which vision was speedily proved by the maiden's death +as soon as the day appeared. + + + + +Chap. IX. Of the signs which were shown from Heaven when the mother of +that community departed this life. [675 A.D.?] + + +Now when Ethelburg herself, the pious mother of that community devoted to +God, was about to be taken out of this world, a wonderful vision appeared +to one of the sisters, called Tortgyth; who, having lived many years in +that monastery, always endeavoured, in all humility and sincerity, to +serve God herself, and to help the mother to maintain regular discipline, +by instructing and reproving the younger ones. Now, in order that her +virtue might, according to the Apostle, be made perfect in weakness, she +was suddenly seized with a most grievous bodily disease, under which, +through the merciful providence of our Redeemer, she was sorely tried for +the space of nine years; to the end, that whatever stain of evil remained +amidst her virtues, either through ignorance or neglect, might all be +purified in the furnace of long tribulation. This woman, going out of the +chamber where she abode one night, at dusk, plainly saw as it were a human +body, which was brighter than the sun, wrapped in fine linen, and lifted +up on high, being taken out of the house in which the sisters used to +sleep. Then looking earnestly to see what it was that drew up that +appearance of the glorious body which she beheld, she perceived that it +was raised on high as it were by cords brighter than gold, until, entering +into the open heavens, it could no longer be seen by her. Reflecting on +this vision, she made no doubt that some one of the community would soon +die, and her soul be lifted up to heaven by the good works which she had +wrought, as it were by golden cords. And so in truth it befell; for a few +days after, the beloved of God, Ethelburg, mother of that community, was +delivered out of the prison of the flesh; and her life is proved to have +been such that no one who knew her ought to doubt that an entrance into +the heavenly country was open to her, when she departed from this life. + +There was also, in the same monastery, a certain nun, of noble origin in +this world, and still nobler in the love of the world to come; who had, +for many years, been so disabled in all her body, that she could not move +a single limb. When she heard that the body of the venerable abbess had +been carried into the church, till it should be buried, she desired to be +carried thither, and to be placed bending towards it, after the manner of +one praying; which being done, she spoke to her as if she had been living, +and entreated her that she would obtain of the mercy of our pitiful +Creator, that she might be delivered from such great and long-continued +pains; nor was it long before her prayer was heard: for being delivered +from the flesh twelve days after, she exchanged her temporal afflictions +for an eternal reward. + +For three years after the death of her Superior, the aforesaid handmaid of +Christ, Tortgyth, was detained in this life and was so far spent with the +sickness before mentioned, that her bones scarce held together. At last, +when the time of her release was at hand, she not only lost the use of her +other limbs, but also of her tongue; in which state having continued three +days and as many nights, she was, on a sudden, restored by a spiritual +vision, and opened her lips and eyes, and looking up to heaven, began thus +to speak to the vision which she saw: "Very acceptable to me is thy +coming, and thou art welcome!" Having so said, she was silent awhile, as +it were, waiting for the answer of him whom she saw and to whom she spoke; +then, as if somewhat displeased, she said, "I can in no wise gladly suffer +this;" then pausing awhile, she said again, "If it can by no means be +to-day, I beg that the delay may not be long;" and again holding her peace +a short while, she concluded thus; "If it is certainly so determined, and +the decree cannot be altered, I beg that it may be no longer deferred than +this next night." Having so said, and being asked by those about her with +whom she talked, she said, "With my most dear mother, Ethelburg;" by which +they understood, that she was come to acquaint her that the time of her +departure was at hand; for, as she had desired, after one day and night, +she was delivered alike from the bonds of the flesh and of her infirmity +and entered into the joys of eternal salvation. + + + + +Chap. X. How a blind woman, praying in the burial-place of that monastery, +was restored to her sight. [675 A.D.?] + + +Hildilid, a devout handmaid of God, succeeded Ethelburg in the office of +abbess and presided over that monastery with great vigour many years, till +she was of an extreme old age,(585) in the observance of regular +discipline, and carefully providing all things for the common use. The +narrowness of the space where the monastery is built, led her to determine +that the bones of the servants and handmaidens of Christ, who had been +there buried, should be taken up, and should all be translated into the +church of the Blessed Mother of God, and interred in one place. How often +a brightness of heavenly light was seen there, when this was done, and a +fragrancy of wonderful sweetness arose, and what other signs were +revealed, whosoever reads will find in the book from which we have taken +these tales.(586) + +But in truth, I think it by no means fit to pass over the miracle of +healing, which the same book informs us was wrought in the cemetery of +that community dedicated to God. There lived in that neighbourhood a +certain thegn, whose wife was seized with a sudden dimness in her eyes, +and as the malady increased daily, it became so burdensome to her, that +she could not see the least glimpse of light. Having continued some time +wrapped in the night of this blindness, on a sudden she bethought herself +that she might recover her lost sight, if she were carried to the +monastery of the nuns, and there prayed at the relics of the saints. Nor +did she lose any time in fulfilling that which she had conceived in her +mind: for being conducted by her maids to the monastery, which was very +near, and professing that she had perfect faith that she should be there +healed, she was led into the cemetery, and having long prayed there on her +knees, she did not fail to be heard, for as she rose from prayer, before +she went out of the place, she received the gift of sight which she had +desired; and whereas she had been led thither by the hands of her maids, +she now returned home joyfully without help: as if she had lost the light +of this world to no other end than that she might show by her recovery how +great a light is vouchsafed to the saints of Christ in Heaven, and how +great a grace of healing power. + + + + +Chap. XI. How Sebbi, king of the same province, ended his life in a +monastery. [694 A.D.] + + +At that time, as the same little book informs us, Sebbi,(587) a very +devout man, of whom mention has been made above, governed the kingdom of +the East Saxons. His mind was set on religious acts, frequent prayer and +pious fruits of almsgiving; he esteemed a private and monastic life better +than all the wealth and honours of his kingdom, and he would have long +before left his kingdom and adopted that life, had not his wife firmly +refused to be divorced from him; for which reason many were of opinion and +often said that a man of such a disposition ought rather to have been made +a bishop than a king. When he had spent thirty years as a king and a +soldier of the heavenly kingdom, he fell into great bodily infirmity, of +which he afterwards died, and he admonished his wife, that they should +then at least together devote themselves to the service of God, since they +could no longer together enjoy, or rather serve, the world. Having with +much difficulty obtained this of her, he went to Waldhere, bishop of +London, who had succeeded Earconwald,(588) and with his blessing received +the religious habit, which he had long desired. He also carried to him a +considerable sum of money, to be given to the poor, reserving nothing to +himself, but rather coveting to remain poor in spirit for the sake of the +kingdom of Heaven. + +When the aforesaid sickness increased, and he perceived the day of his +death to be drawing near, being a man of a royal disposition, he began to +apprehend lest, when in great pain, at the approach of death, he might +commit anything unworthy of his character, either by word or gesture. +Wherefore, calling to him the aforesaid bishop of London, in which city he +then was, he entreated him that none might be present at his death, +besides the bishop himself, and two of his own attendants. The bishop +having promised that he would most willingly grant his request, not long +after the man of God composed himself to sleep, and saw a consoling +vision, which took from him all anxiety concerning the aforesaid +uneasiness; and, moreover, showed him on what day he was to end his life. +For, as he afterwards related, he saw three men in shining garments come +to him; one of whom sat down by his bed, whilst his companions who had +come with him stood and inquired about the state of the sick man they had +come to visit, and he said that the king's soul should quit his body +without any pain, and with a great splendour of light; and told him that +he should die the third day after. Both these things came to pass, as he +had learnt from the vision; for on the third day after, at the ninth hour, +he suddenly fell, as it were, into a light slumber, and without any sense +of pain he gave up the ghost. + +A stone coffin had been prepared for his burial, but when they came to lay +him in it, they found his body a span longer than the coffin. Hereupon +they chipped away as much of the stone as they could, and made the coffin +about two inches longer; but not even so would it contain the body. +Wherefore because of this difficulty of entombing him, they had thoughts +either to get another coffin, or else to shorten the body, by bending it +at the knees, if they could, so that the coffin might contain it. But +Heaven interposed and a miracle prevented the execution of either of those +designs; for on a sudden, in the presence of the bishop and Sighard, who +was the son of that same king and monk, and who reigned after him jointly +with his brother Suefred,(589) and of no small number of men, that coffin +was found to fit the length of the body, insomuch that a pillow might even +be put in at the head; and at the feet the coffin was four inches longer +than the body. He was buried in the church of the blessed teacher of the +Gentiles,(590) by whose doctrine he had learned to hope for heavenly +things. + + + + +Chap. XII. How Haedde succeeded Leutherius in the bishopric of the West +Saxons; how Cuichelm succeeded Putta in the bishopric of the church of +Rochester, and was himself succeeded by Gebmund; and who were then bishops +of the Northumbrians. [673-681 A.D.] + + +Leutherius was the fourth bishop of the West Saxons; for Birinus was the +first, Agilbert the second, and Wini the third.(591) When Coinwalch,(592) +in whose reign the said Leutherius was made bishop, died, the sub-kings +took upon them the government of the nation, and dividing it among +themselves, held it for about ten years; and during their rule he died, +and Haedde(593) succeeded him in the bishopric, having been consecrated by +Theodore, in the city of London. During his episcopate, Caedwalla,(594) +having subdued and removed the sub-kings, took upon himself the supreme +authority. When he had held it for two years, and whilst the same bishop +still governed the church, at length impelled by love of the heavenly +kingdom, he quitted it and, going away to Rome, ended his days there, as +shall be said more fully hereafter. + +In the year of our Lord 676, when Ethelred, king of the Mercians,(595) +ravaged Kent with a hostile army, and profaned churches and monasteries, +without regard to pity, or the fear of God, in the general destruction he +laid waste the city of Rochester; Putta,(596) who was bishop, was absent +at that time, but when he understood that his church was ravaged, and +everything taken away from it, he went to Sexwulf, bishop of the +Mercians,(597) and having received of him a certain church, and a small +piece of land, ended his days there in peace; in no way endeavouring to +restore his bishopric, for, as has been said above, he was more +industrious in ecclesiastical than in worldly affairs; serving God only in +that church, and going wherever he was desired, to teach Church music. +Theodore consecrated Cuichelm bishop of Rochester in his stead; but he, +not long after, departing from his bishopric for want of necessaries, and +withdrawing to other parts, Gebmund was put in his place by Theodore.(598) + +In the year of our Lord 678, which is the eighth of the reign of Egfrid, +in the month of August, appeared a star, called a comet, which continued +for three months, rising in the morning, and sending forth, as it were, a +tall pillar of radiant flame. The same year a dissension broke out between +King Egfrid and the most reverend prelate, Wilfrid, who was driven from +his see,(599) and two bishops substituted for him, to preside over the +nation of the Northumbrians,(600) namely, Bosa,(601) to govern the +province of the Deiri; and Eata(602) that of the Bernicians; the former +having his episcopal see in the city of York, the latter either in the +church of Hagustald, or of Lindisfarne; both of them promoted to the +episcopal dignity from a community of monks. With them also Eadhaed(603) +was ordained bishop for the province of Lindsey, which King Egfrid had but +newly acquired, having defeated Wulfhere and put him to flight;(604) and +this was the first bishop of its own which that province had; the second +was Ethelwin;(605) the third Edgar;(606) the fourth Cynibert,(607) who is +there at present. Before Eadhaed, Sexwulf(608) was bishop as well of that +province as of the Mercians and Midland Angles; so that, when expelled +from Lindsey, he continued in the government of those provinces. Eadhaed, +Bosa, and Eata, were ordained at York by archbishop Theodore;(609) who +also, three years after the departure of Wilfrid, added two bishops to +their number: Tunbert,(610) appointed to the church of Hagustald, Eata +still continuing in that of Lindisfarne; and Trumwine(611) to the province +of the Picts, which at that time was subject to English rule. Eadhaed +returning from Lindsey, because Ethelred had recovered that province,(612) +was placed by Theodore over the church of Ripon.(613) + + + + +Chap. XIII. How Bishop Wilfrid converted the province of the South Saxons +to Christ. [681 A.D.] + + +But Wilfrid was expelled from his bishopric, and having long travelled in +many lands, went to Rome,(614) and afterwards returned to Britain. Though +he could not, by reason of the enmity of the aforesaid king, be received +into his own country or diocese, yet he could not be restrained from the +ministry of the Gospel; for, taking his way into the province of the South +Saxons,(615) which extends from Kent to the south and west, as far as the +West Saxons, containing land of 7,000 families, and was at that time still +in bondage to pagan rites, he administered to them the Word of faith, and +the Baptism of salvation. Ethelwalch,(616) king of that nation, had been, +not long before, baptized in the province of the Mercians, at the instance +of King Wulfhere,(617) who was present, and received him as his godson +when he came forth from the font, and in token of this adoption gave him +two provinces, to wit, the Isle of Wight, and the province of the +Meanware, in the country of the West Saxons.(618) The bishop, therefore, +with the king's consent, or rather to his great joy, cleansed in the +sacred font the foremost ealdormen and thegns of that country; and the +priests, Eappa,(619) and Padda, and Burghelm, and Oiddi, either then, or +afterwards, baptized the rest of the people. The queen, whose name was +Eabae, had been baptized in her own country, the province of the +Hwiccas.(620) She was the daughter of Eanfrid, the brother of +Aenhere,(621) who were both Christians, as were their people; but all the +province of the South Saxons was ignorant of the Name of God and the +faith. But there was among them a certain monk of the Scottish nation, +whose name was Dicul,(622) who had a very small monastery, at the place +called Bosanhamm,(623) encompassed by woods and seas, and in it there were +five or six brothers, who served the Lord in humility and poverty; but +none of the natives cared either to follow their course of life, or hear +their preaching. + +But Bishop Wilfrid, while preaching the Gospel to the people, not only +delivered them from the misery of eternal damnation, but also from a +terrible calamity of temporal death. For no rain had fallen in that +district for three years before his arrival in the province, whereupon a +grievous famine fell upon the people and pitilessly destroyed them; +insomuch that it is said that often forty or fifty men, wasted with +hunger, would go together to some precipice, or to the sea-shore, and +there, hand in hand, in piteous wise cast them themselves down either to +perish by the fall, or be swallowed up by the waves. But on the very day +on which the nation received the Baptism of the faith, there fell a soft +but plentiful rain; the earth revived, the fields grew green again, and +the season was pleasant and fruitful. Thus the old superstition was cast +away, and idolatry renounced, the heart and flesh of all rejoiced in the +living God, for they perceived that He Who is the true God had enriched +them by His heavenly grace with both inward and outward blessings. For the +bishop, when he came into the province, and found so great misery from +famine there, taught them to get their food by fishing; for their sea and +rivers abounded in fish, but the people had no skill to take any of them, +except eels alone. The bishop's men having gathered eel-nets everywhere, +cast them into the sea, and by the blessing of God took three hundred +fishes of divers sorts, which being divided into three parts, they gave a +hundred to the poor, a hundred to those of whom they had the nets, and +kept a hundred for their own use. By this benefit the bishop gained the +affections of them all, and they began more readily at his preaching to +hope for heavenly blessings, seeing that by his help they had received +those which are temporal. + +At this time, King Ethelwalch gave to the most reverend prelate, Wilfrid, +land to the extent of eighty-seven families, to maintain his company who +were wandering in exile. The place is called Selaeseu,(624) that is, the +Island of the Sea-Calf; it is encompassed by the sea on all sides, except +the west, where is an entrance about the cast of a sling in width; which +sort of place is by the Latins called a peninsula, by the Greeks, a +cherronesos. Bishop Wilfrid, having this place given him, founded therein +a monastery, chiefly of the brethren he had brought with him, and +established a rule of life; and his successors are known to be there to +this day. He himself, both in word and deed performed the duties of a +bishop in those parts during the space of five years, until the death of +King Egfrid,(625) and was justly honoured by all. And forasmuch as the +king, together with the said place, gave him all the goods that were +therein, with the lands and men, he instructed all the people in the faith +of Christ, and cleansed them in the water of Baptism. Among whom were two +hundred and fifty bondsmen and bondswomen, all of whom he saved by Baptism +from slavery to the Devil, and in like manner, by giving them their +liberty, set them free from slavery to man. + + + + +Chap. XIV. How a pestilence ceased through the intercession of King +Oswald. [681-686 A.D.] + + +In this monastery, at that time, certain special manifestations of the +heavenly grace are said to have been shown forth; in as much as the +tyranny of the Devil had been recently cast out and Christ had begun to +reign there. Of these I have thought it proper to perpetuate the memory of +one which the most reverend Bishop Acca(626) was wont often to relate to +me, affirming that it had been told him by most creditable brothers of the +same monastery. About the same time that this province had received the +faith of Christ, a grievous pestilence fell upon many provinces of +Britain; which, also, by the Divine dispensation, reached to the aforesaid +monastery, then governed by the most religious priest of Christ, +Eappa;(627) and many, as well of those that had come thither with the +bishop, as of those of the same province of the South Saxons who had been +lately called to the faith, were snatched away out of this world. The +brethren, therefore, thought fit to keep a fast of three days, and humbly +to implore the Divine goodness to vouchsafe to have mercy on them, either +by delivering from instant death those that were in danger by reason of +the disease, or by saving those who were hurried out of this life from the +eternal damnation of their souls. + +There was at that time in the monastery, a little boy, of the Saxon +nation, lately called to the faith, who had been attacked by the same +infirmity, and had long kept his bed. On the second day of the aforesaid +fasting and prayer, it happened about the second hour of the day, that +this boy was left alone in the place where he lay sick, when on a sudden, +through the Divine disposition, the most blessed chiefs of the Apostles +vouchsafed to appear to him; for he was a boy of a very simple and gentle +disposition, and with sincere devotion observed the mysteries of the faith +which he had received. The Apostles therefore, greeting him with loving +words, said, "My son, fear not death, concerning which thou art troubled; +for this day we will bring thee to the kingdom of Heaven; but first thou +must needs wait till the Masses are celebrated, that having received thy +voyage provision,(628) the Body and Blood of our Lord, and so being set +free from sickness and death, thou mayest be taken up to the everlasting +joys in Heaven. + +"Call therefore to thee the priest, Eappa, and tell him, that the Lord has +heard your prayers, and has favourably looked upon your devotion and your +fast, and not one more shall die of this plague, either in the monastery +or the lands adjacent to it; but all your people who any where labour +under this sickness, shall be raised up from their weakness, and restored +to their former health, saving thee alone, who art this day to be +delivered from death, and to be carried into Heaven, to behold our Lord +Christ, whom thou hast faithfully served. This favour the Divine mercy has +vouchsafed to grant you, through the intercession of the godly King +Oswald, beloved of God, who formerly nobly ruled over the nation of the +Northumbrians, with the authority of a temporal kingdom and the devotion +of Christian piety which leads to the eternal kingdom. For this very day +that king was killed in body by the infidels in war, and straightway taken +up to Heaven to the everlasting joys of souls, and brought into fellowship +with the number of the elect. Let them look in their records,(629) wherein +the burial of the dead is set down, and they will find that he was, this +day, as we have said, taken out of this world. Let them, therefore, +celebrate Masses in all the oratories of this monastery, either in +thanksgiving because their prayers are heard, or else in memory of the +aforesaid King Oswald, who once governed their nation,(630) and therefore +humbly prayed to the Lord for them, as for converts of his nation; and let +all the brethren assemble in the church, and all communicate in the +heavenly Sacrifices, and so let them cease to fast, and refresh the body +also with the food that belongs to it." + +The boy called the priest, and repeated all these words to him; and the +priest carefully inquired after the habit and form of the men that had +appeared to him. He answered, "Their habit was altogether noble, and their +countenances most pleasant and beautiful, such as I had never seen before, +nor did I think there could be any men so fair and comely. One of them +indeed was shorn like a clerk, the other had a long beard; and they said +that one of them was called Peter, the other Paul; and they were the +servants of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, sent by Him from Heaven to +protect our monastery." The priest believed what the boy said, and going +thence immediately, looked in his chronicle, and found that King Oswald +had been killed on that very day. He then called the brethren, ordered +dinner to be provided, Masses to be said, and all of them to communicate +as usual; causing also a part of the same Sacrifice of the Lord's Oblation +to be carried to the sick boy. + +Soon after this, the boy died, on that same day; and by his death proved +that the words which he had heard from the Apostles of Christ were true. +And this moreover bore witness to the truth of his words, that none +besides himself, belonging to the same monastery, was taken away at that +time. And without doubt, by this vision, many that heard of it were +wonderfully excited to implore the Divine mercy in adversity, and to +submit to the wholesome remedy of fasting. From that time, the day of +commemoration of that king and soldier of Christ began to be yearly +honoured with the celebration of Masses, not only in that monastery, but +in many other places. + + + + +Chap. XV. How King Caedwalla, king of the Gewissae, having slain +Ethelwalch, wasted that Province with cruel slaughter and devastation. +[685 A.D.] + + +In the meantime, Caedwalla,(631) a young man of great vigour, of the royal +race of the Gewissae,(632) an exile from his country, came with an army, +slew Ethelwalch,(633) and wasted that province with cruel slaughter and +devastation; but he was soon expelled by Berthun and Andhun, the king's +ealdormen, who held in succession the government of the province. The +first of them was afterwards killed by the same Caedwalla, when he was +king of the Gewissae, and the province was reduced to more grievous +slavery: Ini,(634) likewise, who reigned after Caedwalla, oppressed that +country with the like servitude for many years; for which reason, during +all that time, they could have no bishop of their own; but their first +bishop, Wilfrid, having been recalled home, they were subject to the +bishop of the Gewissae, that is, the West Saxons, who were in the city of +Venta.(635) + + + + +Chap. XVI. How the Isle of Wight received Christian inhabitants, and two +royal youths of that island were killed immediately after Baptism. [686 +A.D.] + + +After Caedwalla had obtained possession of the kingdom of the Gewissae, he +took also the Isle of Wight, which till then was entirely given over to +idolatry, and by merciless slaughter endeavoured to destroy all the +inhabitants thereof, and to place in their stead people from his own +province; binding himself by a vow, though it is said that he was not yet +regenerated in Christ, to give the fourth part of the land and of the +spoil to the Lord, if he took the island. He fulfilled this vow by giving +the same for the service of the Lord to Bishop Wilfrid, who happened at +the time to have come thither from his own people.(636) The measure of +that island, according to the computation of the English, is of twelve +hundred families, wherefore an estate of three hundred families was given +to the Bishop. The part which he received, he committed to one of his +clerks called Bernwin, who was his sister's son, assigning to him a +priest, whose name was Hiddila, to administer the Word and laver of life +to all that would be saved. + +Here I think it ought not to be omitted that, as the first fruits of those +of that island who believed and were saved, two royal boys, brothers to +Arwald, king of the island,(637) were crowned with the special grace of +God. For when the enemy approached, they made their escape out of the +island, and crossed over into the neighbouring province of the Jutes.(638) +Coming to the place called At the Stone,(639) they thought to be concealed +from the victorious king, but they were betrayed and ordered to be killed. +This being made known to a certain abbot and priest, whose name was +Cynibert, who had a monastery not far from there, at a place called +Hreutford,(640) that is, the Ford of Reeds, he came to the king, who then +lay in concealment in those parts to be cured of the wounds which he had +received whilst he was fighting in the Isle of Wight, and begged of him, +that if the boys must needs be killed, he might be allowed first to +instruct them in the mysteries of the Christian faith. The king consented, +and the bishop having taught them the Word of truth, and cleansed them in +the font of salvation, assured to them their entrance into the kingdom of +Heaven. Then the executioner came, and they joyfully underwent the +temporal death, through which they did not doubt they were to pass to the +life of the soul, which is everlasting. Thus, after this manner, when all +the provinces of Britain had received the faith of Christ, the Isle of +Wight also received the same; yet because it was suffering under the +affliction of foreign subjection, no man there received the office or see +of a bishop, before Daniel, who is now bishop of the West Saxons.(641) + +The island is situated opposite the borders of the South Saxons and the +Gewissae, being separated from it by a sea, three miles wide, which is +called Solvente.(642) In this sea, the two tides of the ocean, which break +upon Britain all round its coasts from the boundless northern ocean, daily +meet in conflict beyond the mouth of the river Homelea,(643) which runs +into the aforesaid sea, through the lands of the Jutes, belonging to the +country of the Gewissae; and after this struggle of the tides, they fall +back and return into the ocean whence they come. + + + + +Chap. XVII. Of the Synod held in the plain of Haethfelth, Archbishop +Theodore being president. [680 A.D.] + + +About this time, Theodore being informed that the faith of the Church at +Constantinople was much perplexed by the heresy of Eutyches,(644) and +desiring that the Churches of the English, over which he presided, should +remain free from all such taint, convened an assembly of venerable bishops +and many learned men, and diligently inquired into the faith of each. He +found them all of one mind in the Catholic faith, and this he caused to be +committed to writing by the authority of the synod as a memorial, and for +the instruction of succeeding generations; the beginning of which document +is as follows: + +"In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, under the rule of our +most pious lords, Egfrid, king of of the Northumbrians, in the tenth year +of his reign, the seventeenth of September, the eighth indiction; +Ethelred, king of the Mercians, in the sixth year of his reign; Aldwulf +king of the East Angles, in the seventeenth year of his reign; and +Hlothere, king of Kent, in the seventh year of his reign;(645) Theodore, +by the grace of God, archbishop of the island of Britain, and of the city +of Canterbury, being president, and the other venerable bishops of the +island of Britain sitting with him, the holy Gospels being laid before +them, at the place which, in the Saxon tongue, is called Haethfelth,(646) +we conferred together, and set forth the right and orthodox faith, as our +Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh delivered the same to His disciples, who +beheld His Presence and heard His words, and as it is delivered by the +creed of the holy fathers, and by all holy and universal synods in +general, and by the consent of all approved doctors of the Catholic +Church. We, therefore, following them, in piety and orthodoxy, and +professing accordance with their divinely inspired doctrine, do believe +agreeably to it, and with the holy fathers confess the Father, and Son, +and Holy Ghost, to be properly and truly a Trinity consubstantial in +Unity, and Unity in Trinity, that is, one God in three Subsistences or +consubstantial persons, of equal glory and honour." + +And after much more of the same sort, appertaining to the confession of +the right faith, this holy synod added to its document, "We acknowledge +the five holy and general councils(647) of the blessed fathers acceptable +to God; that is, of the 318 assembled at Nicaea, against the most impious +Arius and his tenets; and at Constantinople, of 150, against the madness +of Macedonius and Eudoxius, and their tenets; and at Ephesus, for the +first time, of 200, against the most wicked Nestorius, and his tenets; and +at Chalcedon, of 630, against Eutyches and Nestorius, and their tenets; +and again, at Constantinople, in a fifth council, in the time of Justinian +the younger,(648) against Theodorus, and the epistles of Theodoret and +Ibas, and their tenets in opposition to Cyril." And again a little lower, +"the synod held in the city of Rome, in the time of the blessed Pope +Martin,(649) in the eighth indiction, and in the ninth year of the most +pious Emperor Constantine,(650) we also acknowledge. And we glorify our +Lord Jesus Christ, as they glorified Him, neither adding aught nor taking +away; anathematizing with hearts and lips those whom they anathematized, +and receiving those whom they received; glorifying God the Father, Who is +without beginning, and His only-begotten Son, begotten of the Father +before the worlds, and the Holy Ghost proceeding ineffably from the Father +and the Son,(651) even as those holy Apostles, prophets, and doctors, whom +we have above-mentioned, did declare. And all we, who, with Archbishop +Theodore, have thus set forth the Catholic faith, thereto subscribe." + + + + +Chap. XVIII. Of John, the precentor of the Apostolic see, who came into +Britain to teach. [680 A.D.] + + +Among those who were present at this synod, and confirmed the decrees of +the Catholic faith, was the venerable John,(652) archchanter of the church +of the holy Apostle Peter,(653) and abbot of the monastery of the blessed +Martin, who had come lately from Rome, by order of Pope Agatho, together +with the most reverend Abbot Biscop, surnamed Benedict,(654) of whom +mention has been made above. For the said Benedict, having built a +monastery in Britain, in honour of the most blessed chief of the Apostles, +at the mouth of the river Wear, went to Rome with Ceolfrid,(655) his +companion and fellow-labourer in that work, who was after him abbot of the +same monastery; he had been several times before at Rome, and was now +honourably received by Pope Agatho of blessed memory; from whom he also +asked and obtained, in order to secure the immunities of the monastery +which he had founded, a letter of privilege confirmed by apostolic +authority, according to what he knew to be the will and grant of King +Egfrid, by whose consent and gift of land he had built that monastery. + +He was also allowed to take the aforesaid Abbot John with him into +Britain, that he might teach in his monastery the system of singing +throughout the year, as it was practised at St. Peter's at Rome.(656) The +Abbot John did as he had been commanded by the Pope, teaching the singers +of the said monastery the order and manner of singing and reading aloud, +and committing to writing all that was requisite throughout the whole +course of the year for the celebration of festivals; and these writings +are still preserved in that monastery, and have been copied by many others +elsewhere. The said John not only taught the brothers of that monastery, +but such as had skill in singing resorted from almost all the monasteries +of the same province to hear him, and many invited him to teach in other +places. + +Besides his task of singing and reading, he had also received a commission +from the Apostolic Pope, carefully to inform himself concerning the faith +of the English Church, and to give an account thereof on his return to +Rome. For he also brought with him the decision of the synod of the +blessed Pope Martin, held not long before at Rome,(657) with the consent +of one hundred and five bishops, chiefly to refute those who taught that +there is but one operation and will in Christ, and he gave it to be +transcribed in the aforesaid monastery of the most religious Abbot +Benedict. The men who followed such opinion greatly perplexed the faith of +the Church of Constantinople at that time; but by the help of God they +were then discovered and overcome.(658) Wherefore, Pope Agatho, being +desirous to be informed concerning the state of the Church in Britain, as +well as in other provinces, and to what extent it was clear from the +contagion of heretics, gave this matter in charge to the most reverend +Abbot John, then appointed to go to Britain. The synod we have spoken of +having been called for this purpose in Britain, the Catholic faith was +found untainted in all, and a report of the proceedings of the same was +given him to carry to Rome. + +But in his return to his own country, soon after crossing the sea, he fell +sick and died; and his body, for the sake of St. Martin, in whose +monastery he presided, was by his friends carried to Tours,(659) and +honourably buried; for he had been kindly entertained by the Church there +on his way to Britain, and earnestly entreated by the brethren, that in +his return to Rome he would take that road, and visit their Church, and +moreover he was there supplied with men to conduct him on his way, and +assist him in the work enjoined upon him. Though he died by the way, yet +the testimony of the Catholic faith of the English nation was carried to +Rome, and received with great joy by the Apostolic Pope, and all those +that heard or read it. + + + + +Chap. XIX. How Queen Ethelthryth always preserved her virginity, and her +body suffered no corruption in the grave. [660-696 A.D.] + + +King Egfrid took to wife Ethelthryth, the daughter of Anna,(660) king of +the East Angles, of whom mention has been often made; a man of true +religion, and altogether noble in mind and deed. She had before been given +in marriage to another, to wit, Tondbert, ealdorman(661) of the Southern +Gyrwas; but he died soon after he had married her, and she was given to +the aforesaid king. Though she lived with him twelve years, yet she +preserved the glory of perfect virginity, as I was informed by Bishop +Wilfrid, of blessed memory, of whom I inquired, because some questioned +the truth thereof; and he told me that he was an undoubted witness to her +virginity, forasmuch as Egfrid promised to give him many lands and much +money if he could persuade the queen to consent to fulfil her marriage +duty, for he knew the queen loved no man more than himself. And it is not +to be doubted that this might take place in our age, which true histories +tell us happened sometimes in former ages, by the help of the same Lord +who promises to abide with us always, even unto the end of the world. For +the divine miracle whereby her flesh, being buried, could not suffer +corruption, is a token that she had not been defiled by man. + +She had long asked of the king that he would permit her to lay aside +worldly cares, and to serve only Christ, the true King, in a monastery; +and having at length with difficulty prevailed, she entered the monastery +of the Abbess Aebba,(662) who was aunt to King Egfrid, at the place called +the city of Coludi,(663) having received the veil of the religious habit +from the hands of the aforesaid Bishop Wilfrid; but a year after she was +herself made abbess in the district called Elge,(664) where, having built +a monastery, she began, by the example of a heavenly life and by her +teaching, to be the virgin mother of many virgins dedicated to God. It is +told of her that from the time of her entering the monastery, she would +never wear any linen but only woollen garments, and would seldom wash in a +hot bath, unless just before the greater festivals, as Easter, +Whitsuntide, and the Epiphany, and then she did it last of all, when the +other handmaids of Christ who were there had been washed, served by her +and her attendants. She seldom ate more than once a day, excepting on the +greater festivals, or some urgent occasion. Always, except when grievous +sickness prevented her, from the time of matins till day-break, she +continued in the church at prayer. Some also say, that by the spirit of +prophecy she not only foretold the pestilence of which she was to die, but +also, in the presence of all, revealed the number of those that should be +then snatched away from this world out of her monastery. She was taken to +the Lord, in the midst of her flock, seven years after she had been made +abbess; and, as she had ordered, was buried among them in a wooden coffin +in her turn, according to the order in which she had passed away. + +She was succeeded in the office of abbess by her sister Sexburg,(665) who +had been wife to Earconbert, king of Kent. This abbess, when her sister +had been buried sixteen years, thought fit to take up her bones, and, +putting them into a new coffin, to translate them into the church. +Accordingly she ordered some of the brothers to find a stone whereof to +make a coffin for this purpose. They went on board ship, for the district +of Ely is on every side encompassed with water and marshes, and has no +large stones, and came to a small deserted city, not far from thence, +which, in the language of the English, is called Grantacaestir,(666) and +presently, near the city walls, they found a white marble coffin,(667) +most beautifully wrought, and fitly covered with a lid of the same sort of +stone. Perceiving, therefore, that the Lord had prospered their journey, +they returned thanks to Him and carried it to the monastery. + +When the grave was opened and the body of the holy virgin and bride of +Christ was brought into the light of day, it was found as free from +corruption as if she had died and been buried on that very day; as the +aforesaid Bishop Wilfrid, and many others that know it, testify. But the +physician, Cynifrid, who was present at her death, and when she was taken +up out of the grave, had more certain knowledge. He was wont to relate +that in her sickness she had a very great tumour under her jaw. "And I was +ordered," said he, "to lay open that tumour to let out the noxious matter +in it, which I did, and she seemed to be somewhat more easy for two days, +so that many thought she might recover from her infirmity; but on the +third day she was attacked by the former pains, and being soon snatched +out of the world, she exchanged all pain and death for everlasting life +and health. And when, so many years after, her bones were to be taken out +of the grave, a pavilion being spread over it, and all the congregation, +the brothers on the one side, and the sisters on the other, standing about +it singing, while the abbess, with a few others, had gone within to take +up and wash the bones, on a sudden we heard the abbess within cry out with +a loud voice, 'Glory be to the name of the Lord.' Not long after they +called me in, opening the door of the pavilion, and I found the body of +the holy virgin taken out of the grave and laid on a bed, like one asleep; +then taking off the veil from the face, they also showed me that the +incision which I had made was healed up; so that, in marvellous wise, +instead of the open gaping wound with which she had been buried, there +then appeared only the slightest trace of a scar. Besides, all the linen +clothes in which the body had been wrapped, appeared entire and as fresh +as if they had been that very day put about her chaste limbs." + +It is said that when she was sore troubled with the aforesaid tumour and +pain in her jaw and neck, she took great pleasure in that sort of +sickness, and was wont to say, "I know of a surety that I deservedly bear +the weight of my trouble on my neck, for I remember that, when I was a +young maiden, I bore on it the needless weight of necklaces;(668) and +therefore I believe the Divine goodness would have me endure the pain in +my neck, that so I may be absolved from the guilt of my needless levity, +having now, instead of gold and pearls, the fiery heat of a tumour rising +on my neck." It happened also that by the touch of those same linen +clothes devils were expelled from bodies possessed, and other diseases +were at divers times healed; and the coffin wherein she was first buried +is said to have cured some of infirmities of the eyes, who, praying with +their heads resting upon that coffin, were presently relieved of the pain +or dimness in their eyes. So they washed the virgin's body, and having +clothed it in new garments, brought it into the church, and laid it in the +sarcophagus that had been brought, where it is held in great veneration to +this day. The sarcophagus was found in a wonderful manner to fit the +virgin's body as if it had been made purposely for her, and the place for +the head, which was fashioned separately, appeared exactly shaped to the +measurement of her head. + +Elge is in the province of the East Angles, a district of about six +hundred families, of the nature of an island, encompassed, as has been +said, with marshes or waters, and therefore it has its name from the great +plenty of eels taken in those marshes; there the aforesaid handmaid of +Christ desired to have a monastery, because, as we have before mentioned, +she came, according to the flesh, of that same province of the East +Angles. + + + + +Chap. XX. A Hymn concerning her. + + +It seems fitting to insert in this history a hymn concerning virginity, +which we composed in elegiac verse many years ago, in praise and honour of +the same queen and bride of Christ, and therefore truly a queen, because +the bride of Christ; and to imitate the method of Holy Scripture, wherein +many songs are inserted in the history, and these, as is well known, are +composed in metre and verse. + +"Trinity,(669) Gracious, Divine, Who rulest all the ages; favour my task, +Trinity, Gracious, Divine. + +"Let Maro sound the trumpet of war, let us sing the gifts of peace; the +gifts of Christ we sing, let Maro sound the trumpet of war. + +"Chaste is my song, no rape of guilty Helen; light tales shall be told by +the wanton, chaste is my song. + +"I will tell of gifts from Heaven, not wars of hapless Troy; I will tell +of gifts from Heaven, wherein the earth is glad. + +"Lo! the high God comes to the womb of a holy virgin, to be the Saviour of +men, lo! the high God comes. + +"A hallowed maid gives birth to Him Who gave the world its being; Mary, +the gate of God, a maiden gives Him birth. + +"The company of her fellows rejoices over the Virgin Mother of Him Who +wields the thunder; a shining virgin band, the company of her fellows +rejoices. + +"Her honour has made many a blossom to spring from that pure shoot, virgin +blossoms her honour has made to spring. + +"Scorched by the fierce flames, the maiden Agatha(670) yielded not; in +like manner Eulalia endures, scorched by the fierce flames. + +"The lofty soul of chaste Tecla overcomes the wild beasts; chaste Euphemia +overcomes the accursed wild beasts. + +"Agnes joyously laughs at the sword, herself stronger than steel, Cecilia +joyously laughs at the foemen's sword. + +"Many a triumph is mighty throughout the world in temperate hearts; +throughout the world love of the temperate life is mighty. + +"Yea, and our day likewise a peerless maiden has blessed; peerless our +Ethelthryth shines. + +"Child of a noble sire, and glorious by royal birth, more noble in her +Lord's sight, the child of a noble sire. + +"Thence she receives queenly honour and a sceptre in this world; thence +she receives honour, awaiting higher honour above. + +"What need, gracious lady, to seek an earthly lord, even now given to the +Heavenly Bridegroom? + +"Christ is at hand, the Bridegroom (why seek an earthly lord?) that thou +mayst follow even now, methinks, in the steps of the Mother of Heaven's +King, that thou too mayst be a mother in God. + +"Twelve years(671) she had reigned, a bride dedicated to God, then in the +cloister dwelt, a bride dedicated to God. + +"To Heaven all consecrated she lived, abounding in lofty deeds, then to +Heaven all consecrated she gave up her soul. + +"Twice eight Novembers(672) the maid's fair flesh lay in the tomb, nor did +the maid's fair flesh see corruption in the tomb. + +"This was Thy work, O Christ, that her very garments were bright and +undefiled even in the grave; O Christ, this was Thy work. + +"The dark serpent(673) flies before the honour due to the holy raiment; +disease is driven away, and the dark serpent flies. + +"Rage fills the foe who of old conquered Eve; exultant the maiden triumphs +and rage fills the foe. + +"Behold, O bride of God, thy glory upon earth; the glory that awaits thee +in the Heavens behold, O bride of God. + +"In gladness thou receivest gifts, bright amidst the festal torches; +behold! the Bridegroom comes, in gladness thou receivest gifts. + +"And a new song thou singest to the tuneful harp; a new-made bride, thou +exultest in the tuneful hymn. + +"None can part her from them which follow the Lamb enthroned on high, whom +none had severed from the Love enthroned on high." + + + + +Chap. XXI. How Bishop Theodore made peace between the kings Egfrid and +Ethelred. [679 A.D.] + + +In the ninth year of the reign of King Egfrid, a great battle(674) was +fought between him and Ethelred, king of the Mercians, near the river +Trent, and Aelfwine,(675) brother to King Egfrid, was slain, a youth about +eighteen years of age, and much beloved by both provinces; for King +Ethelred had married his sister Osthryth.(676) There was now reason to +expect a more bloody war, and more lasting enmity between those kings and +their fierce nations; but Theodore, the bishop, beloved of God, relying on +the Divine aid, by his wholesome admonitions wholly extinguished the +dangerous fire that was breaking out; so that the kings and their people +on both sides were appeased, and no man was put to death, but only the due +mulct(677) paid to the king who was the avenger for the death of his +brother; and this peace continued long after between those kings and +between their kingdoms. + + + + +Chap. XXII. How a certain captive's chains fell off when Masses were sung +for him. [679 A.D.] + + +In the aforesaid battle, wherein King Aelfwine was killed, a memorable +incident is known to have happened, which I think ought by no means to be +passed over in silence; for the story will be profitable to the salvation +of many. In that battle a youth called Imma, one of the king's thegns, was +struck down, and having lain as if dead all that day and the next night +among the bodies of the slain, at length he came to himself and revived, +and sitting up, bound his own wounds as best as he could. Then having +rested awhile, he stood up, and went away to see if he could find any +friends to take care of him; but in so doing he was discovered and taken +by some of the enemy's army, and carried before their lord, who was one of +King Ethelred's nobles.(678) Being asked by him who he was, and fearing to +own himself a thegn, he answered that he was a peasant, a poor man and +married, and he declared that he had come to the war with others like +himself to bring provisions to the army. The noble entertained him, and +ordered his wounds to be dressed, and when he began to recover, to prevent +his escaping, he ordered him to be bound at night. But he could not be +bound, for as soon as they that bound him were gone, his bonds were +loosed. + +Now he had a brother called Tunna, who was a priest and abbot of a +monastery in the city which is still called Tunnacaestir after him.(679) +This man, hearing that his brother had been killed in the battle, went to +see if haply he could find his body; and finding another very like him in +all respects, he believed it to be his. So he carried it to his monastery, +and buried it honourably, and took care often to say Masses for the +absolution of his soul; the celebration whereof occasioned what I have +said, that none could bind him but he was presently loosed again. In the +meantime, the noble that had kept him was amazed, and began to inquire why +he could not be bound; whether perchance he had any spells about him, such +as are spoken of in stories. He answered that he knew nothing of those +arts; "but I have," said he, "a brother who is a priest in my country, and +I know that he, supposing me to be killed, is saying frequent Masses for +me; and if I were now in the other life, my soul there, through his +intercession, would be delivered from penalty." + +When he had been a prisoner with the noble some time, those who +attentively observed him, by his countenance, habit, and discourse, took +notice, that he was not of the meaner sort, as he had said, but of some +quality. The noble then privately sending for him, straitly questioned +him, whence he came, promising to do him no harm on that account if he +would frankly confess who he was. This he did, declaring that he had been +a thegn of the king's, and the noble answered, "I perceived by all your +answers that you were no peasant. And now you deserve to die, because all +my brothers and relations were killed in that fight; yet I will not put +you to death, that I may not break my promise." + +As soon, therefore, as he was recovered, he sold him to a certain Frisian +at London, but he could not in any wise be bound either by him, or as he +was being led thither. But when his enemies had put all manner of bonds on +him, and the buyer perceived that he could in no way be bound, he gave him +leave to ransom himself if he could. Now it was at the third hour, when +the Masses were wont to be said, that his bonds were most frequently +loosed. He, having taken an oath that he would either return, or send his +owner the money for the ransom, went into Kent to King Hlothere, who was +son to the sister of Queen Ethelthryth,(680) above spoken of, for he had +once been that queen's thegn. From him he asked and obtained the price of +his freedom, and as he had promised, sent it to his master for his ransom. + +Returning afterwards into his own country, and coming to his brother, he +gave him an exact account of all his misfortunes, and the consolation +afforded to him in them; and from what his brother told him he understood, +that his bonds had been generally loosed at those times when Masses had +been celebrated for him; and he perceived that other advantages and +blessings which had fallen to his lot in his time of danger, had been +conferred on him from Heaven, through the intercession of his brother, and +the Oblation of the saving Sacrifice. Many, on hearing this account from +the aforesaid man, were stirred up in faith and pious devotion to prayer, +or to alms-giving, or to make an offering to God of the Sacrifice of the +holy Oblation, for the deliverance of their friends who had departed this +world; for they knew that such saving Sacrifice availed for the eternal +redemption both of body and soul. This story was also told me by some of +those who had heard it related by the man himself to whom it happened; +therefore, since I had a clear understanding of it, I have not hesitated +to insert it in my Ecclesiastical History. + + + + +Chap. XXIII. Of the life and death of the Abbess Hilda. [614-680 A.D.] + + +In the year after this, that is the year of our Lord 680, the most +religious handmaid of Christ, Hilda,(681) abbess of the monastery that is +called Streanaeshalch,(682) as we mentioned above, after having done many +heavenly deeds on earth, passed thence to receive the rewards of the +heavenly life, on the 17th of November, at the age of sixty-six years. Her +life falls into two equal parts, for the first thirty-three years of it +she spent living most nobly in the secular habit; and still more nobly +dedicated the remaining half to the Lord in the monastic life. For she was +nobly born, being the daughter of Hereric,(683) nephew to King Edwin, and +with that king she also received the faith and mysteries of Christ, at the +preaching of Paulinus, of blessed memory,(684) the first bishop of the +Northumbrians, and preserved the same undefiled till she attained to the +vision of our Lord in Heaven. + +When she had resolved to quit the secular habit, and to serve Him alone, +she withdrew into the province of the East Angles, for she was allied to +the king there;(685) being desirous to cross over thence into Gaul, +forsaking her native country and all that she had, and so to live a +stranger for our Lord's sake in the monastery of Cale,(686) that she might +the better attain to the eternal country in heaven. For her sister +Heresuid, mother to Aldwulf,(687) king of the East Angles, was at that +time living in the same monastery, under regular discipline, waiting for +an everlasting crown; and led by her example, she continued a whole year +in the aforesaid province, with the design of going abroad; but +afterwards, Bishop Aidan recalled her to her home, and she received land +to the extent of one family on the north side of the river Wear;(688) +where likewise for a year she led a monastic life, with very few +companions. + +After this she was made abbess in the monastery called Heruteu,(689) which +monastery had been founded, not long before, by the pious handmaid of +Christ, Heiu,(690) who is said to have been the first woman in the +province of the Northumbrians who took upon her the vows and habit of a +nun, being consecrated by Bishop Aidan; but she, soon after she had +founded that monastery, retired to the city of Calcaria,(691) which is +called Kaelcacaestir by the English, and there fixed her dwelling. Hilda, +the handmaid of Christ, being set over that monastery, began immediately +to order it in all things under a rule of life, according as she had been +instructed by learned men; for Bishop Aidan, and others of the religious +that knew her, frequently visited her and loved her heartily, and +diligently instructed her, because of her innate wisdom and love of the +service of God. + +When she had for some years governed this monastery, wholly intent upon +establishing a rule of life, it happened that she also undertook either to +build or to set in order a monastery in the place called Streanaeshalch, +and this work which was laid upon her she industriously performed; for she +put this monastery under the same rule of monastic life as the former; and +taught there the strict observance of justice, piety, chastity, and other +virtues, and particularly of peace and charity; so that, after the example +of the primitive Church, no one there was rich, and none poor, for they +had all things common, and none had any private property. Her prudence was +so great, that not only meaner men in their need, but sometimes even kings +and princes, sought and received her counsel; she obliged those who were +under her direction to give so much time to reading of the Holy +Scriptures, and to exercise themselves so much in works of justice, that +many might readily be found there fit for the priesthood and the service +of the altar. + +Indeed we have seen five from that monastery who afterwards became +bishops, and all of them men of singular merit and sanctity, whose names +were Bosa,(692) Aetla,(693) Oftfor,(694) John,(695) and Wilfrid.(696) Of +the first we have said above that he was consecrated bishop of York; of +the second, it may be briefly stated that he was appointed bishop of +Dorchester. Of the last two we shall tell hereafter, that the former was +ordained bishop of Hagustald, the other of the church of York; of the +third, we may here mention that, having applied himself to the reading and +observance of the Scriptures in both the monasteries of the Abbess +Hilda,(697) at length being desirous to attain to greater perfection, he +went into Kent, to Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory; where having +spent some time in sacred studies, he resolved to go to Rome also, which, +in those days, was esteemed a very salutary undertaking. Returning thence +into Britain, he took his way into the province of the Hwiccas,(698) where +King Osric then ruled,(699) and continued there a long time, preaching the +Word of faith, and showing an example of good life to all that saw and +heard him. At that time, Bosel, the bishop of that province,(700) laboured +under such weakness of body, that he could not himself perform episcopal +functions; for which reason, Oftfor was, by universal consent, chosen +bishop in his stead, and by order of King Ethelred,(701) consecrated by +Bishop Wilfrid,(702) of blessed memory, who was then Bishop of the Midland +Angles, because Archbishop Theodore was dead, and no other bishop ordained +in his place. A little while before, that is, before the election of the +aforesaid man of God, Bosel, Tatfrid,(703) a man of great industry and +learning, and of excellent ability, had been chosen bishop for that +province, from the monastery of the same abbess, but had been snatched +away by an untimely death, before he could be ordained. + +Thus this handmaid of Christ, the Abbess Hilda, whom all that knew her +called Mother, for her singular piety and grace, was not only an example +of good life, to those that lived in her monastery, but afforded occasion +of amendment and salvation to many who lived at a distance, to whom the +blessed fame was brought of her industry and virtue. For it was meet that +the dream of her mother, Bregusuid, during her infancy, should be +fulfilled. Now Bregusuid, at the time that her husband, Hereric, lived in +banishment, under Cerdic,(704) king of the Britons, where he was also +poisoned, fancied, in a dream, that he was suddenly taken away from her +and she was seeking for him most carefully, but could find no sign of him +anywhere. After an anxious search for him, all at once she found a most +precious necklace under her garment, and whilst she was looking on it very +attentively, it seemed to shine forth with such a blaze of light that it +filled all Britain with the glory of its brilliance. This dream was +doubtless fulfilled in her daughter that we speak of, whose life was an +example of the works of light, not only blessed to herself, but to many +who desired to live aright. + +When she had governed this monastery many years, it pleased Him Who has +made such merciful provision for our salvation, to give her holy soul the +trial of a long infirmity of the flesh, to the end that, according to the +Apostle's example, her virtue might be made perfect in weakness. Struck +down with a fever, she suffered from a burning heat, and was afflicted +with the same trouble for six years continually; during all which time she +never failed either to return thanks to her Maker, or publicly and +privately to instruct the flock committed to her charge; for taught by her +own experience she admonished all men to serve the Lord dutifully, when +health of body is granted to them, and always to return thanks faithfully +to Him in adversity, or bodily infirmity. In the seventh year of her +sickness, when the disease turned inwards, her last day came, and about +cockcrow, having received the voyage provision(705) of Holy Housel, and +called together the handmaids of Christ that were within the same +monastery, she admonished them to preserve the peace of the Gospel among +themselves, and with all others; and even as she spoke her words of +exhortation, she joyfully saw death come, or, in the words of our Lord, +passed from death unto life. + +That same night it pleased Almighty God, by a manifest vision, to make +known her death in another monastery, at a distance from hers, which she +had built that same year, and which is called Hacanos.(706) There was in +that monastery, a certain nun called Begu,(707) who, having dedicated her +virginity to the Lord, had served Him upwards of thirty years in the +monastic life. This nun was resting in the dormitory of the sisters, when +on a sudden she heard in the air the well-known sound of the bell, which +used to awake and call them to prayers, when any one of them was taken out +of this world, and opening her eyes, as she thought, she saw the roof of +the house open, and a light shed from above filling all the place. Looking +earnestly upon that light, she saw the soul of the aforesaid handmaid of +God in that same light, being carried to heaven attended and guided by +angels. Then awaking, and seeing the other sisters lying round about her, +she perceived that what she had seen had been revealed to her either in a +dream or a vision; and rising immediately in great fear, she ran to the +virgin who then presided in the monastery in the place of the abbess,(708) +and whose name was Frigyth, and, with many tears and lamentations, and +heaving deep sighs, told her that the Abbess Hilda, mother of them all, +had departed this life, and had in her sight ascended to the gates of +eternal light, and to the company of the citizens of heaven, with a great +light, and with angels for her guides. Frigyth having heard it, awoke all +the sisters, and calling them to the church, admonished them to give +themselves to prayer and singing of psalms, for the soul of their mother; +which they did earnestly during the remainder of the night; and at break +of day, the brothers came with news of her death, from the place where she +had died. They answered that they knew it before, and then related in +order how and when they had learnt it, by which it appeared that her death +had been revealed to them in a vision that same hour in which the brothers +said that she had died. Thus by a fair harmony of events Heaven ordained, +that when some saw her departure out of this world, the others should have +knowledge of her entrance into the eternal life of souls. These +monasteries are about thirteen miles distant from each other. + +It is also told, that her death was, in a vision, made known the same +night to one of the virgins dedicated to God, who loved her with a great +love, in the same monastery where the said handmaid of God died. This nun +saw her soul ascend to heaven in the company of angels; and this she +openly declared, in the very same hour that it happened, to those +handmaids of Christ that were with her; and aroused them to pray for her +soul, even before the rest of the community had heard of her death. The +truth of which was known to the whole community in the morning. This same +nun was at that time with some other handmaids of Christ, in the remotest +part of the monastery, where the women who had lately entered the monastic +life were wont to pass their time of probation, till they were instructed +according to rule, and admitted into the fellowship of the community. + + + + +Chap. XXIV. That there was in her monastery a brother, on whom the gift of +song was bestowed by Heaven.(709) [680 A.D.] + + +There was in the monastery of this abbess a certain brother, marked in a +special manner by the grace of God, for he was wont to make songs of piety +and religion, so that whatever was expounded to him out of Scripture, he +turned ere long into verse expressive of much sweetness and penitence, in +English, which was his native language. By his songs the minds of many +were often fired with contempt of the world, and desire of the heavenly +life. Others of the English nation after him attempted to compose +religious poems, but none could equal him, for he did not learn the art of +poetry from men, neither was he taught by man, but by God's grace he +received the free gift of song, for which reason he never could compose +any trivial or vain poem, but only those which concern religion it behoved +his religious tongue to utter. For having lived in the secular habit till +he was well advanced in years, he had never learned anything of +versifying; and for this reason sometimes at a banquet, when it was agreed +to make merry by singing in turn, if he saw the harp come towards him, he +would rise up from table and go out and return home. + +Once having done so and gone out of the house where the banquet was, to +the stable, where he had to take care of the cattle that night, he there +composed himself to rest at the proper time. Thereupon one stood by him in +his sleep, and saluting him, and calling him by his name, said, "Caedmon, +sing me something." But he answered, "I cannot sing, and for this cause I +left the banquet and retired hither, because I could not sing." Then he +who talked to him replied, "Nevertheless thou must needs sing to me." +"What must I sing?" he asked. "Sing the beginning of creation," said the +other. Having received this answer he straightway began to sing verses to +the praise of God the Creator, which he had never heard, the purport +whereof was after this manner: "Now must we praise the Maker of the +heavenly kingdom, the power of the Creator and His counsel, the deeds of +the Father of glory. How He, being the eternal God, became the Author of +all wondrous works, Who being the Almighty Guardian of the human race, +first created heaven for the sons of men to be the covering of their +dwelling place, and next the earth." This is the sense but not the order +of the words as he sang them in his sleep; for verses, though never so +well composed, cannot be literally translated out of one language into +another without loss of their beauty and loftiness. Awaking from his +sleep, he remembered all that he had sung in his dream, and soon added +more after the same manner, in words which worthily expressed the praise +of God. + +In the morning he came to the reeve(710) who was over him, and having told +him of the gift he had received, was conducted to the abbess, and bidden, +in the presence of many learned men, to tell his dream, and repeat the +verses, that they might all examine and give their judgement upon the +nature and origin of the gift whereof he spoke. And they all judged that +heavenly grace had been granted to him by the Lord. They expounded to him +a passage of sacred history or doctrine, enjoining upon him, if he could, +to put it into verse. Having undertaken this task, he went away, and +returning the next morning, gave them the passage he had been bidden to +translate, rendered in most excellent verse. Whereupon the abbess, +joyfully recognizing the grace of God in the man, instructed him to quit +the secular habit, and take upon him monastic vows; and having received +him into the monastery, she and all her people admitted him to the company +of the brethren, and ordered that he should be taught the whole course of +sacred history. So he, giving ear to all that he could learn, and bearing +it in mind, and as it were ruminating, like a clean animal,(711) turned it +into most harmonious verse; and sweetly singing it, made his masters in +their turn his hearers. He sang the creation of the world, the origin of +man, and all the history of Genesis, the departure of the children of +Israel out of Egypt, their entrance into the promised land, and many other +histories from Holy Scripture; the Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection of +our Lord, and His Ascension into heaven; the coming of the Holy Ghost, and +the teaching of the Apostles; likewise he made many songs concerning the +terror of future judgement, the horror of the pains of hell, and the joys +of heaven; besides many more about the blessings and the judgements of +God, by all of which he endeavoured to draw men away from the love of sin, +and to excite in them devotion to well-doing and perseverance therein. For +he was a very religious man, humbly submissive to the discipline of +monastic rule, but inflamed with fervent zeal against those who chose to +do otherwise; for which reason he made a fair ending of his life. + +For when the hour of his departure drew near, it was preceded by a bodily +infirmity under which he laboured for the space of fourteen days, yet it +was of so mild a nature that he could talk and go about the whole time. In +his neighbourhood was the house to which those that were sick, and like to +die, were wont to be carried. He desired the person that ministered to +him, as the evening came on of the night in which he was to depart this +life, to make ready a place there for him to take his rest. The man, +wondering why he should desire it, because there was as yet no sign of his +approaching death, nevertheless did his bidding. When they had lain down +there, and had been conversing happily and pleasantly for some time with +those that were in the house before, and it was now past midnight, he +asked them, whether they had the Eucharist within?(712) They answered, +"What need of the Eucharist? for you are not yet appointed to die, since +you talk so merrily with us, as if you were in good health." +"Nevertheless," said he, "bring me the Eucharist." Having received It into +his hand, he asked, whether they were all in charity with him, and had no +complaint against him, nor any quarrel or grudge. They answered, that they +were all in perfect charity with him, and free from all anger; and in +their turn they asked him to be of the same mind towards them. He answered +at once, "I am in charity, my children, with all the servants of God." +Then strengthening himself with the heavenly Viaticum, he prepared for the +entrance into another life, and asked how near the time was when the +brothers should be awakened to sing the nightly praises of the Lord?(713) +They answered, "It is not far off." Then he said, "It is well, let us +await that hour;" and signing himself with the sign of the Holy Cross, he +laid his head on the pillow, and falling into a slumber for a little +while, so ended his life in silence. + +Thus it came to pass, that as he had served the Lord with a simple and +pure mind, and quiet devotion, so he now departed to behold His Presence, +leaving the world by a quiet death; and that tongue, which had uttered so +many wholesome words in praise of the Creator, spake its last words also +in His praise, while he signed himself with the Cross, and commended his +spirit into His hands; and by what has been here said, he seems to have +had foreknowledge of his death. + + + + +Chap. XXV. Of the vision that appeared to a certain man of God before the +monastery of the city Coludi was burned down. + + +At this time, the monastery of virgins, called the city of Coludi,(714) +above-mentioned, was burned down, through carelessness; and yet all that +knew it might have been aware that it happened by reason of the wickedness +of those who dwelt in it, and chiefly of those who seemed to be the +greatest. But there wanted not a warning of the approaching punishment +from the Divine mercy whereby they might have been led to amend their +ways, and by fasting and tears and prayers, like the Ninevites, have +averted the anger of the just Judge. + +For there was in that monastery a man of the Scottish race, called +Adamnan,(715) leading a life entirely devoted to God in continence and +prayer, insomuch that he never took any food or drink, except only on +Sundays and Thursdays; and often spent whole nights in watching and +prayer. This strictness in austerity of life he had first adopted from the +necessity of correcting the evil that was in him; but in process of time +the necessity became a custom. + +For in his youth he had been guilty of some sin for which, when he came to +himself, he conceived a great horror, and dreaded lest he should be +punished for the same by the righteous Judge. Betaking himself, therefore, +to a priest, who, he hoped, might show him the way of salvation, he +confessed his guilt, and desired to be advised how he might escape the +wrath to come. The priest having heard his offence, said, "A great wound +requires greater care in the healing thereof; wherefore give yourself as +far as you are able to fasting and psalms, and prayer, to the end that +thus coming before the presence of the Lord in confession,"(716) you may +find Him merciful. But he, being oppressed with great grief by reason of +his guilty conscience, and desiring to be the sooner loosed from the +inward fetters of sin, which lay heavy upon him, answered, "I am still +young in years and strong of body, and shall, therefore, easily bear all +whatsoever you shall enjoin me to do, if so be that I may be saved in the +day of the Lord, even though you should bid me spend the whole night +standing in prayer, and pass the whole week in abstinence." The priest +replied, "It is much for you to continue for a whole week without bodily +sustenance; it is enough to observe a fast for two or three days; do this +till I come again to you in a short time, when I will more fully show you +what you ought to do, and how long to persevere in your penance." Having +so said, and prescribed the measure of his penance, the priest went away, +and upon some sudden occasion passed over into Ireland, which was his +native country, and returned no more to him, as he had appointed. But the +man remembering this injunction and his own promise, gave himself up +entirely to tears of penitence, holy vigils and continence; so that he +only took food on Thursdays and Sundays, as has been said; and continued +fasting all the other days of the week. When he heard that his priest had +gone to Ireland, and had died there, he ever after observed this manner of +abstinence, which had been appointed for him as we have said; and as he +had begun that course through the fear of God, in penitence for his guilt, +so he still continued the same unremittingly for the love of God, and +through delight in its rewards. + +Having practised this carefully for a long time, it happened that he had +gone on a certain day to a distance from the monastery, accompanied by one +the brothers; and as they were returning from this journey, when they drew +near to the monastery, and beheld its lofty buildings, the man of God +burst into tears, and his countenance discovered the trouble of his heart. +His companion, perceiving it, asked what was the reason, to which he +answered: "The time is at hand when a devouring fire shall reduce to ashes +all the buildings which you here behold, both public and private." The +other, hearing these words, when they presently came into the monastery, +told them to Aebba,(717) the mother of the community. She with good cause +being much troubled at that prediction, called the man to her, and +straitly questioned him concerning the matter and how he came to know it. +He answered, "Being engaged one night lately in watching and singing +psalms, on a sudden I saw one standing by me whose countenance I did not +know, and I was startled at his presence, but he bade me not to fear, and +speaking to me like a friend he said, 'You do well in that you have chosen +rather at this time of rest not to give yourself up to sleep, but to +continue in watching and prayer.' I answered, 'I know I have great need to +continue in wholesome watching and earnest prayer to the Lord to pardon my +transgressions.' He replied, 'You speak truly, for you and many more have +need to redeem their sins by good works, and when they cease from temporal +labours, then to labour the more eagerly for desire of eternal blessings; +but this very few do; for I, having now gone through all this monastery in +order, have looked into the huts(718) and beds of all, and found none of +them except yourself busy about the health of his soul; but all of them, +both men and women, are either sunk in slothful sleep, or are awake in +order to commit sin; for even the cells that were built for prayer or +reading, are now converted into places of feasting, drinking, talking, and +other delights; the very virgins dedicated to God, laying aside the +respect due to their profession, whensoever they are at leisure, apply +themselves to weaving fine garments, wherewith to adorn themselves like +brides, to the danger of their state, or to gain the friendship of strange +men; for which reason, as is meet, a heavy judgement from Heaven with +raging fire is ready to fall on this place and those that dwell +therein.' " The abbess said, "Why did you not sooner reveal to me what you +knew?" He answered, "I was afraid to do it, out of respect to you, lest +you should be too much afflicted; yet you may have this comfort, that the +blow will not fall in your days." This vision being made known, the +inhabitants of that place were for a few days in some little fear, and +leaving off their sins, began to do penance; but after the death of the +abbess they returned to their former defilement, nay, they committed worse +sins; and when they said "Peace and safety," the doom of the aforesaid +judgement came suddenly upon them. + +That all this fell out after this manner, was told me by my most reverend +fellow-priest, Aedgils, who then lived in that monastery. Afterwards, when +many of the inhabitants had departed thence, on account of the +destruction, he lived a long time in our monastery,(719) and died there. +We have thought fit to insert this in our History, to admonish the reader +of the works of the Lord, how terrible He is in His doing toward the +children of men, lest haply we should at some time or other yield to the +snares of the flesh, and dreading too little the judgement of God, fall +under His sudden wrath, and either in His righteous anger be brought low +with temporal losses, or else be more strictly tried and snatched away to +eternal perdition. + + + + +Chap. XXVI. Of the death of the Kings Egfrid and Hlothere. [684-685 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 684, Egfrid, king of the Northumbrians, sending +his general, Berct,(720) with an army into Ireland, miserably laid waste +that unoffending nation, which had always been most friendly to the +English; insomuch that the invading force spared not even the churches or +monasteries. But the islanders, while to the utmost of their power they +repelled force with force, implored the assistance of the Divine mercy, +and with constant imprecations invoked the vengeance of Heaven; and though +such as curse cannot inherit the kingdom of God, yet it was believed, that +those who were justly cursed on account of their impiety, soon suffered +the penalty of their guilt at the avenging hand of God. For the very next +year, when that same king had rashly led his army to ravage the province +of the Picts,(721) greatly against the advice of his friends, and +particularly of Cuthbert,(722) of blessed memory, who had been lately +ordained bishop, the enemy made a feigned retreat, and the king was drawn +into a narrow pass among remote mountains,(723) and slain, with the +greater part of the forces he had led thither, on the 20th of May, in the +fortieth year of his age, and the fifteenth of his reign.(724) His +friends, as has been said, advised him not to engage in this war; but +since he had the year before refused to listen to the most reverend +father, Egbert,(725) advising him not to attack the Scots, who were doing +him no harm, it was laid upon him as a punishment for his sin, that he +should now not listen to those who would have prevented his death. + +From that time the hopes and strength of the Anglian kingdom "began to ebb +and fall away;"(726) for the Picts recovered their own lands, which had +been held by the English, and so did also the Scots that were in Britain; +and some of the Britons(727) regained their liberty, which they have now +enjoyed for about forty-six years. Among the many English that then either +fell by the sword, or were made slaves, or escaped by flight out of the +country of the Picts, the most reverend man of God, Trumwine,(728) who had +been made bishop over them, withdrew with his people that were in the +monastery of Aebbercurnig,(729) in the country of the English, but close +by the arm of the sea which is the boundary between the lands of the +English and the Picts. Having commended his followers, wheresoever he +could, to his friends in the monasteries, he chose his own place of abode +in the monastery, which we have so often mentioned, of servants and +handmaids of God, at Streanaeshalch;(730) and there for many years, with a +few of his own brethren, he led a life in all monastic austerity, not only +to his own benefit, but to the benefit of many others, and dying there, he +was buried in the church of the blessed Peter the Apostle,(731) with the +honour due to his life and rank. The royal virgin, Elfled,(732) with her +mother, Eanfled, whom we have mentioned before, then presided over that +monastery; but when the bishop came thither, that devout teacher found in +him the greatest help in governing, and comfort in her private life. +Aldfrid(733) succeeded Egfrid in the throne, being a man most learned in +the Scriptures, said to be brother to Egfrid, and son to King Oswy; he +nobly retrieved the ruined state of the kingdom, though within narrower +bounds. + +The same year, being the 685th from the Incarnation of our Lord, +Hlothere,(734) king of Kent, died on the 6th of February, when he had +reigned twelve years after his brother Egbert,(735) who had reigned nine +years: he was wounded in battle with the South Saxons, whom Edric,(736) +the son of Egbert, had raised against him, and died whilst his wound was +being dressed. After him, this same Edric reigned a year and a half. On +his death, kings of doubtful title, or of foreign origin,(737) for some +time wasted the kingdom, till the lawful king, Wictred,(738) the son of +Egbert, being settled in the throne, by his piety and zeal delivered his +nation from foreign invasion. + + + + +Chap. XXVII. How Cuthbert, a man of God, was made bishop; and how he lived +and taught whilst still in the monastic life. [685 A.D.] + + +In the same year in which King Egfrid departed this life,(739) he, as has +been said, caused the holy and venerable Cuthbert(740) to be ordained +bishop of the church of Lindisfarne. He had for many years led a solitary +life, in great continence of body and mind, in a very small island, called +Farne,(741) in the ocean about nine miles distant from that same church. +From his earliest childhood(742) he had always been inflamed with the +desire of a religious life; and he adopted the name and habit of a monk +when he was quite a young man: he first entered the monastery of +Mailros,(743) which is on the bank of the river Tweed, and was then +governed by the Abbot Eata,(744) a man of great gentleness and simplicity, +who was afterward made bishop of the church of Hagustald or +Lindisfarne,(745) as has been said above. The provost of the monastery at +that time was Boisil,(746) a priest of great virtue and of a prophetic +spirit. Cuthbert, humbly submitting himself to this man's direction, from +him received both a knowledge of the Scriptures, and an example of good +works. + +After he had departed to the Lord, Cuthbert became provost of that +monastery, where he instructed many in the rule of monastic life, both by +the authority of a master, and the example of his own behaviour. Nor did +he bestow his teaching and his example in the monastic life on his +monastery alone, but laboured far and wide to convert the people dwelling +round about from the life of foolish custom, to the love of heavenly joys; +for many profaned the faith which they held by their wicked actions; and +some also, in the time of a pestilence, neglecting the mysteries of the +faith which they had received, had recourse to the false remedies of +idolatry, as if they could have put a stop to the plague sent from God, by +incantations, amulets, or any other secrets of the Devil's art. In order +to correct the error of both sorts, he often went forth from the +monastery, sometimes on horseback, but oftener on foot, and went to the +neighbouring townships, where he preached the way of truth to such as had +gone astray; which Boisil also in his time had been wont to do. It was +then the custom of the English people, that when a clerk or priest came to +a township, they all, at his summons, flocked together to hear the Word; +willingly heard what was said, and still more willingly practised those +things that they could hear and understand. And such was Cuthbert's skill +in speaking, so keen his desire to persuade men of what he taught, such a +light shone in his angelic face, that no man present dared to conceal from +him the secrets of his heart, but all openly revealed in confession what +they had done, thinking doubtless that their guilt could in nowise be +hidden from him; and having confessed their sins, they wiped them out by +fruits worthy of repentance, as he bade them. He was wont chiefly to +resort to those places and preach in those villages which were situated +afar off amid steep and wild mountains, so that others dreaded to go +thither, and whereof the poverty and barbarity rendered them inaccessible +to other teachers. But he, devoting himself entirely to that pious labour, +so industriously ministered to them with his wise teaching, that when he +went forth from the monastery, he would often stay a whole week, sometimes +two or three, or even sometimes a full month, before he returned home, +continuing among the hill folk to call that simple people by his preaching +and good works to the things of Heaven. + +This venerable servant of the Lord, having thus spent many years in the +monastery of Mailros, and there become conspicuous by great tokens of +virtue, his most reverend abbot, Eata, removed him to the isle of +Lindisfarne, that he might there also, by his authority as provost and by +the example of his own practice, instruct the brethren in the observance +of regular discipline; for the same reverend father then governed that +place also as abbot. From ancient times, the bishop was wont to reside +there with his clergy, and the abbot with his monks, who were likewise +under the paternal care of the bishop; because Aidan, who was the first +bishop of the place, being himself a monk, brought monks thither, and +settled the monastic institution there;(747) as the blessed Father +Augustine is known to have done before in Kent, when the most reverend +Pope Gregory wrote to him, as has been said above, to this effect: "But in +that you, my brother, having been instructed in monastic rules, must not +live apart from your clergy in the Church of the English, which has been +lately, by the will of God, converted to the faith, you must establish the +manner of conversation of our fathers in the primitive Church, among whom, +none said that aught of the things which they possessed was his own; but +they had all things common."(748) + + + + +Chap. XXVIII. How the same St. Cuthbert, living the life of an Anchorite, +by his prayers obtained a spring in a dry soil, and had a crop from seed +sown by the labour of his hands out of season. [676 A.D.] + + +After this, Cuthbert, as he grew in goodness and intensity of devotion, +attained also to a hermit's life of contemplation in silence and solitude, +as we have mentioned. But forasmuch as many years ago we wrote enough +concerning his life and virtues, both in heroic verse and prose,(749) it +may suffice at present only to mention this, that when he was about to go +to the island, he declared to the brothers, "If by the grace of God it +shall be granted to me, that I may live in that place by the labour of my +hands, I will willingly abide there; but if not, God willing, I will very +soon return to you." The place was quite destitute of water, corn, and +trees; and being infested by evil spirits, was very ill suited for human +habitation; but it became in all respects habitable, at the desire of the +man of God; for at his coming the wicked spirits departed. When, after +expelling the enemy, he had, with the help of the brethren, built himself +a narrow dwelling, with a mound about it, and the necessary cells in it, +to wit, an oratory and a common living room, he ordered the brothers to +dig a pit in the floor of the room, although the ground was hard and +stony, and no hopes appeared of any spring. When they had done this +relying upon the faith and prayers of the servant of God, the next day it +was found to be full of water, and to this day affords abundance of its +heavenly bounty to all that resort thither. He also desired that +instruments for husbandry might be brought him, and some wheat; but having +prepared the ground and sown the wheat at the proper season, no sign of a +blade, not to speak of ears, had sprouted from it by the summer. Hereupon, +when the brethren visited him according to custom, he ordered barley to be +brought him, if haply it were either the nature of the soil, or the will +of God, the Giver of all things, that such grain rather should grow there. +He sowed it in the same field, when it was brought him, after the proper +time of sowing, and therefore without any likelihood of its bearing fruit; +but a plentiful crop immediately sprang up, and afforded the man of God +the means which he had desired of supporting himself by his own labour. + +When he had here served God in solitude many years, the mound which +encompassed his dwelling being so high, that he could see nothing from it +but heaven, which he thirsted to enter, it happened that a great synod was +assembled in the presence of King Egfrid, near the river Alne, at a place +called Adtuifyrdi,(750) which signifies "at the two fords," in which +Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory, presided, and there Cuthbert was, +with one mind and consent of all, chosen bishop of the church of +Lindisfarne. They could not, however, draw him from his hermitage, though +many messengers and letters were sent to him. At last the aforesaid king +himself, with the most holy Bishop Trumwine,(751) and other religious and +powerful men, sailed to the island; many also of the brothers from the +isle of Lindisfarne itself, assembled together for the same purpose: they +all knelt, and conjured him by the Lord, with tears and entreaties, till +they drew him, also in tears, from his beloved retreat, and forced him to +go to the synod. When he arrived there, he was very reluctantly overcome +by the unanimous resolution of all present, and compelled to take upon +himself the duties of the episcopate; being chiefly prevailed upon by the +words of Boisil, the servant of God, who, when he had prophetically(752) +foretold all things that were to befall him, had also predicted that he +should be a bishop. Nevertheless, the consecration was not appointed +immediately; but when the winter, which was then at hand, was over, it was +carried out at Easter,(753) in the city of York, and in the presence of +the aforesaid King Egfrid; seven bishops coming together for his +consecration, among whom, Theodore, of blessed memory, was Primate. He was +first elected bishop of the church of Hagustald, in the place of +Tunbert,(754) who had been deposed from the episcopate; but because he +chose rather to be placed over the church of Lindisfarne, in which he had +lived, it was thought fit that Eata should return to the see of the church +of Hagustald, to which he had been first ordained, and that Cuthbert +should take upon him the government of the church of Lindisfarne.(755) + +Following the example of the blessed Apostles, he adorned the episcopal +dignity by his virtuous deeds; for he both protected the people committed +to his charge by constant prayer, and roused them, by wholesome +admonitions, to thoughts of Heaven. He first showed in his own life what +he taught others to do, a practice which greatly strengthens all teaching; +for he was above all things inflamed with the fire of Divine charity, of +sober mind and patient, most diligently intent on devout prayers, and +kindly to all that came to him for comfort. He thought it stood in the +stead of prayer to afford the weak brethren the help of his exhortation, +knowing that he who said "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God," said +likewise, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour." He was noted for penitential +abstinence, and was always through the grace of compunction, intent upon +heavenly things. And when he offered up to God the Sacrifice of the saving +Victim, he commended his prayer to the Lord, not with uplifted voice, but +with tears drawn from the bottom of his heart. + + + + +Chap. XXIX. How this bishop foretold that his own death was at hand to the +anchorite Herebert. [687 A.D.] + + +Having spent two years in his bishopric, he returned to his island and +hermitage,(756) being warned of God that the day of his death, or rather +of his entrance into that life which alone can be called life, was drawing +near; as he, at that time, with his wonted candour, signified to certain +persons, though in words which were somewhat obscure, but which were +nevertheless afterwards plainly understood; while to others he declared +the same openly. + +There was a certain priest, called Herebert, a man of holy life, who had +long been united with the man of God, Cuthbert, in the bonds of spiritual +friendship. This man leading a solitary life in the island of that great +lake from which the river Derwent flows at its beginning,(757) was wont to +visit him every year, and to receive from him the teaching of everlasting +salvation. Hearing that Bishop Cuthbert was come to the city of +Lugubalia,(758) he went thither to him, according to his custom, seeking +to be more and more inflamed in heavenly desires through his wholesome +admonitions. Whilst they alternately entertained one another with draughts +of the celestial life, the bishop, among other things, said, "Brother +Herebert, remember at this time to ask me and speak to me concerning all +whereof you have need to ask and speak; for, when we part, we shall never +again see one another with bodily eyesight in this world. For I know of a +surety that the time of my departure is at hand, and that shortly I must +put off this my tabernacle." Hearing these words, Herebert fell down at +his feet, with tears and lamentations, and said, "I beseech you, by the +Lord, not to forsake me; but to remember your most faithful companion, and +entreat the mercy of God that, as we have served Him together upon earth, +so we may depart together to behold His grace in Heaven. For you know that +I have always endeavoured to live according to the words of your lips, and +likewise whatsoever faults I have committed, either through ignorance or +frailty, I have instantly sought to amend according to the judgement of +your will." The bishop applied himself to prayer, and having presently had +intimation in the spirit that he had obtained what he asked of the Lord, +he said, "Rise, brother, and do not weep, but rejoice greatly because the +mercy of Heaven has granted what we desired." + +The event established the truth of this promise and prophecy, for after +their parting, they never again saw one another in the flesh; but their +spirits quitting their bodies on one and the same day, to wit, the 20th of +March,(759) were immediately united in fellowship in the blessed vision, +and together translated to the heavenly kingdom by the ministry of angels. +But Herebert was first wasted by a long-continued infirmity, through the +dispensation of the Lord's mercy, as may be believed, to the end that if +he was in any wise inferior in merit to the blessed Cuthbert, that which +was lacking might be supplied by the chastening pain of a long sickness, +that being thus made equal in grace to his intercessor, as he departed out +of the body at one and the same time with him, so he might be accounted +worthy to be received into the like abode of eternal bliss. + +The most reverend father died in the isle of Farne, earnestly entreating +the brothers that he might also be buried there, where he had served no +small time under the Lord's banner. But at length yielding to their +entreaties, he consented to be carried back to the isle of Lindisfarne, +and there buried in the church.(760) This being done, the venerable Bishop +Wilfrid held the episcopal see of that church one year,(761) till such +time as a bishop should be chosen to be ordained in the room of Cuthbert. +Afterwards Eadbert(762) was ordained, a man renowned for his knowledge of +the Holy Scriptures, as also for his observance of the heavenly precepts, +and chiefly for almsgiving, so that, according to the law, he gave every +year the tenth part, not only of four-footed beasts, but also of all corn +and fruit, as also of his garments, to the poor. + + + + +Chap. XXX. How his body was found altogether uncorrupted after it had been +buried eleven years; and how his successor in the bishopric departed this +world not long after. [698 A.D.] + + +In order to show forth the great glory of the life after death of the man +of God, Cuthbert, whereas the loftiness of his life before his death had +been revealed by the testimony of many miracles, when he had been buried +eleven years, Divine Providence put it into the minds of the brethren to +take up his bones. They thought to find them dry and all the rest of the +body consumed and turned to dust, after the manner of the dead, and they +desired to put them into a new coffin, and to lay them in the same place, +but above the pavement, for the honour due to him. They made known their +resolve to Bishop Eadbert, and he consented to it, and bade them to be +mindful to do it on the anniversary of his burial. They did so, and +opening the grave, found all the body whole, as if he were still alive, +and the joints of the limbs pliable, like one asleep rather than dead; +besides, all the vestments in which he was clothed were not only +undefiled, but marvellous to behold, being fresh and bright as at the +first. The brothers seeing this, were struck with a great dread, and +hastened to tell the bishop what they had found; he being then alone in a +place remote from the church, and encompassed on all sides by the shifting +waves of the sea. There he always used to spend the time of Lent, and was +wont to pass the forty days before the Nativity of our Lord, in great +devotion with abstinence and prayer and tears. There also his venerable +predecessor, Cuthbert, had for some time served as the soldier of the Lord +in solitude before he went to the isle of Farne. + +They brought him also some part of the garments that had covered the holy +body; which presents he thankfully accepted, and gladly heard of the +miracles, and he kissed the garments even, with great affection, as if +they had been still upon his father's body, and said, "Let new garments be +put upon the body, in place of these you have brought, and so lay it in +the coffin which you have prepared; for I know of a surety that the place +will not long remain empty, which has been hallowed with so great grace of +heavenly miracles; and how happy is he to whom the Lord, the Author and +Giver of all bliss, shall vouchsafe to grant the privilege of resting +therein." When the bishop had made an end of saying this and more in like +manner, with many tears and great compunction and with faltering tongue, +the brothers did as he had commanded them, and when they had wrapped the +body in new garments, and laid it in a new coffin, they placed it above +the pavement of the sanctuary. Soon after, Bishop Eadbert, beloved of God, +fell grievously sick, and his fever daily increasing in severity, ere +long, that is, on the 6th of May,(763) he also departed to the Lord, and +they laid his body in the grave of the blessed father Cuthbert, placing +over it the coffin, with the uncorrupted remains of that father. The +miracles of healing, sometimes wrought in that place testify to the merits +of them both; of some of these we have before preserved the memory in the +book of his life. But in this History we have thought fit to add some +others which have lately come to our knowledge. + + + + +Chap. XXXI. Of one that was cured of a palsy at his tomb. + + +There was in that same monastery a brother whose name was Badudegn, who +had for no small time ministered to the guests of the house, and is still +living, having the testimony of all the brothers and strangers resorting +thither, of being a man of much piety and religion, and serving the office +put upon him only for the sake of the heavenly reward. This man, having +one day washed in the sea the coverings or blankets which he used in the +guest chamber, was returning home, when on the way, he was seized with a +sudden infirmity, insomuch that he fell to the ground, and lay there a +long time and could scarce at last rise again. When he got up, he felt one +half of his body, from the head to the foot, struck with palsy, and with +great trouble made his way home by the help of a staff. The disease +increased by degrees, and as night approached, became still worse, so that +when day returned, he could scarcely rise or walk alone. Suffering from +this trouble, he conceived the wise resolve to go to the church, as best +he could, and approach the tomb of the reverend father Cuthbert, and +there, on his knees, humbly beseech the mercy of God that he might either +be delivered from that disease, if it were well for him, or if by the +grace of God it was ordained for him to be chastened longer by this +affliction, that he might bear the pain which was laid upon him with +patience and a quiet mind. + +He did accordingly as he had determined, and supporting his weak limbs +with a staff, entered the church. There prostrating himself before the +body of the man of God, he prayed with pious earnestness, that, through +his intercession, the Lord might be propitious to him. As he prayed, he +seemed to fall into a deep sleep, and, as he was afterwards wont to +relate, felt a large and broad hand touch his head, where the pain lay, +and likewise pass over all that part of his body which had been benumbed +by the disease, down to his feet. Gradually the pain departed and health +returned. Then he awoke, and rose up in perfect health, and returning +thanks to the Lord for his recovery, told the brothers what had been done +for him; and to the joy of them all, returned the more zealously, as if +chastened by the trial of his affliction, to the service which he was wont +before to perform with care. + +Moreover, the very garments which had been on Cuthbert's body, dedicated +to God, either while he was alive, or after his death, were not without +the virtue of healing, as may be seen in the book of his life and +miracles, by such as shall read it. + + + + +Chap. XXXII. Of one who was lately cured of a disease in his eye at the +relics of St. Cuthbert. + + +Nor is that cure to be passed over in silence, which was performed by his +relics three years ago, and was told me lately by the brother himself, on +whom it was wrought. It happened in the monastery, which, being built near +the river Dacore,(764) has taken its name from the same, over which, at +that time, the religious Suidbert(765) presided as abbot. In that +monastery was a youth whose eyelid was disfigured by an unsightly tumour, +which growing daily greater, threatened the loss of the eye. The +physicians endeavoured to mitigate it by applying ointments, but in vain. +Some said it ought to be cut off; others opposed this course, for fear of +greater danger. The brother having long laboured under this malady, when +no human means availed to save his eye, but rather, it grew daily worse, +on a sudden, through the grace of the mercy of God, it came to pass that +he was cured by the relics of the holy father, Cuthbert. For when the +brethren found his body uncorrupted, after having been many years buried, +they took some part of the hair, to give, as relics, to friends who asked +for them, or to show, in testimony of the miracle. + +One of the priests of the monastery, named Thruidred, who is now abbot +there, had a small part of these relics by him at that time. One day he +went into the church and opened the box of relics, to give some part of +them to a friend who asked for it, and it happened that the youth who had +the diseased eye was then in the church. The priest, having given his +friend as much as he thought fit, gave the rest to the youth to put back +into its place. But he having received the hairs of the holy head, +prompted by some salutary impulse, applied them to the diseased eyelid, +and endeavoured for some time, by the application of them, to abate and +mitigate the tumour. Having done this, he again laid the relics in the +box, as he had been bidden, believing that his eye would soon be cured by +the hairs of the man of God, which had touched it; nor did his faith +disappoint him. It was then, as he is wont to relate, about the second +hour of the day; but while he was occupied with other thoughts and +business of the day, on a sudden, about the sixth hour of the same, +touching his eye, he found it and the eyelid as sound as if there never +had been any disfigurement or tumour on it. + + + + + +BOOK V + + + + +Chap. I. How Ethelwald, successor to Cuthbert, leading a hermit's life, +calmed a tempest by his prayers when the brethren were in danger at sea. +[687-699 A.D.] + + +The venerable Ethelwald(766) succeeded the man of God, Cuthbert, in the +exercise of a solitary life, which he spent in the isle of Farne(767) +before he became a bishop. After he had received the priesthood, he +consecrated his office by deeds worthy of that degree for many years in +the monastery which is called Inhrypum.(768) To the end that his merit and +manner of life may be the more certainly made known, I will relate one +miracle of his, which was told me by one of the brothers for and on whom +the same was wrought; to wit, Guthfrid, the venerable servant and priest +of Christ, who also, afterwards, as abbot, presided over the brethren of +the same church of Lindisfarne, in which he was educated. + +"I came," says he, "to the island of Farne, with two others of the +brethren, desiring to speak with the most reverend father, Ethelwald. +Having been refreshed with his discourse, and asked for his blessing, as +we were returning home, behold on a sudden, when we were in the midst of +the sea, the fair weather in which we were sailing, was broken, and there +arose so great and terrible a tempest, that neither sails nor oars were of +any use to us, nor had we anything to expect but death. After long +struggling with the wind and waves to no effect, at last we looked back to +see whether it was possible by any means at least to return to the island +whence we came, but we found that we were on all sides alike cut off by +the storm, and that there was no hope of escape by our own efforts. But +looking further, we perceived, on the island of Farne, our father +Ethelwald, beloved of God, come out of his retreat to watch our course; +for, hearing the noise of the tempest and raging sea, he had come forth to +see what would become of us. When he beheld us in distress and despair, he +bowed his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in prayer for our +life and safety; and as he finished his prayer, he calmed the swelling +water, in such sort that the fierceness of the storm ceased on all sides, +and fair winds attended us over a smooth sea to the very shore. When we +had landed, and had pulled up our small vessel from the waves, the storm, +which had ceased a short time for our sake, presently returned, and raged +furiously during the whole day; so that it plainly appeared that the brief +interval of calm had been granted by Heaven in answer to the prayers of +the man of God, to the end that we might escape." + +The man of God remained in the isle of Farne twelve years, and died there; +but was buried in the church of the blessed Apostle Peter, in the isle of +Lindisfarne, beside the bodies of the aforesaid bishops.(769) These things +happened in the days of King Aldfrid,(770) who, after his brother Egfrid, +ruled the nation of the Northumbrians for nineteen years. + + + + +Chap. II. How Bishop John cured a dumb man by his blessing. [687 A.D.] + + +In the beginning of Aldfrid's reign, Bishop Eata(771) died, and was +succeeded in the bishopric of the church of Hagustald by the holy man +John,(772) of whom those that knew him well are wont to tell many +miracles, and more particularly Berthun,(773) a man worthy of all +reverence and of undoubted truthfulness, and once his deacon, now abbot of +the monastery called Inderauuda,(774) that is, "In the wood of the Deiri": +some of which miracles we have thought fit to hand on to posterity. There +is a certain remote dwelling(775) enclosed by a mound, among scattered +trees, not far from the church of Hagustald, being about a mile and a half +distant and separated from it by the river Tyne, having an oratory(776) +dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, where the man of God used +frequently, as occasion offered, and specially in Lent, to abide with a +few companions and in quiet give himself to prayer and study. Having come +hither once at the beginning of Lent to stay, he bade his followers find +out some poor man labouring under any grievous infirmity, or want, whom +they might keep with them during those days, to receive alms, for so he +was always used to do. + +There was in a township not far off, a certain youth who was dumb, known +to the bishop, for he often used to come into his presence to receive +alms. He had never been able to speak one word; besides, he had so much +scurf and scab on his head, that no hair could ever grow on the top of it, +but only some rough hairs stood on end round about it. The bishop caused +this young man to be brought, and a little hut to be made for him within +the enclosure of the dwelling, in which he might abide, and receive alms +from him every day. When one week of Lent was over, the next Sunday he +bade the poor man come to him, and when he had come, he bade him put his +tongue out of his mouth and show it him; then taking him by the chin, he +made the sign of the Holy Cross on his tongue, directing him to draw it +back so signed into his mouth and to speak. "Pronounce some word," said +he; "say 'gae,' " which, in the language of the English, is the word of +affirming and consenting, that is, yes. The youth's tongue was immediately +loosed, and he spoke as he was bidden. The bishop then added the names of +the letters: "Say A." He said A. "Say B;" he said B also. When he had +repeated all the letters after the bishop, the latter proceeded to put +syllables and words to him, and when he had repeated them all rightly he +bade him utter whole sentences, and he did it. Nor did he cease all that +day and the next night, as long as he could keep awake, as those who were +present relate, to say something, and to express his private thoughts and +wishes to others, which he could never do before; after the manner of the +man long lame, who, when he was healed by the Apostles Peter and +John,(777) leaping up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the +temple, walking, and leaping, and praising the Lord, rejoicing to have the +use of his feet, which he had so long lacked. The bishop, rejoicing with +him at his cure, caused the physician to take in hand the healing of the +sores of his head. He did as he was bidden, and with the help of the +bishop's blessing and prayers, a goodly head of hair grew as the skin was +healed. Thus the youth became fair of countenance, ready of speech, with +hair curling in comely fashion, whereas before he had been ill-favoured, +miserable, and dumb. Thus filled with joy at his recovered health, +notwithstanding that the bishop offered to keep him in his own household, +he chose rather to return home. + + + + +Chap. III. How he healed a sick maiden by his prayers. [705 A.D.] + + +The same Berthun told another miracle concerning the said bishop. When the +most reverend Wilfrid, after a long banishment, was admitted to the +bishopric of the church of Hagustald,(778) and the aforesaid John, upon +the death of Bosa,(779) a man of great sanctity and humility, was, in his +place, appointed bishop of York, he himself came, once upon a time, to the +monastery of nuns, at the place called Wetadun,(780) where the Abbess +Heriburg then presided. "When we were come thither," said he, "and had +been received with great and universal joy, the abbess told us, that one +of the nuns, who was her own daughter after the flesh, laboured under a +grievous sickness, for she had been lately let blood in the arm, and +whilst she was under treatment,(781) was seized with an attack of sudden +pain, which speedily increased, while the wounded arm became worse, and so +much swollen, that it could scarce be compassed with both hands; and she +lay in bed like to die through excess of pain. Wherefore the abbess +entreated the bishop that he would vouchsafe to go in and give her his +blessing; for she believed that she would soon be better if he blessed her +or laid his hands upon her. He asked when the maiden had been let blood, +and being told that it was on the fourth day of the moon, said, 'You did +very indiscreetly and unskilfully to let blood on the fourth day of the +moon; for I remember that Archbishop Theodore,(782) of blessed memory, +said, that blood-letting at that time was very dangerous, when the light +of the moon is waxing and the tide of the ocean is rising. And what can I +do for the maiden if she is like to die?' + +"But the abbess still earnestly entreated for her daughter, whom she +dearly loved, and designed to make abbess in her stead,(783) and at last +prevailed with him to go in and visit the sick maiden. Wherefore he went +in, taking me with him to the maid, who lay, as I said, in sore anguish, +and her arm swelling so greatly that it could not be bent at all at the +elbow; and he stood and said a prayer over her, and having given his +blessing, went out. Afterwards, as we were sitting at table, at the usual +hour, some one came in and called me out, saying, 'Quoenburg' (that was +the maid's name) 'desires that you should immediately go back to her.' +This I did, and entering the chamber, I found her of more cheerful +countenance, and like one in good health. And while I was sitting beside +her, she said, 'Shall we call for something to drink?'--'Yes,' said I, 'and +right glad am I, if you can.' When the cup was brought, and we had both +drunk, she said, 'As soon as the bishop had said the prayer for me and +given me his blessing and had gone out, I immediately began to mend; and +though I have not yet recovered my former strength, yet all the pain is +quite gone both from my arm, where it was most burning, and from all my +body, as if the bishop had carried it away with him; notwithstanding the +swelling of the arm still seems to remain.' But when we departed thence, +the cure of the pain in her limbs was followed by the assuaging of the +grievous swelling; and the maiden being thus delivered from pains and +death, returned praise to our Lord and Saviour, in company with His other +servants who were there." + + + + +Chap. IV. How he healed a thegn's wife that was sick, with holy water. + + +The same abbot related another miracle, not unlike the former, of the +aforesaid bishop. "Not very far from our monastery," he said, "to wit, +about two miles off, was the township(784) of one Puch, a thegn, whose +wife had lain sick of a very grievous disease for nearly forty days, +insomuch that for three weeks she could not be carried out of the chamber +where she lay. It happened that the man of God was, at that time, called +thither by the thegn to consecrate a church; and when that was done, the +thegn desired him to come into his house and dine. The bishop declined, +saying that he must return to the monastery, which was very near. The +thegn, entreating him more earnestly, vowed he would also give alms to the +poor, if so be that the bishop would vouchsafe to enter his house that day +and break his fast. I joined my entreaties to his, promising in like +manner to give alms for the relief of the poor,(785) if he would but go +and dine at the thegn's house, and give his blessing. Having at length, +with much difficulty, prevailed, we went in to refresh ourselves. The +bishop had sent to the woman that lay sick some of the holy water, which +he had blessed for the consecration of the church, by one of the brothers +who had come with me, ordering him to give her some to drink, and wash +that part of her where he found that her pain was greatest, with some of +the same water. This being done, the woman immediately got up whole and +sound, and perceiving that she had not only been delivered from her long +sickness, but at the same time had recovered the strength which she had +lost for so great a time, she presented the cup to the bishop and to us, +and continued serving us with meat and drink as she had begun, till dinner +was over; following the example of the blessed Peter's wife's mother, who, +having been sick of a fever, arose at the touch of our Lord's hand, and +having forthwith received health and strength, ministered to them."(786) + + + + +Chap. V. How he likewise recalled by his prayers a thegn's servant from +death. + + +At another time also, being called to consecrate the church(787) of a +thegn named Addi, when he had performed the required duty, he was +entreated by the thegn to go in to one of his servants, who lay +dangerously ill, insomuch that having lost all use of his limbs, he seemed +to be at the point of death; and moreover the coffin had been made ready +wherein to bury him after his death. The thegn urged his entreaties with +tears, earnestly beseeching him that he would go in and pray for the +servant, because his life was of great moment to him; and he believed that +if the bishop would lay his hand upon him and give him his blessing, he +would soon mend. So the bishop went in, and saw him very near death, and +by his side the coffin in which he was to be laid for his burial, whilst +all mourned. He said a prayer and blessed him, and going out, spake the +wonted words of comfort, "Good health be yours and that speedily." +Afterwards, when they were sitting at table, the servant sent to his lord, +desiring that he would let him have a cup of wine, because he was thirsty. +The thegn, rejoicing greatly that he could drink, sent him a cup of wine, +blessed by the bishop; and, as soon as he had drunk it, he immediately got +up, and, shaking off the heaviness of his infirmity, dressed himself and +went forth, and going in to the bishop, saluted him and the other guests, +saying that he also would gladly eat and drink with them. They bade him +sit down with them at table, greatly rejoicing at his recovery. He sat +down, ate and drank and made merry, and behaved himself like the rest of +the company; and living many years after, continued in the same health +which he had gained. The aforesaid abbot says this miracle was not wrought +in his presence, but that he had it from those who were present. + + + + +Chap. VI. How, both by his prayers and blessing, he recalled from death +one of his clerks, who had bruised himself by a fall. + + +Nor do I think that this miracle, which Herebald,(788) the servant of +Christ, says was wrought upon himself by the bishop, is to be passed over +in silence. He was then one of that bishop's clergy, but now presides as +abbot in the monastery at the mouth of the river Tyne.(789) "Living with +him," said he, "and being very well acquainted with his course of life, I +found it to be in all points worthy of a bishop, as far as it is lawful +for men to judge; but I have known by the experience of others, and more +particularly by my own, how great his merit was before Him Who seeth the +heart; having been by his prayer and blessing recalled from the threshold +of death and brought back to the way of life. For, when in the prime of my +youth, I lived among his clergy, applying myself to reading and singing, +but not having yet altogether withdrawn my heart from youthful pleasures, +it happened one day that, as we were travelling with him, we came into a +plain and open road, well fitted for galloping. The young men that were +with him, and especially the laymen, began to entreat the bishop to give +them leave to gallop, and make trial of their horses one with another. He +at first refused, saying that it was an idle request; but at last, +overcome by the unanimous desire of so many, 'Do so,' said he, 'if you +will, but let Herebald have no part in the trial.' Then I earnestly prayed +that I might have leave to compete with the rest, for I relied on an +excellent horse, which he had himself given me, but I could in no wise +obtain my request. + +"When they had several times galloped backwards and forwards, the bishop +and I looking on, my wanton humour prevailed, and I could no longer +refrain, but though he forbade me, I struck in among them at their sport, +and began to ride with them at full speed; whereat I heard him call after +me with a groan, 'Alas! how much you grieve me by riding after that +manner.' Though I heard him, I went on against his command; but +immediately the fiery horse taking a great leap over a hollow place in the +way, I fell, and at once lost all sense and motion, like one dying; for +there was in that place a stone, level with the ground, covered with only +a thin coating of turf, and no other stone was to be found in all that +expanse of plain; and it happened by chance, or rather by Divine +Providence so ordering it, to punish my disobedience, that my head and my +hand, which in falling I had put under my head, struck upon that stone, so +that my thumb was broken and my skull fractured, and I became, as I said, +like one dead. + +"And because I could not move, they stretched a tent there for me to lie +in. It was about the seventh hour of the day, and having lain still and as +it were dead from that time till the evening, I then revived a little, and +was carried home by my companions, and lay speechless all the night, +vomiting blood, because something was broken within me by the fall. The +bishop was very much grieved at my fall and my misfortune, for he bore me +extraordinary affection. Nor would he stay that night, as he was wont, +among his clergy; but spent it alone in watching and prayer, imploring the +Divine goodness, as I suppose, for my preservation. Coming to me early in +the morning, and having said a prayer over me, he called me by my name, +and when I awoke as it were out of a heavy sleep, he asked whether I knew +who it was that spoke to me? I opened my eyes and said, 'Yes; you are my +beloved bishop.'--'Can you live?' said he. I answered, 'I can, through your +prayers, if the Lord will.' + +"He then laid his hand on my head, with the words of blessing, and +returned to prayer; when he came again to see me, in a short time, he +found me sitting and able to talk; and, being moved by Divine inspiration, +as it soon appeared, began to ask me, whether I knew for certain that I +had been baptized? I answered that I knew beyond all doubt that I had been +washed in the font of salvation, for the remission of sins, and I named +the priest by whom I knew that I had been baptized. He replied, 'If you +were baptized by that priest, your baptism is not perfect; for I know him, +and that when he was ordained priest, he could in no wise, by reason of +the dulness of his understanding, learn the ministry of catechizing and +baptizing; for which reason I enjoined upon him altogether to desist from +presuming to exercise that ministry, which he could not duly perform.' +This said, he set himself to catechize me that same hour; and it came to +pass that when he breathed on my face,(790) straightway I felt better. He +called the surgeon and ordered him to set and bind up my skull where it +was fractured; and presently having received his blessing, I was so much +better that I mounted on horseback the next day, and travelled with him to +another place; and being soon after perfectly recovered, I was washed in +the water of life." + +He continued in his bishopric thirty-three years,(791) and then ascending +to the heavenly kingdom, was buried in St. Peter's Chapel, in his own +monastery, which is called, "In the wood of the Deiri,"(792) in the year +of our Lord 721. For having, by his great age, become unable to govern his +bishopric, he ordained Wilfrid,(793) his priest, bishop of the church of +York, and retired to the aforesaid monastery, and there ended his days in +godly conversation. + + + + +Chap. VII. How Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome to be +baptized; and his successor Ini, also devoutly journeyed to the same +threshold of the holy Apostles. [688 A.D.] + + +In the third year of the reign of Aldfrid,(794) Caedwalla, king of the +West Saxons, having most vigorously governed his nation for two years, +quitted his crown for the sake of the Lord and an everlasting kingdom, and +went to Rome, being desirous to obtain the peculiar honour of being +cleansed in the baptismal font at the threshold of the blessed Apostles, +for he had learned that in Baptism alone the entrance into the heavenly +life is opened to mankind; and he hoped at the same time, that being made +clean by Baptism, he should soon be freed from the bonds of the flesh and +pass to the eternal joys of Heaven; both which things, by the help of the +Lord, came to pass according as he had conceived in his mind. For coming +to Rome, at the time that Sergius(795) was pope, he was baptized on the +Holy Saturday before Easter Day,(796) in the year of our Lord 689, and +being still in his white garments,(797) he fell sick, and was set free +from the bonds of the flesh on the 20th of April, and obtained an entrance +into the kingdom of the blessed in Heaven. At his baptism, the aforesaid +pope had given him the name of Peter, to the end, that he might be also +united in name to the most blessed chief of the Apostles, to whose most +holy body his pious love had led him from the utmost bounds of the earth. +He was likewise buried in his church, and by the pope's command an +epitaph(798) was written on his tomb, wherein the memory of his devotion +might be preserved for ever, and the readers or hearers thereof might be +stirred up to give themselves to religion by the example of what he had +done. + +The epitaph was this:-- + +"High estate, wealth, offspring, a mighty kingdom, triumphs, spoils, +chieftains, strongholds, the camp, a home; whatsoever the valour of his +sires, whatsoever himself had won, Caedwal, mighty in war, left for the +love of God, that, a pilgrim king, he might behold Peter and Peter's seat, +receive at his font pure waters of life, and in bright draughts drink of +the shining radiance whence a quickening glory streams through all the +world. And even as he gained with eager soul the prize of the new life, he +laid aside barbaric rage, and, changed in heart, he changed his name with +joy. Sergius the Pope bade him be called Peter, himself his father,(799) +when he rose born anew from the font, and the grace of Christ, cleansing +him, bore him forthwith clothed in white raiment to the heights of Heaven. +O wondrous faith of the king, but greatest of all the mercy of Christ, +into whose counsels none may enter! For he came in safety from the ends of +the earth, even from Britain, through many a nation, over many a sea, by +many a path, and saw the city of Romulus and looked upon Peter's sanctuary +revered, bearing mystic gifts. He shall walk in white among the sheep of +Christ in fellowship with them; for his body is in the tomb, but his soul +on high. Thou mightest deem he did but change an earthly for a heavenly +sceptre, whom thou seest attain to the kingdom of Christ." + +"Here was buried Caedwalla, called also Peter, king of the Saxons, on the +twentieth day of April, in the second indiction, aged about thirty years, +in the reign of our most pious lord, the Emperor Justinian,(800) in the +fourth year of his consulship, in the second year of the pontificate of +our Apostolic lord, Pope Sergius." + +When Caedwalla went to Rome, Ini(801) succeeded to the kingdom, being of +the blood royal; and having reigned thirty-seven years over that nation, +he in like manner left his kingdom and committed it to younger men, and +went away to the threshold of the blessed Apostles, at the time when +Gregory(802) was pope, being desirous to spend some part of his pilgrimage +upon earth in the neighbourhood of the holy places, that he might obtain +to be more readily received into the fellowship of the saints in heaven. +This same thing, about that time, was wont to be done most zealously by +many of the English nation, nobles and commons, laity and clergy, men and +women. + + + + +Chap. VIII. How, when Archbishop Theodore died, Bertwald succeeded him as +archbishop, and, among many others whom he ordained, he made the learned +Tobias bishop of the church of Rochester. [690 A.D.] + + +The year after that in which Caedwalla died at Rome, that is, 690 after +the Incarnation of our Lord, Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory, +departed this life, being old and full of days, for he was eighty-eight +years of age; which number of years he had been wont long before to +foretell to his friends that he should live, the same having been revealed +to him in a dream. He held the bishopric twenty-two years,(803) and was +buried in St. Peter's church,(804) where all the bodies of the bishops of +Canterbury are buried. Of whom, as well as of his fellows of the same +degree, it may rightly and truly be said, that their bodies are buried in +peace, and their names shall live to all generations. For to say all in +few words, the English Churches gained more spiritual increase while he +was archbishop, than ever before. His character, life, age, and death, are +plainly and manifestly described to all that resort thither, by the +epitaph on his tomb, in thirty-four heroic verses.(805) The first whereof +are these: + +"Here in the tomb rests the body of the holy prelate, called now in the +Greek tongue Theodore. Chief pontiff, blest high priest, pure doctrine he +set forth to his disciples." + +The last are as follow: + +"For September had reached its nineteenth day, when his spirit went forth +from the prison-bars of the flesh. Mounting in bliss to the gracious +fellowship of the new life, he was united to the angelic citizens in the +heights of Heaven." + +Bertwald(806) succeeded Theodore in the archbishopric, being abbot of the +monastery called Racuulfe,(807) which stands at the northern mouth of the +river Genlade.(808) He was a man learned in the Scriptures, and perfectly +instructed in ecclesiastical and monastic teaching, yet in no wise to be +compared to his predecessor. He was chosen bishop in the year of our Lord +692,(809) on the first day of July, when Wictred and Suaebhard were kings +in Kent;(810) but he was ordained the next year, on Sunday the 29th of +June, by Godwin, metropolitan bishop of Gaul,(811) and was enthroned on +Sunday the 31st of August. Among the many bishops whom he ordained was +Tobias,(812) a man instructed in the Latin, Greek, and Saxon tongues, and +otherwise of manifold learning, whom he consecrated in the stead of +Gedmund, bishop of the Church of Rochester, who had died. + + + + +Chap. IX. How the holy man, Egbert, would have gone into Germany to +preach, but could not; and how Wictbert went, but because he availed +nothing, returned into Ireland, whence he came. [Circ. 688 A.D.] + + +At that time the venerable servant of Christ, and priest, Egbert,(813) who +is to be named with all honour, and who, as was said before, lived as a +stranger and pilgrim in Ireland to obtain hereafter a country in heaven, +purposed in his mind to profit many, taking upon him the work of an +apostle, and, by preaching the Gospel, to bring the Word of God to some of +those nations that had not yet heard it; many of which tribes he knew to +be in Germany, from whom the Angles or Saxons, who now inhabit Britain, +are known to have derived their race and origin; for which reason they are +still corruptly called "Garmans"(814) by the neighbouring nation of the +Britons. Such are the Frisians, the Rugini, the Danes, the Huns, the Old +Saxons, and the Boructuari.(815) There are also in the same parts many +other peoples still enslaved to pagan rites, to whom the aforesaid soldier +of Christ determined to go, sailing round Britain, if haply he could +deliver any of them from Satan, and bring them to Christ; or if this might +not be, he was minded to go to Rome, to see and adore the thresholds of +the holy Apostles and martyrs of Christ. + +But a revelation from Heaven and the working of God prevented him from +achieving either of these enterprises; for when he had made choice of most +courageous companions, fit to preach the Word, inasmuch as they were +renowned for their good deeds and their learning, and when all things +necessary were provided for the voyage, there came to him on a certain day +early in the morning one of the brethren, who had been a disciple of the +priest, Boisil,(816) beloved of God, and had ministered to him in Britain, +when the said Boisil was provost of the monastery of Mailros,(817) under +the Abbot Eata, as has been said above.(818) This brother told him a +vision which he had seen that night. "When after matins," said he, "I had +laid me down in my bed, and was fallen into a light slumber, Boisil, that +was sometime my master and brought me up in all love, appeared to me, and +asked, whether I knew him? I said, 'Yes, you are Boisil.' He answered, 'I +am come to bring Egbert a message from our Lord and Saviour, which must +nevertheless be delivered to him by you. Tell him, therefore, that he +cannot perform the journey he has undertaken; for it is the will of God +that he should rather go to teach the monasteries of Columba.' "(819) Now +Columba was the first teacher of the Christian faith to the Picts beyond +the mountains northward, and the first founder of the monastery in the +island of Hii, which was for a long time much honoured by many tribes of +the Scots and Picts. The said Columba is now by some called Columcille, +the name being compounded from "Columba" and "Cella."(820) Egbert, having +heard the words of the vision, charged the brother that had told it him, +not to tell it to any other, lest haply it should be a lying vision. But +when he considered the matter secretly with himself, he apprehended that +it was true, yet would not desist from preparing for his voyage which he +purposed to make to teach those nations. + +A few days after the aforesaid brother came again to him, saying that +Boisil had that night again appeared to him in a vision after matins, and +said, "Why did you tell Egbert so negligently and after so lukewarm a +manner that which I enjoined upon you to say? Yet, go now and tell him, +that whether he will or no, he must go to Columba's monasteries, because +their ploughs are not driven straight; and he must bring them back into +the right way." Hearing this, Egbert again charged the brother not to +reveal the same to any man. Though now assured of the vision, he +nevertheless attempted to set forth upon his intended voyage with the +brethren. When they had put aboard all that was requisite for so long a +voyage, and had waited some days for fair winds, there arose one night so +violent a storm, that part of what was on board was lost, and the ship +itself was left lying on its side in the sea. Nevertheless, all that +belonged to Egbert and his companions was saved. Then he, saying, in the +words of the prophet, "For my sake this great tempest is upon you,"(821) +withdrew himself from that undertaking and was content to remain at home. + +But one of his companions, called Wictbert,(822) notable for his contempt +of the world and for his learning and knowledge, for he had lived many +years as a stranger and pilgrim in Ireland, leading a hermit's life in +great perfection, took ship, and arriving in Frisland, preached the Word +of salvation for the space of two whole years to that nation and to its +king, Rathbed;(823) but reaped no fruit of all his great labour among his +barbarous hearers. Returning then to the chosen place of his pilgrimage, +he gave himself up to the Lord in his wonted life of silence, and since he +could not be profitable to strangers by teaching them the faith, he took +care to be the more profitable to his own people by the example of his +virtue. + + + + +Chap. X. How Wilbrord, preaching in Frisland, converted many to Christ; +and how his two companions, the Hewalds, suffered martyrdom. [690 A.D.] + + +When the man of God, Egbert, perceived that neither he himself was +permitted to go and preach to the nations, being withheld for the sake of +some other advantage to the holy Church, whereof he had been forewarned by +a revelation; nor that Wictbert, when he went into those parts, had +availed to do anything; he nevertheless still attempted to send holy and +industrious men to the work of the Word, among whom the most notable was +Wilbrord,(824) a man eminent for his merit and rank as priest. They +arrived there, twelve in number, and turning aside to Pippin,(825) duke of +the Franks, were gladly received by him; and as he had lately subdued the +nearer part of Frisland, and expelled King Rathbed,(826) he sent them +thither to preach, supporting them at the same time with his sovereign +authority, that none might molest them in their preaching, and bestowing +many favours on those who consented to receive the faith. Thus it came to +pass, that with the help of the Divine grace, in a short time they +converted many from idolatry to the faith of Christ. + +Following their example, two other priests of the English nation, who had +long lived as strangers in Ireland, for the sake of the eternal country, +went into the province of the Old Saxons, if haply they could there win +any to Christ by their preaching. They were alike in name as in devotion, +Hewald being the name of both, with this distinction, that, on account of +the different colour of their hair, the one was called Black Hewald and +the other White Hewald.(827) They were both full of religious piety, but +Black Hewald was the more learned of the two in Scripture. When they came +into the province, these men took up their lodging in the guesthouse of a +certain township-reeve, and asked of him that he would conduct them to the +ealdorman(828) who was over him, for that they had a message concerning +matters of importance to communicate to him. For those Old Saxons have no +king, but many ealdormen set over their nation; and when any war is on the +point of breaking out, they cast lots indifferently, and on whomsoever the +lot falls, him they all follow and obey during the time of war; but as +soon as the war is ended, all those ealdormen are again equal in power. So +the reeve received and entertained them in his house some days, promising +to send them to the ealdorman who was over him, as they desired. + +But when the barbarians perceived that they were of another religion,--for +they continually gave themselves to singing of psalms and prayer, and +daily offered up to God the Sacrifice of the saving Victim, having with +them sacred vessels and a consecrated table for an altar,--they began to +grow suspicious of them, lest if they should come into the presence of +their ealdorman, and converse with him, they should turn his heart from +their gods, and convert him to the new religion of the Christian faith; +and thus by degrees all their province should be forced to change its old +worship for a new. Wherefore on a sudden they laid hold of them and put +them to death; and White Hewald they slew outright with the sword; but +they put Black Hewald to lingering torture and tore him limb from limb in +horrible fashion, and they threw their bodies into the Rhine. The +ealdorman, whom they had desired to see, hearing of it, was very angry +that strangers who desired to come to him had not been suffered to come; +and therefore he sent and put to death all those villagers and burned +their village. The aforesaid priests and servants of Christ suffered on +the 3rd of October.(829) + +Miracles from Heaven were not lacking at their martyrdom. For their dead +bodies, having been cast into the river by the pagans, as has been said, +were carried against the stream for the space of almost forty miles, to +the place where their companions were. Moreover, a long ray of light, +reaching up to heaven, shone every night above them wheresoever they +chanced to be, and that too in the sight of the very pagans that had slain +them. Moreover, one of them appeared in a vision by night to one of his +companions, whose name was Tilmon, a man of renown and of noble birth in +this world, who having been a thegn had become a monk, telling him that he +might find their bodies in that place, where he should see rays of light +reaching from heaven to the earth. And so it befell; and their bodies +being found, were buried with the honour due to martyrs; and the day of +their passion or of the finding of their bodies, is celebrated in those +parts with fitting veneration. Finally, Pippin, the most glorious duke of +the Franks, learning these things, caused the bodies to be brought to him, +and buried them with much honour in the church of the city of Cologne, on +the Rhine.(830) And it is said that a spring burst forth in the place +where they were killed, which to this day affords a plentiful stream in +that same place. + + + + +Chap. XI. How the venerable Suidbert in Britain, and Wilbrord at Rome, +were ordained bishops for Frisland. [692 A.D.] + + +At their first coming into Frisland, as soon as Wilbrord found that he had +leave given him by the prince to preach there, he made haste to go to +Rome, where Pope Sergius(831) then presided over the Apostolic see, that +he might undertake the desired work of preaching the Gospel to the +nations, with his licence and blessing; and hoping to receive of him some +relics of the blessed Apostles and martyrs of Christ; to the end, that +when he destroyed the idols,(832) and erected churches in the nation to +which he preached, he might have the relics of saints at hand to put into +them, and having deposited them there, might accordingly dedicate each of +those places to the honour of the saint whose relics they were. He desired +also there to learn or to receive many other things needful for so great a +work. Having obtained his desire in all these matters, he returned to +preach. + +At which time, the brothers who were in Frisland, attending on the +ministry of the Word, chose out of their own number a man of sober life, +and meek of heart, called Suidbert,(833) to be ordained bishop for them. +He, being sent into Britain, was consecrated, at their request, by the +most reverend Bishop Wilfrid, who, having been driven out of his country, +chanced then to be living in banishment among the Mercians;(834) for Kent +had no bishop at that time, Theodore being dead, and Bertwald, his +successor, who had gone beyond the sea to be ordained, having not yet +returned to his episcopal see. + +The said Suidbert, being made bishop, returned from Britain, and not long +after departed to the Boructuari; and by his preaching brought many of +them into the way of truth; but the Boructuari being not long after +subdued by the Old Saxons, those who had received the Word were dispersed +abroad; and the bishop himself with certain others went to Pippin, who, at +the request of his wife, Blithryda,(835) gave him a place of abode in a +certain island on the Rhine, called in their tongue, Inlitore;(836) there +he built a monastery, which his successors still possess, and for a time +dwelt in it, leading a most continent life, and there ended his days. + +When they who had gone thither had spent some years teaching in Frisland, +Pippin, with the consent of them all, sent the venerable Wilbrord to Rome, +where Sergius was still pope, desiring that he might be consecrated +archbishop over the nation of the Frisians; which was accordingly done, as +he had made request, in the year of our Lord 696. He was consecrated in +the church of the Holy Martyr Cecilia,(837) on her festival; and the said +pope gave him the name of Clement, and forthwith sent him back to his +bishopric, to wit, fourteen days after his arrival in the city. + +Pippin gave him a place for his episcopal see, in his famous fort, which +in the ancient language of those people is called Wiltaburg, that is, the +town of the Wilts; but, in the Gallic tongue, Trajectum.(838) The most +reverend prelate having built a church there,(839) and preaching the Word +of faith far and near, drew many from their errors, and built many +churches and not a few monasteries. For not long after he himself +constituted other bishops in those parts from the number of the brethren +that either came with him or after him to preach there; of whom some are +now fallen asleep in the Lord; but Wilbrord himself, surnamed Clement, is +still living, venerable for his great age, having been thirty-six years a +bishop, and now, after manifold conflicts of the heavenly warfare, he +longs with all his heart for the recompense of the reward in Heaven.(840) + + + + +Chap. XII. How one in the province of the Northumbrians, rose from the +dead, and related many things which he had seen, some to be greatly +dreaded and some to be desired. [Circ. 696 A.D.] + + +At this time a memorable miracle, and like to those of former days, was +wrought in Britain; for, to the end that the living might be roused from +the death of the soul, a certain man, who had been some time dead, rose +again to the life of the body, and related many memorable things that he +had seen; some of which I have thought fit here briefly to describe. There +was a certain householder in that district of the Northumbrians which is +called Incuneningum,(841) who led a godly life, with all his house. This +man fell sick, and his sickness daily increasing, he was brought to +extremity, and died in the beginning of the night; but at dawn he came to +life again, and suddenly sat up, whereat all those that sat about the body +weeping fled away in great terror, only his wife, who loved him better, +though trembling and greatly afraid, remained with him. And he comforting +her, said, "Fear not, for I am now in very deed risen from death whereof I +was holden, and permitted again to live among men; nevertheless, hereafter +I must not live as I was wont, but after a very different manner." Then +rising immediately, he went to the oratory of the little town, and +continuing in prayer till day, forthwith divided all his substance into +three parts; one whereof he gave to his wife, another to his children, and +the third, which he kept himself, he straightway distributed among the +poor. Not long after, being set free from the cares of this world, he came +to the monastery of Mailros,(842) which is almost enclosed by the winding +of the river Tweed, and having received the tonsure, went apart into a +place of abode which the abbot had provided, and there he continued till +the day of his death, in so great contrition of mind and mortifying of the +body, that even if his tongue had been silent, his life would have +declared that he had seen many things either to be dreaded or coveted, +which were hidden from other men. + +Thus he related what he had seen.(843) "He that led me had a countenance +full of light, and shining raiment, and we went in silence, as it seemed +to me, towards the rising of the summer sun. And as we walked we came to a +broad and deep valley of infinite length; it lay on our left, and one side +of it was exceeding terrible with raging flames, the other no less +intolerable for violent hail and cold snows drifting and sweeping through +all the place. Both sides were full of the souls of men which seemed to be +tossed from one side to the other as it were by a violent storm; for when +they could no longer endure the fervent heat, the hapless souls leaped +into the midst of the deadly cold; and finding no rest there, they leaped +back again to be burnt in the midst of the unquenchable flames. Now +whereas an innumerable multitude of misshapen spirits were thus tormented +far and near with this interchange of misery, as far as I could see, +without any interval of rest, I began to think that peradventure this +might be Hell, of whose intolerable torments I had often heard men talk. +My guide, who went before me, answered to my thought, saying, 'Think not +so, for this is not the Hell you believe it to be.' + +"When he had led me farther by degrees, sore dismayed by that dread sight, +on a sudden I saw the place before us begin to grow dark and filled with +shadows. When we entered into them, the shadows by degrees grew so thick, +that I could see nothing else, save only the darkness and the shape and +garment of him that led me. As we went on 'through the shades in the lone +night,'(844) lo! on a sudden there appeared before us masses of foul flame +constantly rising as it were out of a great pit, and falling back again +into the same. When I had been led thither, my guide suddenly vanished, +and left me alone in the midst of darkness and these fearful sights. As +those same masses of fire, without intermission, at one time flew up and +at another fell back into the bottom of the abyss, I perceived that the +summits of all the flames, as they ascended were full of the spirits of +men, which, like sparks flying upwards with the smoke, were sometimes +thrown on high, and again, when the vapours of the fire fell, dropped down +into the depths below. Moreover, a stench, foul beyond compare, burst +forth with the vapours, and filled all those dark places. + +"Having stood there a long time in much dread, not knowing what to do, +which way to turn, or what end awaited me, on a sudden I heard behind me +the sound of a mighty and miserable lamentation, and at the same time +noisy laughter, as of a rude multitude insulting captured enemies. When +that noise, growing plainer, came up to me, I beheld a crowd of evil +spirits dragging five souls of men, wailing and shrieking, into the midst +of the darkness, whilst they themselves exulted and laughed. Among those +human souls, as I could discern, there was one shorn like a clerk, one a +layman, and one a woman. The evil spirits that dragged them went down into +the midst of the burning pit; and it came to pass that as they went down +deeper, I could no longer distinguish between the lamentation of the men +and the laughing of the devils, yet I still had a confused sound in my +ears. In the meantime, some of the dark spirits ascended from that flaming +abyss, and running forward, beset me on all sides, and with their flaming +eyes and the noisome fire which they breathed forth from their mouths and +nostrils, tried to choke me; and threatened to lay hold on me with fiery +tongs, which they had in their hands, yet they durst in no wise touch me, +though they assayed to terrify me. Being thus on all sides encompassed +with enemies and shades of darkness, and casting my eyes hither and +thither if haply anywhere help might be found whereby I might be saved, +there appeared behind me, on the way by which I had come, as it were, the +brightness of a star shining amidst the darkness; which waxing greater by +degrees, came rapidly towards me: and when it drew near, all those evil +spirits, that sought to carry me away with their tongs, dispersed and +fled. + +"Now he, whose approach put them to flight, was the same that led me +before; who, then turning towards the right, began to lead me, as it were, +towards the rising of the winter sun, and having soon brought me out of +the darkness, led me forth into an atmosphere of clear light. While he +thus led me in open light, I saw a vast wall before us, the length on +either side, and the height whereof, seemed to be altogether boundless. I +began to wonder why we went up to the wall, seeing no door in it, nor +window, nor any way of ascent. But when we came to the wall, we were +presently, I know not by what means, on the top of it, and lo! there was a +wide and pleasant plain full of such fragrance of blooming flowers that +the marvellous sweetness of the scents immediately dispelled the foul +stench of the dark furnace which had filled my nostrils. So great was the +light shed over all this place that it seemed to exceed the brightness of +the day, or the rays of the noontide sun. In this field were innumerable +companies of men clothed in white, and many seats of rejoicing multitudes. +As he led me through the midst of bands of happy inhabitants, I began to +think that this perchance might be the kingdom of Heaven, of which I had +often heard tell. He answered to my thought, saying, 'Nay, this is not the +kingdom of Heaven, as you think.' + +"When we had also passed those mansions of blessed spirits, and gone +farther on, I saw before me a much more beautiful light than before, and +therein heard sweet sounds of singing, and so wonderful a fragrance was +shed abroad from the place, that the other which I had perceived before +and thought so great, then seemed to me but a small thing; even as that +wondrous brightness of the flowery field, compared with this which I now +beheld, appeared mean and feeble. When I began to hope that we should +enter that delightful place, my guide, on a sudden stood still; and +straightway turning, led me back by the way we came. + +"In our return, when we came to those joyous mansions of the white-robed +spirits, he said to me, 'Do you know what all these things are which you +have seen?' I answered, 'No,' and then he said, 'That valley which you +beheld terrible with flaming fire and freezing cold, is the place in which +the souls of those are tried and punished, who, delaying to confess and +amend their crimes, at length have recourse to repentance at the point of +death, and so go forth from the body; but nevertheless because they, even +at their death, confessed and repented, they shall all be received into +the kingdom of Heaven at the day of judgement; but many are succoured +before the day of judgement, by the prayers of the living and their alms +and fasting, and more especially by the celebration of Masses. Moreover +that foul flaming pit which you saw, is the mouth of Hell, into which +whosoever falls shall never be delivered to all eternity. This flowery +place, in which you see this fair and youthful company, all bright and +joyous, is that into which the souls of those are received who, indeed, +when they leave the body have done good works, but who are not so perfect +as to deserve to be immediately admitted into the kingdom of Heaven; yet +they shall all, at the day of judgement, behold Christ, and enter into the +joys of His kingdom; for such as are perfect in every word and deed and +thought, as soon as they quit the body, forthwith enter into the kingdom +of Heaven; in the neighbourhood whereof that place is, where you heard the +sound of sweet singing amidst the savour of a sweet fragrance and +brightness of light. As for you, who must now return to the body, and +again live among men, if you will seek diligently to examine your actions, +and preserve your manner of living and your words in righteousness and +simplicity, you shall, after death, have a place of abode among these +joyful troops of blessed souls which you behold. For when I left you for +awhile, it was for this purpose, that I might learn what should become of +you.' When he had said this to me, I much abhorred returning to the body, +being delighted with the sweetness and beauty of the place which I beheld, +and with the company of those I saw in it. Nevertheless, I durst not ask +my guide anything; but thereupon, on a sudden, I found myself, I know not +how, alive among men." + +Now these and other things which this man of God had seen, he would not +relate to slothful men, and such as lived negligently; but only to those +who, being terrified with the dread of torments, or ravished with the hope +of everlasting joys, would draw from his words the means to advance in +piety. In the neighbourhood of his cell lived one Haemgils, a monk, and +eminent in the priesthood, whose good works were worthy of his office: he +is still living, and leading a solitary life in Ireland, supporting his +declining age with coarse bread and cold water. He often went to that man, +and by repeated questioning, heard of him what manner of things he had +seen when out of the body; by whose account those few particulars which we +have briefly set down came also to our knowledge. And he related his +visions to King Aldfrid,(845) a man most learned in all respects, and was +by him so willingly and attentively heard, that at his request he was +admitted into the monastery above-mentioned, and received the crown of the +monastic tonsure; and the said king, whensoever he came into those parts, +very often went to hear him. At that time the abbot and priest +Ethelwald,(846) a man of godly and sober life, presided over that +monastery. He now occupies the episcopal see of the church of Lindisfarne, +leading a life worthy of his degree. + +He had a place of abode assigned him apart in that monastery, where he +might give himself more freely to the service of his Creator in continual +prayer. And inasmuch as that place was on the banks of the river, he was +wont often to go into the same for the great desire he had to do penance +in his body, and oftentimes to plunge in it, and to continue saying psalms +or prayers in the same as long as he could endure it, standing still, +while the waves flowed over him, sometimes up to the middle, and sometimes +even to the neck in water; and when he went ashore, he never took off his +cold, wet garments till they grew warm and dry on his body. And when in +the winter the cracking pieces of ice were floating about him, which he +had himself sometimes broken, to make room to stand or plunge in the +river, and those who beheld it would say, "We marvel, brother Drythelm +(for so he was called), that you are able to endure such severe cold;" he +answered simply, for he was a simple and sober-spirited man, "I have seen +greater cold." And when they said, "We marvel that you choose to observe +so hard a rule of continence," he replied, "I have seen harder things." +And so, until the day of his calling hence, in his unwearied desire of +heavenly bliss, he subdued his aged body with daily fasting, and forwarded +the salvation of many by his words and life. + + + + +Chap. XIII. How another contrarywise before his death saw a book +containing his sins, which was shown him by devils. [704-709 A.D.] + + +But contrarywise there was a man in the province of the Mercians, whose +visions and words, but not his manner of life, were of profit to others, +though not to himself. In the reign of Coenred,(847) who succeeded +Ethelred, there was a layman who was a king's thegn, no less acceptable to +the king for his outward industry, than displeasing to him for his neglect +of his own soul. The king diligently admonished him to confess and amend, +and to forsake his evil ways, lest he should lose all time for repentance +and amendment by a sudden death. But though frequently warned, he despised +the words of salvation, and promised that he would do penance at some +future time. In the meantime, falling sick he betook himself to his bed, +and was tormented with grievous pains. The king coming to him (for he +loved the man much) exhorted him, even then, before death, to repent of +his offences. But he answered that he would not then confess his sins, but +would do it when he was recovered of his sickness, lest his companions +should upbraid him with having done that for fear of death, which he had +refused to do in health. He thought he spoke very bravely, but it +afterwards appeared that he had been miserably deceived by the wiles of +the Devil. + +The disease increasing, when the king came again to visit and instruct +him, he cried out straightway with a lamentable voice, "What will you now? +What are you come for? for you can no longer do aught for my profit or +salvation." The king answered, "Say not so; take heed and be of sound +mind." "I am not mad," replied he, "but I now know the worst and have it +for certain before my eyes." "What is that?" said the king. "Not long +since," said he, "there came into this room two fair youths, and sat down +by me, the one at my head, and the other at my feet. One of them drew +forth a book most beautiful, but very small, and gave it me to read; +looking into it, I there found all the good actions I had ever done in my +life written down, and they were very few and inconsiderable. They took +back the book and said nothing to me. Then, on a sudden, appeared an army +of evil spirits of hideous countenance, and they beset this house without, +and sitting down filled the greater part of it within. Then he, who by the +blackness of his gloomy face, and his sitting above the rest, seemed to be +the chief of them, taking out a book terrible to behold, of a monstrous +size, and of almost insupportable weight, commanded one of his followers +to bring it to me to read. Having read it, I found therein most plainly +written in hideous characters, all the crimes I ever committed, not only +in word and deed, but even in the least thought; and he said to those +glorious men in white raiment who sat by me, 'Why sit ye here, since ye +know of a surety that this man is ours?' They answered, 'Ye speak truly; +take him and lead him away to fill up the measure of your damnation.' This +said, they forthwith vanished, and two wicked spirits arose, having in +their hands ploughshares, and one of them struck me on the head, and the +other on the foot. And these ploughshares are now with great torment +creeping into the inward parts of my body, and as soon as they meet I +shall die, and the devils being ready to snatch me away, I shall be +dragged into the dungeons of hell." + +Thus spoke that wretch in his despair, and soon after died, and now in +vain suffers in eternal torments that penance which he failed to suffer +for a short time with the fruits of forgiveness. Of whom it is manifest, +that (as the blessed Pope Gregory writes of certain persons) he did not +see these things for his own sake, since they did not avail him, but for +the sake of others, who, knowing of his end, should be afraid to put off +the time of repentance, whilst they have leisure, lest, being prevented by +sudden death, they should perish impenitent. And whereas he saw diverse +books laid before him by the good and evil spirits, this was done by +Divine dispensation, that we may keep in mind that our deeds and thoughts +are not scattered to the winds, but are all kept to be examined by the +Supreme Judge, and will in the end be shown us either by friendly angels +or by the enemy. And whereas the angels first drew forth a white book, and +then the devils a black one; the former a very small one, the latter one +very great; it is to be observed, that in his first years he did some good +actions, all which he nevertheless obscured by the evil actions of his +youth. If, contrarywise, he had taken care in his youth to correct the +errors of his boyhood, and by well-doing to put them away from the sight +of God, he might have been admitted to the fellowship of those of whom the +Psalm says, "Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose +sins are covered."(848) This story, as I learned it of the venerable +Bishop Pechthelm,(849) I have thought good to set forth plainly, for the +salvation of such as shall read or hear it. + + + + +Chap. XIV. How another in like manner, being at the point of death, saw +the place of punishment appointed for him in Hell. + + +I myself knew a brother, would to God I had not known him, whose name I +could mention if it were of any avail, dwelling in a famous monastery, but +himself living infamously. He was oftentimes rebuked by the brethren and +elders of the place, and admonished to be converted to a more chastened +life; and though he would not give ear to them, they bore with him long +and patiently, on account of their need of his outward service, for he was +a cunning artificer. But he was much given to drunkenness, and other +pleasures of a careless life, and more used to stop in his workshop day +and night, than to go to church to sing and pray and hear the Word of life +with the brethren. For which reason it befell him according to the saying, +that he who will not willingly humble himself and enter the gate of the +church must needs be led against his will into the gate of Hell, being +damned. For he falling sick, and being brought to extremity, called the +brethren, and with much lamentation, like one damned, began to tell them, +that he saw Hell opened, and Satan sunk in the depths thereof; and +Caiaphas, with the others that slew our Lord, hard by him, delivered up to +avenging flames. "In whose neighbourhood," said he, "I see a place of +eternal perdition prepared for me, miserable wretch that I am." The +brothers, hearing these words, began diligently to exhort him, that he +should repent even then, whilst he was still in the flesh. He answered in +despair, "There is no time for me now to change my course of life, when I +have myself seen my judgement passed." + +Whilst uttering these words, he died without having received the saving +Viaticum, and his body was buried in the farthest parts of the monastery, +nor did any one dare either to say Masses or sing psalms, or even to pray +for him.(850) Oh how far asunder hath God put light from darkness! The +blessed Stephen, the first martyr, being about to suffer death for the +truth, saw the heavens opened, and the glory of God, and Jesus standing on +the right hand of God;(851) and where he was to be after death, there he +fixed the eyes of his mind, that he might die the more joyfully. But this +workman, of darkened mind and life, when death was at hand, saw Hell +opened, and witnessed the damnation of the Devil and his followers; he saw +also, unhappy wretch! his own prison among them, to the end that, +despairing of salvation, he might himself die the more miserably, but +might by his perdition afford cause of salvation to the living who should +hear of it. This befell of late in the province of the Bernicians, and +being noised abroad far and near, inclined many to do penance for their +sins without delay. Would to God that this also might come to pass through +the reading of our words! + + + + +Chap. XV. How divers churches of the Scots, at the instance of Adamnan, +adopted the Catholic Easter; and how the same wrote a book about the holy +places. [703 A.D.] + + +At this time a great part of the Scots in Ireland,(852) and some also of +the Britons in Britain,(853) by the grace of God, adopted the reasonable +and ecclesiastical time of keeping Easter. For when Adamnan,(854) priest +and abbot of the monks that were in the island of Hii, was sent by his +nation on a mission to Aldfrid, king of the English,(855) he abode some +time in that province, and saw the canonical rites of the Church. +Moreover, he was earnestly admonished by many of the more learned sort, +not to presume to live contrary to the universal custom of the Church, +either in regard to the observance of Easter, or any other ordinances +whatsoever, with those few followers of his dwelling in the farthest +corner of the world. Wherefore he so changed his mind, that he readily +preferred those things which he had seen and heard in the English +churches, to the customs which he and his people had hitherto followed. +For he was a good and wise man, and excellently instructed in knowledge of +the Scriptures. Returning home, he endeavoured to bring his own people +that were in Hii, or that were subject to that monastery, into the way of +truth, which he had embraced with all his heart; but he could not prevail. +He sailed over into Ireland,(856) and preaching to those people, and with +sober words of exhortation making known to them the lawful time of Easter, +he brought back many of them, and almost all that were free from the +dominion of those of Hii, from the error of their fathers to the Catholic +unity, and taught them to keep the lawful time of Easter. + +Returning to his island, after having celebrated the canonical Easter in +Ireland, he was instant in preaching the Catholic observance of the season +of Easter in his monastery, yet without being able to achieve his end; and +it so happened that he departed this life before the next year came +round,(857) the Divine goodness so ordaining it, that as he was a great +lover of peace and unity, he should be taken away to everlasting life +before he should be obliged, on the return of the season of Easter, to be +at greater variance with those that would not follow him into the truth. + +This same man wrote a book concerning the holy places, of great profit to +many readers; his authority was the teaching and dictation of Arculf, a +bishop of Gaul,(858) who had gone to Jerusalem for the sake of the holy +places; and having wandered over all the Promised Land, travelled also to +Damascus, Constantinople, Alexandria, and many islands in the sea, and +returning home by ship, was cast upon the western coast of Britain by a +great tempest. After many adventures he came to the aforesaid servant of +Christ, Adamnan, and being found to be learned in the Scriptures, and +acquainted with the holy places, was most gladly received by him and +gladly heard, insomuch that whatsoever he said that he had seen worthy of +remembrance in the holy places, Adamnan straightway set himself to commit +to writing. Thus he composed a work, as I have said, profitable to many, +and chiefly to those who, being far removed from those places where the +patriarchs and Apostles lived, know no more of them than what they have +learnt by reading. Adamnan presented this book to King Aldfrid, and +through his bounty it came to be read by lesser persons.(859) The writer +thereof was also rewarded by him with many gifts and sent back into his +country. I believe it will be of advantage to our readers if we collect +some passages from his writings, and insert them in this our History.(860) + + + + +Chap. XVI. The account given in the aforesaid book of the place of our +Lord's Nativity, Passion, and Resurrection. + + +He wrote concerning the place of the Nativity of our Lord, after this +manner:(861) "Bethlehem, the city of David, is situated on a narrow ridge, +encompassed on all sides with valleys, being a mile in length from west to +east, and having a low wall without towers, built along the edge of the +level summit. In the eastern corner thereof is a sort of natural half +cave, the outward part whereof is said to have been the place where our +Lord was born; the inner is called the manger of our Lord. This cave +within is all covered with rich marble, and over the particular spot where +our Lord is said to have been born, stands the great church of St. Mary." +He likewise wrote about the place of His Passion and Resurrection in this +manner: "Entering the city of Jerusalem on the north side, the first place +to be visited, according to the disposition of the streets, is the church +of Constantine, called the Martyrium. It was built by the Emperor +Constantine, in a royal and magnificent manner, because the Cross of our +Lord was said to have been found there by his mother Helena. Thence, to +the westward, is seen the church of Golgotha, in which is also to be found +the rock which once bore the Cross to which the Lord's body was nailed, +and now it upholds a large silver cross, having a great brazen wheel with +lamps hanging over it. Under the place of our Lord's Cross, a crypt is +hewn out of the rock, in which the Sacrifice is offered on an altar for +the dead that are held in honour, their bodies remaining meanwhile in the +street. To the westward of this church is the round church of the +Anastasis or Resurrection of our Lord, encompassed with three walls, and +supported by twelve columns. Between each of the walls is a broad passage, +which contains three altars at three different points of the middle wall; +to the south, the north, and the west. It has eight doors or entrances in +a straight line through the three walls; four whereof face the south-east, +and four the east.(862) In the midst of it is the round tomb of our Lord +cut out of the rock, the top of of which a man standing within can touch +with his hand; on the east is the entrance, against which that great stone +was set. To this day the tomb bears the marks of the iron tools within, +but on the outside it is all covered with marble to the very top of the +roof, which is adorned with gold, and bears a large golden cross. In the +north part of the tomb the sepulchre of our Lord is hewn out of the same +rock, seven feet in length, and three hand-breadths above the floor; the +entrance being on the south side, where twelve lamps burn day and night, +four within the sepulchre, and eight above on the edge of the right side. +The stone that was set at the entrance to the tomb is now cleft in two; +nevertheless, the lesser part of it stands as an altar of hewn stone +before the door of the tomb; the greater part is set up as another altar, +four-cornered, at the east end of the same church, and is covered with +linen cloths. The colour of the said tomb and sepulchre is white and red +mingled together."(863) + + + + +Chap. XVII. What he likewise wrote of the place of our Lord's Ascension, +and the tombs of the patriarchs. + + +Concerning the place of our Lord's Ascension, the aforesaid author writes +thus. "The Mount of Olives is equal in height to Mount Sion, but exceeds +it in breadth and length; it bears few trees besides vines and olives, and +is fruitful in wheat and barley, for the nature of that soil is not such +as to yield thickets,(864) but grass and flowers. On the very top of it, +where our Lord ascended into heaven, is a large round church,(865) having +round about it three chapels with vaulted roofs. For the inner building +could not be vaulted and roofed, by reason of the passage of our Lord's +Body; but it has an altar on the east side, sheltered by a narrow roof. In +the midst of it are to be seen the last Footprints of our Lord, the place +where He ascended being open to the sky; and though the earth is daily +carried away by believers, yet still it remains, and retains the same +appearance, being marked by the impression of the Feet. Round about these +lies a brazen wheel, as high as a man's neck, having an entrance from the +west, with a great lamp hanging above it on a pulley and burning night and +day. In the western part of the same church are eight windows; and as many +lamps, hanging opposite to them by cords, shine through the glass as far +as Jerusalem; and the light thereof is said to thrill the hearts of the +beholders with a certain zeal and compunction. Every year, on the day of +the Ascension of our Lord, when Mass is ended, a strong blast of wind is +wont to come down, and to cast to the ground all that are in the church." + +Of the situation of Hebron, and the tombs of the fathers,(866) he writes +thus. "Hebron, once a habitation and the chief city of David's kingdom, +now only showing by its ruins what it then was, has, one furlong to the +east of it, a double cave in the valley, where the sepulchres of the +patriarchs are encompassed with a wall four-square, their heads lying to +the north. Each of the tombs is covered with a single stone, hewn like the +stones of a church, and of a white colour, for the three patriarchs. +Adam's is of meaner and poorer workmanship, and he lies not far from them +at the farthest end of the northern part of that wall. There are also some +poorer and smaller monuments of the three women. The hill Mamre is a mile +from these tombs, and is covered with grass and flowers, having a level +plain on the top. In the northern part of it, the trunk of Abraham's oak, +being twice as high as a man, is enclosed in a church." + +Thus much, gathered from the works of the aforesaid writer, according to +the sense of his words, but more briefly and in fewer words, we have +thought fit to insert in our History for the profit of readers. Whosoever +desires to know more of the contents of that book, may seek it either in +the book itself, or in that abridgement which we have lately made from it. + + + + +Chap. XVIII. How the South Saxons received Eadbert and Eolla, and the West +Saxons, Daniel and Aldhelm, for their bishops; and of the writings of the +same Aldhelm. [705 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 705, Aldfrid, king of the Northumbrians, died(867) +before the end of the twentieth year of his reign. His son Osred,(868) a +boy about eight years of age, succeeding him in the throne, reigned eleven +years. In the beginning of his reign, Haedde, bishop of the West +Saxons,(869) departed to the heavenly life; for he was a good man and a +just, and his life and doctrine as a bishop were guided rather by his +innate love of virtue, than by what he had gained from books. The most +reverend bishop, Pechthelm, of whom we shall speak hereafter in the proper +place,(870) and who while still deacon or monk was for a long time with +his successor Aldhelm,(871) was wont to relate that many miracles of +healing have been wrought in the place where he died, through the merit of +his sanctity; and that the men of that province used to carry the dust +thence for the sick, and put it into water, and the drinking thereof, or +sprinkling with it, brought health to many sick men and beasts; so that +the holy dust being frequently carried away, a great hole was made there. + +Upon his death, the bishopric of that province was divided into two +dioceses.(872) One of them was given to Daniel,(873) which he governs to +this day; the other to Aldhelm, wherein he presided most vigorously four +years; both of them were fully instructed, as well in matters touching the +Church as in the knowledge of the Scriptures. Aldhelm, when he was as yet +only a priest and abbot of the monastery which is called the city of +Maildufus,(874) by order of a synod of his own nation, wrote a notable +book(875) against the error of the Britons, in not celebrating Easter at +the due time, and in doing divers other things contrary to the purity of +doctrine and the peace of the church; and through the reading of this book +many of the Britons, who were subject to the West Saxons, were led by him +to adopt the Catholic celebration of our Lord's Paschal Feast. He likewise +wrote a famous book on Virginity,(876) which, after the example of +Sedulius,(877) he composed in twofold form, in hexameters and in prose. He +wrote some other books, being a man most instructed in all respects, for +he had a polished style,(878) and was, as I have said, of marvellous +learning both in liberal and ecclesiastical studies. On his death, +Forthere(879) was made bishop in his stead, and is living at this time, +being likewise a man very learned in the Holy Scriptures. + +Whilst they administered the bishopric, it was determined by a synodal +decree, that the province of the South Saxons, which till that time +belonged to the diocese of the city of Winchester, where Daniel then +presided, should itself have an episcopal see, and a bishop of its +own.(880) Eadbert, at that time abbot of the monastery of Bishop Wilfrid, +of blessed memory, called Selaeseu,(881) was consecrated their first +bishop. On his death, Eolla succeeded to the office of bishop. He also +died some years ago, and the bishopric has been vacant to this day.(882) + + + + +Chap. XIX. How Coinred, king of the Mercians, and Offa, king of the East +Saxons, ended their days at Rome, in the monastic habit; and of the life +and death of Bishop Wilfrid. [709 A.D.] + + +In the fourth year of the reign of Osred,(883) Coenred,(884) who had for +some time nobly governed the kingdom of the Mercians, much more nobly +quitted the sceptre of his kingdom. For he went to Rome, and there +receiving the tonsure and becoming a monk, when Constantine(885) was pope, +he continued to his last hour in prayer and fasting and alms-deeds at the +threshold of the Apostles. He was succeeded in the throne by Ceolred,(886) +the son of Ethelred, who had governed the kingdom before Coenred. With him +went the son of Sighere,(887) the king of the East Saxons whom we +mentioned before, by name Offa, a youth of a most pleasing age and +comeliness, and greatly desired by all his nation to have and to hold the +sceptre of the kingdom. He, with like devotion, quitted wife, and lands, +and kindred and country, for Christ and for the Gospel, that he might +"receive an hundred-fold in this life, and in the world to come life +everlasting."(888) He also, when they came to the holy places at Rome, +received the tonsure, and ending his life in the monastic habit, attained +to the vision of the blessed Apostles in Heaven, as he had long desired. + +The same year that they departed from Britain, the great bishop, Wilfrid, +ended his days in the province called Inundalum,(889) after he had been +bishop forty-five years.(890) His body, being laid in a coffin, was +carried to his monastery, which is called Inhrypum,(891) and buried in the +church of the blessed Apostle Peter, with the honour due to so great a +prelate. Concerning whose manner of life, let us now turn back, and +briefly make mention of the things which were done.(892) Being a boy of a +good disposition, and virtuous beyond his years, he conducted himself so +modestly and discreetly in all points, that he was deservedly beloved, +respected, and cherished by his elders as one of themselves.(893) At +fourteen years of age he chose rather the monastic than the secular life; +which, when he had signified to his father, for his mother was dead, he +readily consented to his godly wishes and desires, and advised him to +persist in that wholesome purpose. Wherefore he came to the isle of +Lindisfarne, and there giving himself to the service of the monks, he +strove diligently to learn and to practise those things which belong to +monastic purity and piety; and being of a ready wit, he speedily learned +the psalms and some other books, having not yet received the tonsure, but +being in no small measure marked by those virtues of humility and +obedience which are more important than the tonsure; for which reason he +was justly loved by his elders and his equals. Having served God some +years in that monastery, and being a youth of a good understanding, he +perceived that the way of virtue delivered by the Scots was in no wise +perfect, and he resolved to go to Rome, to see what ecclesiastical or +monastic rites were in use at the Apostolic see. When he told the +brethren, they commended his design, and advised him to carry out that +which he purposed. He forthwith went to Queen Eanfled, for he was known to +her, and it was by her counsel and support that he had been admitted into +the aforesaid monastery, and he told her of his desire to visit the +threshold of the blessed Apostles. She, being pleased with the youth's +good purpose, sent him into Kent, to King Earconbert,(894) who was her +uncle's son, requesting that he would send him to Rome in an honourable +manner. At that time, Honorius,(895) one of the disciples of the blessed +Pope Gregory, a man very highly instructed in ecclesiastical learning, was +archbishop there. When he had tarried there for a space, and, being a +youth of an active spirit, was diligently applying himself to learn those +things which came under his notice, another youth, called Biscop, surnamed +Benedict,(896) of the English nobility, arrived there, being likewise +desirous to go to Rome, of whom we have before made mention. + +The king gave him Wilfrid for a companion, and bade Wilfrid conduct him to +Rome. When they came to Lyons, Wilfrid was detained there by +Dalfinus,(897) the bishop of that city; but Benedict hastened on to Rome. +For the bishop was delighted with the youth's prudent discourse, the grace +of his comely countenance, his eager activity, and the consistency and +maturity of his thoughts; for which reason he plentifully supplied him and +his companions with all necessaries, as long as they stayed with him; and +further offered, if he would have it, to commit to him the government of +no small part of Gaul, to give him a maiden daughter of his own +brother(898) to wife, and to regard him always as his adopted son. But +Wilfrid thanked him for the loving-kindness which he was pleased to show +to a stranger, and answered, that he had resolved upon another course of +life, and for that reason had left his country and set out for Rome. + +Hereupon the bishop sent him to Rome, furnishing him with a guide and +supplying plenty of all things requisite for his journey, earnestly +requesting that he would come that way, when he returned into his own +country. Wilfrid arriving at Rome, and daily giving himself with all +earnestness to prayer and the study of ecclesiastical matters, as he had +purposed in his mind, gained the friendship of the most holy and learned +Boniface, the archdeacon,(899) who was also counsellor to the Apostolic +Pope, by whose instruction he learned in their order the four Gospels, and +the true computation of Easter; and many other things appertaining to +ecclesiastical discipline, which he could not learn in his own country, he +acquired from the teaching of that same master. When he had spent some +months there, in successful study, he returned into Gaul, to +Dalfinus;(900) and having stayed with him three years, received from him +the tonsure, and Dalfinus esteemed him so highly in love that he had +thoughts of making him his heir; but this was prevented by the bishop's +cruel death, and Wilfrid was reserved to be a bishop of his own, that is, +the English, nation. For Queen Baldhild(901) sent soldiers with orders to +put the bishop to death; whom Wilfrid, as his clerk, attended to the place +where he was to be beheaded, being very desirous, though the bishop +strongly opposed it, to die with him; but the executioners, understanding +that he was a stranger, and of the English nation, spared him, and would +not put him to death with his bishop. + +Returning to Britain, he won the friendship of King Alchfrid,(902) who had +learnt to follow always and love the catholic rules of the Church; and +therefore finding him to be a Catholic, he gave him presently land of ten +families at the place called Stanford;(903) and not long after, the +monastery, with land of thirty families, at the place called +Inhrypum;(904) which place he had formerly given to those that followed +the doctrine of the Scots, to build a monastery there. But, forasmuch as +they afterwards, being given the choice, had rather quit the place than +adopt the Catholic Easter and other canonical rites, according to the +custom of the Roman Apostolic Church, he gave the same to him whom he +found to be instructed in better discipline and better customs. + +At the same time, by the said king's command, he was ordained priest in +the same monastery, by Agilbert,(905) bishop of the Gewissae +above-mentioned, the king being desirous that a man of so much learning +and piety should attend him constantly as his special priest and teacher; +and not long after, when the Scottish sect had been exposed and +banished,(906) as was said above, he, with the advice and consent of his +father Oswy, sent him into Gaul, to be consecrated as his bishop,(907) +when he was about thirty years of age, the same Agilbert being then bishop +of the city of Paris. Eleven other bishops met at the consecration of the +new bishop, and that function was most honourably performed. Whilst he yet +tarried beyond the sea, the holy man, Ceadda,(908) was consecrated bishop +of York(909) by command of King Oswy, as has been said above; and having +nobly ruled that church three years, he retired to take charge of his +monastery of Laestingaeu, and Wilfrid was made bishop of all the province +of the Northumbrians. + +Afterwards, in the reign of Egfrid, he was expelled from his bishopric, +and others were consecrated bishops in his stead, of whom mention has been +made above.(910) Designing to go to Rome, to plead his cause before the +Apostolic Pope, he took ship, and was driven by a west wind into +Frisland,(911) and honourably received by that barbarous people and their +King Aldgils, to whom he preached Christ, and he instructed many thousands +of them in the Word of truth, washing them from the defilement of their +sins in the Saviour's font. Thus he began there the work of the Gospel +which was afterwards finished with great devotion by the most reverend +bishop of Christ, Wilbrord.(912) Having spent the winter there +successfully among this new people of God, he set out again on his way to +Rome,(913) where his cause being tried before Pope Agatho and many +bishops,(914) he was by the judgement of them all acquitted of all blame, +and declared worthy of his bishopric. + +At the same time, the said Pope Agatho assembling a synod at Rome, of one +hundred and twenty-five bishops, against those who asserted that there was +only one will and operation in our Lord and Saviour,(915) ordered Wilfrid +also to be summoned, and, sitting among the bishops, to declare his own +faith and the faith of the province or island whence he came; and he and +his people being found orthodox in their faith, it was thought fit to +record the same among the acts of that synod, which was done in in this +manner: "Wilfrid, the beloved of God, bishop of the city of York, +appealing to the Apostolic see, and being by that authority acquitted of +every thing, whether specified against him or not, and being appointed to +sit in judgement with one hundred and twenty-five other bishops in the +synod, made confession of the true and catholic faith, and confirmed the +same with his subscription in the name of all the northern part of Britain +and Ireland, and the islands inhabited by the nations of the English and +Britons, as also by the Scots and Picts." + +After this, returning into Britain,(916) he converted the province of the +South Saxons from their idolatrous worship to the faith of Christ.(917) He +also sent ministers of the Word to the Isle of Wight;(918) and in the +second year of Aldfrid, who reigned after Egfrid, was restored to his see +and bishopric by that king's invitation.(919) Nevertheless, five years +after, being again accused, he was deprived of his bishopric by the same +king and certain bishops.(920) Coming to Rome,(921) he was allowed to make +his defence in the presence of his accusers, before a number of bishops +and the Apostolic Pope John.(922) It was shown by the judgement of them +all, that his accusers had in part laid false accusations to his charge; +and the aforesaid Pope wrote to the kings of the English, Ethelred and +Aldfrid, to cause him to be restored to his bishopric, because he had been +unjustly condemned.(923) + +His acquittal was much forwarded by the reading of the acts of the synod +of Pope Agatho,(924) of blessed memory, which had been formerly held, when +Wilfrid was in Rome and sat in council among the bishops, as has been said +before. For the acts of that synod being, as the case required, read, by +order of the Apostolic Pope, before the nobility and a great number of the +people for some days, they came to the place where it was written, +"Wilfrid, the beloved of God, bishop of the city of York, appealing to the +Apostolic see, and being by that authority acquitted of everything, +whether specified against him or not," and the rest as above stated. This +being read, the hearers were amazed, and the reader ceasing, they began to +ask of one another, who that Bishop Wilfrid was. Then Boniface, the Pope's +counsellor,(925) and many others, who had seen him there in the days of +Pope Agatho, said that he was the same bishop that lately came to Rome, to +be tried by the Apostolic see, being accused by his people, and "who, said +they, having long since come here upon the like accusation, the cause and +contention of both parties being heard and examined, was proved by Pope +Agatho, of blessed memory, to have been wrongfully expelled from his +bishopric, and was held in such honour by him, that he commanded him to +sit in the council of bishops which he had assembled, as a man of +untainted faith and an upright mind." This being heard, the Pope and all +the rest said, that a man of so great authority, who had held the office +of a bishop for nearly forty years, ought by no means to be condemned, but +being altogether cleared of the faults laid to his charge, should return +home with honour. + +When he came to Gaul, on his way back to Britain, on a sudden he fell +sick, and the sickness increasing, he was so weighed down by it, that he +could not ride, but was carried in his bed by the hands of his servants. +Being thus come to the city of Maeldum,(926) in Gaul, he lay four days and +nights, as if he had been dead, and only by his faint breathing showed +that he had any life in him. Having continued thus four days, without meat +or drink, without speech or hearing, at length, on the fifth day, at +daybreak, as it were awakening out of a deep sleep, he raised himself and +sat up, and opening his eyes, saw round about him a company of brethren +singing psalms and weeping. Sighing gently, he asked where Acca,(927) the +priest, was. This man, straightway being called, came in, and seeing him +somewhat recovered and able to speak, knelt down, and gave thanks to God, +with all the brethren there present. When they had sat awhile and begun to +discourse, with great awe, of the judgements of heaven, the bishop bade +the rest go out for a time, and spoke to the priest, Acca, after this +manner: + +"A dread vision has even now appeared to me, which I would have you hear +and keep secret, till I know what God will please to do with me. There +stood by me a certain one, glorious in white raiment, and he told me that +he was Michael, the Archangel, and said, 'I am sent to call you back from +death: for the Lord has granted you life, through the prayers and tears of +your disciples and brethren, and the intercession of His Blessed Mother +Mary, of perpetual virginity; wherefore I tell you, that you shall now +recover from this sickness; but be ready, for I will return and visit you +at the end of four years. And when you come into your country, you shall +recover the greater part of the possessions that have been taken from you, +and shall end your days in peace and quiet.' " The bishop accordingly +recovered, whereat all men rejoiced and gave thanks to God, and setting +forward on his journey, he arrived in Britain. + +Having read the letters which he brought from the Apostolic Pope, +Bertwald, the archbishop, and Ethelred,(928) sometime king, but then +abbot, readily took his part; for the said Ethelred, calling to him +Coenred,(929) whom he had made king in his own stead, begged him to be +friends with Wilfrid, in which request he prevailed; nevertheless Aldfrid, +king of the Northumbrians, disdained to receive him. But he died soon +after,(930) and so it came to pass that, during the reign of his son +Osred,(931) when a synod was assembled before long by the river Nidd,(932) +after some contention on both sides, at length, by the consent of all, he +was restored to the government of his own church;(933) and thus he lived +in peace four years, till the day of his death. He died in his monastery, +which he had in the province of Undalum,(934) under the government of the +Abbot Cuthbald;(935) and by the ministry of the brethren, he was carried +to his first monastery which is called Inhrypum,(936) and buried in the +church of the blessed Apostle Peter, hard by the altar on the south side, +as has been mentioned above, and this epitaph was written over him: + +"Here rests the body of the great Bishop Wilfrid, who, for love of piety, +built these courts and consecrated them with the noble name of Peter, to +whom Christ, the Judge of all the earth, gave the keys of Heaven. And +devoutly he clothed them with gold and Tyrian purple; yea, and he placed +here the trophy of the Cross, of shining ore, uplifted high; moreover he +caused the four books of the Gospel to be written in gold in their order, +and he gave a case meet for them of ruddy gold. And he also brought the +holy season of Easter, returning in its course, to accord with the true +teaching of the catholic rule which the Fathers fixed, and, banishing all +doubt and error, gave his nation sure guidance in their worship. And in +this place he gathered a great throng of monks, and with all diligence +safeguarded the precepts which the Fathers' rule enjoined. And long time +sore vexed by many a peril at home and abroad, when he had held the office +of a bishop forty-five years, he passed away and with joy departed to the +heavenly kingdom. Grant, O Jesus, that the flock may follow in the path of +the shepherd." + + + + +Chap. XX. How Albinus succeeded to the godly Abbot Hadrian, and Acca to +Bishop Wilfrid. [709 A.D.] + + +The next year after the death of the aforesaid father,(937) which was the +fifth year of King Osred, the most reverend father, Abbot Hadrian,(938) +fellow labourer in the Word of God with Bishop Theodore(939) of blessed +memory, died, and was buried in the church of the Blessed Mother of God, +in his own monastery,(940) this being the forty-first year after he was +sent by Pope Vitalian with Theodore, and the thirty-ninth after his +arrival in England. Among other proofs of his learning, as well as +Theodore's, there is this testimony, that Albinus,(941) his disciple, who +succeeded him in the government of his monastery, was so well instructed +in literary studies, that he had no small knowledge of the Greek tongue, +and knew the Latin as well as the English, which was his native language. + +Acca,(942) his priest, succeeded Wilfrid in the bishopric of the church of +Hagustald, being likewise a man of zeal and great in noble works in the +sight of God and man. He enriched the structure of his church, which is +dedicated in honour of the blessed Apostle Andrew with manifold adornments +and marvellous workmanship. For he gave all diligence, as he does to this +day, to procure relics of the blessed Apostles and martyrs of Christ from +all parts, and to raise altars in their honour in separate side-chapels +built for the purpose within the walls of the same church. Besides which, +he industriously gathered the histories of their martyrdom, together with +other ecclesiastical writings, and erected there a large and noble +library. He likewise carefully provided holy vessels, lamps, and other +such things as appertain to the adorning of the house of God. He in like +manner invited to him a notable singer called Maban,(943) who had been +taught to sing by the successors of the disciples of the blessed Pope +Gregory in Kent, to instruct himself and his clergy, and kept him twelve +years, to the end that he might teach such Church music as they did not +know, and by his teaching restore to its former state that which was +corrupted either by long use, or through neglect. For Bishop Acca himself +was a most skilful singer, as well as most learned in Holy Writ, sound in +the confession of the catholic faith, and well versed in the rules of +ecclesiastical custom; nor does he cease to walk after this manner, till +he receive the rewards of his pious devotion. For he was brought up from +boyhood and instructed among the clergy of the most holy and beloved of +God, Bosa, bishop of York.(944) Afterwards, coming to Bishop Wilfrid in +the hope of a better plan of life, he spent the rest of his days in +attendance on him till that bishop's death, and going with him to Rome, +learned there many profitable things concerning the ordinances of the Holy +Church, which he could not have learned in his own country. + + + + +Chap. XXI. How the Abbot Ceolfrid sent master-builders to the King of the +Picts to build a church, and with them an epistle concerning the Catholic +Easter and the Tonsure. [710 A.D.] + + +At that time,(945) Naiton, King of the Picts, who inhabit the northern +parts of Britain, taught by frequent meditation on the ecclesiastical +writings, renounced the error whereby he and his nation had been holden +till then, touching the observance of Easter, and brought himself and all +his people to celebrate the catholic time of our Lord's Resurrection. To +the end that he might bring this to pass with the more ease and greater +authority, he sought aid from the English, whom he knew to have long since +framed their religion after the example of the holy Roman Apostolic +Church. Accordingly, he sent messengers to the venerable Ceolfrid,(946) +abbot of the monastery of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, which +stands at the mouth of the river Wear, and near the river Tyne, at the +place called Ingyruum,(947) which he gloriously governed after +Benedict,(948) of whom we have before spoken; desiring, that he would send +him a letter of exhortation, by the help of which he might the better +confute those that presumed to keep Easter out of the due time; as also +concerning the form and manner of tonsure whereby the clergy should be +distinguished,(949) notwithstanding that he himself had no small knowledge +of these things. He also prayed to have master-builders sent him to build +a church of stone in his nation after the Roman manner,(950) promising to +dedicate the same in honour of the blessed chief of the Apostles. +Moreover, he and all his people, he said, would always follow the custom +of the holy Roman Apostolic Church, in so far as men so distant from the +speech and nation of the Romans could learn it. The most reverend Abbot +Ceolfrid favourably receiving his godly desires and requests, sent the +builders he desired, and likewise the following letter:(951) + +"_To the most excellent lord, and glorious King Naiton, Abbot Ceolfrid, +greeting in the Lord._ We most readily and willingly endeavour, according +to your desire, to make known to you the catholic observance of holy +Easter, according to what we have learned of the Apostolic see, even as +you, most devout king, in your godly zeal, have requested of us. For we +know, that whensoever the lords of this world labour to learn, and to +teach and to guard the truth, it is a gift of God to his Holy Church. For +a certain profane writer(952) has most truly said, that the world would be +most happy if either kings were philosophers, or philosophers were kings. +Now if a man of this world could judge truly of the philosophy of this +world, and form a right choice concerning the state of this world, how +much more is it to be desired, and most earnestly to be prayed for by such +as are citizens of the heavenly country, and strangers and pilgrims in +this world, that the more powerful any are in the world the more they may +strive to hearken to the commands of Him who is the Supreme Judge, and by +their example and authority may teach those that are committed to their +charge, to keep the same, together with themselves. + +"There are then three rules given in the Sacred Writings, whereby the time +of keeping Easter has been appointed for us and may in no wise be changed +by any authority of man; two whereof are divinely established in the law +of Moses; the third is added in the Gospel by reason of the Passion and +Resurrection of our Lord. For the law enjoined, that the Passover should +be kept in the first month of the year, and the third week of that month, +that is, from the fifteenth day to the one-and-twentieth. It is added, by +Apostolic institution, from the Gospel, that we are to wait for the Lord's +day in that third week, and to keep the beginning of the Paschal season on +the same. Which threefold rule whosoever shall rightly observe, will never +err in fixing the Paschal feast. But if you desire to be more plainly and +fully informed in all these particulars, it is written in Exodus, where +the people of Israel, being about to be delivered out of Egypt, are +commanded to keep the first Passover,(953) that the Lord spake unto Moses +and Aaron, saying, 'This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; +it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the +congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall +take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a +lamb for an house.' And a little after,(954) 'And ye shall keep it up +until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the +congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.' By which words it +most plainly appears, that in the Paschal observance, though mention is +made of the fourteenth day, yet it is not commanded that the Passover be +kept on that day; but on the evening of the fourteenth day, that is, when +the fifteenth moon, which is the beginning of the third week, appears in +the sky, it is commanded that the lamb be killed; and that it was the +night of the fifteenth moon, when the Egyptians were smitten and Israel +was redeemed from long captivity. He says,(955) 'Seven days shall ye eat +unleavened bread.' By which words all the third week of that same first +month is appointed to be a solemn feast. But lest we should think that +those same seven days were to be reckoned from the fourteenth to the +twentieth, He forthwith adds,(956) 'Even the first day ye shall put away +leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eateth leavened bread, from the +first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel;' +and so on, till he says,(957) 'For in this selfsame day I will bring your +army out of the land of Egypt.' + +"Thus he calls that the first day of unleavened bread, in which he was to +bring their army out of Egypt. Now it is evident, that they were not +brought out of Egypt on the fourteenth day, in the evening whereof the +lamb was killed, and which is properly called the Passover or Phase, but +on the fifteenth day, as is most plainly written in the book of +Numbers:(958) 'and they departed from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the +first month, on the morrow after the Passover the Israelites went out with +an high hand.' Thus the seven days of unleavened bread, on the first +whereof the people of the Lord were brought out of Egypt, are to be +reckoned from the beginning of the third week, as has been said, that is, +from the fifteenth day of the first month, till the end of the +one-and-twentieth of the same month. But the fourteenth day is named apart +from this number, by the title of the Passover, as is plainly shown by +that which follows in Exodus:(959) where, after it is said, 'For in this +self-same day I will bring your army out of the land of Egypt;' it is +forthwith added, 'And ye shall observe this day in your generations by an +ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the +month, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one-and-twentieth day of +the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your +houses.' Now, who is there that does not perceive, that there are not only +seven days, but rather eight, from the fourteenth to the +one-and-twentieth, if the fourteenth be also reckoned in the number? But +if, as appears by diligent study of the truth of the Scriptures, we reckon +from the evening of the fourteenth day to the evening of the +one-and-twentieth, we shall certainly find, that, while the Paschal feast +begins on the evening of the fourteenth day, yet the whole sacred +solemnity contains no more than only seven nights and as many days. +Wherefore the rule which we laid down is proved to be true, when we said +that the Paschal season is to be celebrated in the first month of the +year, and the third week of the same. For it is in truth the third week, +because it begins on the evening of the fourteenth day, and ends on the +evening of the one-and-twentieth. + +"But since Christ our Passover is sacrificed,(960) and has made the Lord's +day, which among the ancients was called the first day of the week, a +solemn day to us for the joy of His Resurrection, the Apostolic tradition +has included it in the Paschal festival; yet has decreed that the time of +the legal Passover be in no wise anticipated or diminished; but rather +ordains, that according to the precept of the law, that same first month +of the year, and the fourteenth day of the same, and the evening thereof +be awaited. And when this day should chance to fall on a Saturday, every +man should take to him a lamb, according to the house of his fathers, a +lamb for an house, and he should kill it in the evening, that is, that all +the Churches throughout the world, making one Catholic Church, should +provide Bread and Wine for the Mystery of the Flesh and Blood of the +spotless Lamb 'that hath taken away the sins of the world;'(961) and after +a fitting solemn service of lessons and prayers and Paschal ceremonies, +they should offer up these to the Lord, in hope of redemption to come. For +this is that same night in which the people of Israel were delivered out +of Egypt by the blood of the lamb; this is the same in which all the +people of God were, by Christ's Resurrection, set free from eternal death. +Then, in the morning, when the Lord's day dawns, they should celebrate the +first day of the Paschal festival; for that is the day on which our Lord +made known the glory of His Resurrection to His disciples, to their +manifold joy at the merciful revelation. The same is the first day of +unleavened bread, concerning which it is plainly written in +Leviticus,(962) 'In the fourteenth day of the first month, at even, is the +Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast +of unleavened bread unto the Lord; seven days ye must eat unleavened +bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation.' + +"If therefore it could be that the Lord's day should always happen on the +fifteenth day of the first month, that is, on the fifteenth moon, we might +always celebrate the Passover at one and the same time with the ancient +people of God, though the nature of the mystery be different, as we do it +with one and the same faith. But inasmuch as the day of the week does not +keep pace exactly with the moon, the Apostolic tradition, which was +preached at Rome by the blessed Peter, and confirmed at Alexandria by Mark +the Evangelist,(963) his interpreter, appointed that when the first month +was come, and in it the evening of the fourteenth day, we should also wait +for the Lord's day, between the fifteenth and the one-and-twentieth day of +the same month. For on whichever of those days it shall fall, Easter will +be rightly kept on the same; seeing that it is one of those seven days on +which the feast of unleavened bread is commanded to be kept. Thus it comes +to pass that our Easter never falls either before or after the third week +of the first month, but has for its observance either the whole of it, to +wit, the seven days of unleavened bread appointed by the law, or at least +some of them. For though it comprises but one of them, that is, the +seventh, which the Scripture so highly commends, saying,(964) 'But the +seventh day shall be a more holy convocation, ye shall do no servile work +therein,' none can lay it to our charge, that we do not rightly keep +Easter Sunday, which we received from the Gospel, in the third week of the +first month, as the Law prescribes. + +"The catholic reason of this observance being thus explained, the +unreasonable error, on the other hand, of those who, without any +necessity, presume either to anticipate, or to go beyond the term +appointed in the Law, is manifest. For they that think Easter Sunday is to +be observed from the fourteenth day of the first month till the twentieth +moon, anticipate the time prescribed in the law, without any necessary +reason; for when they begin to celebrate the vigil of the holy night from +the evening of the thirteenth day, it is plain that they make that day the +beginning of their Easter, whereof they find no mention in the commandment +of the Law; and when they avoid celebrating our Lord's Easter on the +one-and-twentieth day of the month, it is surely manifest that they wholly +exclude that day from their solemnity, which the Law many times commends +to be observed as a greater festival than the rest; and thus, perverting +the proper order, they sometimes keep Easter Day entirely in the second +week, and never place it on the seventh day of the third week. And again, +they who think that Easter is to be kept from the sixteenth day of the +said month till the two-and-twentieth(965) no less erroneously, though on +the other side, deviate from the right way of truth, and as it were +avoiding shipwreck on Scylla, they fall into the whirlpool of Charybdis to +be drowned. For when they teach that Easter is to be begun at the rising +of the sixteenth moon of the first month, that is, from the evening of the +fifteenth day, it is certain that they altogether exclude from their +solemnity the fourteenth day of the same month, which the Law first and +chiefly commends; so that they scarce touch the evening of the fifteenth +day, on which the people of God were redeemed from Egyptian bondage, and +on which our Lord, by His Blood, rescued the world from the darkness of +sin, and on which being also buried, He gave us the hope of a blessed rest +after death. + +"And these men, receiving in themselves the recompense of their error, +when they place Easter Sunday on the twenty-second day of the month, +openly transgress and do violence to the term of Easter appointed by the +Law, seeing that they begin Easter on the evening of that day in which the +Law commanded it to be completed and brought to an end; and appoint that +to be the first day of Easter, whereof no mention is any where found in +the Law, to wit, the first of the fourth week. And both sorts are +mistaken, not only in fixing and computing the moon's age, but also +sometimes in finding the first month; but this controversy is longer than +can be or ought to be contained in this letter. I will only say thus much, +that by the vernal equinox, it may always be found, without the chance of +an error, which must be the first month of the year, according to the +lunar computation, and which the last. But the equinox, according to the +opinion of all the Eastern nations, and particularly of the +Egyptians,(966) who surpass all other learned men in calculation, falls on +the twenty-first day of March, as we also prove by horological +observation. Whatsoever moon therefore is at the full before the equinox, +being on the fourteenth or fifteenth day, the same belongs to the last +month of the foregoing year, and consequently is not meet for the +celebration of Easter; but that moon which is full after the equinox, or +at the very time of the equinox, belongs to the first month, and on that +day, without a doubt, we must understand that the ancients were wont to +celebrate the Passover; and that we also ought to keep Easter when the +Sunday comes. And that this must be so, there is this cogent reason. It is +written in Genesis,(967) 'And God made two great lights; the greater light +to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.' Or, as another +edition(968) has it, 'The greater light to begin the day, and the lesser +to begin the night.' As, therefore, the sun, coming forth from the midst +of the east, fixed the vernal equinox by his rising, and afterwards the +moon at the full, when the sun set in the evening, followed from the midst +of the east; so every year the same first lunar month must be observed in +the like order, so that its full moon must not be before the equinox; but +either on the very day of the equinox, as it was in the beginning, or +after it is past. But if the full moon shall happen to be but one day +before the time of the equinox, the aforesaid reason proves that such moon +is not to be assigned to the first month of the new year, but rather to +the last of the preceding, and that it is therefore not meet for the +celebration of the Paschal festival. + +"Now if it please you likewise to hear the mystical reason in this matter, +we are commanded to keep Easter in the first month of the year, which is +also called the month of new things, because we ought to celebrate the +mysteries of our Lord's Resurrection and our deliverance, with the spirit +of our minds renewed to the love of heavenly things. We are commanded to +keep it in the third week of the same month, because Christ Himself, who +had been promised before the Law, and under the Law, came with grace, in +the third age of the world, to be sacrificed as our Passover; and because +rising from the dead the third day after the offering of His Passion, He +wished this to be called the Lord's day, and the Paschal feast of His +Resurrection to be yearly celebrated on the same; because, also, we do +then only truly celebrate His solemn festival, if we endeavour with Him to +keep the Passover, that is, the passing from this world to the Father, by +faith, hope, and charity. We are commanded to observe the full moon of the +Paschal month after the vernal equinox, to the end, that the sun may first +make the day longer than the night, and then the moon may show to the +world her full orb of light; inasmuch as first 'the Sun of righteousness, +with healing in His wings,'(969) that is, our Lord Jesus, by the triumph +of His Resurrection, dispelled all the darkness of death, and so ascending +into Heaven, filled His Church, which is often signified by the name of +the moon, with the light of inward grace, by sending down upon her His +Spirit. Which order of our salvation the prophet had in his mind, when he +said 'The sun was exalted and the moon stood in her order.'(970) + +"He, therefore, who shall contend that the full Paschal moon can happen +before the equinox, disagrees with the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures, in +the celebration of the greatest mysteries, and agrees with those who trust +that they may be saved without the grace of Christ preventing them,(971) +and who presume to teach that they might have attained to perfect +righteousness, though the true Light had never by death and resurrection +vanquished the darkness of the world. Thus, after the rising of the sun at +the equinox, and after the full moon of the first month following in her +order, that is, after the end of the fourteenth day of the same month, all +which we have received by the Law to be observed, we still, as we are +taught in the Gospel, wait in the third week for the Lord's day; and so, +at length, we celebrate the offering of our Easter solemnity, to show that +we are not, with the ancients, doing honour to the casting off of the yoke +of Egyptian bondage; but that, with devout faith and love, we worship the +Redemption of the whole world, which having been prefigured in the +deliverance of the ancient people of God, was fulfilled in Christ's +Resurrection, and that we may signify that we rejoice in the sure and +certain hope of our own resurrection, which we believe will likewise +happen on the Lord's day. + +"Now this computation of Easter, which we set forth to you to be followed, +is contained in a cycle of nineteen years, which began long since to be +observed in the Church, to wit, even in the time of the Apostles, +especially at Rome and in Egypt, as has been said above.(972) But by the +industry of Eusebius,(973) who took his surname from the blessed martyr +Pamphilus,(974) it was reduced to a plainer system; insomuch that what +till then used to be enjoined every year throughout all the Churches by +the Bishop of Alexandria, might, from that time forward, be most easily +known by all men, the occurrence of the fourteenth moon being regularly +set forth in its course. This Paschal computation, Theophilus,(975) Bishop +of Alexandria, made for the Emperor Theodosius, for a hundred years to +come. Cyril(976) also, his successor, comprised a series of ninety-five +years in five cycles of nineteen years. After whom, Dionysius Exiguus(977) +added as many more, in order, after the same manner, reaching down to our +own time. The expiration of these is now drawing near, but there is at the +present day so great a number of calculators, that even in our Churches +throughout Britain, there are many who, having learned the ancient rules +of the Egyptians, can with great ease carry on the Paschal cycles for any +length of time, even to five hundred and thirty-two years,(978) if they +will; after the expiration of which, all that appertains to the succession +of sun and moon, month and week, returns in the same order as before. We +therefore forbear to send you these same cycles of the times to come, +because, desiring only to be instructed respecting the reason for the +Paschal time, you show that you have enough of those catholic cycles +concerning Easter. + +"But having said thus much briefly and succinctly, as you required, +concerning Easter, I also exhort you to take heed that the tonsure, +concerning which likewise you desired me to write to you, be in accordance +with the use of the Church and the Christian Faith. And we know indeed +that the Apostles were not all shorn after the same manner, nor does the +Catholic Church now, as it agrees in one faith, hope, and charity towards +God, use one and the same form of tonsure throughout the world. Moreover, +to look back to former times, to wit, the times of the patriarchs, Job, +the pattern of patience, when tribulation came upon him, shaved his +head,(979) and thus made it appear that he had used, in time of +prosperity, to let his hair grow. But concerning Joseph, who more than +other men practised and taught chastity, humility, piety, and the other +virtues, we read that he was shorn when he was to be delivered from +bondage,(980) by which it appears, that during the time of his bondage, he +was in the prison with unshorn hair. Behold then how each of these men of +God differed in the manner of their appearance abroad, though their inward +consciences agreed in a like grace of virtue. But though we may be free to +confess, that the difference of tonsure is not hurtful to those whose +faith is pure towards God, and their charity sincere towards their +neighbour, especially since we do not read that there was ever any +controversy among the Catholic fathers about the difference of tonsure, as +there has been a contention about the diversity in keeping Easter, and in +matters of faith; nevertheless, among all the forms of tonsure that are to +be found in the Church, or among mankind at large, I think none more meet +to be followed and received by us than that which that disciple wore on +his head, to whom, after his confession of Himself, our Lord said,(981) +'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates +of Hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give unto thee the keys +of the kingdom of Heaven.' Nor do I think that any is more rightly to be +abhorred and detested by all the faithful, than that which that man used, +to whom that same Peter, when he would have bought the grace of the Holy +Ghost, said,(982) 'Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought +that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part +nor lot in this word.' Nor do we shave ourselves in the form of a crown +only because Peter was so shorn; but because Peter was so shorn in memory +of the Passion of our Lord, therefore we also, who desire to be saved by +the same Passion, do with him bear the sign of the same Passion on the top +of our head, which is the highest part of our body. For as all the Church, +because it was made a Church by the death of Him that gave it life, is +wont to bear the sign of His Holy Cross on the forehead, to the end, that +it may, by the constant protection of His banner, be defended from the +assaults of evil spirits, and by the frequent admonition of the same be +taught, in like manner, to crucify the flesh with its affections and +lusts;(983) so also it behoves those, who having either taken the vows of +a monk, or having the degree of a clerk, must needs curb themselves the +more strictly by continence, for the Lord's sake, to bear each one of them +on his head, by the tonsure, the form of the crown of thorns which He bore +on His head in His Passion, that He might bear the thorns and thistles of +our sins, that is, that he might bear them away and take them from us; to +the end that they may show on their foreheads that they also willingly, +and readily, endure all scoffing and reproach for his sake; and that they +may signify that they await always 'the crown of eternal life, which God +hath promised to them that love him,'(984) and that for the sake of +attaining thereto they despise both the evil and the good of this world. +But as for the tonsure which Simon Magus is said to have used, who is +there of the faithful, I ask you, who does not straightway detest and +reject it at the first sight of it, together with his magic? Above the +forehead it does seem indeed to resemble a crown; but when you come to +look at the neck, you will find the crown cut short which you thought you +saw; so that you may perceive that such a use properly belongs not to +Christians but to Simoniacs, such as were indeed in this life by erring +men thought worthy of the glory of an everlasting crown; but in that which +is to follow this life are not only deprived of all hope of a crown, but +are moreover condemned to eternal punishment. + +"But do not think that I have said thus much, as though I judged them +worthy to be condemned who use this tonsure, if they uphold the catholic +unity by their faith and works; nay, I confidently declare, that many of +them have been holy men and worthy servants of God. Of which number is +Adamnan,(985) the notable abbot and priest of the followers of Columba, +who, when sent on a mission by his nation to King Aldfrid, desired to see +our monastery, and forasmuch as he showed wonderful wisdom, humility, and +piety in his words and behaviour, I said to him among other things, when I +talked with him, 'I beseech you, holy brother, how is it that you, who +believe that you are advancing to the crown of life, which knows no end, +wear on your head, after a fashion ill-suited to your belief, the likeness +of a crown that has an end? And if you seek the fellowship of the blessed +Peter, why do you imitate the likeness of the tonsure of him whom St. +Peter anathematized? and why do you not rather even now show that you +choose with all your heart the fashion of him with whom you desire to live +in bliss for ever.' He answered, 'Be assured, my dear brother, that though +I wear the tonsure of Simon, according to the custom of my country, yet I +detest and abhor with all my soul the heresy of Simon; and I desire, as +far as lies in my small power, to follow the footsteps of the most blessed +chief of the Apostles.' I replied, 'I verily believe it; nevertheless it +is a token that you embrace in your inmost heart whatever is of Peter the +Apostle, if you also observe in outward form that which you know to be +his. For I think your wisdom easily discerns that it is much better to +estrange from your countenance, already dedicated to God, the fashion of +his countenance whom with all your heart you abhor, and of whose hideous +face you would shun the sight; and, on the other hand, that it beseems you +to imitate the manner of his appearance, whom you seek to have for your +advocate before God, even as you desire to follow his actions and his +teaching.' + +"This I said at that time to Adamnan, who indeed showed how much he had +profited by seeing the ordinances of our Churches, when, returning into +Scotland,(986) he afterwards by his preaching led great numbers of that +nation to the catholic observance of the Paschal time; though he was not +yet able to bring back to the way of the better ordinance the monks that +lived in the island of Hii over whom he presided with the special +authority of a superior. He would also have been mindful to amend the +tonsure, if his influence had availed so far. + +"But I now also admonish your wisdom, O king, that together with the +nation, over which the King of kings, and Lord of lords, has placed you, +you strive to observe in all points those things which are in accord with +the unity of the Catholic and Apostolic Church; for so it will come to +pass, that after you have held sway in a temporal kingdom, the blessed +chief of the Apostles will also willingly open to you and yours with all +the elect the entrance into the heavenly kingdom. The grace of the eternal +King preserve you in safety, long reigning for the peace of us all, my +dearly beloved son in Christ." + +This letter having been read in the presence of King Naiton and many +learned men, and carefully interpreted into his own language by those who +could understand it, he is said to have much rejoiced at the exhortation +thereof; insomuch that, rising from among his nobles that sat about him, +he knelt on the ground, giving thanks to God that he had been found worthy +to receive such a gift from the land of the English. "And indeed," he +said, "I knew before, that this was the true celebration of Easter, but +now I so fully learn the reason for observing this time, that I seem in +all points to have known but little before concerning these matters. +Therefore I publicly declare and protest to you that are here present, +that I will for ever observe this time of Easter, together with all my +nation; and I do decree that this tonsure, which we have heard to be +reasonable, shall be received by all clerks in my kingdom." Without delay +he accomplished by his royal authority what he had said. For straightway +the Paschal cycles of nineteen years were sent by command of the State +throughout all the provinces of the Picts to be transcribed, learned, and +observed, the erroneous cycles of eighty-four years being everywhere +blotted out.(987) All the ministers of the altar and monks were shorn +after the fashion of the crown; and the nation thus reformed, rejoiced, as +being newly put under the guidance of Peter, the most blessed chief of the +Apostles, and committed to his protection. + + + + +Chap. XXII. How the monks of Hii, and the monasteries subject to them, +began to celebrate the canonical Easter at the preaching of Egbert. [716 +A.D.] + + +Not long after, those monks also of the Scottish nation, who lived in the +isle of Hii, with the other monasteries that were subject to them, were by +the Lord's doing brought to the canonical observance with regard to +Easter, and the tonsure. For in the year of our Lord 716, when Osred(988) +was slain, and Coenred(989) took upon him the government of the kingdom of +the Northumbrians, the father and priest,(990) Egbert, beloved of God, and +worthy to be named with all honour, whom we have before often mentioned, +came to them from Ireland, and was honourably and joyfully received. Being +a most gracious teacher, and most devout in practising those things which +he taught, and being willingly heard by all, by his pious and diligent +exhortations, he converted them from that deep-rooted tradition of their +fathers, of whom may be said those words of the Apostle, "That they had a +zeal of God, but not according to knowledge."(991) He taught them to +celebrate the principal solemnity after the catholic and apostolic manner, +as has been said, wearing on their heads the figure of an unending +crown.(992) It is manifest that this came to pass by a wonderful +dispensation of the Divine goodness; to the end, that the same nation +which had willingly, and without grudging, taken heed to impart to the +English people that learning which it had in the knowledge of God, should +afterwards, by means of the English nation, be brought, in those things +which it had not, to a perfect rule of life. Even as, contrarywise, the +Britons, who would not reveal to the English the knowledge which they had +of the Christian faith, now, when the English people believe, and are in +all points instructed in the rule of the Catholic faith, still persist in +their errors, halting and turned aside from the true path, expose their +heads without a crown, and keep the Feast of Christ apart from the +fellowship of the Church of Christ.(993) + +The monks of Hii, at the teaching of Egbert, adopted the catholic manner +of conversation, under Abbot Dunchad, about eighty years after they had +sent Bishop Aidan to preach to the English nation.(994) The man of God, +Egbert, remained thirteen years in the aforesaid island, which he had thus +consecrated to Christ, as it were, by a new ray of the grace of fellowship +and peace in the Church; and in the year of our Lord 729, in which Easter +was celebrated on the 24th of April, when he had celebrated the solemnity +of the Mass, in memory of the Resurrection of our Lord, that same day he +departed to the Lord and thus finished, or rather never ceases endlessly +to celebrate, with our Lord, and the Apostles, and the other citizens of +heaven, the joy of that greatest festival, which he had begun with the +brethren, whom he had converted to the grace of unity. And it was a +wonderful dispensation of the Divine Providence, that the venerable man +passed from this world to the Father, not only at Easter, but also when +Easter was celebrated on that day,(995) on which it had never been wont to +be celebrated in those parts. The brethren rejoiced in the sure and +catholic knowledge of the time of Easter, and were glad in that their +father, by whom they had been brought into the right way, passing hence to +the Lord should plead for them. He also gave thanks that he had so long +continued in the flesh, till he saw his hearers accept and keep with him +as Easter that day which they had ever before avoided. Thus the most +reverend father being assured of their amendment, rejoiced to see the day +of the Lord, and he saw it and was glad. + + + + +Chap. XXIII. Of the present state of the English nation, or of all +Britain. [725-731 A.D.] + + +In the year of our Lord 725, being the seventh year of Osric,(996) king of +the Northumbrians, who had succeeded Coenred, Wictred,(997) the son of +Egbert, king of Kent, died on the 23rd of April, and left his three sons, +Ethelbert, Eadbert, and Alric,(998) heirs of that kingdom, which he had +governed thirty-four years and a half. The next year Tobias,(999) bishop +of the church of Rochester, died, a most learned man, as has been said +before; for he was disciple to those masters of blessed memory, Theodore, +the archbishop, and Abbot Hadrian, wherefore, as has been said, besides +having a great knowledge of letters both ecclesiastical and general, he +learned both the Greek and Latin tongues to such perfection, that they +were as well known and familiar to him as his native language. He was +buried in the chapel of St. Paul the Apostle, which he had built within +the church of St. Andrew(1000) for his own place of burial. After him +Aldwulf(1001) took upon him the office of bishop, having been consecrated +by Archbishop Bertwald. + +In the year of our Lord 729, two comets appeared about the sun, to the +great terror of the beholders. One of them went before the sun in the +morning at his rising, the other followed him when he set in the evening, +as it were presaging dire disaster to both east and west; or without doubt +one was the forerunner of the day, and the other of the night, to signify +that mortals were threatened with calamities at both times. They carried +their flaming brands towards the north, as it were ready to kindle a +conflagration. They appeared in January, and continued nearly a fortnight. +At which time a grievous blight fell upon Gaul, in that it was laid waste +by the Saracens with cruel bloodshed; but not long after in that country +they received the due reward of their unbelief.(1002) In that year the +holy man of God, Egbert, departed to the Lord, as has been said above, on +Easter day;(1003) and immediately after Easter, that is, on the 9th of +May, Osric,(1004) king of the Northumbrians, departed this life, after he +had reigned eleven years, and appointed Ceolwulf,(1005) brother to +Coenred,(1006) who had reigned before him, his successor; the beginning +and progress of whose reign have been so filled with many and great +commotions and conflicts, that it cannot yet be known what is to be said +concerning them, or what end they will have. + +In the year of our Lord 731, Archbishop Bertwald died of old age, on the +13th of January, having held his see thirty-seven years, six months and +fourteen days.(1007) In his stead, the same year, Tatwine,(1008) of the +province of the Mercians, was made archbishop, having been a priest in the +monastery called Briudun.(1009) He was consecrated in the city of +Canterbury by the venerable men, Daniel,(1010) bishop of Winchester, +Ingwald of London,(1011) Aldwin of Lichfield,(1012) and Aldwulf of +Rochester,(1013) on Sunday, the 10th of June, being a man renowned for +piety and wisdom, and of notable learning in Holy Scripture. + +Thus at the present time,(1014) the bishops Tatwine and Aldwulf preside in +the churches of Kent; Ingwald is bishop in the province of the East +Saxons. In the province of the East Angles, the bishops are Aldbert and +Hadulac;(1015) in the province of the West Saxons, Daniel and +Forthere;(1016) in the province of the Mercians, Aldwin.(1017) Among those +peoples who dwell beyond the river Severn to the westward,(1018) Walhstod +is bishop; in the province of the Hwiccas, Wilfrid;(1019) in the province +of Lindsey, Bishop Cynibert(1020) presides; the bishopric of the Isle of +Wight(1021) belongs to Daniel, bishop of the city of Winchester. The +province of the South Saxons,(1022) having now continued some years +without a bishop, receives episcopal ministrations from the prelate of the +West Saxons. All these provinces, and the other southern provinces, as far +as the boundary formed by the river Humber, with their several kings, are +subject to King Ethelbald.(1023) + +But in the province of the Northumbrians, where King Ceolwulf reigns, four +bishops now preside; Wilfrid(1024) in the church of York, Ethelwald(1025) +in that of Lindisfarne, Acca(1026) in that of Hagustald, Pecthelm(1027) in +that which is called the White House, which, as the number of the faithful +has increased, has lately become an episcopal see, and has him for its +first prelate. The Pictish people also at this time are at peace with the +English nation, and rejoice in having their part in Catholic peace and +truth with the universal Church. The Scots(1028) that inhabit Britain, +content with their own territories, devise no plots nor hostilities +against the English nation. The Britons,(1029) though they, for the most +part, as a nation hate and oppose the English nation, and wrongfully, and +from wicked lewdness, set themselves against the appointed Easter of the +whole Catholic Church; yet, inasmuch as both Divine and human power +withstand them, they can in neither purpose prevail as they desire; for +though in part they are their own masters, yet part of them are brought +under subjection to the English. In these favourable times of peace and +calm,(1030) many of the Northumbrians, as well of the nobility as private +persons, laying aside their weapons, and receiving the tonsure, desire +rather both for themselves and their children to take upon them monastic +vows, than to practise the pursuit of war. What will be the end hereof, +the next age will see. This is for the present the state of all Britain; +about two hundred and eighty-five years after the coming of the English +into Britain, and in the 731st year of our Lord, in Whose kingdom that +shall have no end let the earth rejoice; and Britain being one with them +in the joy of His faith, let the multitude of isles be glad, and give +thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. + + + + +Chap. XXIV. Chronological recapitulation of the whole work: also +concerning the author himself. + + +I have thought fit briefly to sum up those things which have been related +at length under their particular dates, that they may be the better kept +in memory.(1031) + +In the sixtieth year before the Incarnation of our Lord, Caius Julius +Caesar, first of the Romans invaded Britain, and was victorious, yet could +not maintain the supreme power there. [I, 2.] + +In the year of our Lord, 46, Claudius, being the second of the Romans who +came to Britain, received the surrender of a great part of the island, and +added the Orkney islands to the Roman empire. [I, 3.] + +In the year of our Lord 167, Eleuther, being made bishop at Rome, governed +the Church most gloriously fifteen years.(1032) To whom Lucius, king of +Britain, sent a letter, asking to be made a Christian, and succeeded in +obtaining his request. [I, 4.] + +In the year of our Lord 189, Severus, being made emperor, reigned +seventeen years; he fortified Britain with a rampart from sea to sea. [I, +5.] + +In the year 381, Maximus, being made emperor in Britain, crossed over into +Gaul, and slew Gratian. [I, 9.] + +In the year 409, Rome was overthrown by the Goths, from which time the +Romans ceased to rule in Britain. [I, 11.] + +In the year 430, Palladius was sent by Pope Celestine to the Scots that +believed in Christ to be their first bishop. [I, 13.] + +In the year 449, Marcian being made emperor with Valentinian, reigned +seven years; in whose time the English, being called in by the Britons, +came into Britain. [I, 15.] + +In the year 538, an eclipse of the sun came to pass on the 16th of +February, from the first hour until the third.(1033) + +In the year 540, an eclipse of the sun came to pass on the 20th of June, +and the stars appeared during almost half an hour after the third hour of +the day. + +In the year 547, Ida(1034) began to reign; he was the founder of the royal +family of the Northumbrians, and he reigned twelve years. + +In the year 565, the priest, Columba, came out of Scotland,(1035) into +Britain, to teach the Picts, and he built a monastery in the isle of Hii. +[III, 4.] + +In the year 596, Pope Gregory sent Augustine with monks into Britain, to +preach the good tidings of the Word of God to the English nation. [I, 23.] + +In the year 597, the aforesaid teachers arrived in Britain; being about +the 150th year from the coming of the English into Britain. [I, 25.] + +In the year 601, Pope Gregory sent the pall into Britain to Augustine, who +was already made bishop; he sent also several ministers of the Word, among +whom was Paulinus. [I, 29.] + +In the year 603, a battle was fought at Degsastan. [I, 34.] + +In the year 604, the East Saxons received the faith of Christ, under King +Sabert, Mellitus being bishop. [II, 3.] + +In the year 605, Gregory died. [II, 1.] + +In the year 616, Ethelbert, king of Kent died. [II, 5.] + +In the year 625, Paulinus was ordained bishop of the Northumbrians by +Archbishop Justus. [II, 9.] + +In the year 626, Eanfled, daughter of King Edwin, was baptized with twelve +others, on the eve of Whitsunday. [_Ib._] + +In the year 627, King Edwin was baptized, with his nation, at Easter. [II, +14.] + +In the year 633, King Edwin being killed, Paulinus returned to Kent. [II, +20.] + +In the year 640, Eadbald, king of Kent, died. [III, 8.] + +In the year 642, King Oswald was slain. [III, 9.] + +In the year 644, Paulinus, formerly bishop of York, but then of the city +of Rochester, departed to the Lord. [III, 14.] + +In the year 651, King Oswin was killed, and Bishop Aidan died. [_Ibid._] + +In the year 653, the Middle Angles, under their prince, Penda, were +admitted to the mysteries of the faith. [III, 21.] + +In the year 655, Penda was slain, and the Mercians became Christians. +[III, 24.] + +In the year 664, an eclipse came to pass; Earconbert, king of Kent, died; +and Colman with the Scots returned to his people; a pestilence arose; +Ceadda and Wilfrid were ordained bishops of the Northumbrians. [III, +26-28, IV, 1.] + +In the year 668, Theodore was ordained bishop. [IV, 1.] + +In the year 670, Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, died. [IV, 5.] + +In the year 673, Egbert, king of Kent, died; and a synod was held at +Hertford, in the presence of King Egfrid, Archbishop Theodore presiding: +the synod was of great profit, and its decrees are contained in ten +articles. [_Ibid._] + +In the year 675,(1036) Wulfhere, king of the Mercians, when he had reigned +seventeen years, died and left the government to his brother Ethelred. + +In the year 676, Ethelred ravaged Kent. [IV, 12.] + +In the year 678, a comet appeared; Bishop Wilfrid was driven from his see +by King Egfrid; and Bosa, Eata, and Eadhaed were consecrated bishops in +his stead. [_Ibid._; V, 19.] + +In the year 679, Aelfwine was killed. [IV, 21.] + +In the year 680, a synod was held in the plain of Haethfelth, concerning +the Catholic faith, Archbishop Theodore presiding; John, the Roman abbot, +was also present. The same year also the Abbess Hilda died at +Streanaeshalch. [IV, 17, 18, 23.] + +In the year 685, Egfrid, king of the Northumbrians, was slain. The same +year Hlothere, king of Kent, died. [IV, 26.] + +In the year 688, Caedwald, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome from +Britain. [V, 7.] + +In the year 690, Archbishop Theodore died. [V, 8.] + +In the year 697, Queen Osthryth was murdered by her own nobles, to wit, +the nobles of the Mercians.(1037) + +In the year 698, Berctred, an ealdorman of the king of the Northumbrians, +was slain by the Picts.(1038) + +In the year 704, Ethelred, after he had reigned thirty-one years over the +nation of the Mercians, became a monk, and gave up the kingdom to Coenred. +[V, 19.](1039) + +In the year 705, Aldfrid, king of the Northumbrians, died. [V, 18.] + +In the year 709, Coenred, king of the Mercians, having reigned five years, +went to Rome. [V, 19.] + +In the year 711, the commander Bertfrid fought with the Picts.(1040) + +In the year 716, Osred, king of the Northumbrians, was killed; and +Ceolred, king of the Mercians, died; and the man of God, Egbert, brought +the monks of Hii to observe the Catholic Easter and the ecclesiastical +tonsure. [V, 22.] + +In the year 725, Wictred, king of Kent, died. [V, 23.] + +In the year 729, comets appeared; the holy Egbert passed away; and Osric +died. [_Ibid._] + +In the year 731, Archbishop Bertwald died. [_Ibid._] + +The same year Tatwine was consecrated ninth archbishop of the church of +Canterbury, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Ethelbald, king of the +Mercians. [_Ibid._] + + ------------------------------------- + +Thus much of the Ecclesiastical History of Britain, and more especially of +the English nation, as far as I could learn either from the writings of +the ancients, or the tradition of our forefathers, or of my own knowledge, +with the help of the Lord, I, Bede,(1041) the servant of Christ, and +priest of the monastery of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, which is +at Wearmouth and Jarrow,(1042) have set forth. Having been born in the +territory of that same monastery, I was given, by the care of kinsmen, at +seven years of age, to be educated by the most reverend Abbot +Benedict,(1043) and afterwards by Ceolfrid,(1044) and spending all the +remaining time of my life a dweller in that monastery, I wholly applied +myself to the study of Scripture; and amidst the observance of monastic +rule, and the daily charge of singing in the church, I always took delight +in learning, or teaching, or writing. In the nineteenth year of my age, I +received deacon's orders; in the thirtieth, those of the priesthood, both +of them by the ministry of the most reverend Bishop John,(1045) and at the +bidding of the Abbot Ceolfrid. From the time when I received priest's +orders, till the fifty-ninth year of my age, I have made it my business, +for my own needs and those of my brethren, to compile out of the works of +the venerable Fathers, the following brief notes on the Holy Scriptures, +and also to make some additions after the manner of the meaning and +interpretation given by them:(1046) + +On the Beginning of Genesis, to the birth of Isaac and the casting out of +Ishmael, four books. + +Concerning the Tabernacle and its Vessels, and of the Vestments of the +Priests, three books. + +On the first part of Samuel, to the Death of Saul, three books. + +Concerning the Building of the Temple, of Allegorical Exposition, and +other matters, two books. + +Likewise on the Book of Kings, thirty Questions.(1047) + +On the Proverbs of Solomon, three books. + +On the Song of Songs, seven books. + +On Isaiah, Daniel, the twelve Prophets, and Part of Jeremiah, Divisions of +Chapters, collected from the Treatise of the blessed Jerome. + +On Ezra and Nehemiah, three books. + +On the song of Habakkuk, one book. + +On the Book of the blessed Father Tobias, one Book of Allegorical +Explanation concerning Christ and the Church. + +Also, Chapters of Readings on the Pentateuch of Moses, Joshua, and Judges; + +On the Books of Kings and Chronicles; + +On the Book of the blessed Father Job; + +On the Proverbs,(1048) Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs; + +On the Prophets Isaiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah. + +On the Gospel of Mark, four books. + +On the Gospel of Luke, six books. + +Of Homilies on the Gospel, two books. + +On the Apostle,(1049) whatsoever I have found in the works of St. +Augustine I have taken heed to transcribe in order. + +On the Acts of the Apostles, two books. + +On the seven Catholic Epistles, a book on each. + +On the Revelation of St. John, three books. + +Likewise, Chapters of Lessons on all the New Testament, except the Gospel. + +Likewise a book of Epistles to divers Persons, of which one is of the Six +Ages of the world; one of the Halting-places of the Children of Israel; +one on the words of Isaiah, "And they shall be shut up in the prison, and +after many days shall they be visited";(1050) one of the Reason of +Leap-Year, and one of the Equinox, according to Anatolius.(1051) + +Likewise concerning the Histories of Saints: I translated the Book of the +Life and Passion of St. Felix, Confessor,(1052) from the metrical work of +Paulinus, into prose; the Book of the Life and Passion of St. +Anastasius,(1053) which was ill translated from the Greek, and worse +amended by some ignorant person, I have corrected as to the sense as far +as I could; I have written the Life of the Holy Father Cuthbert,(1054) who +was both monk and bishop, first in heroic verse, and afterwards in prose. + +The History of the Abbots of this monastery, in which I rejoice to serve +the Divine Goodness, to wit, Benedict, Ceolfrid, and Huaetbert,(1055) in +two books. + +The Ecclesiastical History of our Island and Nation, in five books. + +The Martyrology of the Festivals of the Holy Martyrs, in which I have +carefully endeavoured to set down all whom I could find, and not only on +what day, but also by what sort of combat, and under what judge they +overcame the world. + +A Book of Hymns in divers sorts of metre, or rhythm. + +A Book of Epigrams in heroic or elegiac verse. + +Of the Nature of Things, and of the Times, one book of each; likewise, of +the Times, one larger book. + +A book of Orthography arranged in Alphabetical Order. + +Likewise a Book of the Art of Poetry, and to it I have added another +little Book of Figures of Speech or Tropes; that is, of the Figures and +Modes of Speech in which the Holy Scriptures are written. + +And I beseech Thee, good Jesus, that to whom Thou hast graciously granted +sweetly to drink in the words of Thy knowledge, Thou wilt also vouchsafe +in Thy loving-kindness that he may one day come to Thee, the Fountain of +all wisdom, and appear for ever before Thy face. + + + + + +CONTINUATION + + +_The Continuation of Bede._(1056) + +In the year 731 King Ceolwulf was taken prisoner, and tonsured, and sent +back to his kingdom; Bishop Acca was driven from his see. + +In the year 732, Egbert(1057) was made Bishop of York, in the room of +Wilfrid. + +[Cynibert Bishop of Lindsey died.] + +[In the year of our Lord 733, Archbishop Tatwine, having received the pall +by Apostolic authority, ordained Alwic(1058) and Sigfrid,(1059) bishops.] + +In the year 733, there was an eclipse of the sun on the 14th day of August +about the third hour, in such wise that the whole orb of the sun seemed to +be covered with a black and gloomy shield. + +In the year 734, the moon, on the 31st of January, about the time of +cock-crowing, was, for about a whole hour, coloured blood-red, after which +a blackness followed, and she regained her wonted light. + +In the year from the Incarnation of Christ, 734, bishop Tatwine died. + +In the year 735, Nothelm was ordained archbishop; and bishop Egbert, +having received the pall from the Apostolic see, was the first to be +established as archbishop(1060) after Paulinus, and he ordained +Frithbert,(1061) and Frithwald(1062) bishops; and the priest Bede +died.(1063) + +In the year 737, an excessive drought rendered the land unfruitful; and +Ceolwulf, voluntarily receiving the tonsure, left the kingdom to +Eadbert.(1064) + +In the year 739, Edilhart,(1065) king of the West-Saxons, died, as did +Archbishop Nothelm. + +In the year 740, Cuthbert(1066) was consecrated in Nothelm's stead. +Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, cruelly and wrongfully wasted part of +Northumbria, their king, Eadbert, with his army, being employed against +the Picts. Bishop Ethelwald died also, and Conwulf,(1067) was consecrated +in his stead. Arnwin(1068) and Eadbert(1069) were slain. + +In the year 741, a great drought came upon the country. Charles,(1070) +king of the Franks, died; and his sons, Caroloman and Pippin,(1071) +reigned in his stead. + +In the year 745, Bishop Wilfrid and Ingwald, Bishop of London, departed to +the Lord. + +In the year 747, the man of God, Herefrid,(1072) died. + +In the year 750, Cuthred, king of the West Saxons, rose up against king +Ethelbald and Oengus; Theudor and Eanred died; Eadbert added the plain of +Kyle and other places to his dominions.(1073) + +In the year 753, in the fifth year of King Eadbert, on the 9th of +January,(1074) an eclipse of the sun came to pass; afterwards, in the same +year and month, on the 24th day of January, the moon suffered an eclipse, +being covered with a gloomy, black shield, in like manner as was the sun a +little while before. + +In the year 754, Boniface,(1075) called also Winfrid, Bishop of the +Franks, received the crown of martyrdom, together with fifty-three others; +and Redger was consecrated archbishop in his stead, by pope Stephen. + +In the year 757, Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, was treacherously and +miserably murdered, in the night, by his own guards; Beornred(1076) began +his reign; Cyniwulf,(1077) king of the West Saxons, died; and the same +year, Offa, having put Beornred to flight, sought to gain the kingdom of +the Mercians by bloodshed. + +In the year 758, Eadbert, king of the Northumbrians, receiving St. Peter's +tonsure for the love of God, and to the end that he might take the +heavenly country by force,(1078) left the kingdom to his son Oswulf. + +In the year 755, Oswulf was wickedly murdered by his own thegns; and +Ethelwald, being chosen the same year by his people, entered upon the +kingdom; in whose second year there was great tribulation by reason of +pestilence, which continued almost two years, divers grievous sicknesses +raging, but more especially the disease of dysentery. + +In the year 761, Oengus,(1079) king of the Picts, died; who, from the +beginning to the end of his reign, continued to be a blood-stained and +tyrannical butcher; Oswin(1080) was also slain. + +In the year 765, King Aluchred came to the throne.(1081) + +In the year 766 A.D., Archbishop Egbert, of the royal race, and endued +with divine knowledge, as also Frithbert, both of them truly faithful +bishops, departed to the Lord. + + + + + +INDEX + + +Aaron, British Martyr, 18. + +Aaron, High Priest, 361. + +"Abbots, Anonymous History of the," editorial references to, xxxv, 257 n., + 389 n.; + _and see_ Bede. + +Abercorn or Aebbercurnig, Monastery of, xxix, 286. + +Abraham's Oak, 342. + +Abraham's Tomb, 341. + +Acca, friend of Bede, afterwards Bishop of Hexham, in succession to + Wilfrid, xxx, 161, 248, 357, 358, 379 n., 381; + his attachment to Wilfrid, 161, 355, 358; + driven from his see, 161, 390; + his good works, musical gifts and learning, 358; + educated by Bosa, 358. + +Acha, sister of Edwin, wife of Ethelfrid, and mother of Oswald, 147, 383 + n. + +Acts of the Apostles, quoted, 11, 197, 304, 335, 371. + +"Adalbert, Life of," editorial reference to, 143 n. + +Adam, 130, 341 n.; + his tomb, 341. + +Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, 140 n., 285 n.; + his work on the Holy Places ("De Locis Sanctis"), xxii, xxx, 337, 338; + his "Life of St. Columba," 336 n.; + his missions to King Aldfrid, 336, 372; + converts the Irish to the Catholic Easter and ecclesiastical tonsure, + 336, 337, 372, 373; + his death, 337; + receives Arculf, 338; + return to Ireland, 373. + +Adamnan, Monk of Coldingham, foretells the burning of Coldingham + Monastery, xxix, 283, 284; + his vision, 281, 283, 284; + his penitence, 282, 283; + his austerity, 281, 282, 283. + +Ad Barvae, or At the Wood, Monastery of, 219, 231. + +Adda, Northumbrian priest, xxvii, 180, 181. + +Addi, a thegn, 308. + +Adeodatus, 179 n. + +Adgefrin, _see_ Yeavering. + +Adtuifyrdi, _see_ Twyford. + +Adulwald, _see_ Eadbald. + +Aebba, Abbess of Coldingham, half-sister of Oswy, 260, 283, 284; + account of, 260 n.; + her name, 260 n.; + founds the monasteries of Ebchester and Coldingham, 260 n.; + her friendship for Cuthbert, 260 n.; + intercedes for Wilfrid, 260 n., 352 n.; + her death, 284. + +Aebbercurnig, _see_ Abercorn. + +Aecci, Bishop of Dunwich, 231. + +Aedan, King of Scots, defeated by Ethelfrid, 73, 74. + +Aedgils, fellow priest of Bede, 284. + +Aelfric ("Grammaticus") editorial reference to, 288 n. + +Aelfric, father of Osric, 134, 164 n. + +Aelfwine, brother of Egfrid, 267, 385. + +Aelli, King of Deira, 73, 83; + Gregory's pun on his name, 83. + +Aelli, King of Sussex, first Bretwalda, 94, 245 n. + +Aenhere, King of the Hwiccas, 246. + +Aescwine, Sub-king of Wessex, 241 n. + +Aesica, a little boy dedicated to religion, xxxiii, 234. + +Aetherius, Archbishop of Lyons, 44, 49, 63. + +Aetius, the Consul, 26, 27; + put to death by Valentinian, 27, 41. + +Aetla, Bishop of Dorchester, 272, 273. + +Aetswinapathe, _see_ Ouestraefelda. + +Africa, Churches of, 196. + +Agabus, the prophet, 11. + +Agatha, St., 265. + +Agatho, Pope, 254 n.; + sends John the precentor to report on the English Church, 257, 258, 259; + holds a Synod against the Monothelites, 352; + tries Wilfrid's cause, 352, 353, 354. + +Agatho, a priest, companion of Agilbert, 195. + +Agilbert, missionary to the West Saxons, Bishop of Dorchester, 147, 148, + 149, 194, 241; + offended by Coinwalch, returns to Gaul, 150; + made Bishop of Paris, 150, 350; + refuses to return to England, and sends Leutherius in his place, 150, + 151; + at the Whitby Synod, 195, 196, 201; + his ignorance of English, 196; + entertains Theodore, 215; + consecrates Wilfrid, 206, 350. + +Agnes, St., 54 n., 265. + +Agricola, 11 n. + +Agricola, son of Severianus, a Pelagian, 32. + +Aidan, Monk of Iona, Abbot and Bishop of Lindisfarne, xxv, xxvi, 4 n., 139 + n., 140, 201, 347 n.; + Bede's admiration for, xxxix; + his mission to Northumbria, 138, 144, 146, 376; + his life, 144, 146; + ordination, 144; + his character, 138, 144, 145, 170, 171; + his doctrine, 144, 145; + his good example, 144, 145; + his rebuke to Corman, 145; + gives his horse to a beggar, 165; + his friendship for Oswin, 165, 166; + death, 166, 169, 192, 288 n., 384; + his prevision of Oswin's death, 166; + foretells and calms a storm, 166, 167; + his miracles, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170; + at Farne, 168; + saves Bamborough from fire, 168; + his body translated to Lindisfarne, 169, 202; + his observance of Easter, 170, 171, 193; + his disciples, 202, 208; + his rule, 290; + persuades Hilda to return to Northumbria, 271; + consecrates Heiu as a nun, 271. + +Aire, the River, 189 n. + +Akeburgh (perhaps Jacobsburgh), 132 n. + +Alani, the, 22, 41. + +Alaric, 22. + +Alban, St., xxiii, 39; + his conversion, 14, 15, 16; + Lives of, 15 n.; + miracles, 17; + his tomb, 36; + his blood, 36. + +Albinus, Abbot of St. Augustine's Monastery, Canterbury, in succession to + Hadrian, xxx, 2 n., 3, 357; + his scholarship, 2, 357; + furnishes Bede with materials for the "Ecclesiastical History," 2, 3. + +Albion, early name of Britain, 5. + +Alchfled, daughter of Oswy, wife of Peada, 180, 191. + +Alchfrid, King of Deira, son of Oswy, xxvii, 195, 206, 377 n.; + rebels against Oswy, 163, 207 n.; + account of, 163 n.; + converts Peada, 180; + death, 180 n.; + at the battle of the Winwaed, 188; + friendship for Wilfrid, 194, 350; + his observance of Easter, 194, 195; + at Whitby, 195; + friendship for Coinwalch of Wessex, 350. + +Alcluith, or Dumbarton, _see_ Dumbarton. + +Alcuin, his letter to the monks of Wearmouth, xxxv; + his influence on learning, xxxvi; + his anecdote of Bede, xxxvii; + his "De Sanct. Ebor." quoted, 243 n., 273 n.; + his "Life of Wilbrord" quoted, 143 n.; + ref. to, 319 n., 320, 323 n., 325 n. + +Aldbert, Bishop of Dunwich, 379, 380. + +Aldfrid, King of Northumbria after Egfrid, xxix, 287, 302, 312, 353 n., + 372, 377 n.; + death, xxx, 342, 356, 385, 391 n.; + his relations with Wilfrid, 247 n., 353, 354, 356; + account of, 287 n.; + retrieves the fortunes of Northumbria, 287; + visits Drythelm, 331; + friendship for Adamnan, 336, 338; + his exile in Iona, 336 n. + +Aldgils, King of Frisland, 351. + +Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, xxx, 148 n., 210 n., 265 n., 343, 345 n.; + his women scholars, 237 n.; + letter to Geraint, 336 n., 344; + account of, 343 n.; + letter to Wilfrid's clergy, 343 n.; + made Abbot of Malmesbury, 343 n., 344; + death, 343 n., 344; + buried at St. Michael's, Malmesbury, 343 n.; + his literary works, 344. + +Aldwin, Abbot of Partney or Peartaneu, 158. + +Aldwin, or Worr, Bishop of Lichfield, 379, 380. + +Aldwulf, Bishop of Rochester, 378, 379, 380. + +Aldwulf, King of East Anglia, son of Ethelhere, 121, 254, 271; + his support of Ethelthryth, 260 n. + +Alemanni, the, 92 n. + +Alexandria, 338, 364. + +Alexandria, Bishop of, _see_ Cyril, Theophilus. + +Alexandrians, the, 366 n. + +Alfred, his translation of the "Ecclesiastical History," xx, 321 n. + +"Alfrid," King of Northumbria, 377 n. + +Allectus, 14. + +Allelujah, or Hallelujah, 83. + +All Martyrs, the Festival of, later the festival of All Saints, 93 n. + +All Saints, the Festival of, introduced by Pope Boniface, 93 n. + +Alne, the River, 292. + +Alric, son of Wictred of Kent, 377. + +Aluchred, King of Northumbria, 393. + +Alweo, brother of Penda, 380 n. + +Alwic, Bishop of Lindsey, 390. + +Amasea, Bishop of, _see_ Asterius. + +Amber, 6. + +Ambleteuse, _see_ Amfleat. + +Ambrose, St., quoted, xlii. + +Ambrosius Aurelianus, 31, 32. + +Amfleat, or Ambleteuse, 72, 73. + +Amphibalus, St., 15. + +Amulets, 289. + +Anastasis (Resurrection of our Lord), Church at Jerusalem, 339. + +Anastasius, St., 388. + +Anatolius, Bishop of Laodicea, authority on the Easter question, 139, 198, + 199, 368 n., 388. + +Ancyra, a cloak of, 109. + +Andeley-sur-Seine, Monastery of, 152. + +Andhun, ealdorman, rules the South Saxons, 251. + +Andilegum, _see_ Andeley-sur-Seine. + +Andragius, _see_ Androgius. + +Andredsweald, the, 245 n. + +Andrew, a monk, refuses the English Archbishopric, 214. + +Andrew, St., 42 n., 89, 163. + +Androgius, Andragius, Androgorius or Mandubracius, Chief of the + Trinovantes, 10. + +Angels, xxxviii, 174, 175, 176, 221, 222, 333, 334. + +Angles, 29, 30, 31, 82; + Gregory's pun upon, 82. + +Anglesea, 94, 102. + +Anglia, the name of, 30. + +Angrivarii, the, 317 n. + +Angulus, _see_ Anglia. + +Anna, King of East Anglia, 149, 152, 172, 185, 189, 232, 260 n., 271 n.; + his piety, 149, 172, 259; + his good children, 149, 173; + slain by Penda, 173; + enriches the monastery of Cnobheresburg, 174. + +"Annales Cambriae," editorial references to, 32 n., 337 n. + +"Annales Francorum," editorial reference to, 323 n. + +Annegray, Monastery of, 92 n. + +Annemundus (Dalfinus), Archbishop of Lyons, 194; + his kindness to Wilfrid, 248, 348; + his execution, 349. + +Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, 72 n. + +Antioch, Patriarch of, _see_ Anastasius. + +Antoninus Pius, his rampart, 24. + +Antonius, Bassianus, Emperor, 13. + +Antwerp, xxi. + +Appleby, Thomas, Bishop of Carlisle, 294 n. + +Apollinarianism, 255 n. + +Apostles, the, their manner of tonsure, 370. + +Aquila, 197. + +Aquileia, 20. + +Aquitaine, 21 n., 33 n., 369 n. + +Arcadius, Emperor of the East, son of Theodosius, 20. + +Arculf, Bishop of Gaul, 337-340. + +Argyll, 8 n. + +Arianism, xxiii, 19, 20, 148 n., 255. + +Arles, 22, 49, 215; + Bishop of, 54. + +Arles, Archbishop of, _see_ John, Vergilius. + +Armagh, Abbot of, _see_ Tomene. + +Armagh, Bishop of, _see_ Tomene. + +Armenia, 6. + +Armorica, 7. + +Armoricans, 41. + +Arnwin, 391. + +Arwald, King of the Isle of Wight, 252; + his brothers, 252, 253. + +Asclepiodotus, restores Britain to the Romans, 14. + +Ascension, the Basilica of the, at Jerusalem, 340, 341. + +Asia, Churches of, 196. + +Asterius, Bishop of Genoa (Archbishop of Milan), 148. + +Asterius, Bishop of Amasea, 265 n. + +Astronomy, 217. + +Athelstan, 303 n. + +Atlantic, the, 5. + +At the Stone, _see_ Stoneham. + +At the Wood, _see_ Ad Barvae. + +Attila, King of the Huns, 27, 317 n. + +Audrey, popular form of Ethelthryth, 263 n. + +Augustine, St., sent by Pope Gregory to convert the English, xxi, xxii, + xxiii, xxiv, 42, 43, 47, 48, 81, 86, 94 n., 98, 126, 210 n.; + ordained abbot, 43; + recommended to Aetherius, 44; + lands in Thanet, 45, 93, 94, 142 n., 383; + received by Ethelbert and Bertha, 45, 46, 47; + settles at Canterbury, 47, 48, 72; + his report to Gregory, 49; + ordained Archbishop of the English at Arles, 49, 383; + his see, 49 n.; + recommended by Gregory to Vergilius, 63, 64; + receives the pall, 64, 65, 66, 383; + his miracles, 68, 69, 81, 83, 85; + recommended to Ethelbert by Gregory, 70, 71; + restores the Church of St. Saviour, Canterbury, 72; + builds the Monastery of SS. Peter and Paul, 72; + calls a Synod, 83; + his dispute with the British bishops, 85, 87; + his prophecy of disaster, 87, 89; + ordains Mellitus and Justus, 89; + death, 88, 89, 90; + buried in the Church of SS. Peter and Paul, 72, 90; + his tomb and epitaph, 90; + his body translated, 90 n.; + his monastic rule, 290. + +Augustine, St., Bishop of Hippo, 21, 388; + The Sentences of, 341 n. + +Augustine's Ac, or Augustine's Oak, Synod at, 84-86. + +Augustus, Emperor, 11, 12, 13, 20, 22, 26, 29, 42. + +Aurelius Commodus, Emperor, 12. + +Aurelius Victor, quoted, 135 n. + +Aust, probably Augustine's Ac, 84 n. + +Austerfield, Northumbria, 353 n. + +Austrasia, King of, _see_ Dagobert. + +Avon, the River, in Linlithgow, 189 n. + +Aylesford, Kent, 30. + +Ayrshire, 325 n., 392 n. + +Babbanburch, _see_ Bamborough. + +Badbury, Dorsetshire, supposed to be Badon Hill, 32 n. + +Badon Hill, Battle of, 32, 42 n. + +Baducing, patronymic of Benedict Biscop, 257 n. + +Badudegn, a monk of Lindisfarne, 298, 299. + +Badwin, Bishop of Elmham, 231. + +Baithanus, Irish bishop, 128. + +Balder, the God, 323 n. + +Baldhild, or Bathild, Queen Regent of Neustria, wife of Clovis II, 152 n., + 349. + +Ballads, English, 277 n. + +Baltic, The, 317 n. + +Bamborough, Babbanburch, Bebbanburh, or Bebburgh, 147, 161, 168, 383 n., + 385 n. + +Bangor, alleged birthplace of Pelagius, 21. + +Bangor-is-Coed, or Bancornaburg, monastery of, 86, 86 n., 88. + +Bangor, Abbot of, _see_ Dinoot. + +Baptism, of women, 55, 56; + of children, 55, 56; + its practice in the British Church, 87; + in the Roman Church, 87; + proper days for, 104 n.; + ritual of, 119. + +Bardney, Monastery of, 123 n., 157, 158, 224, 241 n.; + endowed by Ethelred and Osthryth, 157; + burial place of Oswald, 157, 158. + +Bardney, Abbot of, _see_ Ethelred, Hygbald. + +Barking, or In Berecingum, Monastery of, xxviii, xxxiii, 232, 233, 234, + 235, 237, 238. + +Barking, Abbess of, _see_ Ethelburg. + +Barrow, Lincolnshire, 219 n. + +Barton-on-Humber, 219 n. + +Basil, St., his Hexameron, quoted, 6. + +Bassianus, _see_ Antonius. + +Bassus, Edwin's thegn, 132. + +Bathild, _see_ Baldhild. + +Baths of Britain, 6. + +Bay of the Lighthouse, _see_ Whitby. + +Beardaneu, _see_ Bardney. + +Bebba, Queen, 147, 168. + +Bebbanburh, or Bebburgh, _see_ Bamborough. + +Bede, or Beda, the author, called "Venerable," xxi, xxxiv; + account of his life, xxxiii-xliii; + his family, xxxiii; + born near Wearmouth, xxxiii, xxxiv, 386; + his instructors, xxxiii, xxxiv, 222, 257 n., 386; + his ordination, xxxiii, 273 n., 386; + his life spent in the Monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow, xxxiii, xxxiv, + 137 n., 386; + dates of his birth and death, xxxiv; + his autobiography, xxxiv, 386-389; + his diligence, xxxiv; + his eyes dim in age, xxxiv; + his death, xix, xxxiv, xxxix-xliii, 391; + his epitaph, xxxiv; + his learning, xxxiv, xxxv, xxxvi; + his style, xxxvi; + visits Lindisfarne, xxxvi; + visits York, xxxvi; + Egbert his pupil, xxxvi; + his "Epistola ad Ecgbertum," xxxvi, 273 n., 342 n.; + his influence, xxxvi; + his last illness, xxxvi, xxxix, xl, xlii, xliii; + his "Life of Cuthbert" in prose and verse, xxxvi, 4 n., 260 n., 285 n., + 287 n., 288 n., 291, 309; + story of his visit to Rome, xxxvi; + story of his residence at Cambridge, xxxvi; + his writings, xxxvii, 311 n.; + list of his literary works and compilations, 386-389; + his studies, xxxvii, 386-389; + his duties, xxxvii; + his character, xxxvii, xxxviii, xxxix; + his zeal for Catholic usages, xxxviii, xxxix; + his admiration for Aidan, xxxix; + dictates to Wilbert his translation of St. John and St. Isidore, xlii, + xliii; + buried at Jarrow, xl; + his relics stolen by Elfred and carried to Durham, xl; + translated with those of St. Cuthbert to the new Cathedral, xl; + a shrine erected to him by Hugh de Puisac, xl; + his chronology corrected, 9, 11, 12, 13 n., 20 n., 22 n., 23 n., 27 n., + 28 n., 29 n., 42 n., 63 n., 68 n., 75 n., 94 n., 241 n., 254 + n., 287 n., 314 n.; + his "Martyrology," editorial references to, 27 n., 99 n., 265 n.; + his friendship for Acca, 161 n.; + his "De Temporibus," 170; + his "De temporum Ratione," 170, 227 n.; + his "History of the Abbots," 213 n., 215 n., 257 n., 287 n.; + uses the Caesarean system of Indictions, 227 n.; + his "De Locis Santis," 337 n., 338 n.; + said to have written Ceolfrid's Letter to Naiton, 360 n.; + his "Expositio in Marci Evangelium," 364 n.; + his "Ecclesiastical History," _see_ Ecclesiastical. + +Bega, Irish Saint, 271 n., 275 n. + +Begu, a nun, has a vision of Hilda's death, 275, 276. + +Belgium, or Belgic Gaul, 5, 13 n. + +Benedict I, Pope, 83. + +Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, 215 n., 359, 389; + Bede trained under, xxxiii, 386; + founds the monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow, xxxiv, 257; + his library, xxxv, 257 n., 287 n.; + temporary abbot of SS. Peter and Paul's Monastery, 216 n.; + goes to Rome, 257, 348; + account of, 257 n.; + brings John the Precentor back with him to Britain, 257, 258; + obtains a letter of privilege for his monastery, 257, 258; + his monastic rule, 257 n. + +Benedictus Crispus, Archbishop of Milan, 313 n. + +Benedictine Order of Monks, 275 n. + +Beneventum, 21 n. + +Benjamin, 73. + +Beornred, King of Mercia, said to have murdered Ethelbald, 392. + +Berct, Berctred, Brectrid or Briht, Egfrid's General, lays Ireland waste, + 285, 336 n.; + slain by the Picts, 385. + +Berecingum, or Barking, _see_ Barking. + +Berkshire, 10 n., 343 n. + +Bernicia, History of, xxvi, 82 n., 83 n., 120, 137, 141, 147, 190; + diocese of, 244 n. + +Bernicia, Bishop of, _see_ Eata. + +Bernicia, King of, _see_ Eanfrid, Ethelric, Ida, Oswald, Oswy. + +Bernwin, Wilfrid's nephew, his mission to the Isle of Wight, 252. + +Bersted, Witenagemot of, 316 n. + +Bertfrid, Osrid's Ealdorman, 385. + +Bertgils, surnamed Boniface, _see_ Boniface. + +Bertha, daughter of Charibert, wife of Ethelbert of Kent, 46, 48, 94, 95 + n., 132 n. + +Berthun, Ethelwalch's Ealdorman, 251. + +Berthun, Abbot of Beverley, 273 n., 302, 303, 305. + +Bertwald, Archbishop of Canterbury after Theodore, xxx, xxxi, 239 n., 314, + 315, 343 n., 344 n., 353 n.; + his burial place, 90; + his election and consecration, 274 n., 316, 323; + Abbot of Reculver, 315; + his learning, 315; + ordains Tobias, 316; + returns from the Continent, 323 n.; + reconciled to Wilfrid, 354 n., 355, 356 n.; + at the Synod on the Nidd, 356 n.; + consecrates Aldwulf, 378; + death, 378, 386. + +Berwickshire, 260 n. + +Betendune, _see_ Watton. + +Bethlehem, 338, 339. + +Betti, a Northumbrian priest, xxvii, 180, 181. + +Beverley, Inderauuda, or In the Wood of the Deiri, Monastery of, founded + by John and Berthun, 273 n., 303, 307. + +Beverley, Abbot of, _see_ Berthun, John. + +Bewcastle, 163 n. + +Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester, converts the West Saxons, xxvi, 147, 148, + 241; + consecrated by Asterius, 148; + death, 148; + buried at Dorchester, 148; + his body translated to Winchester, 148, 149. + +Biscop, _see_ Benedict. + +Bishop Burton, 307 n. + +Bishops, rules for, 49, 50, 228, 229; + their stipends, 49, 50; + consecration of, 53, 54, 65, 85 n. + +Bishoprics, English, List of in 731 A.D., 379 n.; + subdivision of, 122 n., 229, 231, 242-4, 272 n., 273 n., 343. + +Bisi, Bishop of Dunwich after Boniface, 227, 228 n., 230. + +Blackwater, the River, 183 n. + +Blaecca, Reeve of Lincoln, converted, 122. + +Bledla, King of the Huns, 27. + +Blessed Mother of God, Church of the, at Lastingham, 187; + at Barking, 237; + in St. Augustine's, Canterbury, 357. + +Blithryda, or Plectrude, wife of Pippin, 324. + +Blood-letting, 305, 306. + +Bobbio, Monastery of, 92 n. + +Boethius referred to, 145 n. + +Boisil, Provost of Melrose, 288; + teaches Cuthbert, 288, 289, 292; + death, 289; + appears to one of his disciples in dreams, and forbids Egbert to go to + the Germans, 317, 318, 319. + +Boniface IV, Pope, 92, 93; + his pastoral letters to the English Church, 93. + +Boniface V, Pope, xxv, 112, 124; + his letters, 98, 100, 101, 105, 111, 380 n.; + sends the pall to Justus, 100; + sends gifts to Edwin, 109; + to Ethelberg, 111; + death, 105 n. + +Boniface, St., editorial references to, 3 n., 87 n., 179 n., 237 n., 324 + n., 325 n., 342 n., 346 n., 391 n.; + his martyrdom, 392; + account of, 392 n. + +Boniface, or Bertgils, Bishop of Dunwich, or of the East Angles, 179, 206 + n., 207 n.; + death, 230. + +Boniface, the Archdeacon, Pope's Counsellor at Wilfrid's second trial, + 349, 354. + +Boniface (probably St. Cuiritin), missionary, converts Naiton to Roman + usages, 359 n. + +Bordeaux, Pilgrim of, 340 n. + +Borrowdale, 294 n. + +Boructuari, The, 245 n., 317; + converted by Suidbert, 324. + +Bosa, Bishop of Deira or York, 243, 244, 358; + account of, 243 n.; + consecrated in Wilfrid's place, 244, 385; + educated at Whitby under Hilda, 272, 273; + death, 305, 356 n. + +Bosel, Bishop of Worcester, 273, 274. + +Bosham, or Bosanhamm, Monastery of, 246. + +Bothelm, 137, 138. + +Boulogne, or Gessoriacum, 5, 13, 72 n., 73. + +Bowmont Water, 120 n. + +Bowness-on-Solway, 25 n. + +Boy, a Saxon, his dying vision of SS. Peter and Paul, 248, 249, 250, 251. + +Bradford-on-Avon, 210 n. + +Bredon, or Briudun, monastery of, 379. + +Bregusuid, mother of Hilda, 274. + +Bretwalda, _see_ Aelli, Caelin, Edwin, Ethelbert, Oswald, Oswy, Redwald. + +Bridius, or Bruide Mac Maelchon, King of the Picts, 141 n., 142. + +Brige, In Brige, or Faremoutier-en-Brie, monastery of, 151, 152. + +Brige, Abbess of, _see_ Fara, Ethelberg, Saethryth. + +Bright, his "Early English Church History," vi; + references to, 12 n., 51 n., 84 n., 105 n., 121 n., 148 n., 151 n., 183 + n., 195 n., 214 n., 242 n., 251 n., 292 n., 326 n. + +Briht, _see_ Berct. + +Britain, xxiii; + Roman occupation of, xxiii, 9-23; + description of, 5, 6; + language, 6, 80; + freed from Roman rule, 22, 23, 26, 382; + the Romans return to, 24; + its corruption during peace, 28, 41, 42; + suffers from a plague, 28, 29; + overrun by the Angles and Saxons, 29, 31, 32; + civil wars in, 41; + converted to Christianity, 80. + +Britain, Church of, _see_ British. + +Britain, King of, _see_ Lucius. + +Britannicus, son of Claudius, 11. + +British Church, xxiii, xxiv, xxxix, 19, 54, 55, 86, 92; + its attitude towards the Easter question, xxiv, 91, 196, 336, 344, 376 + n., 381; + refuses allegiance to Augustine, 87; + approached by Laurentius, 92. + +British Museum, The, 331 n. + +Britons, or Brythons, xxxi; + defeated by Ethelfrid, xxiv, 73; + origin of, 6, 7; + language, 6. + +Britons of Strathclyde, 286, 336 n. + +Britons of Strathclyde, King of, _see_ Theudor. + +Brittany, 7 n. + +Briudun, _see_ Bredon. + +Brocmail, Welsh Prince, 88. + +Bromnis, 352 n. + +Bructeri, The, 317 n. + +Bruide, _see_ Bridius. + +Bruide Mac Bili, King of the Picts, 285 n. + +Brythons, _see_ Britons. + +Buckinghamshire, 10 n. + +Bulgarians, 317 n. + +Burford, Battle of, 380 n., 392 n. + +Burgh Castle, Monastery of, 174, 177. + +Burgh Castle, Abbot of, _see_ Fursa. + +Burghelm, a priest of Wilfrid's, 245. + +Burgundians, 92 n. + +Burgundofarus, _see_ Faro. + +Burgundy, 122. + +Burton, _see_ Bishop, North, South. + +Bury, Professor, his "Life of St. Patrick," reference to, 27 n. + +Butler, his "Lives of the Saints," reference to, 388 n. + +Cadvan, father of Caedwalla the Briton, 130 n. + +Cadwalader, son of Caedwalla the Briton, 241 n. + +Cadwallon, _see_ Caedwalla. + +Caedmon, the Poet, his life and death, 277-281. + +Caedwalla, or Cadwallon, King of Gwynedd in Wales, xxv, 241 n.; + account of, 130 n.; + his revolt against Edwin, 130, 131; + allied with Penda, 130; + his cruelty, 131, 135; + a Christian, 131; + besieged by Osric in York, 134, 135; + kills Osric, 134, 135; + kills Eanfrid by treachery, 135; + slain by Oswald, 135. + +Caedwalla, King of Wessex, xxx, 287 n., 353 n.; + account of, 241 n.; + in exile, 251; + kills Ethelwalch in battle, 251; + expelled by Andhun and Berthun, 251; + kills Berthun, 251; + conquers and reunites Wessex, 241, 251, 252; + conquers the South Saxons and the Isle of Wight, 252, 253; + his relations with Wilfrid, 252; + kills Arwald's brothers, 252, 253; + in concealment at Redbridge, 253; + wounded in the Isle of Wight, 253; + abdicates, 241, 345 n.; + his pilgrimage to Rome, 241, 312, 313, 314, 345, 385; + baptized under the name of Peter, 312, 313; + dies at Rome, 241, 312, 314; + buried in St. Peter's, 313; + his epitaph, 313, 314. + +Caelin, or Ceaulin, King of the West Saxons, second Bretwalda, 94, 241 n. + +Caelin, brother of Cedd, 185, 187. + +Caerleon-on-Usk, or City of Legions, 18. + +Caesar, Caius Julius, editorial references to his works, 5 n., 10; + his invasion of Britain, 9, 10, 11, 23, 382; + returns to Gaul, 10. + +Caesarea, library of, 369 n.; + Bishop of, _see_ Eusebius. + +Caesarean System of Indictions, 227 n., 254 n. + +Caiaphas, 335. + +Cairbre Riada, _see_ Reuda. + +Caistor, or Cyneburgacaster, Abbess of, _see_ Cyneburg. + +Calcaria, or Kaelcacaestir, now Tadcaster, 271, 272. + +Cale, _see_ Chelles. + +Caledonians, the, 14 n. + +Cambridge, xix, xxxvi, 172 n., 261 n. + +Cambridgeshire, 112 n., 179 n., 259 n. + +Campania, 21, 214, 388 n. + +Campodonum, or Donafeld, 120. + +Canche, the, 215 n. + +Candidus, a presbyter, 44. + +Cannes, 33 n. + +Canons of the Western Church, 228. + +Canterbury, or Doruvernis, 47, 48, 49, 210 n., 254, 255, 379; + churches of, xxii, 3, 51 n., 72; + see of, 49 n., 379 n.; + monastery at, 72; + almost destroyed by fire, 99; + school of, 121 n., 316 n., 343 n. + +Canterbury, Archbishop of, _see_ Anselm, Augustine, Bertwald, Cuthbert, + Deusdedit, Honorius, Justus, Lanfranc, Laurentius, Mellitus, + Nothelm, Tatwine, Theodore. + +Cantuarians, the, 133. + +Cantuarii, 245 n. + +Cantus Ambrosianus, 133 n. + +Cantus Romanus, 133 n. + +Cantyre, or Kintyre, 8 n., 142 n. + +Caracalla, _see_ Antonius Bassianus. + +Carausius, 13, 14. + +Carlegion, _see_ Chester. + +Carlisle, Luel, or Lugubalia, 73 n., 285 n., 294. + +Carlisle, Bishop of, _see_ Appleby. + +Carloman, King of the Franks, son of Charles Martel, 391, 392. + +"Carmen Paschale," _see_ Sedulius. + +Carpophorus, St., 99 n. + +Carriden (probably Urbs Iudeu), 23 n., 189 n. + +Cassobellaunus, chief of the Catuvellauni, 10. + +Catterick Bridge, Cataract, or Cataractonium, 120, 132, 164. + +Catuvellauni, the, 10 n. + +Ceadda, or Chad, St., afterwards Bishop of Lichfield and York, xxvii, 3, + 384; + Abbot of Lastingham, xxxv, 187; + consecrated Bishop of York in Wilfrid's place, 206, 207, 351; + reconsecrated by Theodore, 207 n., 217; + on Wilfrid's return retires to Lastingham, 218, 351; + made Bishop of Lichfield, 192, 218, 219; + a disciple of Aidan, 208; + his holy life, 207, 219, 222, 223; + builds the monastery of Ad Barvae, 219; + account of his death, xxxviii, 219, 222, 224; + buried at Lichfield, 219, 224; + his posthumous miracles, 224; + his relics, 224 n. + +Cearl, King of Mercia, 119. + +Ceaulin, _see_ Caelin. + +Cecilia, St., 265, 324. + +Cedd, afterwards Bishop of Essex, xxvii, 3, 183, 206 n., 207, 208; + his mission to Mid-Anglia, 180, 181; + reconverts the East Saxons, 182, 183; + excommunicates a "gesith" for his unlawful marriage, 184; + rebukes King Sigbert and prophecies his death, 184; + baptizes King Suidhelm, 184, 185; + visits Northumbria, 185; + his self-imposed discipline, 186; + founds the monastery of Lastingham, 185, 186; + his brothers, 185, 186, 187; + his death, 185, 186; + burial, 186, 187; + trained at Lindisfarne, 186; + posthumous miracle, 187; + at Whitby, 195; + forsakes the Celtic Easter, 201; + his spirit appears at the time of Ceadda's death, 224. + +Celestine, or Celestinus, Pope, sends Palladius to the Irish, 27, 33 n., + 382, 383. + +Celtic Churches, xxiii, xxiv, xxx, xxxi; + and _see_ British Church, Irish Church. + +Celtic Missions, xxv, xxvi, xxx, 139 n. + +"Celtic Scotland," Skene's, _see_ Skene. + +Celts, 7 n.; + their observance of Easter, 84 n., 87; + and _see_ Easter Controversy. + +Centwine, sub-king of Wessex, 241 n., 352 n.; + his wife, 352 n. + +Ceolfrid, Abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow, xxx, xxxiv, xxxv, 387, 389; + educates Bede, xxxiii, 386; + enlarges the library of Wearmouth and Jarrow, xxxv; + Pope Sergius' letter to, xxxvi; + account of, 257; + sends builders to Naiton, King of the Picts, 359; + his letter to Naiton (said to be written by Bede), 360-374. + +Ceollach, Bishop of Mid-Anglia and Mercia, 181, 191. + +Ceolred, King of Mercia, son of Ethelred, succeeds Coinred, 346; + his bad character, 346 n.; + his death, 346 n., 380 n., 386; + his enmity to Ethelbald, 380 n. + +Ceolwulf, King of Northumbria, brother of Coenred, succeeds Osric, xxxi, + 375 n., 381; + "Ecclesiastical History" dedicated to, xxii, 1; + account of, 1; + taken prisoner, tonsured, and sent back to his kingdom, 390; + leaves the kingdom to Eadbert, 391. + +Cerdic, British King, 274. + +Cerot, Island of, 232. + +Cerotaesei, _see_ Chertsey. + +Chad, St., _see_ Ceadda. + +Chalcedon, 265 n.; + council of, 228 n., 254 n. + +Chaldeans, the, 31. + +Charibert, King of Paris, 46 n., 132 n. + +Charles Martel, King of the Franks, defeats the Saracens, 378; + supports Boniface's mission, 392 n.; + death, 391. + +Charybdis, 365. + +Chauci, the, 317 n. + +Chelles, or Cale, monastery of, 152, 271, 349 n. + +Chepstow, 84 n. + +Chertsey, Cerotaesei, or the Island of Cerot, monastery of, xxviii, 232. + +Cherusci, the, 317 n. + +Cheshire, 204 n. + +Chester, Carlegion, City of Legions, or Legacaestir, 18 n.; + Battle of, xxiv, 87, 88. + +Chester-le-Street, or Cunungaceaster, 295 n., 325 n. + +Chichester, 246 n., 247 n. + +Childebert, King of Austrasia and Burgundy, 49 n. + +Chilperic, King of Neustria, brother of Charibert, 132 n. + +Chosroes II, King of Persia, 340 n. + +Chrism, 87 n. + +Christ Church Cathedral, Canterbury, 72. + +Christians, persecuted under Diocletian and Maximian, 14-19; + under Nero, 14. + +Christmas, 206. + +"Chronological Recapitulation of the whole Work," 382, _et seq._ + +Church Furniture, 65; + Music, 133, 358, 386. + +"Church Historians," _see_ Stevenson. + +Churches of Wood, 170, 192, 360; + of stone, 192, 359; + covered with lead, 192. + +Cilicia, 214. + +City of Legions, _see_ Caerleon and Chester. + +Claudius, Emperor, invades Britain and conquers the Orkneys, 11, 382. + +Clement, St., 91. + +Clement, name given to Wilbrord, 179 n., 324. + +Clergy, rules for, 50, 229. + +Cliff-at-Hoe, Clofeshoch, or Clovesho, 229 n., 255 n. + +Clonard, 140 n. + +Clonard, Abbot of, _see_ Colman or Columbanus. + +Clothaire III, King of Neustria, 206, 215, 349 n. + +Clothilde, wife of Clovis I, 152 n. + +Clovesho, _see_ Cliff-at-Hoe. + +Clovis I, King of the Franks, 152 n. + +Clovis II, King of Neustria, 152 n., 178, 349 n. + +Clyde, or Cluith, the river, 24. + +Cnobheresburg, or Cnobhere's Town, _see_ Burgh Castle. + +Coenred, or Coinred, King of Mercia after Ethelred, son of Wulfhere, xxx, + 332, 356, 385; + his thegn's visions, 332, 333, 334; + gives up his throne and goes to Rome, 345, 346, 385; + becomes a monk, 345, 346; + reconciled to Wilfrid, 356. + +Coenred, King of Northumbria, 375, 377, 378. + +Coenwald, Theodore's representative at Wilfrid's trial, 352 n. + +Coifi, a pagan priest converted to Christianity, 116, 117, 118. + +Coinwalch, King of Wessex, son of Cynegils, xxvi, 149, 350 n.; + in exile in East Anglia, 149; + puts away his wife, Penda's sister, and marries another, 149; + restored to his kingdom, 149; + his relations with Agilbert, 149, 150; + death, 241. + +Coldingham, or Coludi, monastery of, xxix, 260, 266 n., 281, 283, 284. + +Coldingham, Abbess of, _see_ Aebba. + +Coldstream, 120 n. + +Colman, Bishop of Northumbria, xxviii, 194, 201; + at the Whitby Synod, 195, 196, 198, 200; + returns to Ireland, 201, 204, 213, 225, 384; + takes some of Aidan's bones with him, 202; + his frugality and plain living, 202, 203; + at Iona, 225; + at Innisboffin, 225; + at Mayo, 225, 226. + +Colman, or Columbanus, Irish bishop, 128, 129 n. + +Cologne, 322. + +Coludi, _see_ Coldingham. + +Columba, or Columcille, St., Bishop of Iona, 151 n., 372; + his mission to the Picts, xxv, xxvi, 140, 141, 142, 359 n., 383; + converts King Bridius, 142; + account of, 140 n.; + his name, 140 n., 318; + founds the monastery of Iona, xxvi, 142, 383; + builds the monastery of Dearmach, 142; + his rule and jurisdiction, 142, 143; + records of him, 143; + miracles, 199, 200; + death, 142 n.; + buried at Iona, 142. + +"Columba, St., Life of," _see_ Adamnan and Reeves. + +Columban Monasteries, Egbert's mission to, 318, 319, 375 n. + +Columbanus, Irish missionary to the continent, 92. + +Columbanus, _see_ Colman. + +Columcille, _see_ Columba. + +Comb sent by Boniface to Ethelberg, 111. + +Comets, xxxi, 242, 378, 385, 386. + +Communion, Holy, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, 61, 62, 65, 96, 101, 249, 275, + 280, 363. + +Compiegne, Royal Villa, 206. + +Conall, King of the Dalriadic Scots, 142 n. + +Confirmation, the rite of, 87 n. + +Connor, Bishop of, _see_ Dima. + +Conquest, the Norman, 343 n. + +Conrad, Prior of Canterbury, 72 n. + +Constans II, or Constantine IV, Emperor, 256. + +Constans, son of Constantine, Tyrant of Britain, 22. + +Constantine I, Pope, 345. + +Constantine the Great, Emperor, 19, 210 n.; + establishes Christianity, 70; + completes the Basilica of the Anastasis, and builds the Church of the + Martyrium, Jerusalem, 339, 340. + +Constantine III, Emperor, 127. + +Constantine IV, _see_ Constans II. + +Constantine, Tyrant in Britain, 22. + +Constantinople, xxxviii, 27, 77, 254 n., 338; + Church at, 254; + councils of, 254, 255, 256, 258, 352 n. + +Constantinople, Bishop of, _see_ Eudoxius, Macedonius, Nestorius. + +Constantinopolitan System of Indictions, the, 227 n. + +Constantius, father of Constantine the Great, 19. + +Constantius, Count, 22. + +Constantius Chlorus, Emperor, 14 n. + +Constantius of Lyons, his "Life of Germanus," xxii; + editorial references to, 33 n., 36 n., 38 n. + +Continuation of Bede, the, 390, _et seq._ + +Conwulf, Bishop of Lindisfarne, after Ethelwald, 391. + +Corinth, 197. + +Corinthians, Epistle to the, quoted, 103, 111, 363. + +Corman, his unsuccessful mission to the Northumbrians, 145. + +Cornish Britons, 7 n., 336 n. + +Cornwall, 33 n., 84 n. + +Corrib, Lough, monastery on, 174. + +"Cotton MSS.," xix. + +Councils, 116, 128, 255 n., 256; + and _see_ Constantinople, Rome, and Synods. + +Cousins, marriage of, 52. + +Cricklade, 84 n. + +Crimea, the, 256 n. + +Croes Oswallt, _see_ Oswestry. + +Cromanus, or Cronan, Bishop of Nendrum, 129. + +Cross, The, in procession, 46; + sign of the, 304; + Invention of the Holy, by Helena, 339, 340 n. + +Cross, erected by Oswald, at Hefenfelth, 136, 137, 138. + +Cross at Maserfelth, 154 n. + +Cudwald, _see_ Cuthbald. + +Cuichelm, King of Wessex, son of Cynegils, 103, 104, 149 n. + +Cuichelm, Bishop of Rochester after Putta, 241, 242. + +Cuiritin, Irish saint, 359 n. + +"Culdees, The," _see_ Reeves. + +Cunningham, 325 n. + +Cunungaceaster, _see_ Chester-le-Street. + +Cuthbald, Abbot of Medeshamstead, 356 n. + +Cuthbald, or Cudwald, Abbot of Oundle, 356. + +Cuthbert, St., Bishop of Lindisfarne, xxii, xxix, xxxviii, 4, 161 n., 168 + n., 192 n., 244 n., 331 n., 389; + history of, 288-295; + at Farne, 288; + at Melrose, 288, 289; + succeeds Boisil as Provost, 289; + at Ripon, 194 n.; + his consecration, 285, 288, 292, 293; + Bishop of Hexham, 293; + of Lindisfarne, 293; + his friendship for Elfled, 189 n.; + foretells Egfrid's defeat by the Picts, and death, 189 n., 285, 286; + his vision, 288 n.; + his spiritual powers, 289; + his missionary journeys, 289, 290; + his hermitage on Farne Island, 291, 292, 294; + attends the Synod at Twyford, 292; + his piety, 293, 297; + at Carlisle, 294; + foretells his own death to Herebert, 294, 295; + death, 295; + buried at Lindisfarne, 295, 302; + his body preserved from corruption, 295 n., 296, 297, 300; + removal of his relics, 295 n., 302 n.; + miracles, 291, 292, 297, 298, 299, 300; + Anonymous Life of, xxii, 285 n.; + Bede's Life of, _see_ Bede. + +Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury after Nothelm, 90 n., 391. + +Cuthbert, Abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow, pupil of Bede, xxxix, xl; + his letter to Cuthwin describing Bede's death, xxxiv, xxxv, xxxix, + xl-xliii. + +Cuthred, King of Wessex, 391, 392 n. + +Cuthwin, xxxiv, xl, _et seq._ + +Cuthwine, father of Coenred, King of Northumbria, 375 n. + +Cycles, Paschal, 84 n., 368, 369, 370, 374. + +Cyneburg, St., daughter of Penda, wife of Alchfrid, Abbess of Caistor, + 180. + +Cyneburga, daughter of Cynegils, wife of Oswald, 148. + +Cyneburgacaster, _see_ Caistor. + +Cynegils, King of Wessex, xxvi, 103 n., 147; + baptized with all his people, 148; + his daughter married to Oswald, 148; + divides the West Saxon diocese, 150; + death, 149. + +Cynibert, Bishop of Lindsey or Sidnacester, 4, 243, 244, 379 n., 380; + death, 390. + +Cynibert, Abbot of Redbridge, 253. + +Cynibill, brother of Cedd, 186, 187. + +Cynifrid, surgeon to Ethelthryth, 262. + +Cynimund, a priest, 167. + +Cyniwulf, King of Wessex, 392. + +Cynwise, wife of Penda, 188, 227 n. + +Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, 255 n., 256, 369. + +Cyrus, in Syria, Bishop of, _see_ Theodoret. + +Dacre, or Dacore, The Monastery of, 299; + a monk of, miraculously cured of a tumour, 299, 300. + +Dacre, Abbot of, _see_ Suidbert, Thruidred. + +Dacre, The River, 299. + +Dagan, Bishop of Inverdaeile, or Ennereilly, 92. + +Dagobert I, King of the Franks, 132. + +Dagobert II, King of Austrasia, 351 n. + +Dal, Signification of, 8. + +Dalfinus, Archbishop of Lyons, _see_ Annemundus. + +Dalfinus, Count of Lyons, 194 n., 348. + +Dalriada, the Dalreudini or Dalriadic Scots, history, xxiv, 8, 73, 142 n., + 286, 392 n. + +Dalriadic Scots, King of, _see_ Conall. + +Dalston, near Carlisle, 73 n. + +Damascus, 338. + +Damian, or Damianus, Bishop of Rochester after Ithamar, 179, 216, 245 n.; + account of, 179 n.; + death, 206 n., 218. + +Danes, 30, 317; + their invasions of England, 122 n., 161 n., 231 n., 295 n., 303 n. + +Daniel, Bishop of Winchester, xxx, 3, 148 n., 253, 344, 345, 379, 380. + +Danube, The River, 317 n. + +Darling, Grace, 168 n. + +David, 61, 338, 341. + +Dawstane Rig, Liddesdale, 73 n. + +Dearmach, Durrow, or Field of Oaks, Monastery of, 142. + +Decius, Emperor, 265, 388 n. + +Deda, Abbot of Partney, 123. + +Degsastan, or Degsa Stone, Battle of, 73, 74, 383. + +"De Ingratis," _see_ Prosper. + +Deira, History of, xxvi, 82 n., 83 n., 120, 134, 147, 190, 270 n., 383 n.; + diocese of, 243 n.; + Gregory's pun on the name, 82. + +Deira, King of, _see_ Aelli, Ethelfrid, Ethelric, Oidilwald, Osric, Oswin, + Yffi. + +Deira, Sub-king of, _see_ Aelfwine, Egfrid. + +Deira, Bishop of, _see_ Bosa. + +"De Locis Sanctis," _see_ Adamnan and Bede. + +"De Mensura Orbis Terrae," the author of, 246 n. + +Denisesburna, or The Brook of Denis, Battle of, 135, 136. + +Deogratias, 179 n. + +Derbyshire, 181 n. + +Derwent, the River (Cumberland), 294. + +Derwent, the River (Durham), 260. + +Derwent, the River (Yorkshire), 104, 118, 350 n. + +Derwentwater, 294. + +Deusdedit, Pope, 98, 100, 179 n. + +Deusdedit, or Frithonas, Archbishop of Canterbury, after Honorius, xxvi, + 178, 179, 208, 351 n.; + death, 179, 206 n., 207, 213, 217. + +Deusdedit, The name of, 179 n. + +Deuteronomy, quoted, 55, 279. + +Devils, 328, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336. + +Devil's Water, 135 n. + +Devon and Cornwall, Kingdom of, _see_ Dumnonia. + +Diarmaid, Irish King, 140 n. + +"Dictionary of Christian Antiquities," referred to, vi, 227 n. + +"Dictionary of Christian Biography," referred to, vi, 19 n., 49 n., 387 n. + +Dicul, an Irish monk of Bosham, 246. + +Dicull, one of Fursa's priests, 177. + +Dima, Bishop of Connor, 129 n. + +Dinnaus, probably Dima, 128. + +Dinoot, Donatus, Dunawd or Dunod, Abbot of Bangor, 86. + +Diocletian, Emperor, 12, 13, 14, 19, 265 n. + +Dionysius Exiguus, 228 n., 369. + +Discipline, Augustine's Questions and Gregory's Answers on, 49-64. + +Diuma, Bishop of Lindsey, Mercia, and Mid-Anglia, xxvii, 181, 190; + accompanies Peada into Mid-Anglia, 180, 181; + death, 181, 190; + burial, 190, 191. + +Divorce, 230, 238, 239. + +Dolphins in Britain, 5. + +Domesday-Book, 268 n. + +Dommoc, _see_ Dunwich. + +Don, The River, 189. + +Donafeld, _see_ Campodonum. + +Donatus, _see_ Dinoot. + +Doncaster (perhaps Campodonum), 120 n., 131. + +Dooms, of Edric, 287 n.; + of Ethelbert, 95 n.; + of Hlothere, 287 n.; + of Ini, 231 n., 251 n. + +Dorchester (Oxfordshire), See at, xxvi, 148, 272 n., 273. + +Dorchester, Bishop of, _see_ Aetla, Agilbert, Birinus. + +Dorsetshire, 343 n. + +Dorubrevis, _see_ Rochester. + +Doruvernis, _see_ Canterbury. + +Double Procession of the Holy Spirit, Doctrine of, 256. + +Doulting, 343 n. + +Dreams, _see_ Visions. + +Driffield, or Field of Deira, 342 n. + +Drought, An excessive, 391. + +Drythelm, a Northumbrian, his visions of Death, Hell and Judgement, xxx, + 325-331; + retires into the monastery of Melrose, 326, 331; + death, 332. + +Ducange, editorial references to, 77, 90, 135 n., 266 n., 305 n., 340 n. + +Dudden, F. Homes, his "Gregory the Great," editorial references to, 75 n., + 81 n., 133 n. + +Dugdale's "Monasticon," editorial references to, 18 n., 275 n. + +Dumbarton, Alcluith, or Dunbrettan, 9, 24, 25. + +Dumnonia, 344 n. + +Dumnonia, King of, _see_ Geraint. + +Dunawd, _see_ Dinoot. + +Dunbar, 352 n. + +Dunbrettan, _see_ Dumbarton. + +Dunchad, Abbot of Iona, 376. + +Dunnechtan, _see_ Nechtansmere. + +Dunnichen, 285 n. + +Dunod, _see_ Dinoot. + +Dunwich, or Dommoc, Diocese of, 122 n., 172 n. + +Dunwich, Bishop of, _see_ Aecci, Aldbert, Bisi, Boniface. + +Durham, xl, 161 n., 190, 204 n., 288 n., 302; + Cathedral, 295 n. + +Durham, Reginald of, _see_ Reginald. + +Durrow, _see_ Dearmach. + +Dysentery, 393. + +Eabae, daughter of Eanfrid, wife of Ethelwalch, baptized, 246. + +Eadbald, King of Kent, son of Ethelbert, xxiv, xxvi, 95, 99, 127, 348 n.; + his wickedness, 95; + marries his stepmother, 95, 97; + gives her up, 97; + converted by Laurentius, 97, 98, 101, 105 n., 107, 110; + recalls Mellitus and Justus, 98; + builds the Church of the Mother of God, 98; + his letters to Pope Boniface, 101; + gives his sister in marriage to Edwin, 102, 103; + welcomes Paulinus back to Kent, 132; + death, 151, 384. + +Eadbert, King of Kent, son of Wictred, 377. + +Eadbert, King of Northumbria after Ceolwulf, 391, 392, 393. + +Eadbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, 192, 296, 297, 353 n.; + illness and death, 297; + buried with Cuthbert at Lindisfarne, 297, 302 n.; + posthumous miracles, 297, 298. + +Eadbert, Abbot of Selsey, afterwards Bishop of Selsey, 345. + +Eadbert, (unknown), slain, 391. + +Eadbert, Mercian Chief, 191, 192. + +Eadfrid, Bishop of Lindisfarne, 331 n. + +Eadfrid, son of Edwin, baptized, 119; + killed by Penda, 131. + +Eadgyth, a nun of Barking, 234. + +Eadhaed, Bishop of Lindsey, 207, 243; + translated to Ripon, 244, 385. + +Eadwulf, usurps the throne of Northumbria, 342 n., 391 n.; + besieges Bamborough, 385 n. + +Eafa, Mercian Chief, 191, 192. + +Eanfled, daughter of Edwin, wife of Oswy, xxv, 165 n., 167, 189 n., 191; + her birth, 104; + baptism, 104, 384; + taken by her mother and Paulinus into Kent, xxv, 132, 167; + observes the Catholic Easter, 193; + receives a cross from Pope Vitalian, 211; + befriends Wilfrid, 347, 348; + joint Abbess of Whitby with her daughter Elfled, 189 n., 286, 306 n.; + buried at Whitby, 190; + her relatives, 348. + +Eanfrid, King of Bernicia, son of Ethelfrid, 134. + +Eanfrid, King of the Hwiccas, 246. + +Eanred, 392. + +Eappa, a priest of Wilfrid's, afterwards Abbot of Selsey, 245, 248, 249, + 250. + +Earconbert, King of Kent, son of Eadbald, xxvi, 151, 261; + suppresses idolatry, xxvi, 151; + sends Wilfrid and Benedict Biscop to Rome, 348; + death, 213, 384. + +Earcongota, daughter of Earconbert and granddaughter of Anna, xxvi, 149 + n., 151, 152, 153. + +Earconwald, St., Bishop of London, xxviii, 231, 232, 239. + +Earpwald, King of East Anglia, son of Redwald, xxv, 171; + converted by Edwin, xxv, 120, 121; + slain by Ricbert, 121. + +East Angles, The, 30, 45 n. + +East Anglia, History of, xxvi, 3, 112 n., 177, 220, 271; + establishment of Christianity in, xxv, 121, 122; + diocese of, xxviii, 231, 379 n., 380. + +East Anglia, King of, _see_ Aldwulf, Anna, Earpwald, Ecgric, Ethelhere, + Ethelwald, Redwald, Sigbert, Tytilus, Uuffa. + +East Anglia, Bishop of, _see_ Bisi, Boniface, Thomas. + +Easter Controversy, The, xxiv, xxv, xxvi, xxviii, xxx, xxxi, xxxviii, + xxxix, 84, 85, 87, 91, 128, 129, 138, 139, 143, 170, 171, + 192-201, 210, 216, 228, 336, 337, 344, 350, 359-370, 374-376, + 381, 386. + +Easter kept twice in one year, 193. + +Eastern Church, _see_ Greek. + +East Lothian, 325 n. + +East Saxons, 30, 45, 191 n.; + diocese of, _see_ London; + province of, _see_ Essex. + +Eata, Abbot of Melrose, afterwards Bishop of Hexham, 194 n., 243, 244 n., + 288, 290, 318, 385; + ordained at York in Wilfrid's place, 244; + Bishop of Lindisfarne, 202, 244 n., 288; + death, 302. + +Eata Glinmaur, father of Eadbert of Northumbria, 391 n. + +Ebbsfleet, 45 n. + +Ebchester, Monastery of, 260 n. + +Ebroin, Mayor of the Palace to Clothaire III, 192 n., 349; + plots against Wilfrid, 192 n., 351 n.; + detains Hadrian and Theodore, 215, 216; + murdered, 215 n. + +"Ecclesiastes," quoted, 220. + +Ecclesiastical Arithmetic, 217. + +"Ecclesiastical History," Bede's, MSS. of, xix, 277 n.; + sources of, xxi, xxii, 5 n.; + editions of, xix, xx; + translations of, xx, xxi, 249 n., 321 n.; + date of, 379 n.; + Bede's own account of, 386; + and _passim_. + +Ecgric, King of East Anglia, after Sigbert, 172. + +Eclanum, Bishop of, _see_ Julianus. + +Eclipses of the Moon, 390, 392; + of the Sun, 203, 213, 383, 384, 390, 392. + +Eddi, or Eddius, surnamed Stephen, editorial references to, his "Life of + Wilfrid," 189 n., 217 n., 218 n., 244 n., 252 n., 267 n., 346 + n., 347 n., 348 n., 349 n., 350 n., 351 n., 353 n.; + teaches the Northumbrians to sing in church, 217. + +Edessa, Bishop of, _see_ Ibas. + +Edgar, Bishop of Lindsey, 243. + +Edilhart, King of Wessex, 391. + +Edinburgh (perhaps Urbs Iudeu), 23 n., 189 n. + +Edric, King of Kent, 287. + +Edwin, King of Deira, afterwards of Northumbria, 5th Bretwalda, 109, 127, + 147, 164, 243 n., 348 n.; + his early history, xxv, 112, 115, 130 n.; + marries Ethelberg of Kent, xxiv, 102, 103; + conquers the Mevanian Islands, 94, 102; + his dominion, 102; + his vision, 112, 113, 114, 115; + his conversion and baptism, xxv, 102, 105, 110, 111, 115, 116, 118, 131, + 270, 271, 384; + allows his daughter to be baptized, 104, 384; + his children, 104, 119, 132; + receives letters from Pope Honorius, 124, 125; + converts Earpwald, xxv, 120, 121; + Eumer's attack on his life, 103, 104; + his war against the West Saxons, 104, 105; + builds St. Peter's, York, 118, 119, 131; + bestows the see of York upon Paulinus, 118; + marries Quenburga, 119; + his glorious reign, 123, 124, 130; + Caedwalla rebels against him, 130; + defeated and killed at the battle of Hatfield, xxv, 119, 130, 131, 134, + 135 n., 154, 167, 384; + buried at Whitby, 131 n., 190; + his head laid in St. Gregory's Chapel in St. Peter's, York, 131, 190 n.; + his Cross and Chalice preserved at Canterbury, 132. + +Edwin's Cliff, 393 n. + +Edwinspath, _see_ Ouestraefelda. + +Egbert, Bishop of York after Wilfrid II, afterwards Archbishop, pupil of + Bede, xxxvi, 273 n., 342 n., 390, 391; + founder of the School of York, xxxvi; + Bede's "Epistola ad Ecgbertum" addressed to, xxxvi, 390 n.; + Bede visits, xxxvi, xxxix; + death, 393. + +Egbert, English monk in Ireland, probably bishop, xxx, xxxi, 143, 203, + 205, 316; + account of, 143 n.; + seized with the plague, 204; + his vow and recovery, 205; + his attempted mission to Frisland, 161 n., 316; + dissuaded by a revelation, 317, 318; + sends Wilbrord instead, 320; + saved from shipwreck, 319; + his good example, 205, 206; + his account of Ceadda's death, 223, 224; + advises Egfrid against the war with the Scots, 286; + his mission to the Columban monasteries, 318, 319, 375, 376, 386; + death, on Easter Day, 205, 376, 377, 378, 386. + +Egbert, King of Kent, after Earconbert, xxvii, 213, 287, 377; + consults with Oswy on Church matters, 208; + sends Wighard to Rome, 208, 213; + sends Raedfrid to meet Theodore, 215; + death, 226, 230, 384. + +Egfrid, King of Northumbria, son of Oswy, xxviii, xxix, 137 n., 207, 227, + 254, 260, 266 n., 302, 352 n., 353; + hostage with Queen Cynwise, 188, 189, 227 n.; + defeats Wulfhere and annexes Lindsey, 191 n., 243, 244; + his conquests, 226 n.; + defeated by Ethelred at the battle of the Trent, 267; + reconciled to Ethelred by Theodore, 267; + gives Benedict Biscop land for the monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow, + xxxiv, 258; + his dispute with Wilfrid, 242, 245, 385; + marries Ethelthryth, 259; + his relations with her, 259, 260; + appoints Cuthbert Bishop of Lindisfarne, 288, 293; + at the Synod of Twyford, 292; + at the Synod of Hertford, 384; + his death foretold by Cuthbert, 189 n., 285 n.; + sends an army to ravage Ireland, 285; + his expedition against the Picts and Scots, 244 n., 285, 286; + defeated and killed at the battle of Nechtansmere, 247, 285, 286, 288, + 342 n., 381 n., 385; + buried at Iona, 285 n. + +Egwin, St., Bishop of Worcester, 380 n. + +Egypt, 67, 361, 362, 363, 368; + churches of, 196. + +Egyptians, their skill in calculation, 366. + +Elafius, British Chief, his son cured of his lameness by Germanus, 39, 40. + +Elbe, The river, 317 n. + +Eleutherus, or Eleuther, Pope, 12, 382. + +Elfled, daughter of Oswy, dedicated to religion by her father, xxxiii, + 188, 189; + account of, 189 n.; + trained at Whitby, 190; + enters the Monastery of Hartlepool, 190; + joint Abbess of Whitby with her mother, Eanfled, 189 n., 190, 285 n., + 286, 306 n.; + her friendship with Trumwine, 286, 287; + death, 190; + buried at Whitby, 190. + +Elford-on-Trent, 267 n. + +Elfred the priest, carries Bede's bones to Durham, xl. + +Elge, _see_ Ely. + +Elizabeth, Queen, "The Ecclesiastical History," translated for her + benefit, xxi. + +Ellmyn, Celtic name for the English, 317 n. + +Elmet Wood, 120. + +Elmham, Bishop of, _see_ Badwin, Hadulac. + +Ely, Isle of, 260 n., 261, 263; + Monastery of, 260, 261, 262; + St. Audrey's Fair at, 263 n. + +Ely, Abbess of, _see_ Ermingild, Ethelthryth, Sexburg. + +Emme, Emmo, or Haymo, Bishop of Sens, 215. + +Ems, The, 317 n. + +End of the World, 71. + +English, The, come to Britain, 383; + idolatry among, 67, 70; + called Garmans, 317; + Saxons, 317 n.; + Ellmyn, 317 n.; + Church, xxiii, xxvii, xxix, 53, 65; + language, 6, 45 n.; + religious poetry, 277. + +"English Historical Review, The," editorial reference to, 32 n. + +Eni, father of Anna, 172. + +Ennereilly, _see_ Inver Daeile. + +Eolla, Bishop of Selsey, 345. + +Eormenburg, second wife of Egfrid, 242 n., 352 n.; + warned by Cuthbert of Egfrid's death, 285 n. + +"Ephesians, Epistle to the," quoted, 110. + +Ephesus, Council of, 255 n. + +Epigrams, 389. + +"Epistola ad Ecgbertum," _see_ Bede. + +Epternach, Wilbrord's monastery at, 324 n. + +Equinox, the Vernal, 84 n., 366, 388. + +Ercinwald, Mayor of the Palace to Clovis II, 178, 215 n., 349 n. + +Ermingild, daughter of Sexburg, and wife of Wulfhere, 149 n., 261 n.; + Abbess of Ely and Sheppey, 261 n. + +Ermynge, or Ixning, 266 n. + +Erneshow, or Herneshaw, now St. John's Lee, Hexham, 303 n. + +Ernianus, Irish priest, 129. + +Esi, Abbot, 3. + +Esquiline, The, Rome, 257 n. + +Essex, History of, xxiv, xxvii, xxx, 3, 10 n., 89, 150 n., 182, 183, 212, + 245 n., 380, 383; + diocese of, _see_ London. + +Essex, King of, _see_ Offa, Sabert, Sebbi, Sigbert, Sighard, Sighere, + Suefred, Suidhelm. + +Estrefeld, Council of, _see_ Ouestraefelda. + +Etaples, 215. + +Eternal punishment, 51, 53. + +Ethelbald, King of Mercia, son of Alweo, 346 n., 380, 386; + account of, 380 n.; + ravages Northumbria, 391; + murdered, 392. + +Ethelberg, daughter of Anna, Abbess of Brige, 149 n., 151, 152, 153, 232 + n. + +Ethelberg, or Tata, daughter of Ethelbert of Kent, wife of Edwin of + Northumbria, xxiv, 102, 103, 104, 119, 348 n.; + receives a letter and gifts from Pope Boniface, 109, 111; + her piety, 110; + after Edwin's death, returns with her children and Paulinus into Kent, + xxv, 131, 132; + sends Wusfrea and Yffi to King Dagobert, 132. + +Ethelbert, King of Kent, third Bretwalda, xxiv, 45, 83, 89, 94, 102; + his wife Bertha, 46; + converted by St. Augustine, 45, 46, 47, 90, 94; + receives a letter and gift from Gregory, 69; + builds St. Paul's, London, and St. Andrew's, Rochester, 89, 163; + endows the bishoprics of London, Rochester and Canterbury, 89; + receives a letter from Boniface, 93; + account of his reign, 93, 94; + his "dooms," 94; + death, xxiv, 93, 94, 95, 384; + burial, 94; + genealogy, 95; + his second wife marries his son Eadbald, 95, 97. + +Ethelbert, King of Kent, son of Wictred, 377. + +Ethelburg, St., sister of Earconwald, Abbess of Barking, xxviii, 232, 233; + her miracles, 232, 233, 236, 237; + death, 235, 236, 237; + burial, 236; + her spirit appears to Tortgyth, 237; + "Life of," xxii, 237 n. + +Ethelfrid, King of Northumbria, xxiv, 112, 134; + defeats the Britons at Legacaestir, xxiv, 87, 88; + defeats the Scots at Degsastan, xxiv, 73, 74; + his genealogy and reign, 73, 74; + his persecution of Edwin, 112, 113; + killed in battle by Redwald, 115; + his wives, 147 n.; + his sons, 163. + +Ethelhere, King of East Anglia, 121 n., 185 n., 260 n., 271 n.; + occasions the war between Penda and Oswy, 189; + slain at the Winwaed, 189. + +Ethelhild, Abbess, 158. + +Ethelhun, son of Edwin, 119. + +Ethelhun, brother of Ethelwin, 204, 205. + +Ethelred, King of Mercia, son of Penda, xxix, 254, 268, 332, 346, 352 n., + 353, 385; + account of, 241 n.; + defeats Egfrid at the battle of the Trent, 267; + reconciled to Egfrid by Theodore, 267; + recovers Lindsey, 207 n. 244, 267; + ravages Kent, 241, 242, 385; + his veneration for Bardney Monastery, 157; + appoints Oftfor Bishop of Worcester, 274; + reconciled to Wilfrid, 355, 356; + resigns his throne to Coinred, and becomes a monk, 355, 356; + Abbot of Bardney, 355, 356; + reconciles Coinred to Wilfrid, 356. + +Ethelric, King of Northumbria, son of Ida, 73 n., 270 n. + +Ethelthryth, St. (of Audrey), daughter of Anna, wife of Tondbert and of + Egfrid, xxix, 149 n., 220, 263, 269; + her history, 266; + her virginity, 259, 260, 264, 267; + her virtues, 260, 261; + her gift of prophecy, 261; + gives land for a church at Hexham, 137 n.; + obtains a divorce and retires into the Monastery of Coldingham, 260; + founds the Monastery of Ely, 260, 263; + dies of a tumour, 261, 262, 263; + her flesh preserved from corruption, 260, 262, 266; + her posthumous miracles, 262, 263; + her bones translated by Sexburg, 261, 262, 263; + Bede's hymn in her honour, 264-267. + +Ethelthryth, daughter of Edwin, baptized, 119. + +Ethelwalch, King of the South Saxons, 245, 247, 251. + +Ethelwald, or Oidilwald, sub-king of Deira, son of Oswald, xxvii, 185; + rebels against his uncle Oswy and supports Penda, 163, 189; + gives Cedd land for a monastery at Lastingham, 185, 186. + +Ethelwald, King of East Anglia, 185. + +Ethelwald, King of Northumbria after Oswulf, 393. + +Ethelwald, Abbot of Melrose and Bishop of Lindisfarne, 331, 379 n., 381; + his death, 391; + his gifts to Lindisfarne, 331 n. + +Ethelwald, Hermit, 301, 302. + +Ethelward, of the Hwiccas, 243 n. + +Ethelwin, Bishop of Lindsey, 158, 204, 243. + +Ethelwulf, 143 n. + +Ethilwin, Oswy's reeve, 164. + +Eucharist, The, _see_ Communion. + +Eucherius, 340 n. + +Eudoxius, heretic Bishop of Constantinople, 255 n., 256. + +Eugenius I, Pope, 349 n. + +Eulalia, St., 265. + +Eumer, attempts to murder Edwin, 103, 104. + +Euphemia, St., 265. + +Europe, 5. + +Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Caesarea, 369. + +Eusebius, name in religion given to Huaetbert, 389 n. + +Eutropius, quoted, xxii, 19. + +Eutyches, founder of Eutychianism, 78 n., 254 n., 256. + +Eutychius, heretic patriarch of Constantinople, 78. + +Eve, 266. + +Excommunication, 184. + +"Excursus on Paschal Controversy," _see_ Plummer. + +"Exodus," quoted, 361, 362. + +Exorcism of Evil Spirits, 311 n. + +"Ezekiel, Commentary on," by Gregory, 79. + +"Ezra," 387, 388. + +Faineant, Roi, _see_ Clothaire III. + +Famines, 26, 27, 28. + +Fara, or Burgundofara, foundress of the Monastery of Brige, 151, 215 n. + +Faremoutier-en-Brie, or Farae Monasterium in Brige, _see_ Brige. + +Farne, Isle of, or House Island, xxix, 168, 288, 295, 301, 302. + +Faro, or Burgundofarus, Bishop of Meaux, 215. + +Fasting, 145, 151, 206, 282, 307 n. + +Feliskirk, Yorkshire, 121 n. + +Felix, St., 388. + +Felix III, Pope, 75. + +Felix IV, Pope, 75. + +Felix, Bishop of Dunwich, xxv, 121, 122, 193; + his school, 172; + death, 122, 178. + +Felixstowe, 121 n. + +Fen Country, The, 179 n. + +Fergus, father of Oengus, 392 n. + +Field-of-Oaks, _see_ Dearmach. + +Fina, mother of Aldfrid, 287. + +Finan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, after Aidan, 169, 201, 204; + baptizes Peada, 180; + ordains Diuma, 181; + baptizes Sigbert, 182; + ordains Cedd, 183; + builds a church at Lindisfarne, 192; + his controversy with Ronan on the Easter question, 193; + death, 193. + +Finchale, 204 n. + +Fire, future punishment by, 175. + +Fire of London, 240 n. + +Fish of Britain, 5. + +Fiskerton, 123 n. + +Flintshire, 86 n. + +Florence of Worcester, editorial references to, 191 n., 218 n., 231 n., + 241 n., 244 n., 272 n., 273, 274, 301 n., 377 n., 380 n. + +Foillan, _see_ Fullan. + +Folcard, his Life of St. John of Beverley, editorial references to, 303 + n., 305 n. + +Fontaines, Monastery of, 92 n. + +Forfar, 285 n., 360 n. + +Forth, the, or Sea of Giudan, 23 n., 24 n., 142 n., 285 n., 286 n. + +Forthere, Bishop of Sherborne after Aldhelm, 344, 345, 379 n., 380. + +Forthhere, Edwin's thegn, 104. + +Fortunatus, Venantius, Bishop of Poitiers, 14, 265 n.; + his "Praise of Virgins" quoted, 15. + +Fosite, the god, son of Balder, 323 n. + +Fosse, monastery of, 177 n. + +Fosse, Abbot of, _see_ Ultan. + +France, 5. + +Franks, the, 13, 22, 92 n.; + their language, 45 n.; + Church of, 51, 54, 55; + and _see_ Gaul. + +Franks, King of the, _see_ Carloman, Charles Martel, Charibert, + Childebert, Chilperic, Clothaire III, Clovis, Dagobert, + Pippin, Theodebert, Theoderic. + +Franks, Duke of the, _see_ Pippin of Heristal. + +Freeman's "Norman Conquest," editorial references to, 32, 246 n. + +Frigyth, Prioress of Hackness, 276. + +Frisia, or Frisland, 317, 353 n.; + Wictbert's mission to, 319; + conquered by Pippin, 320; + Wilbrord's mission to, 320; + Wilfrid's mission in, 351. + +Frisland, Archbishop of, _see_ Wilbrord. + +Frisland, King of, _see_ Aldgils. + +Frisland, Bishop of, _see_ Suidbert. + +Frithbert, Bishop of Hexham, 391, 393. + +Frithonas, _see_ Deusdedit. + +Frithwald, Bishop of Whitern, 391. + +Fullan, or Foillan, brother of Fursa, 177. + +Fuller, his story about Bede's epitaph, xxxiv. + +Fuenen, 317 n. + +Fursa, St., xxvi, 173-178. + +"Fursa, Life of St.," xxii, 173 n., 174, 178. + +Gaels, _see_ Goidels. + +"Galatians, Epistle to the," quoted, 371. + +"Gallican Martyrology," editorial reference to, 322 n. + +Galloway, 141 n. + +Garmans, English so-called by the Britons, 317. + +Gateshead-on-Tyne, or At-the-Goat's Head, 180. + +Gateshead, Abbot of, _see_ Utta. + +Gaul, history of, xxxi, 5, 7, 10, 14 n., 19, 20, 22, 33, 44 n., 55, 92 n., + 96, 98, 150, 178, 214, 378, 382; + Church of, 51, 54, 55, 196; + schools of, 121 n., 172. + +Gaul, Archbishop of, _see_ Annemundus, Godwin. + +Gaul, Bishop of, _see_ Arculf. + +Gauls, 9. + +Gebmund, Bishop of Rochester, 241, 242, 316. + +Genesis, quoted, 73, 110, 366, 370. + +Genlade, the river, 315. + +Genoa, Bishop of, _see_ Asterius. + +Geraint, or Gerontius, Count, 22. + +Geraint, or Gerontius, King of Dumnonia, 336 n., 344 n. + +Germans, 9, 22 n. + +Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, sent to Britain to confute the Pelagians, + xxii, xxiii, 14 n., 32, 33, 34; + church dedicated to, 33 n.; + stills a tempest, 33, 34; + casts out evil spirits, 34; + converts the heretics, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41; + heals a blind girl, 35; + at St. Alban's tomb, 35, 36; + quenches a fire, 36, 37; + healed of lameness by a vision, 36, 37; + assists the Britons in battle, 37, 38; + goes to Ravenna, 41; + Duke of Armorica, 41 n.; + returns to Britain, 39, 40; + his death, 41. + +"Germanus, Life of," _see_ Constantius. + +Germany, xxiii, xxx, 5, 161, 392 n.; + English missions to, 316, 317, 319, 320. + +Gerontius, _see_ Geraint. + +Gertrude, St., 177 n. + +Gessoriacum, _see_ Boulogne. + +Geta, son of Severus, 13. + +Gewissae, _see_ West Saxons. + +Gidley, Rev. L., his translation of the "Ecclesiastical History," xxi. + +Gildas, historian, editorial references to, xxii, 5 n., 19 n., 25 n., 42 + n.; + his "De Excidio Liber Querulus," quoted, 42. + +Giles, Dr., his translation of the "Ecclesiastical History," v, xx, xxi. + +Gilling, 165 n. + +Gilling, Abbot of, _see_ Trumhere, Tunbert. + +Giudan, Sea of, _i.e._, Firth of Forth, 23 n. + +Giudi (probably Inchkeith), 23. + +Glen, the river, 120. + +Glendale, 119 n. + +Gloucestershire, 84 n. + +Goat's Head, At the, _see_ Gateshead. + +Gobban, one of Fursa's priests, 177. + +Godmunddingaham, or Goodmanham, 118. + +Godwin, Archbishop of Lyons, 316. + +Godwine, 246 n. + +Goidels, or Gaels, 7 n., 24 n. + +Golgotha, 339, 340 n., 341 n. + +Goodmanham, _see_ Godmunddingaham. + +Gordianus, father of Gregory, 75. + +Gore's "Bampton Lectures," editorial references to, 19 n., 255 n. + +Goths, The, 22, 382. + +Grampians, the, 141. + +Grantacaestir, or Grantchester, 261, 262. + +Gratian, Emperor, 20; + slain by Maximus, 382. + +Gratian, or Gratianus, tyrant in Britain, 22. + +Greece, churches of, 196. + +Greek, or Eastern Church, practices of the, 214, 215. + +Green, J. R., his "Making of England," editorial references to, 32 n., 84 + n., 188 n. + +Gregorian Music, 77 n., 133, 358. + +"Gregorian Sacramentary," _see_ "Liber Sacramentorum." + +Gregory the Great, St., Pope, xxiv, xxv, xxxviii, 2, 3, 45, 93, 122 n., + 126, 213 n., 218; + account of, 42 n., 75-83; + his genealogy, 75, 76; + his character, 75; + his pontificate, 75, 81; + sent to Constantinople, 77, 83 n.; + confutes the heresy of Eutychius, 78; + his learning and literary works, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81; + his connection with Church music, 133 n.; + his meeting with the Anglian slaves, 82; + sends Augustine on a mission to Britain to convert the English, 42, 43, + 45, 49, 75, 80, 83, 131, 383; + letter recommending Augustine and Candidus to Aetherius, 44; + letters to Augustine and the English mission, 43, 64, 65, 68, 69, 290; + letter to Vergilius, 63, 64; + letter to Mellitus, 66, 67, 68; + sends the pall to Augustine, 64, 65, 383; + letter to Ethelbert, 69-72; + his gifts to Ethelbert, 69, 71; + his answers to Augustine's questions on discipline, xxiv, 49-63, 79, 84 + n., 85 n.; + private letters, 79; + sends Paulinus to Britain, 64, 383; + his weak health, 79; + death, 75, 81, 384; + burial, 81; + epitaph, 81, 82; + altar dedicated to him at SS. Peter and Paul's, Canterbury, 90; + quoted, 333, 334; + his disciples, 348, 358; + lives of, 75 n., 83 n.; + and _see_ Dudden, Whitby. + +Gregory, St., Martyr, 210. + +Gregory II, Pope, 2, 314. + +Gregory III, Pope, 2 n. + +Guest, editorial reference to, 32 n. + +Guthfrid, Abbot of Lindisfarne, 301, 302. + +Guthlac, St., his Hermitage, 380 n. + +Gwynedd, King of, _see_ Caedwalla, Cadvan. + +Habakkuk, quoted, 368. + +Habetdeus, 179 n. + +Hackness, or Hacanos, Monastery of, 275, 276. + +Hackness, Abbess of, _see_ Hilda. + +Hackness, Prioress of, _see_ Frigyth. + +Haddan and Stubbs, "Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents," editorial + references to, 84 n., 87 n., 306 n., 315 n., 316 n., 319 n., + 343 n., 345 n., 379 n., 380 n., 391 n. + +Haddenham, 220 n. + +Hades, 326, 327, 329, 330. + +Hadrian, Pope, 219 n. + +Hadrian, Emperor, his wall, 13 n., 25, 26, 136 n., 137. + +Hadrian, Abbot of Niridanum and later of St. Augustine's Monastery, + Canterbury, xxviii, xxx, 214, 316 n., 343 n., 377; + refuses the English Archbishopric, 2, 214; + recommends Andrew, 214; + recommends Theodore, 2 n., 214; + accompanies Theodore on his journey to Britain, 2 n., 213, 214, 215; + detained by Ebroin at Quentavic, 216; + his arrival in Britain, 216, 357; + made Abbot of St. Augustine's, 216; + his learning, 216, 217, 357; + accompanies Theodore in his pastoral visitations, 216, 217; + death, 357; + buried in St. Augustine's, 357. + +Hadulac, Bishop of Elmham, 379 n., 380. + +Haedde, Bishop of Winchester after Leutherius, 148, 241; + supposed to be identical with Aetla, 272 n.; + his character, 342; + resists Bertwald's division of the Bishopric, 343 n.; + death, 342, 343; + posthumous miracles, 343. + +Haemgils, a monk, 330. + +Haethfelth (Hatfield Chase, near Doncaster), Battle of, xxv, 131. + +Haethfelth (Hatfield, Hertfordshire), Synod of, xxix, 254, 255, 256, 259, + 385. + +Hagustald, _see_ Hexham. + +Hallelujah, or Allelujah, 80, 83. + +Hallelujah victory of Germanus, 38, 39. + +Hallington, 136 n. + +Halydene, 136 n. + +Hamble, or Homelea, The River, 253. + +Hampshire, 253 n., 343 n. + +Harold, 246 n. + +Hartlepool, Heruteu, or the Island of the Hart, Monastery at, 190, 271. + +Hartlepool, Abbess of, _see_ Heiu, Hilda. + +"Hateful Year, The," in Northumbria, xxv, 135. + +Hatfield, _see_ Haethfelth. + +Hatfield Chase, _see_ Haethfelth. + +Haverfield, editorial reference to, 13 n. + +Haymo, _see_ Emme. + +Healaugh, Monastery of, 271 n. + +Heavenly Field, the, _see_ Hefenfelth. + +"Hebrews, The Epistle to the," quoted, 79. + +Hebron, 341, 342. + +Hecana, _see_ Hereford. + +Hedda, Bishop of Lichfield, 379 n. + +Hefenfelth, or The Heavenly Field, 136, 137. + +Heiu, first Northumbrian nun, 271, 275 n.; + founds the monastery of Hartlepool, 271; + retires to Calcaria, 271, 272; + her gravestone, 271 n. + +Helen, 264. + +Helena, mother of Constantine, 19; + legality of her marriage, 19 n.; + her Finding of the True Cross, 339, 340 n. + +Heliand, The, 277 n. + +Heligoland, 323 n. + +Hell, 51, 327, 328, 335. + +Hengist, leader of the Anglo-Saxons, 30, 45 n., 95. + +Henry VIII, 275 n. + +Heracleonas, or Heraclius, Emperor, son of Heraclius, 127. + +Heraclius, Emperor, 127 n. + +Herbert, _see_ Herebert. + +Herebald, Abbot of Tynemouth, 309, 310, 311. + +Herebert, St., a hermit, the friend of Cuthbert, 294, 295. + +Hereford, See of, 218 n., 380 n. + +Hereford, Bishop of, _see_ Putta, Tyrhtel, Torthere, Wahlstod. + +Herefrid, 391. + +Hereric, nephew of Edwin, and father of Hilda, 270; + poisoned by Cerdic, 274. + +Heresuid, sister of Hilda, and wife of Ethelhere, 271. + +Heriburg, Abbess of Watton, her daughter healed by John of Beverley's + prayers, 305, 306, 307. + +Hermit, a British, lays a trap for Augustine, 86. + +Hertford, Synod of, xxviii, 226, 227, 384. + +Hertfordshire, 10 n., 18 n., 255 n. + +Heruteu, _see_ Hartlepool. + +Herutford, _see_ Hertford. + +Hewalds, The Two (Black and White), martyrs, 320, 321, 322. + +Hexham, or Hagustald, xxx, 136 n., 137, 243 n., 303 n.; + diocese of, 137 n., 353 n. + +Hexham, Bishop of, _see_ Acca, Eata, Frithbert, John, Tunbert, Wilfrid. + +Hiddila, priest to Bernwin, 252. + +Hii, _see_ Iona. + +Hilarus, arch-presbyter, 129. + +Hilda, St., daughter of Hereric, Abbess of Hartlepool and afterwards of + Whitby, xxix, 190, 270, 271, 272; + account of her life, 270-275; + builds the monastery of Streanaeshalch or Whitby, 190, 272; + her attitude on the Easter question, 195; + her opposition to Wilfrid, 195 n.; + her character, 272; + her pupils, 272, 273, 274; + illness and death, 270, 275, 385; + friendship for Aidan, 272. + +Hildilid, pupil of Aldhelm, Abbess of Barking after Ethelburg, 237, 344 n. + +"History of the Abbots," Anonymous, _see_ Abbots; + Bede's, _see_ Bede. + +Hlothere, King of Kent after Egbert, xxviii, xxix, 230, 254, 269; + Edric's revolt against, 287; + grants Bertwald land in Thanet, 315; + death, 285, 287, 385. + +Holder, editor of the "Ecclesiastical History," xx. + +Holmhurst, 18 n. + +Holy Island, _see_ Lindisfarne. + +Holy Housel, 275. + +Homelea, _see_ Hamble. + +Honorius, Emperor, 21, 22, 26. + +Honorius, Pope, xxv, 105 n., 124, 132; + sends the Pall to Paulinus, and to Archbishop Honorius, 124, 125, 126, + 127; + his letters, 124-130; + sends Birinus to the West Saxons, xxvi, 147, 148. + +Honorius, Archbishop of Canterbury after Justus, xxv, 123, 125, 126, 132, + 163, 164, 193; + ordained by Paulinus, 126; + receives the Pall from Pope Honorius, 125, 126; + sends Felix to East Anglia, 122; + a disciple of Pope Gregory, 348; + death, 178, 179. + +Horsa, brother of Hengist, 30. + +Horse, miraculously cured at Oswald's death-place, 155. + +Horsted, 30. + +House Island, _see_ Farne. + +Hreutford, _see_ Redbridge. + +Hrof, 89. + +Hrofaescaestrae, _see_ Rochester. + +Huaetbert, Abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow, xxxiv, xl, 389. + +Huddersfield, 120 n. + +Hugh de Puisac, erects a shrine at Durham, for the bones of Bede and + others, xl. + +Hull, The River, 303 n. + +Humber, The River, 30, 45, 82 n., 89, 94, 102, 122, 164, 320, 380. + +Hunt, Dr., his "History of the English Church," editorial references to, + vi, 84 n. + +Huntingdonshire, 179 n. + +Huns, The, 27, 317. + +Hunwald, betrays Oswin, 164. + +Hurst, W., his translation of the "Ecclesiastical History," xxi. + +Hussey, his edition of the "Ecclesiastical History," xx, 392 n. + +Hwiccas, The, 84, 243 n.; + diocese of, _see_ Worcester. + +Hwiccas, King of the, _see_ Aenhere, Eanfrid. + +Hwiccas, sub-king of the, 377 n.; + and _see_ Osric. + +Hygbald, Abbot of Bardney, 223, 224. + +Hymns, 264-267, 389. + +I (Iona), 140 n. + +Ibas, Bishop of Edessa, his heresy, 255 n., 256. + +Ida, first King of Bernicia, 73 n., 383, 391; + account of, 383 n.; + founds Bamborough, 147 n., 383 n. + +Idle, the Battle of the, 115. + +Idols, destruction of, 67, 70, 151. + +Ii (Iona), 140 n. + +Imma, 268, 269, 270. + +Immersion, Single, 87 n. + +Immin, Mercian chief, 191, 192. + +Importunus, Bishop of Paris, 194 n. + +In Berecingum, _see_ Barking. + +In Brige, _see_ Brige. + +In Compendio, _see_ Compiegne. + +Incuneningum, 325. + +Inderauuda, _see_ John of Beverley. + +Indictions, 227, 254. + +Indulgences, 294 n. + +Infeppingum, 181. + +Ingetlingum, monastery of, 164, 165, 191. + +Ingwald, Bishop of London, 379, 380, 391. + +Ingyruum, 359, and _see_ Jarrow. + +Inhrypum, _see_ Ripon. + +Ini, or Ine, King of Wessex after Caedwalla, xxx, 314; + conquers Sussex, 251; + his "Dooms," 231 n., 251 n.; + Aldhelm's influence with, 343 n.; + his abdication and pilgrimage to Rome, 314, 345 n. + +Inisboufinde, _see_ Innisboffin. + +Inishmahee, Bishop of, _see_ Cronan. + +Inlade, the river, 315. + +Inlitore, now Kaiserwerth, Monastery at, 324. + +Innisboffin, Inisboufinde, or The Island of the White Heifer, 225, 226. + +Intiningaham, _see_ Tininghame. + +Inundalum, _see_ Oundle. + +Inver Daeile, or Ennereilly, Bishop of, _see_ Dagan. + +Inverness, 140 n. + +Iona, Hii, I or Ii, the island of, included in Ireland, xxv, xxvi, 92 n., + 191 n., 201, 225; + given to Columba by Bridius or by Conall, xxvi, 142; + its monastery founded by Columba, xxvi, 142, 383; + its constitution and jurisdiction, xxvi, 139 n., 140, 142, 169, 181, 183 + n., 318; + its monks converted to Catholic usages, xxvi, xxxi, xxxix, 337, 373, + 374, 375, 376, 377; + piety of its Abbots, 143; + derivation of the name, 140 n. + +Iona, Abbot of, _see_ Adamnan, Columba, Segeni. + +Ireland, History of, xxix, 5, 7, 8, 9, 91, 92, 94, 161, 177, 191 n., 204, + 285, 306 n., 337, 373, 383; + description of, 7, 8, 9; + its hospitality to the English monks, 204. + +Irish, or Scots, Bishop of the, _see_ Palladius. + +Irish Annals, editorial reference to, 337 n. + +Irish Church, xxiii, xxv, xxx, xxxix, 87 n., 138, 139, 142 n., 143, 144, + 193-201, 336, 374-377. + +Irminric, father of Ethelbert, King of Kent, 95. + +Isaac, 387; + his tomb, 341. + +Isaiah, quoted, 186, 209. + +Ishmael, 378 n. + +Isle of Wight, _see_ Wight. + +Israel, 67, 341 n. + +Itala, the, 366, 368. + +Italian Sea, the, 132. + +Italy, 6, 20, 79, 92 n., 93, 196. + +Itchen, the river, 252 n. + +Ithamar, Bishop of Rochester, 164, 178 n., 179. + +Iudeu, 23 n., 189 n. + +Ixning, _see_ Ermynge. + +Jacobsburgh, _see_ Akeburgh. + +Jacob's Tomb, 341 n. + +James, St., quoted, 197, 372. + +James the Less, St., 215 n. + +James the Deacon, companion of Paulinus, xxv, 123; + left at York when Paulinus flees into Kent, 132; + a village named after him, 132; + teaches Church music, 132, 133, 217; + observes the Catholic Easter, 193, 195; + at Whitby, 195; + death, 133. + +Jarrow, _see_ Wearmouth and Jarrow. + +Jarrow, Abbot of, _see_ Benedict Biscop, Ceolfrid, Huaetbert. + +Jaruman, Bishop of Mercia, xxviii, 192, 206 n., 351 n.; + his mission to the East Saxons, 212, 245 n.; + death, 218. + +Jerome, 21 n., 387. + +Jerusalem, 337, 339, 340, 341. + +Jet, 6. + +Jezebel, 349 n. + +Job, quoted, 80, 370; + his tonsure, 370; + "Commentary on," _see_ Gregory. + +John the Baptist, St., his martyrdom, 53. + +John the Deacon, author of "Life of Gregory," 75 n., 81 n., 83 n. + +John the Evangelist, St., xlii, 304; + his celebration of Easter, 196, 197, 198; + quoted, 335, 363. + +John IV, Pope, consecrated, 128 n.; + his letter to the Scots, 128, 129, 130, 144 n. + +John VI, Pope, Wilfrid's cause tried before, 353. + +John, Archbishop of Arles, 215. + +John, Chief of the Papal notaries, 129. + +John of Beverley, Bishop of Hexham after Eata, xxix, 302, 353 n.; + a pupil of Hilda, 273; + of Theodore, 305 n.; + appointed Bishop of York, 305, 356 n.; + ordains Bede, xxxiii, 386; + his miracles, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311; + at Erneshow, 303, 304; + at Watton, 305, 306; + consecrates churches, 307, 308; + resigns the bishopric of York and retires to Beverley, 312; + ordains his successor, Wilfrid II, Bishop of York, 312; + death, 311, 312; + buried at St. Peter's, Beverley, 311, 312. + +John, a martyr, 210. + +John, the precentor, brought into Britain to teach Church music, 258; + Abbot of St. Martin's Monastery, 257; + at the Synod of Haethfelth, 257, 258, 259, 385; + dies on his way back to Rome, 259; + buried at Tours, 259. + +Jonah, quoted, 319. + +Joseph, 341 n., 370. + +Julianus of Campania, heretic Bishop of Eclanum, 21. + +Julius, British martyr, 18. + +Julius Caesar, _see_ Caesar. + +Justin II, Emperor, 140. + +Justinian I, Emperor, 140, 203 n., 256. + +Justinian II, Emperor, 314. + +Justus, Bishop of Rochester, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, xxiv, + 89, 92, 100; + sent by Gregory to Augustine, 64; + takes refuge in Gaul, xxiv, 96, 97; + ordains Romanus Bishop of Rochester, 100; + ordains Paulinus, 103, 384; + sends Romanus on a mission to Pope Honorius, 132; + death, 123, 125. + +Jutes, the, 30, 31, 245 n., 252. + +Jutland, 30, 317 n. + +Kaelcacaestir, _see_ Calcaria. + +Kaiserswerth, 324 n. + +Katwyk, 320 n. + +Kent, history, xxii, xxix, 2, 5 n., 30, 89, 93, 94, 96, 102 n., 127 n., + 130, 152, 166, 172, 179, 217, 241, 242, 245, 261, 269, 273, + 316 n., 385; + language of, 45 n.; + settlement of Christianity in, xxii, xxiv, xxix, 95, 193, 290; + diocese of, 323, 379 n., 380; + and _see_ Canterbury and Rochester. + +Kent, king of, _see_ Alric, Eadbert, Earconbert, Egbert, Ethelbert, + Hlothere, Irminric, Mul, Octa, Oeric, Suaebhard, Wictred. + +Kerslake, T., his "Vestiges of the Supremacy of Mercia," editorial + reference to, 255 n. + +Kyle, Plain of, conquered by Eadbert, 392. + +Labienus, the Tribune, slain in battle with the Britons, 10. + +Laestingaeu, _see_ Lastingham. + +Lagny-on-the-Marne, or Latineacum, 178. + +Laistranus, Irish priest, 129. + +Lammermuir Hills, 288 n. + +Lancashire, 204 n. + +Lanfranc, Archbishop, rebuilds Canterbury Cathedral, 72 n. + +Langres, 257 n. + +Laodicea, Bishop of, _see_ Anatolius. + +Lastingham, or Laestingaeu, Monastery of, xxvii, xxxv, 3, 185, 186, 187, + 207, 218, 220, 351. + +Lastingham, Abbot of, _see_ Ceadda, Cedd. + +Lateran Councils, 256 n., 352. + +Latin Language, 6; + poetry, 264 n. + +Latineacum, _see_ Lagny. + +Laurentius, St., Deacon and Martyr, 210. + +Laurentius, second Archbishop of Canterbury, xxiv, 49, 64 n., 91, 92, 93, + 96; + sent by Augustine to Gregory, 49; + consecrates the Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Canterbury, 90; + his letters to the Scots and Britons, 91, 92; + rebuked and scourged by St. Peter in a dream, 97; + converts King Eadbald, 97; + death and burial, 98. + +Leah's Tomb, 341 n., 342. + +Leeds, or Loidis, 120, 189 n. + +Leeds, or Loidis and Elmet, King of, _see_ Cerdic. + +Legacaestir, _see_ Chester. + +Legions, City of, _see_ Chester and Caerleon-on-Usk. + +Leicester, Diocese of, 148 n., 379 n. + +Leicester, Bishop of, 274 n. + +Leicestershire, 179 n. + +Leinster, 92 n., 141 n., 142 n. + +Lent, 38, 151, 186, 206. + +Leptis in Tripolis, 12. + +Lerins, 33. + +Leutherius, or Hlothere, Bishop of Wessex, nephew of Agilbert, 147, 150, + 151; + consecrated by Theodore, 151; + at the Hertford Synod, 228; + ordains Aldhelm, 343 n.; + death, 241. + +Leviticus, quoted 279, 364. + +"Liber Sacramentorum," or Gregorian Sacramentary, attributed to Gregory, + 81 n. + +"Liber Eliensis," editorial reference to, 266 n. + +Lichfield, Diocese of, xxviii, 219 n.; + Cathedral, 224 n. + +Lichfield, Bishop of, _see_ Aldwin, Ceadda, Hedda, Sexwulf, Wynfrid. + +Liddesdale, 73 n. + +Liege, 177 n. + +Light, Supernatural, 157, 232, 233, 234, 322. + +Lilla, gives his life for Edwin's, 104. + +Lincoln, 122, 123, 126. + +Lincolnshire, 122 n., 123 n., 157, 179 n., 219 n. + +Lindisfari, 245 n. + +Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, Monastery of, xxv, xxxvi, 1 n., 4, 139, 169, + 186, 202, 203, 225, 290, 347; + Church of, xxiii, 4, 183, 192, 295, 302; + diocese of, xxv, 243 n., 325 n., 351 n., 353. + +Lindisfarne, Abbot of, _see_ Aidan, Guthfrid. + +Lindisfarne, Bishop of, _see_ Aidan, Colman, Conwulf, Cuthbert, Eadbert, + Eadfrid, Eata, Ethelwald, Finan, Tuda. + +Lindsey, history, xxv, 3, 4, 157, 191, 207 n., 243 n., 244, 267 n., 353 + n.; + diocese of, 225, 243 n., 380 n. + +Lindsey, Bishop of, _see_ Alwic, Ceadda, Cynibert, Diuma, Eadhaed, Edgar, + Ethelwin. + +Linlithgow, 32, 189 n. + +Littleborough, 123 n. + +Liudhard, Bishop, Chaplain to Bertha, 46, 51 n. + +Loidis, _see_ Leeds. + +Lombards, 148 n.; + King of the, _see_ Perctarit. + +London, metropolis of the East Saxons, 89, 241; + diocese of, 49 n., 65, 183 n. + +London, Bishop of, _see_ Earconwald, Ingwald, Mellitus, Waldhere, Wini. + +Looking-glass, sent by Pope Boniface to Queen Ethelberg, 111. + +Lord's Day, the, 197. + +Lothians, the, 189 n. + +Louth, County, 204 n. + +Lucius, King of Britain, his conversion, xxiii, 12, 149 n., 382. + +Lucius Bibulus, Consul, 9. + +Lucius Verus, Emperor, _see_ Aurelius. + +Lugubalia, _see_ Carlisle. + +Luke, St., quoted, 78. + +Lul, Archbishop of Mainz, 392 n. + +Lupus, Bishop of Troyes, 40; + sent to Britain to confute the Pelagians, xxiii, 32, 33, 34; + churches dedicated to, 33; + casts out evil spirits, 34. + +Luxeuil, Monastery of, 92 n. + +Lyccidfelth, _see_ Lichfield. + +Lyons, 194, 316 n. + +Lyons, Archbishop of, _see_ Aetherius, Annemundus, Godwin. + +Lyons, Count of, _see_ Dalfinus. + +Maas, the, 317 n. + +Maban, or Mafa, a teacher of Church music, 358. + +Macedonia, 6. + +Macedonius, Heretic Bishop of Constantinople, 255 n., 256. + +Maelduib, _see_ Maildufus. + +Maeldum, _see_ Meaux. + +Maelmin, Northumbria, 120. + +Maestricht, 177 n. + +Maes-y-Garmon, or Field of Germanus, said to be the scene of the + Hallelujah Victory, 38 n. + +Mafa, _see_ Maban. + +Mageo, _see_ Mayo. + +Maildufus, or Maelduib founds the Monastery of Malmesbury, 343 n., 344. + +Mailros, _see_ Melrose. + +Maintz, Bishop of, _see_ Boniface, Redger, Lul. + +"Making of England, The," _see_ Green. + +Malachi, quoted, 367. + +Malmesbury, or City of Maildufus, 343, 344; + perhaps Augustine's Ac, 84 n. + +Malmesbury, Abbot of, _see_ Aldhelm. + +Malmesbury, William of, _see_ William. + +Mamre, Hill of, 342. + +Man, Isle of, 94, 102; + and _see_ Mevanian Islands. + +Mandubracius, _see_ Androgius. + +Marcellinus, his "Life of Suidbert," 323 n. + +Marcian, Emperor, 29, 41, 383. + +Marcus, Emperor in Britain, 22 n. + +Marcus Antoninus Verus, or Marcus Aurelius, Emperor, 12. + +Marigena, _see_ Pelagius. + +Mark, St., quoted, 110; + his observance of Easter, 364. + +Market Weighton, 118. + +Maro (Vergil), 264. + +Marriage, of the lower clergy, 50; + lawful and unlawful, 52, 53, 95, 97, 184; + customs of, 54; + rules and discipline of, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 230. + +Marseilles, 215. + +Martial, editorial reference to, 264 n. + +Martin, St., Bishop of Tours, 48, 141, 257 n., 259 n. + +Martin, Pope, 256, 258. + +Martyrium Church at Jerusalem, 339, 340. + +"Martyrology," Bede's, _see_ Bede. + +Martyrs, Church of the Four Crowned, Canterbury, 99. + +Mary, the Virgin, 264, 266, 355; + churches of, 224, 339. + +Maserfelth, Battle of, xxvi, 154, 155. + +Masses, 51, 81, 96, 268, 269, 270; + and _see_ Communion. + +Mason, Dr., his "Mission of St. Augustine," editorial references to, vi, + 45 n. + +Matthew, St., quoted, 100, 101, 110, 126, 127, 173, 200, 211, 371, 393. + +Matthew of Westminster, editorial reference to, 345 n. + +Maurice, or Mauritius, Emperor, 42, 43, 44, 64, 66, 68, 71, 72, 81. + +Maximian, surnamed Herculius, Emperor, 13, 14. + +Maximus, Emperor in Britain, 20, 382. + +Mayo, Mageo or Muigeo, 225 n., 226. + +Mayor and Lumby's edition of Books III and IV of the "Ecclesiastical + History," editorial references to, vi, xx, xxxv n., 220 n., + 261 n. + +Mayor of the Palace, _see_ Ebroin, Ercinwald. + +Meanware, 245. + +Meaux, or Maeldum, 355. + +Meaux, Bishop of, _see_ Faro. + +Medeshamstead, _see_ Peterborough. + +Medeshamstead, Abbot of, _see_ Cuthbald. + +Meilochon, father of Bridius, King of the Picts, 142. + +Meldi, the, 215. + +Melfont, or Mellifont, 204 n. + +Mellitus, Bishop of London and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, sent + by Gregory to Augustine, xxiv, 64, 66, 89, 92, 231 n., 383; + account of, 64 n.; + goes to Rome, 92, 93; + expelled by the East Saxons, takes refuge with Justus in Gaul, 96, 97, + 182; + returns from Gaul, 98; + succeeds Laurentius as Archbishop of Canterbury, 98, 99; + suffers from gout, 98; + death and burial, 99, 100; + his character, 98, 99. + +Melrose, or Mailros, Monastery of, 194 n., 202, 288, 290, 318, 326. + +Melrose, Abbot of, _see_ Eata, Ethelwald; + Provost of, _see_ Boisil. + +Menapia, Belgium, 13 n. + +Meon, East and West, 245 n. + +Meonstoke, 245 n. + +Mercia, history of, xxvii, xxix, xxx, 3, 45, 115, 122 n., 163, 172, 179 + n., 226 n., 323, 352 n., 353 n., 379, 380 n., 385; + its conversion, xxvii, xxviii, 177, 190, 384; + diocese of, 148 n., 218 n., 219 n., 243 n., 244 n., 272 n., 273 n., 379 + n., 380. + +Mercia, King of, _see_ Beornred, Cearl, Ceolred, Coenred, Ethelbald, + Ethelred, Offa, Penda, Wulfhere. + +Mercia, Bishop of, _see_ Aldwin, Ceadda, Jaruman, Sexwulf, Wilfrid, + Wynfrid; + _and see_ Mid-Anglia. + +Mercians, 30. + +Merivale, editorial reference to, 18 n. + +Metals of Britain, 6. + +Metrical Art, the, 217. + +Mevanian Islands (Man and Anglesea), conquered by Edwin, 94, 102. + +Michael, the Archangel, appears to Wilfrid in a dream, 355. + +Mid-Anglia, conversion of, xxvi, xxvii, 30, 179, 181, 384. + +Mid-Anglia and Mercia, Bishop of, _see_ Diuma, Ceollach, Trumhere. + +Middlesex, 10 n. + +Milan, 132 n. + +Milan, Archbishop of, _see_ Asterius. + +Millfield (perhaps Maelmin), 120 n. + +Miracles, xxix, xxxix, 232, 233, 237, 238, 268, 269, 270, 325; + of Aidan, 167; + of Augustine, 81, 83; + of Cedd, 187; + of Cuthbert, 291, 292, 297, 300; + of Earcongota, 152, 153; + of Earconwald, 232; + of Ethelthryth, 262, 263; + of Ethelwald, 301, 302; + of Haedde, 343; + of the Hewalds, 322; + of John of Beverley, 302-311; + of Oswald, xxvi, 136, 137, 138, 154-160, 162, 163, 248, 249, 250; + of Paulinus, 122; + of Sebbi, 240. + +Miracles, Gregory on, 68, 69. + +"Mission of St. Augustine," _see_ Mason. + +Moberly, his edition of the "Ecclesiastical History," xx. + +Moinenn, name for Ninias, 141 n. + +Moll, King of Northumbria, 393. + +Monasteries, in England, xxvi, 151; + in Gaul, xxvi, 151; + double or mixed, 151 n., 177 n., 190, 233, 260 n., 273, 283, 284; + rules for, 229; + constitution of, 142 n.; + hereditary succession in, 306 n. + +"Monasticon," _see_ Dugdale. + +Monk, an ungodly, his wicked life and miserable death, 334, 335; + his visions of hell, 335. + +Monophysite Heresy, the, 254 n. + +Monothelitism, xxix, 214 n., 254 n., 258, 352. + +"Monumenta Historica Britannica," xx. + +Moore, Bishop, his MS. of the "Ecclesiastical History," xix, xx. + +Moray Frith, 360 n. + +Mopsuestia, Bishop of, _see_ Theodore. + +Morgan, _see_ Pelagius. + +Morini, The, 5, 9. + +Mosaic Law, 196, 198, 361. + +Mount of Olives, 340, 341. + +Mount Sion, 340. + +Muigeo, _see_ Mayo. + +Mul, usurper in Kent, 287 n. + +Music, Church, 133, 217, 218, 258, 265 n., 358, 386; + supernatural, 221. + +Naiton, or Nechtan mac Derili, King of the Picts, xxx, xxxi; + adopts Catholic usages, 359, 360, 374; + asks Ceolfrid for advice and builders, 359; + builds a stone church, 359; + expels the Columban clergy, 359 n.; + receives Ceolfrid's letter, 374. + +Namur MS. of the "Ecclesiastical History," xix. + +Naples, 214. + +Nativity of our Lord, _see_ Christmas. + +Nechtan mac Derili, _see_ Naiton. + +Nechtansmere, or Dunnechtan, battle of, 285. + +Nendrum, or Inishmahee, Bishop of, _see_ Cromanus. + +Nennius, editorial references to, 23 n., 147 n., 188 n., 189 n., 391 n. + +Nero, Emperor, 11, 14. + +Nestorius, Bishop of Constantinople, his heresy, 255 n., 256. + +Neustria, King of, _see_ Chilperic, Clothaire III, Clovis II. + +Neustrians defeated by Pippin, 320 n. + +Newark, 123 n. + +Newcastle, 180 n. + +Nicaea, Council of, 19, 128, 198, 227 n., 255, 369 n. + +Nicene Creed, 256 n. + +Nidd, Synod of the, 356, 385 n. + +Ninian, Ninias or Moinenn, Bishop of Whitern, 48 n., 141; + his mission to the Southern Picts, 141. + +Niridanum, monastery of, 214. + +Nisan, the month, 84 n., 365 n. + +Nivelles, monastery of, 177 n. + +Nola, Campania, 388 n. + +Nola, Bishop of, _see_ Paulinus. + +Norfolk, Bishopric of, 231 n. + +"Norman Conquest, The," _see_ Freeman. + +Northamptonshire, 179 n., 180, 268 n., 346 n. + +North Burton, 308. + +North Pole, the, 6. + +Northumberland, 4 n., 292 n. + +Northumbria, Bede's acquaintance with its history, xxii, xxiii; + history of, xxiv, xxv, xxvii, xxix, 82 n., 122 n., 127 n., 131, 164, + 168, 185, 190 n., 195, 204, 226 n., 286, 325, 352 n., 380 + n., 393 n.; + establishment of Christianity in, xxiv, xxv, 102, 104, 117, 118, 119, + 120, 132, 133, 139, 381; + diocese of, xxvii, xxix, 3, 4, 137 n., 219, 242, 351 n., 379 n., 381. + +Northumbria, King of, _see_ Aldfrid, "Alfrid," Aluchred, Ceolwulf, + Coenred, Eadbert, Eadwulf, Edwin, Egfrid, Ethelfrid, + Ethelwald, Moll, Osred, Osric, Oswald, Oswulf, Oswy. + +Northumbria, Bishop of, 143 n.; + and _see_ Bishops of Lindisfarne and York. + +Northumbrians, 30. + +North Wales, 86 n. + +Norwich, the diocese of, 122 n., 231 n. + +Nothelm, Archbishop of Canterbury, xxii, 2, 390; + his research, xxii, 2; + his questions to Bede answered, 387 n.; + death, 391. + +Nottinghamshire, 115 n. + +Numbers, quoted, 362. + +Oak, the (possibly Augustine's Ac), 84 n. + +Octa, grandfather of Ethelbert, King of Kent, 95. + +Oder, the river, 317 n. + +Odo, Archbishop of Canterbury, 346 n. + +Oecumenical Councils, _see_ Councils. + +Oengus, Angus or Ungust, King of the Picts, son of Fergus, 392 n., 393. + +Oeric, Oisc, son of Hengist, 95. + +Offa, King of Essex, son of Sighere, his abdication and pilgrimage to + Rome, xxx, 345 n., 346. + +Offa, King of Mercia, 18 n., 219 n., 392. + +Offerings at the Altar, divisions of, 49, 50. + +Oftfor, Bishop of Worcester, 273, 274, 380 n. + +Oiddi, a priest of Wilfrid's, 245. + +Oidilwald, sub-king of Deira, _see_ Ethelwald. + +Oil calms a storm, 167. + +Oisc, _see_ Oeric. + +Oiscings, the, 94. + +Olivet, Mount, _see_ Mount of Olives. + +Old Saxons, The, 317, 320, 321, 322. + +Old Sarum, 343 n. + +Opus Paschale, _see_ Sedulius. + +Orcades, The, _see_ Orkneys. + +Ordination of bishops, 49, 50, 53, 54. + +Orkneys, The, 5, 11, 142 n., 382. + +Orosius, xxii, 5 n., 25 n. + +Orthography, 389. + +Osfrid, son of Edwin, baptized, 119; + slain in battle, 131; + his son, 132. + +Osred, King of Northumbria, after Aldfrid, xxx, 342, 345, 346 n., 356, + 357, 377 n., 385 n.; + besieged in Bamborough by Eadwulf, 385 n.; + killed in battle, 375, 386. + +Osric, sub-king of the Hwiccas, 273 n. + +Osric, King of Deira after Edwin, son of Aelfric, 134, 135, 164. + +Osric, King of Northumbria after Coenred, xxxi, 1 n., 273 n., 375 n., 377; + his parentage, 377 n.; + death, 378, 386. + +Osthryth, daughter of Oswy, wife of Ethelred, King of Mercia, 157, 267, + 352 n.; + her love for Bardney Monastery, 157, 158; + murdered by her nobles, 385. + +Oswald, King of Northumbria after Eanfrid and Osric, and sixth Bretwalda, + xxv, 94, 131, 132, 135, 185, 189, 243 n.; + unites Bernicia and Deira, xxvi, 134, 164 n., 383 n.; + extent of his dominions, 146; + his mother, 147 n.; + his victory over Caedwalla at Hefenfelth, xxv, 135; + erects a cross at Hefenfelth, 136; + invites Aidan to restore Northumbria to Christianity, xxv, 134, 138, + 145; + baptized, 138; + appoints Aidan Bishop of Lindisfarne, 138, 139; + his relations with Cynegils, 148; + marries Cynegils' daughter, 148; + makes Birinus Bishop of Dorchester, 148; + finishes building St. Peter's, York, 119; + his piety, 136, 146, 147, 154, 160; + church built in his honour, 137; + length of his reign, 135, 154; + slain at Maserfelth, xxvi, 137, 154, 160, 163, 164 n., 384; + burial and translation of his remains, 157, 158, 160, 161; + his arms miraculously preserved from corruption, 147; + his posthumous miracles, xxvi, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, + 162; + averts a pestilence by his posthumous prayers, 248, 249, 250; + legend connected with his name, 154 n.; + the day of his death celebrated, 250, 251; + "Life of," _see_ Reginald. + +Oswald's Tree, Oswestry, or Croes Oswallt (Cross Oswald), 154 n. + +Oswin, King of Deira, son of Osric, xxvi, 164, 181 n., 185 n.; + his love for Aidan, 165, 166; + his character and appearance, 164, 165, 166; + his reign, 164; + murdered by Oswy, xxvi, 164, 166, 191, 384; + monastery built in his memory, 165. + +Oswin, an Aetheling, killed by Moll, 393. + +Oswinthorp, 120 n. + +Oswulf, King of Northumbria, son of Eadbert, 393. + +Oswy, King of Bernicia and afterwards of Northumbria, seventh Bretwalda, + son of Ethelfrid, xxvi, xxvii, xxviii, 94, 157, 179 n., 201, + 218, 224 n., 257 n., 260 n., 287, 377 n.; + murders Oswin, xxvi, 163, 164; + buries Oswald's head and arms, 160, 161; + his reign, 163; + his dominions, 218, 219; + attacks upon him, 163; + his struggle with and defeat of Penda of Mercia, 181, 188, 189, 190, + 191, 243 n.; + marries Eanfled, daughter of Edwin, 167; + dedicates his daughter Elfled to a religious life, xxxiii, 188, 189; + his daughter Alchfled married to Peada, son of Penda, 180, 191; + sends Cedd to convert the East Saxons, 182, 183; + endows monasteries, 188, 189, 190, 191; + instructed by the Scots, 194; + converted to Catholic usages, 200, 201, 226; + at the Whitby Synod, 195, 200, 201; + at Lindisfarne, 202, 203; + sends Ceadda into Kent, 207; + his conference with Egbert, 208; + sends Wighard to Rome, 208, 213; + his treatment of Wilfrid, 350, 351; + Pope Vitalian's letter to, 208, 209, 210, 211; + intends to go to Rome, 226, 227; + sickness and death, 226, 384; + buried at Whitby, 190. + +Othona, 183 n. + +Ouestraefelda (Estrefeld), Aetswinapathe, or Edwins-path, Synod of, 343 + n., 353 n., 356 n. + +Oundle, or Inundalum, Monastery at, 346, 356. + +Oundle, Abbot of, _see_ Cuthbald. + +Ovid, editorial reference to, 264 n. + +Owini, 220, 221; + his narrative of Ceadda's death, 221, 222, 223, 224. + +Oxford, 148 n., 260 n. + +Oxford, Bishop of, _see_ Paget. + +Padda, a priest of Wilfrid's, 245. + +Paegnalaech, or Paegnalech, Monastery of, 204. + +Paget, Dr., Bishop of Oxford, his "Studies in the Christian Character," + quoted, xxxviii. + +Palestine, 338. + +Pall, the, 49 n., 54, 100, 101, 124, 132, 273 n., 383, 390. + +Palladius, Bishop, sent by Pope Celestine to the Christian Irish, xxiii, + 26, 27, 33 n., 382, 383. + +Pallinsburn, 120 n. + +Palsy, girl miraculously cured of the, 155. + +Pamphilus, Martyr, 369. + +Pancras, or Pancratius, St., 210 n. + +Pant, The River, afterwards the Blackwater, 183. + +Pantheon, The, given by Phocas to the Church, 93. + +Paris, 152 n. + +Paris, King of, _see_ Charibert. + +Paris, Bishop of, _see_ Agilbert, Importunus. + +Parker, editorial reference to, 48 n. + +Parochial system, The, 183 n. + +Partney, or Peartaneu Monastery, 123. + +Partney, Abbot of, _see_ Aldwin, Deda. + +Paschal, Pope, 265 n. + +Paschal Controversy, _see_ Easter. + +Paschal Cycles, _see_ Cycles. + +Passover and Easter, 84 n., 361, 362, _et seq._ + +"Pastoral Care, The," _see_ Gregory. + +Patriarchs, The, their tonsure, 370. + +Patriarchs' tombs, The, 341, 342. + +Patrick, St., Missionary to the Irish, 27 n., 48 n. + +Paul, St., 72, 81, 196, 197, 210, 211, 240, 265 n.; + quoted, xli, 60; + his tonsure, 215; + appears to a Saxon boy, 248, 249, 250. + +Paul a Martyr, 210. + +Paul the Deacon, his "Life of Gregory," 75 n., 83 n. + +Paulinus, Archbishop of York, xxv, 118, 193, 391; + sent by Gregory to Augustine, 64, 383; + goes to Northumbria with Queen Ethelberg, 102, 103; + his conversion of Edwin, 102, 104, 112, 115, 116, 270, 271; + converts the Northumbrians, 103, 120, 124; + his ordination, 103, 105 n., 384; + baptizes Edwin's daughter Eanfled, 104; + teaches and baptizes in Northumbria, 119, 120; + preaches in Lindsey, 122, 123; + converts Blaecca of Lincoln, 122; + builds St. Paul's, Lincoln, 122; + consecrates Honorius, 123, 126; + his appearance, 123; + receives the pall from Pope Honorius, 124, 125; + converts Osric, 134; + converts Hilda, 270, 271; + on Edwin's death takes Ethelberg and her children back to Kent, 130, + 131, 132, 384; + made Bishop of Rochester, 130, 132; + death and burial, 132, 163, 384. + +Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, his poems, 388. + +Peada, son of Penda, xxvii, 231 n.; + his conversion, 179, 180, 384; + made King of the South Mercians by Oswy, 179 n., 180, 191; + his character, 180; + marries Oswy's daughter Alchfled, 180; + slain by the treachery of his wife, 191. + +Peanfahel, or Penneltun, 24, 25. + +Pearls of various colours, 5. + +Peartaneu, _see_ Partney. + +Pechthelm, Bishop of Whitern, 334, 343, 379 n., 381. + +Pelagians, The, xxiii, xxv, 128, 129, 130, 368; + in Britain, 21, 32, 39; + at the conference of St. Albans, 34, 35; + their teachers confuted and expelled by Germanus, 40, 41. + +Pelagius II, Pope, 83 n. + +Pelagius, the heretic, 20, 21 n., 32 n., 35; + his doctrine, 21 n.; + refuted by St. Augustine, 21 n. + +Penda, King of Mercia, xxv, xxvii, 179, 180, 190 n., 241 n., 380 n.; + his war against Edwin, 130, 131; + treacherously slays Eadfrid, 131; + his attitude towards Christianity, 131, 181; + his sister married to and divorced by Coinwalch, 149; + deprives Coinwalch of his kingdom, 149; + kills Oswald, 154, 188; + kills Sigbert and Ecgric in battle, 172; + conquers Lindsey, 243 n.; + invades and ravages Northumbria, 168, 169, 188; + attempts to burn Bamborough, 168; + burns the church where Aidan died, 170; + his children, 180; + slain by Oswy at the Battle of Winwaed, 181, 188, 189, 191, 384. + +Pentecost, _see_ Whitsuntide. + +Perctarit, King of the Lombards, 351 n. + +Perrona, or Peronne, Church at, 178; + Monastery of, 177 n., 178 n. + +Peronne, Abbot of, _see_ Ultan. + +Persia, King of, _see_ Chosroes. + +Peter, St., 71, 72, 81, 109, 127, 196, 200, 201, 210, 211, 304, 356, 372, + 373; + his tomb, 54 n.; + founds the Church of Rome, 91; + said to have consecrated Clement, 91; + his observance of Easter, 198, 364; + monastery dedicated to, 231 n.; + appears in a vision to a Saxon boy, 248, 249, 250; + his wife's mother, 308; + church built by Naiton dedicated to, 360; + preaching at Rome, 364; + his tonsure, 371, 374. + +Peter, Gregory's Deacon, 76, 79. + +Peter, first Abbot of St. Augustine's Monastery, 49, 72, 73. + +Peter, name given to Caedwalla in his baptism, 312, 313. + +Peterborough, or Medeshamstead, Monastery founded by Sexwulf, 231. + +Peterborough, Abbot of, _see_ Cuthbald, Sexwulf. + +Phase, or Passover, 362. + +"Philippians, Epistle to the," quoted, 144. + +Phocas, Emperor, 42 n., 74, 81, 93. + +Phrygia, 78 n. + +Picardy, 215 n. + +Pickering, 3 n. + +Picts, the, xxiii, xxvi, xxix, xxx, xxxi, 7, 9, 205, 219, 385, 391; + their law of succession, 8; + their incursions, 7, 8, 20 n., 23, 26, 28, 30; + subdued by Oswy and made subject to Northumbria, 94, 191, 244, 381 n.; + regain their Independence, 244 n., 286, 381 n.; + defeat Egfrid at Nechtansmere, 285; + at peace with the English, 381; + their conversion, 141, 359 n., 383; + attitude towards Easter question, 196, 359, 374. + +Picts, King of, _see_ Bridius, Bruide Mac Bili, Naiton, Oengus. + +Picts, Bishop of, _see_ Trumwine. + +Pilgrimages, 294 n., 312, 313, 314, 345, 346, 385. + +Pilgrim of Bordeaux, The, 340 n. + +Pincahala, 204 n. + +Pippin of Heristal, Duke of the Franks, account of, 320; + his kindness to Wilbrord, 320, 324; + buries the Hewalds, 322; + gives Suidbert land for a monastery at Inlitore, 324. + +Pippin the Short, King of the Franks, son of Charles Martel, grandson of + Pippin of Heristal, 320 n., 391, 392 n. + +Placidia, Mother of Valentinian, 41. + +Plague, The, xxvii, xxviii, xxxv, 28, 162, 179 n., 186, 187, 201 n., 203, + 204, 212, 213, 220, 233, 234, 237 n., 288 n., 289, 350 n., + 384. + +Plato, quoted, 360. + +Plectrude, _see_ Blithryda. + +Pliny, xxii, 5 n. + +Plummer, editorial references to his edition of the "Ecclesiastical + History" and Historical Works of Bede, v, xix, xx, 2 n., 13 + n., 32 n., 68 n., 84 n., 90 n., 226 n., 277 n., 305 n., 324 + n., 326 n., 387 n., 390 n. + +Poetry, English Religious, 277, 278, 279; + Latin, 246 n. + +Poitiers, Bishop of, _see_ Fortunatus. + +Pontifical System of Indictions, The, 227 n., 254 n. + +Pontus, The, 317 n. + +Praetorian Guards, The, 14. + +"Praise of Virgins, The," _see_ Fortunatus. + +Priestfield, Rochester, 89 n. + +Primacy, The, 49, 65, 66. + +Priscilla, 197. + +Promised Land, The, 338. + +Prosper of Aquitaine, xxii, 33 n.; + account of, 21 n.; + quoted, 21. + +Prosper Tiro, 21 n. + +"Psalms, The," quoted, 101, 107, 174, 223, 334. + +Puch, a thegn, his wife healed by John of Beverley, 307, 308. + +Putta, Bishop of Rochester, 216, 218; + at the Hertford Synod, 228; + leaves Rochester for Mercia, 242; + his unworldliness, 242; + teaches Church music, 242; + death, 242. + +Putta, Bishop of Hereford, 218 n., 380 n. + +Purgatory, 326, 327, 329, 330. + +Quartodecimans, 84 n., 129 n., 143 n., 196 n. + +Quenburga, daughter of Cearl, first wife of Edwin, 119. + +Quentavic, Quentae vicus, or Etaples, _see_ Etaples. + +Quodvultdeus, 179 n. + +Quoenburg, daughter of Heriburg, healed by the prayers of Bishop John of + Beverley, 305-307. + +Racuulfe, _see_ Reculver. + +Raedfrid, Egbert's reeve, 215. + +Raegenheri, son of Redwald, 115. + +Rameses, 362. + +Ramsbury, Diocese of, 343 n. + +Rathbed, King of Frisland, 319, 320. + +Rathmelsigi, Monastery of, 204. + +Ravenna, 41. + +Rebecca's Tomb, 341 n., 342. + +Reculver or Racuulfe, Monastery of, 315. + +Reculver, Abbot of, _see_ Bertwald. + +Redbridge, Ford of Reeds, or Hreutford, Monastery of, 253. + +Redbridge, Abbot of, _see_ Cynibert. + +Redger, Archbishop of Maintz, 392. + +Redwald, King of the East Angles, fourth Bretwalda, 94, 112, 120, 171; + his protection of Edwin, 112-115; + leads an army against Ethelfrid, 115; + banishes Sigbert, 121, 172; + his conversion and perversion, 121; + his genealogy, 121; + his Queen, 114, 115, 121. + +Reeves, Dr., editorial reference to his "Culdees," 23 n.; + to his edition of Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," 140 n., 142 n. + +Reginald of Durham, editorial references to his "Life of St. Oswald," 148 + n., 154 n. + +Religious Orders, 202, 203. + +Rendlesham, Rendlaesham or Rendil's Dwelling, 185. + +Reppington, _see_ Repton. + +Reptacaestir, _see_ Richborough. + +Reptiles, their absence from Ireland, 8. + +Repton or Reppington, 181 n. + +Responsa, Gregory's, _see_ Gregory's Answers. + +Restennet, near Forfar, 360. + +Resurrection, Doctrine of the, 78. + +Retford, 115 n. + +Reuda, leader of the Scots, 8. + +Rhine, the River, 9, 22, 322, 324. + +Rhys, Dr., editorial references to his "Celtic Britain," vi, 7 n., 8 n., + 23 n., 29 n., 73 n., 86 n., 317 n. + +Riada, _see_ Reuda. + +Richard of Hexham, editorial references to, 244 n., 303 n. + +Richborough, Reptacaestir or Rutubi Portus, Kent, 5, 45 n. + +Richmond, Yorks., 120 n. + +Ricula, sister of Ethelbert, 89. + +Ricbert kills Earpwald, 121. + +Ripon, or Inhrypum, 120 n.; + Monastery of, 161 n., 194, 218 n., 244, 257 n., 295 n., 301, 320 n., + 346, 350, 353 n., 356; + diocese of, 244 n., 353 n. + +Ripon, Bishop of, _see_ Eadhaed. + +Ripon, Abbot of, _see_ Wilfrid. + +Ritual, 51, 85. + +Rochester, Dorubrevis, Hrofaescaestrae or The Kentish Castle, 163, 228, + 229 n., 242; + diocese of, 89, 132, 179. + +Rochester, Bishop of, _see_ Aldwulf, Cuichelm, Damian, Gebmund, Ithamar, + Justus, Paulinus, Putta, Romanus, Tobias. + +Roger of Wendover, editorial references to, 252 n., 321 n. + +Roman Law, 52. + +Roman remains at Grantchester, 261. + +Romans, The, in Britain, xxiii, 9-23, 25, 26, 382. + +Rome, 9, 11, 54 n., 78, 92, 93, 99 n., 133 n., 161, 194, 196, 214, 226, + 241, 245, 257, 273, 312, 313, 317, 324, 343 n., 345, 348, 351, + 353, 358, 364, 368, 385; + Bede's alleged visit to, xxxvi; + taken by the Goths, 23, 382; + Apostolic see of, 75, 83, 91; + councils held at, 254 n., 256, 258, 352, 353 n., 354. + +Romanus, Bishop of Rochester after Justus, 100; + drowned on his way to Rome, 132. + +Romanus, a priest of Queen Eanfled's, 193, 195. + +Romulus, 313. + +Romulus Augustulus, Emperor, 41 n. + +Ronan, 193. + +Rosemarkie, on the Moray Frith, 360 n. + +Rowley Water, 135 n. + +Rufinianus, Abbot of St. Augustine's Monastery, 64. + +Ruegen, 317 n. + +Ruegenwalde, 317 n. + +Rugii, the, 317 n. + +Rugini, the, 317. + +Rutubi Portus, _see_ Richborough. + +Saba, or Sabert, King of Essex, xxiv, 89, 96, 383; + his pagan sons, 95, 96; + death, xxiv, 93, 95. + +Sacrarium, Signification of, 158. + +Sacrilege, 51, 52, 95. + +Sacrifice of Animals, 67. + +Saethryth, Abbess of Brige, step-daughter of Anna, 149 n., 152. + +Saewulf, quoted, 341 n. + +St. Abb's Head, 260 n. + +St. Agnes' Convent, Rome, 54 n. + +St. Alban's, Vaeclingacaestir, Verlamacaestir, or Verulam, 18; + Monastery of, 18 n.; + conference at, 34 n. + +St. Amphibalus, Church of, at Winchester, 149 n. + +St. Andrew's Church, Hexham, 358. + +St. Andrew's, Rochester, built by Ethelbert, 89, 163, 377, 378. + +St. Andrew's Monastery, Rome, 42 n. + +St. Audrey's Fair, Ely, 263 n. + +St. Audrey's Lace, or Tawdry Lace, 263 n. + +St. Augustine's Monastery, (Monastery of SS. Peter and Paul), founded by + Augustine, at Canterbury, xxx, 2 n., 64 n., 72, 90, 121 n., + 216, 357; + Augustine and subsequent archbishops buried there, 90, 98, 216, 391 n. + +St. Augustine's, Abbot of, _see_ Albinus, Benedict, Hadrian, Peter, + Rufinianus. + +St. Bees, 271 n. + +St. Boswells, 288 n. + +St. Cecilia in Trastevere, 324. + +St. Cunibert's Church, Cologne, 322. + +St. Ebbe's Church, Oxford, 260 n. + +St. Gallen, Monastery of, 75 n.; + its MS. of Cuthbert's Letter to Cuthwin, _see_ Cuthbert. + +St. Gregory's Chapel in St. Peter's, York, 131. + +St. Herbert's Island, Derwentwater, 294. + +St. John's Lee, Hexham, 303 n. + +St. Lawrence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon, 210 n. + +St. Martin of Tours, 48, 141, 259. + +St. Martin's Church, Canterbury, 48, 51 n. + +St. Martin's Church, Tours, 259 n. + +St. Martin's Church, Utrecht, 324 n. + +St. Martin's Church, Whitern, 141. + +St. Martin's Monastery, Rome, 257, 259. + +St. Martin's, Rome, Abbot of, _see_ John. + +St. Mary's Church, Bethlehem, 339. + +St. Mary's Church, Lichfield, 224. + +St. Michael's Church, Malmesbury, 343 n. + +St. Michael's Oratory, Erneshow, 303. + +St. Oswald's, near Hexham, 137. + +St. Pancras Church, Canterbury, 210 n. + +St. Paul's Cathedral, London, 89, 240. + +St. Paul's Church, Rome, 81. + +St. Peter, the patrimony of, in Gaul, 44 n. + +St. Peter's Church, Bamborough, 147. + +St. Peter's Church, Lindisfarne, 169, 192, 295, 302. + +St. Peter's Church, Ripon, 346, 356. + +St. Peter's, Rome, 81, 257, 313. + +St. Peter's Church, Whitby, 190. + +St. Peter's Church, York, now York Minster, 118, 119. + +SS. Peter and Paul, Church and Monastery of, Canterbury, 94, 98 n., 314; + and _see_ St. Augustine's. + +SS. Peter and Paul, Church of, at Dorchester, 148 n. + +SS. Peter and Paul, Church of, at Winchester, 149. + +SS. Peter and Paul, monastery of, at Wearmouth and Jarrow, 386; + and _see_ Wearmouth. + +St. Saviour's Church, Utrecht, 324. + +St. Stephen's Church, Faremoutier-en-Brie, 153. + +Santi Quattro Coronati, Church of, at Rome, 99 n. + +S. Lorenzo fuori le Mura, Rome, 210 n. + +Saracens, The, xxxi; origin of, 378. + +Sarah's Tomb, 341 n., 342. + +Saranus, or Saran Ua Critain, Irish Ecclesiastic, 129. + +Saul, 73, 387. + +Saxon, the name, 317 n. + +"Saxon Chronicle, The," editorial references to, 125 n., 231 n., 241 n., + 342 n., 385 n. + +Saxons, The, xxiii, 13; + called in to help the Britons, 29; + conquer Britain, 29, 30, 31; + settled in Britain, 37, 42. + +Saxony, Old, 30. + +Scandinavia, 7 n., 317 n. + +Scarborough, 275 n. + +Scarlet Dye made from snails, 5. + +Scellanus, Irish priest, 129. + +Schleswig, 30 n. + +Schools, founded by Sigbert, 172; + in Gaul, 121 n., 172; + in Kent, 121 n., 172. + +Scotland, _see_ Ireland. + +Scottia, signification of, 92 n. + +Scottish Language, 6. + +Scots, _i.e._, Irish, xxiii, xxxi, 7, 8, 9, 91, 191; + incursions of, 20 n., 23, 26; + Christianity among, 8, 26, 27; + their observance of Easter, 91, 92, 128, 129; + expelled from England, 28, 73, 74, 94; + of Dalriada, 8, 73, 142 n., 286, 381. + +Scots, King of, _see_ Aedan, Conall. + +Scott, Sir W., editorial reference to his "Antiquary," 25 n. + +Scylla, 365. + +Scythia, 7. + +Seals in Britain, 5. + +Sebbi, Joint King of Essex, brother of Sigbert the Little, xxviii, 212, + 232, 316 n.; + his piety, 212, 238, 239; + his queen, 238, 240; + retires into a monastery, 238, 239; + his vision, 239, 240; + death, 212, 239, 240; + burial, 240; + posthumous miracle, 240. + +Sedulius, author of "Carmen Paschale," and "Opus Paschale," 344. + +Segeni, Abbot of Iona, 144. + +Segenus, Irish priest, 129. + +Selaeseu, _see_ Selsey. + +Selred, King of the East Saxons, 346 n. + +Selsey, Selaeseu, or the Island of the Sea-calf, monastery at, 247; + diocese of, 251 n., 345, 379 n. + +Selsey, Bishop of, _see_ Eadbert, Eolla, Sigfrid. + +Selsey, Abbot of, _see_ Eappa, Eadbert. + +Senlis, Bishop of, _see_ Liudhard. + +Senones, 215. + +Sens, Archbishop of, _see_ Emme, Wulfram. + +Sepulchre, The Holy, 339, 340. + +Sergius I, Pope, xxxvi, 312, 313, 314, 323, 343 n. + +Serpent, the Devil, 266. + +Severianus, St., 99 n. + +Severianus, Pelagian Bishop, 32. + +Severinus, Pope, 128, 129. + +Severn, The river, 84 n., 380. + +Severus, Emperor, divides Britain by a rampart, 12, 13, 25, 382; + his government of Britain, 12; + death, 12, 13. + +Severus, Bishop of Treves, accompanies Germanus to Britain, 39, 40. + +Sexbald of Essex, 184. + +Sexburg, daughter of Anna, wife of Earconbert, 149 n., 152, 269; + Abbess of Ely and of Sheppey, 261; + acts as regent, 261 n.; + translates Ethelthryth's bones, 261, 262. + +Sexburg, wife of Coinwalch, reigns in Wessex, 241 n. + +Sexwulf, Abbot of Medeshamstead, afterwards Bishop of Mercia, in place of + Wynfrid, 218 n., 231, 242, 244, 356 n.; + account of, 231 n.; + expelled from Mercia, 244 n. + +Sheppey, Monastery of, 261 n. + +Sheppey, Abbess of, _see_ Ermingild, Sexburg. + +Sherborne, Diocese of, xxx, 343 n. + +Sherborne, Bishop of, _see_ Aldhelm, Forthere. + +Sidnacaestir, 4, 243 n. + +Sigbert, King of East Anglia, half-brother to Earpwald, xxv, xxvi, 121, + 171, 182 n.; + driven into exile by Redwald, 121 n., 172; + returns home, 172; + restores Christianity in East Anglia, 121; + his piety and good works, 171, 172; + abdicates and retires into a monastery, 172; + drawn out to lead his people against the Mercians, and killed in battle, + 172. + +Sigbert the Good, King of Essex, xxvii, 182, 183, 184. + +Sigbert the Little, King of Essex, 182, 212 n. + +Sigfrid, Bishop of Selsey, 345 n., 390. + +Sighard, King of Essex, son of Sebbi, reigns jointly with his brother + Suefred, 240. + +Sighere, Joint King of Essex, son of Sigbert the Little, 212, 232, 346. + +Simeon of Durham, editorial references to, xxxiv, xl, 204 n., 244 n., 288 + n., 294 n., 295 n., 309 n., 325 n., 377 n., 391 n. + +Simoniacs, 372. + +Simon Magus, his tonsure, 371, 372, 373. + +Sinai, Mount, 60. + +Sirmium, 20. + +Sister-in-law, marriage with a, 52, 53. + +Skene, editorial references to his "Celtic Scotland," 32 n., 73 n., 140, + 325 n. + +Slack (perhaps Campodonum), 120 n. + +Slave Market at Rome, 82. + +Slaves, 82, 145, 202 n., 248, 349 n. + +Smith, his edition of the "Ecclesiastical History," editorial references + to, xix, xx, 125 n., 303 n., 305 n., 322 n. + +Snails, dye made from, 5. + +Snakes, 8. + +Soissons, 194 n. + +Solent, or Solvente, The, 253. + +Solinus, xxii, 5 n. + +Solvente, _see_ Solent. + +Solway, The, 13 n., 136 n. + +Somerset, 343 n. + +Southampton, 252 n. + +Southampton Water, 245 n. + +South Brabant, 177 n. + +South Burton, now Bishop Burton, 307. + +South Downs, the, 245. + +Southern Gyrwas, locality of, 259 n.; + ealdorman of, _see_ Tondbert. + +South Mercia, King of, _see_ Peada. + +South Saxons, 30, 45; + diocese of, _see_ Selsey; + kingdom of, _see_ Sussex. + +South Wales, 84 n. + +Southwell, 123 n. + +Spain, 5, 7, 19; + Church of, 87 n., 256 n. + +Springs, salt and hot, 5, 6. + +Staffordshire, 267 n. + +Stamford, Lincs., 350 n. + +Stamford Bridge, Yorks., 350 n. + +Stanford, 350. + +Stapleton, Thomas, his translation of the "Ecclesiastical History," xxi, + 249 n. + +Stephen, St., 153, 335. + +Stephen III, Pope, 324 n., 392. + +Stephen, surname of Eddius, 217. + +Stepmother, marriage with a, 52, 53, 95, 97. + +Stevens, John, his translation of the "Ecclesiastical History," v, xxi. + +Stevenson, editorial references to his edition of the "Ecclesiastical + History," xx; + to his "Church Historians," xl, 246 n. + +Stevenson, W. H., editorial reference to, 32. + +Stigmata, 176. + +Stokes, Margaret, editorial reference to her "Three Months in the Forests + of France," 173 n. + +Stonar, 45 n. + +Stone, used in building churches, 119, 141, 142, 359. + +Stoneham, or At the Stone, 252. + +Stour, the river, 45 n. + +Stow, 243 n. + +Strathclyde, 141 n., 286 n., 325 n., 336 n., 392 n. + +Streanaeshalch, 195, and _see_ Whitby. + +Stubbs, editorial references to his "Constitutional History," 267 n., 321 + n.; + to his articles in "Dictionary of Christian Biography," 237 n., 377 n.; + and _see_ Haddan and Stubbs. + +"Studies in the Christian Character," _see_ Paget. + +Suaebhard, Joint King of Kent, 240 n., 287 n., 315, 316 n. + +Sudergeona (Surrey), 232. + +Suefred, or Swefred, King of Essex, son of Sebbi, reigns jointly with his + brother Sighard, 240, 316 n.; + grants land at Twickenham to Waldhere, 239 n. + +Suevi, the, 22, 92 n. + +Suffolk, 112 n., 122 n., 174 n., 185 n., 266 n.; + bishopric of, 231 n. + +Suidbert, Abbot of Dacre, 299. + +Suidbert, St., 319, 323, 324. + +Suidhelm, King of Essex after Sigbert, son of Sexwald, xxvii, 184, 185, + 212. + +Supernatural Appearances, 234, 235, 236, 237; + fragrance, 237, _and see_ Visions. + +Surnames, 179. + +Surrey, 232 n., 343 n. + +Sussex, History, xxix, 3, 179 n., 245 n., 246, 343 n. + +Sussex, King of, _see_ Aelli, Ethelwalch. + +Swale, the river, 120. + +Swefred, _see_ Suefred. + +Sylvester, St., 257 n. + +Symmachus, Pope, 257 n. + +Synods, or Councils, xxvii, xxviii, xxix, 33, 34, 84, 86, 87, 92, 93, 151, + 194 n., 195-201, 227, 254, 255, 292, 305 n., 343 n., 350 n., + 356, 384, 385; + rules for, 229. + +Synodical Epistle, _see_ Gregory. + +Syria, 11, 255 n. + +Tacitus, editorial references to, 11 n., 317 n. + +Tadcaster, 271 n. + +Tanfield (perhaps Campodonum), 120 n. + +Tarsus, Cilicia, 2 n., 214. + +Tata, _see_ Ethelberg. + +Tatfrid, bishop elect of the Hwiccas, 274. + +Tatwine, a priest of Bredon, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, xxxi, + 379, 386, 390. + +Tawdry, 263 n. + +Tecla, St., 265. + +Tees, the river, 82 n. + +Temples, Heathen, to be converted into churches, 67; + to be destroyed, 70; + half Christian and half heathen, 121. + +Testry, battle of, 320 n. + +Thame, the river, 148 n. + +Thames, the river, 10, 84 n., 148 n., 183. + +Thanet, Isle of, 32 n., 45, 315 n. + +Theft, Sacrilegious, _see_ Sacrilege. + +Theium, 78 n. + +Theodbald, brother of Ethelfrid, 73, 74. + +Theodebert, King of Austrasia, 45 n. + +Theoderic, King of Burgundy, 45 n. + +Theodore, of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, xxviii, xxix, xxx, 122 n., + 151, 207 n., 273, 316 n., 351 n., 357, 377; + account of, 2 n., 214; + his journey to Britain, 215, 216; + arrival, 216, 226; + ordination and consecration, 213, 214, 215, 216, 384; + his learning, 2, 216, 217; + his subdivision of bishoprics, 137 n., 218 n., 219 n., 231, 244, 343 n.; + dedicates St. Peter's, Lindisfarne, 192; + his tonsure, 214, 215; + his visitation, 216; + his teaching, 216, 217; + bishops consecrated by him, 217, 218, 224, 225, 230, 231, 232, 241, 242, + 244, 293; + presides at the Synod of Hertford, 226-231, 384; + of Hatfield, 254, 255, 256, 385; + of Twyford, 292; + his quarrel and reconciliation with Wilfrid, 228 n., 231 n., 352 n., 353 + n.; + reconciles Egfrid and Ethelred, 267; + on blood-letting, 306; + his decrees of 678, 353 n.; + length of his episcopate, 216; + foretells the length of his life, 314; + death, 314, 323, 385; + burial, 90, 314; + his epitaph, 315; + his character, 315. + +Theodore, or Theodorus, Bishop of Mopsuestia, heretic, 255 n., 256. + +Theodore, the name, 179 n. + +Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, heretic, 255 n., 256. + +Theodorus, 340 n.; + and _see_ Theodore. + +Theodosius the Great, Emperor, 20, 22, 369. + +Theodosius, father of Theodosius the Great, 20 n. + +Theodosius the Younger, Emperor, 26. + +Theophilus, Archbishop of Alexandria, his Paschal computation, 369. + +Thetford, Diocese of, 231 n. + +Theudor, King of the Britons of Strathclyde, 391, 392. + +Thomas, Bishop of East Anglia after Felix, 178 n., 179. + +Thomas of Elmham, editorial references to, 287 n., 316 n. + +Thrace, 20. + +"Three Months in the Forests of France," _see_ Stokes. + +Thruidred, Abbot of Dacre, 300. + +Thuuf, or Tufa, a banner, 124. + +Thrydwulf, Abbot, 120. + +Tiberius Constantine, Emperor, 78. + +Tiburtina, Via, Rome, 210 n. + +"Tighernach, Annals of," editorial references to, 140 n., 337 n. + +Tilbury, or Tilaburg, 183, 187 n. + +Till, The River, 120 n. + +Tilmon, his vision of the Hewalds, 322. + +Timothy, 197; + "The Epistle to," quoted, 50. + +Tininghame, or Intiningaham, 325 n. + +Tiowulfingacaestir, 123. + +Titillus, Theodore's notary, 230. + +Tobias, Bishop of Rochester, disciple of Theodore and Hadrian, xxxi, 314, + 316, 377, 387; + account of, 316 n.; + his learning, 377; + death, 316 n., 377; + burial, 377, 378. + +Toledo, Council of, 256 n. + +Tomene, or Tomianus, Abbot and Bishop of Armagh, 128, 129 n. + +Tondbert, first husband of Ethelthryth, 259, 266 n. + +Tondhere, Oswin's thegn, 164. + +Tonsure, the, 85 n., 201, 214, 215, 370-373, 386. + +Tours, 141 n., 259; + battle of, 378 n. + +Tours, Bishop of, _see_ Martin. + +Torksey, 123 n. + +Tortgyth, a nun of Barking, 235, 236, 237. + +Torthere, Bishop of Hereford, 380 n. + +Tovecester, or Towcester, 268 n. + +Trajectum, _see_ Wiltaburg. + +Trent, The River, 45, 115 n., 123; + the battle of the, xxix, 267, 268. + +Treves, or the Treveri, 40, 324 n. + +Treves, Bishop of, _see_ Severus. + +Trinity, Invocation of the, xxxiv, 87 n. + +Trinovantes, 10. + +Tripolis, 12. + +Troyes, Bishop of, _see_ Lupus. + +Trumbert, one of Bede's teachers, his account of Ceadda, xxxv, 222, 223. + +Trumhere, Abbot of Gilling, Bishop of Mid-Anglia and Mercia, 181, 191, + 192, 212. + +Trumwine, Bishop of the Picts, xxix, 244; + account of, 244 n.; + retires to Whitby, 244 n., 286; + assists Elfled with his counsels, 287; + at the Synod of Twyford, 292; + death and burial at Whitby, 286. + +Tuam, Archbishopric of, 226 n. + +Tuda, Bishop of Lindisfarne after Colman, 201; + dies of the Plague, 204, 206, 350 n.; + buried at Paegnalaech, 204. + +Tunbert, Abbot of Gilling, Bishop of Hexham, 244; + appointed and deposed by Theodore, 244, 293. + +Tunna, Abbot of Tunnacaestir, his prayers miraculously release his brother + Imma, 268, 269, 270. + +Tunnacaestir, 268. + +Tweed, The River ("Tuidi flumen"), 202 n., 288, 326. + +Twickenham, 239 n. + +Twyford, Adtuifyrdi, or At the Two Fords, Synod at, 292. + +Tyne, The River, 13 n., 82 n., 136 n., 303, 309, 359. + +Tynemouth, Monasteries at, 309. + +Tynemouth, Abbot of, _see_ Herebald. + +Tyrhtel, Bishop of Hereford, 380 n. + +Tytilus, father of Redwald, King of East Anglia, 121. + +Ulster, 8 n. + +"Ulster, the Annals of," editorial references to, 225 n., 385 n. + +Ultan, a hermit, Abbot of Fosse and Peronne, brother of Fursa, 177. + +Undalum, _see_ Oundle. + +Urbs Giudi, 23 n. + +Urbs Iudeu, 23 n. + +Utrecht, 320 n., 324 n. + +Utrecht, Archbishop of, _see_ Wilbrord. + +Utta, Abbot of Gateshead, 166, 180; + sent to fetch Eanfled from Kent, 166, 167; + calms a storm with oil, 167. + +Uuffa, grandfather of Redwald, King of East Anglia, 121. + +Uuffings, _i.e._, Kings of East Anglia, 121. + +Uurtigern, _see_ Vortigern. + +Vaeclingacaestir, _see_ St. Albans. + +Valens, Emperor, 20. + +Valentinian II, Emperor, 20; + expelled from Italy, 20; + restored, 20; + kills Maximus, 20. + +Valentinian III, Emperor, 29, 383; + murders Aetius, 27 n., 41; + murdered, 41. + +Valerian, Emperor, 388 n. + +Vandals, the, 22. + +Vecta, 30. + +Venantius Fortunatus, _see_ Fortunatus. + +Venta, _see_ Winchester. + +Vergil, quoted, 113, 118, 159, 286, 327. + +Vergilius, Archbishop of Arles, 49 n., 54, 55, 63, 64. + +Verlamacaestir, or Verulam, _see_ St. Albans. + +Vespasian conquers the Isle of Wight, 11. + +Vestments, Ecclesiastical, 65. + +Viaticum, the, 249 n., 275, 280. + +Victgilsus, Father of Hengist and Horsa, 30. + +Victorinus, St., 99 n. + +Victorius, or Victorinus of Aquitaine, his Paschal Cycle, 369 n. + +Vienne, 22. + +Vines in Britain, 5; + in Ireland, 9. + +Virgil, _see_ Vergil. + +Virginity, poem in honour of, 264, 265, 266, 267; + Aldhelm's work on, 237 n., 344. + +Visions, xxx, 248, 249, 250, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336; + seen by Adamnan, 281, 282, 283, 284; + by Begu, 275, 276; + by a nun at Whitby, 277; + by Bregusuid, 274; + by Caedmon, 278, 279; + by Drythelm, 325-331; + at Barking, 232-237; + by Earcongota, 152, 153; + by Edwin, 112, 113, 114; + by a disciple of Boisil, 224, 317, 318, 319; + by Fursa, 173-177; + by Sebbi, 239; + by Theodore, 314; + by Tilmon, 322; + by Wilfrid, 355. + +Vitalian, Pope, xxvii, 2 n., 216; + his letter to Oswy, 208, 209, 210, 211; + seeks a suitable Archbishop for Canterbury, 213, 214; + ordains Theodore, 215; + sends Theodore and Hadrian to Britain, 357. + +Vitta, 30. + +Voyage Provision, _i.e._, the Viaticum, 249, 275. + +Vortigern, or Uurtigern, King of Britain, calls in the Saxons, 29, 95. + +Vulgate, the, quoted, 80, 107, 174, 209, 282, 361-372. + +Wagele, perhaps Whalley, 204 n. + +Wahlstod, Bishop of Hereford, 379 n., 380. + +Walbottle, 180 n. + +Waldhere, Bishop of London, 239. + +Wales, 33 n. + +Wall, At the, 180, 182. + +Walls, Roman, 12, 13, 24, 25, 26, 183. + +Wallsend-on-Tyne, 25 n. + +Walton, near Newcastle, 180 n. + +Wantsum, the River, 45. + +Wash, the, 3. + +Watling Street, 18 n., 120 n. + +Watton, Betendune, or Wetadun, Monastery of, 305. + +Watton, Abbess of, _see_ Heriburg. + +Welsh, The, 7 n., 336 n. + +Wear, The River, 271, 359. + +Wearmouth and Jarrow, Monastery, of, xxiii, xxx, xxxiii, xxxiv, xxxv, 137 + n., 167, 177, 257, 284, 359; + its library, xxxv. + +Wearmouth and Jarrow, Abbot of, _see_ Benedict, Ceolfrid, Cuthbert, + Huaetbert. + +Went, the River, 189 n. + +Wergild, the, 267. + +Wessex, History of, xxix, xxx, 3, 45, 84, 96, 97, 147, 148, 179, 191 n., + 206, 241, 245 n., 247 n., 251, 336 n., 342, 344, 352 n., 380, + 392 n.; + diocese of, xxx, 3 n., 149, 150, 251, 342, 343, 344, 345, 350, 379 n., + 380. + +Wessex, King of, _see_ Aescwine, Caedwalla, Caelin, Centwine, Coinwalch, + Cuichelm, Cuthred, Cynegils, Cyniwulf, Edilhart, Ini. + +Wessex, Bishop of, _see_ Agilbert, Birinus, Daniel, Haedde, Leutherius, + Wini. + +Westphalia, 317 n. + +West Saxons, called Gewissae or Gewissi, 30, 96, 147, 148; + history and province of, _see_ Wessex. + +Wetadun, _see_ Watton. + +Whales in Britain, 5. + +Whalley, 204 n. + +Wharfe, The River, 271 n. + +Whelock, Abraham, his edition of the "Ecclesiastical History," xix. + +Whitby, Bay of the Lighthouse or Streanaeshalch, xxix, 195, 275 n., 349 + n.; + monastery of, built by Hilda, 190, 243 n., 244 n., 270, 272-281, 286, + 306 n., 385; + Synod of, xxvii, xxviii, 84 n., 194 n., 195, 196-201, 350 n. + +Whitby, Abbess of, _see_ Eanfled, Elfled, Hilda. + +Whitby, a monk of, editorial references to his "Life of Gregory," 75 n., + 190 n. + +Whitern or White House, 141, 244 n.; + diocese of, 381 n. + +Whitern, Bishop of, _see_ Frithwald, Ninian, Pechthelm. + +Whitsuntide, xli n., 206. + +Whittingham, 292 n. + +Wicklow, 92 n. + +Wictbert, Irish hermit, his unsuccessful mission to Frisland, 319, 320, + 323 n. + +Wictred, King of Kent, son of Egbert, xxix, xxxi, 287, 315, 316 n.; + his sons, 377; + death, 377, 386. + +Wighard, a disciple of Gregory's, sent to Rome to be ordained Archbishop, + dies there, xxvii, 208, 210, 211, 213. + +Wight, Isle of, history, xxix, 3, 11, 30, 245, 252, 253; + Christianity introduced into, 252, 253; + described, 253; + bishopric of, 380. + +Wight, the Isle of, King of, _see_ Arwald. + +Wigton Bay, 141 n. + +Wilbert, a boy to whom Bede dictates the last sentences of his + translations, xliii. + +Wilbrord, Missionary, Archbishop of Frisland, xxx, 143 n., 161, 319 n.; + account of, 161 n., 320 n.; + at Rome, 323; + his mission to Frisland, 320, 321 n., 323, 351, 375 n.; + destroys idols and kills the sacred cattle of Fosite, 323; + his consecration, 324; + given the name of Clement in religion, 324; + his see at Utrecht, 324; + his monastery near Treves, 324 n.; + calendar said to contain an entry by him, 324 n.; + builds St. Saviour's, and rebuilds St. Martin's Church, Utrecht, 324 n.; + date of his death, 325 n.; + "Life of," _see_ Alcuin. + +Wilfaraesdun or Wilfar's Hill, 164. + +Wilfrid, St., Bishop, xxx, 137 n., 161, 163 n., 227, 257 n., 343 n.; + account of his life and character, 347-357; + his birth and family, 347 n.; + educated at Lindisfarne, 347; + sent to the Court of Oswy, 347 n.; + to Lindisfarne, 347; + resolves to go to Rome, 347; + assisted by Queen Eanfled, 347, 348; + starts with Benedict Biscop, 348; + detained at Lyons by Annemundus, 348; + in Rome, 348, 349; + on his way home stays at Lyons, 349; + his fidelity to Annemundus, 349; + wins the friendship of Alchfrid, 194, 350; + given land at Stanford, 350; + made Abbot of Ripon, 194, 350, 351 n.; + at the Whitby Synod, xxvii, 195-200, 217 n.; + made Bishop of Northumbria, xxvii, 218, 219, 350, 351, 384; + consecrated in Gaul by Agilbert, 206, 218, 350; + superseded by Ceadda, xxvii, 207 n., 351; + returns to Britain, 351; + shipwrecked on the coast of Sussex, 351 n.; + discharges episcopal functions for Mercia and Kent, 218, 219 n., 351 n.; + restored by Theodore, 351; + his relations with Ethelthryth, 242 n., 260, 262; + his relations with Theodore, 228 n., 229 n., 231 n., 244 n., 353 n.; + represented at Hertford by proxy, 228; + his Catholic teaching, xxvii, 208, 217; + invites Eddi from Kent to teach church singing, 217; + expelled from his see by Egfrid, 242, 243 n., 244, 245, 267 n., 351, + 385; + foretells the battle of the Trent, 267 n.; + demands an explanation from the King and Archbishop, 242 n.; + goes to Rome to plead his cause, 243 n., 245, 351; + Ebroin's plot against his life, 192 n., 351 n.; + on his way to Rome driven by the wind to Frisland, 351; + visits Dagobert II of Austrasia, and Perctarit, King of the Lombards, + 351 n.; + acquitted by Agatho and the Lateran Council, 352; + his confession of faith on behalf of the English Church, 254 n., 352; + returns to Britain, 352, accused of bribery, 352 n.; + imprisoned at Bromnis, 352 n.; + at Dunbar, 352 n.; + released at Aebba's request, 260 n., 352 n.; + takes refuge in Mercia, 267 n., 323, 352 n.; + expelled from Mercia, 267 n., 352 n.; + converts the South Saxons and the Isle of Wight, 179 n., 245-248, 252, + 352, 353; + founds the Monastery of Selsey, 247, 345; + his restoration to York, Hexham, and Ripon, 243 n., 247 n., 296, 353 n., + 356 n.; + administers Lindisfarne, 296; + his second expulsion, 274 n., 296 n., 323, 353; + second sojourn in Mercia, 353 n.; + consecrates Oftfor, 274; + consecrates Suidbert, 323; + excommunicated by the Council of Ouestraefelda, 353 n.; + second visit to Frisland, 161; + again goes to Rome to plead his cause, 353; + acquitted by Pope John and the Council, 353, 354; + taken ill at Meaux on his way back to Britain, 354, 355; + his vision, 355; + arrives in Britain, 355; + reconciled to Bertwald, Ethelred and Coenred, 355, 356; + Aldfrid refuses to receive him, 356; + Elfled's influence in his favour, 189 n.; + restored to his bishopric of Hexham by the Synod on the Nidd, 356; + dies at Oundle, 346, 356, 391; + buried at St. Peter's, Ripon, 346, 356; + his epitaph, 356, 357; + length of his episcopate, 346; + his relics, 346 n.; + his character, 347; + churches built by him, 351; + "Life of," _see_ Eddius. + +Wilfrid II, Bishop of York, 273, 346 n., 379 n., 380 n., 381, 390; + account of, 273; + ordained by John, 312. + +Wilfrid, Bishop of Worcester, 379 n., 380. + +Wilgils, father of Wilbrord, 320 n. + +William III, xix. + +William of Malmesbury, editorial references to, xxxvi, 86 n., 87 n., 125 + n., 232 n., 239 n., 287 n., 346 n., 377 n., 392 n. + +Wiltaburg, Wiltenburg, the Town of the Wilts, or Trajectum, now Utrecht, + 324. + +Wiltshire, 343 n. + +Wincanheale, 204 n. + +Winchester, Venta, or Wintancaestir, 228 n.; + churches at, 149; + diocese of, xxvi, xxx, 3 n., 148, 149, 150, 251, 343 n., 345. + +Winchester, Bishop of, _see_ Daniel, Haedde, Leutherius, Wini. + +Winfrid, _see_ Boniface. + +Wini, Bishop of Winchester, 150, 241; + consecrates Ceadda, 207; + expelled from Winchester, purchases the bishopric of London, 150, 231 + n.; + returns to Winchester, 228 n. + +Wintancaestir, _see_ Winchester. + +"Winter's Tale, The," editorial reference to, 263 n. + +Winwaed, Battle of the, xxvii, 185 n., 188, 189. + +Winwaed, The River, 189. + +Witberg, daughter of Anna, 149 n. + +Witenagemot, The, xxv, 94, 95, 116, 151 n., 231 n., 242 n., 251 n., 316 n. + +Woden, 30; + the sons of, 83 n. + +Wooler, 119. + +Worcester, diocese of the Hwiccas, 273 n., 379 n., 380. + +Worcester, Bishop of, _see_ Bosel, Egwin, Oftfor, Tatfrid, Wilfrid. + +Worcestershire, 84 n., 379 n. + +Worr, _see_ Aldwin. + +Wulfhere, King of Mercia, son of Penda, xxvii, xxviii, 149 n., 150, 181, + 218, 226 n., 241 n., 261 n., 332 n.; + account of, 191 n.; + with the aid of Immin, Eafa, and Eadbert, recovers Mercia from Oswy, + 191; + his reign, 192; + his realm, 225; + conquers Lindsey, 243 n.; + sends Jaruman to the East Saxons, 212, 245 n.; + brings about the conversion of Ethelwalch, 245; + endows monasteries, 219, 346 n.; + invades Northumbria, 191 n.; + defeated by Egfrid, 191 n.; + death, 191 n., 384 n., 385. + +Wulfram, St., Archbishop of Sens, 319 n. + +Wuscfrea, son of Edwin, baptized, 119; + taken by his mother into Kent, and sent into Gaul, where he dies in + infancy, 132. + +Wynfrid, Bishop of Lichfield, 192, 224, 225; + account of, 192 n.; + deacon under Ceadda, 225; + at the Hertford Synod, 228; + deposed by Theodore, 231, 244 n.; + retires to Ad Barvae, 231; + death, 231. + +Yeavering or Adgefrin, 119, 120. + +Yellow pest, a bubonic plague, 203, 204. + +Yffi, first King of Deira, 83 n. + +Yffi, son of Osfrid, 119, 132. + +York, xxxvi, 13, 118, 131, 132, 135, 244, 293, 354; + diocese of, xxv, 65, 66, 243 n., 351 n.; + Cathedral, 119. + +York, Archbishop of, _see_ Egbert, Paulinus; + Bishop of, _see_ Bosa, Ceadda, John, Wilfrid, Wilfrid II. + +Yorkshire, 3 n., 118 n., 204 n., 305 n., 342 n. + +Ythancaestir, Monastery of, 183, 187. + +Zacharias, Pope, letter to Boniface, 87 n. + +Zeuss, his "Die Deutschen und die Nachbarstaemme," 317 n. + +Zozimus, Pope, 21 n. + + + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + + 1 The St. Gallen MS. (ninth century) has, however, "VII Id. Mai." + Messrs. Mayor and Lumby, adopting this reading, place his death as + late as 742, in which year the eve of Ascension Day fell on May 9th. + For their argument, _v._ Mayor and Lumby, pp. 401, 402. + + 2 The phrase is the present Bishop of Oxford's in "Studies in the + Christian Character." + + 3 Stevenson, "Church Historians," vol. i. + + 4 From Easter to Whitsuntide. + + 5 Rogation Wednesday. + + 6 King of Northumbria, cf. V, 23. He succeeded Osric, 729 A.D. In a + revolt he was forcibly tonsured, 731, but restored. He voluntarily + became a monk in Lindisfarne in 737. The fact that Bede submitted + the Ecclesiastical History to him for revision bears witness to his + piety and learning. + + 7 Albinus, the first English abbot of the monastery of SS. Peter and + Paul at Canterbury, succeeded Hadrian in 709 or 710. On his + scholarship, cf. V, 20. + + 8 Theodore, the great archbishop, noted for his organization of the + English Church and his services to education, consecrated in 668, at + the age of sixty-five, by Pope Vitalian, on the recommendation of + Hadrian, who had himself twice declined the office of archbishop. + Theodore was a native of Tarsus, in Cilicia, a man of great learning + and scholarly attainments. Cf. IV, 1. + + 9 Hadrian (_v._ previous note, cf. IV, 1), an African by birth, sent + to England by Pope Vitalian along with Theodore, became Abbot of SS. + Peter and Paul, Canterbury. He co-operated with Theodore in his + educational work. + + 10 A presbyter of London, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, 735. + Received the _pallium_ (_v._ I, 27, p. 54, note) in 736. + + 11 Gregory I (the Great), who sent the Roman mission to England. + + 12 Gregory II, _v._ Plummer _ad loc._ for arguments showing + conclusively that Gregory III cannot be meant. + + 13 Cf. IV, 16, and V, 18. In V, 23 he is more accurately described as + "Ventanus antistes." He was consecrated Bishop of Winchester when + the West Saxon bishopric was divided in 705; and his diocese + comprised only the smaller part of Wessex. He was the friend and + counsellor of St. Boniface. + + 14 Bishop of the East Saxons, cf. III, 21 foll. + + 15 St. Chad, Bishop of the Northumbrians, afterwards of Lichfield; + brother of Cedd: _v._ III, 23, 28; IV, 2, 3; V, 19. + + 16 Lastingham, near Pickering in Yorkshire N.R., _v._ III, 23. + + 17 Nothing further is known of him. + + 18 The district to the north of the Wash. + + 19 Bishop of Sidnacester, in the province of Lindsey. He died in 732: + _v._ IV, 12; V, 23. + + 20 The saint and hermit who was for two years Bishop of Lindisfarne, + 685-687: _v._ IV, 26-32. Bede wrote his life both in prose and + verse. + + 21 Holy Island, off the coast of Northumberland. Aidan chose it as the + place of his see and monastery in 635: _v._ III, 3. + + 22 This total varies in different authors. The first few pages of Bede + are to a great extent copied out of Pliny, Solinus, Orosius, and + Gildas. + + 23 Richborough, Kent. + + 24 Boulogne. + + 25 Cf. Caes., B.G., _passim_; Verg., Aen., VIII, 727. + + 26 In his Hexameron. + + 27 Latin is included as being the ecclesiastical language common to + all. Bede does not imply that there was a Latin-speaking race still + in the island. + + 28 In Caesar's time, the whole district lying along the north-western + coast of Gaul, afterwards narrowed down to the modern Brittany. That + the Britons (or Brythons) came from Gaul is doubtless a fact. + Another branch of the Celtic race, the Goidels or Gaels, appears to + have been in possession in Britain before them. + + 29 By Scythia Bede means Scandinavia. He only mentions this account as + a tradition. The problem of the Picts has not been solved yet. + According to one view, they belonged to the pre-Aryan inhabitants of + Britain, pushed westward and northward by the Celtic invaders. In + Scotland they held their own for a considerable time in a wide tract + of country, and they may have to some extent amalgamated with the + Celts who dispossessed them (Rhys). Others regard them as Celts of + the same branch as Welsh, Cornish, and Britons, being probably + nearest to Cornish. The absence of all but the scantiest remains of + their language makes the question of their origin one of great + difficulty. + + 30 The legend is an attempt to account for the law of Pictish + succession, which was vested in the mother, _v._ Rhys, "Celtic + Britain," pp. 170-171. + + 31 "Dal," a division or part, is common in Irish names. Dalriada was a + district in the north-eastern part of Ulster. From there, a tribe of + Scots (a Celtic race who settled in Ireland at some unknown period) + came to Kintyre and spread along the coasts of Argyll, which took + from them the name of Dalriada (probably _circ._ 500 A.D.). They + brought the Christian religion with them. Bede follows that version + of the legend which makes Cairbre Riada, the eponymous hero of the + Irish Dalriada (_circ._ 200 A.D.), himself found the colony in + Scotland. + + 32 Dumbarton; _v. infra_ c. 12, p. 24 and note. + + 33 Caesar's invasion took place A.U.C. 699 and 700; B.C. 55 and 54. + + 34 Cf. Caes., B.G., V, 11, 18 ff. A powerful British chief. His + territory lay north and north-east of the Thames, roughly comprising + Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire, but the exact limits + are uncertain. His people were the Catuvellauni (the name is Gaulish + in form). + + 35 Cf. Caes., B.G., V, 20. The Trinovantes occupied Essex and part of + Middlesex. + + 36 Variations of this name given by ancient authors are Andragius and + Androgorius. Caesar calls him Mandubracius. + + 37 The position of this place is unknown. + + 38 Claudius came to Britain A.U.C. 796, 43 A.D. + + 39 He can only have done so in name; it was probably Agricola who first + conquered the Orkneys. Cf. Tac., Agric., 10. + + 40 Cf. Tac., Agric., 13. + + 41 Marcus Antoninus Verus, commonly called Marcus Aurelius, succeeded + in 161 A.D. His colleague in the empire was his adopted brother, + Lucius Verus, whose full adoptive name was Lucius Aurelius Antoninus + Verus Commodus. He died in 169. Eleutherus became Pope between 171 + and 177. Bede's chronology is therefore wrong. + + 42 Most modern authorities consider the story fabulous. But cf. Bright, + "Early English Church History," pp. 3-5. + + 43 Severus succeeded in 193 A.D. He died in 211. + + 44 This is the earthwork which runs parallel to the wall of Hadrian, + between the Solway and the Tyne, at an interval of from 30 to 1,300 + yards from it. Its origin and purpose are doubtful. Ancient + authorities afford conflicting evidence with regard to the Roman + walls in Britain. Modern research seems to show that Severus built + no wall or rampart, though some ancient historians assert that he + did (_v._ Haverfield, quoted by Plummer, _ad loc._; cf. _infra_ c. + 12 and note). + + 45 Bassianus Antoninus, surnamed Caracalla. Geta was murdered by + Caracalla. + + 46 Diocletian succeeded in 284. + + 47 Carausius was a native of Menapia, in Belgium, appointed to command + the Roman fleet stationed at Boulogne to guard the coasts. He took + the fleet with him when he usurped imperial authority in Britain. + Maximian, failing to reduce him, recognized his authority and gave + him the title of Augustus. He governed vigorously and prosperously. + + 48 Allectus was a follower of Carausius. His revolt was apparently + supported by the independent tribes, probably Caledonians. + + 49 Asclepiodotus was serving under Constantius Chlorus (one of the + reigning Caesars), who sailed to Britain and marched against + Allectus. + + 50 The statement that the Diocletian persecution extended to Britain + rests on no trustworthy evidence at all. Yet though the time + assigned is probably wrong, there seems to be no reason to doubt the + existence of the British Protomartyr. The story rests upon a local + tradition traceable up to the visit of Germanus in 429 A.D., _v. + infra_ c. 18. + + 51 Venantius Fortunatus, a Christian poet, Bishop of Poitiers, b. 530 + A.D. He was the last Latin poet of any note in Gaul. + + 52 In the lives of St. Alban (all later than Bede) this clerk is called + St. Amphibalus, a name probably invented from his cloak + (_amphibalus_). + + 53 The text of this passage is probably corrupt, but all the MSS. + agree. I believe the above gives the intended meaning. + + 54 There is again probably some confusion in the text. + + 55 Now St. Albans in Hertfordshire, on the Watling Street, hence + probably the name, Vaeclingacaestir. + + 56 The place was afterwards called Holmhurst. The church mentioned by + Bede was superseded by the monastery of St. Alban, the foundation of + which is attributed to Offa, _circ._ 793 A.D. Certain extraordinary + privileges were granted to it, and its abbot obtained a superiority + over all other English abbots (Dugdale, "Monasticon"). + + 57 The evidence for their martyrdom is very doubtful. + + 58 Caerleon-on-Usk, the headquarters of the Second legion, is here + meant (_v._ Merivale, H.R., vi, 248), though the name was also + applied to Chester, seat of the Twentieth legion (cf. II, 2, p. 87, + "civitas legionum"). + + 59 Constantine the Great. For the legality of the marriage, _v._ Dict. + of Christian Biography, article "Helena." + + 60 The First General Council, 325 A.D. It asserted the doctrine of the + {~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON WITH DASIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER MU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~} against Arius. For a short account of the heresy, _v._ + Gore, Bampton Lectures, pp. 89-92. All the evidence goes to show + that this heresy affected Britain much less than Bede, on the + authority of Gildas, here implies. + + 61 Valens died 378. + + 62 Another of the insular usurpers (cf. c. 6). He had served under the + elder Theodosius in Britain. He revolted from Rome, successfully + repressed incursions of Picts and Scots, then crossed to Gaul, where + he maintained himself for four years, but was killed by the Emperor, + the younger Theodosius, at Aquileia, in 388. + + 63 The real date is 395. + + 64 Pelagius, the founder of the heresy known as Pelagianism, was + probably born in 370 A.D., and is said to have been a Briton, but + the tradition that his real name was Morgan (Marigena, Graecised + {~GREEK CAPITAL LETTER PI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER LAMDA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~}), and that he was a native of Bangor, rests on very + doubtful authority. His great opponent, St. Augustine, speaks of him + as a good and holy man; later slanders are to be attributed to + Jerome's abusive language. The cardinal point in his doctrine is his + denial of original sin, involving a too great reliance on the human + will in achieving holiness, and a limitation of the action of the + grace of God. + + 65 Julianus of Campania is regarded as the founder of semi-Pelagianism, + _i.e._, an intermediate position between the orthodox view and the + heresy of Pelagius. He was Bishop of Eclanum, near Beneventum, and + was along with seventeen other Italian bishops deposed in 418 A.D. + for refusing to sign the circular letter of Pope Zosimus condemning + the heresy. + + 66 A native of Aquitaine, born probably about 403 A.D., a strong + opponent of the Pelagians. It is uncertain whether he was in Holy + Orders or not. He wrote in prose and verse; his longest poem is + called "De Ingratis" (_i.e._, opponents of the grace of God). His + best known work is a Chronicle, not to be confused with the shorter + chronicle of Prosper Tiro. + + 67 Bede includes elegiacs under this term, cf. V, 8. + + 68 The date of Honorius is correct, but the invasion of Alaric is put a + year too late, if Bede refers to the first siege of Rome, in 408. + + 69 The British army, alarmed by the inroads of barbarians, and actuated + by a spirit of revolt against Roman authority, set up three local + emperors in rapid succession: Marcus, Gratian, and Constantine. The + first two they summarily deposed and killed, but Constantine by a + great victory made himself master of Gaul and Britain and extorted + from the Emperor Honorius a share in the Imperial authority. + Meanwhile, the Britons expelled the few remaining Roman officials, + and Honorius avenged himself on Constantine for the loss of Britain + in the manner described in the text. + + 70 A Roman general, afterwards associated with Honorius in the empire + for a few months. + + 71 Gerontius (Welsh _Geraint_, akin to Irish _Gerat_ or _Gerait_, a + champion), was a Briton, one of Constantine's generals. Turning + against his master, he invited the Germans to invade Gaul and + Britain, probably intending to secure Britain for himself. But his + own men conspired against him and he died by his own hand. + + 72 Rome was taken 1163 A.U.C.; 410 A.D. + + 73 Possibly "light-houses." + + 74 Probably Inchkeith in the Forth. The Irish called the Firth of Forth + the "Sea of Giudan" (_v._ Reeves' "Culdees," p. 124). But Professor + Rhys is inclined to think that Bede has confused the island Giudi + with Urbs Giudi, which may perhaps be identified with the Urbs Iudeu + of Nennius, probably either Carriden or Edinburgh (Rhys, "Celtic + Britain"). + + 75 Alcluith is the Welsh name (Ail = a rock). The Goidels called it + Dunbrettan = the fortress of the Britons. Hence its modern name, + Dumbarton. The river is, of course, the Clyde. + + 76 This is the earthen rampart, about thirty-five miles in length, + between the Clyde and the Forth, now attributed to Antoninus Pius. + Little is known about it, and it is probable that it was soon + abandoned. + + 77 Abercorn, a village on the south bank of the Firth of Forth. + + 78 The name is probably Celtic (Goidelic), though, if the view which + regards the Picts as a non-Celtic people be correct, it may show + traces of Pictish influence. It seems to be connected with the Latin + term "penna valli" = wing of (_i.e._, pinnacle or turret at end of) + the _vallum_. Readers of Scott's "Antiquary" will remember the + celebrated dispute with regard to this word. The Anglian _Penneltun_ + is derived from the Goidelic name. + + 79 This probably refers to the wall now attributed to Hadrian (_v.s._ + c. 5 note). It ran for a distance of about eighty-five miles from + Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend-on-Tyne. Bede's authorities are + Orosius and Gildas. The accounts he gives here and in c. 5 are an + attempt to explain the difficulties and conflicting evidence with + regard to these walls. + + 80 In 431 A.D. There is much confusion with regard to the mission of + Palladius. According to later accounts, he was an unsuccessful + forerunner of St. Patrick, but Bede here, following Prosper of + Aquitaine, represents the Irish (Scotti) as in part already + Christian. The origin of Irish Christianity is very obscure, and + some have even doubted the existence of St. Patrick. Bede only + mentions him once, viz., in the "Martyrology," which has been + largely interpolated, and is, perhaps, not his genuine work. St. + Patrick's latest biographer, Professor Bury, has, however, clearly + established a certain amount of fact underlying much legendary + matter. Some later authorities represent Palladius as preaching to + the Scots (in the modern sense) and Patrick to the Irish. + + 81 The great Roman general who preserved the Western Empire against the + invasions of the barbarians for many years. He was assassinated by + Valentinian in 454 A.D. + + 82 Really two years before, 444 A.D. + + 83 Though he is the subject of many legends, Vortigern is doubtless a + historical figure, a ruler of south-eastern Britain. Bede's form of + the name, Uurtigernus, is right. It is a British word, meaning + "supreme lord" (Rhys). + + 84 The date of Marcian's succession is 450. + + 85 Bede only professes to give the date of the invasion approximately: + cf. V, 24 ("quorum tempore"), I, 23; II, 14; V, 23 ("circiter"), + calculating in round numbers apparently. He refers here to their + first settlement, which, of course, does not preclude earlier + attacks. + +_ 86 I.e._, Vortigern. + +_ 87 Anglia_ was believed to be derived from _Angulus_. The country is + the modern Schleswig, which the Angles appear to have almost + entirely evacuated. For the Continental Saxons, cf. V, 9. It has + been supposed that the Jutes came from Jutland, where, at a later + period, they mingled with the Danes (_ibid._), but this is now + regarded as doubtful. + + 88 At Aylesford, in Kent. Horsted is the traditional burial-place of + Horsa. + +_ 89 I.e._, in Thanet. + + 90 The most probable view is that he was the last of those Romans who + usurped imperial authority in Britain (_v.s._ cc. 6, 9). + + 91 The identification of this place with Badbury, in Dorsetshire + (Guest, followed by Freeman and Green) seems to be disproved (W. H. + Stevenson, in the "English Historical Review," xvii, pp. 633, 634). + The locality is quite uncertain; Skene actually places it near + Linlithgow. According to Bede's reckoning the date of the battle + would be 493 approximately. The "Annales Cambriae" give 516. For a + full discussion of the question, _v._ Plummer, _ad loc._ Cf. also + Mr. Stevenson's article. + + 92 Nothing more is known of them. Pelagius left Britain in early life + and did not himself spread his heresy there. + + 93 The life of Germanus was written by Constantius, a priest of Lyons, + who is Bede's authority for cc. 17-21. According to him, these + bishops were sent to Britain by a Gallican Synod. Prosper of + Aquitaine attributes the origin of the mission to Pope Celestine, + "acting on the advice of the deacon Palladius" (probably the + missionary to the Irish mentioned c. 13). The two statements are not + irreconcilable (cf. Bright, p. 18). There are churches dedicated to + SS. Germanus and Lupus in Wales and Cornwall. Both had been trained + in the school of Lerins, a monastery in the group of islands off the + coast at Cannes. + + 94 This conference is said to have been held at Verulam. + + 95 Bede's authority, Constantius, shows here the first trace of any + acquaintance of early historians with the story of St. Alban. The + last sentence is somewhat obscure. Probably the idea is that the + blood of the martyrs continues to cry aloud for vengeance. + + 96 Reading "reserato." The reading "reservato" is perhaps easier and + has some MS. authority. + + 97 Reading "castitatis," from which it is difficult to extract any + meaning. The above strains the Latin unduly. Constantius has + "castrorum," which gives a better sense. + + 98 Maes-y-Garmon ("The Field of Germanus"), near Mold, in Flintshire, + has been fixed upon as the scene of the Hallelujah Victory, and the + river in which the army was baptized is said to be the Alyn (Ussher, + "Antiqq."). The story is generally regarded as legendary. + + 99 Thirteenth bishop of Treves. This account sums up nearly all that is + known of him. + + 100 This second voyage of St. Germanus is supposed to have taken place + about eighteen years after the first, _i.e._, in 447. + + 101 The Armoricans had revolted, and Aetius (_v.s._ c. 13 and note) had + enlisted the services of the Alani against them. Germanus, who had + at one time been duke of the Armoricans, went to the Imperial Court + at Ravenna to intercede for them. + + 102 Really the fifth (16th March, 455 A.D.). Romulus Augustulus is + usually regarded as the last emperor of the west. He was overthrown + in 476 A.D. + + 103 The British historian, author of the "De Excidio Liber Querulus," so + called from the historian's denunciations of the sins of the + Britons. He himself tells us that he was born in the year of the + battle of Badon Hill (Mons Badonicus), and that he wrote his History + forty-four years after that date. According to Bede (cf. c. 15, _ad + init._, and c. 16, _ad fin._) this would place his birth + approximately in the year 493, but see note on c. 16. + + 104 Gregory the Great. Cf. Preface. Bede places the date of his + accession a year too late as well as that of his death (_v._, II, 1, + _ad init._, but in the same chapter he rightly places his death in + the second year of Phocas, _i.e._, 604). + + 105 Augustine was prior of St. Gregory's Monastery dedicated to St. + Andrew in Rome. + + 106 Cf. IV, 5, p. 227, note. + + 107 This is a mistake. Aetherius was archbishop of Lyons. Vergilius was + archbishop of Arles. The letter given here, however, is the letter + sent to Aetherius. Similar letters were despatched to other bishops + at this time; among them one to Vergilius of Arles. + + 108 A presbyter sent into Gaul by Gregory in 595 A.D. to administer the + little patrimony of St. Peter in Gaul, to collect its revenues and + to invest them in raiment for the poor, or in English slave lads to + serve in the monasteries and receive a Christian education. + + 109 Ethelbert was the third Bretwalda or dominant king. He had + established a practical hegemony over the East Anglians, the + Mercians of the Trent Valley, the South Saxons, East Saxons, and + even the West Saxons (cf. II, 5, p. 94). + + 110 Families, _i.e._, _hides_. The hide, probably, was as much land as + would support a family, hence the extent must have varied with the + different conditions in different parts of the country. + + 111 In Bede's time Thanet was divided from the rest of Kent by a broad + channel called the Wantsum, now partly represented by the River + Stour. + + 112 The conjecture that they landed at Ebbsfleet, which is also + traditionally regarded as the landing-place of Hengist, has been + generally adopted. Other possible landing-places are Stonar and + Richborough. For a full discussion of the question, _v._ "The + Mission of St. Augustine," ed. Rev. A. T. Mason, D.D. + + 113 It has been supposed, on the strength of this passage, that the + speech of the Franks and the English was still mutually + intelligible. This is supported by a statement of Gregory (letter to + Theoderic and Theodebert) that he had desired Augustine to take some + Frankish priests with him. It is assumed that these priests were the + interpreters. On the other hand, in view of the fact that only fifty + years later we find the language of the Franks regarded in England + as a "barbara loquella" (III, 7), it has been inferred that the + interpreters were men who had acquired a knowledge of the dialect of + Kent through commerce or otherwise. + + 114 Daughter of Charibert, king of Paris. + + 115 Said (on doubtful authority) to have been bishop of Senlis. He acted + as the queen's private chaplain. There is nothing to show that + either he or Bertha attempted to spread their religion in England, + though probably their influence may not have been without effect on + Ethelbert. + + 116 The old Roman town of Doruvernis, which is the name Bede gives to it + throughout the History. + + 117 St. Martin was regarded with special reverence in Britain and + Ireland. Possibly some of the earliest missionaries may have been + his disciples, _e.g._, St. Ninian and St. Patrick. The Roman church + of St. Martin at Canterbury has been frequently altered and partly + rebuilt, so that "small portions only of the Roman walls remain. + Roman bricks are used as old materials in the parts rebuilt" + (Parker). + + 118 Augustine was not consecrated as archbishop either of London or + Canterbury, but by the general title of "Archbishop of the English." + According to Gregory's original scheme, London, not Canterbury, was + to have been the seat of the primacy of southern England (cf. c. + 29), London and York being doubtless the most important cities of + south and north known to him from their history during the Roman + occupation. But Christianity was not permanently established in + London till it was too late to remove the see from Canterbury, which + would obviously commend itself to Augustine as the most suitable + place to be the metropolitan city. + + 119 For Aetherius read Vergilius (_v._ c. 24, note). "The occupant of + the see of Arles was in some sense primate of France at this time, + and, as such, Vergilius received the _pallium_ and the papal + vice-gerentship in the kingdom of Childebert" (Dict. Christ. Biog.). + + 120 He succeeded Augustine as archbishop. For his history, _v._ II, 6, + 7. + + 121 Cf. _infra_ c. 33. + +_ 122 I.e._, those in minor orders; all below the subdiaconate. + + 123 St. Luke, xi, 41. _Quod superest_ (Vulgate) = {~GREEK SMALL LETTER PI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER LAMDA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ETA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~} (R.V.,"Howbeit"; + A.V., "But rather"), adverbial. Gregory takes it to mean "what is + over." + + 124 Augustine must have observed these differences of ritual as he + travelled through Gaul. Presumably also he found the Gallic use + adopted at St. Martin's, Canterbury, by Liudhard. Dr. Bright + summarizes these differences, "Early English Church History," p. 64. + + 125 Reading "fratris et sororis" (for "frater et soror"), as the sense + requires, but there is no MS. authority for the change. + + 126 The text of this passage is corrupt, but no very satisfactory + emendations have been suggested. + + 127 The _Pallium_ is a long strip of fine cloth ornamented with crosses. + It is made from wool of lambs reared in the convent of St. Agnes at + Rome, and is laid for a night on the tomb of St. Peter. It is worn + passing over the shoulders, with the ends hanging down in front and + behind, somewhat in the form of the letter Y. (The form has varied + at different times.) In the east it is called "omophorion:" the + bishops wear it during the celebration of the Eucharist. It + originally formed part of the imperial habit and was granted by the + emperor as a special mark of honour. Afterwards the pope claimed the + exclusive right of bestowing it, and its possession became + restricted to metropolitans, and was considered necessary for the + exercise of their functions. + + 128 Deut., xxiii, 25. + + 129 The reference may be to the third General Council held at Ephesus in + 431 A.D., at which the rule was laid down "that no bishop may act in + any province which has not always been subject to him." + + 130 This is Bede's attempt to reconcile the discrepancy created by his + mistake in cc. 24 and 27. + + 131 Mellitus was consecrated Bishop of London in 604, and succeeded + Laurentius in the see of Canterbury in 619. Justus was consecrated + Bishop of Rochester in 604, and succeeded Mellitus as Primate in 624 + (_v._ II, 3, foll.). Paulinus was the great missionary bishop of the + Northumbrians (_v._ II, 9, foll.). Rufinianus was the third abbot of + St. Augustine's monastery (SS. Peter and Paul). + + 132 Cf. c. 27 _ad init._, note. Gregory's symmetrical scheme was never + carried out, and it was not till 735 that York became a metropolitan + see. + + 133 The date is obviously wrong, as it makes this letter earlier than + that in c. 29. The name of the month is omitted in two of the oldest + MSS. A satisfactory emendation (_v._ Plummer, _ad loc._) is + _Augustarum_ (for _Juliarum_), the last month in Maurice's reign (XV + Kal. Aug., _i.e._ 18th July). + + 134 St. Luke, x, 17-20. + + 135 The Cathedral: Christchurch, Canterbury; but the original structure + was destroyed by fire about 1067. It was rebuilt by Lanfranc, and + enlarged under his successor, St. Anselm. Prior Conrad finished and + decorated the chancel, and the Church was dedicated in 1130. The + choir was again burnt down in 1174, but at once rebuilt. It was + completed in 1184. A new nave and transept were built between 1378 + and 1410, and the great central tower was carried up to its present + height by the end of the fifteenth century. + + 136 Afterwards called St. Augustine's Abbey. + + 137 Cf. c. 27 _ad init._ + + 138 Ambleteuse, a small sea-port, about six miles to the north of + Boulogne. + + 139 II, 2, 12; III, 1. He was the grandson of Ida, first king of + Bernicia (V, 24, and note). His father, Ethelric, seized Deira on + the death of Aelli (II, 1, p. 83), and Ethelfrid ruled over both the + Northumbrian kingdoms from 593 to 617. + + 140 Gen., xlix, 27. + +_ 141 I.e._, the Dalriadic Scots, _v.s._ c. 1, and note. For Aedan and + his wars, _v._ Rhys, "Celtic Britain," pp. 157-159. + + 142 Perhaps Dalston, near Carlisle; more probably, on philological + grounds, Dawstane Rig in Liddesdale; _v._ Skene, "Celtic Scotland," + I, p. 162. + + 143 For a detailed study of St. Gregory, _v._ "Gregory the Great, his + place in History and Thought," by F. Homes Dudden, B.D. (1905). The + oldest biographies are: (1) a Life of Gregory, written by a monk of + Whitby, probably about 713 A.D., recently discovered in a MS. + belonging to the Monastery of St. Gallen; (2) the Life by Paul the + Deacon, written towards the end of the eighth century; (3) the Life + by John the Deacon, written about the end of the ninth century. + + 144 Cf. I, 23. Gregory's pontificate extended from 590 to 604. + + 145 1 Cor., ix, 2. + + 146 We cannot be certain which Felix is meant. The choice seems to lie + between Felix III, Bishop of Rome, 483-492, and Felix IV, 526-530. + Mr. Homes Dudden decides in favour of the latter, on the authority + of John the Deacon. In either case, the word _atavus_ cannot be used + in its strict sense. + +_ 147 Apocrisiarius_, official representative of the see of Rome at the + Imperial Court of Constantinople (Latin: _responsalis_). Ducange + explains the word as: "nomen inditum legatis, quod {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER PI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~} seu + responsa principum deferrent." + + 148 His "Moralia," a commentary on the Book of Job, expounding it + historically, allegorically, and in its practical bearing on morals. + His other undoubtedly genuine works are those mentioned in the text: + Twenty-two homilies on Ezekiel; forty homilies on the Gospels for + the day, preached by himself at various times; the "Liber Regulae + Pastoralis," on the duties and responsibilities of the pastoral + office, a very widely studied book; four books of Dialogues, "De + vita et miraculis patrum Italicorum et de aeternitate animae," also + one of his most famous works; and fourteen books of letters to + various persons on many subjects. There are also some doubtful + works. Of these, the "Liber Sacramentorum" (_v. infra_), the "Liber + Antiphonarius" (a collection of Antiphons for Mass), and the Hymns + have been generally regarded as genuine, but recent research seems + to show that they cannot be attributed to Gregory. That he + introduced the "Cantus Gregorianus" can also probably be no longer + maintained; _v. infra_ c. 20, _ad fin._ note. + + 149 Patriarch of Constantinople, celebrated as a saint by the Greeks. He + was born at Theium in Phrygia, _circ._ 512 A.D. Towards the end of + his life he maintained the above theory in a book on the + Resurrection. He was opposed by Gregory, and the book was burnt by + order of the Emperor Tiberius, who, however, visited him when he + fell ill soon after, and received his blessing. He died on Easter + Day, 582, and the "heresy" was suffered to rest. (He is, of course, + not to be confused with Eutyches, author of the heresy known as + "Eutychianism," _v._ IV, 17.) + + 150 St. Luke, xxiv, 39. + + 151 Tiberius II, emperor of the East, 578-582 A.D. + + 152 I, 27. + + 153 A Synodical epistle, such as newly-elected bishops were in the habit + of sending to other bishops. The subject-matter is the same as that + of the "Pastoral Care." + + 154 Heb., xii, 6. + + 155 Job, xxix, 11-17. + + 156 The quotation is from the Vulgate (Job, xxxi, 16-18). The sentence + is finished in v. 22: "Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder + blade...." + + 157 John the Deacon attributes to Gregory the "Liber Sacramentorum," or + Gregorian Sacramentary, a revision of the Gelasian Sacramentary. It + seems probable, however, that it is of much later date. Only a few + alterations in the Liturgy and in the ceremonial of the Mass are + proved to have been effected by Gregory. In the Canon of the Mass he + introduced two changes, viz.: (1) he inserted the words here quoted; + (2) he altered the position of the Lord's Prayer (_v._ Homes Dudden, + pp. 264-271). + +_ 158 I.e._, 604 A.D., cf. I, 23; II, 1, _ad init._, note. + + 159 Deira was the southern part of the province of Northumbria, the + northern part being Bernicia. Deira was bounded on the south by the + Humber; on the north, according to some authorities, by the Tyne, + according to others, by the Tees. The discrepancy doubtless arose + from the fact that the part between the two latter rivers was a + desert subject to no authority. To the west lay the British + kingdoms. + + 160 The son of Yffi, the first king of Deira. The ancient pedigrees + trace the descent of the royal houses of Deira and Bernicia from two + sons of Woden. + + 161 This pope was either Benedict I (574-578) or Pelagius II (578-590), + the immediate predecessor of Gregory. The oldest extant life of + Gregory (_v.s._ p. 75, note) makes him Benedict, and is followed by + John the Deacon. If this is right, the incident related in the text + must be placed before Gregory's departure to Constantinople in 579. + Paul the Deacon places it after his return in 585 or 586, and + asserts that the pope was Pelagius II. + + 162 The date of the synod is uncertain. It was probably about 602 or 603 + A.D., after the arrival of Gregory's "Responsa." The "nearest + province" must mean what we call South Wales, though it is possible + that the Britons of Cornwall were also represented. The scene of the + conference has been generally supposed to be Aust, on the Severn, + opposite Chepstow, and the name may possibly preserve the memory of + Augustine, though more probably it is derived from "Trajectus + Augusti" (Haddan and Stubbs). Other possible sites are Malmesbury + (Green, "Making of England"), and a spot called "the Oak," near + Cricklade, on the Upper Thames, which would be on the borders of the + Hwiccas and West Saxons (_v._ Plummer, _ad loc._). + + 163 The Hwiccas were in the present Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, + north-west of Wessex. + + 164 Cf. especially III, 25, and V, 21. (Other references are: II, 4, 19; + III, 3, 4, 26, 29; V, 15, 22.) + + A full discussion of this involved question is beyond our scope. + Readers are referred to Plummer (Excursus on Paschal Controversy), + Bright, or Hunt. Here, the point at issue may be briefly stated. It + was regarded as essential by the Roman Church that Easter Day should + be kept on a Sunday, in the third week of the first month, _i.e._, + the month in which the full moon occurred on or after the vernal + equinox. The Celts observed the Feast on Sunday, and were, + therefore, not rightly called "Quartodecimans" (the name given to + those who observed it on the 14th of the month Nisan, the day of the + Jewish Passover, without regard to the day of the week). They + differed from the Romans in fixing the vernal equinox at March 25th, + instead of March 21st, and in their reckoning of the third week, + holding it to be from the 14th to the 20th of the moon inclusive. + The Roman Church originally reckoned it from the 16th to the 22nd, + but ultimately fixed it from the 15th to the 21st (cf. V, 21, p. + 365). + + There was a further divergence in the "cycles" adopted to ascertain + the day in each year on which the Paschal moon would fall. The Celts + retained an old cycle of eighty-four years, while the Romans had + finally adopted one of nineteen. It is obvious that these + differences must necessarily lead to great divergence in practice + and consequently serious inconvenience. The real importance of this + and the other points of difference, settled afterwards at the Synod + of Whitby, lay in the question whether England was to conform to the + practice of the Catholic Church, or to isolate herself from it by + local peculiarities (cf. the reply of the British to Augustine: + "They would do none of those things nor receive him as their + archbishop"). + +_ 165 E.g._, Consecration of bishops by a single bishop, certain + differences of ritual (Gregory's "Responsa" admit of some latitude + in these matters), and the tonsure, which was a more controversial + point (cf. III, 26, and V, 21). The Romans shaved only the top of + the head, letting the hair grow in the form of a crown. The Celts + shaved the whole front of the head from ear to ear, leaving the hair + at the back. A third method was the Oriental, which consisted in + shaving the whole head (cf. IV, 1). + + 166 The place of the second conference is not mentioned. It is generally + assumed that it was the same as that of the first. All attempts to + determine the names and sees of these bishops rest upon the most + uncertain evidence. + + 167 Probably Bangor-is-Coed, in Flintshire, from which it appears that + North Wales was represented at the second conference. The size and + importance of the monastery are inferred by William of Malmesbury, + writing in the twelfth century, from the extent of the ruins, which + were all that was left of it in his time. + + 168 Dunawd, or Dunod; Latin: Donatus (Rhys). + + 169 It is not known in what way the practice of the British Church + differed from that of the Romans in the rite of Baptism. It may have + been by the neglect of Confirmation as the completion of Baptism + (cf. "compleatis" in the text). Other suggestions are: single + immersion (but this was permitted in Spain); the omission of chrism, + an omission which was affirmed of the Irish at a later period; some + defect in the invocation of the Trinity. This conjecture rests on a + canon respecting Baptism established in the English Church from the + time of Augustine (quoted by Haddan and Stubbs from a letter of Pope + Zacharias to Boniface), which enforces the full invocation. + + 170 I, 34. + + 171 Chester, the seat of the Twentieth legion. "Legionum civitas, quae + nunc simpliciter Cestra vocatur." (William of Malmesbury.) Cf. note + on I, 7, p. 18. The date of the battle cannot be accurately fixed. + The "Annales Cambriae" give 613, but it may have been a few years + later. Bede only tells us that it was a considerable time after + Augustine's death, which was probably in 604 or 605. + + 172 Cf. _supra_ p. 86, note 2. + + 173 Nothing certain is known of this Welsh prince. + + 174 I, 29, and note. + + 175 The site is covered by the present cathedral. + + 176 Rochester. The new see was closely dependent on Canterbury, and till + 1148 the archbishop had the appointment to this bishopric. + + 177 Probably in memory of his monastery on the Coelian (cf. I, 23). + According to Rochester tradition, Ethelbert gave to the church some + land called Priestfield to the south of the city, and other lands to + the north. There exists a charter of Ethelbert to the city of + Rochester, believed to be genuine. + + 178 The year is not given, and is not certainly known. It is generally + assumed to have been 604 or 605. + + 179 This was in 613, by Laurentius. St. Augustine's body was translated + on September 13th. It was moved again in the twelfth century and + placed under the high altar. + + 180 "Porticus"; variously translated: "porch," "aisle," "transept," and + "chapel." Ducange explains it as "aedis sacrae propylaeum in + porticus formam exstructum," and says it was also used improperly + for the sanctuary. Plummer (_ad loc._) says it means side chapel, as + often. The mention of the altar just below seems to support this + meaning (if, indeed, _haec_ refers to the "porticus," and not to the + church itself, as is assumed in the A.S. version). + + 181 For Theodore _v._ Preface, p. 2, note 2; IV, 1; V, 8, _et saep._; + and for Bertwald, V, 8. Cuthbert (740-758) was the first archbishop + buried in Christ Church, Canterbury, instead of at St. Augustine's. + + 182 Cf. I, 27, _ad init._ + + 183 Bede thus distinguishes them from the colony in Scotland. Cf. I, 1, + and note. + + 184 Ireland. Iona may be included, as may be inferred from a comparison + of III, 21 ("reversus est ad insulam Hii") with III, 24 ("ad + Scottiam rediit"). But Bede does not use "Scottia" for Scotland. + + 185 Bishop of Inver Daeile (Ennereilly) in Wicklow. + + 186 The most famous of the great Irish missionaries who laboured on the + Continent. He was born in Leinster about 540, went to Gaul about + 574, founded three monasteries (Annegray, Luxeuil, and Fontaines), + worked for twenty years among the Franks and Burgundians, afterwards + among the Suevi and Alemanni, and finally in Italy, where he founded + a monastery at Bobbio and died there in 615. He was a vigorous + supporter of the Celtic usages and an active opponent of Arianism. + He instituted a monastic rule of great severity. + + 187 Nothing more is known of this council. The pope was Boniface IV, + 608-615. + + 188 610 A.D. + + 189 To commemorate the dedication the pope introduced into the Western + Church the Festival of All Saints, celebrated at first probably on + 13th May. The Eastern Church had from early times observed a + Festival of All Martyrs, which became later the Festival of All + Saints, kept by them on the Sunday after Whitsunday. + + 190 As Bretwalda, or paramount sovereign (_v._ Stubbs, "Constitutional + History," I, pp. 162-163). Aelli and Ceaulin are not elsewhere + mentioned in this work. For Redwald, _v. infra_ c. 12; for Edwin, c. + 9, foll.; for Oswald, III, 1, foll.; and for Oswy, III, 14, foll. + + 191 Anglesea and Man. + + 192 This is inaccurate and inconsistent with Bede's own statement in V. + 24. Augustine did not arrive in Britain till 597. The dates given + above, at the beginning of this chapter, are, however, probably + correct, if he means that Ethelbert died twenty-one years after the + dispatch of the mission from Rome. + + 193 The Witenagemot, the supreme assembly. This is the first recorded + instance of its legislative action. The "decisions" are the + so-called "dooms." + + 194 "--ing" is a Saxon patronymic. + + 195 It was Ethelbert's second wife. Bertha had died before him. + + 196 Or Gewissae. The West Saxons, an antiquated term for them. Cf. III, + 7: "Occidentalium Saxonum, qui antiquitus Gewissae vocabantur" (cf. + "visi" = west, in "Visigoth"). + + 197 At Canterbury, to the east of the church of SS. Peter and Paul, to + which it was afterwards joined. + + 198 619 A.D. + + 199 Boniface V. + + 200 Their names are said to have been: Severus, Severianus, Victorinus, + and Carpophorus (v. addition to Bede's Martyrology at 8th November). + They suffered martyrdom at Rome in the Diocletian persecution. A + church was erected in their honour on the Coelian, and on its site + stands the present church of the Santi Quattro Coronati. + + 201 St. Matt., xxviii, 20. + +_ 202 I.e._, the reward is bestowed on that gift of faithful and + successful service which he might hand on in its results to + posterity. But the text is probably corrupt, and it is difficult to + extract sense from it. + + 203 St. Matt., x, 22. + + 204 He means Eadbald. + + 205 Ps. xix, 4. + + 206 Cf. c. 5, p. 94. + + 207 I, 29. + + 208 Except Kent. Cf. _supra_, c. 5. + +_ 209 Ibid._ + + 210 A term of endearment. + + 211 2 Cor., xi, 2. + + 212 2 Cor., iv, 4. + + 213 Apparently joint king with his father, Cynegils (III, 7). The + hegemony which the West-Saxon Ceaulin had possessed (_v.s._ c. 5) + had passed to Northumbria. + +_ 214 I.e._, Easter Eve, April 19th, 626. + + 215 Supposed to be at Aldby, near Stamford Bridge, but other conjectures + have been advanced. + + 216 Twelve in some MSS. and in V, 24. The baptism was on the Eve of + Whitsunday (cf. V. 24, "in Sabbato Pentecostes"). The Eves of Easter + and Whitsunday were usual days for baptisms; the Roman Church tried + to limit them to these seasons, but Christmas and Epiphany were also + favourite times. + + 217 Boniface V, unless, as Dr. Bright suggests, the name is a scribe's + error for Honorius, his successor. Boniface V died in October, 625. + Paulinus had only been consecrated in the preceding July, so it is + impossible that Boniface could have heard of Edwin's delay in + receiving the faith; _v._ following letter (c. 11). But there is a + reference in the same letter to Eadbald's conversion, the news of + which must have come in the time of Boniface rather than of + Honorius. The difficulty is not cleared up. + + 218 Reading "profert" for the impossible "proferetur." The style of this + letter is very involved and there seems to be a good deal of + corruption in the text. + + 219 Adopting the conjecture "propinemus." + + 220 The MSS. reading ("totius creaturae suae dilatandi subdi") yields no + sense here, but no satisfactory conjecture has been made. + + 221 From the Vulgate, Ps. xcv, 5 (Ps. xcvi, 5 in our Psalter). + + 222 Ps. cxiii, 5-8 (cxv in our Psalter). + + 223 Gen., ii, 24; St. Matt., xix, 5; St. Mark, x, 7; Eph., v, 31. + + 224 1 Cor., vii, 14, cf. 16. + + 225 Reading "conversione." + +_ 226 I.e._, of East Anglia (Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire). Cf. + c. 5, _ad init._ + + 227 I, 34, and note. + + 228 Cf. Verg. Aen., IV, 2, "caeco carpitur igni." + + 229 A tributary of the Trent. The battle is supposed to have been fought + near Retford, in Nottinghamshire, before April 12th, 617. Cf. Bede's + statement that Edwin was baptized on April 12th, 627, in the + eleventh year of his reign (c. 14). + + 230 The Witenagemot. + + 231 Goodmanham, near Market Weighton, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. + + 232 Cf. Verg. Aen., II. 502. + +_ 233 I.e._, Easter Eve. Cf. c. 9, p. 104, note 3. + + 234 On the site now covered by York Cathedral. The little wooden oratory + was carefully preserved and adorned with gifts. The church has been + repeatedly rebuilt, and of the Saxon building nothing remains but + the central wall of the crypt. + + 235 Cf. _infra_ c. 20. + + 236 The newly-baptized wore white garments till the octave of the day of + their baptism, and appeared in church daily with lighted tapers and + accompanied by their sponsors. + + 237 For Wuscfrea and Yffi, _v. infra_ c. 20, p. 132. + + 238 Yeavering in Glendale, near Wooler in Northumberland. The name, + Adgefrin, is one of those (common in Anglo-Saxon) in which the + preposition is prefixed. "AEt" (Latin _ad_) and "in" are so used. The + idiom is preserved in the Latin. Cf. Ad Murum, Ad Caprae Caput (III, + 21), Infeppingum _(ibid.), et saep._ + + 239 The stream, in its upper reaches called the Bowmont Water, is still + called the Glen at Yeavering. It is a tributary of the Till. + Pallinsburn, in the neighbourhood of Coldstream, preserves by its + name the memory of similar baptisms by Paulinus. + + 240 Perhaps Millfield, near Wooler; but Mindrum and Kirknewton in the + same district have also been suggested. + + 241 Catterick Bridge (the Roman station Cataractonium, on the Watling + Street), near Richmond in the North Riding of Yorkshire. + + 242 Perhaps Doncaster. Other suggestions are Slack, near Huddersfield, + and Tanfield, near Ripon. The Anglo-Saxon version has Donafeld. + + 243 Leeds. The royal township (_villa_) is said to have been at + Oswinthorp. + + 244 Elmet Wood, near Leeds. + + 245 Cf. IV, 17, 23. His father was Ethelhere, King of East Anglia (III, + 24). + + 246 For the patronymic, cf. _supra_ c. 5, p. 95, and note. + + 247 Cf. III, 18. He was Earpwald's half-brother, and had been driven + into exile by his step-father, Redwald. Besides becoming a + Christian, he had acquired a taste for secular learning in the + ecclesiastical schools of Gaul. + + 248 Cf. III, 18, 20. "An important feature of this mission, as it was of + the Kentish, was the combination of education with religion, by + means of a school such as Sigbert had seen abroad, and as by this + time existed at Canterbury in connection with the house of SS. Peter + and Paul" (Bright, p. 143). The name of Felix is preserved in + Felixstowe, on the coast of Suffolk, and in Feliskirk, a Yorkshire + village. + +_ 249 Infra_ cc. 16, 18, _et saep._ He was a disciple of Pope Gregory, + "vir in rebus ecclesiasticis sublimiter institutus" (V, 19). + + 250 Dunwich, on the coast of Suffolk, once an important town, afterwards + partially submerged. The diocese was divided into two by Theodore, + and both sees became extinct during the Danish invasions. After + various vicissitudes, the seat of the East Anglian bishopric was + established at Norwich. Cf. IV, 5, p. 231, note 1. + + 251 Lindsey, the largest of the three divisions of Lincolnshire, was at + times Mercian, at times Northumbrian. At this time it appears to + have been dependent on Northumbria; cf. IV, 12, note. + + 252 Cf. _infra_ c. 18, _ad init._ The church which stands on the + probable site of this church is called St. Paul's. The name has been + supposed to be a corruption of "Paulinus." + + 253 Partney, in Lincolnshire; afterwards it became a cell of Bardney + Abbey. + + 254 The place cannot be identified with certainty. Torksey, Southwell, + Newark, Fiskerton, and Littleborough have all been suggested. + + 255 Cf. _infra_ c. 20, _ad fin._ + + 256 A form of standard adopted from the Romans. It was made of feathers + attached to a spear. + + 257 Cf. the instructions of Gregory: I, 29. + + 258 Bede does not mention the year of his death. The Saxon Chronicle + places it in 627, and this is supported by William of Malmesbury. + Smith places it in 630. + + 259 St. Matt., xi, 28. + + 260 St. Matt., xxv, 21. + +_ 261 I.e._, the kings of Northumbria and Kent. For similar combined + action on the part of a Northumbrian and a Kentish king, cf. III, + 29. + +_ 262 I.e._, Heracleonas, son of Heraclius and half-brother of + Constantine III; associated with them in the Empire. + +_ 263 I.e._, Irish. For their error with regard to Easter, _v.s._ c. 4. + + 264 John IV, consecrated December 25th, 640. Severinus was Pope for a + few months only. Apparently (cf. _infra_) the Irish ecclesiastics + had consulted him about the Easter question. + + 265 Cf. _supra_ c. 2, p. 84, note. On the Paschal question the Council + of Nicaea passed no canon, but the understanding was established + that "all the brethren in the East, who formerly celebrated Easter + with the Jews, will henceforth keep it agreeably with the Romans and + ourselves and all who from ancient time have kept Easter as we"; + _i.e._, that they should all keep Easter on the first day of the + week, but never on the 14th of the month Nisan, even when it fell on + a Sunday. The object of the rule was to avoid the day of the Jewish + Passover. + + 266 Cf. I, 10, note. + + 267 These bishops have been identified as follows: Tomianus is Tomene, + Abbot and Bishop of Armagh; Columbanus is Colman, Abbot of Clonard + (also a bishop); Cromanus is Cronan, Bishop of Nendrum, or + Inishmahee; Dinnaus is probably Dima, Bishop of Connor; Baithanus + has not been identified with any certainty. With regard to the + priests the proposed identifications are more conjectural. Saranus + is a certain Saran Ua Critain. Two vice-gerents of the Papal see are + associated with the Pope elect in writing this letter. The + arch-presbyter and the "primicerius notariorum," with the + archdeacon, acted as vice-gerents during a vacancy, or in the + absence of the Pope (cf. Plummer _ad loc._). + + 268 This is not fairly stated. The Irish were not "Quartodecimans," + _i.e._, did not insist on the celebration of Easter being on the + fourteenth of the moon. They only included that day as a possible + one for Easter (cf. _supra_ c. 2, p. 84, note 3). + + 269 Ps. li, 5, in our Psalter. The quotation is partly from the Vulgate, + partly from the "Roman" Psalter, _i.e._, Jerome's revision of the + old Italic version. + + 270 Or Cadwallon, King of Gwynedd, in North Wales. His father Cadvan, + had sheltered Edwin during his exile. Afterwards, when Cadwallon + invaded Northumbria, Edwin defeated him and drove him from his + kingdom. Having regained it, Cadwallon now allied himself with + Penda, king of the Mercians (626- or 627-655) in a successful + attempt to shake off the Northumbrian supremacy. + + 271 Generally identified with Hatfield Chase, north-east of Doncaster. + + 272 C. 14, p. 119. + +_ 273 Ibid._ + + 274 His body was ultimately buried at Whitby; cf. III, 24, p. 190, and + note. + + 275 For Eanfled, _v.s._ c. 9. For Yffi and Wuscfrea, c. 14. + + 276 Cf. c. 5. + + 277 He was a kinsman. Ethelberg's mother, Bertha, was a daughter of + Charibert, King of Paris (cf. I, 25, note). His brother, Chilperic, + was Dagobert's grandfather. + + 278 Cf. c. 8. + + 279 C. 16, and III, 25. + + 280 Cf. c. 14. The village cannot be identified. Akeburgh has been + suggested, the name being regarded as a corruption of "Jacobsburgh." + + 281 The "Cantus Romanus," brought to England by the Roman mission; + _i.e._, the style of Church music according to the use of Rome. The + theory that Gregory the Great was the founder of Gregorian music, + which superseded the old "Cantus Ambrosianus" everywhere in the West + except at Milan, must in all probability be abandoned. It seems to + be established that no change of any importance was made till nearly + a hundred years after Gregory's time, and "the terms 'Gregorianus,' + 'Ambrosianus Cantus,' probably mean nothing more than the style of + singing according to the respective uses of Rome and Milan." (F. + Homes Dudden, "Gregory the Great," I, p. 274.) + + 282 Cf. II, 1, p. 82, note. + + 283 I, 34; II, 2, 12. + +_ 284 I.e._, Osric and Eanfrid. + + 285 Cf. II, 20, _ad init._ + + 286 "In oppido municipio." Commentators are agreed that Bede means York. + It was a Roman "Colonia," and is called a "municipium" by Aurelius + Victor, though whether Bede attaches any definitely Roman meaning to + the term seems doubtful. Ducange explains "municipium" as "castrum," + "castellum muris cinctum." + + 287 From the death of Edwin (October 12th, 633), for Oswald's reign is + reckoned as lasting nine years, including the "hateful year," and he + was killed August 5th, 642. Cf. _infra_ c. 9. + +_ 288 I.e._, probably before the end of 634. + + 289 Not identified with any certainty, but probably the Rowley Water or + a tributary of it. It cannot be, as has been suggested, the Devil's + Water, which is clearly distinguished from it in a charter of the + thirteenth century. Caedwalla must have fled southwards for eight or + nine miles after the battle (cf. next note). + + 290 For another instance of a name with an inner meaning, cf. II, 15. + The site of the battle is probably seven or eight miles north of + Hexham (v. next note), Oswald having taken up his position on the + northern side of the Roman wall between the Tyne and the Solway + (_i.e._, the wall attributed to Hadrian, cf. I, 12, p. 25, note). + According to tradition the battle was finally won at a place called + Halydene (Hallington?), two miles to the east. + + 291 Hexham. Wilfrid built a magnificent church there between the years + 672-678 on land given by Ethelthryth, wife of Egfrid, king of + Northumbria. It became the see of a bishop in 678 when the great + northern diocese was subdivided by Theodore (_v._ IV, 12). Bede's + own monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow was in the diocese of Hexham. + The bishopric became extinct in 821. + + 292 The place is still called St. Oswald's, and a little chapel probably + marks the spot. + +_ 293 I.e._, Irish. + + 294 Cf. II, 2, note on Paschal Controversy. + + 295 Bishop of Laodicea, _circ._ 284 A.D. According to Eusebius, he was + the first to arrange the cycle of nineteen years. The Canon quoted + by the Celts in support of their observance of Easter is proved to + be a forgery, probably of the seventh century and of British origin. + + 296 Probably they adopted Catholic customs about 633, after the return + of their delegates sent to consult the Roman Church on this question + in 631. + + 297 Cf. Preface, p. 4, note 3. The Celtic missionaries were generally + attracted to remote sites, and this, the first mission station of + the Celtic Church in Northumbria, was doubtless chosen for the + resemblance of its physical features to Iona. The constitution was + also modelled on that of Iona, with this difference, that it was an + episcopal see as well as a monastery. It was included in the + "province" of the Abbot of Iona. The Bishop and all the clergy were + monks, and Aidan himself was Abbot as well as Bishop. + + 298 "Sacerdotali," perhaps (but not necessarily here) = "episcopal," as + often. There may have been a number of the Irish non-diocesan + bishops in the mission. + + 299 Iona, a name supposed to have arisen from a mistaken reading of + _Ioua_, an adjectival form used by Adamnan (_v. infra_ note 4), + feminine, agreeing with _insula_, formed from the Irish name, I, Ii, + Hii, etc. (the forms vary greatly). Then "Iona" was fancifully + regarded as the Hebrew equivalent for _Columba_ (= a dove), and this + helped to preserve the name. + +_ 300 I.e._, Irish. + + 301 For St. Columba, _v._ Dr. Reeves's edition of the life by Adamnan, + Abbot of Iona, 679-704 (cf. V, 15, note). Authorities are divided + with regard to the date of his coming to Britain. Dr. Reeves and Mr. + Skene, following the Annals of Tighernach, decide in favour of 563. + For his name, "Columcille," cf. V, 9, note. He was of Irish birth, + connected with the Dalriadic Scots, and of royal descent on both + sides of his house. He was ordained priest at Clonard, but was never + a bishop. Many ecclesiastical and monastic foundations throughout + Ireland and Scotland are attributed to him. He travelled much in + both countries, visited Bruide (_v. infra_) at Inverness, and + founded churches all over the north of Scotland. He also worked + indefatigably in his own monastery of Iona. In his earlier years his + excitable, impatient temperament seems to have involved him in + various wars. He is said to have stirred up his kinsmen against the + Irish king, Diarmaid; and it has been supposed that his mission to + the Picts was undertaken in expiation of the bloodshed for which he + was responsible. + + 302 There is much that is legendary in the account of St. Ninias, and + Bede only professes to give the tradition. He was a Briton, probably + a native of Strathclyde. He studied at Rome and received episcopal + consecration there; came under the influence of St. Martin of Tours, + to whom he afterwards dedicated his church in Galloway, and returned + as a missionary to Britain. His preaching led to the conversion of + the Picts of Galloway and those to whom Bede alludes here as + situated to the south of the Grampians. Irish tradition, difficult + to reconcile with Bede's statement that he was buried at Whitern, + tells that he spent the last years of his life in Ireland and + founded a church at Leinster. He was commemorated there on September + 16th, under the name of Moinenn. The traditional date of his death, + September 16th, 432, has no authority. + + 303 Whitern, on Wigton Bay, so called from the white appearance of the + stone church, as compared with the usual wooden buildings. The + dedication must have been subsequent to St. Martin's death, _circ._ + 397. The see was revived as an Anglian one in Bede's own time (_v._ + V. 23, p. 381). For the form of the name, "Ad Candidam Casam," cf. + II, 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 304 Bruide Mac Maelchon had defeated the Dalriadic Scots in 560 A.D. and + driven them back to Cantyre. Northwards his dominion extended as far + as the Orkneys and it is probable that it included the eastern + lowlands north of the Forth (cf. Rhys, "Celtic Britain"). Another + tradition (Irish) represents Conall, King of the Dalriadic Scots, as + the donor of Iona, but the earliest Irish authority (ninth or tenth + century) agrees with Bede. + + 305 The year in which he died, as well as the ultimate resting-place of + his relics, is uncertain. Dr. Reeves places his death in 597, the + year of St. Augustine's landing. + +_ 306 I.e._, in Irish. The place is Durrow in Leinster. + + 307 There was no diocesan episcopate in the early Irish Church; it was + organized on a monastic system. Bishops performed all episcopal + functions (ordination, etc.), but they lived in the monastery, + subject to the supreme authority of the abbot, who was aided in the + government by a council of senior monks. Bishops were also sent out + as missionaries. The functions of abbot and bishop might be combined + in one man, but the abbot, as such, could discharge no episcopal + duties. A great monastery was head of a "provincia" ("diocesis," + "parochia"), and had many monasteries and churches dependent on it. + + 308 Cf. c. 27, IV, 3, 26; V, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24. Perhaps "sacerdos" + should be translated "bishop" here (_v. supra_ c. 3, note; _infra_ + c. 27, note). Early writers allude to him as a bishop, _e.g._, + Alcuin, Ethelwulf. In the life of St. Adalbert, one of Wilbrord's + companions (cf. V. 10), he is called "Northumbrorum episcopus." + +_ 309 I.e._, they were not "Quartodecimans" (cf. II, 2, p. 84, note 3). + + 310 Phil., iii, 15. + + 311 Cf. II, 19. He is probably to be identified with the Segenus + mentioned there as one of the priests to whom Pope John's letter was + addressed. He was Abbot of Iona, 623-652. + + 312 Hector Boethius gives his name as Corman. + + 313 Cf. I, 1, p. 6, note 2. + + 314 Bamborough (Bebbanburh, Bebburgh, Babbanburch, etc. There are many + forms of the name). It is uncertain who the queen was. Nennius says + she was the wife of Ethelfrid. His wife, Oswald's mother, was Acha + (_v. infra_), but he may have been married twice. It was Ida, the + first king of Bernicia, who founded Bamborough (Sax. Chron.). + + 315 Cf. II, 5 _ad fin._, note. + + 316 Cf. note on Cuichelm, II, 9. Cynegils began to reign in 611 and + reigned about thirty-one years. + + 317 This account tells us substantially all that is known of him. + Additional details are either legendary or conjectural. He was made + a missionary ("regionary") bishop, _i.e._, had no fixed see assigned + to him. + + 318 II, 17, 18, 19, 20. + + 319 He was Archbishop of Milan, residing at Genoa. "Asterius ... like + his predecessors from 568, avoided contact with the dominant Arian + Lombards by residing within the imperial territory at Genoa" + (Bright). + + 320 Called Cyneburga by Reginald of Durham (Life of St. Oswald). + + 321 Dorchester, about nine miles from Oxford, near the junction of the + Thame and the Thames. The Abbey Church of SS. Peter and Paul stands + on the traditional site of Cynegil's baptism. The see became extinct + on the retirement of Agilbert (_v. infra_), but there are some + grounds for believing that it was revived for a short time as a + Mercian see in 679 (_v._ p. 272, note), after which it again + disappeared till, in the ninth century, the Bishop of Leicester + moved his see to Dorchester. + + 322 IV, 12; V, 18. Haedde became bishop in 676 (Sax. Chron.). His see + was at Winchester. He removed the bones of Birinus, because + Dorchester had ceased to be an episcopal see. Winchester continued + to be the only West Saxon see till the diocese was again divided + (_v._ V, 18), when Daniel was established at Winchester, and Aldhelm + at Sherborne. + + 323 Winchester; _Gwent_ (Celtic) = a plain. This, the "old Church," as + distinguished from the present Cathedral, was built by Coinwalch on + his restoration to his kingdom. There are legends of early British + churches on the site, the first founded by "King Lucius" (I, 4), the + second dedicated to "St. Amphibalus" (I, 7, p. 15, note). + + 324 Cuichelm (_v._ II, 9, and note) had died before his father, + Cynegils. + + 325 Bede reverts more than once to the subject of Anna's pious + offspring, _v. infra_ cc. 8, 18; IV, 19, 20. He had four daughters: + Sexburg (c. 8, IV, 19, 22), Ethelberg (c. 8), Ethelthryth (IV, 19, + 20; cf. IV, 3, 22), and Witberg (not mentioned by Bede); two + granddaughters, Earcongota (c. 8) and Ermingild, the wife of + Wulfhere of Mercia; all of whom entered convents, as did also his + step-daughter, Saethryth (c. 8). + + 326 Cc. 25, 26, 28; IV, 1; V, 19. The name is a Frankish form of the + English "Aethelbert." He was apparently consecrated in Gaul, but not + appointed to any diocese. + + 327 Cf. c. 28. It is not known why he was expelled (_v. infra_). There + is a tradition that he spent the last three years of his life at + Winchester as a penitent, doubtless for the act of simony related + below, but this is inconsistent with Bede's statement that he + remained Bishop of London till his death. + + 328 Winchester; _v.s._ pp. 148-9, notes. + + 329 London was an East Saxon bishopric, but Wulfhere (_v._ c. 24, _ad + fin._) had acquired the supremacy over the East Saxons (_v._ c. 30). + + 330 Hlothere, consecrated 670. Apparently he was appointed by a West + Saxon Synod ("ex synodica sanctione"). Dr. Bright thinks the term is + used loosely for a Witenagemot. + + 331 II, 5-9, 20; V, 24. + + 332 Faremoutier-en-Brie (Farae Monasterium in Brige), founded _circ._ + 617 by Fara, or Burgundofara, a Burgundian lady of noble birth, said + to have been dedicated by St. Columba in her infancy. The monastery + was a double one, _i.e._, consisted of monks and nuns (cf. _infra_, + "many of the brethren"). + + 333 Chelles, near Paris, founded by Clothilde, wife of Clovis I, + restored and enlarged by Bathild, wife of Clovis II (_v._ V, 19, + note). + + 334 Andeley-sur-Seine, also founded by Clothilde, wife of Clovis I. + + 335 Cf. _supra_ c. 7, note on Anna. + +_ 336 Ibid._ + +_ 337 Ibid._ + +_ 338 Ibid._ + + 339 Cf. c. 1. + + 340 The place is commonly supposed to be near Oswestry in Shropshire + (_i.e._, Oswald's Tree). There is a legend (related by Reginald) + which tells of a tree near the spot, to which a large bird carried + the king's right arm from the stake (cf. c. 12 _ad fin._). The Welsh + name of the place, "Croes Oswallt" (Cross-Oswald), points to the + explanation that the "tree" was a wooden cross set up to mark the + site. + + 341 642, _i.e._, nine years after the death of Edwin. + + 342 Reading _stramine subtracto_, on the authority of the oldest MSS., + in which case we must assume (with Plummer) that _stramen_ is used + incorrectly for _stragulus_ in the sense of "saddle," or + "horse-cloth," from the classical use, _sternere equum_ = to saddle. + Cf. "stratus regaliter," c. 14. Later MSS. read _stramine substrato_ + (= "spreading straw under him"). + + 343 Wife of Ethelred of Mercia (cf. IV, 21), murdered by her own people + in 697 (V, 24). + + 344 Bardney, in Lincolnshire. Ethelred became first a monk, afterwards + abbot of the monastery. + + 345 "Sacrarium." Probably here = the cemetery. But we find it elsewhere + in Bede for the sacristy, and it is also used of the sanctuary. + + 346 Cf. c. 27; IV, 12. + + 347 Partney: cf. II, 16, and note. This is the only mention of its + abbot, Aldwin. + + 348 Aen. II, 1. Quotations from Vergil are frequent in Bede. Cf. II, 13, + _ad fin._; v. 12, p. 327. + +_ 349 I.e._, matins (between midnight and 3 A.M.). + + 350 It was removed in 875, during the Danish invasions, in the coffin of + St. Cuthbert, and finally interred in the same tomb with the body of + Cuthbert at Durham, where it was found in 1827. Hence St. Cuthbert + is often represented holding St. Oswald's head in his hands. + + 351 Bamborough: cf. c. 6, note. + + 352 Bishop of Hexham, 709-731: _v._ V, 20 (cf. also IV, 14; V, 19). He + was a much loved friend of Bede, many of whose works were undertaken + at his instigation. He was devotedly attached to Wilfrid, whom he + succeeded at Hexham. The "Continuation" says that he was expelled + from his see in 731, and he probably never regained it. + + 353 Cf. V. 19, p. 353. This was probably Wilfrid's third journey to + Rome, undertaken in 703-704, for, at the time of his earlier journey + (in 678), when he spent the winter in Frisland, Wilbrord was not yet + there. + + 354 The great missionary archbishop of the Frisians. He was trained as a + boy in Wilfrid's abbey at Ripon, studied some time in Ireland, and + with eleven companions undertook in 690 the mission to Frisland + planned by Egbert: _v._ V, 10, 11. (For Egbert, _v._ c. 4, p. 143, + and note.) + + 355 The third of Ethelfrid's seven sons (_v._ Sax. Chron.) to succeed to + the sovereignty. With his brothers he had spent his youth in + banishment among the Picts and Scots (_v.s._ c. 1). + + 356 Cc. 21, 24, 25, 28. The pupil and friend of Wilfrid. He was made + sub-king of Deira in place of Ethelwald (_v._ next note). The date + and circumstances of his rebellion are not known. A cross at + Bewcastle in Cumberland, erected in 670 or 671, commemorates him and + asks prayers for his soul. + + 357 Ethelwald, _v._ cc. 23, 24. + + 358 Cf. II, 3. + + 359 The first bishop of English birth. For Honorius, _v._ II, 15, note. + + 360 The apostate king of Deira, Osric, son of Aelfric, was first cousin + to Edwin (cf. c. 1). Oswald united the two Northumbrian kingdoms, + but at his death, Oswin, son of Osric, succeeded to Deira. He was + canonised, and his tragic death led him to be regarded as a martyr. + + 361 Not identified. The village ("a vico Cataractone") is probably the + one called Cataracta in II, 14 (_v._ note, _ad loc._). + +_ 362 Comes_, A.S. _gesith_. + + 363 At Queen Eanfled's request (_v._ c. 24, p. 191). The place is + generally identified with Gilling in the North Riding of Yorkshire. + For the form of the name, _v._ II, 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 364 In 651 A.D. Cf. V. 24. + + 365 Cf. c. 21. + + 366 II, 9, 20; III, 24, 25, 29; V, 19. + + 367 The monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow. Cf. IV, 18; V, 21 _ad init._, + 24. + + 368 Bamborough, _v._ cc. 6, 12. + + 369 The scene of St. Cuthbert's hermit life: _v._ IV, 27, 28, 29; V, 1. + It is called the "House Island," and is the largest of the Farne + group of seventeen islands off the coast of Northumberland, opposite + Bamborough, famous in modern times for the rescue of a shipwrecked + crew by Grace Darling. + +_ 370 v.l._ seventeen. The MS. authority is about equal; but cf. _infra_, + the statement that he died in the seventeenth year of his + episcopate, which seems to be correct. + + 371 651 A.D.; _v.s._ c. 14 _ad fin._ + + 372 Cc. 21, 22, 25, 26, 27. For his character, _v._ c. 25 (though some + suppose the reference to be to Ronan). For Hii, _v._ c. 3, note. + + 373 The church and the buttress were evidently both of wood. + + 374 He probably refers to the "De Temporum Ratione," the longer of his + two chronological works. It treats the Paschal question at length. + But in the "De Temporibus" he also briefly discusses it. + + 375 Cf. c. 3. + + 376 II, 15, and note. + + 377 Cf. _ib._ The school was probably in the episcopal city of Dunwich, + though it has been maintained that it was the origin of Cambridge + University. For this there seems to be no authority except a + seventeenth century addition to this passage in a twelfth or + thirteenth century MS: "Grantebrig schola a Sigberto Rege." + + 378 Cf. c. 7, p. 149, and note. + + 379 For a full account of St. Fursa and his brothers, and other + companions mentioned in this chapter, _v._ Miss Margaret Stokes's + "Three months in the Forests of France, a pilgrimage in search of + vestiges of the Irish Saints in France." Bede's narrative is taken + from an extant ancient Latin life of St. Fursa (or Fursey), the + "libellus de vita ejus conscriptus" to which he refers several times + (_v. infra_). + + 380 St. Matt., xxv, 13. + + 381 Burgh Castle in Suffolk, where there was a Roman fortress, + Garianonum. + +_ 382 I.e._, Irish. + + 383 His monastery on Lough Corrib. It is obvious from the sequel that + this vision was prior to his journey to Britain, and is distinct + from the vision mentioned above. + + 384 Ps. lxxxiv, 7; (lxxxiii, 8, in the Vulgate). The reading is that of + the Vulgate and the Gallican Psalter: "Ibunt de virtute in virtutem: + videbitur Deus deorum in Sion." + +_ 385 Ibid._ + +_ 386 I.e._, Ireland. + + 387 The monastery at Burgh Castle. + + 388 Fullan, or Foillan, was apparently a bishop (the others are called + "presbyteri"). He and Ultan after Fursa's death (_circ._ 650) went + to South Brabant. Ultan founded a monastery at Fosse in the diocese + of Liege (then of Maestricht), and Fullan laboured in conjunction + with St. Gertrude in the double monastery of Nivelles. Ultan became + abbot, first of Fosse and later of Peronne. The name Gobban occurs + frequently in Irish Church History, Dicull occasionally. There is a + Dicull mentioned in IV, 13. + +_ 389 I.e._, the Mercians; _v.s._ c. 18. + + 390 Clovis II, King of Neustria, 638-656. Ercinwald was his Mayor of the + Palace. + + 391 Lagny on the Marne, near Paris. + + 392 Peronne on the Somme. The monastery founded there after his death + was called "Perrona Scotorum" from the number of Irish who resorted + to it. + +_ 393 Circ._ 647. The rapid increase in the number of native bishops may + be seen from this chapter. The only one before Thomas was Ithamar + (cf. c. 14, p. 164). + + 394 The Fen country. The province included part of the counties of + Lincoln, Northampton, Huntingdon, and Cambridge. + + 395 Such changes of name were frequent: cf. Benedict for Biscop (IV, + 18), Boniface for Winfrid (_v._ "Continuation"), Clement for + Wilbrord (V, 11), and cf. _infra_, "Deusdedit." + + 396 II, 15, note. + + 397 The first archbishop of English birth. He died in 664 (_v._ IV, 1). + His original name is said to have been Frithonas; Deusdedit is the + Latin form of Theodore. There was a Pope of the same name, 615-618 + (_v._ II, 7). Similar names were common in the African Church, + _e.g._, "Adeodatus," "Habetdeus," "Quodvultdeus," "Deogratias." + + 398 Cf. c. 14, and note. + + 399 Cf. IV, 2. It has been supposed that he died of the plague of 664. + After his death the see was vacant for several years. It is + remarkable that he came of a race which had not yet become + Christian. The South Saxons continued to be pagan till Wilfrid + evangelized them, 681-686 (IV, 13). + + 400 For their origin, _v._ I, 15. Their country, which was subject to + Mercia, was the present Leicestershire. They are probably to be + identified with the Southern Mercians; _v._ c. 24, where we find + Peada confirmed by Oswy in the government of that people. + + 401 She caused his death by treachery: _v._ c. 24 _ad fin._ + + 402 C. 14, _ad init._, and note. + + 403 After Alchfrid's death, she took the veil and ruled the monastery of + Caistor (? Cyneburgacaster) in Northamptonshire. She was one of the + five children of the heathen Penda, who were canonized as saints. + +_ 404 Comitibus ac militibus._ A.S. "geferum" (companions) and "king's + thegns." + + 405 Cf. c. 22. Variously identified with Walton and Walbottle, both near + Newcastle. For the preposition, _v._ II, 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 406 For Cedd, _v._ Preface, and _infra_ cc. 22, 23, 25, 26. The names of + Adda and Betti do not occur again. For Diuma: _v. infra_ and c. 24. + + 407 III, 15. + + 408 Gateshead on the Tyne, opposite Newcastle. For the preposition, cf. + II, 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 409 Penda was killed in 655. Diuma was probably consecrated in 656. + + 410 Not identified. Perhaps Repton (Reppington) in Derbyshire, where it + is supposed that Diuma had fixed his see. For the form of the name, + cf. II, 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 411 He probably returned at the time of the rebellion of Mercia in 658; + _v._ c. 24, _ad fin._ For Hii, _v.s._ c. 3, _ad fin._ + + 412 Abbot of Gilling. He was a kinsman of Oswin: _v._ c. 24, p. 191. + + 413 Cf. II, 5. Since then, the East Saxons had remained pagan. + + 414 Sometimes surnamed the "Good." (He must not be confused with + Sigbert, King of the East Angles, II, 15, and III, 18, 19.) Sigbert + the Little was the successor of the three young kings who expelled + Mellitus (II, 5). + + 415 C. 21 and note. + + 416 C. 21 and note. + + 417 They must have been Celtic bishops, probably of the Irish Church and + subject to the authority of Iona. Cedd seems to have had no fixed + see. He is not called Bishop of London, like Mellitus. + + 418 Dr. Bright regards this organization as a foreshadowing of the + parochial system, which, however, was not thoroughly established + till long after. + + 419 Identified with the Roman military station, Othona, on the + Blackwater, formerly called the Pant, in Essex. The town is now + submerged. + + 420 Tilbury. + +_ 421 Comes._ A.S. "gesith." + + 422 He was his brother probably. But the relationships of these East + Saxon kings are very difficult to determine. + + 423 Rendlesham in Suffolk. + + 424 Distinguish from Ethelwald, or Oidilwald, sub-King of Deira (_v.s._ + c. 14, and _infra_ cc. 23, 24). Ethelwald, King of the East Angles, + succeeded his brother, Ethelhere, who was the successor of Anna (cf. + _supra_ cc. 7, 18, 19), and was killed in the battle of the Winwaed + (_v. infra_ c. 24). + + 425 Cf. _supra_ c. 14; _infra_ c. 24. Apparently he succeeded Oswin as + sub-King of Deira. + + 426 Isaiah, xxxv, 7. + + 427 Lastingham (_v._ Preface). Cedd was its first abbot, though it was + not in his own diocese. + + 428 Doubtless only one at a time. The "Provost" is the prior of later + times. The charge of the monastery would devolve upon him while Cedd + was absent in his diocese. + + 429 Or, as he is commonly called, St. Chad, the greatest of this + remarkable group of brothers; _v._ Preface and _infra passim_. + + 430 Ythancaestir, or Tilbury (_v._ c. 22). + + 431 Oswald; _v.s._ c. 9. + + 432 "Ealdormen," Green, "Making of England," p. 301. But they probably + included many British chiefs (_v._ Nennius, and cf. _infra_ "duces + regii"). + + 433 Oswy's younger son. He succeeded his father in 670 or 671 (_v._ IV, + 5, and for the events of his reign, IV, V, _passim_). + + 434 The wife of Penda. + + 435 Cc. 14 and 23. The reason for his conduct is not explained. Probably + he had hoped to establish his claims on Northumbria through Penda's + assistance, but shrank from actually fighting against his country. + + 436 Cf. c. 22, _ad fin._, note. How he gave occasion for the war is not + known. + + 437 The river has not been identified, and there is great uncertainty + even with regard to the district. Below, Bede says that Oswy + concluded the war in the district of "Loidis," by which he must mean + Leeds, as in II, 14, and most commentators adopt this view. In this + case, the river may be the Aire, or more probably the Went, a + tributary of the Don. Others believe the district to be the + Lothians, following the account in Nennius, who describes Oswy as + taking refuge before the battle in a city called Iudeu, supposed to + be either Edinburgh or Carriden (cf. I, 12, note), and the river has + been supposed to be the Avon in Linlithgow. + + 438 She is mentioned as joint-abbess with her mother, Eanfled, of the + monastery of Whitby (IV, 26). Eddius calls her "sapientissima + virgo," "semper totius provinciae consolatrix optimaque + consiliatrix." Her influence helped to restore Wilfrid to the + bishopric. She was the friend of St. Cuthbert, who is said to have + wrought a miraculous cure on her behalf. It was to her that he + prophesied the death of her brother Egfrid (IV, 26, p. 285, note). + + 439 Hartlepool in the county of Durham (cf. IV, 23). + + 440 For the main facts of her life, _v._ IV, 23. She was Abbess of + Whitby at the time of the Synod (c. 25). + + 441 Whitby. It was a mixed monastery (cf. IV, 23). + + 442 The ancient life of Gregory the Great, by a monk of Whitby, tells + how Edwin's body was translated thither from the place where he + fell. For the fate of his head, cf. II, 20. + + 443 In 655: cf. V, 24 (death of Penda). + + 444 Cf. c. 21, where, however, Lindsey is not mentioned. For the + successive conquests of Lindsey by Northumbria and Mercia, _v._ IV, + 12, p. 243, note. Though it must have passed to Northumbria after + Oswy's victory, it was still apparently included in the Mercian + diocese. + + 445 C. 21, _ad fin._ and note. "Scottia," as usual, means Ireland, which + includes Iona (cf. II, 4). + + 446 Cf. c. 14. + +_ 447 I.e._, he confirmed Peada in the government conferred on him by his + father, Penda, if we may assume the Southern Mercians to be + identical with the Middle Angles: cf. c. 21, p. 180. + + 448 Alchfled, Oswy's daughter: _v.s._ _ibid._ + + 449 He has been already mentioned, cc. 7, 21. He was a vigorous ruler; + he freed Mercia from Northumbria, reconquered Lindsey, established + his supremacy over the East Saxons (cf. c. 30), and curtailed the + power of Wessex. His attempt, however, to extend his power to the + north of the Humber ended in 675 in his disastrous defeat by Egfrid, + King of Northumbria (IV, 12) and his death followed immediately + after. He was the first Christian king of all Mercia, and he was + zealous in putting down idolatry (Florence of Worcester). + + 450 Cf. _supra_ and c. 21. + + 451 He succeeded in 662. Cf. c. 30. + + 452 C. 23, p. 187, and note. + + 453 IV, 3, 5, 6. He was deposed by Theodore for some act of disobedience + not known (IV, 6), and went to the Continent, where, travelling in + Neustria, he was mistaken for Wilfrid and cruelly ill-treated by the + emissaries of Ebroin (_v._ V, 19, note), "errore bono unius syllabae + seducti," as Eddius, the biographer of Wilfrid, remarks. + +_ 454 I.e._, Ireland. + + 455 He succeeded Cuthbert as Bishop of Lindisfarne; _v._ IV, 29, 30. + + 456 Cf. II, 2, p. 84, note 3. + + 457 Nothing certain is known of him. + + 458 II, 16, 20; IV, 2. + +_ 459 I.e._, Iona: cf. IV, 4, _ad init._ Colman succeeded in 661. + + 460 For his life: _v._ V, 19. + + 461 Really Annemundus. He was Archbishop of Lyons. Cf. V, 8, note on + Godwin. He is confused with his brother Dalfinus, Count of Lyons: + _v._ V, 19, p. 348, note. + + 462 Ripon. For the preposition, cf. II, 14, p. 119, note 5. The + monastery was first given to Eata (_v._ c. 26), to be organized by + him, and among the monks he brought with him from Melrose was + Cuthbert (cf. IV, 27). They were forced to retire in 661, but after + the Synod of Whitby they conformed to the Catholic rules. + + 463 Cf. c. 7, where Bede's summary account obscures the sequence of + events. Here he is still called Bishop of the West Saxons. It is + probable that he had retired from Wessex by this time, but had not + yet gone to Gaul. He did not become Bishop of Paris before 666, for + in that year we find his predecessor, Importunus, witnessing a + "privilegium" for a nunnery at Soissons. + + 464 We hear nothing more of this priest. + + 465 C. 24. The etymology is generally considered impossible. But cf. + Bright, "Early English Church History," p. 213. + + 466 C. 24. After the Synod it appears that she conformed to the Catholic + usages. But she continued to be an opponent of Wilfrid till the end + of her life. + + 467 Cc. 21, 22, 23. + + 468 The practice of the churches of Asia, traditionally derived from St. + John, was to disregard the day of the week and observe as Easter Day + the 14th of the month Nisan. Therefore the claim to the authority of + St. John, advanced by the Celts, was inaccurate and gives some + colour to the charge, often brought against them, of being + "Quartodecimans." + + 469 Acts, xvi, 3. + +_ 470 Ibid._, xxi, 26. + +_ 471 Ibid._, xviii, 18. + +_ 472 Ibid._, xxi, 20. + + 473 Cf. II, 19, note. + + 474 Cf. c. 3, note. + + 475 St. Matt., xvi, 18-19. + + 476 Cf. II, 2, p. 85, note 1. + + 477 To Iona; _v._ IV, 4, _ad init._ + + 478 Fourth Bishop of Lindisfarne and the last of the Irish bishops in + that see. He died of the plague in 664: _v._ c. 27. + + 479 Cf. c. 3, p. 139, and note. + +_ 480 I.e._, Ireland. + + 481 IV, 12, 27, 28; V, 2. + + 482 Old Melrose, "Quod Tuidi fluminis circumflexu maxima ex parte + clauditur," V, 12. The more famous monastery is of later date and is + to the west of the older site. + + 483 Cf. c. 3, _ad fin._ (where, however, there is only a general + allusion to the instruction of English children). It has been + suggested that they may have been redeemed from slavery. Cf. c. 5, + p. 145. + + 484 Really on the 1st. + + 485 Called the "Yellow Pest" from the colour of its victims. It was a + bubonic plague; it probably came from the East and was the same as + that which raged in Europe in Justinian's reign. There were several + outbreaks in England in the seventh century, but this was the most + virulent. For subsequent visitations, cf. IV, 7, 14, 19. + + 486 Cf. c. 26, p. 201. + + 487 The Saxon Chronicle has "on Wagele," which is supposed to be + Whalley, on the borders of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, but + the name varies greatly in different chroniclers. Smith considers + that Bede's form "Paegnalaech" or "Paegnalech" points to Finchale + (Wincanheale, in Simeon of Durham, or Pincahala), near Durham. + + 488 Cf. c. 4. + + 489 Cf. c. 11; IV, 12. + + 490 Said, on doubtful authority, to be Melfont, or Mellifont, in County + Louth. + + 491 "Acceptum sacerdotii gradum," A.S. "biscophade onfeng" = he received + the episcopate. Cf. c. 4, note. + + 492 In 664. This was the young "Faineant" king of Neustria, Clothaire + III. Wilfrid was probably sent abroad at his own request. Doubtless + he desired to have the canonical number of three bishops at his + consecration, and Boniface of Dunwich (c. 20; IV, 5) was the only + prelate in England whose orders he would have regarded as entirely + satisfactory, for Wini might be considered a usurper, and Cedd and + Jaruman had been consecrated by schismatics. Archbishop Deusdedit + was dead (III, 20, note) and so probably was Damian of Rochester. + + 493 He was Wilfrid's friend: _v.s._ c. 25, pp. 194-5. + + 494 Cf. _ibid._, note. + + 495 Compiegne, a royal "villa." For the preposition, _v._ II, 14, note. + The ceremony was a specially magnificent one, Wilfrid being carried + in a golden chair by twelve bishops in choral procession, according + to an ancient custom of the Gallican Church. + + 496 Preface, III, 23, _et saep._ Why Oswy, who had consented to + Wilfrid's consecration (_v._ V, 19) acted in this manner is not + clear. Probably it implies that the Celtic party, during Wilfrid's + prolonged absence, had to some extent recovered their ascendency; + and, if it was at this time that Alchfrid (who is not heard of + again) rebelled against his father (_v.s._ c. 14, _ad init._) and + was deprived of his kingdom, Wilfrid would have lost his warmest + supporter. + + 497 He retired to Ripon from Lindsey, of which he was the first separate + bishop, when Ethelred recovered that province for Mercia in 679. But + cf. IV, 12, _ad fin._, note, for the statement that he was "Bishop" + of Ripon. + + 498 King of Northumbria, _v.s._ c. 24, p. 188, note 3. + + 499 It does not appear why Boniface (Bertgils) of Dunwich, Bishop of the + East Angles, 652-669 (c. 20, IV, 5), is ignored. Ceadda's + consecration was afterwards regarded as of doubtful validity and was + completed by Theodore (_v._ IV, 12). The British (probably Cornish) + bishops were schismatical, and Wini's position was irregular. + Moreover, the see to which Ceadda was consecrated was not vacant. + + 500 IV, 1. + + 501 Consecrated in 657--died in 672. + + 502 Isaiah, xi, 10. + +_ 503 Ibid._, xlix, 1. + +_ 504 Ibid._, 6. + +_ 505 Ibid._, 7. + +_ 506 Ibid._, 8-9. + +_ 507 Ibid._, xlii, 6-7. The readings are from the Vulgate. + + 508 It has not been stated that Oswy and Egbert asked the Pope to + provide an archbishop, failing Wighard. But this seems to be implied + in IV, 1: "episcopum, quem petierant." Or, as is generally supposed, + Vitalian may have arbitrarily assumed this to be the intention of + their letter. + + 509 There were several martyrs of the name of Laurentius, but the best + known is the Roman deacon, St. Laurence, who suffered at Rome in 258 + A.D. He was buried in the Via Tiburtina, where a church dedicated to + him is said to have been founded by Constantine the Great. On the + site stands the present Church of S. Lorenzo fuori le Mura, the + older part of which dates from the sixth century at least. One of + Aldhelm's foundations (V, 18) was a little church dedicated to St. + Laurence at Bradford-on-Avon in 705, probably the small Saxon church + which still stands there. There were many martyrs named John and + Paul, and more than one Gregory. St. Pancras was a boy-martyr, a + Phrygian by birth, who suffered at Rome in 304 A.D., when he was + only fourteen years of age. His martyrdom was widely celebrated, and + miraculous powers were attributed to his tomb outside the walls of + Rome. An old British church at Canterbury, which had been desecrated + by the heathen invaders, was restored for Christian use and + dedicated to St. Pancras by Augustine. + + 510 Eanfled, _v.s._ c. 15 and note. + + 511 St. Matt., vi, 33. + + 512 Cf. IV, 6. Sighere was the son, Sebbi the brother, of Sigbert the + Little (_v.s._ c. 22, _ad init._). + + 513 C. 22, _ad fin._ + + 514 C. 24, _ad fin._; IV, 3. + + 515 664 A.D.: cf. III, 27, _ad init._ + + 516 Cf. III, 26, _ad init._ + + 517 Cf. III, 20 and note. + + 518 Cf. III, 8; V, 19, p. 348. + + 519 Cf. III, 29. From Bede's "History of the Abbots" we learn that he + was a pupil of Pope Gregory's Roman disciples in Kent. + + 520 III, 29. + +_ 521 Ibid._, and note. + + 522 Cf. Preface, p. 2, note 3. + + 523 He was probably chaplain of the nunnery. + + 524 Cf. Preface, p. 2, note 2. + + 525 Cf. Bright, cc. 252, 253. He sees here an allusion to the + Monothelite controversy. + +_ 526 I.e._, the Eastern, which consisted in shaving the whole head. This + method was supposed to have the authority of St. Paul (an idea + derived from Acts, xviii, 18), and of St. James "the Less." Cf. II, + 2, p. 85, note. + + 527 They were accompanied by Benedict Biscop (_v._ c. 18) whom Vitalian + had asked to act as their guide and interpreter ("Hist. Abb.," § 3). + + 528 Archbishop of Arles, 658-675. + + 529 From this it has been inferred that Arles belonged to Neustria. The + king was Clothaire III, king of Neustria. Ebroin had succeeded + Ercinwald (_v._ III, 19, _ad fin._) as Mayor of the Palace. He was + murdered in 681. + + 530 III, 7, 25, 26, 28. + + 531 Called also Emmo, or Haymo; Bishop of Sens, 658-675. + + 532 Or Burgundofarus, Bishop of Meaux, 626-672. He was brother of Fara, + mentioned III, 8. + + 533 "Praefectus." + + 534 Etaples in Picardy; "Quentae (or 'ad Quantiam') vicus" = the village + at the mouth of the Canche. It was an important commercial town and + port. + + 535 SS. Peter and Paul (St. Augustine's): cf. I, 33. Theodore had placed + Benedict Biscop over it while Hadrian was still abroad. + + 536 II, 16, 20. + + 537 Eddius, the biographer of Wilfrid. He mentions himself ("Life of + Wilfrid," Chapter XIV) as a "cantor." + + 538 Bede can scarcely mean to impeach the orthodoxy of the bishops of + native birth prior to Wilfrid. Probably the reference is mainly to + the prominent part he took in bringing about the decision at Whitby. + + 539 Cf. III, 28, note. + + 540 Cf. III, 20, and note. + + 541 Cc. 5, 12. Florence of Worcester mentions a Putta, Bishop of + Hereford, who died in 688, but it is very doubtful whether he can be + identified with the above. Bede's words in Chapter 12 do not imply + that Putta, Bishop of Rochester, became Bishop of Hereford. Hereford + was not one of the five sees into which Florence tells us that + Theodore divided the great Mercian bishopric, but it appears soon + after as a separate see for Hecana (Herefordshire). Possibly Putta, + who is traditionally reckoned as its first bishop, may have acted as + Sexwulf's deputy there. + + 542 Cf. II, 20 _ad fin._, note. + + 543 III, 24, 30. He had probably died two years before Chad's + appointment, _i.e._, in 667, and the see had been vacant in the + interval, for Wilfrid, then in retirement at Ripon, is said (by + Eddius) to have discharged episcopal functions for the Mercians. + + 544 Lastingham. Cf. Preface, p. 3; III, 23, 28. + + 545 Lindsey at this time belonged to Mercia. Cf. c. 12, p. 243, note 5. + + 546 Smith believed this place to be Barton-on-Humber. It is now + generally identified with Barrow in Lincolnshire. For the + preposition, cf. II, 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 547 It had not previously been an episcopal see, though Wulfhere had + wished to establish Wilfrid there during the vacancy in the Mercian + bishopric (p. 218, note 4). When the bishopric of Mercia and Lindsey + was subdivided by Theodore in 679, Lichfield remained the see of the + bishopric of Mercia proper. In 787, under Offa, King of Mercia, with + the consent of Pope Hadrian, it was raised into a separate + archbishopric for Mercia and East Anglia, but in 802 Canterbury was + re-established as the sole archbishopric for the Southern Province. + The popular derivation of the name, Lichfield ("Field of the Dead") + is from _lic_ = a corpse, and the place is traditionally connected + with the martyrdom of a great number of British Christians. Another + derivation, however (from _leccian_ = to irrigate), points to the + meaning "the watered field." + + 548 Eccl., iii. 5. + + 549 A stone which is believed to have formed part of Owini's tomb was + found at the end of the eighteenth century at Haddenham, near Ely, + and is now in Ely Cathedral. It bears the inscription, "Lucem tuam + Ovino da Deus et requiem. Amen" (Mayor and Lumley). + + 550 Cf. c. 19. + + 551 Ps. xviii, 13, 14. + + 552 III, 4, 27. + + 553 He is said to have been Abbot of Bardney. + + 554 In 672. The original Church of St. Mary at Lichfield, said to have + been built by Oswy in 656-657, was replaced about 1140 by the new + Cathedral, and Ceadda's relics were soon after removed to it. + + 555 Cf. III, 24, _ad fin._, note. + + 556 Cf. III, 26, _ad init._ + + 557 Iona. Cf. III, 3, _ad fin._, note. + + 558 Innisboffin, off the coast of Mayo. The annals of Ulster give 667 as + the date of his retirement to it. + + 559 Mayo, called from this settlement, "Mayo of the Saxons." It + continued to be an English monastery (_v. infra_), and after awhile + adopted those usages, to avoid which Colman had left England. It + became an episcopal see, which in 1559 was annexed to the + archbishopric of Tuam. + + 560 Hertford. + + 561 It seems probable that we ought to read 671; cf. Plummer _ad loc._ + + 562 Oswy is the last king in Bede's list of those who held an "imperium" + (_v._ II, 5). With the rise of Mercia under Wulfhere (III, 24), the + supremacy of Northumbria had virtually passed away. After Oswy's + death, the position of Northumbria was an isolated one, and it was + by conquests over Britons, not Englishmen, that Egfrid enlarged the + bounds of his kingdom. + + 563 In his youth he had been a hostage at the court of Queen Cynwise, + wife of Penda (III, 24, p. 188). + + 564 This is of supreme importance as the first English provincial + Council and the first national assembly of the English. The rule + laid down at Nicaea and confirmed by later councils was that + provincial synods should meet twice a year to settle all + ecclesiastical matters which affected the province as a unity. + + 565 24th September, 673, falls in the first indiction, whether the + Pontifical or the "Caesarean" system is meant (_v._ Haddan and + Stubbs, III, 121). Bede himself used the Caesarean indiction, of + which we get the first notice in his "De Temporum Ratione." It began + on 24th September. It does not, however, follow that Theodore also + used it. The oldest scheme, viz., the Constantinopolitan, began on + 1st September; the Roman or Pontifical, on New Year's Day as + received at the time, _i.e._, 25th December, 1st January, or 21st + March. For Indictions, _v._ "Dictionary of Christian Antiquities." + They were cycles of fifteen years, a mode of reckoning dates which + appeared in the fourth century, based upon the Imperial fiscal + system, but which came to be used irrespective of taxation. "1st + indiction" stands for "1st year of the indiction." + + 566 Of the six suffragans only four were present. Wilfrid was at this + time (669-678) in possession of his see; why he did not appear in + person is not explained. Possibly his action foreshadows the future + troubles between him and Theodore. Wini, Bishop of London, was still + alive (_v._ III, 7, and note). If the story of his retirement to + Winchester is true, this would account for his absence. For Bisi, + _v. infra_. His see was at Dunwich (cf. II, 15). For Putta, _v.s._ + c. 2 and note; for Leutherius, _v._ III, 7; for Wynfrid, III, 24; + IV, 3, _ad fin._ + + 567 The collection of Canons approved by the Council of Chalcedon, + translated into Latin by Dionysius Exiguus (early in the sixth + century, cf. V, 21, p. 369, note) and adopted by the Western Church. + + 568 This place used to be identified with Cliff-at-Hoe near Rochester, + but the theory rests mainly on the similarity of name. As in the + recorded Councils of Clovesho the supremacy of Mercia is clearly + indicated, it is generally assumed that the place must have been + either in Mercia or a kingdom subject to it, as Kent was at the + time. Except one Council in 716, we find none mentioned as having + taken place at Clovesho till seventy years after this time (747), + but councils were held at other places. + + 569 The subdivision of the great bishoprics was an important part of + Theodore's policy, and though at this Council he failed to carry his + point, possibly through the opposition of Wilfrid's representatives, + in the succeeding years he effected a great change in the + organization of the episcopate, creating dioceses co-extensive with + tribal territories. + + 570 III, 29; IV, 1. + + 571 Cc. 22, 26. + + 572 His original name was Bertgils, _v._ III, 20. + + 573 Theodore availed himself of this opportunity for subdivision. Aecci + was appointed to Dunwich and Badwin to the new see of Elmham. + Suffolk and Norfolk thus each received a separate bishopric. The + Danish invasions broke up this arrangement; Dunwich disappeared as + an episcopal see, and the succession to Elmham was interrupted for a + time. In 1075 the see of the single East Anglian bishopric was + removed to Thetford, and in 1094 to Norwich. + + 574 It has been conjectured that he resisted the subdivision of his + diocese. For his subsequent adventures, _v._ III, 24, p. 192, note + 4. + + 575 This was probably in 675 (Flor. of Wor.). Sexwulf (_v. infra_ c. 12) + had been a rich thegn who became a monk and was made first abbot of + Medeshamstead. + + 576 Peterborough, as the town which grew up around the monastery came to + be called in the tenth century, the monastery being dedicated to St. + Peter. Peada is said to have planned the foundation (_v._ + Peterborough additions to the Saxon Chronicle), but the accounts are + late and untrustworthy. + + 577 III, 20, note. + + 578 C. 3, p. 219, note 2. + + 579 He succeeded Wini (III, 7) in 675 and died about 693. He was + canonized. It was in his house that the reconciliation between + Theodore and Wilfrid took place. It is said that as a boy he had + heard Mellitus preach in London. He was present at the West Saxon + Witenagemot which enacted the "Dooms of Ine" (c. 15 and V, 7), and + is spoken of as one of Ine's bishops, Essex being probably subject + to Wessex at that time. + + 580 In III, 30. + + 581 Cc. 7-10. She is not to be confused with Ethelberg, daughter of Anna + (III, 8), Abbess of Faremoutier-en-Brie. + + 582 Chertsey in Surrey. William of Malmesbury tells us that it was a + flourishing monastery till it was destroyed by the Danes. + + 583 Barking in Essex, _v. infra_ cc. 7-10. For the preposition, _v._ II, + 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 584 The plague of 664 has been mentioned in III, 27; IV, 1, 3; but this + may have been a later visitation. Barking is generally supposed to + have been founded in 666. + + 585 Two different dates are given for her succession, 664 and 675. If + the former is right, the plague (c. 7) must have been that of 664, + and Ethelburg probably died of it. It appears from a letter of St. + Boniface that Hildilid was alive in 709. She was one of Aldhelm's + numerous women-scholars. He dedicated the prose version of his work + in praise of virginity (_v._ V, 18) to her and others of the + sisterhood, and speaks highly of their scholarly attainments. + + 586 Apparently a life of St. Ethelburg not known to exist now. + + 587 Cf. III, 30; IV, 6. + + 588 For Earconwald, _v.s._ c. 6. Waldhere is the first of a long list of + undistinguished bishops of London given by William of Malmesbury. A + letter of his to Archbishop Bertwald survives, and there is a + charter in which Swefred (_v._ next note) grants lands at Twickenham + to him in 704. + + 589 Cf. V, 8, note on Suaebhard. + + 590 St. Paul's, London. Sebbi's tomb is believed to have survived till + the fire of 1666. + + 591 For these bishops, cf. III, 7. + +_ 592 Ibid._ He died in 672 (Sax. Chron.). Of the sub-kings the most + prominent were Aescwine and Centwine, a brother of Coinwalch. The + Saxon Chronicle gives a different account. According to it, + Coinwalch's widow, Sexburg, reigned for one year after him and was + succeeded by Aescwine, who was succeeded by Centwine. + + 593 Cf. III, 7, and for his character, V, 18. The Saxon Chronicle says + he succeeded in 676 and died in 703. Bede places his death in 705 + (V, 18). + + 594 Cc. 15, 16, and V, 7. He was of Ceaulin's line (II, 5) and so + belonged to a younger branch of the West Saxon royal house. Welsh + writers confuse him with the British king, Caedwalla (II, 20), and + with his son, Cadwalader. + + 595 A son of Penda. He succeeded his brother Wulfhere in 675. In 704 he + became a monk (V, 24) and afterwards Abbot of Bardney Monastery (cf. + III, 11), which he is said to have founded. His invasion of Kent was + probably provoked by an attempt on the part of that kingdom, at + Wulfhere's death, to resume a position of independence towards + Mercia. In spite of his conduct on this raid, Theodore, Florence of + Worcester, and others, speak of the saintliness of his character. + + 596 Cc. 2 (and note), 5. + + 597 C. 6, and note, and _infra_, p. 244. + + 598 The dates of these changes in the episcopate are uncertain. Probably + Gebmund was consecrated in 678. For his death, _v._ V, 8 _ad fin._, + and note. + + 599 This was Wilfrid's first expulsion (_v._ V, 19). Bede's reticence on + the subject is noteworthy. Egfrid's hostility to his former friend, + Wilfrid, was doubtless caused by Wilfrid's encouragement of Queen + Ethelthryth (cc. 19, 20) in her desire to take the veil. It was + probably increased by Egfrid's second wife, Eormenburg, who is said + to have resented Wilfrid's power and magnificence. Theodore, + carrying out his policy of subdivision, availed himself of the + opportunity afforded by this dissension. He consulted some of his + suffragans (we do not know who they were; it was apparently at a + mixed council of ecclesiastics and laymen), but did not communicate + with Wilfrid, being, no doubt, conscious of the uselessness of + trying to get his consent. Wilfrid, after demanding an explanation + from the archbishop and the king in a Northumbrian "gemot," and + receiving no satisfaction, appealed to Rome (cf. V, 19, p. 351). For + the importance of this step, _v._ Bright, "Early English Church + History," pp. 323-326. + + 600 Probably the intention was that Wilfrid should keep the larger part + of Deira, with his see at York, and that three new dioceses should + be formed. But, on his departure to appeal to Rome, it was assumed + that he had resigned his bishopric, and Bosa was consecrated Bishop + of Deira with his see at York, Eata, Bishop of the Bernicians, with + the option of fixing his see either at Lindisfarne or Hagustald + (Hexham). These two were "substituted for him." Lindsey, which at + this time belonged to Northumbria, became for the first time a + separate diocese. When it passed again to Mercia in 679 it was + included in the subdivision of the Mercian bishopric, and Ethelwin + (_v. infra_ note 6) became its bishop with his see at Sidnacaestir + (generally identified with Stow, but the locality is unknown). + + 601 He was one of the bishops educated in Hilda's monastery (_v._ c. + 23). Bede speaks highly of him (V, 3, 20), and Alcuin calls him "vir + sine fraude bonus." He retired from York when Wilfrid was restored, + but appears to have been reinstated on Wilfrid's second expulsion. + + 602 Abbot of Melrose, afterwards of Lindisfarne (III, 26, and note; IV, + 27; V, 9). + + 603 III, 28, and this Chapter, _ad fin._, and note. + + 604 In 675. Lindsey which had been Northumbrian under Edwin and Oswald, + had passed through many vicissitudes. Penda conquered it, Oswy + recovered it (in 655), Wulfhere conquered it again, Egfrid recovered + it (675). It passed finally to Mercia under Ethelred in 679 (_v. + infra_ this Chapter, _ad fin._). + + 605 III, 11, 27. + + 606 He was still Bishop of Lindsey in 706, when he signed a charter of + Ethelward, "subregulus" of the Hwiccas. + + 607 Preface, p. 4, and V, 23. Simeon of Durham says that he died in 732. + + 608 Lindsey was at that time subject to Mercia. Sexwulf was expelled + when Egfrid conquered it in 675. When the Mercian diocese was + subdivided, he retained his see at Lichfield (_v.s._ c. 3, p. 219, + note) as Bishop of the Mercians proper. + + 609 By Theodore alone. The suffragans did not take part in the + consecration. + + 610 In 681 a fresh subdivision took place. The Bernician diocese was + divided, Eata retaining Lindisfarne and giving up Hexham to Tunbert. + Afterwards Eata retired from Lindisfarne in favour of Cuthbert and + took Hexham (_v. infra_ c. 28). Tunbert had been Abbot of Gilling + (In Getlingum, III, 14, 24). He was deposed by Theodore from Hexham + three years after his consecration (_v. infra_ c. 28), like Wynfrid, + "pro culpa cujusdam inobedientiae" (Vita Eatae in "Miscellanea + Biographica," Surtees Society). + + 611 His see was not at Whitern among the Picts of Galloway, as has been + supposed (Florence of Worcester, Richard of Hexham, and others), but + at the monastery of Abercorn on the Forth (I, 12; IV, 26), the Picts + north of the Forth being at this time subject to Northumbria. After + Egfrid's disastrous expedition in 685, they freed themselves from + Northumbrian rule, the see was abandoned, and Trumwine retired to + Whitby (c. 26). We hear of him as one of the deputation to Cuthbert + in 684 (c. 28). + + 612 In 679; _v.s._, p. 243, note 5. + + 613 Whether Ripon became for a time an episcopal see seems doubtful. In + III, 28, Bede says distinctly that Eadhaed became "praesul" of the + church there, and it does not seem consistent with his use to + understand it as = abbot. Probably there was an attempt to subdivide + the diocese of Deira (Eddius mentions it as one of Wilfrid's + grievances), but the scheme was abandoned when Wilfrid was restored + in 705. Ripon did not finally become an episcopal see till 1836. + + 614 For a fuller account, _v._ V, 19, and notes. + + 615 For the early importance of this kingdom under Aelli, _v._ II, 5. It + had become a small insignificant nation, cut off from its neighbours + by forests (the "Andredsweald") and marshes, and though we read + (III, 20) that Damian, bishop of Rochester, was of the South Saxon + race, it was almost untouched by Christian influences. + + 616 Cf. _infra_ c. 15. + + 617 He also brought about the reconversion of the East Saxons by sending + Bishop Jaruman to them. Cf. III, 30. + + 618 Wulfhere had invaded Wessex, probably in 661 (Sax. Chron.), and + conquered the Isle of Wight and the district of the Meanware, + _i.e._, the district from Southampton Water to the South Downs. The + inhabitants were Jutes. The name survives in the hundreds, + Meonstoke, and East and West Meon. For the termination "ware" = + dwellers, cf. Lindisfari, Cantuarii, Boructuari, etc. + + 619 Cf. c. 14. + + 620 Cf. II, 2, p. 84, note 2. + + 621 They were probably joint kings of the Hwiccas. + + 622 "Scottish," as usual, means Irish. There is another Dicul mentioned + in III, 19. Stevenson suggests the identification of this Dicul with + the Irish monk who wrote a geographical work, the "De Mensura Orbis + Terrae," but he lived in the ninth century. + + 623 Bosham, near Chichester. It was the favourite South Saxon abode of + Harold and Godwine (Freeman, "Norman Conquest"). + + 624 Selsey, the island of the seal ("sea-calf"), south of Chichester. It + was a royal "vill." It became the episcopal see for the South Saxons + at some time about 709 (cf. V, 18, _ad fin._ and note), transferred + to Chichester in 1075. + + 625 Egfrid fell at the battle of Nechtansmere in 685 (_v._ c. 26), and + Wilfrid was restored to his bishopric "in the second year of + Aldfrid," Egfrid's successor (V, 19, p. 353). He was in Wessex with + Caedwalla for part of the year 686 (cf. c. 16). + + 626 III, 13, note. + + 627 C. 13. + + 628 This English equivalent for "viaticum" is used by Stapleton in his + translation (1565). + + 629 Calendars to show the proper days for commemorative Masses, cf. + _infra_ "chronicle" ("annale"). The burial was generally on the day + of death, hence "depositio" of the festival of a saint. + + 630 It must be remembered that this was a monastery of Northumbrians. + But Oswald is said to have held an "imperium" over all England + except Kent (II, 5). + + 631 C. 12, note. + + 632 The West Saxons, _v._ II, 5 and note. Cf. III, 7. + + 633 C. 13. + +_ 634 v._ V, 7 _ad fin._ Like Caedwalla, a descendant of Ceaulin, "A king + who deserves the name of great" (Bright), great both as a conqueror + and a legislator. He was probably the first king to introduce + written law into Wessex, viz., his famous "Dooms," enacted by a West + Saxon witenagemot in the early years of his reign. + + 635 Winchester. At this time Haedde was bishop there (c. 12). For the + creation of a South Saxon bishopric _v._ V, 18 _ad fin._ + + 636 Eddius says that Caedwalla sent for him and made him his counsellor; + Wilfrid had befriended him when in exile. + + 637 Roger of Wendover calls him a _subregulus_. + + 638 Cf. I, 15. + + 639 Stoneham on the Itchen, near Southampton. For the preposition, cf. + II, 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 640 Redbridge in Hampshire. + + 641 Pref., p. 3 and note; V, 18. + + 642 The Solent. + + 643 The Hamble. + + 644 Eutyches was Archimandrite of a monastery near Constantinople. He + was condemned by the synod of Constantinople in 448, and by the + council of Chalcedon in 451. He was the originator of the + Monophysite heresy which denied the existence of the two natures, + the Divine and human, in the Incarnate Son. Monothelitism, which was + the subject of the controversy alluded to here, arose out of an + attempt to reconcile the Monophysites by the assertion of one will + and operation (activity, {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}) in our Lord. It was condemned in + the General Council of Constantinople, 680-681. In anticipation of + this council various provincial synods were held, as well as the + synod at Rome assembled by Pope Agatho, at which Wilfrid represented + the English church (_v._ V. 19). + + 645 The year was 680 (cf. V, 24), but it falls in the eighth year of + Hlothere of Kent, who succeeded in July, 673. For Egfrid, _v.s._ c. + 5, _ad init._ Probably he succeeded in 671. Ethelred of Mercia + succeeded in 675 (V, 24), so that Sept., 680, might easily fall in + his sixth year; Aldwulf, of East Anglia, in 663 or 664 (_v._ II, 15; + IV, 23). The eighth indiction, whether Caesarean or Pontifical + (_v.s._ c. 5, note), includes Sept. 17, 680. + + 646 Generally identified with Hatfield in Hertfordshire, but T. Kerslake + ("Vestiges of the supremacy of Mercia") supposes it to be Clovesho + (Cliff-at-Hoe); _v.s._ c. 5, and note. + + 647 The five Oecumenical Councils which had been held before this time, + viz., Nicaea, in 325; Constantinople, in 381-382; Ephesus, in 431; + Chalcedon, in 451; Constantinople, in 553. For the Arian heresy, + _v._ I, 8 (and note), where "madness" ("vesania") is, as here, the + word used to describe it. Macedonius was a "semi-Arian," Eudoxius an + Arian; both were bishops of Constantinople. Nestorius was + consecrated Bishop of Constantinople in 428. He popularized the + heresy which originated with Theodore, Bishop of Mopsuestia, + 392-428. It consisted in emphasizing the human element in our Lord's + Nature to the practical exclusion of the Divine, as a reaction + against Apollinarianism which explained away His real Humanity. "The + Christ of Nestorius was, after all, simply a deified man, not God + incarnate" (Gore, "Bampton Lectures"). Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus in + Syria (died 457) and Ibas, Bishop of Edessa, 435-457, were disciples + of Theodore, Bishop of Mopsuestia, and opponents of Cyril of + Alexandria, who is accused of Apollinarianism in the letter of Ibas. + + 648 Justinian I, 527-565. + + 649 The first Lateran Council, in 649, against the Monothelites. Martin + I, Pope 649-655, died in the Crimea, exiled and imprisoned by the + Emperor Constans II in consequence of his resistance to the heresy. + + 650 Constantine IV, more generally known as Constans II, 641-688. + + 651 We have here, under the auspices of an Eastern Archbishop, a clear + enunciation of the doctrine which afterwards divided the east and + west: the Double Procession of the Holy Spirit. The "filioque" + clause, which formed no part of the Nicene Creed, nor of its + Constantinopolitan recension, had been formally adopted at the Third + Council of Toledo in 589 and at subsequent Spanish councils. The + English prelates at Hatfield were probably influenced by this + precedent. + + 652 Cf. Bede's "History of the Abbots," § 6. + +_ 653 I.e._, St. Peter's at Rome. The Monastery of St. Martin was on the + Esquiline. It was founded by Pope Symmachus in honour of SS. + Sylvester and Martin. + + 654 Cf. c. 1, notes. (For his life, v. Bede's "History of the Abbots," + and the Anon. "History of the Abbots.") He has not been mentioned + before in this history. His ecclesiastical surname was Benedict, + "Baducing" was probably his patronymic. He was of noble birth and a + thegn of King Oswy, born in 628. He was the companion of Wilfrid on + his first journey to Rome (V, 19). In his native province of + Northumbria he founded the monasteries of Wearmouth (in 674) and + Jarrow (_circ._ 681), where Bede's life was passed, and enriched + them with furniture, vestments, relics, pictures, and a library of + valuable books which he brought from the Continent. The rule which + he framed for his monasteries was Benedictine, compiled from + seventeen different monasteries which he had visited. He died Jan. + 12, 689. + + 655 Cf. V, 21. Bede's "History of the Abbots," and Anon. "History of the + Abbots." He added to Benedict's library. He had been a monk at Ripon + under Wilfrid, became Abbot of Jarrow in 681, and of Wearmouth in + addition to Jarrow in 688. In 716 he resigned and set out for Rome, + but died at Langres in the same year. Bede was trained under him (V, + 24) and was probably the little boy left alone with him to recite + the offices when the pestilence of 686 swept away the monks. (Anon. + Hist. Abb. § 14.) + + 656 Cf. II, 20, _ad fin._, note. + + 657 Cf. c. 17, and note. + + 658 In the Council of Constantinople, 680-681 (_v.s._ c. 17 _ad init._, + note.) + + 659 To St. Martin's own church at Tours, where, as Abbot of St. Martin's + monastery at Rome, it was specially fitting that he should find + burial. + + 660 Cf. III, 7, note. + + 661 "Princeps," A.S. Ealdorman. The county of the Southern Gyrwas was + South Cambridgeshire. Cf. III, 20, note. + + 662 Cf. c. 25. Bede tells us in the "Life of Cuthbert," that she was a + half sister of Oswy's on the mother's side. Her name survives in + Ebchester on the Derwent, where she founded a nunnery; in St. Abb's + Head, near which she afterwards founded the double monastery of + Coldingham; and in St. Ebbe's, Oxford. She was the friend of + Cuthbert, and it was to her exhortations to Egfrid that Wilfrid owed + his release from prison. + + 663 Coldingham in Berwickshire. It was a mixed monastery. Cf. c. 25. + + 664 Ely. The Isle of Ely was her jointure from her first husband. She + received the help and support of Aldwulf, king of East Anglia (II, + 15; IV, 17, 23), her cousin (he was the son of Ethelhere and nephew + of Anna). The monastery was founded in 673. It was exempted from the + jurisdiction of the East Anglian bishop, and subject to Wilfrid. + + 665 III, 8, cf. III, 7, note. After her husband's death she acted as + regent for a time, then founded a monastery in the Isle of Sheppey, + and became abbess of it. Thence she retired to Ely, where, after + being a simple nun, she succeeded Ethelthryth as abbess. She was + herself succeeded first at Sheppey, and afterwards at Ely, by her + daughter Ermingild, widow of Wulfhere of Mercia. + + 666 Grantchester, near Cambridge. + + 667 A Roman sarcophagus. A number of fragments of very ancient stone + coffins have been found there, built into the wall of the church + (Mayor and Lumby). + + 668 "Audrey" is the popular form of the name Ethelthryth. A "tawdry + lace" (_i.e._ St. Audrey lace) is a necklace; cf. "Winter's Tale," + iv. 3. Hence our word "tawdry," which possibly only derives its + meaning from the cheap necklaces, etc., sold at St. Audrey's fair at + Ely on the saint's day, October 17 (the day of her translation), but + may also be a reminiscence of this anecdote. + + 669 The poem is (1) alphabetical; _i.e._, the first letters of the + hexameter lines form the alphabet, and there are four additional + couplets at the end, in which the first letters form the word + "Amen"; (2) "serpentine," reciprocal or echoing; _i.e._, the last + half of the pentameter repeats the first two and a half feet of the + hexameter. Such verses are common in mediaeval Latin, and are + doubtless a development from the occasional instances of echoing + lines which occur in the classical poets (_e.g._, Martial VIII, xxi, + 1-2; IX, 97; Ovid, Fasti IV, 365-366), as the extreme form of that + impulse to give emphasis by iteration which is a marked feature of + Latin poetry, particularly of the Ovidian elegiac. + + 670 Agatha suffered 5th February, 251 A.D., in the Decian persecution, + according to her "Acta" (the Diocletian, according to the + Martyrology and Aldhelm). Eulalia was burnt to death at the age of + twelve in the Diocletian persecution, having denounced herself. The + legend tells that a white dove hovered over her ashes till snow fell + and covered them. Tecla, the disciple of St. Paul, is said to have + been the first virgin martyr. She was miraculously saved from her + martyrdom and died in peace long after. Euphemia was torn by wild + beasts at Chalcedon in 307 A.D. in the Diocletian persecution. + Asterius, Bishop of Amasea, 400 A.D., says that he saw a tablet in + the church at Chalcedon depicting her sufferings. We have thus very + early evidence for her history. Agnes is said to have been beheaded + in 304 A.D., in the Diocletian persecution, at the age of twelve or + thirteen. The date of St. Cecilia is very uncertain; Fortunatus, + Bishop of Poitiers, says that she died _circ._ 176-180 A.D., but + another account places her martyrdom as late as the time of + Diocletian. Her connection with music does not appear in the + legends, and is probably due to the fact that Pope Paschal endowed + the monastery which he built in connection with her church at Rome + to provide for musical services at her tomb day and night. + + 671 She had not been a queen twelve years. The dates are probably these: + she was born about 630 at Ermynge (Ixning) in Suffolk, and married + to Tondbert in 652. Tondbert died in 655, and she was married to + Egfrid (who must then have been only fifteen) in 660. Egfrid + succeeded to the throne in 670 or 671, and it must have been in 672 + that she retired to Coldingham. She was, therefore, queen for not + more than two years, though perhaps we may accept the statement of + the Liber Eliensis that Egfrid was sub-king of Deira for some years + before his accession. + +_ 672 I.e._, she had been buried sixteen years; _v.s._ c. 19. + + 673 Literally the water snake, {~GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON WITH DASIA AND OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~}, used generally for any serpent, + and so = the Devil; _Chelydrus_ is similarly used (_v._ Ducange). + + 674 The Battle of the Trent in 679 (cf. V, 24). It was on the + anniversary of Wilfrid's expulsion; he is said to have foretold a + calamity. The place may, perhaps, be identified with + Elford-on-Trent, in Staffordshire; it is supposed that the name may + be a reminiscence of Aelfwine. By this battle Mercia regained + Lindsey, which never again became Northumbrian (cf. c. 12, _ad + fin._). + + 675 Cf. c. 22, where he is called "King Aelfwine," as also twice in + Eddius. He may have been sub-king of Deira. + + 676 III, 11; V, 24. When Wilfrid took refuge in Mercia in 681, she and + her husband expelled him "pro adulatione Egfridi regis" (Eddius). + + 677 The "Wergild," _i.e._, pecuniary value set upon every man's life + according to his status (_v._ Stubbs, "Constitutional History"). + + 678 "Comes," A.S. "gesith." Above, Imma is described as "de militia ejus + juvenis," _i.e._, a young "king's thegn" (the term applied to him in + the A.S. version). + + 679 Towcester ("Tovecester," in Domesday Book) in Northamptonshire, + Doncaster, and Littleborough have all been suggested, but the place + has not been identified. The name indicates that it had been a Roman + station. + + 680 Sexburg. Cf. III, 8; IV, 19, p. 261, and note. + + 681 Cf. III, 24, 25; IV, 24; V, 24. + +_ 682 Ibid._ + + 683 Cf. _infra_, this Chapter. He was the son of Edwin's elder brother, + who died in exile after the invasion of Deira by Ethelric, king of + Bernicia, in 589. + + 684 II, 9, foll. + + 685 Her sister, Heresuid, had married Ethelhere, brother of Anna, of + East Anglia, whom he succeeded. In 647, when Hilda took the veil, + Anna was still king. + + 686 III, 8, note. + + 687 Cf. II, 15; IV, 17. + + 688 A small cell, not otherwise known. + + 689 Hartlepool, _v._ III, 24, p. 190, note. + + 690 Bede is the sole authority for her life. A fifteenth century gloss + on one of the MSS. has led to her being wrongly identified with the + Irish Bega, the supposed foundress of St. Bees. + + 691 A Roman station on the Wharfe, now Tadcaster. Probably the nunnery + was at Healaugh (Heiu's _laeg_ = territory), three miles north of + Calcaria. A gravestone bearing Heiu's name has been found there. + + 692 Cf. c. 12. + + 693 His name does not appear in any of the lists of bishops. There is no + evidence that a see of Dorchester (cf. III, 7, and note) existed at + this time, except from this passage and the statement of Florence of + Worcester to the effect that a fivefold division of the Mercian + diocese took place in 679, that Dorchester was included in Mercia, + and that Aetla was appointed as its bishop. Probably this latter + statement is derived from Bede. It has been proposed to identify + Aetla with Haedde, Bishop of the West Saxons (III, 7; IV, 12; V, + 18), but it seems unlikely that Bede should not have mentioned their + identity. The most probable explanation seems to be that a see was + established about 679 at Dorchester (which may have been under + Mercia at the time) and that Aetla was its bishop, but that it had + only a very short existence. + + 694 Cf. _infra_, notes. + + 695 John of Beverley, "Inderauuda" (_v._ V, 2). He and Berthun (_ibid._) + are said to have founded Beverley. He was consecrated Bishop of + Hexham, probably in 687, transferred to York 705, when Wilfrid was + restored to Hexham, and died in 721, soon after his retirement to + Beverley (V, 6, _ad fin._). As Bishop of Hexham he ordained Bede + both deacon and priest (V. 24). He had been a pupil of Archbishop + Theodore (cf. V. 3). + + 696 Wilfrid II, Bishop of York. He succeeded John (V, 6) in 718, and was + still Bishop of York in 731 when Bede finished the History (cf. V, + 23). In 732 he resigned and was succeeded by Egbert (to whom Bede + addressed the Ep. ad Egb., and who in 735 received the pallium as + Archbishop of York). Wilfrid died in 745 (_v._ Continuation, 732, + 735, and 745). His character is highly praised by Alcuin (De Sanct. + Ebor.). + + 697 Hartlepool and Whitby, both apparently double monasteries. + + 698 Cf. II, 2, p. 84. + + 699 Dr. Stubbs suggests that this sub-king of the Hwiccas may possibly + be the same as Osric of Northumbria, _v._ V, 23, and note. + + 700 The see was at Worcester. The foundation of the bishopric is + assigned by Florence of Worcester to the year 679, the date of the + alleged fivefold division of the Mercian diocese (_v.s._ p. 272, + note 2), Bosel being appointed bishop. + + 701 Cf. c. 12 and note. + + 702 The consecration of Oftfor is generally placed in 691. It was after + Wilfrid's second expulsion, when he was acting as Bishop of + Leicester. Theodore had died in 690, and Bertwald was not + consecrated till 693 (_v._ V, 8). + + 703 So Florence of Worcester. + + 704 He was king of the Britons of Loidis and Elmet. It was probably to + avenge the death of his nephew, Hereric, that Edwin conquered Loidis + and drove out Cerdic. + + 705 Cf. c. 14, note. + + 706 Hackness, thirteen miles from Whitby and three to the west of + Scarborough. It was a cell belonging to Whitby. At the dissolution + under Henry VIII, it contained only four monks, of the Benedictine + order (Dugdale, "Monasticon"). + + 707 She has been confused with Heiu and with Bega, _v.s._ p. 271, note + 7. + +_ 708 I.e._, the Prioress. + + 709 Obviously ballads, probably of a warlike character, existed before + Caedmon, but he is regarded as the father of English sacred poetry. + It is a question how far the new impulse arose independently among + the Anglo-Saxons, or is to be connected with Old Saxon religious + poetry of which the "Heliand" is the only extant specimen (cf. + Plummer, _ad loc._). Of the mass of poetry attributed to Caedmon, + much must be regarded as not his actual work. The fragment + translated here by Bede has been accepted as genuine by most + critics. It exists in the Northumbrian dialect at the end of the + Moore MS. of Bede, and in a West Saxon form in other MSS., as well + as in the Anglo-Saxon translation of Bede's History, the + Northumbrian version being the oldest. + + 710 "Villicus," A.S. "tun-gerefa" = town-reeve, _i.e._, headman of the + township. Caedmon was apparently a herdsman on a farm belonging to + the monastery. + + 711 Cf. Levit., xi, 3, and Deut., xiv, 6. + + 712 Apparently reserved and kept in the Infirmary for the Communion of + the dying. + + 713 Matins were sung soon after midnight. + + 714 Coldingham, _v.s._ c. 19 and note. + + 715 Not the Abbot of Iona who wrote the the life of St. Columba (V, 15, + 21). This Adamnan is found in the Martyrology of Wilson, in Colgan's + "Lives of the Irish Saints," and in Bollandus, "Acta Sanctorum." + + 716 From the Vulgate, Ps. xciv, 2. (xcv in our Psalter.) + + 717 C. 19 and note. + + 718 The detached dwellings built round the principal buildings of the + community. Irish monasteries were built after this fashion. + + 719 Wearmouth and Jarrow. + + 720 For Berct, cf. V, 24 (_sub_ 698), note. The circumstances which led + to the invasion are not known. + + 721 The Picts north of the Forth, cf. c. 12, _ad fin._ Their king at + this time was Bruide mac Bili, who was Egfrid's distant kinsman. In + 672 Egfrid had crushed a rising of Picts under the same king. + + 722 Cf. cc. 27-32. He had a mysterious intimation of the disaster at the + hour of the king's defeat and death, and warned the queen + (Eormenburg), who was with him at Carlisle (_v._ Bede's Life of + Cuthbert, and the Anonymous Life). He is also said to have + prophesied the king's death a year before to Elfled, Egfrid's sister + (_v._ III, 24). + + 723 At Nechtansmere or Dunnechtan, identified with Dunnichen, near + Forfar. Egfrid was buried in Iona, where Adamnan, the friend of his + successor, was Abbot. + + 724 Cf. c. 5 _ad init._, note. If he succeeded in February, 670, this + would be his sixteenth year. + + 725 III, 4, 27; IV, 3; V, 9, 10, 22, 24. His English birth and long + residence in Ireland fitted him to be a mediator. + + 726 Vergil, Aen. II, 169. + + 727 The Dalriadic Scots (Cf. I, 1, note; I, 34) and the Britons of + Strathclyde. + + 728 Cf. c. 12. + + 729 Abercorn on the Forth, cf. I, 12; IV, 12, and note. + + 730 III, 24, 25; IV, 23; V, 24. + + 731 Cf. III, 24, p. 190. + + 732 III, 24, and note. Elfled succeeded Hilda as abbess, and apparently + ruled jointly with her mother. + + 733 Cf. V, _passim_, and Bede's two lives of Cuthbert. His mother's name + is said by the Irish authorities to have been Fina. He had lived + among the Irish islands ("in insulis Scottorum," and "in regionibus + Scottorum") for the sake of study, according to Bede, but William of + Malmesbury implies that Egfrid may have been responsible for his + exile. He was a man of great learning and of scholarly tastes. In + Bede's "History of the Abbots," we are told that he gave eight hides + of land for a MS. which Benedict Biscop had brought from Rome. + + 734 Cc. 5, 17, 22. + + 735 Cc. 1, 5. + + 736 Apparently at one time joint-king with Hlothere. Certain dooms are + ascribed to them both. According to Thomas of Elmham, he was killed + in war against Caedwalla, king of Wessex, and his brother, Mul, who + were at this time encroaching on Kent. + + 737 Mul seems to have usurped the throne for a time. + + 738 In 692 we find him reigning as joint-king with Swaebhard (V, 8 _ad + fin._). He must have succeeded in 690, if Bede's dates are correct; + cf. V, 23, where it is said that he died on April 23, 725, after a + reign of thirty-four and a half years. + +_ 739 I.e._, 685. + + 740 C. 26 and note. + + 741 Cf. III, 16 and note. + + 742 As a boy he had been remarkable for his high spirits and love of + athletic exercises. The rebuke of a little boy of three is said to + have turned his thoughts to a more serious life, and a vision which + he saw as he watched his sheep on the Lammermuir Hills on the night + of Aidan's death, led him to form the resolve of entering a + monastery. (Bede's Life of Cuthbert.) + + 743 Melrose; cf. III, 26 and note. + +_ 744 Ibid._ and V, 9. + + 745 C. 12, p. 243, note 1. + + 746 C. 28; V, 9. Probably here "sacerdos" = priest, A.S. version: + "masse-preost." But Aelfric calls him bishop. The town of St. + Boswells on the Tweed is called after him. For an instance of his + prophetic spirit, _v. infra_, c. 28. It was his fame which drew + Cuthbert to Melrose. When he saw the youth on his arrival, he + exclaimed, "Behold a servant of the Lord!" He is generally supposed + to have been carried off by the plague of 664. For an account of his + last days spent in reading the Gospel of St. John with Cuthbert, v. + Bede's Prose Life of Cuthbert. The "codex" which they used was + extant in Durham in Simeon of Durham's time. + + 747 Cf. III, 3, p. 139, note 3. + + 748 Cf. I, 27 _ad init._ + + 749 Much of the account given here is from the prose life. + + 750 The synod of Twyford, a mixed assembly of clergy and laity, met in + the autumn of 684. The place is "perhaps where the Aln is crossed by + two fords near Whittingham" (in Northumberland) (Bright). This is + another instance of the preposition prefixed to the name, cf. II, + 14, p. 119, note 5. + + 751 Cc. 12, 26. + + 752 Cf. c. 27, p. 288. + + 753 In 685. + + 754 Cf. c. 12 and note. + +_ 755 Ibid._ + + 756 Soon after Christmas, 686. In February, 687, his last illness began. + + 757 St. Herbert's Island in Derwentwater. Strictly speaking, the Derwent + flows through Derwentwater: it rises in Borrowdale. An indulgence of + forty days was granted by Thomas Appleby, Bishop of Carlisle, in + 1374 to pilgrims who visited the island. + + 758 Carlisle, called also Luel by Simeon of Durham. + + 759 In 687. + + 760 In St. Peter's Church. In 875, when the monks fled from Lindisfarne + before the Danes, his relics were removed, first to + Chester-le-Street, then to Ripon, and eventually to Durham. Simeon + of Durham says the body was found to be uncorrupted, when it was + placed in the new Cathedral there in 1104. + + 761 The year in which he administered the bishopric falls between his + restoration to York, Hexham, and the monastery of Ripon, and his + second expulsion. + + 762 Cf. III, 25, _ad init._, and _infra_ c. 30. In the life of Cuthbert + he is described as a man "magnarum virtutum" (miraculous powers?). + Alcuin tells that he calmed the winds by his prayers. + + 763 698 A.D. + + 764 The Dacre, a small stream near Penrith. There are the ruins of a + castle, and Smith says there is a tradition of a monastery on its + banks. + + 765 Not the missionary in V, 11. + + 766 "Innumera miracula" are ascribed to him by Florence of Worcester. + + 767 III, 16, and note; IV, 27-30. + + 768 Ripon, _v._ III, 25, p. 194; V, 19. + + 769 Cuthbert and Eadbert (IV, 29, 30). His relics were removed with + Cuthbert's and finally interred at Durham. + + 770 IV, 26, and V, 18. He reigned from 685 to 705. + + 771 III, 26; IV, 12, 27, 28. He died in 686. + + 772 John of Beverley, _v._ IV, 23, p. 273, and note. Wilfrid + administered the bishopric during the vacancy between Eata's death + and John's consecration in 687. + + 773 Cf. _ibid._ + + 774 Beverley. The present name is said to be derived from a colony of + beavers in the Hull river. In 866 the minster was destroyed by the + Danes, but it was repaired three years later. In 925 Athelstan + restored it and made it collegiate, giving it lands and various + privileges. (For the preposition, _v._ II, 14, p. 119, note 5.) + + 775 Supposed to have been at St. John's Lee, near Hexham. The old name + is Erneshow or Herneshaw. (Richard of Hexham, Folcard.) + + 776 The reading of the best MSS., "Clymeterium" (_v. ll._ clymiterium, + climiterium, clymitorium) seems inexplicable. Smith reads + "coemeterium," probably on the authority of a gloss ("id est + cimeterium") on some of the later MSS., and it has generally been + translated "cemetery." The AS. version has "gebaed hus 7 ciricean" = + oratory and church. + + 777 Acts, iii, 2-8. + + 778 This was Wilfrid's second restoration. He recovered Hexham and the + monastery of Ripon at the Synod on the Nidd in 705. + + 779 Bosa (IV, 12, 23) died _circ._ 705. + + 780 Watton in the East Riding of Yorkshire. ("Hodie Watton, _i.e._, + humida villa ex aquis et paludibus quibus septa est." Smith.) It is + called Betendune by Folcard, the biographer of Bishop John. + + 781 For "studium" = medical treatment, _v._ Plummer, _ad loc._ Under the + verb, _studere_, Ducange gives instances of this meaning: "Iussitque + rex, ut studeretur a medicis"; Greg. Turon., vi, 32. "Episcopus, + adhibito mulomedico, jussit ei (equo) studium impendere, quo + scilicet sanari potuisset"; St. Audoenus, lib. 2; Vit. St. Eligii, + 44. + + 782 Bishop John had studied under Theodore. Cf. IV, 23, note. + + 783 Note the tendency to hereditary succession in monasteries (_v._ + Haddan and Stubbs, III, 337-338). Instances are, however, rare in + England, though common in Ireland, where the clan system affected + ecclesiastical preferments. Eanfled and Elfled at Whitby are not a + case in point, as Eanfled did not precede her daughter, but was only + associated with her in some way in the government of the monastery. + + 784 This "vill" was at South Burton (Folcard), now called Bishop Burton, + between two and three miles from Beverley. + + 785 To redeem his fast, as the A.S. version explains. + + 786 St. Matt., viii, 14-15; St. Mark, i, 30-31; St. Luke, iv, 38-39. + + 787 At North Burton (Dugdale, "Monasticon"). + + 788 He lived till 745, according to Simeon of Durham. + + 789 There were probably two monasteries at Tynemouth, the one mentioned + here, and another (_v._ Bede's "Life of Cuthbert"), which had been a + house of monks, but afterwards, when Bede wrote, had become a + nunnery. + + 790 Breathing on the face and catechizing were practised in order to + exorcise evil spirits from the hearts of catechumens (Bede, Opp. + viii, 106). + + 791 The Saxon Chronicle is very exact: "Thirty-three years, eight + months, and thirteen days." This would date his episcopate from + August, 687, to May, 721, for May 7th was observed as the day of his + festival at Beverley. + + 792 Cf. c. 2. + + 793 Wilfrid II: _v._ IV, 23, p. 273, and note. + +_ 794 I.e._, in 688. For Caedwalla, _v._ IV, 12 (and note), 15, 16. + + 795 Sergius I, 687-701. + + 796 Cf. II, 9, 14 and notes. + + 797 Cf. II, 14 and note. + + 798 By Benedictus Crispus, Archbishop of Milan. He died in 725. + +_ 799 I.e._, Sergius was his godfather (cf. III, 7, where Oswald stands + sponsor for Cynegils). The Saxon Chronicle says he also baptized + him. + + 800 Justinian II. He succeeded in 685 and died in 711. + + 801 Cf. IV, 15, and note. Thus, according to Bede's reckoning, he + reigned from 688 to 725, but the date of his abdication is variously + given. + + 802 Gregory II., 715-731, _v._ Preface, p. 2. + + 803 He was consecrated 26th March, 668, and died, as Bede says here, on + 19th September, 690. + + 804 The church of SS. Peter and Paul. Cf. II, 3, p. 90. + + 805 They are elegiacs. Cf. I, 10. + + 806 Cf. II, 3, and _infra_ 19, 23. + + 807 The old Roman town Reculver, in Kent. A charter of 679 exists (the + oldest original English charter extant) by which King Hlothere of + Kent grants land in Thanet to Bertwald and his monastery. + + 808 Said to be the Inlade. + + 809 The see was, therefore, vacant for two years, possibly owing to the + political troubles of the time, cf. IV, 26, _ad fin._ The further + delay of a year between Bertwald's election and consecration may + have been caused by his desire to obtain greater weight as + consecrated by the Primate of a neighbouring Church (Haddan and + Stubbs, III, 229). + + 810 For Wictred, _v._ IV, 26, and note. Thomas of Elmham tries to + identify Suaebhard with Suefred, son of Sebbi, king of the East + Saxons (_v._ IV, 11, _ad fin._), and says that he made himself king + of Kent by violence, but this seems very improbable. + + 811 He was Archbishop of Lyons. The Church of Lyons did not obtain the + primacy over other metropolitan churches till the eleventh century, + but apparently it held a leading position even before this time. + + 812 He was trained under Theodore and Hadrian in the School of + Canterbury; cf. V, 23, _ad init._ The date of Gebmund's death and + the succession of Tobias cannot be earlier than 696, as Gebmund + (_v._ IV, 12) appears to have been present at the Kentish + Witenagemot of Bersted in that year. (Haddan and Stubbs, III, 238, + 241.) Tobias died in 726. + + 813 III, 4, 27; IV, 3, 26, and _infra_ cc. 10, 22, 23, 24. + + 814 The name does not occur in any Celtic literature which we possess. + All the evidence seems to show that the Celts have always called the + English "Saxons." "Ellmyn," for Allemanni, occurs sometimes in Welsh + poetry (Rhys, "Celtic Britain"). + + 815 The Frisians at this time occupied the coastland from the Maas to + the region beyond the Ems. The Rugini are probably the Rugii (_v._ + Tacitus, Germania, Chapter XLIII). They were on the shores of the + Baltic, probably about the mouth of the Oder (the name survives in + Ruegen and Ruegenwalde). They are found with other North German tribes + in the army of Attila, and afterwards formed a settlement on the + Lower Danube. The Danes were mainly in Jutland, Fuenen, and the + extreme south of Scandinavia. The Huns, who appeared in Europe + towards the end of the fourth century and menaced both the Eastern + and Western Empires, were, after Attila's death, driven eastwards, + and settled near the Pontus, disappearing among the Bulgarians and + other kindred tribes. The Old Saxons, or Saxons of the Continent + (cf. I, 15), occupied both sides of the Elbe. The name Saxon does + not occur in the oldest accounts of the Germans. Probably it was a + new name for a union of nations which comprised the Cherusci, + Chauci, Angrivarii (and perhaps other tribes) of Tacitus. The + Boructuari are the Bructeri in Westphalia (_v._ Zeuss, "Die + Deutschen und die Nachbarstaemme"). + + 816 Cf. IV, 27 (note) and 28. + + 817 Melrose; cf. III, 26; IV, 27, and _infra_ c. 12. + + 818 IV, 27. Cf. III, 26; IV, 12, 28; V, 2. + + 819 Cf. III, 3, 4, and notes; _i.e._, the monasteries which owed their + origin to Columba and were included in the "province" of Iona. They + are distinguished from those which are mentioned in c. 15 as "ab + Hiensium dominio liberi." + + 820 His baptismal name was Colum (_columba_ = a dove). He is said to + have acquired the name of Colum-cille, because in his youth he was + so constantly in the "cell" or oratory. + + 821 Jonah, i, 12. + + 822 Nothing more is known of him. Alcuin mentions him in his life of + Wilbrord. His name is included in a list of the eleven companions of + Wilbrord given in a life of St. Suidbert (_v. infra_ c. 11), but no + value is to be attached to it (_v._ Haddan and Stubbs, III, 225). + Bede distinctly says that he retired from missionary efforts after + this unsuccessful attempt. + + 823 The story is told that at one time Rathbed was about to receive + baptism at the hands of St. Wulfram, Archbishop of Sens, but drew + back on being told that his ancestors were among the lost, refusing + to go to Heaven without them. His perpetual wars with the Franks + ended in his defeat and expulsion, and he died in 719. + + 824 The authority for Wilbrord's life is Alcuin, who wrote it both in + prose and verse. Wilbrord was born in 657 or 658 in Northumbria, and + was handed over by his mother to the monks at Ripon in his infancy. + His father, Wilgils, became a hermit on a promontory at the mouth of + the Humber. At the age of twenty he went to Ireland for the sake of + study and a stricter life. In 690 he set out for Frisland with + eleven others, landed at Katwyk and went to Utrecht, which was + afterwards his episcopal see (_v. infra_ c. 11). + + 825 They turned aside to Pippin on finding Rathbed obdurate. Pippin of + Heristal, Mayor of the Palace of the Austrasian kings, had defeated + the Neustrians at Testry in 687 and was now the actual ruler of the + Franks, though it was his grandson, Pippin the Short, who first + assumed royal power. + + 826 Cf. c. 9, p. 319, and note. + + 827 Roger of Wendover places their mission in 695. It must have been + later than Wilbrord's in 690. + + 828 "Satrap," cf. Stubbs, Constitutional History, i, pp. 41-42. From + this passage and similar notices of the Continental Saxons he infers + that they had remained free from Roman influences and from any + foreign intermixture of blood or institutions. "They had preserved + the ancient features of German life in their purest forms.... King + Alfred, when he translated Bede had no difficulty in recognizing in + the satrap the ealdorman, in the villicus the _tungerefa_, in the + vicus the _tunscipe_ of his own land." + + 829 The year cannot be fixed. + + 830 The Church of St. Cunibert, Cologne (Gallican Martyrology, quoted by + Smith). + + 831 Sergius I: _v.s._ c. 7. + + 832 Alcuin tells how he killed some of the sacred cattle of the god + Fosite, a son of Balder, in Heligoland, and baptized three men in + his well. + + 833 A life of him by Marcellinus (_v.s._ c. 9, note on Wictbert) is + worthless historically. Besides what we learn from Bede, we have the + date of his death (713) given by the "Annales Francorum." + + 834 This was after Wilfrid's second expulsion (V, 19). Bertwald was + elected in July, 692, and returned from the Continent in August, 693 + (_v.s._ c. 8). + + 835 The usual form of the name is Plectrude. + + 836 Kaiserwerth on the Rhine, where it is believed that his relics still + remain in a silver shrine in the thirteenth-century church. (For the + preposition, _v._ II, 14, p. 119, note 5.) + + 837 This was Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. The festival is 22nd November. + As to the year, Mr. Plummer considers that an entry in an old + calendar belonging to Epternach, near Treves, Wilbrord's own + monastery, giving the date 695, is almost certainly by Wilbrord + himself. + + 838 Utrecht. A distinction has been drawn between the two places, + Wiltaburg, or Wiltenburg, being a village near Utrecht, but the + names appear to be interchangeable. + + 839 The Church of St. Saviour. He also rebuilt a small church which had + been destroyed by the pagans, and consecrated it in honour of St. + Martin (Letter of St. Boniface to Pope Stephen). The cathedral + stands on the site of this church. + + 840 Bede writes in 731. As Alcuin says Wilbrord lived to be eighty-one + years of age, he must have died in 738 or 739. Boniface is fairly + accurate when he says that he preached for fifty years. + + 841 Mr. Skene ("Celtic Scotland," i., p. 219) has shown that the place + cannot be Cunningham in Ayrshire, which was not in Northumbria, but + in Strathclyde, and not at that time subject to Northumbria. He + suggests Tininghame in East Lothian, which Simeon of Durham calls + Intiningaham, and places in the diocese of Lindisfarne (C being a + scribe's error for T). Chester-le-Street (Saxon: Cunungaceaster) has + also been suggested. + + 842 Melrose, _v._ III, 26; IV, 27; V, 9. + + 843 Cf. III, 19. On mediaeval visions, cf. Plummer, _ad loc._, and + Bright, p. 144. + + 844 Vergil, Aen. VI, 268. + + 845 IV, 26; V. 1. + + 846 Cf. c. 23. He began life in the service of St. Cuthbert. He became + first Prior, or Provost, then Abbot of Melrose, and succeeded + Eadfrid, who died in 721, as Bishop of Lindisfarne. He enriched + Lindisfarne with two treasures of art: a beautiful stone cross which + he erected there, and a cover of gold and jewels for the Lindisfarne + Gospels, written by Eadfrid in honour of St. Cuthbert. The book is + now in the British Museum, but the cover is lost. + + 847 704-709. Cf. _infra_, c. 19, pp. 345, 356, and c. 24. He was the son + of Wulfhere, but being a boy at the time of his father's death, was + passed over in favour of Ethelred, Wulfhere's brother. + + 848 Ps. xxxi, 1, in the Vulgate (xxxii in our Psalter). + + 849 Bishop of Whitern; _v. infra_, cc. 18, 23. + + 850 Cf. 1 John, v, 16. + + 851 Acts, vii, 56. + + 852 The northern Irish, and of them only those who were independent of + Iona (_v. infra_). The southern Irish had conformed much earlier; + cf. III, 3, and note. + + 853 It is not clear whether Bede means that any Britons were converted + by Adamnan. If so, they must have been Britons of Strathclyde. The + Welsh only conformed 755-777. The reference may be to those of the + Cornish Britons, subject to the West Saxons, who were led in 705 by + Aldhelm's letter to Geraint to adopt the Catholic Easter (_v. + infra_, c. 18). + + 854 Ninth Abbot of Iona, 679-704, the author of the Life of St. Columba. + + 855 Of Northumbria. Aldfrid, who had studied in Iona during his exile, + was his friend. Adamnan visited the king twice, first, circ. 686, + when he obtained the release of the sixty Irish prisoners taken to + England by Berct in 684 (_v._ IV, 26 _ad init._) and again two years + later (cf. _infra_ c. 21, p. 372, note 2). + + 856 The Irish annals mention two voyages to Ireland subsequent to that + in 686 with the prisoners, viz., in 692 and 697, after which he + probably stayed there till after Easter, 704. + + 857 On 23rd September, 704. (The dates are those of Tighernach and the + "Annales Cambriae.") + + 858 Adamnan's "De Locis Sanctis," and Bede's account here, are the only + sources of information with regard to this bishop. Adamnan's book is + based on the narrative of Arculf compared with other authorities. + Bede, again, in his own work on the the same subject, made + selections from Adamnan, using also other authorities, _e.g._ + Josephus. + +_ 859 I.e._, he had copies made of it. + + 860 Nevertheless he quotes his own book rather than Adamnan's. + + 861 Cf. Warren and Conder, "Survey of Western Palestine": "Bethlehem, a + well-built stone town, standing on a narrow ridge which runs east + and west ... towards the east is the open market place, and, beyond + this, the convent in which is the fourth century church of St. Mary, + including the Grotto of the Nativity beneath the main apse." + + 862 "Vulturnus" seems to be distinguished from its Greek equivalent, + "Eurus." + + 863 The Basilica of the Anastasis was completed by Constantine in 335 + A.D., and destroyed in 614 by Chosroes II, King of Persia. Other + ancient travellers besides Arculf describe the Holy Places. + Eucherius, writing about 427-440, mentions the Martyrium, Golgotha + and the Anastasis, and describes their respective sites in similar + terms. Theodorus (about 530 A.D.) alludes to the Invention of the + Holy Cross by Helena, but the earliest authorities do not connect + her with it. + + 864 "Brucosa." The adjective is not found in the dictionaries. But + Ducange has the following words from which one may, perhaps, infer + an adjective of kindred meaning: "_Brua_, idem quod supra _Brossa_, + silvula, dumetum," "_Bruarium_, ericetum," and "_Broca_, ager + incultus, dumetum." + + 865 The Basilica of the Ascension, on the summit of Mount Olivet, is + mentioned by the Pilgrim of Bordeaux who was in Jerusalem in 333 + A.D. No traces of the church have been found. He also speaks of the + Anastasis, which was being built at the time. + + 866 Saewulf (1102 A.D.) writes: "Below is the place called Golgotha, + where Adam is said to have been raised to life by the Blood of our + Lord which fell upon him, as is said in the Passion, 'And many + bodies of the saints which slept arose.' But in the sentences of St. + Augustine we read that he was buried in Hebron, where also the three + patriarchs were afterwards buried with their wives, Abraham with + Sarah, Isaac with Rebecca, and Jacob with Leah, as well as the bones + of Joseph which the children of Israel carried with them from + Egypt." + + 867 He died at Driffield (supposed to mean the "field of Deira"), in the + East Riding of Yorkshire, on 14th December, 705 (Saxon Chronicle). + + 868 Bede and the Chronicle do not mention the usurper Eadwulf, who held + the sovereignty for eight weeks. With Aldfrid the greatness of + Northumbria, which had begun to decline after Egfrid's defeat and + death, passed away, except for a brief revival in the time of + Eadbert and his brother, Archbishop Egbert. Osred was a tyrannical + and lawless boy, and a period of political and ecclesiastical + trouble set in (cf. Bede, "Epistola ad Egbertum"; Boniface, Ep. 62, + etc.). + + 869 III, 7; IV, 12. + +_ 870 Infra_ c. 23. He has been mentioned, c. 13, _ad fin._ He studied + under Aldhelm at Malmesbury (_v. infra_). + + 871 The greatest scholar of his time and the man of widest influence as + a teacher. He was a West Saxon, of royal blood, born about 639; he + studied first under Hadrian in the School of Canterbury, then under + Maildufus (_v. infra_), was ordained priest by Bishop Hlothere + (Leutherius, _v._ III, 7), and about the year 675 became Abbot of + Malmesbury, which under his rule grew to be a place of importance + and attracted crowds of students. On one occasion he went by + invitation of Pope Sergius to Rome. He became Bishop of Sherborne, + when in 705 the West Saxon diocese was divided (_v. infra_). He died + in 709 in the little church of Doulting in Somerset and was buried + in St. Michael's Church at Malmesbury. He greatly strengthened the + Church in Wessex by his influence with King Ini and his zeal in + building churches and monasteries in various places. His widespread + influence, as well as his generous use of it, is shown by his letter + to Wilfrid's clergy after the Council of Estrefeld, exhorting them + to remain faithful to their bishop (v. Haddan and Stubbs, III, 254). + + 872 In 705. The bishopric of the West Saxons was the only one which + Theodore did not subdivide. The delay may have been due to the + political disturbances of the time, and these had come to an end + under the rule of Ini. Haedde's death removed a further difficulty. + He seems to have resisted Bertwald's attempt to divide the diocese, + for we find in 704 a council threatening the West Saxons with + excommunication if the division is not carried out. Hampshire, + Surrey, and, for a time, Sussex, were assigned to Winchester; + Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, and Somersetshire to Sherborne + (Haddan and Stubbs, III, 276), but the authorities differ on this + point. After the Conquest, the combined bishoprics of Sherborne and + Ramsbury (founded in 909 for Wiltshire) had their see established at + Old Sarum. + + 873 Cf. Preface, p. 3, and note, and IV, 16. In 744 he resigned his see + and died in 745. It appears from a letter of Boniface to him that he + became blind in his old age. + + 874 Malmesbury. It was founded by an Irish monk and scholar, Maildufus + (Irish "Maelduib"), as a small settlement living under monastic rule + (_v.s._ note on Aldhelm). + + 875 His letter to Geraint or Gerontius, king of Dumnonia (Devon and + Cornwall). A West Saxon synod in 705 appointed Aldhelm to write a + book, "quo maligna haeresis Britonum destrueretur" (Faricius, Life + of Aldhelm). He appears to have influenced only those Britons who + were subject to the West Saxons. Devon and Cornwall did not finally + conform to the Catholic Easter till early in the tenth century. + + 876 Cf. IV, 10 (note on Hildilid). + + 877 A poet of the fifth century (circ. 450), author of a poem called + "Carmen Paschale." He translated it into prose and called it "Opus + Paschale." Aldhelm wrote his prose work first. + + 878 His style is turgid and grandiloquent, and, owing to the high + estimation in which he was held, his influence in this respect on + contemporary writing was harmful. + + 879 Cf. _infra_ c. 23. A letter to him from Archbishop Bertwald is + extant. We do not know how long he lived. We have his signature to a + charter of 739. + + 880 Cf. IV, 15. The see was established at Selsey. The date of this + event is not known (Matthew of Westminster is the only authority for + 711). Bede indicates it very vaguely ("quibus administrantibus"), + and does not make it clear to whose administration he alludes. The + more obvious reference is surely to Daniel and Aldhelm, the passage + about Forthere being parenthetical, but the other view has the + authority of Haddan and Stubbs (III, 296), viz., that he means + Daniel and Forthere, and that thus the date is fixed to some time + after Aldhelm's death (709). + + 881 Selsey, cf. IV, 13, 14. + + 882 The vacancy was filled in 733 by the appointment of Sigfrid (_v._ + Continuation). + + 883 Cf. c. 18, _ad init._ His fourth year was 709. + + 884 C. 13 and _infra_ c. 19 _ad fin._, and c. 24. For a similar action, + cf. Caedwalla and Ini (_v.s._ c. 7) and (_infra_) Offa. + + 885 Constantine I, 708-715. + + 886 709-716. St. Boniface (Letter to Ethelbald) gives Ceolred a very bad + character, and says that he died impenitent at a banquet, seized + with sudden madness. He alludes to him and Osred of Northumbria as + the first kings who tampered with the privileges of the Church. + + 887 III, 30, and IV, 6. Sighere reigned jointly with Sebbi. They were + succeeded by Sebbi's sons, Sighard and Swefred (IV, 11). Offa + probably succeeded them just before this time (709); William of + Malmesbury says he reigned for a short time. He was succeeded by + Selred (d. 746). + + 888 St. Matt., xix, 29; St. Mark, x, 30; St. Luke, xviii, 30. + + 889 Oundle in Northamptonshire, where he had a monastery on land given + him by Wulfhere of Mercia. For the form of the name, cf. _infra_, + "in provincia Undalum." Here the preposition is prefixed as often; + _v._ II, 14, note. Wilfrid died on a Thursday in October: there is + some uncertainty about the day of the month. + + 890 Cf. the epitaph (_infra_) and c. 24, where Bede places his + consecration in 664. This is supported by William of Malmesbury, but + Eddius says he was bishop for forty-six years. + + 891 Ripon, _v. infra_, p. 56. In the tenth century, Odo, Archbishop of + Canterbury, removed certain relics to Canterbury, believing them to + be the body of Wilfrid. At Ripon it was maintained that the relics + were those of Wilfrid II. + + 892 Our main authority for the life of Wilfrid is Eddius (_v._ IV, 2). + Bede's account is remarkable for its omissions, though it gives a + few facts which Eddius omits. + + 893 His birth must be placed in 634 (cf. _infra_, his consecration at + the age of thirty). His father was a Northumbrian thegn. He is said + to have had an unkind stepmother. He was sent by his father to the + court of Oswy, thence, by Eanfled (cf. II, 9, 20; III, 15, 24, _et + saep._) to Lindisfarne, at that time under the rule of Aidan. + + 894 III, 8. He was the son of Eadbald (II, 5, 6, 9, _et saep._). + Eanfled's mother was the sister of Eadbald, the Kentish princess + Ethelberg ("Tata"), wife of Edwin (II, 9, 11, 20). + + 895 II, 18 _et saep._ + + 896 IV, 18, and note. + + 897 Cf. III, 25. Annemundus was the name of the Archbishop. Dalfinus, + Count of Lyons, was his brother. Eddius makes the same mistake. + + 898 A daughter of the Count. + + 899 He presented Wilfrid to the Pope, Eugenius I. A leaden "bulla" with + the name of Boniface, Archdeacon, inscribed upon it was found at + Whitby not long ago. + +_ 900 I.e._, to Annemundus. + + 901 This seems to be another mistake in which Bede follows Eddius. It + was probably Ebroin (_v._ IV, 1, note), Mayor of the Palace to her + infant son Clothaire III, who put Annemundus to death. Baldhild was, + however, regent at the time. Eddius calls her a Jezebel, but all + that we know of her shows her to have been a most pious and + charitable lady, and she has been canonized by the Church. She was + especially active in her efforts to stop the traffic in slaves. She + herself, though she is said to have been of noble English birth, had + been sold as a slave into Gaul. She was married first to Ercinwald, + Mayor of the Palace, the predecessor of Ebroin (_v._ III, 19), and + afterwards to Clovis II, King of Neustria and Burgundy, 638-656. + Baldhild ended her life in the monastery of Chelles (_v._ III, 8, + and note). + + 902 III, 14, 21, 24, 25, 28. He was a friend of Coinwalch of Wessex, + from whom, as Eddius says, he learned to love the Roman rules. + + 903 Possibly Stamford, in Lincolnshire; more probably, since the land + belonged to Alchfrid, Stamford Bridge, on the Derwent, in Yorkshire. + + 904 Cf. III, 25, where the extent is given as forty families, _i.e._, + "hides." + + 905 Cf. III, 7, 25, 28; IV, 1, 12. For the Gewissae, _v._ II, 5 and + note. + + 906 At the synod of Whitby, 664 (III, 25). + + 907 Tuda (III, 26) had died of the plague of 664. For Wilfrid's + consecration, _v._ III, 28, _ad init._, and note. Agilbert was not + Bishop of Paris till 666 (cf. III, 25, p. 194, note). + + 908 Cf. III, 28, and note. Wilfrid did not return to Britain till 666. + Bede omits the story of his shipwreck on the coast of Sussex, and + says nothing of the three years spent as Abbot of Ripon, whither he + retired on finding Ceadda installed in his place. During this time + he acted occasionally as Bishop for Mercia, where the see was vacant + by the death of Jaruman in 667, and for Kent, during part of the + vacancy between the death of Deusdedit in 664 and Theodore's arrival + in 669. + + 909 The same Witan which elected Wilfrid decided to transfer the + Northumbrian see from Lindisfarne back to York, where Paulinus had + originally established it. + + 910 In 678, _v._ IV, 12, and note. Bede passes over nine years of + ceaseless activity in the diocese. It was during this time that + Wilfrid built his great churches. + + 911 Eddius says that he went there by his own wish. This is not the + occasion referred to in III, 13 (_v._ note, _ad loc._). Ebroin, from + motives of private enmity (Wilfrid had helped his enemy, Dagobert II + of Austrasia), attempted to bribe Aldgils to kill or surrender + Wilfrid, but his offer was indignantly rejected. + + 912 Cc. 10, 11; cf. III, 13. + + 913 On the way he visited Dagobert II of Austrasia, and Perctarit, king + of the Lombards. + + 914 At a council of fifty bishops held in the Lateran in 679. Theodore + had sent documents stating his side of the case in charge of a monk + named Coenwald. For Agatho, _v._ IV, 18. The decision was that + Wilfrid should be reinstated in his bishopric and the intruding + bishops removed, but that afterwards he should appoint coadjutors + who should be consecrated by the Archbishop. + + 915 This council was held in 680 in preparation for the Council at + Constantinople in 680-681, against the Monothelites (cf. IV, 17, 18, + and notes). + + 916 In 680. Here Bede strangely omits important events. On Wilfrid's + return to Northumbria he was accused of having procured his + acquittal by bribery and was imprisoned for nine months, first at + Bromnis (unidentified) and then at Dunbar. Being released at the + request of Aebba, Abbess of Coldingham (_v._ IV, 19, 25), who was + Egfrid's aunt, he went first to Mercia and then to Wessex, but was + expelled from both provinces. Egfrid's sister Osthryth was the wife + of Ethelred of Mercia, and in Wessex the king, Centwine, had married + a sister of the Northumbrian queen, Eormenburg. + + 917 IV, 13. + + 918 IV, 13, 16. His connection with Caedwalla of Wessex is to be placed + here (IV, 16). + + 919 In 686 he was restored to the bishopric of York and the monastery of + Ripon. The diocese over which he was now placed was greatly + circumscribed. Lindsey and Abercorn, besides having been detached by + the subdivision, had both ceased to belong to Northumbria; + Lindisfarne and Hexham were separate bishoprics and were merely + administered by Wilfrid till the appointment of Eadbert to + Lindisfarne and of John to Hexham. The restoration of Wilfrid was + brought about by Theodore who had become reconciled to him and + induced Aldfrid to allow him to be reinstated. + + 920 This was his second expulsion, in 691. Dissensions had arisen about + various matters. The most important were the attempt, resisted by + Wilfrid, to form Ripon into a separate see, and the requirement that + he should accept the decrees of Theodore of 678. To accept these + would have been equivalent to a rejection of the Pope's judgement in + his case. + + 921 Bede omits here Wilfrid's second sojourn in Mercia (eleven years), + when he acted temporarily as Bishop of the Middle English (he + alludes to it in IV, 23), and the great Council, representative of + the whole English Church, summoned by Aldfrid in 702 and held at a + place in Northumbria (unidentified; possibly Austerfield in the West + Riding of Yorkshire) called by Eddius "Ouestraefelda" and + "Aetswinapathe" (supposed to mean "at the swine's path," or + "Edwinspath"). At this Council Wilfrid was excommunicated and + deprived of all his possessions except the monastery of Ripon. He + appealed again to the Apostolic see and returned to Mercia. Probably + in the following year he set out for Rome, visiting Wilbrord in + Frisia by the way (cf. III, 13). + + 922 John VI, 701-705. Bertwald had sent envoys to represent Wilfrid's + opponents. The investigation took four months, during which seventy + sittings of the Council were held. + + 923 Bertwald was admonished to hold a synod and come to an agreement + with Wilfrid. In the event of failure, both parties were to appear + in Rome. The letter is cautious and conciliatory in tone. + + 924 Cf. _supra_, p. 352. + + 925 Cf. _supra_, p. 349. + + 926 Meaux, cf. IV, 1 (Meldi). + + 927 III, 13, and note; _infra_ c. 20. + + 928 Ethelred of Mercia had resigned his throne and was now Abbot of + Bardney; cf. III, 11, and IV, 12, p. 241, note. + + 929 Cc. 13 and 19, _ad init._; cf. c. 24. + + 930 Cf. c. 18, _ad init._ He received his envoys courteously, but + refused to alter his decision for any "alleged writings from the + Apostolic see." But Eddius says he repented on his deathbed. + +_ 931 Ibid._ + + 932 In 705. It was a Northumbrian council, not, like Estrefeld, + representative of the whole Church. Bertwald was present and adopted + a conciliatory line. + + 933 He was restored only to Hexham and to his monastery at Ripon. Bishop + John, on the death of Bosa about this time, was transferred to York; + _v.s._ c. 3, _ad init._ + + 934 Oundle, _v.s._ p. 346, note 4. + + 935 Or Cudwald. A Cuthbald succeeded Sexwulf (IV, 6) as Abbot at + Medeshamstead. He is, perhaps, identical with the Abbot of Oundle. + + 936 Cf. _supra_, p. 346, and III, 25. + +_ 937 I.e._ 710. But Hadrian left Rome in 668 (_v._ IV, 1), and Bede says + he died forty-one years after that event. This would be in 709. + + 938 Cf. Preface and IV, 1. + +_ 939 Ibid._ + + 940 St. Augustine's, Canterbury; cf. IV, 1, _ad fin._ + + 941 Cf. Preface and note. + + 942 III, 13, and note. + + 943 A.S. version: Mafa. For the Roman style of Church music, cf. II, 20, + _ad fin._ + + 944 IV, 12, 23; V, 3. + + 945 In 710. Naiton, or Nechtan mac Derili, succeeded in 706. The + northern Picts had received Christianity through Columba (III, 4). + Naiton is said to have been converted to Roman usages by a + missionary named Boniface, who was probably an Irishman, St. + Cuiritin. Naiton did not succeed in forcing all his people to adopt + them, but in 717 he expelled the Columban clergy who refused to + conform. + + 946 IV, 18 and note. + + 947 Wearmouth (_ibid._) and Jarrow, Bede's own monastery (_v. infra_, c. + 24). Though they were some distance apart, Wearmouth and Jarrow + formed together one monastery. + + 948 IV, 18. + + 949 II, 2, p. 85, note. + + 950 Wood being the usual material, cf. III, 4, "Candida Casa." The + locality of the church is not known. Rosemarkie, on the Moray Frith, + and, more probably, Restennet, near Forfar, have been suggested. + + 951 The letter has been supposed to have been written by Bede himself. + + 952 Plato, Rep. 473, D. + + 953 Exod., xii, 1-3. (The quotations are from the Vulgate.) + + 954 Exod., xii, 6. + +_ 955 Ibid._, xii, 15. + + 956 Exod., xii, 15. + +_ 957 Ibid._, xii, 17. + + 958 Numbers, xxxiii, 13. + + 959 Exod., xii, 17-19. + + 960 1 Cor., v, 7. + + 961 St. John, i, 29. + + 962 Levit., xxiii, 5-7. + + 963 Cf. Bede's "Expositio in Marci Evangelium" (Opp. X, 2), where he + says that St. Mark founded the Church in Alexandria, and taught the + canonical observance of Easter; and Opp. VI, 235 (De Temp. Rat.). + + 964 Levit., xxiii, 8. + + 965 This was an error of the Latins in the fifth century. The object was + to make it possible for Good Friday to fall on the fourteenth of the + month Nisan, which they believed to be the actual day of the + Crucifixion, and to keep Easter Day entirely clear of the Jewish + festival. + +_ 966 I.e._ Alexandrians. + + 967 Gen., i, 16. + + 968 The Itala. + + 969 Mal., iv, 2. + + 970 Habak., iii, 11 (from the Itala). + + 971 The Pelagians; I, 10, and note; cf. I, 17. + + 972 The reference must be to p. 364, "the apostolic tradition." For the + nineteen years' cycle, cf. III, 3 (Anatolius). + + 973 The celebrated Bishop of Caesarea, called also Eusebius Pamphili, a + name which he adopted from devotion to his friend, Pamphilus. How + much he had to do with the nineteen years' cycle seems altogether + uncertain. He took a leading part in the Council of Nicaea (325 + A.D.), but there is no proof that the Council formally adopted the + cycle, as has been supposed. It had been in use long before, but it + may have received authoritative sanction at Nicaea. Eusebius wrote a + treatise on Easter, of which a fragment is extant. + + 974 A presbyter of Caesarea, the founder of the famous library in that + place. He was martyred in 309 A.D. Eusebius wrote his life, but the + work is lost. + + 975 Archbishop of Alexandria, 385-412. He made a cycle of 418 years (19 + x 22) for Theodosius, and reckoned the days on which Easter would + fall for 100 years from the first year of the consulate of + Theodosius (380 A.D.). + + 976 The great Archbishop of Alexandria, 412-444. He shortened the cycle + of Theophilus, making a cycle of ninety-five years (19 x 5), for the + sake of convenience. Part of his "Computus Paschalis" remains. + + 977 A monk of the Western Church in the sixth century. The surname, + "Exiguus," refers, not to his stature, but to his humbleness of + heart. Our method of dating from the Birth of Christ was begun by + him. He revived the cycle of Victorius (or Victorinus) of Aquitaine + (463 A.D.), hence called Dionysian. It was a cycle of 532 years, + _i.e._ the lunar cycle of 19 x the solar cycle of 28. + + 978 Cf. p. 369, note 5. + + 979 Job, i, 20. + + 980 Gen., xli, 14. + + 981 St. Matt., xvi, 18. + + 982 Acts, viii, 20 (Vulgate). The origin of this form of tonsure was + attributed to Simon Magus. + + 983 Gal., v, 24. + + 984 St. James, i, 12. + + 985 Cf. c. 15 and notes. It is uncertain whether this incident is to be + connected with Adamnan's first or second visit to King Aldfrid. + +_ 986 I.e._, Ireland; cf. c. 15. + + 987 Cf. _supra_, p. 359, note 1. + + 988 Cf. c. 18 and note; cc. 19, 20, 24. He was killed in battle, but + neither the locality nor the war is known. + + 989 He reigned two years, _v. infra_ c. 23. He belonged to a younger + branch of the royal house of Northumbria. His father's name was + Cuthwine, and Ceolwulf, who succeeded Osric (c. 23), was his + brother. + + 990 Or, perhaps, "bishop;" cf. III, 4, note. For the circumstances which + led Egbert to undertake his work among the Columban monasteries, + _v.s._ c. 9. As the events narrated there were prior to 690 + (Wilbrord's mission to Frisia), we may, perhaps, assume that he had + been labouring during this long interval among the Columban + monasteries in Ireland. In III, 4, Bede places Egbert's arrival in + Iona a year earlier. + + 991 Rom., x, 2. + + 992 Cf. p. 372. This seems to be the meaning of the somewhat obscure + sentence, "... celebrationem, ut diximus, praecipuae solemnitatis + sub figura coronae perpetis agere perdocuit." + + 993 For the conversion of the Britons to Roman usages, _v._ cc. 15 and + 18, notes. + + 994 This is accurate enough in round numbers. Aidan's mission (_v._ III, + 3) was probably in 635. + +_ 995 I.e._, 24th April. According to the Celtic rule, Easter Day could + never have been so late, 21st April being the latest possible day, + while the Romans might celebrate as late as 25th April. + + 996 Osric had succeeded in 718. Simeon of Durham says he was a son of + King "Alfrid." It has been suggested (Dr. Stubbs, in Dict. of + Christian Biog.) that this may mean Alchfrid, son of Oswy (III, 14, + _et saep._), further, that this Osric is to be identified with the + Hwiccian sub-king, mentioned in IV, 23, who may have found a refuge + in Mercia, when Alchfrid was disinherited. Against this it has been + maintained that the statement of Simeon of Durham may, with greater + probability, be referred to Aldfrid, the successor of Egfrid and + father of Osred. + + 997 Cf. IV, 26, and V, 8. + + 998 From Bede we should infer that they all succeeded in 725, and the + evidence of charters goes to show that Eadbert and Ethelbert began + to reign jointly in that year. Florence of Worcester makes Eadbert + and Ethelbert reign successively, and William of Malmesbury gives + successive reigns of considerable length to all three brothers. This + prolongs Alric's life beyond probability, and as his reign rests on + no early evidence, Dr. Stubbs is inclined to set it aside + altogether. + + 999 Cf. c. 8. + + 1000 Cf. II, 3 and note; III, 14. + + 1001 Consecrated in 727 (Saxon Chronicle) and died in 739 (Simeon of + Durham). + + 1002 This must refer to the battle of Tours in 732, in which Charles + Martel defeated the Saracens. As the Ecclesiastical History was + finished in 731, this passage must be regarded as a later insertion. + For Bede's view with regard to the Saracens, _v._ his theological + works _passim_. He believed them to be the descendants of Ishmael. + + 1003 In 729; _v.s._ c. 22. + + 1004 Cf. _supra_, this chapter, _ad init._ + + 1005 Cf. Preface, note 1, and the Continuation. + + 1006 Cf. c. 22, _ad init_ and note. + +_ 1007 I.e._, since 29th June, 693; _v.s._ c. 8, _ad fin._ + + 1008 He received the pall in 733 and died in 734; cf. Continuation. + + 1009 Bredon in Worcestershire. + + 1010 Cf. Preface; IV, 16; V, 18. + +_ 1011 I.e._, of the East Saxons. He died in 745; _v._ Continuation. + + 1012 Called also Worr. In the Act of the Council of Clovesho in 716 he + signs as Bishop of Lichfield (to which at this time Leicester was + united) along with his predecessor, Hedda, but the authenticity of + the Act is not fully established, and it is generally supposed that + he succeeded in 721. At his death in 737 (Simeon of Durham) + Leicester was finally separated from Lichfield. + + 1013 Cf. _supra_, p. 378. + + 1014 The following list of the English bishoprics at the time when Bede + closed his history [731 A.D.], will enable the reader to recognize + those which belonged to each separate kingdom: + + KINGDOMS; SEES; PRELATES. + Kent; Canterbury; Tatwine. + Rochester; Aldwulf. + East Saxons; London; Ingwald. + East Angles; Dunwich; Aldbert. + Elmham; Hadulac. + West Saxons; Winchester; Daniel. + Sherborne; Forthere. + Mercia; Lichfield (to which Leicester had been reunited in 705); + Aldwin. + Hereford; Walhstod. + Worcester; Wilfrid. + Lindsey (Sidnacester); Cynibert. + South Saxons; Selsey; Vacant. + Northumbria; York; Wilfrid II. + Lindisfarne; Ethelwald. + Hexham; Acca. + Whitern; Pechthelm. + + 1015 Aldbert was Bishop of Dunwich, Hadulac of Elmham. + + 1016 Cf. c. 18. + + 1017 Cf. _supra_, p. 379, note 6. + +_ 1018 I.e._, in Herefordshire. It is not certain when the see of Hereford + was founded. Besides Putta (_v._ IV, 2, and note), Florence of + Worcester mentions Tyrhtel and Torthere as predecessors of Walhstod. + + 1019 This is Wilfrid, Bishop of Worcester, contemporary with Wilfrid II + of York (_v._ IV, 23; V, 6). He succeeded St. Egwin, whom Bede + strangely omits to mention, the successor of Oftfor (IV, 23). For + the Hwiccas, _v._ II, 2, p. 84, and for the see of Worcester, IV, + 23, p. 273, note 7. + + 1020 Cf. Preface, p. 4, and IV, 12. For Lindsey as a separate bishopric, + _ibid._ + + 1021 Cf. IV, 16. + + 1022 Cf. c. 18, _ad fin._, and notes. + + 1023 He was a son of Penda's brother, Alweo. He had lived at one time in + retirement near the hermitage of St. Guthlac, flying from the enmity + of Ceolred, but on the death of the latter in 716, he succeeded to + the throne. Though he is not included in Bede's list of Bretwaldas + (II, 5), he established the supremacy of Mercia for twenty years + over all England south of the Humber, till in 754 Wessex freed + itself in the battle of Burford. For his wars with Wessex and + Northumbria, _v._ Continuation, _sub_ 740 and 750. There is a + charter of his dated 749 in which he grants certain ecclesiastical + privileges, "pro expiatione delictorum suorum." His oppression of + the Church and his private life are rebuked in the letter of + Boniface and five German bishops addressed to him (_v._ Haddan and + Stubbs, III, 350). + + 1024 Wilfrid II, _v._ IV, 23, and note; cf. V, 6. + + 1025 Cf. c. 12, p. 331, and note. + + 1026 III, 13, and note; cf. IV, 14; V, 20. + + 1027 Cf. cc. 13, 18. For the "White House" (Whitern), _v._ III, 4, and + note. About this time (the exact date is not known) it became an + Anglian see, a fact which indicates that in spite of the defeat of + Egfrid in 685, which freed the Northern Picts, the Picts of Galloway + were still subject to Northumbria. The bishopric came to an end + about the close of the century, when the Northumbrian power had + fallen into decay. + + 1028 The Scots of Dalriada (I, 1). They had recovered their liberty after + the defeat and death of Egfrid; cf. IV, 26. + + 1029 Cf. _ibid._, and p. 376, note 1. + + 1030 External peace apparently. For the internal state of Northumbria, + _v.s._ p. 378. + + 1031 For the accuracy of these dates, cf. the notes on the events as they + occur in the narrative. + + 1032 The length of his pontificate is not mentioned in the narrative. + + 1033 This and the two following entries are not in the narrative. + + 1034 Ida was the first king of Bernicia, and one of the leaders of the + English invasion. He conquered the country about Bamborough, which + he is said to have founded (cf. III, 6), and settled his people + here. Deira, which was for a time a separate kingdom, was finally + united to Bernicia under the strong rule of Oswald, Ida's great + grandson (_ib. ad fin._), who through his mother, Acha, was + descended also from the royal house of Deira. + + 1035 By Scotland, as usual, Ireland is meant. + + 1036 Wulfhere's death is not mentioned in the narrative. + + 1037 This is not in the narrative. For Osthryth cf. III, 11; IV, 21. + + 1038 Not in the narrative. Berctred is probably to be identified with + Berct in IV, 26 _ad init_. (Ulster Annals: "Brectrid"; Sax. Chron.: + "Briht.") + + 1039 Above it is said that he succeeded in 675, making his reign + twenty-nine years, and this agrees with the Saxon Chronicle. + Wilfrid, on his return to England in 705, found him already an + abbot. (V, 19.) + + 1040 Not in the narrative. Bertfrid was Osred's chief ealdorman, and was + besieged with him in Bamborough by the usurper Eadwulf; cf. p. 342, + note 2. We find him acting as spokesman in the Council on the Nidd + (V, 19, p. 356) in demanding to have the Papal letters translated + into English. + + 1041 For Bede's life, _v._ Introduction. + + 1042 IV, 18, p. 257, note 3. + +_ 1043 Ibid._ + +_ 1044 Ibid._, note 4, cf. V, 21. + + 1045 John of Beverley, IV, 23; V, 2-6. + + 1046 For a full account of Bede's works, _v._ Plummer, vol. I, + Introduction, or Dictionary of Christian Biography, _s.v._ "Beda." + Besides the works mentioned in this list, the following are + certainly genuine: + + The short "Epistola ad Albinum" (sent with a copy of the + Ecclesiastical History). + + "Retractationes in Acta." + + "Epistola ad Egberctum." + + "De locis Sanctis" (to which Bede alludes in V. 17). A number of + other works, some certainly, others probably spurious, and a few + possibly genuine, have been attributed to him. + + 1047 An answer to questions put to him by Nothelm (_v._ Preface, p. 2, + note 4, and Continuation, _sub_ 735). + + 1048 "Parabolae" = comparisons. "Parabolae Salomonis" are the first words + of the Book of Proverbs in the Vulgate. + +_ 1049 I.e._, St. Paul. + + 1050 Isa., xxiv, 22. + + 1051 III, 3, note; cf. III, 25, p. 198. + + 1052 A priest of Nola in Campania. He was of Syrian extraction, but born + at Nola, and ordained priest _circ._ 250 A.D. He was persecuted + under Decius, and again under Valerian, but escaped. His history is + told in the poems of Paulinus, Bishop of Nola (409-431). + + 1053 This work is not known to exist. Probably the saint is Anastasius + the Younger, Patriarch of Antioch, killed in 610 by the Jews in a + sedition on 21st December, and in the Roman martyrology honoured on + that day as a martyr (_v._ Butler, "Lives of the Saints"). + + 1054 Cf. IV, 26-32. + + 1055 For Benedict and Ceolfrid, _v._ IV, 18. Huaetbert belonged to the + monastery of Wearmouth and Jarrow from his earliest childhood, and + succeeded Ceolfrid as abbot in 716. He survived Bede. The latter + dedicated his commentary on the Apocalypse and the De temp. Rat. to + him under his name of Eusebius given him for his piety (_v._ Bede's + Hist. Abb. and Anon., Hist. Abb.). + + 1056 (Only names which have not occurred in the narrative are annotated; + references for those already mentioned will be found in the Index.) + The Continuation is by a later hand. But Mr. Plummer considers that + the entries under the years 731, 732, 733 and 734, may have been + added by Bede himself. They appear in the great Moore MS., and those + for 733 and 734 also in another eighth century MS. The entries + enclosed in square brackets are found in a fifteenth century MS. + + 1057 He succeeded Wilfrid II, and two years later became Archbishop of + York (_v. infra_ under 735). It was to him that Bede addressed the + "Epist. ad Egberctum." + + 1058 Bishop of Lindsey. + + 1059 Bishop of Selsey. + +_ 1060 I.e._, of York. + + 1061 Bishop of Hexham. + + 1062 Bishop of Whitern. + + 1063 The early authorities differ as to the year, but this is the + traditional date, and is usually accepted. + + 1064 King of Northumbria 737-758 (_v. infra_); died in 768. He was a son + of Eata, called by Nennius, Eata "Glinmaur," a descendant of Ida, + and was the brother of Archbishop Egbert. Under him the Northumbrian + power revived for a period. + + 1065 He was the kinsman and predecessor of Cuthred (_v. infra_). + + 1066 Archbishop of Canterbury in succession to Nothelm. The first + archbishop not buried in St. Augustine's, _v._ II, 3, p. 90, note. + + 1067 Bishop of Lindisfarne in succession to Ethelwald (V, 12, _ad fin._, + note). + + 1068 Probably a son of that Eadwulf who usurped the throne of Northumbria + at Aldfrid's death (V, 18); cf. Simeon of Durham, II, 38 (Rolls + Series), "Arwine filius Eadulfi." + + 1069 Not known. + + 1070 Charles Martel. + + 1071 Pippin the Short. Carloman resigned in 747, and became a monk. + + 1072 There is a letter of Boniface (_v._ Haddan and Stubbs III, 358) to a + priest, Herefrid, who is supposed to be the man mentioned here. + + 1073 This seems confused and obscure. The West Saxons under Cuthred threw + off the Mercian yoke in the insurrection which culminated in the + battle of Burford (_v._ V. 23, p. 380, note 9). Oengus or Angus (the + Brythonic form is Ungust), son of Fergus, was a Pictish king who + crushed the Dalriadic Scots, and, in alliance with Eadbert of + Northumbria, conquered the Britons of Strathclyde. But this does not + explain the strange statement which brings him into connection with + Ethelbald of Mercia. Nor is it told who Eanred was. Theudor was a + king of the Britons of Strathclyde. Kyle is a district in Ayrshire. + + 1074 Adopting the emendation "quinto Idus" (Hussey). The date is thus + right for the eclipses, but the year is the sixteenth of Eadbert. + Probably the numeral (XVI) has fallen out, and the passage ought to + run: "anno regni Eadbercti XVI, quinto Id. Ian." + + 1075 The great missionary bishop of Germany, a West Saxon by birth. He + crossed to the Continent _circ._ 716, and, supported by Charles + Martel and his sons, evangelized Central Europe, became Archbishop + of Mainz, and founded sees throughout Germany. Finally he was + martyred in Frisland. Lul, a West Saxon, was his successor, not + Redger, but it has been suggested that this may be another name for + him. The pope is Stephen III. + + 1076 He is said by William of Malmesbury to have been the murderer of + Ethelbald. After a year of anarchy Offa succeeded, and retrieved the + position of Mercia. + + 1077 He was killed in an insurrection in 784. (Sax. Chron.) + + 1078 St. Matt. xi, 12. After Eadbert, Northumbria fell into a state of + anarchy, obscure kings contending for the throne. + + 1079 Cf. _supra, sub_ 750. + + 1080 An aetheling killed by Moll, king of Northumbria, at a place called + Edwin's Cliff (Sax. Chron.). + + 1081 Of Northumbria. + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND*** + + + +CREDITS + + +December 17, 2011 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + Produced by Carla Foust, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. 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