




                 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 bishop