|
full text added: April 24, 2009
| |
Of The English Nation
or, originally:
Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
by the
Venerable Bede
Originally issued in 731 A.D.
Edition: 1909 Edition
Reprint: HAIL & FIRE 2009
|
If you are unable to view content in the frame at right:
|
BOOK I
PREFACE
To the most glorious king Ceolwulph, Bede, the servant of Christ and Priest. ... page 1
CHAPTER I
Of the Situation of Britian and Ireland, and of their ancient inhabitants. ... page 5
CHAPTER II
Caius Julius Caesar, the first Roman that came into Britian. ... page 9
CHAPTER III
Claudius, the second of the Romans who came into Britian, brought the islands Orchades into subjection to the Roman Empire; and Vespasian, sent by him, reduced the Isle of Wight under their dominion. ... page 11
CHAPTER IV
Lucius, king of Britian, writing to Pope Eleutherus, desires to be made a Christian. ... page 12
CHAPTER V
How the Emperor Severus divided that part of Britian, which be subdued, from the rest by a Rampart. ... page 12
CHAPTER VI
The reign of Diocletian, and how he persecuted the Christians. ... page 13
CHAPTER VII
The Passion of St. Alban and his Companions, who at that time shed their blood for our Lord. [A.D. 305.] ... page 14
CHAPTER VIII
The persecution ceasing, the Church in Britian enjoys peace till the time of the Arian Heresy. [A.D. 307-337.] ... page 19
CHAPTER IX
How during the reign of Gratian, Maximus, being created Emperor in Britian, returned into Gaul with a mighty army. [A.D. 383.] ... page 20
CHAPTER X
How, in the reign of Arcadius, Pelagius, a Briton, insolently impugned the Grace of God. ... page 21
CHAPTER 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. ... page 22
CHAPTER XII
The Britons, being ravaged by the Scots and Picts, sought succour from the Romans, who, coming a second tim, built a wall across the island; but the Britons being again invaded by the aforesaid enemies, were reduced to greater distress than before. ... page 23
CHAPTER XIII
In the reign of Theodosius the younger, Palladius was sent to the Scots that believed in Christ; the Britons begging assistance of Aetius, the consul, could not obtain it. [A.D. 446] ... page 26
CHAPTER XIV
The Britons, compelled by famine, drove the barbarians out of their territories; soon after there ensued plenty of corn, luxury, plague, and the subversion of the nation. [A.D. 426-447] ... page 27
CHAPTER XV
The Angles, being invited into Britian, at first obliged the enemy to retire to a distance; but not long after, joining in league with them, turned their weapons upon their confederates. [A.D. 450-456] ... page 29
CHAPTER XVI
The Britons obtained their first victory over the Angles, under the command of Ambrosius, a Roman. ... page 32
CHAPTER XVII
The Germanus the Bishop, sailing into Britian with Lupus, first quelled the tempest of the sea, and afterwards that of the Pelagians, by Divine power. [A.D. 429] ... page 32
CHAPTER XVIII
The same holy man gave sight to the blind daughter of a Tribune, and then coming to St, Alban's, there received some of his relics, and left others of the blessed Apostles, and other martyrs. ... page 35
CHAPTER XIX
How the same holy man, being detained there by an indisposition, by his prayers quenched a fire that had broken out among the houses, and was himself cured of a distemper by a vision. [A.D. 429.] ... page 37
CHAPTER XX
How the same Bishops procured the Britons' assistance from Heaven in a battle, and then returned home. [A.D. 429.] ... page 38
CHAPTER XXI
The Pelagian heresy again reviving, Germanus, returning into Britian with Severus, first healed a lame youth, then having condemned or converted the Heretics, they restored spiritual health to the people of God. [A.D. 447.] ... page 40
CHAPTER XXII
The Britons, being for a time delivered from foreign invasions, wasted themselves by civil wars, and then gave themselves up to more heinous crimes. ... page 42
CHAPTER XXIII
How Pope Gregory sent Augustine, with other monks, to preach to the English nation, and encouraged them by a letter of exhortation, not to cease from their labour. [A.D. 596.] ... page 43
CHAPTER XXIV
How he wrote to the bishop of Arles to entertain them. [A.D. 596.] ... page 45
CHAPTER XXV
Augustine, coming into Britain, first preached in the Isle of Thanet to King Ethelbert, and having obtained license, entered the kingdom of Kent, in order to preach therein. [A.D. 597.] ... page 46
CHAPTER XXVI
St. Augustine, in Kent followed the doctrine and manner of living of the primitive church, and settled his episcopal see in the royal city. [A.D. 597.] ... page 48
CHAPTER XXVII
St. Augustine, being made bishop, sends to acquaint Pope Gregory with what had been done, and receives his answer to the doubts he had proposed to him. [A.D. 597.] ... page 50
CHAPTER XXVIII
Pope Gregory writes to the bishop of Arles to assist Augustine in the work of God. [A.D. 601.] ... page 66
CHAPTER XXIX
The same Pope sends Augustine the Pall, an Epistle, and several Ministers of the word. [A.D. 601.] ... page 68
CHAPTER XXX
A copy of the letter which Pope Gregory sent to the Abbot Mellitus, then going into Britain. [A.D. 601.] ... page 70
CHAPTER XXXI
Pope Gregory, by letter, exhorts Augustine not to glory in his miracles. [A.D. 601.] ... page 72
CHAPTER XXXII
Pope Gregory sends letters and presents to King Ethelbert. ... page 73
CHAPTER XXXIII
Augustine repairs the church of our Saviour, and builds the monastery of St. Peter the apostle; Peter the first abbot of the same. ... page 76
CHAPTER XXXIV
Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, having vanquished the nations of the Scots, expels them from the territories of the English. [A.D. 603.] ... page 77
CHAPTER XXXIV
Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, having vanquished the nations of the Scots, expels them from the territories of the English. [A.D. 603.] ... page 77
BOOK II
CHAPTER I
On the death of the blessed Pope Gregory. [A.D. 605.] ... page 79
CHAPTER II
Augustine admonishes the bishops of the Britons to Catholic peace and unity, and to that effect wrought a heavenly miracle in their presence; and of the vengeance that pursued them for their contempt. [A.D. 603.] ... page 87
CHAPTER III
How St. Augustine made Mellitus and Justus bishops; and of his death. [A.D. 604.] ... page 92
CHAPTER IV
Laurentius and his bishops admonish the Scots to observe the unity of the Holy Church, particularly in keeping of Easter; Mellitus goes to Rome. [A.D. 605.] ... page 93
CHAPTER 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. [A.D. 616.] ... page 96
CHAPTER VI
Laurentius, being reproved by the apostle, converts King Eadbald to Christ; Mellitus and Justus are recalled. [A.D. 616.] ... page 99
CHAPTER VII
Bishop Mellitus by prayer quenches a fire in his city. [A.D. 619.] ... page 101
CHAPTER VIII
Pope Boniface sends the Pall and an Epistle to Justus, successor to Mellitus. [A.D. 624.] ... page 103
CHAPTER IX
The reign of King Edwin, and how Paulinus, coming to preach the gospel, first converted his daughter and others to the faith of Christ. [A.D. 625.] ... page 105
CHAPTER X
Pope Boniface, by letter, exhorts the same king to embrace the faith. [A.D. 625.] ... page 109
CHAPTER XI
Pope Boniface advises Queen Ethelberga to use her best endeavours for the salvation of her consort, King Edwin. [A.D. 625.] ... page 113
CHAPTER XII
King Edwin is persuaded to believe by a vision which he had seen when he was in exile. [Before A.D. 625.] ... page 116
CHAPTER XIII
Of the Council he held with his chief men about embracing the faith of Christ, and how the high priest profaned his own altars. [A.D. 627.] ... page 120
CHAPTER XIV
King Edwin and his nation become Christians; Paulinus baptizes them. [A.D. 627.] ... page 123
CHAPTER XV
The province of the East Angles receives the faith of Christ. [A.D. 627.] ... page 125
CHAPTER XVI
How Paulinus preached in the province of Lindsey; and of the reigh of Edwin. [A.D. 628.] ... page 127
CHAPTER XVII
Edwin receives letters of exhortation from Pope Honorius, who also sends paulinus the Pall. [A.D. 634.] ... page 128
CHAPTER XVIII
Honorius, who succeeded Justus in the bishopric of Canterbury, recieves the Pall and letters from Pope Honorius. [A.D. 634.] ... page 130
CHAPTER 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. [A.D. 634.] ... page 132
CHAPTER XIX
Edwin being slain, Paulinus returns into Kent, and has the bishopric of Rochester conferred upon him. [A.D. 633.] ... page 135
BOOK III
CHAPTER I
How King Edwin's next successors lost both the faith of their nation and the kingdom; but the most Christian King Oswald retreived both. [A.D. 633.] ... page 137
CHAPTER II
How, among innumerable other miraculous cures wrought by the cross, which King Oswald, being ready to engage against the barbarians, erected, a certain youth had his lame arm healed. [A.D. 635.] ... page 139
CHAPTER III
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. [A.D. 635.] ... page 141
CHAPTER IV
When the nation of the Picts received the faith. [A.D. 565.] ... page 143
CHAPTER V
Of the life of Bishop Aidan. [A.D. 635.] ... page 146
CHAPTER VI
Of King Oswald's wonderful piety. [A.D. 635.] ... page 148
CHAPTER VII
How the West Saxons received the word of God by the preaching of Birinus; and of his successors, Agilbert and Eleutherius. [A.D. 635.] ... page 150
CHAPTER VIII
How Earconbert, King of Kent, ordered the idols to be destroyed; and of his daughter Earcongota, and his kinswoman Ethelberga, virgins, consecrated to God. [A.D. 640.] ... page 153
CHAPTER IX
How miraculous cures have been frequently done 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. [A.D. 642.] ... page 156
CHAPTER X
How power of the earth of that place against fire. [A.D. 642.] ... page 158
CHAPTER XI
Of the heavenly light that appeared all the night over the bones of King Oswald, and how persons possessed with devils were delivered by his bones. [A.D. 697.] ... page 159
CHAPTER XII
Of a boy cured of an ague at St. Oswald's womb. [A.D. 642.] ... page 162
CHAPTER XIII
Of a certain person in Ireland that was recovered, when at the point of death, by the bones of King Oswald. [A.D. 642.] ... page 163
CHAPTER XIV
Of the death of Paulinus, Ithamar was made bishop of Rochester in his stead. Of the wonderful humility of King Oswin, who was cruelly slain by Oswy. [A.D. 642.] ... page 165
CHAPTER XV
How Bishop Aidan foretold to certain seamen a storm that would happen, and gave them some holy oil to lay it. [A.D. 651.] ... page 169
CHAPTER XVI
How the same Aidan, by his prayers, saved the royal city when fired by the enemy. [A.D. 651.] ... page 170
CHAPTER XVII
How the post of the church on which Bishop Aidan was leaning when he died, could not be burnt when the rest of the church was consumed by fire; and of his inward life. [A.D. 651.] ... page 171
CHAPTER XVIII
Of the life and death of the religious King Sigebert. [A.D. 635.] ... page 174
CHAPTER XIX
How Fursey built a monastery among the East Angles, and of his visions and sanctity, of which, his flesh remainin uncorrupted after death bore testimony. [A.D. 633.] ... page 176
CHAPTER XX
Honorius dying, Deusdedit is chosen archbishop of Canterbury, of those who were at that time bishops of the East Angles, and of the church of Rochester. [A.D. 653.] ... page 182
CHAPTER XXI
How the province of the Midland Angles became Christian under King Peada. [A.D. 653.] ... page 182
CHAPTER XXII
How the East Saxons again received the faith, which they had before cast off under King Sigebert, through the preaching of Cedd. [A.D. 653.] ... page 184
CHAPTER XXIII
Bishop Cedd, having a place given him by King Ethelwald, consecrates the same to our Lord with prayer and fasting. Of his death. [A.D. 659.] ... page 188
CHAPTER XXIV
King Penda being slain, the Mercians received the faith of Christ, and Oswy gave possessions and territories to God, for the building monasteries, in acknowledgment for the victory obtained. [A.D. 655.] ... page 191
CHAPTER XXV
How the controversy arose about the due time of keeping Easter, with those that came out of Scotland. [A.D. 652.] ... page 195
CHAPTER XXVI
Colman, being worsted, returned home; Tuda succeeded him in the bishopric; the state of the church under those teachers. [A.D. 664.] ... page 204
CHAPTER XXVII
Egbert, a holy man of the English nation, led a monastic life in Ireland. [A.D. 664.] ... page 206
CHAPTER XXVIII
Tuda being dead, Wilfrid was ordained, in France, and Chad, in the province of the West Saxons, to be bidhops of the Northumberlands. [A.D. 665.] ... page 209
CHAPTER XXIX
How the priest Wighard was sent from Britain to Rome, to be consecrated archbishop, of his death there, and of the letters of the Apostolic Pope giving an account thereof. [A.D. 665.] ... page 211
CHAPTER XXX
The East Saxons, during a pestilence, returning to idolatry, are immediately brough back from their error by the Bishop Jaruman. [A.D. 665.] ... page 214
BOOK IV
CHAPTER I
Deusdedit, archbishop of Canterbury, dying, Wighard was sent to Rome to succeed him in that dignity; but dying there, Theodore was ordained archbishop, and sent into Britain with the Abbat Hadrain. [A.D. 664.] ... page 216
CHAPTER II
Theodore visits all places; the churches of the Enlgish begin to be instructed in holy literature, and in the Catholic truth; Putta is made bishop of the church of Rochester in the room of Damianus. [A.D. 669.] ... page 219
CHAPTER III
How Chad, above-mentioned, was made bishop of the Mercians. Of his life, death, and burial. [A.D. 669.] ... page 221
CHAPTER IV
Bishop Colman, having left Britain, built two monasteries in Scotland; the one for the Scots, the other for the English he had taken along with him. [A.D. 667.] ... page 228
CHAPTER V
Of the death of the kings Oswy and Egbert, and of the synod held at Hertford, in which Archbishop Theodore presided. [A.D. 670.] ... page 229
CHAPTER VI
Winfrid being deposed, Sexwulf was put into his See, and Earconwald made bishop of the East Saxons. [A.D. 674.] ... page 233
CHAPTER VII
How it was indicated by a heavenly light where the bodies of the Nuns should be buried in the monastery of Barking. [A.D. 676.] ... page 234
CHAPTER VIII
A little boy, dying in the same monastery, called upon a virgin that was to follow him; another at the point of leaving her body, saw some small part of the future glory. [A.D. 676.] ... page 236
CHAPTER IX
Of the signs which were shown from heaven when the mother of that congregation departed this life. [A.D. 676.] ... page 237
CHAPTER X
A blind woman, praying in the burial-place of that monastery, was restored to her sight. [A.D. 676.] ... page 240
CHAPTER XI
Sebbi, king of the same providence, ends his life in a monastery. [A.D. 694.] ... page 241
CHAPTER XII
Hedda succeeds Eleutherius in the bishopric of the West Saxons; Cuichelm succeeds Putta in that of Rochester, and is himself succeeded by Gebmund; and who were then bishops of the Northumbrians. [A.D. 673.] ... page 243
CHAPTER XIII
Bishop Wilfrid converts the province of the South Saxons to Christ. [A.D. 681.] ... page 246
CHAPTER XIV
How a pestilential mortality ceased through the intercession of King Oswalk. [A.D. 681.] ... page 249
CHAPTER XV
King Caedwalla, having slain Ethelwalch, king of the West Saxons, wasted that Province with rapine and slaughter. [A.D. 685.] ... page 252
CHAPTER XVI
How the Isle of Wight received Christian inhabitants, and two royal youths of that island were killed immediately after baptism. [A.D. 686.] ... page 253
CHAPTER XVII
Of the Synod held in the plain of Heathfield, where Archbishop Theodore presided. [A.D. 680.] ... page 255
CHAPTER XVIII
Of John, the singer of the apostolic see, who came into Britain to teach. [A.D. 680.] ... page 257
CHAPTER XIX
How Queen Etheldrida always preserved her virginity, and her body suffered no corruption in the grave. [A.D. 660.] ... page 259
CHAPTER XIX
How Queen Etheldrida always preserved her virginity, and her body suffered no corruption in the grave. [A.D. 660.] ... page 259
CHAPTER XX
A Hymn on the afores aid Holy Virgin. [A.D. 660.] ... page 264
CHAPTER XXI
Bishop Theodore made peace between the kings Egfrid and Ethelred. [A.D. 679.] ... page 265
CHAPTER XXII
How a certain captive's chains fell off when masses were sung for him. [A.D. 679.] ... page 266
CHAPTER XXIII
Of the life and death of the Abbess Hilda. [A.D. 680.] ... page 269
CHAPTER XXIV
There was in the same monastery a brother, on whom the gift of writing verses was bestowed by heaven. [A.D. 680.] ... page 275
CHAPTER XXV
Of the vision that appeared to a certain man of God before the monastery of the city Coludi was burned down. [A.D. 679.] ... page 279
CHAPTER XXVI
Of the death of the Kings Egfrid and Lothere. [A.D. 684.] ... page 283
CHAPTER XXVII
Cuthbert, a man of God, is made bishop; and how he lived and taught whilst still in a monastic life. [A.D. 685.] ... page 285
CHAPTER XXVIII
The same St. Cuthbert, being an Anchorite, by his prayers obtained a spring in a dry soil, and had a crop from seed sown by himself out of season. [A.D. 664.] ... page 288
CHAPTER XXVIII
The same St. Cuthbert, being an Anchorite, by his prayers obtained a spring in a dry soil, and had a crop from seed sown by himself out of season. [A.D. 664.] ... page 288
CHAPTER XXIX
St. Cuthbert foretold to the anchorite, Herebert, that his death was at hand. [A.D. 687.] ... page 292
CHAPTER XXX
St. Cuthbert's body was found altogether uncorrupted after it had been buried eleven years; his successor in the bishopric departed this world not long after. [A.D. 698.] ... page 294
CHAPTER XXXI
Of one that was cured of a palsy at the tomb of St. Cuthbert. [A.D. 698.] ... page 296
CHAPTER XXXII
Of one who was cured of a distemper in his eye at the relics of St. Cuthbert. [A.D. 698.] ... page 297
BOOK V
CHAPTER I
How Ethelwald, successor to Cuthbert, leading an eremitical life, calmed a tempest when the brethren were in danger at sea. [A.D. 687.] ... page 299
CHAPTER II
How Bishop John cured a dumb man by blessing him. [A.D. 685.] ... page 300
CHAPTER III
The same bishop, John, by his prayers, healed a sick maiden. [A.D. 686.] ... page 303
CHAPTER IV
The same bishop healed and earl's wife that was sick, with holy water. [A.D. 686.] ... page 305
CHAPTER V
The same bishop recovered on the the earl's servants from death. [A.D. 686.] ... page 306
CHAPTER VI
The same bishop, by his prayers and blessing, delivered from dearth one of his clerks, who had bruised himself by a fall. [A.D. 686.] ... page 307
CHAPTER VII
Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons, went ot Rome to be baptized; his successor Ina also devoutly reparied to the same church of the holy apostles. [A.D. 688.] ... page 310
CHAPTER VIII
Archbishop Theodore dies, Berthwald succeeds him as archbishop, and, among many others whom he ordained, he made Tobias, a most learned man, bishop of the Church of Rochester. [A.D. 690.] ... page 312
CHAPTER IX
Egbert, a holy man, would have gone into Germany to preach, but could not; Wietbert went, but meeting with no success, returned into Ireland, from whence he came. [A.D. 689.] ... page 314
CHAPTER X
Wilbrord, preaching in Frisland, converted many to Christ; his two companions, the Hewalds, suffered martyrdom. [A.D. 690.] ... page 317
CHAPTER XI
How the venerable Swidbert in Britain, and Wilbrord at Rome, were ordained bishops for Frisland. [A.D. 692.] ... page 320
CHAPTER XII
Of one among the Northumbrians, who rose from the dead, and related the things which he had seen, some exciting terror and others delight. [A.D. 696.] ... page 322
CHAPTER XIII
Of another, who before his death saw a book containin all his sins, which was showed him by devils. [A.D. 704-709.] ... page 329
CHAPTER XIV
Of another, who being at the point of death saw the place of punishment appointed for him in hell. [A.D. 704.] ... page 332
CHAPTER XV
Several church of the Scots, at the instance of Adamnan, conformed to the Catholic Easter; the same person wrote a book about the holy places. [A.D. 703.] ... page 334
CHAPTER XVI
The account given by the aforesaid book of the place of our Lord's nativity, passion, and resurrection. [A.D. 704.] ... page 336
CHAPTER XVII
Of the place of our Lord's ascension, and the tombs of the patriarchs. [A.D. 704.] ... page 338
CHAPTER XVIII
The South Saxons received Eadbert and Eolla, and the West Saxons, Daniel and Aldhelm, for their bishops. Of the writings of the same Aldhelm. [A.D. 705.] ... page 340
CHAPTER XIX
Coinred, king of the Mercians, and Offa, of the East Saxons, ended their days at Rome, in the monastery habit. Of the life and death of Bishop Wilfrid. [A.D. 709.] ... page 342
CHAPTER XX
Albinus succeeded to the religious Abbat Hadrian, and Acca to Bishop Wilfrid. [A.D. 709.] ... page 351
CHAPTER XXI
Abbat Coelfrid sent the King of the Picts architects to build a church, and with them an epistle concerning the Catholic Easter and Tonsure. [A.D. 710.] ... page 353
CHAPTER XXII
The Monks of Hii, and the monasteries subject to them, begin to celebrate the canonical Easter at the preaching of Egbert. [A.D. 716.] ... page 369
CHAPTER XXIII
Of the present state of the English nation, or of all Britain. [A.D. 725-731.] ... page 371
CHAPTER XXIV
Chronological recapitulation of the whole work: also concerning the author himself. ... page 375
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE
A short biography of Bede. ... page 385
NOTES
Explanatory notes on the history by Bede. ... page 387
Copyright ©
HAIL and FIRE
www.hailandfire.com