and Venerable Bede

ON ST. AND VENERABLE BEDE

MONK PRIEST IN ENGLAND.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY. Concerning his age, the Life collected by Turgot, his sacred cultus, the opinions of the ancients attesting to him.

A.D. DCCXXXV

Bede, Venerable Monk and Priest in England (S.)

BY G. H.

Two illustrious monasteries in the seventh century of Christ

S. Benedict Biscop the Abbot constructed,

both in the ancient region of the Northumbrians,

and in that part, which lies under the Episcopate

of Durham. The earlier

rose in honor of S. Peter the Apostle

near the mouth of the river Wear,

to the English "Were"; S. Bede from the 7th year of his age is educated in the Monastery whence Wiramutha, with Camden as witness,

is now called Moncks Weremith, that is mouth of the Wear,

belonging to the Monks. The other in honor of S. Paul

was built at the mouth of the river Tyne, called Ingyrvum or Gyrvi,

now Jarrow, in whose neighborhood was born S.

Bede in the year of Christ DCLXXVII; and being seven

years of age, in the same monastery he began to dwell. Here he,

made the singular splendor of England, by piety and erudition obtained

the surname Venerable; especially because his Homilies

were recited in the Church, when he either still lived, or

certainly was not yet inscribed in the Catalogue of Saints. died May 26, in the year 735. If yet

that title is ancient, of which on account of the silence of older

writers Baronius rightly doubts, with even greater

right rejecting old wives' tales, which are feigned to have given occasion to such appellation, nor are they worthy to be related here.

Yet the appellation most usual in the Church, and approved in the Roman

Martyrology, we gladly use here also.

He died, called to the eternal rest of his labors,

on the feast of Christ's Ascension, VII Kalends of June, or day

May XXVI, as wrote Cuthbert his disciple, who stood

beside the dying. The year therefore of Christ was

seven hundred

thirty-fifth, when in Lunar Cycle XIV, Solar XVI,

Dominical letter B, Easter fell on day April XVII,

and the feast of the Ascension on the said May XXVI. In the Saxon

Chronology, after the Ecclesiastical History of Venerable

Bede printed at Cambridge in the year MDCXLIII, his death

is referred to the preceding year DCCXXXIV, which modestly

Florence of Worcester rejects in his Chronicle on the said

year DCCXXXIV, where he has these things: "The venerable Priest,

computator, the most holy Bede, according to the English

Chronicles, in the present year, but according to

his disciple Cuthbert, who described his death,

and at his decease with very many others

was present, in the following year, before the Lord's Ascension

on the fourth feria, that is the VIII Kalends of June, about

the tenth hour, with great devotion of mind and

tranquility breathed forth his last spirit from the body,

and so rejoicing migrated to the heavenly kingdoms." Thus there.

But because the feast of Ascension was reckoned begun from its first

Vespers, or on the preceding night, Cuthbert that tenth nocturnal hour

reckoned to the very feast, attaching his death to the day VII

Kalends of June, on which day also from this Life migrated

the Apostle of the English S. Augustine Bishop of Canterbury,

as is clear above from his Acts.

[2] But to that VII Kalends, or May XXVI,

both refer the older Mss. Martyrologies, of which

we have one in England written on parchment

at least six hundred years ago, formerly venerated on the 26, where in the first place is mentioned the elogy

of the said S. Augustine, and immediately these are subjoined:

"Likewise on the same island of Britain the deposition of B.

Bede the Priest, the most sagacious Doctor of the English:

how great his merits exist, and the streams of doctrine,

the honeyed examples of good works testify." Then

are read, what in Usuard were placed before. In the same

manner first place S. Augustine and Bede are celebrated in

the Ms. of Trier of S. Martin. But last place in Usuard

S. Augustine is placed; to whom in the Ms. Utrecht of the Collegiate Church

of S. Mary, written about the year MCXL,

these things are added: "Likewise on the same island of Britain B.

Bede the Priest." In the same manner in the Ms. Martyrology

of the monastery of S. Cyriacus, which Baronius greatly used,

and in the Ms. Patriciano, which we found at Naples in a parchment codex

of Antonius Caracciolus Cleric Regular, these are joined:

"In Britain S. Augustine, first

Bishop of the English; and Bede the Priest, a man most learned

in divine Scriptures." Similar things are read in the Ms. of Centula

of S. Richarius, and in the Appendix of Ado in Mosander

and Rosweide; likewise in the Martyrology of Bellinus, augmented according

to the custom of the Roman court, and at Paris under the year

MDXXI printed, likewise the Auctary of Usuard adorned

by Greven and Molanus, and others.

But of Bede alone the memory, on the same May XXVI,

is celebrated in the Calendar of a most ancient Ms. Breviary,

whose use was for the parts of the Rhine.

[3] But because the solemnity of S. Augustine impeded the veneration

of S. Bede, this was transferred to this day May XXVII,

now May 27, as is clear from the Calendar of the Enchiridion of the Salisbury Church,

which we have written on parchment; and

several Mss. Martyrologies of Usuard agree, augmented for the use

of the Churches of Belgium about the year MCCCC or even later,

and with these the Florarium Ms. Likewise the Martyrologies printed

at Lübeck in the year 1475, and at Cologne and Lübeck in the year

1490, with the Ambrosian Missal and Breviaries printed in the year

1522, 1539 and 1560. The same is followed by the Monastic Martyrologies of Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus, and the English

of Wilson. And that change of day with its calculus

was approved by the Roman Church, in the recognition of the Martyrology

cared for by the order of Gregory XIII; wherefore we

also have deferred to treat of him, lest, if at any time the cultus

of the Saints should be restored in England (which would that it happen quickly) from popular

usage, in this work we should disagree. referred also to day 10, Furthermore the deposition of the venerable

Bede the Priest, on day X of May (which we wonder at)

is assigned in the Mss. of Liège of the church of S. Lambert

and of the Monastery of S. Lawrence: and this Molanus followed

in the Auctary of Usuard, and Canisius followed him in the Martyrology

Germanic. Wilson in the English Martyrology, in place of the deposition,

placed the translation of the body to Durham:

but nowhere have we read, that to this day it is to be referred.

[4] We give the Life from the Ms. of Longpont of Lord Belfortius,

collated with that which exists before his Ecclesiastical history,

Whence the Life is received. in Latin and Saxon edited at Cambridge in the year

MDCXLIII, from the Ms. codex of the Benedictine college. But

it is nothing other than a very brief account, by us into three

chapters

distinguished. The first was taken from the history of the Church

of Durham, by Author Turgot (who Prior of Durham,

flourished about the year MC) under the name of Simeon of Durham

wrongly among the ten writers of English History

printed, where what is here narrated is read in book 1 chapter 8, and the rest

are reported in chapters 14 and 15. The second chapter

is reported in the words of Bede himself. The third, in which his death is narrated,

is had from the Letter of the above-mentioned Cuthbert his disciple,

who stood beside the dying, and had the purpose of writing more amply

about his Life; but, what is greatly to be lamented, never brought

to effect what he had well thought. We add a fourth from chapter 7 of book 3

of the same Turgot, where the translation

of the body to Durham is indicated. Some compendia of this Life

are contained in the Letter of Simeon of Durham to

Hugh Dean of York, and more amply in John

Stubbs in the Chronicle or Acts of the Pontiffs of York:

where Bede is said born in the year DCLXXVII, dead

in the year DCCXXXV, buried in his Monastery of Ingyrvo:

but afterwards his bones are said translated to the body of S. Cuthbert.

[5] Some other Acts of S. Bede we have transcribed from the library

of the Bodec cenobium of Canons Regular in the diocese

of Paderborn, but which filled with fables we did not wish

to bring forth into light. Others were printed by John Capgrave in the Legend

of England, but in these also various things displease, which

can be read there. But in place of those we prefer to gather

some testimonies of illustrious men about his life and doctrine.

The first is S. Boniface, Martyr and Archbishop

of Mainz, Praises of S. Boniface Archbishop concerning Bede who flourished at the same time. He in his Letter

IX to Abbot Huetbert, under whose rule S. Bede had

departed from the living, among other things writes: "We ask that some

of the works of the most sagacious investigator of the Scriptures

Bede the Monk, who recently in the house of God among you

we have heard shone in place of an ecclesiastical candle of the science of Scriptures,

written you would deign to send to us."

The same S. Boniface to Egbert Archbishop

of York, who while S. Bede yet lived obtained

that dignity, in Letter VIII asks in these words: "That to me

of the works of Bede the Reader some treatises to write

and direct you would deign: whom recently, as

we have heard, divine grace enriched with spiritual intellect,

and in your province granted to shine, that the candle,

which the Lord has bestowed on you, we may also enjoy."

Again the same S. Boniface, when he had received some treatises,

thus to the same Archbishop wrote in Letter LXXXV:

"The gifts and little books of your sweetest Beatitude, by

you sent, with grateful mind we received rejoicing:

and with palms suspended to the heavens we besought the supernal King,

that he should restore to you in the eternal court of Angels flowering

rewards of merit… Now

eagerly desiring we entreat, that for the joy

of our sorrow, in the manner you have already done before,

some particle or spark from the candle

of the Church, which the Holy Spirit illumined in your regions,

you may take care to designate to us; that is, of the treatises,

which the spiritual Priest and investigator of the holy

Scriptures Bede composed by setting forth, some

part you may deign to transmit: especially

if it can be, what to us preaching seems suitable

and handy and most useful, on the

annual Lectionary and Proverbs of Solomon,

because we have heard he composed a Commentary on those."

[6] Of S. Lull his successor, These things S. Boniface: whose pious affection toward S. Bede

passed also to his successor S. Lull, who likewise

as he having gone from England to Germany, made Archbishop of the same

See of Mainz, among the Letters of S. Boniface

number CXI, wrote these things to Cuthbert the Abbot and once disciple of S. Bede:

"We have sent to your dilection small gifts,

one all-silken pall. We ask also

that for the consolation, not only of our pilgrimage,

but also of our infirmity, books from blessed memory

Bede expounded you would deign to send concerning the building

of the temple, or on the Canticle of Canticles, or of Epigrams

composed in heroic or elegiac meter,

if it can be done all: but if not, of the building of the temple

three books. Perhaps a difficult petition, but I judge nothing

is difficult to true charity." Thus S. Lull, to whom

replied Cuthbert the Abbot, Of Cuthbert the Abbot, in Letter number LXXXIX, with these words: "Gratefully indeed I have received the small gifts of your

Charity, and the more gratefully, that I have known you to send these with intimate

affection of devotion, that is, an all-silken pall

to the relics of blessed memory Bede our Master,

for the recollection and his veneration,

you have designated. And it does seem right to me, that the whole

people of the English in all provinces, wherever

they are found, return thanks to God: who such a wonderful

man, endowed with diverse gifts, and so

zealous to exercise them, similarly living in good

morals, God gave them in their nation:

because by experience, raised at his feet,

I have learned what I narrate… But now because

you have asked something of the works of the blessed Father, with my

boys according to our strength, what I could, for your Dilection I have prepared:

little books on the man of God Cuthbert in meter and

prose composed I have directed to your will, and if I could have done more,

I would willingly have wished: because the presence of the past

winter most horribly oppressed our island

with cold and ice, and storms of winds and rains,

long and widely depressed, therefore the writer's hand,

so that it might not reach the number of many books,

was retarded… Of the works

of blessed memory Bede, which you do not yet have transcribed,

I promise, if we live, to be at your will."

Thus Cuthbert disciple of S. Bede, to S. Lull.

[7] Third let Alcuin succeed, Master of Charlemagne

the Emperor, and himself an Englishman by nation, Of B. Albinus Alcuin under the above-praised

Egbert Archbishop of York, from the death of S. Bede, educated,

who in Letter XLIX to the Brothers of the Wear and Jarrow

Church, among other things writes these things: "Remember what noble

Fathers you have had, and be not degenerate sons

of such progenitors… Reconsider the most noble

Master of our time, Bede the Priest,

what kind of zeal he had in youth for learning,

what kind he now has among men of praise, and a much

greater glory of reward with God. By his

example therefore awake your sleeping souls, sit

with the Masters, open the books, examine the letters, understand

the meanings of them, that you may be able both to feed yourselves

and to provide to others the ornament of spiritual life." The same

in Letter V to King David, treating of the course of the Moon through

individual signs, adds these things: "What of the harmony of the solar

and lunar course through the signs of the Zodiac more lucidly could be said,

than what such an investigator of questions

Bede the Master in his writings has left to us?" The same

a little below in the same way he praises: and in poem

CLXXVIII his verses on the Life of S. Cuthbert with these distichs adorns:

"Great even himself a Father, Bishop, Pastor, Priest

Cuthbert, now ornament of your Church,

How great things by pious prayers with the Lord granting he accomplished,

It is no work to be told by our verses:

While first in heroic the illustrious Master Bede

Verses set forth the famous deeds of the Father."

[8] We do not wish here, from the Life of S. Bede printed before his works,

to enumerate the most learned disciples whom he left. Among

them are said there to have especially excelled Rabanus, Albinus

Alcuin, Claudius and John Scotus, who

first taught at Paris, and filled

Gaul with good arts. We have given the Life of B. Rabanus on February IV, and

him in §6 of the previous Commentary we have shown was born

in the year DCCLXXXV, that is, fifty whole years after

the death of S. Bede, and that fable: also from Vincent

of Beauvais book 23 of the Speculum Historiale chapter 173 from

the Chronicles reported, we have rejected in §2 number 7. In the time of the said

Rabanus, when he was still Abbot of Fulda, Of the Aachen Council. was held in the year

DCCCXXXVI the Aachen Council, distinguished into three books.

There when in the third book it was to be shown, as in the Preface

is read, "that the temple of the Lord, by Solomon

built and dedicated, was a figure of the Catholic

Church, diffused through the whole world; and the founder

of it King Solomon bore the person of Christ…

Saving on this matter the exposition of the other excellent

Fathers, what the venerable and in modern

times admirable Bede the Priest, of the said

temple in his exposition of the Gospel of John holds,

let us see." The rest there expounded amply can be read.

Furthermore who is here called venerable and admirable writer,

Of B. Lanfranc. by B. Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury is called Doctor of the English,

in epistle 3 to Alexander II

Pope, created in the year MLXI. Then followed Turgot

Prior of Durham, and Florence Monk of Worcester:

from the former we give the Life of S. Bede, the elogy of the latter is reported above.

There succeeded these William of Malmesbury,

Henry of Huntingdon, Roger of Howden, Matthew

of Westminster, and other English Writers, who celebrate the same with excellent

praises: but among these Malmesbury and

Westminster report a letter of Pope Sergius to Ceolfrid

the Abbot: whom he exhorts, that, because certain heads

of Ecclesiastical causes have arisen, Whether Pope Sergius summoned him to Rome? not without

examination to be made known further, there is need for conferring

with men imbued with the art of literature; without any

delay the religious servant of God Bede,

Priest of his venerable monastery, to the thresholds of the Apostles…

and to the sight of his mediocrity, he should not

delay to direct him." But, because Pope Sergius died

on September IX of the year DCCI, that is five years before

Bede was consecrated as Priest, and published any work from his

elucubrations; that whole epistle, unknown to older

writers, appears to us fictitious. We omit Trithemius,

and other more recent writers to enumerate.

LIFE By the Author and collector Turgot

Prior of Durham.

Bede, Venerable Monk and Priest in England (S.)

BHL Number: 1070

FROM THE MS.

CHAPTER I.

Birth, education in the monastery, writings, death.

[2] The venerable servant of the Lord Bede, Priest

and Monk, was born in the province

of the Northumbrians, in the territory of the monastery

of the Apostles Peter and Paul, S. Bede is born in the year 677, which is at Wearmouth

and Jarrow, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation

six hundred seventy-seven, which is the second year

from the solitary life of the most blessed Father Cuthbert. Book 1, ch. 6.

In which monastery by the care of his kinsmen,

when he was seven years old, he was given to be educated to the most reverend

Abbot ^b Benedict, and then to ^c Ceolfrid,

namely in the ^d tenth year after the same monastery

of S. Peter the Apostle was founded; but from the time

the monastery of saint Paul had been begun, from the age of 7 educated in the monastery: in the third year.

Which two monasteries with such peace and concord,

familiarity and brotherly society had been joined,

that (as Bede himself afterwards describes) for one

monastery placed in two places they were held. Whence

he himself in the history of the English, making mention of one,

says ^e "the monastery of Peter and Paul, which is at the mouth

of the river Wear, and beside the river Tyne, in the place which

is called Ingyrvum."

[2] learns the Latin and Greek language: So this little boy of good hope by divine and secular

literature is diligently imbued: at some time

to be the organ of the holy spirit, by whose preceding

irradiating, for the strengthening of the holy universal Church,

very many books in the exposition of the New and Old Testament

he was about to compose. And while he was being instructed in the Latin

language, of Greek also he received not

mediocre skill. For at that time in

the said monastery he studied, when ^f Theodore the Archbishop

and ^g Adrian the Abbot, who in sacred and at the same time

secular letters were both abundantly

instructed, having traversed all Britain, gathering

a troop of disciples, daily streams of saving knowledge

flowed for irrigating their hearts: so

that among the doctrine of the sacred letters, also of metric

art, of Ecclesiastical Arithmetic and of Astronomic

disciplines they delivered to their hearers: and various sciences, as of these

he himself also ^h Bede speaks: and then truly adds also this: "Until today," he says, "there remain of their

disciples, who know the Latin and Greek language,

equally as their own in which they were born." But with Father Cuthbert ⁱ

passing to heaven, he, the future excellent

writer of his life Bede, was then eleven years of age, but of study

in the monastery had four years.

[3] But in the year of the Lord's Incarnation seven hundred

thirty-fourth, but of the rule of ^k Ceolvulf

the seventh, but of the Episcopate of Ethelwold the year

eleventh, dies in the year 735, that lamp of the Catholic Church, to that

light which had illuminated him; that vein of leaping water

into eternal life, came to the living fountain God;

namely the composer of sacred books, the venerable

Priest and Monk Bede, dying in the year

of his age fifty-ninth. From which time

King ^l Oswald and the Bishop Aidan had instituted the Pontifical

Cathedral and the dwelling of Monks in

the island of Lindisfarne in the year one hundred

first, but from the construction of the monastery of Peter the Apostle

at Wearmouth in the sixty-second, but from the passing

of Father Cuthbert in the forty-ninth. Book 1 ch. 14 Who indeed

Bede, living in the extreme corner of the world

was hidden; but after death through all the parts of the world,

living in his books, became known to all: in which

certainly he describes subtly the situations of various lands and regions,

their natures, qualities, after the whole life passed in the monastery. as if he himself had

traversed all of them. Although from infancy

raised in the monastery, he there, until

the day of his calling, passed his whole

life. But lest

anyone, suspect us to say of him otherwise than the matter is:

it seems fitting to subjoin his sayings about himself.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER II.

The manner of life and writings, related in S. Bede's words.

[4] "I, Bede," he says, "servant of Christ and Priest

of the monastery of the blessed Apostles

Peter and Paul, He devotes himself to the sacred Scriptures, which is at Wearmouth and

Ingyrvum, born in the territory of the same monastery,

when I was seven years old, by the care of my kinsmen

I was given to be educated to the most reverend Abbot Benedict

and then to Ceolfrid; and the whole time

of my life from then performing in the dwelling of the same monastery,

I gave all attention to meditating the Scriptures; to ecclesiastical chant, and

among the observance of regular discipline and the daily

care of singing in the church, always either

to learn, or to teach, or to write I held sweet. ^a In the nineteenth

year of my life I received the Diaconate, ^b in the thirtieth

the grade of the Presbyterate, both through the ministry

of the most Reverend Bishop ^c John, with Ceolfrid

the Abbot ordering, and to writing books: I undertook. From the time of receiving the Presbyterate,

up to the ^d fifty-ninth year of my age,

these things into the holy Scripture, for my and my fellows'

necessity, from the works of the venerable Fathers

briefly to annotate, or also to add to the form of meaning and

interpretation of them, I have taken care."

[5] ^e On the beginning of Genesis up to the Birth

of Isaac and the casting out of Ishmael, the catalogue of these he himself composes. three books. On the tabernacle

and its vessels and the vestments of the Priests, three

books. On the first part of Samuel, that is up to

the death of Saul, four books. On the building of the temple

of allegorical exposition, like the rest, two

books. Likewise on the books of Kings, a book of thirty questions.

On the Proverbs of Solomon, three books. On

the Canticle of Canticles, six books. On Ezra and Nehemiah,

three. On the canticle of Habakkuk, one. On the book

of blessed Father Tobias, of allegorical explanation about Christ

and the Church, one book. Likewise chapters of lessons

on the Pentateuch of Moses, Joshua, Judges. On

the books of Kings and the words of days. On the book of blessed Father

Job. On the Parables, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles.

On Isaiah the Prophet, also Ezra and

Nehemiah. On the Gospel of Mark, four books.

On the Gospel of Luke, six books. Of Homilies of the Gospel,

two books. On the Apostle whatever in

the works of S. Augustine I have found expounded, all in

order I have taken care to transcribe. On the Acts of the Apostles,

two books. On the seven Canonical epistles, single

books. On the Apocalypse of S. John, three books. Likewise

chapters of Lessons on the whole new Testament

except the Gospel. Likewise a book of Letters

to various, of which one is on the six ages of the world:

on the dwellings of the sons of Israel, one: one on what

Isaiah says, "And they shall be shut there into prison, and after many days

they shall be visited." On the reckoning of the Bissextus, one: on the Equinox

according to Anatolius, one. Likewise on the histories

of Saints, the ^f book of life and passion of S. Felix

Confessor, from the metric work of Paulinus, into prose

I translated. The book of ^g life and passion of S. Anastasius, badly

translated from Greek and worse by some unskillful one

emended, as I could I corrected to the sense. ^h The Life

of the holy Father Monk and at the same time Bishop Cuthbert,

both first in heroic meter and afterwards in plain speech

I described. The ⁱ History of the Abbots of this monastery

(in which I rejoice to serve the supernal piety) Benedict,

Ceolfrid, and Huetbert, in two little books. The Ecclesiastical

History of our Island and people, in five books.

Martyrs in days, in which all whom I could find,

not only on what day, but also by what kind

of contest, or under what Judge they conquered the world,

I have studied diligently to annotate. A book of hymns

in diverse meter or rhythm. A book of Epigrams

in heroic meter or Elegiac. On the Nature of things

and on times, one larger book. A book

on Orthography, distinguished in alphabetic order.

Likewise a book on Metrical art: and joined to it

another little book on Schemes or Tropes: that is,

on the figures and modes of speech, by which Holy Scripture

is composed. ^l"

[6] When therefore he had published these books with vigilant zeal:

he died on the seventh Kalends of June at Ingyrvum, and there

was buried. But after many courses of years, his bones

were translated thence, and were placed with the incorrupt body

of the most holy Father Cuthbert. In whose honor namely

Bede a porch toward the Northern side

of the church of S. Paul at Ingyrvum consecrated, presents

to the faithful there a venerable memory of his name. Today is shown also

the place, where having a small dwelling of stone,

free from all disturbance, he was wont to sit,

meditate, read, dictate and write.

But he passed away on the very solemn day of the Lord's Ascension:

whose passing we judge better should be written

in the words of him, who as his disciple, named

Cuthbert, was present, thus writing to a fellow disciple.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER III.

His sickness and death related by Cuthbert his disciple.

[7] "To my most beloved fellow gatherer in Christ

Cuthwin, The author gives thanks for Masses and prayers offered: Cuthbert fellow disciple in

the Lord, eternal salvation. The little gift

which you sent I have most willingly received, and most gratefully

read the letters of your devout erudition. In

which especially what I desired, namely Masses

and prayers most sacred, for the God-beloved Father and

our master Bede, by you diligently celebrated

I have found. Whence it pleases more for his charity, as much

as I enjoy genius, in few words to say, in what

order he migrated from the world: since I understood that this also you had desired

and asked.

[8] He was indeed afflicted with a most great infirmity of most frequent

panting, and yet almost without any pain

before

before the day of the Lord's Resurrection, that is almost two

weeks: and so afterwards joyful and rejoicing,

and giving thanks to omnipotent God, S. Bede afflicted with asthma every day

and night, indeed at all hours, until the day of the Lord's

Ascension, that is, the seventh Kalends

of June, under death he instructs the disciples, he led life; and to us his disciples daily

he gave lessons, and whatever was left

of the day, in the singing of Psalms as he could he occupied himself:

but the whole night in joy and giving

of thanks vigilant he studied to lead, he sings Psalms, except as much as

a little sleep impeded. But waking immediately

the accustomed melodies of the Scriptures he repeated,

and with hands extended to give thanks to God did not

cease. Truly I confess that I have never seen anyone with my eyes,

nor heard with my ears, so diligently to give thanks

to the living God. O truly blessed man! He was singing

also the sentence of B. Paul the Apostle, other sentences, 'It is fearful

to fall into the hands of the living God,' and many other things from

holy Scripture, in which he admonished us to rise from the sleep of soul,

forethinking the last hour;

and in our language also, that is English, as

he was learned in our songs, said some things.

For also then this saying in English speech composing,

much compunct he was saying: 'Before the necessary

departure no one is more prudent, than is needful

to think; namely hence before the soul departs,

what good or evil it has done, in what way

after departure it is to be judged.' He was singing also

Antiphons, according to our custom and

his own: and antiphons: of which one is, 'O King of glory, Lord

of virtues, who today as triumpher above all heavens

have ascended, do not abandon us as orphans, but send

the promised one of the Father upon us, the Spirit of truth, Alleluia.'

And when he had come to that; 'Do not abandon us

as orphans;' he burst into tears, and wept much;

and after an hour began to repeat, what he had begun, and

so the whole day did: and we hearing these things,

mourned with him. At one time we read, at another we wept:

indeed always with weeping we read.

[9] In such joy the fifty days up to

the said day we drew on: and he greatly rejoiced,

and gave thanks to God, endures the disease with cheerful mind because he had so deserved to be sick.

He used to relate, and often say, 'God scourges

every son whom he receives,' and many other things from sacred

Scripture: also the sentence of S. Ambrose, 'I have not so

lived that I am ashamed to live among you, but neither do I fear to die,

because we have a good Lord.' But in those

days two works, much worthy of memory,

(besides the lessons, which we received from him, and the singing

of Psalms) he studied to make, he dictates a treatise: that is, from the beginning of the Gospel

of S. John, up to that place in which is said,

'But what are these among so many?' into our language

for the utility of the Church he turned: and from the books of Notes

of Bishop * Isidore certain excerpts, saying:

'I do not wish that my disciples read falsehood, and after my death

labor in this without fruit.'"

he began to be more vehemently ill in his

panting, and a small swelling appeared in his feet. But that whole

day he was teaching, and cheerfully dictating:

and several times among other things he said: "Learn quickly:

I do not know how long I shall remain, and if after a little

my Maker shall take me." But to us it seemed

that he well knew his departure: and so he led the night

in giving of thanks vigilant. Morning dawning,

that is the fourth feria, the day before Ascension he dictates some things: he ordered diligently to be written

what we had begun: and we did this until the third

hour. From the third hour we walked with the relics

of the Saints, as the custom of that day demanded:

but one of us was with him, who said to him: "Yet,

most beloved Master, one Chapter from

the book which you dictated, is missing; does it seem difficult

to you, to be questioned more?" But he: "It is easy," he said. "Take

your pen, and trim it, and write hastily."

Which he did.

[11] But at the ninth hour he said to me: "Some precious things

I have in my little case, that is pepper, kerchiefs, he distributes small gifts, and

incense: run quickly, and the Priests of our monastery

bring to me, that I also small gifts, such as

God has given, may distribute to them. The rich in this world

study to give gold, and silver, and other precious

things: but I, with much charity and

joy, will give to my Brothers what God has given. And

with them present he spoke to them, he asks for sacrifices and prayers: admonishing each one

and beseeching for himself Masses to be celebrated, and prayers

diligently to be made: which they willingly promised.

But all were lamenting and weeping, especially

what he had said, that he reckoned that they would not see his face

much more in this world. They were rejoicing

at what he said; "It is time (if so

it seems good to my Maker) that I return to him who made me,

who created me; who, when I was not, formed me from

nothing. I have lived a long time, well

the kindly judge has provided my life: the time of my dissolution

is at hand, because I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ:

for my soul desires to see my King

Christ in his beauty." But also speaking many other things to

our edification, in joy he led the day until

evening.

[12] And the said boy Wilberth said again: "Beloved Master,

still one sentence is not transcribed."

But he: "Write," he said, "quickly." After a little the boy said,

"Now the sentence is written down." But he; "Well,

he said, "you have spoken truth: it is consummated.

Take my head into your hands, because greatly it

delights me to sit opposite my holy place, in which

I was wont to pray, that I sitting may invoke my

Father." And so on the floor of his little dwelling singing,

"Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit," singing Glory to the Father he expires. when

he had named the Holy Spirit, he exhaled the last

spirit from the body: and (as without doubt is to be believed)

because here he had always most devoutly labored in the praises

of God, he migrated to the joys of heavenly desires.

But all who could hear or see the death of

Bede our Father, said that they had never seen

any other end life in such great devotion and

tranquility. Because as you have heard,

as long as his soul was in the body, "Glory to

the Father" and certain other spiritual things, with hands extended

to the living and true God, giving thanks, he did not cease to offer.

Know however, dearest Father, that I could narrate many things

about him: but now the unlearnedness of my tongue makes the brevity

of speech. Yet I think (with God helping)

to write more fully about him, what with my eyes I have seen, and with my ears

heard."

* Who are these?

CHAPTER IV.

The body of S. Bede translated to Durham, and dispersed, from the history of Turgot, and Wood. Whether the Relics are at Rome?

Under ^a Bishop Eadmund in the Church of Durham

flourished a certain Priest, named Elfred

son of Westou, who continued until the time of ^b Egelwin

the Bishop. Book 3 ch. 3 By Elfred Priest of Durham He was in all things devoted

to S. Cuthbert, a man very sober, given to alms,

assiduous in zeal of prayers, terrible to the lascivious

and immodest, but venerable to the honest and God-fearing,

most faithful keeper of the Church…

So when the said Priest led an honest and religious

life, ordered through a vision through the ancient

places of monasteries and churches in the province

of the Northumbrians to run, he raised from the earth the bones of Saints,

which he knew to be buried in them, and to be made known

to the peoples and venerated above the ground placed

he left… from his annual custom of pilgrimage to S. Bede, To the monastery also, which is at

Ingyrvum, where he knew Bede the Doctor had dwelt, died,

and been buried, every year on the coming

anniversary day of his death he was wont to come,

and there to insist in prayers and vigils. At a certain

time according to custom going there, when some

days he had alone in the church passed praying and watching,

with his companions not knowing at the very dawn alone,

what he had never been wont before, he returned to Durham,

namely wishing to have no witness of his secret.

For when afterwards for many years he lived, to the said

monastery, whose body was carried away as if having now obtained what he had desired,

he did not care to come more. Whence often

asked familiarly by his own, where indeed the bones of Venerable Bede

would rest, certain about the matter inquired, thus he was

wont to reply: "This," he said, "no one knows more certainly than I.

Firm, O most beloved, and far from all doubt

certain hold, is placed beside the body of S. Cuthbert, that the same case, which preserves the most sacred

body of Father Cuthbert, also contains the bones

of the venerable Doctor and Monk Bede.

Outside the lodging of this little case let no one seek a portion

of his Relics." Saying these things he ordered his familiars

to cover with silence, namely lest the foreigners, who

then dwelt in the church itself, should plot some injuries;

whose chief zeal was

to take away the Relics of the Saints, and especially of Bede, if any

they could. Whence when he himself the bones of the Saints

with the body of S. Cuthbert, as has been said above, was placing;

he studied to do this entirely in secret. Whose

opinion concerning Bede also that agrees with, ^c which in English speech

composed ^d song: where when about the state of this

place and about the Relics of the Saints, which are contained in it,

is treated, also of the Relics of Bede together with the rest

there is mention. Whose certainly those bones are known to have been,

which after many years with the incorrupt

body of Father Cuthbert separated from the rest of the Relics,

in ^e a linen sack were found placed.

[14] Anthony a Wood in book 2 of the History, and Antiquities

of the University of Oxford page 61, "S. Bede," he says, "in

the Gervic monastery rested: his Relics then

were translated to Durham, and honourably enclosed in a shrine:

and in the beginnings of the reign of Queen Elizabeth

seized by fanatical zeal Whittingham, the unworthy Dean

of Durham, took them from the temple

and entirely dispersed them."

[15] In the description of the old Vatican Basilica, by a Roman

Canon of the same church at the time of Pope Eugene III composed,

and illustrated by Paul de Angelis, Whether he was at Rome? page 117 the same Roman

thus speaks: "Rests also before the silver gate,

namely under a porphyric wheel, as we have received from our

elders, Venerable Bede the Priest,

who made the Homilies: and on his account our ancients

did not at all pass through it, nor allowed us

to pass through." Where Paul has noted these things: "The Roman

Priest our Author, in this his description of this Basilica

of S. Peter, rightly noted the burial

of Venerable Bede placed in this Basilica." But this

reception from elders has seemed so slight to posterity, that in

enumerating the Relics of this Church mention of Venerable

Bede they have not wished to make Onuphrius On the VII Churches

of the City pages 54 and 55, Pompejus Ugonius in the History of Stations

page 103 and following, and others generally. No mention also

is made of him in the Order of the divine Office, in which is prescribed the veneration

of other Saints, whose sacred bodies or

notable Relics there are preserved. Indeed, as the city of Genoa

had its much younger Bede and the same a Saint,

of whom we treated on day April X, and confused him wrongly with the Doctor

of the English; so also it seems was done at Rome, on the occasion

of some Bede, there after several centuries perhaps buried.

ANNOTATIONS.