blooms.' For in that same hour he alone saw an angel of the Lord hovering above within the walls of his oratory. And, because the lovely and tranquil aspect of the holy angels pours joy and gladness into the hearts of the elect, this was the cause of that sudden gladness imparted to the blessed man. And when those who were therein present inquired as to what, mark you, was the cause of the joy that was kindled within him, the 10 cording to the saying of the Scriptures, Saint, looking upward, gave them this reply: 'Wonderful and incomparable is the subtilty of the nature of angels. For, behold, an angel of the Lord, sent to demand some de

venerable man in the next place thus speaks: "This day is in the sacred volumes called Sabbath, which is, being interpreted, Rest. And for me this day is a Sabbath indeed, 5 because it is the last day of this my present laborious life, in which I take my rest after all the wearinesses of my labours. And in the middle of this most solemn night (eve) of the Lord's day that is now coming, ac

"I shall go the way of my fathers." For even now my Lord Jesus Christ deigneth to invite me, to Whom, I say, in the middle of this night, I shall depart, at His invitation.

posit dear to God, looking down from above 15 For thus it hath been revealed unto me by

the Lord Himself.' The attendant on hearing these sad words began to weep bitterly, but the Saint endeavoured to console him as well as he could.

upon us within the church, and blessing us, has returned again through the vaulting of the church, and has left no traces of such an exit.' So far the Saint. But yet, as to the nature of that deposit for which the angel 20 was sent to make inquiry, not one of those who were standing around was able to form an opinion. Our patron, however, gave the name of a holy deposit to his own soul, which had been entrusted to him by God; which 25 road. And while the Saint, feeble with age,

soul, as will be narrated below, in the night of the next Lord's day, six days in succession coming between, passed away to the Lord.

And so the venerable man at the end of the

After this, the Saint goes out of the granary, and, returning to the monastery, sits down at the half-way, in which place a cross, afterwards fixed in a millstone, and standing at this day, is to be seen on the side of the

as I said before, sat down for a little while and rested in that place, behold! there comes up to him the white horse, that faithful servant, mark you, that used to carry

byre?) and the monastery. This creature then coming up to the Saint, wonderful to say, putting its head in his bosom, as I believe under the inspiration of God, in Whose

of things, because the Creator Himself hath so ordered it; knowing that his master would soon depart from him, and that he would see his face no more, began to utter plaintive

same week, that is on the Sabbath day 30 the milk-pails between the cow-pasture (or (Saturday), himself and his dutiful attendant Diormit, go to bless the granary, which was close at hand. On entering which, when he blessed both it and two heaps of corn there were stored therein, he uttered these 35 sight every animal is endowed with a sense words with giving of thanks, saying, 'I greatly congratulate the monks of my household that this year also, if I should have to depart from you to any place, ye will have enough for the year.' On hearing this saying, 40 moans, and, as if a man, to shed tears in Diormit his attendant began to be sorrowful, and to speak thus: 'In the course of this year, Father, thou art often making us sorrowful, because thou so frequently makest mention of thy departure.' To whom the 45 Saint gave this reply, 'I have some little secret discourse, and if thou wilt faithfully promise me not to disclose it to any one before my death, I shall be able to give thee

abundance into the Saint's lap, and so to weep, frothing greatly. Which when the attendant saw, he began to drive away that weeping mourner; but the Saint forbad him, saying, 'Let him alone! As he loves me so, let him alone; that into this my bosom he may pour out the tears of his most bitter lamentation. Behold! thou, even seeing that thou art a man, and hast a rational soul,

some clearer intimation concerning my de- 50 couldest in no way know anything about my

parture.' When the attendant, on bended knees, had completed some such promise, according to the wish of the Saint, the

departure, except what I myself have lately shown to thee; but to this brute animal, destitute of reason, in what way soever the

Maker Himself hath willed, He hath revealed that his master is about to go away from him.' And, so saying, he blessed his sorrowing servant the horse, then turning about to go away from him.

God, the Comforter of good men, will help you; and I, abiding with Him, will intercede for you. And not only shall the necessaries of this present life be sufficiently 5 supplied by Him, but He will also bestow those rewards of eternal riches, which are laid up for them that keep His Divine laws.' Thus far we have drawn up, recounted in a short paragraph, the last words of our

And going forth thence, he ascended the little hill that overlooks the monastery, and stood for a little while on the top of it, and, standing with both hands lifted up, he blessed the monastery, saying, 'To this 10 venerable patron, spoken just as he was

place, small and mean though it be, not only
the Scotic kings (Irish and Dalriadic) with
their peoples, but also the rulers of strange
and foreign nations, with the people subject
to them, shall bring great and extraordinary 15
honour; by the Saints also of other churches
shall no common reverence be shown.'

passing over from this weary pilgrimage unto the heavenly country.

Bede (673-735)

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF THE
ENGLISH NATION

CONVERSION OF KING EDWIN

King Edwin, therefore, delaying to receive the word of God at the preaching of Paulinus, and using for some time, as has been said, to sit several 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, laid his right hand on his head, and asked, 'Whether he knew that sign?' The king in

After these words, descending from that little hill, and returning to the monastery, he sat in his cell transcribing the Psalter; and 20 coming to that verse of the thirty-third (34th) Psalm where it is written, 'But they who seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good,' 'Here,' he says, 'at the end of the page, I must cease. What follows 25 let Baithene write.' The last verse which he had written was very suitable for the Saint at his departure, to whom eternal things that are good shall never be wanting; while the following verse was most suitable for his 30 a trembling condition, was ready to fall successor, as a father and teacher of spiritual sons: 'Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.' And indeed he, as his predecessor enjoined, succeeded him not only in teaching, but also 35 in transcribing.

down at his feet, but he raised him up, and in a familiar manner said to him, 'Behold by the help of God you have escaped the hands of the enemies whom you feared. Behold you have of his gift obtained the kingdom which you desired. Take heed not to delay that which you promised to perform; embrace the faith, and keep the precepts of Him who, delivering you from temporal ad

temporal kingdom; and if, from this time forward, you shall be obedient to his will, which through me He signifies to you, He will not only deliver you from the everlast

After the transcription of the aforesaid verse, at the end of the page, the Saint enters the church for the evening mass (evensong) of the Lord's day night (eve), and as soon 40 versity, has raised you to the honour of a as this is over he returns to his cell, where he had bare rock for his bedding, and a stone for his pillow, which at this day is standing by his grave as a kind of sepulchral monument; and he sits on the bed through the 45 ing torments of the wicked, but also make night. And so, there sitting, he gives his last commands to the brethren, in the hearing of his attendant only; saying, "These last words, O my children, I commend

you partaker with Him of his eternal kingdom in heaven.'

The king, hearing these words, answered, that he was both willing and bound to re

unto you; that ye have mutual and un- 50 ceive the faith which he taught; but that

feigned charity among yourselves, with peace. And if, according to the example of the holy fathers, ye shall attend to this,

he would confer about it with his principal friends and counsellors, to the end that if they also were of his opinion, they might

all together be cleansed in Christ the Fountain of Life. Paulinus consenting, the king did as he had said; for, holding a council with the wise men, he asked of every one in particular what he thought of the new doctrine, and the new worship that was preached? To which the chief of his own priests, Coifi, immediately answered, 'O king, consider what this is which is now preached to us; for I verily declare to you, 10 instantly abjure and set fire to those temples

out, 'I have long since been sensible that there was nothing in that which we worshipped; because the more diligently I sought after truth in that worship, the less 5I 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 I advise, O king, that we

and altars which we have consecrated without reaping any benefit from them.' In short, the king publicly gave his license to Paulinus to preach the Gospel, and

that the religion which we have hitherto professed has, as far as I can learn, no virtue in it. For none of your people has applied himself more diligently to the worship of our gods than I: and yet there are many who 15 renouncing idolatry, declared that he rereceive greater favours from you, and are more preferred than I, and are more prosperous in all their undertakings. Now if the gods were good for anything, they would rather forward me, who have been more 20 careful to serve them. It remains, therefore, that if upon examination you find those new doctrines, which are now preached to us, better and more efficacious, we immediately receive them without delay.'

ceived the faith of Christ: and when he inquired of the high priest who should first profane the altars and temples of their idols, with the enclosures that were about them, he answered, 'I; for who can more properly than myself destroy those things which I worshipped through ignorance, for an example to all others, through the wisdom which has been given me by the true 25 God?' Then immediately, in contempt of his former superstitions, he desired the king to furnish him with arms and a stallion; and mounting the same, he set out to destroy the idols; for it was not lawful before for carry arms, or to ride on any but a mare. Having, therefore, girt a sword about him, with a spear in his hand, he mounted the king's stallion and proceeded to the idols. The multitude be

Another of the king's chief men, approving of his words and exhortations, presently added: "The present life of man, O king, seems to me, in comparison of that time which is unknown to us, like to the swift 30 the high priest either to flight of a sparrow through the room wherein you sit at supper in winter, with your commanders and ministers, and a good fire in the midst, whilst the storms of rain and snow prevail abroad; the sparrow, I say, flying in 35 holding it, concluded he was distracted;

but he lost no time, for as soon as he drew near the temple he profaned the same, casting into it the spear which he held; and rejoicing in the knowledge of the worship.

at one door, and immediately out at another, whilst he is within, is safe from the wintry storm; but after a short space of fair weather, he immediately vanishes out of your sight, into the dark winter from which he 40 of the true God, he commanded his com

had emerged. So this life of man appears for a short space, but of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly ignorant. If, therefore, this new doctrine contains

panions to destroy the temple, with all its enclosures, by fire. This place where the idols were is still shown, not far from York, to the eastward, beyond the river Derwent,

something more certain, it seems justly to 45 and is now called Godmundingham, where

deserve to be followed.' The other elders and king's counsellors, by Divine inspiration, spoke to the same effect.

But Coifi added, that he wished more attentively to hear Paulinus discourse 50 concerning the God whom he preached; which he having by the king's command performed, Coifi, hearing his words, cried.

the high priest, by the inspiration of the true God, profaned and destroyed the altars which he had himself consecrated.

THE POET CEDMON

There was in this abbess's monastery a certain brother, particularly remarkable for

the grace of God, who was wont to make pious and religious verses, so that whatever was interpreted to him out of Scripture, he soon after put the same into poetical expressions of much sweetness and humility, in English, which was his native language. In the morning he came to the steward, By his verses the minds of many were often his superior, and having acquainted him excited to despise the world, and to aspire to with the gift he had received, was conducted heaven. Others after him attempted, in the to the abbess, by whom he was ordered, in English nation, to compose religious poems, 10 the presence of many learned men, to tell but none could ever compare with him, for his dream, and repeat the verses, that they he did not learn the art of poetry from men, but from God; for which reason he never could compose any trivial or vain poem, but only those which relate to religion suited 15 ferred on him by our Lord. They expounded his religious tongue; for having lived in a secular habit till he was well advanced in years, he had never learned anything of versifying; for which reason being sometimes at entertainments, when it was agreed 20 for the sake of mirth that all present should sing in their turns, when he saw the instrument come towards him, he rose up from table and returned home.

much of their beauty and loftiness. Awaking from his sleep, he remembered all that he had sung in his dream, and soon added much more to the same effect in verse worthy of 5 the Deity.

might all give their judgment what it was, and whence his verse proceeded. They all concluded that heavenly grace had been con

to him a passage in holy writ, either historical, or doctrinal, ordering him, if he could, to put the same into verse. Having undertaken it, he went away, and returning the next morning, gave it to them composed in most excellent verse; whereupon the abbess, embracing the grace of God in the man, instructed him to quit the secular habit, and take upon him the monastic life; which

Having done so at a certain time, and gone 25 being accordingly done, she associated him out of the house where the entertainment was, to the stable, where he had to take care of the horses that night, he there composed himself to rest at the proper time; a person

to the rest of the brethren in her monastery, and ordered that he should be taught the whole series of sacred history. Thus Cædmon, keeping in mind all he heard, and as it

appeared to him in his sleep, and saluting 30 were chewing the cud, converted the same

him by his name, said, 'Cædmon, sing some song to me.' He answered, 'I cannot sing; for that was the reason why I left the entertainment, and retired to this place, because

into most harmonious verse; and sweetly repeating the same, made his masters in their turn his hearers. He sang the creation of the world, the origin of man, and all the

I could not sing.' The other who talked to 35 history of Genesis; and made many verses on him, replied, 'However, you shall sing.'-'What shall I sing?' rejoined he. 'Sing the beginning of created beings,' said the other. Hereupon he presently began to sing verses

the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and their entering into the land of promise, with many other histories from holy writ; the incarnation, passion, resur

to the praise of God, which he had never 40 rection of our Lord, and his ascension into heard, the purport whereof was thus:We are now to praise the Maker of the heavenly kingdom, the power of the Creator and his counsel, the deeds of the Father of glory.

heaven; the coming of the Holy Ghost, and the preaching of the apostles; also the terror of future judgment, the horror of the pains of hell, and the delights of heaven; besides

How He, being the eternal God, became the 45 many more about the Divine benefits and

author of all miracles, who first, as almighty preserver of the human race, created heaven for the sons of men as the roof of the house, and next the earth. This is the sense, but

judgments, by which he endeavoured to turn away all men from the love of vice, and to excite in them the love of, and application to, good actions; for he was a very religious

not the words in order as he sang them in 50 man, and humbly submissive to regular dis

his sleep; for verses, though never so well composed, cannot be literally translated out of one language into another, without losing

cipline, but full of zeal against those who behaved themselves otherwise; for which reason he ended his life happily.

AUTHOR'S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF

Thus much of the Ecclesiastical History of Britain, and more especially of the English 5 nation, as far as I could learn either from the writings of the ancients, or the tradition of our ancestors, or of my own knowledge, has, with the help of God, been digested by me, Bede, the servant of God, and priest of the

For when the time of his departure drew near, he laboured for the space of fourteen days under a bodily infirmity which seemed to prepare the way, yet so moderate that he could talk and walk the whole time. In his neighbourhood was the house to which those that were sick, and like shortly to die, were carried. He desired the person that attended him, in the evening, as the night came on in which he was to depart this life, to make 10 monastery of the blessed apostles, Peter and ready a place there for him to take his rest. This person, wondering why he should desire it, because there was as yet no sign of his dying soon, did what he had ordered. He accordingly went there, and conversing 15 pleasantly in a joyful manner with the rest that were in the house before, when it was past midnight, he asked them, whether they had the Eucharist there? They answered, 'What need of the Eucharist? for you are not 20 likely to die, since you talk so merrily with us, as if you were in perfect health.''However,' said he, 'bring me the Eucharist.' Having received the same into his hand, he asked, whether they were all in charity with 25 of the most reverend Bishop John, and by the him, and without any enmity or rancour? They answered, that they were all in perfect charity, and free from anger; and in their turn asked him, whether he was in the same mind towards them? He answered, 'I am in 30 the venerable Fathers, and to interpret and

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

Paul, which is at Weremouth and Jarrow; who being born in the territory of that same monastery, was given, at seven years of age, to be educated by the most reverend Abbot Benedict, and afterwards by Ceolfrid; and, spending all the remaining time of my life in that monastery, I wholly applied myself to the study of Scripture, and amidst the observance of regular discipline, and the daily care of singing in the church, I always took delight in learning, teaching, and 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

order of the Abbot Ceolfrid. From which time, till the fifty-ninth year of my age, I have made it my business, for the use of me and mine, to compile out of the works of

explain according to their meaning these following pieces. .

And now I beseech thee, good Jesus, that to whom thou hast graciously granted

the time was when the brothers were to 35 sweetly to partake of the words of thy

be awakened to sing the nocturnal praises of our Lord? They answered, 'It is not far off.' Then he said, 'Well, let us wait that hour'; and signing himself with the sign of

wisdom and knowledge, thou wilt also vouchsafe that he may some time or other come to thee the fountain of all wisdom, and always appear before thy face, who livest

the cross, he laid his head on the pillow, and 40 and reignest world without end. Amen. falling into a slumber, ended his life so in silence.

ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE

A.D. 435. This year the Goths sacked
the city of Rome; and never since have the
Romans reigned in Britain.
This was

Thus it came to pass, that as he had served God with a simple and pure mind, and undisturbed devotion, so he now departed to his 45 presence, leaving the world by a quiet death; and that tongue, which had composed so many holy words in praise of the Creator, uttered its last words whilst he was in the act of signing himself with the cross, and recom- 50 Britain four hundred and seventy winters mending himself into his hands, and by what has been here said, he seems to have had foreknowledge of his death.

about eleven hundred and ten winters after it was built. They reigned altogether in

since Gaius Julius first sought that land.

A.D. 449. This year Marcian and Valentinian assumed the empire, and reigned