Newspaper Article
A Christian-rock band from Houston,
Caedmon’s Call Releases CD
by Cecile S. Holmes—Houston Chronicle, March 14, 1997
nce there was a man
O named Caedmon who
had no talent for singing. He
ran away when he had to
sing. One day as he was run-
ning, he heard God telling
him to sing. He refused, but
God insisted.
So Caedmon opened his
mouth and sang verses he had
never heard before. Singers
and songwriters followed
Caedmon, but none could
match his songs because they
came through God’s grace.
Caedmon’s Call, an
up-and-coming band of
young Houston Christians
who will release a new CD
next week, found its name in
this old story. Recorded in
“Caedmon’s Hymn,” it is an
Old English poem dating to
the seventh century.
Before forming a band, the
members of Caedmon’s Call
were simply friends sharing
their spiritual journeys. They
made music together: for
fun, for self-expression,
to share their lives. Only
later did they feel called
to write and record
music professionally.
Texas, takes its name from a medieval
poet described by the Venerable Bede
in his Ecclesiastical History of the English
People.
“We are a spiritual band. I
don’t know if you would call
it religious music,” said lead
singer and rhythm acoustic
guitarist Cliff Young.
“We are a band full of
Christians. We are three-
dimensional people who live
three-dimensional lives. We in our 20s, but we have lis-
write about getting up in the teners who are college-age
morning and going to sleep,” and people in their late 30s.
he said. “We write songs Our [generation] is a real
from Scripture as well as casual generation. . . .”
songs about deep spiritual The casual approach to
struggles we might have. performing feels right to
And we’ll write a song about band members. Their con-
a bus driver. We cover a lot certs aren’t designed to be
of ground. . . .” splashy, light-sound-and-
Band members hope smoke displays of fabulous
[their] concerts will have the technology. It’s more like lis-
comfortable, casual feel tening to a friend pick out
they’ve tried to cultivate in chords on a guitar in the
the past several years. As garage after school. Or stop-
Young said: “Our music ping by a coffeehouse where
definitely reaches our gener- the singer’s searching lyrics
ation, although I’m not lure you into listening.
sure it should be called
Generation X. All of us are
Analyzing Media
1. What do you think Cliff Young means when he says, “We are three-
dimensional people who live three-dimensional lives”?
2. Do you think Caedmon’s Call is a good name for the band? Explain why or
why not.
 Before You Read
from The Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Meet the
Venerable Bede
About the same time that a scop
may have been singing in a noisy
mead hall about the heroic deeds
of Beowulf, a monk named Bede
was studying and writing in the
quiet library of a monastery.
Whereas the gifted scop re-
mained forever nameless, the
monk’s name became known
throughout the world.
When Bede was a boy of seven, he went to
study and live in a monastery at Wearmouth,
England. About two years later, Bede moved to a
monastery in Jarrow, just a short distance away.
There he remained for the rest of his life, devoting
himself to religion and study.
A man of great scholarship, Bede had far-
ranging interests that included religion, poetry,
grammar, music, art, mathematics, and science. In
fact, his passion for calculating time and dates led
him to use a method of dating still in use today.
This method starts from the birth of Jesus in the
year A.D. 1 (A.D. stands for the Latin Anno
Domini, “in the year of our Lord”). Bede’s use of
this form of dating in his histories helped to popu-
larize it. (Some scholars later estimated Jesus’ birth
to have been six to seven years earlier than Bede
believed.)
Bede wrote in Latin, the language of learning and
religion, rather than in Old English, the language of
the people. With almost forty volumes bearing his
name, Bede is the first important writer of prose in
England and is considered the father of English his-
tory. Bede’s masterpiece, The Ecclesiastical History of
the English People, documents the influence of the
church on the development of English civilization.
96
UNIT 1
Fortunately for us, Bede
was a talented storyteller. His
histories are far more than
mere chronicles of events; they
present meticulously
researched stories of conquests,
saints, missionaries, and
monasteries. To write his great
works, Bede did research in the
library of the monastery, sent
letters all over the world, and
spoke with artists and scholars
from afar who visited the
monastery. Bede reveals in his histories how people
actually lived, providing most of what we know
about life in Britain between the years 46 and 731.
Although Bede never left Jarrow, his reputation
spread widely. About a century after his death, he
was given the title “Venerable” to honor his wis-
dom and piety. In 1899 he was declared a saint of
the Catholic Church.
“ Bede makes every effort to be accurate. He
admits wonders only after he has investigated
them and found them well authenticated. His
standards of verification are not ours, of course.
If today a victim of snakebite were to drink
down some scrapings of Irish books and get well,
we should not conclude that the scrapings had
worked the cure.
” —Kemp Malone
“ The image of Bede as a detached and saintly
scholar does less than justice to the complexity
of his personality and of his work.
”
—Judith McClure and Roger Collins
Bede was born in 672 or 673 and died in 735.
 Before You Read

Reading Focus
What kinds of momentous changes might people make in their lives? What can
cause them to make such changes?
Share Ideas In a small group of classmates, discuss your ideas about how and
why people might change their lives in dramatic ways. In your discussion, offer
examples from your own experience and from the experiences of people you know.
Setting a Purpose In the following selection from Bede’s history, read to
learn about the miraculous changes in two men’s lives.

Building Background
The Time and Place write. They kept records, drew up documents, and wrote
The first selection from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History takes letters for others.
place during the early 600s. In it, Edwin, who has recently
conquered his enemies to become king of Northumbria in
northern England, is discussing Christianity with Paulinus, his
wife’s religious counselor.
The second selection takes place in the late 600s in Whitby,
England. It tells of the miraculous talent of Caedmon, the
first poet to use the Old English language and verse forms to
explore religious themes. Unable to read or write, Caedmon
composed his poems orally and recited them to monastery
scribes, who wrote them down to preserve them.

Did You Know?

The Germanic tribes that took over the territory of the
Roman Empire also adopted its religion, weaving Christianity
into their own myths, as the author of Beowulf did. However,
interest in the new religion faded in the chaotic and brutal
society of the tribal kingdoms. As the seventh century
began, the pope, concerned about the decline of interest in
Christianity, sent out a cavalry of missionaries to do religious
battle. In time, the missionaries brought order to the society,
building monasteries that became centers not only of reli-
gion but also of learning and civilized society. Monks were Illuminated Manuscript Page. Kungl. Bernadotte-Biblioteket
among the few people of the time who could read and (The Royal Collection).

Vocbulary Preview
expound (iks pound
) v. to set forth in detail; aspire (əs p¯r
) v. to strive for; p. 101
explain; p. 99 frivolous (friv
ə ləs) adj. not serious;
diligently (dil
ə jent lē) adv. persistently; p. 100 silly; p. 101

THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
97

 A Scribe Writing, 12th century. Latin (Durham). Illumination from Bede’s Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert.
British Library, London.

98
UNIT 1
 T h e Ve n e r a b l e B e d e
Tr a n s l a t e d b y B e r t r a m C o l g r a v e


KING EDWIN HESITATED TO ACCEPT THE WORD OF GOD which

Paulinus preached but, as we have said, used to sit alone for hours at a time,
earnestly debating within himself what he ought to do and what religion he
should follow. One day Paulinus came to him and, placing his right hand
on the king’s head, asked him if he recognized this sign.

The king began to tremble and would have
thrown himself at the bishop’s feet but
Paulinus raised him up and said in a voice that
seemed familiar, “First you have escaped with
God’s help from the hands of the foes you
feared; secondly you have acquired by His gift
the kingdom you desired; now, in the third
place, remember your own promise; do not
delay in fulfilling it but receive the faith and
keep the commandments of Him who rescued
you from your earthly foes and raised you to
the honor of an earthly kingdom. If from
henceforth you are willing to follow His will
which is made known to you through me, He
will also rescue you from the everlasting tor-
ments of the wicked and make you a partaker
with Him of His eternal kingdom in heaven.”
When the king had heard his words, he
answered that he was both willing and bound
to accept the faith which Paulinus taught. He
said, however, that he would confer about this
with his loyal chief men and his counsellors so
that, if they agreed with him, they might all be
consecrated together in the waters of life.
Paulinus agreed, and the king did as he had
said. A meeting of his council was held, and
each one was asked in turn what he thought of
this doctrine1 hitherto unknown to them and
this new worship of God which was being pro-
claimed.
Coifi, the chief of the priests, answered at
once, “Notice carefully, King, this doctrine
which is now being expounded to us. I frankly
admit that, for my part, I have found that the
religion which we have hitherto held has no
virtue nor profit in it. None of your followers
has devoted himself more earnestly than I
have to the worship of our gods, but neverthe-
less there are many who receive greater bene-
fits and greater honor from you than I do and
are more successful in all their undertakings. If
1. A doctrine is a body of principles taught or advocated, as of a
religion or a government.

Vocabulary
expound (iks pound
) v. to set forth in detail; explain

THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
99

the gods had any power, they
would have helped me more
readily, seeing that I have always
served them with greater zeal.2
So it follows that if, on examina-
tion, these new doctrines which
have now been explained to us
are found to be better and more
effectual, let us accept them at
once without any delay.”
Another of the king’s chief
men agreed with this advice and
with these wise words and then
added, “This is how the present
life of man on earth, King,
appears to me in comparison
with that time which is unknown
to us. You are sitting feasting
with your eldermen and thanes3
in winter time; the fire is burning
on the hearth in the middle of
the hall and all inside is warm,
while outside the wintry storms
of rain and snow are raging; and a
sparrow flies swiftly through the
hall. It enters in at one door and
quickly flies out through the
other. For the few moments it is
inside, the storm and wintry tem-
pest cannot touch it, but after the briefest Coifi added that he would like to listen
moment of calm, it flits from your sight, out of still more carefully to what Paulinus himself
the wintry storm and into it again. So this life had to say about God. The king ordered
of man appears but for a moment; what follows Paulinus to speak, and when he had said his
or indeed what went before, we know not at all. say, Coifi exclaimed, “For a long time now I
If this new doctrine brings us more certain have realized that our religion is worthless;
information, it seems right that we should for the more diligently I sought the truth in
accept it.” Other elders and counsellors of the our cult, the less I found it. Now I confess
king continued in the same manner, being openly that the truth shines out clearly in
divinely prompted to do so. this teaching which can bestow on us the gift
of life, salvation, and eternal happiness.
2. Zeal means “enthusiastic devotion.”
Therefore, I advise your Majesty that we
3. Eldermen are advisers; thanes are nobles. should promptly abandon and commit to the

Vocabulary
diligently (dil
ə jent lē) adv. persistently

100
UNIT 1

flames the temples and the altars which
we have held sacred without reaping any
benefit.” Why need I say more? The king
publicly accepted the gospel which Paulinus
preached, renounced idolatry, and confessed
his faith in Christ. When he asked the high
priest of their religion which of them should
be the first to profane4 the altars and the
shrines of the idols, together with their
precincts, Coifi answered, “I will; for through
the wisdom the true God has given me no
one can more suitably destroy those things
which I once foolishly worshipped, and so set
an example to all.” And at once, casting
aside his vain superstitions, he asked the king
to provide him with arms and a stallion; and
mounting it, he set out to destroy the idols.
Now a high priest of their religion was not
allowed to carry arms or to ride except on a
mare. So, girded with a sword, he took a
spear in his hand, and mounting the king’s
stallion, he set off to where the idols were.
The common people who saw him thought
he was mad. But as soon as he approached
the shrine, without any hesitation he pro-
faned it by casting the spear which he held
into it; and greatly rejoicing in the knowl-
edge of the worship of the true God, he
ordered his companions to destroy and set
fire to the shrine and all the enclosures. The
place where the idols once stood is still
shown, not far from York, to the east, over
the river Derwent. Today it is called
Goodmanham, the place where the high
priest, through the inspiration of the true
God, profaned and destroyed the altars
which he himself had consecrated.5
4. Profane means “to treat with disrespect; to desecrate.”
5. Consecrated means “set apart as sacred.”
Vocabulary
aspire (əs p¯r
) v. to strive for
frivolous (friv
ə ləs) adj. not serious; silly
THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
T h e Ve n e r a b l e B e d e 
6
Tr a n s l a t e d b y L e o S h e r l e y - P r i c e
In this monastery of Whitby there lived a
brother7 whom God’s grace made remarkable.
So skilful was he in composing religious and
devotional songs, that he could quickly turn
whatever passages of Scripture were explained
to him into delightful and moving poetry in his
own English tongue. These verses of his stirred
the hearts of many folk to despise the world
and aspire to heavenly things. Others after him
tried to compose religious poems in English,
but none could compare with him, for he
received this gift of poetry as a gift from God
and did not acquire it through any human
teacher. For this reason he could never com-
pose any frivolous or profane8 verses, but only
such as had a religious theme fell fittingly
from his devout lips. And although he fol-
lowed a secular9 occupation until well ad-
vanced in years, he had never learned any-
thing about poetry: indeed, whenever all
those present at a feast took it in turns to sing
and entertain the company, he would get up
from table and go home directly he saw the
harp approaching him.
On one such occasion he had left the
house in which the entertainment was being
held and went out to the stable, where it was
his duty to look after the beasts that night.
6. Caedmon (kad
mən)
7. A brother is a member of a religious community who is not a
priest or a monk.
8. Here, profane means “worldly.”
9. Secular means “not religious.”

101
He lay down there at the appointed time and
fell asleep, and in a dream he saw a man
standing beside him who called him by name.
“Caedmon,” he said, “sing me a song.” “I
don’t know how to sing,” he replied. “It is
because I cannot sing that I left the feast and
came here.” The man who addressed him
then said: “But you shall sing to me.” “What
should I sing about?” he replied. “Sing about
the Creation of all things,” the other
answered. And Caedmon immediately began
to sing verses in praise of God the Creator
that he had never heard before, and their
theme ran thus: “Let us praise the Maker of
the kingdom of heaven, the power and pur-
pose of our Creator, and the acts of the Father
of glory. Let us sing how the eternal God, the
Author of all marvels, first created the heav-
ens for the sons of men as a roof to cover
them, and how their almighty Protector gave
them the earth for their dwelling place.” This
is the general sense, but not the actual words
that Caedmon sang in his dream; for however
excellent the verses, it is impossible to trans-
late them from one language into another10
without losing much of their beauty and dig-
nity. When Caedmon awoke, he remembered
everything that he had sung in his dream, and
soon added more verses in the same style to
the glory of God.
Early in the morning he went to his supe-
rior the reeve,11 and told him about this gift
that he had received. The reeve took him
before the abbess,12 who ordered him to give
an account of his dream and repeat the verses
in the presence of many learned men, so that
they might decide their quality and origin. All
10. Caedmon’s poetry was translated from one language into
another—from Old English to Latin.
11. A reeve is the manager of a manor or farm.
12. An abbess is the head of a convent or monastery.
102
UNIT 1
of them agreed that Caedmon’s gift had been
given him by our Lord, and when they had
explained to him a passage of scriptural his-
tory or doctrine, they asked him to render13 it
into verse if he could. He promised to do this,
and returned next morning with excellent
verses as they had ordered him. The abbess
was delighted that God had given such grace
to the man, and advised him to abandon sec-
ular life and adopt the monastic state. And
when she had admitted him into the
Community as a brother, she ordered him to
be instructed in the events of sacred history.14
So Caedmon stored up in his memory all that
he learned, and after meditating on it, turned
it into such melodious verse that his delightful
renderings turned his instructors into his audi-
ence. He sang of the creation of the world, the
origin of the human race, and the whole story
of Genesis. He sang of Israel’s departure from
Egypt, their entry into the land of promise, and
many other events of scriptural history. He
sang of the Lord’s Incarnation, Passion,
Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven, the
coming of the Holy Spirit, and the teaching of
the Apostles. He also made many poems on
the terrors of the Last Judgement, the horrible
pains of Hell, and the joys of the kingdom of
heaven. In addition to these, he composed
several others on the blessings and judge-
ments of God, by which he sought to turn his
hearers from delight in wickedness, and to
inspire them to love and do good. For
Caedmon was a deeply religious man, who
humbly submitted to regular discipline, and
firmly resisted all who tried to do evil, thus
winning a happy death.
13. Render means “to express in another form.”
14. [The abbess . . . history.] The abbess is delighted with
Caedmon’s gift and advises him to join the monastery and
learn the narratives of the Bible.

 Active Reading and Critical Thinking
Responding to Literature
Personal Response
After reading the selections, what questions would you like
to ask Bede? Why?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. What argument convinces Edwin to convert to Christianity?
What does this reveal about Edwin’s personality?
2. Summarize the analogy, or comparison (see page R1),
that persuades the king to convert. What do the sparrow
and the storm symbolize?
3. Why does Coifi volunteer to be the first person to pro-
fane the shrine? Why might the “common people” pay
attention to Coifi’s actions?
4. What is Caedmon’s life like before his dream? How does
it change after the dream?
5. Describe how Caedmon had to verify the quality and
origin of his poetry. What does this reveal about the
times in which Caedmon lived?
Evaluate and Connect
6. Compare the changes you discussed during the Reading
Focus on page 96 with the change Edwin made in his
life. Did the discussion help you understand Edwin’s
reasons for change? Explain.
7. Which argument for conversion did you find the most
interesting? The most sincere? Explain.
8. Analyze the poem that came to Caedmon in his dream.
To what is heaven compared?
9. What techniques does Bede use to make history
come alive?
10. Theme Connections Why was a humble poet so
revered during his time? Do you think a poet could be
as important today? Explain.
Extending Your Response
Personal Writing
Time for a Change In your journal, write about a time
when you decided to make a change in your life. Describe
why you decided to make this change and how it affected
your life. Then reflect upon how you might view changes in
your life as a positive sign of growth.
THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
Literary Criticism
Author Kevin Crossley-Holland praises “Caedmon” as a
“delightful example . . . of [Bede’s] lucid and unaffected prose
style.” Do you agree that Bede’s style is clear and simple? Write
a paragraph explaining what does—or does not—make it so.
Then share your ideas in a class discussion.
Literary ELEMENTS
History
A history is a factual account of real events that occurred in
the past. Typically, a history is in the form of a narrative, is
arranged chronologically, and seeks to provide an objective
description of what happened.
1. In your opinion, does the selection from The
Ecclesiastical History fit the definition of a typical history?
Explain why or why not.
2. What, do you think, is the primary purpose of Bede’s
Ecclesiastical History? What other purposes might
Bede have had for writing the history?
3. Although historians try to be objective, they are never-
theless influenced by the times in which they live as
well as personal biases and prejudices. What biases,
prejudices, or other “blind spots” might have colored
Bede’s work?
• See Literary Terms Handbook, p. R8.
Listening and Speaking
Bede’s Theater With three other students, read aloud the
selection about the conversion of Edwin. Each student should
choose one of these “parts”: Paulinus, Coifi, the unnamed
counselor, and the narrator. After rehearsing your parts, do a
dramatic reading of the selection for the class.
Save your work for your portfolio.

103