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A OX1.71.

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Bede's Ecclesiastical History.

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Photo-litho University Press, Oxford.

BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Ms TANNER 10, page 40b.

 The Old English Version

of

Bede's Ecclesiastical History

of

The English People.

EDITED

WITH A TRANSLATION AND INTRODUCTION.

BY

THOMAS MILLER, M.A., PH.D.

FORMERLY FELLOW OF QUEENS' COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, ENGLISH LEKTOR AT
GÖTTINGEN UNIVERSITY.
BL
UNIVERSITE

IO
T

BIBL
HE
R

PART I.
L
SE
" BA

LONDON :

PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,

BY N. TRÜBNER AND CO. , 57 AND 59 LUDGATE HILL .

MDCCCXC.
 PREFACE .

THE first edition of this version was that of Wheelock⚫

(Cambridge, 1643) . This gives correctly the text of Ca.
The second was that of Smith (Cambridge, 1722). It has
not been republished since . Wheelock adds a few readings
from B. and C. Smith reproduces Ca. , correcting a few errors
in Wheelock, and introducing good emendations from the
other MSS. He gives a very full collation of B. , incomplete
of T. and O. , and very slight of C. As C. was burnt in the
fire of 1731 , this omission is disastrous.
The present edition was undertaken, while I was studying
the syntax of Alfred , for my own use with a view to obtain a
correct and uniform text. T. was selected as the basis, and its
defects supplemented from B. , as belonging to the same recen-
sion. The text was completed and written out twice, keeping
the original object in view. But after repeated collations
and careful study of the MSS. , it became evident that Bede
was an Anglian and not a West-Saxon work, and that the
first necessity was to exhibit a text, representing as far as
possible the Anglian archetype. This led me to discard B. ,
and adopt a ' contamination ' of texts founded on T. C. O. Ca.
in order of preference. The scribe or editor of B.'s text has
dealt very freely with his author, changing forms and words
vi PREFACE.

and recasting sentences. That which renders his work inter-

esting to a student of syntax, makes it for dialectical purposes
comparatively useless.
The consequent expenditure of time and labour has been
very heavy. It was only after considerable hesitation, that
I resolved to sacrifice so much that had been already com-
pleted . But I look with confidence for the approbation of
scholars in the course I have followed . Great pains have
been taken to secure a correct text. T. has been collated
twice throughout. O. has been collated throughout, and
twice in those portions used to supplement T. B. has been
collated throughout, and twice at the beginning and end
where T. is defective. Smith and Wheelock were collated
and the resulting text collated throughout with the MS. Ca.
The fragments of C. have been in part collated twice : see
the detailed statement under the description of this MS.
All defects of that MS . , which for the time forms the basis
of the text, have been stated in the critical notes with
variants of all the others. In cases of omission, if more
than one MS. omits, the fact is stated. A star is affixed to
conjectures, a dagger to corrupt portions. Smith's pages and
the Latin chapters are given in the margin to facilitate
reference from existing Lexicons and other works. The

Latin chapters are therefore put at the head of pages : the

Roman numerals are copied from the English MSS .
The translation has been made to meet the requirements
of the Early English Text Society, who are publishing the
work.

My best thanks are due to the library authorities of the

British Museum, the Bodleian, Cambridge University, Corpus
Christi College, Oxford, and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge,
for facilities in consulting MSS. I have also to acknowledge my
obligations to Professors Nettleship and Napier, Dr. Neubauer
and Mr. Madan, Oxford ; to Professor Lumby and Mr. C. J. Clay,
 PREFACE . vi

Cambridge, as well as to the Rev. S. S. Lewis, C. C. C. , whose

untiring courtesy has lightened the labours of many scholars.
Messrs. Warner and Bickley have obligingly aided in deter-
mining the age of MSS. Dr. A. Schmidt kindly sent me
his dissertation , which I have cited in the Introduction.
Mr. P. H. Miller, A. R. H. A., gave me information as to
illuminated MSS . , quoted in the description of T.
The second part will contain full apparatus criticus and
glossary, with a conspectus of the dialectical peculiarities of
all MSS.

GÖTTINGEN, July, 1890.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE
INTRODUCTION xiii to lix
Description of MSS. xiii
Sources of the Printed Text. xxii
Common origin of MSS. xxiii
Latin Text followed xxiii
Two classes of MSS. xxiv
Connection of T. B. XXV
Connection of C. O. Ca. XXV
Relation between T. B. C. . xxvi
on &c. for and in O. E. xxvi
99 ‫وو‬ in Bede xxvii
in, un, en in O. German xxviii
and in O. Frisian xxviii
ono, &c. in MSS. of Bede xxix
ono not = ' if' xxxi
eno in Blickling Homilies (note) . xxxi
heono forms in Northern documents xxxi
(h)ono sense and usage xxxii
inu &c. in O. German . xxxii
eno in Tatian xxxiii
ac interrogative (Anglian) xxxiii
Mercian origin of O. E. Bede Xxxiii
in, on oldest English · xxxiii
99 ‫ دو‬Kentish (an) • . xxxiv
‫ وو‬,, Saxon, Saxon-Kentish xxxvi
‫دو‬ », Surrey xxxvi
‫وو‬ ,, Northampton . xxxvii
X TABLE OF CONTENTS .

INTRODUCTION, continued— PAGE

in, on Mercian (Worc., Glouc. , Salop) xxxvii
"" "" East Anglia • · Xxxviii
"" "9 West-Saxon Literature Xxxviii
"" local survey • xxxix
,, Vespasian Psalter xxxix
"" "" Northern Gospels x1
"" "" Durham Ritual xli
99 O. E. Bede xlii
O. E. Bede and Vespasian Psalter xliv
"" "" "9 date xliv
mid in oldest English xliv
"" in Charters xliv
"" Kentish Glosses xlv
"" West-Saxon literature . xlv
"" Blickling Homilies xlv
"" Vespasian Psalter xlv
"" Northern Gospels . • xlvi
"" Durham Ritual • xlvi
"" in poetry • xlvi
"" in O. E. Bede xlvii
,, MS. T. full statistics xlviii
"" form of preposition xlviii
Bede and V. P. correspond • xlviii
"" decay of • xlviii
O. E. Bede not West-Saxon xlix
leoran in Bede • xlix
leort "" "" • 1
Notable words in Bede 1
Grammatical notes li
Syntactical notes • liii
Text of T. -scribes 2, 5 liii
A, O, before nasals in T. liv
"" "" "" "" V. P. liv
"" "" "" "" Rushworth . liv
་ ཝོ

"" "" "" Kentish liv

22
33 23

"" "" Chad • lv

"" Layamon lv
ཝོ
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. xi

INTRODUCTION, continued- PAGE

A before L and consonant in T. &c. lv
"" "" "" in Charters (note) • lv
Alfred and O. E. Bede lvi
West-Saxon Genealogy lvi
Mercian Scholars . lvii
Scots in O. E. Bede lvii
Later notices of O. E. Bede lviii
Lichfield the birthplace of O. E. Bede lix

TEXT AND TRANSLATION :-

Preface 2
Contents 7
Book I. 24
"" II. • 94
"" III. • 152
"" IV . • 252
"9 V. 384
West-Saxon Genealogy 486
 ERRATA.

P. 64, 1. 18, for seo read se.

P. 76, 1. 20, read frecernisse.
P. 85, l. 14, read ' which were sacred among them.'
P. 97, 1. 23 , for ' peerless ' read ' angelical.'
P. 114, add as note to Chap. No. VI, ' erasure in T. No. dubious.'
P. 155, 1. 4, for eleven ' read ' twelve.'
P. 262, 1. 19, for ðy read þe.
P. 310, note to 1. 18, for ' seofonteogeðan Ca.' read ' omitted in Ca.'
P. 321 , number of page wrongly printed as 231 .
P. 324, 1. 23, readfrecernisse.
P. 358, 1. 4, read neara.
P. 368, 1. 4, read Ecgferdes.
P. 372, 1. 1, read swa hwat .
P. 393, 1. 26, for ' expects ' read ' begs.'
P. 417, 1. 24, for • converse with ' read ' visit. '
 INTRODUCTION.

THERE are four MSS. of this version, and some fragments of a

fifth.

T. Tanner 10 in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, size 9 x 6

inches. It is defective at the beginning up to p. 54, 2 (Bk. 1 ,
16) ; and at the end from 442, 23 (Bk. 5, 14). Seven leaves have
been torn out for sake of the illuminated letters probably, as these
latter defects only occur at the beginning of chapters. These gaps
may be seen in the table at the end of the description of the MSS.
A scrap of one is left (p. 56 note).
T. now contains 138 leaves, among which is reckoned the blank
leaf at the end of Book 3. T. was written by five scribes. The
hand of the first extends without a break to the end of leaf 100
(352, 29 gewyrhte) . Leaf 101 , and the first five lines of 102 , to
the end of the chapter (p. 356), are by the second scribe. The rest
of 102 is by scribe 1 , and extends to myn- 358, 30. Then 103
to 113a (end of Bk. 4) are by scribe 3. Then 113b to line 13 of
114ª, are by scribe 2 , to Aedelwald (386, 5) . From of his in the
same line 13 of MS. to line 17 beon (386, 9 ) the words are written
by scribe 1. The rest of 114ª is by scribe 2 (386, 9 Ja to 386,
17 medmicel). The first 12 lines of 114b to the end of the chapter
are by scribe 1 (386 , 17 fæc to 386 , 26) . Then 114b line 13 to
115b 13 are by scribe 2 (386, 27 to 390, 3 meahte). Then 115b
13 to 124ª is by scribe 4 (390 , 4 swa swa to 410 , 8 sacerdes).
Then 124b to 129b is by scribe 5 (410, 8 mid dy to 424, 29
 xiv INTRODUCTION .

earmlice). Then 130a to end is by scribe 4. The last word is

unwillsumlice (442, 23).
The scribes differ absolutely in handwriting and to some extent
in spelling. The facsimile shows the beautiful hand of scribe 1 .
It reproduces page 40b. The numbers of book and chapter are
by a late hand, which has inserted or tampered with the numbering,
which however never was carried out over the MS . I have
referred to this in the notes. The first scribe evidently had the
direction of the whole : his hand recurs amid the writing of all
others, except scribe 4, whose style approximates in the form of
letters, but differs completely in their combination, which is loose
and diffuse : his longer letters e.g. Ỡ are also utterly unlike. Scribe
2 writes in a sprawling hand with thin strokes. His lines are
irregular horizontally. A striking contrast is seen on p. 114ª,
where scribe I evidently sets him a copy, which he tries to
imitate however he relapses immediately. Scribe 3 writes a
rough vigorous hand. At the top of p. 108b the first two words
are by scribe 1. The work of scribe 3 extends halfway down 113º
where Book 4 ends. Space was evidently calculated beforehand, for
Book 5 (scribe 2) begins on the reverse, without the interposition of
a blank leaf, as at the end of Book 3 : there is a defect at the be-
ginning of Bks. 3 , 4. Scribe 2 was at work on the beginning of Book
5 before scribe 3 had finished, for the latter contracts his lines to
avoid writing over the space covered by the long tail of the initial
on the reverse. The parchment may have been still damp. The
writing of scribe 5 is very rude. Scribe I writes a word or
two occasionally ( 124b 5, 6 ; 128a 4 ; 129ª 20 to 24 ), but not
continuously, and finally dismisses him at the end of five pages .
He is the most illiterate of the five.
It appears that in the community where this scribe (No. 1 ) lived,
he could not command the services of any thoroughly competent
assistant. His own scholarship and penmanship are of a high
order. The facsimile gives a small, but elegant specimen of his
powers as an illuminator. His colouring here is delicate. It is
often brilliant, and I have traced in places specks of gilding, which
has disappeared. There is some resemblance in the facsimile to
 INTRODUCTION. XV

the last letter of the second line in the page of facsimiles given in
the Durham Ritual (ed. Stevenson). Mr. P. H. Miller, who has
made drawings of illuminated West-Saxon MSS. in the British
Museum, kindly compared a photograph of the facsimile page, and
also a photograph of p. 113b with Irish illuminated MSS. in
Dublin (esp. Book of Kells), and pronounces the style to be quite
distinct from the Irish type, and of the usual English character.
The powers or patience of scribe I began to fail early in Book 4.
The initial of ch. 11 (p. 294) is ornate but without colour, so is ch.
17 (p. 310), ch. 18 (p. 314), ch. 19 (p. 316). Colour is resumed at
the next (p. 324) ; but the initial IN of the following is plain and
uncoloured, and there are no other capitals. Colour is not used
again. The first letter of ch. 27 was not written : in the large
blank space a small letter has been inserted by a late hand. The
same holds of the remaining chapters of Book 4. This fine illum-
ination is not found outside the sphere of scribe I , and ceases when
he stops (p. 358). The beginning of Book 5 shows him at work
again, in connection with scribe 2, on an elaborate headpiece, while
at the same time scribe 3 was finishing Book 4. It is without colour.
The hand is tremulous in some letters inserted among the work of
scribe 5 at the foot of page 129ª (7 in dælde) , and does not recur
later. So this for the most part carefully written MS. ends with
very inferior or rude workmanship.
Clearly the work cannot have been produced at any populous
centre, or in a large monastery where there would have been a
choice of trained men. It is clear too from the interlacing of hands,
that all the scribes were contemporaries. From the writing most
authorities place the MS. about the end of the tenth century.
My ownjudgment favours a somewhat earlier date. There are some
medieval Latin glosses by a reader of the MS. who has also used
strokes to separate words, which at times resemble accents. The
colour of the ink distinguishes his work.

C. Otho B. XI. British Museum.

66
Previous to the fire of 1731 this MS. consisted of 231 leaves.
In 1734 Oxley reported it as ' burned,' and Planta says ' Desider-
xvi INTRODUCTION.

atur.' A description of its contents when perfect is given by Dr.

Smith in his catalogue 1696 and more in detail by Wanley in his
Cat. libb. Septentr. apud Hickes, p . 219."
There are now 53 fol., of which 38 are of Bede : the rest belong
to the A. S. Chron. etc.
The carefully mounted fragments contain portions of Bk. 3, ch.
7-29 (fol. 1-6) ; Bk. 4 , ch. 11-32 (fol. 7-22) ; Bk. 5, ch. I to end
(fol. 22-36). Fols. 37, 38 are out of order : the first is a small
fragment of Bk. 5, ch. 3, the second of Bk. 1 , ch. 23 , 24. The
extant leaves are not continuous ; and are more or less charred and
fragmentary. But 1 ; 4-10 ; 15-22 ; 25-30 ; 32-36 are fairly
legible and perfect. Fortunately 32-36 are continuous and hardly
injured, and so can be used to supply in part the defect in T. and
O. Other readings are taken from the occasional citations in Whee-
lock and Smith. There were several scribes employed ; but it is diffi-
cult to apportion their respective shares. The prevailing hand writes
in characters nearly of the same size as the first scribe in T. but with
lighter strokes, neatly formed, and growing at times larger, as on leaf
6. The hand changes in character from 35ª, and is less refined, being
thicker and stiffer. A corresponding change in spelling will be
noticed. This hand continues from 480 , 20 pas ping to the end.
The MS. belongs to the latter part of the tenth century. Wanley
writes of it as follows, when still complete (p. 219 ) : ' Otho B. XI.
Codex memb. in fol. min. ex duobus simul compactis constans, in quo
continetur, I. Pag. 1. Bædæ Ven. Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglo-
rum, Saxonicè versa per Ælfredum Regem. Exemplum Antiquum
primitus Eccles. B. Mariæ de Suwika. II. Pag. 231 Chronicon Saxoni-
cum à Julio Cæsare, usque ad Ann. Dom. 1001 inclusivè,' etc. etc.
Lists of bishops show that the MS. originated or lay for a long
time in the South. ' Suwika ' is probably the Priory of Southwyke,
Hants ( Dugdale Monast. ed. 1846 ; vi , 243 ).

B. 41 Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 14 × 8 inches.

This MS. is complete and written on 242 leaves (483 pp.) . At
the end on pp. 483-4, the scribe addresses the reader in six
verses : ic. pe Jas bóc áurat bam handum twam, etc. On
 INTRODUCTION . xvii

pp. 484-8 follows a homily in a later hand. Then on p. 488 an

inscription (Latin and English) stating that the book is a gift
of bishop Leofric to St. Peter's Church, Exeter. The English
runs Das boc gef leofric ₺ into scē petres mynstre on exancestreþær se
bisceopstol is for sawle alisednysse 7 gif hig hwa ut ætbrede god hine
fordo on pære ecn. ... e. This is similar to the inscription at the
end of ' Leofric's Book of the Gospels ' in the University Library,
Cambridge (Ii. 2. 11 ), a MS. written in large elegant characters.
Those in B. are somewhat larger and less refined. Similar in-
scriptions are to be found in two MSS. in the Bodleian : see Wanley,
p. 81 and p. 83. The Bede is not however mentioned among the
books contained in the list of Leofric's benefactions which is to be
found in the Codex Exoniensis and elsewhere. (Earle, Land Charters
and Saxonic Documents. Oxford, 1888, p. 249 ; Wanley, p. 80.)
Still we may fairly take the inscription as fixing the date of the
MS. about the time of the Conquest. Some points in language also
indicate a southern origin. Apparently the scribe at the end
claims to have written it all himself. The first page is certainly
in a quite different hand . Besides the letters on p. 484 are of
an inch in height, while those on p. I are only half as large. Again,
those on p. 163 are just a little larger than those on p. 1 , and the
hand is smaller between pp. 107 and 204 (though not continuously)
while resembling the larger hand in style. There were then
certainly two scribes and perhaps a third. The general hand is
fine and bold, rougher at first but improving as the book goes on.
This book contains a variety of other matter of interest written on
the wide margins. Wanley describes the contents fully, p. 114 sqq.

O. Corpus Christi College, Oxford, 279, size 10 × 6 inches .

This MS. contains 161 leaves. It is defective at beginning and
end, up to ealand Bk. 1 , 25 and after æt nyhstan Bk. 5, 19 (p.
56, 28 ; p. 462, 4) . No other leaves are missing, but the MS. is
copied from an original in which two or more folios were lost ; for
the text on 11b runs continuously, onfengon frā his sylfes Bk. 2,
5, 7 (see notes, pp. 110, 118). The omission is equal to three
folios of O. The same omission is found in Ca. In neither MS.
b
xviii INTRODUCTION .

is any notice taken of the defect. O. exhibits a great variety of

hands. The writing changes at times more than once in a page,
even abruptly in the middle of a word, e. g. on 43ª the syllable
wor is written in one, ulde in another hand. The general character
of the writing is firm and fine, with letters taller than those of T.
Occasionally it is very elegant and skilful. Again it falls off and
the strokes are weaker and more rounded ; this is notably the case
towards the end. The fine MS. is defaced with erasures, inter-
lineations and marginal additions. Some of the erasures deserve
especial notice. One of the most usual substitutes in erasures is y
written with two straight strokes, with and without the dot (the
dotted y, is avoided in T.). This occurs e. g. in nyddearflicor, yrfe,
gymenne, œtycnesse, gehylde. The Vespasian Psalter has ned, erfe,
gemnis, otecan, gehælde. Early W. Saxon has ie in these cases.
I appears in erasures in gerihte (verb) edniwunge (with blank
after 2). The V. P. has geedneowad, reht. Early W. Saxon has ie.
In all these instances the erasure is unquestionable ; in some,
remains of an e are traceable. Other erasures are leafnesse, ea,
written above ; widerwearde, e on erasure of o and a above ; forgefan
appears with a written above, then imperfectly erased and y written
on the erasure ; but e left untouched. Jara occurs with erasure of
e after ỡ; weorca is written with o above the line (V. P. werc). These
erasures are not carried out consistently, e.g. ned, need, rehte, wiper-
word, niowan occur. The important point to notice is that the
later W. Saxon forms replace Anglian, not early W. Saxon vowels.
A striking example of erasure occurs on 59b dyssum (Bk. 3,
29, p. 248, 3), where y is on an erasure but the remains of a curve
attached to s show that a stood originally. So T. scribe 5 has
Đassum 422, 19, which is also in Z's fragments. The form seems
Northern, e. g. Mt. 26, 29 (L). Another is yrmbum where erased
e has been partially utilised to form y with the top turned horizon-
tally to the right (a frequent form in C. but not in O.).
For the form see discussion in Bosworth's Orosius, p. xviii.
Clearly this MS. was written in a flourishing community, where
there was an abundance of trained scribes, relieving one another
frequently at the desk occasionally for a few lines only. For such
 INTRODUCTION. xix

a monastery we should most naturally look in the south of England .

The evidence of the erasures taken in conjunction with the forms
left untouched show us southern scribes at work with an Anglian
original before them. This fitful correction may have been spread
over a considerable time, for some of the corrections do not
resemble the readings in Ca. But there is no doubt from evidence
of hand and colour of ink, that many are of the same date as the
original writing. Some of the marginal additions and interlinea-
tions are in a different hand and may be due to comparison with
another text. That no thorough revision, or comparison with the
Latin, was attempted is shown by the occurrence of the unnoticed
defect in Bk. 2, chap. 5–7.

Ca. - Kk. 3 , 18. Cambridge University Library : size 12 x83.

This MS . is written on 97 leaves ending on p. 193. There are
three blank leaves at the beginning and three at the end, the first
and last of all being pasted down in the binding. On the first is
written in vermilion a couplet, which is repeated on p. 194.
Historicus quondam fecit me Beda latinum ,
Ælfred rex Saxo transtulit ille pius.
On the first page Ælfred is altered roughly into Ælured.
The MS. is complete, exhibiting only the original defect noticed
under O. It also contains the W. Saxon genealogy, which is not in B.
Ca. is the only MS. which has page headings (LIBER PRIMUS,
etc.) and numbers the chapters (see note p. 24) . The numbers in
the first book seem to have been tampered with, to bring them
into correspondence with the Latin (see note p. 42 ). Further Ca.
does not insert any passage not to be found in O., and faithfully
repeats the many omissions due to homoioteleuton (see notes
passim ). The additions are limited to emendations of O.'s text or
change of words. What appears as erasure, interlineation or
marginal addition in O. is in its right place in Ca. e. g. 100, 7,
bat .... onlyhtnesse is at the foot of the page in O. It is possible
that some corrections in O. may be due to Ca.: but writing and
spelling show that this can only have been rare. A very few
emendations in O. seem later, as they have not been adopted in Ca.
b 2
XX INTRODUCTION .

For illustration I compare the first page of O. The first words

of O. are ealand tenent. Ca. writes ealond tenent with t above n
(Ca. often has o before nasals where O. puts a) . On same page
( 1a) O. has ærenddracan, Ca. inserts the second d above : O. has
onbead, Ca. has onbead with sæde written above. (Ca. has several
English glosses.) Here B. reads cydde. O. has rice for original ece
apparently, Ca. has rece with i above and dot under e.
O. has hafde him gegyfen, Ca. hæfde, seo was him forgifen. O.
has cyningcynne ( = B.). Ca. has cynecynne. These show a copyist
at work with a certain independence. That Ca. consulted at
intervals another MS. is not impossible, but a thorough revision
would have betrayed the defect in Bk. 2 , 5–7. This second MS.
may have been the source of some glosses, e.g. endes is glossed
hiwas ( 196, 19) where B. has hiwas. Again the chapter in which
the defect begins is numbered V in Ca. but the next number in
Ca. is VIII.
Wanley says of this MS. (p. 153 ) ' circa conquisitionem Angliæ
eleganter scriptus.' This would make it coeval with B. I am
inclined to place it somewhat later. The whole was written by one
scribe in a neat hand. Latin glosses had been written between
the lines, in effacing which some accents may have been erased.

Z. 3 passages published by Professor Zupitza in the Zeitschrift

f. deutsches Alterthum, V. 18, 1886, pp. 185–6 , under the heading
' Drei alte Excerpta aus Ælfreds Beda.' They are on a leaf of
Cott. Domitian A. IX. fol. 100, ' in a hand of the beginning of the
10th century.' Wanley, p. 239 says : Domitianus IX.... III.,
Notæ 2 breves de S. Augustino Anglorum Apostolo, ex Beda, ut
videtur, desumptæ .'
I. p. 278, 28, se nigeða —280, 6, geðwæriæ.
II. p. 62 , 26, se halga — 62 , 30, breotone.
III. p. 104, 12, Da- 104, 19, cyning.
The initial letters of each piece are ornate and coloured. The
only important variant is in 104, 13 where the text runs gehalgade
mellitus ærest on ongeldiode done mellitum. After gehalgade there
is a small erasure.
 INTRODUCTION. xxi

Others are :-
62, 29, in for to.
280, 4, nænig.
280, 4, forgiefen sie.
The rest concern spelling only. There are some Anglian
forms not in T.'s text. 104, 12 Jassum (cp. 422, 19 ). 280, 3
dernre. 280, 4 rehtlice. 280, 5 welle (cp. 412 , 1 ). The preterite
plurals are siondan, wœron. We may notice the doubling of vowels
in æteecte, oofre, riime, wiif. These extracts seem older than any
of the MSS. They prove, as far as they go, the faithful trans-
mission of the text. The variations show that the earlier text
contained Anglian forms now no longer in the text of T.
In occurs three times, in breotone, in þære piode, in da tid : and
on twice, on ongeldiode, on oofre. This agrees with T.'s text and
usage. In 280, 4 mid rehtre æ stands. This dative shows a southern
tendency, cp. forgiefen = 280 , 4 ( O. Ca. rihtre, B. rihtum, T. rehte).
O is used before nasals, from ; lond, 2 ; monig ; ongel, 2 ; ond ;
mon ; a is found in alderburhaldorburg, T. = ealdorburhg.
O. = ealdorburh, Ca. = ealandburh (sic) , B. (p . 104, 16).
There are some copies of Caedmon's hymn to be found in the
blank spaces of Latin MSS. of the History
(a) the Northumbrian version at the end of the Moore MS.
Kk. 5, 16, U. Lib. Cam. The wretched writing is in striking
contrast to the calligraphy of the MS.
(b) MS. Hatton 43 , fol. 129 Bodleian, first published by Prof.
Napier of Oxford in ' Modern Language notes,' May 1889, who
kindly pointed out this passage to me (and d also). It begins nu
we sculon, has tida (8), on foldum (9), accentuates éce once only
(in line 8). 11th century hand.
(c) MS. Laud 243 , Bodleian fol. 82b, copied in Stevenson,
' Church Historians of England. • • Bede translated,' London
1853. It begins nu we sceolan ; and reads eorde (5) = T. O. Ca.
B. on folden (9), halig scyppend is at end. 12th century.
(d) MS. Bod. 163 , fol. 152b, a defaced copy ; began nu we ; reads
tida (8), on foldum (9 ) . 11th century.
(e) Wheelock quotes variants from ‘ T.'
xxii INTRODUCTION.

The Latin MSS. in Trinity College, Cambridge, which the librarian,

Dr. Sinker, kindly examined for me, contain no English version of
the hymn. But the readings of this ' T.' gehwylc (3), ylda (5) , tida
(8), on foldum (9) agree with the remains in (d). Of the word
before almihtig only a is left in (d).
These variants seem to show that the current copies of the
hymn were independent of the version of Bede. We in the first
line has perhaps crept in from these copies. It is wanting in
the Moore and Tanner MSS., is inserted above the line in O., and
is then found in Ca. B. and the marginal copies.
The Bede Glosses (O. E. T. pp. 123-179) have no relation to
the version of Bede. Several in the long list belong to passages
omitted in the translation.

SOURCES OF THE PRINTED TEXT.

Where T. is extant, its text is printed ; then, as they are extant, in order of
preference, the text follows- 1, C. 2, O. 3, Ca.

p. I 54, 2 sticode Ca.

54, 2 sume 56, 14 cweodulra T.
56, 14 monna 56, 28 mycel Ca.
56, 28 ealand 58, 29 7 0.
60, I lærdon 92, 17 on T.
92, 17 weg 96, 8 monige 0.
96, 8 cwomon 132, 32 heofonum T.
134, I pa 136, 18 wig 0.
136, 18 bedo 150, 20 on his T.
150, 20 tide 152 , 22 hond 0.
152, 22 ac 158, 23 daghwamlice T.
158, 23 of 162, 10 bæt 0.
162, 10 heo 204, 33 onfengon T.
206, I soolice 208, 4 gelyfde 0.
208, 5 pissum 304, 7 swa T.
304, 7 micel 306, 19 on C. O.
306, 19 feng 442, 23 unwillsumlice T.
442, 23 geniperad 462, 4 nyhstan 0.
462, 4 ne 472, 27 riht Ca.
472, 27 gelyfede 486, 15 gemette C.
 INTRODUCTION . xxiii

The common origin of all the MSS. is proved by several con-

siderations.
1. The division into chapters, is substantially the same in all
MSS.
2. All our MSS. place the Interrogationes at the end of the
third book ; their translation was perhaps an afterthought. They
formed a separate work (libello responsionum) and were written
by Pope Gregory ( Bk. 2 , 1 ) .
3. All agree in placing the appeal to the reader (Praeterea
omnes etc.), not as in the Moore MS. at the end of the Praefatio,
but at the conclusion of the work, as in MS. Cott. Tib. c. II. 8th
century, and several Cambridge MSS. (late). This arrangement I
found also in the Hatton MS. 43 (end of 10th century).
It seems that the text followed by the translator was not that of
this earliest MS. (M).
Through the kindness of Prof. Lumby and Mr. C. J. Clay of the
Pitt Press, Cambridge , I have been able to consult the proof sheets
of the first two books of Beda, text of Moore MS. with variants
from Cott. Tib. c. II. (L¹. ) and from a number of (late) Cambridge
MSS.
A comparison of twenty-eight variants showed-
Only one example decidedly favouring M.;
Mox M. omit L¹ - sona 132, 4.
Four decidedly favour L'.;
quieta pace L'. in pace M. on smyltre sibbe 32, 9 .
cotidie L¹. (M. sec. m.) daghwamlice 62 , 14.
lenius L¹. levius M. liðelecor 68, 5 .
electus L¹. effectus M. gecoren 146, 14 .
The rest of the variants (except perhaps three) rather favour the
text of L¹. That this text was followed is also shown by the
omission of Ricula and Aedilberct in Bk. 2 , c. 3 = 104 , 19 (cp.
Sweet, O. E. T. p. 132) . The same conclusion follows from a
comparison of Bk. 4, c. 14. This is contained in M. and Cotton.
II,' omitted in the English and ' Cotton. I'L¹. (See Smith
p. 157 note.) This variation repeats itself in the later MSS .
(Ib.) . The two Cotton MSS. come from the same original
xxiv INTRODUCTION.

(Sweet, Ib.). But the English supports the reading si mens est.
found in both M. and L¹. , Bk. 1 , 27 (initium in the Hatton MS. is
on an erasure) and shows that the translator put a stop after
peccati, and joined si mens est in delectatione, p. 88, 5.
In 178, 22 gebate of ateah, the variation from the Latin is partly
explained by the reading stramine substracto in another MS. See
Baedae H. ed. Holder, p. 312. This fact I owe to Dr. A. Schmidt's
6
careful Dissertation Untersuchungen über K. E's. Beda―
übersetzung,' Berlin, 1889.
4. There are common peculiarities or corruptions found in all
MSS., e. g. 2 , 18 ; 2 , 20 ; 36, 6 ; 70, 24 ; 180, 17 ; 286, 33 ; 286,
1 ; 306, 20 ; 310 , 5 ; 314, 11 ; 326, 6 ; 332 , 24 ; 336, 19 ; 358,
2 ; 372 , II ; 372 , 31 ; 394 , 24 ; 400, 21 .
A single, but striking exception to this general agreement parts
off the MSS. into two classes-
(1 ) T. B. (2) C. O. Ca.
In Bk. 3 , 16-20 the two classes are completely divergent.
(a) 202, 9-204, 33 exhibit two different versions.
(b) 206, 1–208, 4 are found in C. O. Ca. only.
(c) 210, 3-220, 18 are found in T. B. only.
Various suppositions are possible :
( 1 ) A defect in the MS. from which both classes were derived
may have been supplied by two different editors.
(2) The defect may have been in one class only. This is contra-
dicted by the facts before us.
(3 ) Improbable as it may seem, I am inclined to believe that the
translator stopped short abruptly. In the story of Aidan, Bede's
criticism is soon to take an unfavourable turn (end of c. 17). Re-
flections on this Scot hero are generally omitted ( see below, p . liv. )
The break was originally made too early, and prolonged too far.
In the table of contents chapters 17-20 are not noticed (p. 16).
This is some presumption against their having been in the original
translation. But c. 16 is included in the table of contents. The
beginning of the chapter is identical in all MSS. The divergency
begins at 202, 9 with the account of the actual miracle, which we
are promised at the beginning of the chapter.
 INTRODUCTION. XXV

This of course supposes a separate supplement by two

editors.
(a) The version of the first class (T. B.) is simpler : but we find
occasionally unusual expressions as gewyrdledon ( 202, 20) .
In the other class we have geþywe was =gewuna was, 202,
27), be is nemned lindisfarenensis ( = 204, 5) , ymb geara fyrstmearc
(= 204, 6), also unusual.
(6) In the part peculiar to the second class, the unusual ex-
pression midligendes (C.) was misunderstood by scribes working at
O. Ca: (206, 26 notes).
Dr. A. Schmidt (Diss. p. 18) points out that this is the only
passage where we find translated the recurring phrase ' a quarta
decima usque ad vicesimam lunam,' which marked the difference
between the Easter of the Scots and English. This is remark-
able, see p. liv.
(c) 3 , 19 is inferior to 5 , 12. It glorifies a foreigner, see p. liv.
The connection of T. and B. is illustrated by common faults.
198, 10 ; 276, 19 , 20 ; 334, 4 ; 362 , 32 ; 364, 7 ; 382 , II ;
382, 14 ; 188 , 31 ; 240 , 8. There is one clear example of
common omission 170, 19. Here however homoioteleuton may
account for the single coincidence. It would seem that the relation
was not a close one. B.'s text however has been freely handled,
expansions, omissions, and substitutions are very frequent. So
the distance of both T. and B. from their common original possibly
was not very great : see below the comparison of agreement between
T. C. B. Though B. constantly sides with C. O. Ca. against T. in
case of omissions by T., there is no real case of an omission common
to C. O. Ca. B. (The omission of wundrigende 7 432 , 29, by O.
Ca. B. can hardly be taken into account.)
On the other hand C. O. Ca. are very closely related : for in-
stance by omission in 448, 3 (notes) ; also in
334, 31 to 336, 2 (7 to gefealh).
pat to sciman).
338, 3 (
358, 25-27 (mid—þær).
362, 5, 6 (life—anum).
These four coincidences, so near one another, cannot be mere
xxvi INTRODUCTION.

chance. They prove that C. is only an elder brother in the family

to which these three belong.
The relation between T. B. C. is shown by a comparison of
readings on pp. 112 and 118 where O. Ca. are defective. In
fourteen test cases, B. sides eleven times with T., three with
C. The only coincidence of omission is magon ( 118, 2 ) where
B. recasts the text. (Wheelock prints C.)
It follows that T. C. offer independent testimony on any question
of reading.
There are some peculiarities in the text which fix the relation of
the existing MSS. to the archetype and determine its locality.
ON for AND is Mercian and corresponds to 0. H. G. UN, IN,
O. Frisian AN.
The form on ond is a marked feature in the text. This form
on (an) is occasionally found in old English. The Bewcastle
inscription (Sweet, O. E. Texts, p. 124) has the form ean ;
(line 4 ean kyniq eac). In the Corpus Gloss (O. E. T. ) the Latin
atqueve is twice glossed, 75 end suelce, 238 on suilce. (In the
first adqueve stood originally as in Epinal 98 adqueve : hence the
double gloss. ) The form an stands in the Leiden Glosses, 10
(O. E. T. p. 111 ) , ultro citro : hider an didir, cp. however Corpus
2148.
In Bede Glosses (O. E. T. p . 182 ) the form is ō. (ō waele = et
cladis 89.)
In Charters O. E. T. Surrey, p. 452 , 28 on[d], may be
an instance : but cp. lines, 23 , 32 , &c. ...
. . . In charter 38 line 10
(Kentish) d in ond is ' crowded in ' (O. E. T. p. 455 note).
The reading in Mt. 27, 19 (Rushworth) is nawiht be siœ onþœm
sopfæste gemænes nihil tibi sit et iusto illi. Cp. the Corpus MS.
(W. Saxon) Mt. 8, 29 hwœt ys be 7 us gemæne. (The Gospel of
Nicodemus however uses the construction gemæne ongen Disne
rihtwisan see Toller, s. v. gemæne.)
In Orosius 8, 17 , on is found in both MSS.
In a homily published by Prof. Napier as ' Leben des Chad '
in Anglia X. 1888 , p. 131 sqq. on for ond occurs four times
(lines 56, 239 bis, 252 ), twice before 1, once before o, once before m.
 INTRODUCTION. xxvii

Prof. Napier, p. 132 , points out that the life is taken from
Beda Hist. 4, 2, 3 ; and refers its origin to the first half of the
10th century (p. 139). The MS. belongs to the first half of the
12th century (p. 131 ).
The resemblance to the English Beda is at times very close. Cp .
Chad, 105 sqq.: sticcemelum him neolecan oðþæt he becom oferþone
hrofþes gebedhuses, in þam se bisceop ceadda wes þæt he ingongende
all gefylde 7 in ymbhwyrfte ymbsald = Beda, p . 264 , 24 sqq. See
however Anglia, p. 132.
The homily is Anglian (p. 132 , 135 sqq .).
An examination of the passages cited in the glossary to
Layamon shows that the B. text of Layamon has six examples of
an 36, 46, 5444, 13211 , 25385, 25976. The A. text has two
3690, 25649.
The archetype of the Bede MSS. must have had this form. The
text now printed contains sixty-three examples.
(1 ) In T. there are fifty-three examples ; scribe I has almost
invariably ō, the others on (as in the other MSS.).
(2) The fragments of C. give four examples ( 22 , 7 ; 360, 10 ;
382, 3 ; 476, 18) : (in two of these cases, T. is defective, once has
ond, once ac). See below, p. xxxviii.
(3) O. exhibits on twice (426, 18 ; 446, 12 ) in both places
confused with the preposition. In the second the 7 has been erased
and on written above ; evidently on was in the copy before the
scribe.
In a third instance ( 140 , 14 see note) both sense and variants
show that on (conjunction) is alone correct.
(4) Ca. reproduces O. But also where O. is defective we find
four examples (6, 4 ; 22 , 7 ; 30, 25 ; 38, 24) . In three of these
it has escaped owing to confusion with the preposition. In 30, 25
it corresponds to etiam, and raises the question whether ond
is ever used = ' also .'

(5) B. alone preserves the correct reading in 140, 14 ; B. agrees

with Ca. in 6, 4 ; 30, 25 , and with the other MSS. in 426 , 18.
But in 22,7 B., as often in cases of difficulty, omits. (ond life not
in B.)
xxviii INTRODUCTION .

These discrepancies are reconciled only by assuming that on was

a peculiarity of the archetype, but was changed where recognised as
a conjunction by the scribes.
Even T. trips at times, but may claim to represent the arche-
type most faithfully. Next to T. comes C.: these two are the two
oldest MSS. and are independent witnesses.
I have for clearness everywhere expanded the form. But on is
an independent form subject to certain laws.
First I take some parallels from Old German, and Old Frisian.
(a) Tatian uses in for inti. (Siever's index gives ten examples, to
which add 80, I and strike out 231 , 3. ) Of ten examples two are
before vowels, four before th, one each before d, m, l, s.
(b) In the older Physiologus both un and unde are used. Un
occurs fifteen times, only once before a consonant ( tac un diu), unde
fifty-five times, nine before vowels (Denkmäler deutscher poesie und
prosa .. Mullenhoff und Scherer, Berlin, 1873 ).
(c) In Old Frisian and with the article thi &c., forms anthi,
antha, anti, antes, anden, so also anquettie. ( See Heyne : Laut-
und Flexionslehre der altgermanischen Dialecte, p. 138, and the
examples cited in Rieger, Alt- und Angelsäch. Lesebuch, p. 223. )
(d) En for ende occurs once in Heliand 990 (Mon.).
(e) I pass over the use of in as the almost exclusive form in
O. L. G. Psalms. See Heyne (s. v.) : Altniederdeutsche Denkmäler.
(f) For en, enda in Norse, see Vigfusson - Gering, Gloss. to poetic
Edda-Wilken, Gloss. to prose Edda.
An analysis of sixty-three instances of on noticed in Bede shows
that ( 1 ) five occurs before vowels, ( 2) eighteen before h, (3) twenty
before , (4) nine before s, (5) five before f, (6) two each before c, w,
(7) one each before d, l.
As h in Old English is so weak (Sweet, H. of E. Sounds, p. 134),
we may fairly combine ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) . We then get results in confor-
mity with those obtained from O. H. G. and O. Frisian . In any
case the usage in Bede exhibits a law of preference, which we must
recognise. The paucity of examples seems to show that in England
the use of on was local. The evidence cited exhibits it as a Mercian
provincialism. (Chad- Layamon.)
 INTRODUCTION. xxix

(H) ONU is an Anglian form corresponding to O. H. G. INU,

ENO.
The free use of ono, onu, ona, is another peculiarity of the
version.
It must have been well represented in the archetype. A table
will best exhibit the variants. I add the Latin, as it aids us in
weighing the evidence, and clears up the meaning of this particle,
which has been misunderstood.

PAGE. LATIN. T. B. C. 0. Ca.

70, 16 (apodotic) ono 7 (defect) ono
74, 27 nam ono hwæt 7 "" 7 7
76, I ergo ono "" 7 7
76, 17 si itaque ono gif hu gyf "" 7 gif 7 gif
76 , 33 itaque ono 7 "" 7 7
78, 14 si ergo ono nu hu nu "" 7 nu 7 nu
78, 19 autem ono eala "" 7 7
78, 27 si igitur ono nu hwæt nu 7 nu nu
80, 19 si ergo ono nu nu eala 7 nu nu 7 nu nu
84, 6 et si ono nu hu nu "" 7 nu 7 nu
88 , 19 si autem ono gif hu gif "" 7 gif
7 gif
88, 21 igitur ono hu "" 7 7
88, 23 ecce itaque ono hu "" 7 7
118, 20 et ergo onu 7 "" 7 7
130, 4 si autem ono gif 7 gyf hu 7 nu gif 7 nu gif
132, 24 ecce ono hwat (defect)
136, 20 quid plura ? ono hwæt "" ono
•

142, 12 verum ond and "" ono

146, 26 at vero ono hwæt ono
•

152, 17 qui (connective) (defect) hwät ond ono hwæt

158, 3 ergo ono ono ond
•

(defect)
160, 6 ergo (defect) Ja 19 ono 1 and
164, 19 igitur ono "9 ono 7
172, 30 ergo ona 7 "" 7 ზე. on (prep.)
192, 20 ergo ono "" ono 2 da da
198, 18 qui (connective) ono eala "" ono 1 and
1 no on erasure.
2 latter o out of d.
 XXX INTRODUCTION .

PAGE. LATIN. T. B. C. 0. Ca.

226, 4 igitur ono (defect) ono and

238, 27 autem ono hwæt ond ono hwæt¹ hwæt
240, 6 autem ono þe da þa da ond ono de da da da
302, 23 autem ond da 7 da ond ono da da
308, 28 ergo ono on (prep.) | (defect) ono mid (prep.)
322, 31 igitur ono hwæt ono ono
336, 21 ergo ono hwat "" 7 7
338,8 verum ono hwæt ono
360, 19 etiam ono ond ono
362, 17 ergo ono ond ono ac
364, 14 ergo ono ond ono •
472, 21 (apodotic ) (defect) ond (defect) (defect) ono

T. has the particle most freely in the Interrogationes ( 1 , 27),

where it is in harmony with the turn of style, by which Gregory
imparts vivacity to his dialogue. Thirteen out of thirty-eight
examples come from this ' libellus .' Now just at this point C. is
defective. Still where C. is extant or has been cited , it offers ond
always except once (hu). Ond (and) is a scribe's ready substitute.
But ono was not peculiar to one class of MSS. Its existence in
both and in the original is clearly demonstrated by the evidence of
O. Ca. B. O. wavers. Ono escapes at 70 , 16, but is elsewhere in
the Interrogationes replaced by the uniform 7. It is impossible to
suppose that the translator, who here rises so well to the occasion,
should have reduced such a variety of Latin terms to the dead level
of a monotonous ' and .' Further on in O., perhaps as the form
became familiar, ono reappears, once even (302, 23 ) where T. has
ond. The hesitation of the scribes is shown by the erasures.
Once only, 130 , 4, 7 nu is used as the equivalent of onu, as if the
scribe had confused it with ō ( = on) + nu. The occurrence of this
particle in O. so often shows its independence of C.
Ca. has admitted ono twice ( 322 , 31 is certain), in the second
passage O. is defective. That with O. before him this scribe should
not have written ono oftener is a striking fact. Twice prepositions

1 ono inserted above line, erasure of7 (?) .

 INTRODUCTION. xxxi

appear, on, mid. The words ono, mid are readily confounded by
the eye .

B. deals with the form characteristically. This scribe, or editor,

has a turn for rhetoric and often recasts whole passages . His
variety of expressions reproduces forms familiar in the South, as we
may see by comparing the Northern and West-Saxon Gospels.
He never admits ono, but once puts and, once ond (in the apodosis) ,
once on (preposition), where Ca. has mid.
It is clear from the table that ono never means ' if,' though Bede
has been quoted in support of this sense. It is sufficient to point
out that, (1 ) where si stands in Latin, gif or nu are added ; ( 2)
that the other MSS. omit ono ; (3 ) that nu = ' if ' is found, e. g.
Mt. 7, II nu nu þonne (R.) = gif Jonne (L.) = si ergo ; Mt. 10,
25 nu (R.) = gif (L.) = si.
The scribes were evidently not familiar with the form. Evidence
refers it to the Anglian dialect¹.
Twice in the table we see ono, where in Latin there is ecce. This
furnishes us with a link connecting the word with the Northern
heono. The form eonu is cited from the dictionaries, as meaning
' moreover ' (see Toller). Foreign analogies support forms, (1 ) with-
out h (O. H. G.), (2) with h (Icelandic).
First as to form.
The usual form in the Rushworth Matthew (Farman) is henu,
which in ch. 2 , I is altered to honu (marginal note). This form
henu is also in Mk. 1 , 2 (still Farman). But in Mk. 16, 6 (Owun) we
find heonu. In Lk. 13, 6 (R.), and in Jn. 1 , 29, 36, 47 (R.) the form
is heono. In Lk. 23 , 14 ono is probably due to a defect in the MS.
In the Lindisfarne Mt. heonu is usual. In 2, 19 ; 11 , 8 ; heono
is altered to heonu. But heono is found elsewhere in the Lindisfarne
Gospels, e.g. Mt. 11 , 10 ; 17, 5 ; Jn. 1 , 29 , &c., Lk. 13 , 16. In
Mt. 1 , 20 ; 2, 11 ; heno occurs, heona Mt. 24 , 25. In Mt. 12, 47
heuno stands.
The Durham Ritual employs mostly heono. But heone occurs
p. II , 17 (same verse has also heono) and p. 107 , line 10.

1 eno, ana (?) Blickling H. 237, 4 ; 241 , 3 = ' lo ' or ' moreover.'
xxxii INTRODUCTION.

The form hona = ecce ' is found in a piece published by Cock-

ayne (see Toller, s. v. heonu).
This variety supports the identification of the forms in Bede with
the Northern heono, &c.
Next as to sense.
The Gospels and Ritual use it only in glossing ecce. In Mt. the
L. glosser uses no other word. Farman is freer, e. g. henu vel her
is vel sihpe 1 , 23. Again sihpe is in 7, 4 ; 19 , 16 ; 19 , 27 ; 24,
26 ; alone or as an alternative.
Now the word sehðe (sehde, seððe, sehỡ) is the usual gloss in the
Vespasian Psalter for ecce. We thus have reached a point where
the two translations of ecce are combined ; and on either side of
which only one is found (L.; R.; V.P.). In Bede sehe does not
occur.
We must now showthat the uses both as adverb and interjectionare
compatible. (1 ) The West- Saxon Matthew, which does not employ
heonu, uses wutodlice, soðlice, nu, &c., which are equivalent to autem,
&c. (2 ) In undoubted exclamations nu is used, Mt. 21 , 5 ; 25, 5,
&c. (W. S.). (3 ) Contrast the Glosses in Mt. 12 , 47 : autem þa
R. = uutedlice L. = soplice pa, Corpus. (4) We find the gloss hæd
[i.e. hwæt] , vel uutedlice. (5) Hwat in MS. B. of Bede stands for
igitur, &c., and replaces onu. (6) B. also uses eala, for autem, ergo
as a particle of transition. (7) In the Blickling Homilies we find
eala soplice (31, 1 ) ; eala nu ( 85 , 14, 29) ; eala hu ( 161 , 31).
Aelfric does not notice these particles heono, ono, either in the
sections on adverbs or on interjections, in his grammar.
O. H. G. confirms these results. Graff, A. H. S. 1, 300 cites inu
= num, nam, en, ecce : also innanu, inno, &c. , &c.: and from
Tatian and Notker eno numquid, nonne ; also eno ni, &c. , cp . use
of seno (Id. 6, 114) .
Grimm, Deutsche Gr. 3 , 756 ; 248 connects Gothic an, English
heonu, Icelandic hananu with the O. H. G. forms. I may add that
the usage inno ube in Boethius (ed. Graff, p . 39) is really = ono gif
in Bede : the apodosis only is interrogative (Boeth. ib. ). So in
Isidorus de Nat. Dom. c. 3 ; after the refrain Item si, &c., the
question begins in the apodosis, and inu ibu = ono gif.
 INTRODUCTION . xxxiii

Inu, &c. are not found in the O. Saxon Heliand.

In Tatian eno, eno ia, eno ni are interrogative. But so is ia
alone ; and eno stands for autem ... non (122 , 3). So the interro-
gative force is not inherent. For ecce T. uses seno, seno nu, but se-
nu also = at nunc (Graff, 6, 114 ).
Onu, heonu are not interrogative ; for questions the Anglian
dialects employed ac, ah. The Corpus Gloss ( 26, Sweet, O. E. T. )
has sicini : ac dus. The Vespasian Psalter has ah. The Northern
form is also ah. Bede has ac 70, 1 ; ac ne 196 , 18 ; ac ge ne 268 ,
25 (this order often in Northern Gospels). West- Saxon Gospels
use hu ne, e. g. Mt. 13 , 56.
In fine we have in (h)onu, and ac (as interrogative) peculiarities,
belonging to Northumbria and Mercia, and not used in the Saxon
South. The usage would incline us to place the origin of Bede in
North Mercia, touching on one side the district of the Rushworth
Gospels, on the other that of the Vespasian Psalter.
I pass to the use of in and on as found in Bede.
The use of these prepositions varies according to locality. I will
try to define the local limits of usage, and the course of change
with time.
IN, ON exist side by side.
The earliest documents discriminate. I cite Sweet Oldest
English Texts .
The Epinal, Erfurt, Corpus, Glosses.
on, an, acc. place where, direction, Ep. Erf. 51 , 91 ; Cp. 121 , 246.
motion to surface, Cp. 86 ( O. H. G. ruorit, see
Graff, 4 , 1172-5).
dat. at a place, Erf. 370 ; Cp . 769.
in, acc. motion into, Cp . 1136.
dat. place in (in curia in maethlae) Ep. Erf. 594 ; Cp.
IIIO.
in scipe, Cp. 319.
in bece, Cp. 1148.
in matter of Ep. Erf. 550 , 854 ; Cp. 1112 , 1705.
case undetermined , Ep . Erf. 530 ; Cp. 1091 , 1081 .
Corpus is Mercian. Epinal and Erfurt, Kentish.
c
xxxiv INTRODUCTION.

The Ruthwell Cross (p. 125) has on twice : acc. motion on to

(2 ) : dat. place where ( 11 ) .
The Blickling Glosses (p. 122 ) acc. on motion on to ( 14), in
motion into ( 19), dat. on place at which, on ' during ' of cir-
cumstances (6).
The Casket (p. 126) maintains the distinction : in place where,
dat. (2), on motion on to acc. (5, 7).
These documents are earlier than 800 A. D. They exhibit
cooperation, without exclusion of either preposition.
The next in time containing examples belong to the latter part
of the 9th century (O. E. T. p. 174-9).
These have, at one time or other, been classed with the Kentish
documents, and I will consider them along with the certain
documents, in order to include all that can be urged as to the use
of in upon Kentish ground.
ON gradually expels IN :--
( 1 ) The Epinal and Erfurt Glosses. (2 ) Codex Aureus (O. E. T. ) .
(3 ) Durham Admonition (O. E. T.). (4) Martyrology (O. E. T.).
(5) Kentish Psalm and Hymn (Kluge, A. S. Lesebuch). (6) Satan
(Grein, i. 129 sqq.) . ( 7 ) Charters (O. E. T.). (8) Glosses
(Sweet, Reader ii.).
( 1 ) Already considered.
(2 ) Codex Aureus : on twice, in twice, halsiaỡ on noman ( 15 bis),
in dære haedenesse ( 7) , în Cristes circan ( 10) , A.D. 870.
(3) Durham Admonition about 900 ? (I) Halsuncge, on seven
times ; (a) three, in adjuration ; (b) local, on weorolde ; (c) ‘ in the
I case of,' on eow ; (d) ' in accordance with,' two examples. (I)
Rubrics, in twice, in husum infalled (compound). Skeat identifies
I and II by the writing (Phil. Soc. Trans. 1879 , 51-2 ) : but some
forms in II are Northern.
(4) Martyrology, &c. , on ten times, in eight (including supplied
letters, but omitting later supplement).
on motion, direction, 27, 9 (1. stungen), 18.
in "" "" 33 , 26, 17.
on place, ' at, ' ' on,' 28, 48, 51. Gen. II .
in "" ' at,' ' in,' 13 , 14, 18 , 37.
 INTRODUCTION. XXXV

on time, 'on,' II, 39.

on state, circumstances, 51 .
in 99 "" 50.
The usages of the prepositions approximate here, but the two
never exactly coincide.
(5) Kentish Psalm and Hymn (Kluge Angelsächsisches Lesebuch,
p. 108-11).
I. Psalm, an 4. on IO. in 6.
Time on only. Coincident are on unrihtum, in synnum (61) ;
on ferðe, in ferðde minum (compare V. P. use of on heortan
p. xxxvi)
In idioms on is more usual : also in seems influenced by
reminiscences of theological Latin.
II. Hymn on nine, in once (43), in fœder wuldre (Latin in-
fluence ?).
(6) Satan (Grein, i. 129 sqq. ).
On seventy-four, in sixty-two examples.
The usages are often coincident. on (in) heofnum, helle, wuldre,
wynnum, rice, bendum. ' Into,' ' towards ' : on (in) middangeard,
bone (in is preferred). Time when : in fyrndagum, on geardagum
(on preferred : proportion of all examples on in = 7 : 1). On
eorðan occurs seven times, and is only form. on earde once.
On heofnum seven times, in heofnum twice.
Poetry is of course no criterion as to prose usage at a given date.
(7) Charters ( O. E. T. Nos. 34-7 ; 39-44) on 27, an 12 ,
in once (44, 7 sole examples in this charter of either prep.) in
ec erbe we have on ece arfe three times in No. 42 (Kentish) ; and
in ece erfe twice in No. 48 (Mercian) .
The use of on (an) is varied and not purely local : e.g. = ' in ' :
on byrg 35, 3 ; 36, 10 ; 37, 33 . = ' among ' : 35 , 4 ; 35 , 5 ; 37, 6.
= ' at,' ' on' : 35, 6 ; 43 , 4. =' by ' (adjurations) : 39, 5 &c.: = ' in,'
of writings : 40, 21 . = ' for ' &c. (destination) : 39 , 15 ; 42, 3 ;
42, 16. =' with ' &c. (circumstances) : 37, 9 ; 41 , 21.
The above extend from A. D. 805, to 868, or 888 (Sweet,
O. E. T. p. 450).
L To the above I add some charters from Earle : Land Charters, &c.
C2
xxxvi INTRODUCTION.

P. 53. Charter of Ecgberht ( 778) eight examples of on indicat-

ing points of the compass, &c., curiously varied with be.
P. 141. The endorsement on No. 44, O. E. T. ' in a somewhat
later hand ' : nine examples of an.
P. 152. (Late copy ?) three an, one on, one in.
(8) Kentish Glosses (Sweet, Reader ii.) = later Kentish, twenty-
seven examples of on as preposition , to which add on = contra ;
ford on in posterum. In twice only as adverb (in ga 876, 878).
The usage is varied :
place, ' in,' ' on,' 228, 446, &c.
motion, ' to,' ' into,' 227, 981 .
time, 134, 255, &c.
state, circumstances, 23 , 185, &c.
The later Charters are under West-Saxon influence.
To sum up if we include everything, in is never preponderant
in Kent. Original unquestioned documents exclude it. On the
other hand, an is an undoubted Kentish form, and in some
documents the prevailing one (cp. No. 41 ). The use of in is a
declining one even by the end of the 9th century in is almost
gone.
ON spreads northward.
I take now the remaining Charters.
The earliest Saxon Charter (O. E. T. No. 3, A. D. 778), which
gives either preposition, has in (only) seven times. Latin influence
is shown by ad peadan stigele ' (line 3). It names Bedwin in the
line of the N. Downs and comes from the archives of Abingdon.
It therefore lies without the purer West- Saxon district . The next
(No. 20 ; 847) exhibits nothing but on, an (twenty-seven on, once
an). Localities in Wilts and Dorset.
The Saxon-Kentish Charters (25, 26, 28, 29, 30 ; 843-863)
exhibit on three, an seven times.
A charter in Earle (p. 142, line 17, A. D. 875) gives one example
of an- Saxon-Kentish.
The great Surrey document (O. E. T. No. 45 , 871-889 ), deals
once more with a district beyond the line of the N. Downs and
in the Thames district. It has thirteen on, seven an, five in.
 INTRODUCTION. xxxvii

This in could in strict West Saxon be readily replaced in each case

by on (lines 31, 32 , 41 , 51 ).
From this time on the spread of West Saxon official language
affects all documents, as may be seen in Earle (from p. 154
onwards).
The great charter of Eadmund to bishop Afric, conveying lands
in Northamptonshire on the borders of Warwick, is rich and varied
in prepositions. It exhibits on thirty times, but no in. (A.D.
944, Earle pp. 178-180 .)
The earliest Mercian charter with examples is No. 11 - in twice,
A.D. 767- Middlesex.
The two next (47, 48 , A.D. 836-840) diverge.
The first- Hanbury, Worcester- has in twice, on twice : the
latter from Wootton, Gloucester, has three on, seven in— a clear
preponderance.
I supplement this paucity of evidence from less trustworthy
sources (Earle).
P. 4. Charter of Wulfhere of Mercia, 674 Dilingtun.
Two on, two in (in broc ; cp. on broc. O. E. T. No. 20
passim).
P. 41. Æthilbald of Mercia to Milred of Worcester, ' a genuine
charter ' (Earle) ; in (only) five times : four local, one adjuration.
P. 285 (original missing) : a bad copy of a rare piece ' (Earle).
Biornwulf of Mercia in council at Cloveshoo : two in, three on ; in
rime (4) ; on scyrhylte ( 10) ; on Aedelbaldes dæge ( 13 , 18) ; in ða
tiid (22)
P. 309. A ' secondary ' document (MS. of 11th century) of Offa,
A.D. 757-775, has nineteen in, one on , seven innon, one into.
Junction of Teme and Severn, South Worcester.
P. 310. Another of Offa (' secondary ' ) ; eight on, four in.
Junction of Stour and Avon, North Gloucester, &c.
We may safely assume from these a proportion of in to on=
2 : I.
The Mercian-Kentish charters on the other hand (O. E. T. 53,
55, 58) give three on, one in. The localities are Kentish.
The later Mercian dialect is exhibited in charters given in Sweet,
 xxxviii INTRODUCTION .

Reader ii. Nos. 31-44, A. D. 904-1058. Wenlock in Salop, A.D.

901 , has in only five times (Latin influence). The sum total gives
sixty-four on, eighteen in.
Earle, p. 441 , gives a (disputed) charter of Eadgar to Pershore,
A.D. 972. Where English and Latin are intermingled we have
thirty-seven in, eight on, one into ; where the English stands alone,
· thirty-three in, two hundred and twenty on, eleven into. The
examples of in occur in groups (local) e.g. p. 446 , 18 899.;
p. 448, 5 899. As this second passage relates to the Teme
district, we have strong confirmation of results derived above from
Earle, p. 309. Local persistence is strongly marked in Sweet,
No. 39. (in : on = 6 : 2) , A.D. 1038. Tappenhall, Worcester.
For East Anglia the evidence is scanty.
The Suffolk charters (Reader ii. 45-47) give nineteen on, no
example of in (into thirty-eight times). All late.
The will of bishop Elfric, about 1038 (Earle, p. 240), has no
example of in.
The Blickling Homilies contain twenty-eight examples of in,
eight of which are found in the Homily (No. 11. ) which contains
the date 971 ; the majority local.
ON excludes IN in Old Saxon and West Saxon.
I pass to West Saxon literature. Late West Saxon uses on
exclusively, early West Saxon has a few exceptions.
I note that the Old Saxon Heliand does not use in as a preposi-
tion, and that its general usage as to innan is in conformity with
West Saxon.
The Cura Pastoralis contains a solitary instance of in. (Sweet,
Preface, xxxix. Napier, Anglia, 10, p . 139 , who adds that he only
found one example in all Ælfric.)
The Orosius has in more frequently
(a) With Latin names, in Asiria ( 2, 4) ; in Meden 52 , 13 , &c. ,
chiefly in early pages, failing towards end, twenty-three examples.
(b) Before other proper names in Estmere (three examples), in
Denemearce (one).
(c) In stade, 20 , 9 .
(b), (c) are in the narrative of the voyages.
 INTRODUCTION . xxxix

There are also nine examples of the adverb in.

The desire to exclude is obvious.
Boetius has three examples (2 , 4 ; 2 , 13 ; 64, 31 , Cott.) , all early
in the work,
The Corpus MS. of Anglo Saxon Chronicle has twenty- six
examples : place where, fifteen ; motion to , eight ; time when, three.
Twelve examples are with names (eight English), seven with stowe
or stede. Twenty-five are due to first scribe (up to end of 891 ).
The last is in 894. Only three occur in the part covered by
Alfred's lifetime (855, 878, 894).
If we compare MS. A. with the other MSS., we find E. preserves
in seven times, D. three times , B., C. , F., each once (381 , where all
have in).
A local survey shows us in declining and on pushing forward
from Wessex. Alfred's Cura Pastoralis is purest. In is excluded
from the Orosius as the work advances, and still more jealously
from the Boetius. It survives in the older Anglo Saxon Chronicle
chiefly in formal idioms. The extension of on is bounded by the
North Downs, even in Alfred's own day, but it has overspread
Kent, and flowed up the Severn Valley to Worcester. Rural
districts escape right and left, Teme Valley-Avon and Stour
Valley-Wotton in the Cotswolds- Tappenhall - and to the North,
Wenlock in Salop. But on has occupied East Anglia and reached
the west border of Northampton. And we shall presently see it
gaining ground even further North.
IN is predominant .
I pass to the interlinear versions.
Here the Latin affects the English. This influence is very
marked in the Vespasian Psalter and Hymns (O. E. T. pp. 188-
420). The first thirteen pages give ninety-eight in, seven on ; pp .
383-394, one hundred in and three on.
An examination of the eighty-two examples of on gave these
results. Thirty were temporal, e. g. on marne, ten times ; on næht,
seven times ; on ærmergen, four ; on efenne, two. Of the remainder ,
many were adverbial idioms ; on weg, three ; onfienge, four ; on bec
(= retrorsum), twelve ; on heortan (= corde), thirteen. With an
xl INTRODUCTION .

adjective, as in alre heortan minre ( = in toto corde meo) , both Latin

and English have the preposition in except 11, 3 ; 44 , 6 ; 57 , 3.
As a rule when on is used there is no Latin preposition. There
are some half dozen examples to the contrary : on eorðan = in terra,
generally in corðan ; on are = in honore, but also in are ; on tid
once = in tempore, generally in tid : but on cude tid (no prep.) ;
on folcum in populis ; on dege = in die onræsað ge on men,
(= inruitis in homines) , is due to the verb ; cp. 58, 4 .
The glosser rarely inserts in unless authorised by the Latin :
e. g. in via hac qua is glossed in wege dissum on dæm ; in die
clamavi et nocte = in dege ic cleopede 7 on næht '. The use of com-
pounds is illustrative : onalan mostly, but also inæleð inaeled :
generally onhaldan, but inhæld = inclina ( 143 , 5). On the other
hand geinbryrde = conpuncti ( 34, 16), but onbryrdnisse ( 59, 5) .
The Latin Charter Cott. Aug. ii. 3 (Earle, p. 29) was once part of
the same MS. (Wanley, p. 258) . The grant refers to the valley of
the Northern Stour (Worcester and Stafford), and belongs to A. D.
736. It seems natural to place the Psalter in this neighbourhood
or an adjoining district. The writing shows an early date
(800-850, O. E. T. 184).
IN is still predominant but declining.
The Northern Gospels.
The influence of Latin is here very evident. The glosser begins
by a close adherence to the text, and gradually emancipates himself.
The Lindisfarne Matthew.
The first eight chapters give one hundred and thirty one in, four
on. We find in næht ; in eferntid, where there is no preposition in
Latin. On is only used for super, supra. On the other ongann (4,
17), where R. has ingann.
The Rushworth Matthew.
The same eight chapters give one hundred and nineteen in,
twenty on. We find in where there is no preposition in Latin, in
innan = intra (2, 9 ) ; in mode (2, 3) ; in sceat alegde = desponsata ( 1 ,
18) ; in gaste = spiritu (5, 3). The compound ingann = coepit ;
inbeornað = accendunt. But on corresponds eleven times to Latin

1 Exceptions : 20, 10 ; 101 , 26.

 INTRODUCTION. xli

in ; six times to super, supra ; three times is idiomatic on niht, on

bæclinc, on borg nioma ( = mutuari 5, 42) . Indifference is shown
by fellun on hus (7 , 25) feollon in hus ( 7, 27) ; on heofune, on
eorpe (6, 10, both in the familiar paternoster), in h. 5 , 12, 16, &c. ;
on scipe, in scipe.
Take now chapters 22-26 in the same Gospel : the proportion of
on to in has risen to 1 : 5 (about) in L., and to 1 : 2 in R., in round
numbers. At the same time an examination of parallel passages in
chaps. 9-28 in L. and R. show that L. has fifteen on = Latin in,
and seven on for other reasons, while R. has sixty- four on Latin
in, fifty-two on for other reasons. And in L. indifference is again
shown in Mt. 26 31 , where in ista nocte in vel on Jasser neht,
while preference is shown in 26, 34 on disser næht = in hac nocte ¹.
Gospel of Saint John.
The Lindisfarne text is glossed by Aldred, the Rushworth by
Owun, who copies L. with some changes. Chaps. 1-5 ; L. has in:
on= 5 : 1. R. has in : on = 3 : 1 . Chaps. 19-21 ; the proportion in
both is nearly 1 : 1, but on is slightly in excess, and the increase
extends to various usages.
Indifference is marked, e.g. in chaps. 1-5 after verbs of believing,
L. has five in and four on ; R. has four in and five on ; while L.
refers on with accusative for Latin accusative, but not exclusively.
We should note that all the characteristics of the second scribe
[Aldred] are more marked from John xix, 4 onwards ' (Waring,
quoted by Skeat, Preface to John, p. x, note 5) . In the English
inscription at the end of John there are three on and one in.
Durham Ritual (ed. Stevenson, with Skeat's collation, Trans.
Phil. Soc. 1879 , p. 52 sqq.).
In twenty-one pages taken at different points the proportion
was eleven in to four on ; there was no progressive increase.
But pp. 192-199 give twenty in and twenty-seven on, owing to
thirteen repetitions of on cregesc, on lædin in eight short lines.
Eighty-seven examples of on from pp. 1-107 showed seventy-
seven for Latin in. Indifference was marked, e.g. four examples
of in diebus illis give on, in each twice : four examples of in con-

1¹ In parallel passages in Mt. R. has 22 on in time phrases , L. 6 on.

xlii INTRODUCTION.

spectu give on, in each twice. The Paternoster, p. 172 , has in heof”,
but p. 175 on heof' . So 172 , v. 2 in nome. 172, V. 5. on nome.
Such glosses occur as in ondget vel on Joht ; also ( 102 , line 2) in
hoc = on das vel in dis. A good distinction is made in 65, v. 3 , as
to trees growing on mountains, on fields, in a town, in streets.
This use of in for the narrower circle is seen pp. 195–7. Nomina
locorum &c. , where in is used with byrig, ceaster and names of
towns nine times, on only once. On the other hand on is used
with magð, earð, lond ten times , in with magỡ three times.
Thus the latter part of the 10th century the date of the Northern
documents shows on advancing, as compared with the Vespasian
Psalter. The remoter North is rather more conservative than
South Yorkshire-Harewood. Western Mercia is clearlythe strong-
hold of in.
INpredominates in Bede.
I pass to Bede, recalling the fact that T. C. are in date not very
remote from the Northern documents.
I take some passages where C. is extant and uninjured.
1. Folio 1 of C. - text 168 , 3-170, 12. þær to gebohte.
T. has eleven in, three on, exactly corresponding to C. , except in
168 , 34, where C. has wrongly ond [scribe misinterpreting on].
O. Ca. have fourteen on, one in ( 168, 11 ).
B. has fourteen on, no in ( 168, 13 passage omitted).
2. Fol. 4 of C. - text 236, 6-238, 6 Mercna- 7.
T. C. have fifteen in, two on (236, 8, 19).
O. Ca. have sixteen on, one in (236, 28).
B. has eleven on, four in, one to ( 236, 32).
3. Folios 19, 20, 21 , 22 of C. = text 374 , 3-386 , 8.
This gives portions from second and third scribes of T.
T. has fifty-three in, ten on.
C. has fifty-four in, six on, two passages wanting ; once no
preposition.
O. has fifty-seven on, five in, one passage wanting ; once no
preposition ; once on inserted.
Ca. has fifty-six on, four in, one passage wanting ; twice no
preposition ; once at ; once on inserted.

To
 INTRODUCTION . xliii

B. has forty-two on, one an, fourteen in, once inn ; two passages
wanting ; once no preposition ; once 7 ; once to ; once œt.
As T. C. belonging to different classes coincide so very closely,
we conclude the archetype had in. The southern origin of the
others accounts for on ; but O. B. do not agree.
We must now compare the Latin and English (T.).
I. Latin in in all places, except (a) 168, 8, where on represents
force of inibi ; (b ) 168 , 20 ; 168 , 34 ; where nothing corresponds to
on ; (c) 168, 32 ; 170, 6 ; 170, 7 ; where nothing corresponds to in.
II. (a) on twice with nothing in Latin ; (b) in similarly four
times.
III. T. C. agree (a) in writing on without anything in Latin.
(b) "" ‫وو‬ on for Lat. in, 378, 21 ; 384 , 19 .
(c) "" on idiomatic 376 , 9 ; 378, 19 ;
380, 6 ; 380, 8 ; 382, 23 ;
384, 25.
(d) 99 99 in without Latin preposition ;
374 , 10 (bis) ; 374 , 30 ; 376,
14 ; 78 , 6 ; 380, 20 ; 38 2 ,
1 ; 382 , 18 ; 384, 14.
T. has (a) on Latin in 374, 22, where C. has in.
(b) in 374, 11 , where no Latin preposition. C. omits words.
For 380, 14, see Critical Note.
Further contrast 378 , 29 on his mode (T. B.) with in his mode
(C. O. Ca.) : again 376 , 9 on da tid all MSS ., but 382, 18 in Ja
tid (T. C. B.), on ða tid (O. Ca.). These minor variations show a
certain freedom of usage, such as we have already seen.
In the portion of the First Book contained in T. this MS. has in :
on= 8 : 1. Of the sixteen examples of on, two, on ærmergen, on
œfenne (92, 13), are in harmony with the Vespasian Psalter and
Rushworth Matthew : three more occur in the expression on angel-
deode (cynne), which is the usage noted in the fragments of Z. Cp.
also usage of Durham Ritual above.
In pp. 410, 8-424, 29 (the portion belonging to scribe 5) we
find fifty-two in, eight on.
We have Bede then, in this point; more in harmony with the
xliv INTRODUCTION .

Vespasian Psalter than with any other document. Allowing for lapse
oftime, and freedom from the influences working on the glosser, we
maypronounce the relationship a very close one in this one particular.
In point of time also Bede may fairly stand between the date of the
V. P. (early 9th century), and the Northern Gospels (end of 10th).
MID with the accusative and dative is Anglian (Norse).
The tribal differences in the use of mid are to be found at a time
anterior to the settlement in England. The subsequent decay
is already traceable in the variations as to syntax, which help
to determine the position of the English Bede.
I cite O.E. T. as before.
MID with dative only (or Instrumental).
Epinal, Erfurt, Corpus Glosses have but one example (796 = 1591 )
of undetermined case : the usage instrumental.
The Ruthwell Cross gives three examples of the instrumental
dative.
The Leiden Riddle has the dative plural of the person in
the sense of among,' where the Exeter text has for (O. E. T. )
The Bede Glosses have instrumental dative once ( 70).
The Codex Aureus has instrumental case twice, expressing ' means.'
But in the Martyrology the instrumental dative occurs three
times, the accusative singular (person accompanying), mid hine
three times. I omit later supplement.
Local documents.
Kentish charters, thirty examples : seventeen dative, one instru-
mental case, twelve undetermined . Two of dative personal (38, 8
plural : 41 , 5 singular). The rest imply means,' &c.
Saxon Kentish charters, dative plural, manner twice, case
undetermined once .
The great Surrey document has seven examples : four of dative,
two of instrumental, one undetermined, expressing means, &c. ,
none personal.
The early Mercian charters have four examples : two of instru-
mental, two of dative ' means,' &c.
Later Mercian Charters (Reader ii . p. 198 sqq.) have sixteen
examples (nine of dative, six undetermined, one dubious). One is
 INTRODUCTION. xlv

personal. Others express manner, &c. The dubious form is mid

Annaníam 7 Saphîram (40. 16), which seems to be accusative ; if
so, it is an isolated example in the charters (ep. ' cum Anna et Za-
phira,' Earle, p. 318).
The Suffolk documents (Reader, p. 209 sqq.) have twelve
examples : six dative, six undetermined, expressing accompaniment,
and not strictly personal.
The evidence of the charters is then against the use of mid with
the accusative. The solitary exception just noticed (personal and
singular) is Mercian. But the paucity of personal examples must
be recollected, out of sixty-nine only three.
The Kentish Glosses yield only two examples, both dative, both
personal, neither pronominal (939 plural : 973 singular).
The West Saxon evidence has been discussed by Professor
Napier in Anglia 10, p. 138, who affirms that in genuine West
Saxon (C. Pastoralis, Orosius, Boetius, Parker MS. of Anglo Saxon
Chronicle up to 891 , Ælfric's Homilies and Lives of Saints as far as
published) there is no undoubted example of accusative.
The index to the Blickling Homilies cites two examples, mid
mycele mengeo engla, twice repeated in Homily XIII. The phrase
has a poetic colour. I find also mid God fœder in the ascription at
end of Homilies VIII, p. 105.
MID with accusative and dative (or Instrumental).
The Vespasian Psalter and Northern documents have both
accusative and dative.
The V. P. and Hymns have 192 examples of mid thus distributed :
forty-one are undetermined, twenty are instrumental cases (inclu-
ding mid dy, mit te), twenty-five are accusative, one hundred and
six are dative.
Of the accusative, eight are mid mec ; four mid dec ; six are mid
hine ; two mid done (halgan, nestan) ; one mid dryhten ; one plural
mid usic ; two instrumental mid da swiðran, one mid hond may
be accusative or dative also.
The accusative is not only in the minority, but is almost confined
to the personal usage with pronouns. Only one example (pro-
nominal) is plural.
xlvi INTRODUCTION .

Northern Gospels.
A comparison of forty-four examples in L. and R. Matthew gives
the following results-there are two extra in L.
L. D. S. person 7 , thing 2.
D. P. 99 17, 99 6.
A. S. "" II, 99 3.
Mið hine five times. No example of accusative plural.
There is a design to exclude it : in Mt. 13.56 usih is altered to us.
R. D. S. person 6, thing 4.
D. P. 99 14, "" 2.
Instrumental 1.
A. S. persons 12, ,‫د‬ 2.
A. P. "" 3, O.
Mid hine seven times.
The examples are spread over the Gospel. I have omitted
undetermined cases.
The Gospel of Saint John.
Chapters 1-7 and 19-21.
Aldred (L.). D. S. person 3, thing 3.
D. P. 99 3, "" 4.
A. S. 99 12 , O.
No example of acc. plural. Mið hine six, mid dec two.
Owun (R.) reproduces Aldred with one or two exceptions : see 3,
22 (error) ; in 6, 66 , mið dy is perhaps an error.
Durham Ritual.
Eighty examples give these results :
D. S. person 20, thing 7.
D. P. "" 22 , "" 5.
A. S. "" 23, "" 2.
A. P. "" I ""
The acc. sing., dec occurs twenty-one times, done once as pronoun,
once as article. The other examples are mið sed ( 16, line 8), mið hæs
(113, 23).
MID with accusative in poetry.
The usage in poetry, though somewhat less limited, is corre-
spondent. Grein, Sprachschatz 2 , s. v. mid, cites fifty examples
 INTRODUCTION. xlvii

with accusative singular. Of these only six do not imply personal

association. Of the accusative plural he gives five examples, of
which two are not free from objection (Gen. 2208, Leas. 36) . The
other three are pronominal : mid unc twih ; mid eowic ; mid usic.
The Kentish Psalm and Hymn have mid four times, no accusative.
Satan has mid forty-seven times. Two are accusative of person :
mid pec ; mid weard. Two are examples of the phrase mid his
swidran hond, which might be dative. But V.P. 97, 1 ; 107, 7 ;
Heliand 185, favour accusative.
We must remember that Old English poetry is in the main of
Anglian origin.
These results, though not so full, are as free from doubt as those
derived from in, on. Mid with the accusative is excluded from
Wessex, may have existed in Kent, and is just traceable in East
Anglia. It is frequent in the West and North, but only under close
restrictions.
The usage in Bede (I omit mid by).
First, I take passages I, II, III, dealt with under in.
There are in all twenty-three examples, of which four are un-
determined. T. has two examples of accusative mid þa cwene 236,
7 (here C. has dative, O. Ca. = T.). mid pa aðle 378, 23 (C. dative
again ; O. Ca. have þa, above the line in O). On the other hand,
T. has instrumental 168, 21 (þon), where O. Ca. C. done accusative.
In 376, 22 , T. has mycelre, C. O. Ca. micle. In the nineteen
definite examples B. has dative uniformly.
Clearer results are obtained from Bk. I.
The text has forty-seven examples, thus distributed :-
D. S. person I, thing 8.
D. P. ‫وو‬ 6, "" 7.
A. S. "" 3, 22 4.
Instrumental 5. Undetermined 13.

The agreement of T. O. Ca. is absolute, except that in 74, 10,

O has pine (Ca. þinre), a possible slip of the pen. On the other hand,
B has ( 1 ) accusative once for dative, 54 , 28, godcunde (a possible
slip), (2) five examples of dative replacing accusative, (3) one of
dative for instrumental. In 84, 30 , B. reads plural unclænnessum.
xlviii INTRODUCTION.

The testimony in favour of the tradition of the text as we have

it in T. is again strong. Evidently B. excludes the accusative, but
it is found elsewhere in this MS., while the scribe's effort to
obliterate it is clearly shown on p. 454, 8 of MS. = 460, 27
of text, where the m of Iohannem is enclosed with dots, implying
that it was to be struck out ; but bone follows, which, not admitting
of ready alteration, is left untouched.
I finally take from T. only the work of scribe 5 (pp. 410, 8-414,
29). Here, out of eighteen examples of mid, ten are dative, one instru-
mental, seven accusative, all mid hine. The distinction is striking,
416, 11 mid hine ; 416 , 15 mid him (plural ) ; 416, 18 mid hine.
These points are remarkable : ( 1 ) the use of the accusative
singular of person, especially of pronoun, ( 2 ) avoidance of plural
acc. (In MS. T. we have D. S. p. 39. t. 158. D. P. p. 73. t. 101 .
A. S. p. 55. A. S. t. 53. A. P. p. 1. Ins. 90. Und. 131 ).
The form of the preposition is a further test. From the earliest
times mið, mid coexisted. Epinal, Corpus and Bede Glosses,
Ruthwell Cross and two Charters ( 24, 8 ; 48, 3 ) have miþ, which
is read also in Boetius 2, 2 (ed. Fox). Erfurt Glosses, Codex
Aureus, Martyrology and Charters generally have mid.
But in the extreme North mid prevails, while in South Yorkshire
-Harewood- mid, mid are commingled. V. P. has mid only, as
in Bede. The entire usage of the preposition thus tends once more
to link these two together.
The history of this preposition, as it appears in variously modified
forms in many languages, is one of shift and change. ( 1 ) Sanskrit
smát is limited and decaying ; (2 ) Greek μerá has three cases in
Homer, only one of which holds its ground fully in prose ; (3) it
is lost in Latin ; (4) mib in Gothic has dative only, and tends to
limitation (Gabelentz, Gloss.) ; ( 5) mit (acc.) in O. H. G. is rare ;
Graff 2, 660 ; Grimm D. , Gr. 4, 707 cite only nine examples ; the
usagewith sih, dih corresponds to English ; (6) med with accusative in
poetic Edda seems limited (Gering, Gloss.; his examples are chiefly
personal singular and plural). Cp. also Wilken, Gloss to prose Edda.
But in other Icelandic literature the accusative seems freely used
(Vigfusson). (7) 2 exx. (acc.) only in Heliand (Cott. ).
 INTRODUCTION. xlix

This comparative testimony, and the history in later English,

seem to show that the accusative survived, owing to convenience of
distinction (hine, him). That verse should also retain the case is
in accord with the archaistic tendency of all higher poetry.
It is clear that in the points discussed we are dealing with old-
standing differences between the tribes who occupied England.
The old Saxon of the Heliand corresponds to the West Saxon of
Cura Pastoralis : absences of certain forms and usages mark both.
It is absolutely impossible to assume that these barriers of race were
suddenly broken down , and that Alfred of Wessex adopted the idiom
of a subject Anglian tribe.
I append some rare words from the version. One or two
recognised Anglian words also give further comparisons.
Leoran is frequent in the Vespasian Psalter and Northern Gospels.

PAGE. T. B. O. Ca. C.
144, 7 leorde ferde fordferde

146, 21 geleorde gewende ferde

146, 23 forɣleorde geferde ferde fordferde

174, 16 leorde becom ferde

198, 10 leoran gewitan faran

244, 15 leorde leornode ferde

312, 27 for leorendne =- T forðferedne

318, 27 geleorenne geleorniganne geferanne

318, 28 geleorde geleornode =T
318, 32 geleorde =T geferde
330, 31 leorde =- T -T

340, 7 geleored =T gefered

422, 14 forðgeleordon -T for geferdon
446, 7 defective leorde ferde

474, 5 leorde for ferde Ca for ferde

474, 12 leorde ferde fordferde

476, 21 29 leorde ferde fordferde

d
1 INTRODUCTION .

Evidently leorde, &c. were in the archetype. B. coincides oftenest

with T. (showing the affinity of the two) , and the scribe's blunders,
leornode, &c., are very instructive. As the other recension (C. O. Ca.)
rarely admits it, the exclusion must have begun already in the
original from which the second recension is copied.
Lætan has in Anglian leort as preterite (Vespasian Psalter
North- rare in R. , Mt. , Siev., § 394 An.) This form is found 412 ,
12 ; 416, 21 ; 424, 9 ; 406, 12 (forleart). Here the other MSS. ,
C. included, have West Saxon forms.
Enlice, 97, 23, which I have translated ' peerless,' should be
"
' angelical.' For the omission of g, cp. anlum, Kentish Hymn 5.
Batiende, 404, 1 (batigende B. , botiende O. , with erasure before o),
is a true form. Cp. Icel. batna as medical term (Vigfusson).
The correction into betigean in Leechdoms, iii. 54, 33 , is therefore
unnecessary (Toller, s. v. betigean).
Fos 78, 13 seems Anglian equivalent of West Saxon fnæd. Cp.
Mt. 9 , 20 ; 14 , 26 ; 14, 36 ; 23 , 5 ; Mk. 6, 56 ; Lk. 8, 44 ; in
Northern and West Saxon versions : cp. V. P. 44, 14.
Festre utilius, 380, 3. If the word is right, the sense is new.
Frecernes frecennes, frecelnes, frecednes all are found in Bede.
The form with r once in C. ( 382 , 8 ), otherwise only in T. It should
be in the text 76, 20 ; 324, 23.
This r recalls the Northern (esp . Durham R.) forms æfern, &c.
Ge- is not prefixed in some words : feran 122 , 2 ; gunnon 60, 22 ;
leafan 124, 27 ; lomlice, 442 , 12 .
Gemyndum 398, 17 (gemyðum O. Ca. B. gemærum C. ), O. H. G.
gemyndi. Cp. O. Frisian muth, mund.
Gesyndgad, 320, 12 = prosperatum. Ca. O. gefyrðrad, in O. fyr
on erasure, or above live : nothing in B.
Glæsfulne, 398, 3 , a doubtful form. C. has glæsful, O. glæsfull,
with fat above.
Ca. has glæsfæt full, B. glæsfæt mid. Ful as substantive seems
to be always neuter (A. S. , O. S. , Icel.). As bat follows, the
reading of T. may be an error.
Goad, goiende, 88, 15, 17. C. has gep, gende ; B. gæð (only) ; O.
Ca. hogað, hogiende. Cp. Icelandic geyja, go, ‘ bark ' = Gk yoάw. See
Fick. i, 76, gu.
 INTRODUCTION. li

Meorde, 376, 16. O. Ca. meda ; B. mede ( Northern and V. P.) .

Swylce, 382 , 3 ; 382 , 6. Other MSS. swyle, swile, (but B. = T.
in second passage). See Ettmuller, Lex. 752 .
-Wintre, -niht, adjectives are found compounded with these words,
e. g. 480, 26 ; 392 , 12, 14.
Wonpe appears as a preposition in T. C. See 238 , 2 ; 252,9 . In
the former passage O. has wona be with a above line, in the latter
wana þe. Ca. has wona (only) in both. B. has ( 1 ) wana, ( 2) læs de.
In 26, 18, Ca. B. have wana, C. wonde.
I add some notes as to forms, chiefly Anglian, nearly all from T.
The references are to Sievers, Angelsächsische Grammatik, 2te
Auflage, 1886.
§ 237. G. sing. Finano ( 226 , 15 ) , all MSS .
D. sing. Aurelia (32 , 3), Ca.
e dropt huntað ( 196 , 25), mæssepreost ( 106, 8)
T.: but O. has e on erasure. Cp. in word
minum, St. John, p. 5. xxiii . (ed . Skeat).
N. pl. godo, neuter 224 , 14) .
G. pl. Breotono ( 120, 3) . Norðanhymbro (146, 6.)
gebeodo (174, 3). alo (324, 8.)
gewrito (408, 3 ; 448, 8, [ O. Ca.]) .
tinterigo (434, 6 ; 440, 14.)
262 ; cp. § 237, An. 1 , 2.

I stems.
Sing. N. Edwini, G. Edwinis, Deodoris, Coludis, apostolis, gyddis
(cp. Charters, O. E. T. No. 8, 5).
D. Agustini, Paulini, eretici (cp . geddi, O. E. T. p. 58, 374 =
p. 59, 703 ). Plur. N. apostole ( 312, 29 ) .
§§ 249, 250. WO stems.
G. sing. treoes (192 , 13 ), G. pl. trea (224, 15).
The forms laruw, lattow are found ; þeaw is written
beow ( 102, 13 ; 173 , 2 ). Cp., vice versa, the verbbeawe =
beowe, 210, 17.

272. U stems, neuter.

G. sing. fea (130, 34 ; 216, 8) , D. sing. fea (324, 26).
d a
lii INTRODUCTION.

§ 260. WA stems.
A. sing. treowa ( 130, 27). See § 260, An. 3. 274, An. 2.
The forms blodlæsos, blodlæseow (392, 11 , 16) , I have
obelised.
§ 273. U declension .
G. sing. biscophade (220, 5). See § 271 , An. 2.
$ 276. N stems.
D. sing. Ceadwala (306. 10 , O. Ca. -an B).
§ 284. An. 4. Instrumental sing.: sume neahte ( 156, 15. T.,
sumre O. Ca. B. ) In North. the word is some-
times masc. (Sievers.)

ADJECTIVES .

§ 293. D. sing. e dropt in oder stowe ( 226, 24 ) . Cp. John 1, 29

(L.) oder doeg (odre dæge R.).
$ 300. WO stems.
N. sing. masc. geara (98, 3).
A. sing. neut. geara (60, 29), neara (358 , 4) . Cp. neara
Boet. 64, 14 (Cott. o), Mt. 7, 14 (Corpus). georne
334, 16. T. may be Ac. sing. with change of eo for ea.
(O. Ca. have gearone, B. omits). Cp. Charter 37, 30
(O. E. T.) gegeorwien, and L. V. Georored (O. E. T.
161 , 282).
§ 300. An. 1.
A. pl. neut. feoo. (434, 16).
§304 ; cp. § 276, An. 2 .
N. sing. fem. haligra ( 120, 23) , twelfta 124, 7.
In 56, 3 the adjectives seem neuter ( = tutius) ; to refer
them to siofæet is harsh.
§ 325. G. Pl. twelfa (154, 5).

PRONOUNS.

§ 332. N. Pl. woe ( 282 , 23 , see Critical Note).

N. dual wid (394, 1 ).
§ 337. An. 3 .
Instr. sing. be (262 , 19 note ; cp . 380, 21 ).
 INTRODUCTION. liii

G. pl. Jeara 354, 13 ; 388, 32 ( MS. O. in 396, 30 with

e erased).
A. sing. pæne (350, 23 ) ; cp . Jene Mt. 20 , 22 (R.) .
G. D. sing. fem. þær ( 244, 11 ; 272 , 11 , & c.) .
$ 338. D. sing. þeossum (342 , 30).
Jassum (422 , 19 ; also in Z. cp. p. xiv).
§ 342. hwilice (434, 14) .
VERBS Pres. sing. in o asecgo, twygeo, 2nd sing. in es, woldes,
reces (C.), 3rd sing. beorned ( 214, 7 ) , liges ( 26, 21 , B.), geotet (418 ,
21). Pret. 2nd sing. gesawa (430 , 29 ; 432, 21 ) , 3rd sing. wold
(378, 30). Plur. flito (212, 14). Conjunctive, n of plural very often
dropt. Inf. drinca (398, 2 ) sole example of n dropt. Participles
onfoende, doen, geceed, gesegen, gesene, gewarden.
Verb substantive earon, sy (plur. 92, 25), weosan (inf. ), wærun,
weran, wœrom (376, 3), waron ( 282 , 6 note), ware (opt. 384, 25) .
Miscellaneous.- Syntax. The plural hy of the third person
has a noun in apposition osweo (256, 18 all MSS). This is an
extension of the usage, commonly found of apposition to a dual
pronoun of 1st and 2nd person (Koch, Gr. , § 300) . The 3rd plural
usage is found in Icelandic. In 154, 5 we have his weotena
twelfa sum cum duodecim lectis militibus. If we follow the
Latin, it is a departure from the general usage, as in Beowulf, 207
fiftena sum = ' with fourteen others.' The his makes some differ-
ence. The phrase feara sum may be cited in favour of either
interpretation. The frequent use of ond in the apodosis is
common to all the MSS. e.g. 222 , 5 (7 þær), 306, 3 (7 eac), &c.
The use for also ' in 30, 25 (on = ond) is doubtful. The Latin is
etiam. Both MSS. here agree.
All issues raised lead to similar results, placing the origin of the
version in Mercia, and exhibiting T. as the best representative of
the archetype.
Some deductions however must be made from this assumed
value of T. The text is not quite uniform, and one scribe has
some very marked peculiarities.
I reserve the full discussion of the dialect for the second
volume, which will exhibit the variants of the other MSS. in full.
d3
liv INTRODUCTION.

Two scribes (2 and 5) are only engaged on the MS . of T. for a

few pages each.
They have some common peculiarities of orthography. (1 ) ae
for æ. (Contrast scribe I and scribe 2 at beginning of Book 5 ,
where their writing is intermingled. ) ( 2 ) oe for e. (3) ae, œ for e,
and vice versa. ( 4) io for eo. (5) u for w (uu once, 422 , 26) . ( 6 )
Double vowels aa, ee, ii, oo, uu, more frequently than is the habit
with their collaborateurs.
The scribes must have taken these spellings from the copy
before them. This is proved by the corrections 412 , 9 ; 424 , 10.
These peculiarities are in part at least archaic. Their frequent
occurrence in these two, and their comparative rarity elsewhere,
show a process of change, in which I suspect scribe 1 of being
the moving spirit, but in which all scribes without exception
participate. Possibly the process introduced many of the current
forms of West Saxon literature, which at this time deface all
dialects : cp. p . xvii.
Two tests will exhibit this influence at work.
A, O, before nasals. Late W. Saxon prefers a.
The proportion of a to o (excluding bone) is in scribe 1 for Book
1, about one to thirty-eight. In scribe 5 it is about one to eight.
But in scribe 2 a is hardly found (hwonan, 352 , 31 ; ablan, 390,
2). The form fromgan, 384, 22, recalls the V. P., and is found
elsewhere, 126, 22 ; 330 , 22. Cf. Kent. Gl. 313. This scribe has a
preference for o : holonga ; bletsonge ; somninga ; hiofones ; Liidis-
fearona.
V. P. writes consistently o (Zeuner, die Sprache des k. Psalters,
p. 10).
R. Matthew has chiefly o, but with several examples of a. We
may contrast R. Mt. and― (28) , ond—(37) , with scribe 1 of T. (Bk
1) , and—(2), ond- (9 ) : (see Svensson : Om språket ... af Rush-
worth-handskriften, pp. 10, 11. Otten : The language of the
Rushworth Gloss to . . St. Matthew, pp. 6 , 7. Leipzig, 1890).
In Kentish a is common from early times, and in the charters an
is at times the almost exclusive form of the preposition (Nos. 39,
41 , 43).
 INTRODUCTION. lv

O prevails in Chad (Anglia, 10, 139).

Layamon has both o and a (Callenberg : Layamon und orm ...
verglichen (Diss. ) Jena, 1876. See §§ 1 , 7).
Scribe 2 exhibits this Mercian o most faithfully.
A before 1+ consonant. Late W. Saxon has ea.
In Bk 1, scribe I has a to ea in proportion of one to two
nearly (ald ' old ' eald - 2 : 1 , but all ' all ' : eall = 3 8).
Scribe 5 (including -wald-) has the proportion nearly 1 : 1 (ald :
eald = 43 ; all : eall = 3 : 5). Scribe 2 (again including wald)
has a to ea 11 : 7 (all : call = 3 : 5 ; ald- ' old ' does not occur.
The letter combination however gives proportion a : ea = 5 : 1) .
V. P. has no example of ea (Zeuner, p. 25). But in the charter
of 735 belonging to the same MS. ealduuft is among the sig
natures ¹.
In the Rushworth Matthew a is more frequent ; but ea propon-
derates in eall, a in ald (Svensson, pp. 21 , 22 ; Otten, pp. 10, 11).
In the oldest Kentish documents a prevails exclusively (Zeuner,
p. 25). But ea slips in, first in proper names (Nos. 8, 33 , 34, 35 ,
38, A.D. 770 to 831 ). Then in No. 39, A.D. 831 , ea is found
exclusively in all words : and so from this time on varyingly.
Finally, the Kentish glosses with frequent ea, have only four
examples of a (Zupitza).
Chad has a preponderance of ea over a (2 : 1 , cp. Anglia, 10, p.
35). I find on examination that eall has expelled all in all cases
except one (1. 107), and that eald is the sole form (three
examples).
Layamon has a in all : in some derivatives of ald we find ea.
See Madden, Glossary, under all, ald, &c. The return to a is very
marked.
Again, scribe 2 is most faithful to the older form.
The rude hand of scribe 5 has added on peculiarities, which,
though not without a parallel in the other scribes, are concen-
trated in a few pages so markedly, as to impart a special character
to his work. He remains however faithful to the general tradition
¹ Mercian and Mercian Kentish charters (O. E. T. and Reader ii) ; (1 ) up to
900 A.D., 74 α, 2 ea ; (2) 901-1000, 6 a 4 ea ; ( 3) beyond 1000, 6 a, 43 ea.
lvi INTRODUCTION.

of the text in regard to the use of in, and still more so as regards
mid. This I have already noted in discussing these words.
As we have seen, there is no trace of a West Saxon original.
But there is an early tradition assigning the translation to Alfred .
( 1) Elfric Homily on St. Gregory ( Cam. U. Libr . MS., p. 157 ,
16 sqq. = Thorpe, ii . 116) : Manega hálige bec cyðað his drohtnunge
7 his hálige líf, 7 eac historia anglorum, da de alfred cyning of
ledene on englisc awende. Ælfric considers Alfred's translations
the only correct ones (Ib. English preface). (2 ) The Latin couplet
in MS. Ca. already quoted (above p. xv.) is precise. (3 ) William of
Malmesbury, De Gestis Regum Anglorum, Lib. ii. § 123 :
' Denique plurimam partem Romanæ bibliothecæ Anglorum auribus
dedit . . cuius præcipui sunt libri, Orosius, Pastoralis Gregory
Gesta Anglorum Bedæ, Boetius de Consolatione Philosophiæ. . . .
The only internal evidence in favour of Alfredian authorship is
the insertion of the W. Saxon genealogy, which comes down only
to the king's accession.
Our MS. authorities at this point are Ca., B. , C.— the last only
as cited by Wheelock. Ca. inserts it after the Praefatio. Now as
Ca. never elsewhere inserts anything not in O., we may assume that
the genealogy stood in this MS . also. It is not in B. The various
readings cited from ' B.' by Wheelock, are really taken from the
Corpus (Benet) MS. of the A. S. Chronicle, as a comparison shows.
C. Otho B. XI . contained also the Chronicle, which was printed
from this MS. by Wheelock in the same volume with his edition of
Bede. C. reproduces the Corpus Chronicle (Earle, Two of the
Saxon Chronicles , &c. , ed . 1865 , p. liii). Wheelock's vv. ll. from
' C.' may therefore be from the MS. of the Chronicle in this case
also. Smith silently omits the genealogy. Had he found it in two
out of his three authorities he would probably have noticed the
fact.
The omission in B. is a presumption against its insertion in T.
In fine, the genealogy probably was contained only in two out of our
five MSS., those two which in the case of on are most decidedly
under West Saxon influence.
Various theories may be put forward to reconcile the tradition of
 INTRODUCTION. lvii

Alfredian origin with the Anglian dialect of the text. Alfred may
have adopted an existing translation . Apart from the difficulty of
accounting for the origin of so important a version before his time,
we have Alfred's precise statement in the Introduction to Cura
Pastoralis that such translations were not made previously ( 5, 18
sqq.). The version may have been executed hy Mercian scholars
under orders from the king. Compare the statement of William of
Malmesbury (ii. § 122 ) : ' Præterea, quia nullus in suo regno litera-
rum erat peritus evocavit ex Mercia Wicciorum episcopum Were-
frithum, qui iussu regis Dialogorum libros in Anglicum sermonem
convertit.' Cp. Asser M. H. B. p. 486. Flor. Wig. M. H. B. p. 557.
The evidence of the dialect favours production on Mercian soil.
One characteristic of the translation supports this view. The
translator shows some familiarity with Scotch localities and circum-
stances, and a certain tenderness for national susceptibilities.
In Book 5 , 9 , the ambiguous transmontanis Pictis ad aquilonem '
is correctly explained as in pœm mórlondum da de siondan to norð-
dale Peohta rices (410, 20). Just afterwards the vague ' a non-
nullis . . . vocatur ' is given with precision, be Scottas nemdon.
'
Again, in Book 3 , 3 (s. f. ), the abrupt omission of quae videlicet
insula ad ius quidem Brittanniae pertinet,' in the English version
is very marked : ac hwabere (160, 4 ) = ' sed,' has no meaning,
owing to the absence of the clause to which it introduces the
antithesis. Again in Book 5, 23 , the severe censure implied in
fraudium disappears in gestrodo, a word suitable to the border
foray to lift cattle.'
The omission just noticed refers to Hii (Iona), the chief seat
of monasticism, and the centre which united the priesthood of
Ireland, Scotland and England for the diffusion of missionary
enterprise. From Iona came Aidan the apostle of Northumbria,
as well as Finan, Colman, Tuda, who followed as bishops there.
The first bishop of Mercia, Diuma, also a Scot, was ordained
by Finan. The second bishop was Cellach, also a Scot, who
resigned his bishopric and retired to Iona. His successor, the
third bishop of Mercia, was indeed an Englishman, but edu-
cated and ordained by Scots. Bishop Finan had baptized Peada
lviii INTRODUCTION.

the son of Penda, and so introduced Christianity into the pro-

vince.
The tender regard for things of Scotland is associated with the
Paschal controversy. The exultant chapter at the end of the
History, in which Bede recounts the conversion of the monks
of Iona to the observance of the orthodox Easter, is rendered with
no inferior warmth by the translator. But he omits Book 5 , 15,
which speaks of the perversity of Iona on this point, and the
chapter heading (which is translated), correctly renders ' Scottorum
ecclesiae ' by cyricean on Hibernia. The omission of Book 3 , 16
sqq. has already been commented on (see p . xx). This considera-
tion also accounts for the very remarkable omission of Book 3 , 25 ,
26, giving an account of the triumph of the orthodox under
Wilfrid, with the defeat and retirement of Colman. The allusion
to his defeat at the opening of Book 4, is carefully suppressed.
The partiality for Aidan already pointed out is very evident in the
sudden pause in the middle of the sentence after ' zelum dei ' (Book
3, 3), and the omission of what follows down to the end of the
paragraph (todidicerunt ').
This suppression is all the more remarkable when contrasted
with the fidelity which reproduces Bede's bitter language as to the
Britons (Bk. 5, 23 and elsewhere), and the insertion of Bk. 4 , 4,
which is as creditable to Colman and the English, as it is dis-
creditable to the Irish (' Scotti ') . Perhaps too national jealousy
dictated the omission of the vision of the Hibernian Furseus in the
archetype (see p. xxi) .
We must look for the seat of such feelings not in the royal court
of Alfred, but in one of the Mercian monasteries. Later accounts,
while they silently exclude Alfred's authorship, exhibit the version
as well known on the Welsh border. Giraldus Cambrensis was
acquainted with the Latin Historia Ecclesiastica, which he quotes
freely in his Topographia Hibernica (Distinctio 1 , cap. 3, 29, 31) .
But in his Itinerarium Kambriæ (Lib. 1. c. 6) he speaks of ' omnes
libros Anglicos Bedæ, Rabani, regis Aluredi.' Here an. express
distinction is drawn.

The country priest Layamon names Bede among his few

 INTRODUCTION. lix

authorities : He nom pa englisca boc pa makede seint Beda. an

oper he nom on latin, þe makede seinte Albin 7 þe feire austin, þe
fulluhte brouhte hider in. Boc he nom pe pridde, leide per
amidden, pa makede a frenchis clerc, Wace wes ihoten (31-40).
The familiar tone, however uncritical, in which he speaks of
Bede, contrasts with his formal introduction of Wace. Layamon's
church lay on the right bank of the Severn, by Bewdly in North
Worcestershire. About twenty miles to the north lay Wenlock
Abbey, whose foundress, St. Milburga, was one of the patron saints
of Paisley Abbey in Scotland, and whose foundation received bene-
factions from Alfred's daughter Ethelfled ' lady of Mercia ' (charter
in Earle, p. 159) . Here we might imagine the translation to be
preserved. A copy may have existed to the south in the ancient
foundations of Pershore or Evesham (ib. p. 238, 441 ) . So we have
seen that MS. C. probably lay in the Priory of Southwick in Hants.
So, too, the Tanner MS. seems to have been written in some monastic
community, but we have no certain means of determining the
spot. Possibly it was an outlying ' cella.'
Lichfield also early possessed a notable monastery. This city
claiming to be the see of the first Scot bishops, as it certainly was
of Chad, formed a centre for Scot tradition . It was too for a time
the seat of an archbishopric¹. The district of the Vespasian
Psalter is close at hand, and South Yorkshire not far distant.
Its importance, history and situation mark it out as a possible
birthplace for the old English version of Bede.

1 Dugdale Monast. ed. 1846, vi. 1238 sqq. Earle p. 70. Bede, 262, 1I .
 THE OLDENGLISH VERSION

OF

BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

OF

THE ENGLISH PEOPLE

B
 PRAEFATIO¹.

Smith , p.
Ic Beda Cristes peow and massepreost sende gretan done leo-
471 .
fastan cyning Ceolwulf. 7 ic de sende þæt spell, þæt ic niwan awrat
be Angelpeode 7 Seaxum, de sylfum to rædanne 7 on emtan to
smeageanne, 7 eac on ma słowa to writanne 7 to læranne ; 7 ic
getreowige on dine geornfulnysse, forþon du eart swyðe gymende 7 5
smeagende ealdra manna cwidas 7 dæda 7 ealra swypost para
mærena wera ure peode. Fordon pis gewrit oðde hit gód sagað
be godum mannum, 7 se de hit gehyrep, he onhyreþ þam , oððe
hit yfel sagap be yfelum mannum, 7 se de hit gehyreð, he flyhö
þæt 7 onscunap. Forpon hit is gód godne to herianne 7 yfelne to 10
leanne, pat se gedeo se pe hit gehyre. Gif se oder nolde, hu wurd
he elles gelæred ? For pinre dearfe 7 for pinre deode ic pis awrat ;
forpon de God to cyninge geceas, pe gedafenað þine peode to
læranne. 7 þæt dy læs tweoge hwæder pis soð sy, ic cyðe hwanan
me pas spell coman. 15

II.

Ærest me was fultumiend 7 lareow se arwurða abbad Albinus,

se was wide gefaren 7 gelæred, 7 was betst gelæred on Angel-
cynne. Swydost he me sæde of + Peodores gemynde, se was biscop
on Cantwara byrig, 7 Adrianus + abbud, fordon he swydost was
mid him gelæred. Eall þat he on Cantwara mægpe 7 eac on pam 20
peodlandum þe þær to geðeodde wæron, eall Sæt he oððe on ge-
P. 472. writum oððe on ealdra manna sægenum ongeat oðde fram leorning-
cnihtum þæs eadigan papan Sce Gregories, pa he - me ealle , da
þe gemyndwurde wæron, purh Nodhelm done festan mæsse-

¹ There is no heading in the MSS. 1. 1. Text follows Ca. 1. 2. cyning

 PREFACE .

I, BEDE, servant of Christ and priest, send greeting to the well-

beloved king Ceolwulf. And I send you the history, which
I lately wrote about the Angles and Saxons, for yourself to read
and examine at leisure, and also to copy out and impart to others
5 more at large ; and I have confidence in your zeal, because you are
very diligent and inquisitive as to the sayings and doings of men
of old, and above all of the famous men among our people. For
this book either speaks good of the good, and the hearer imitates
that, or it speaks evil of the evil, and the hearer flees and shuns
10 the evil. For it is good to praise the good and blame the bad,
that the hearer may profit. If your hearer be reluctant, how
else will he gain instruction ? I have written this for your profit
and for your people ; as God chose you out to be king, it behoves
you to instruct your people. And that there may be the less
15 doubt whether this be true, I will state the sources of my narrative .

II.

My first assistant and teacher was the venerable abbot Albinus,

a man who had travelled much and studied, and was the best
scholar in England . He told me chiefly about Theodorus, of
blessed memory, who was bishop in Canterbury, and of the
20 abbot Adrianus, under whom he had chiefly studied . All that
he ascertained in Kent and the adjoining districts, from written
documents and the traditions of old inhabitants, or from dis-
ciples of the blessed pope St. Gregory, all that was memorable, he
transmitted to me through Nothhelm, the pious priest of London,

Ceoluulf B. cyning 7 halettan C. Ca. 1. 14. Ca. and B. end a paragraph at sy ;

Ca. also inserts a number, II, after sy.
B 2
 4 PRAEFATIO.

preost on Lundenbyrig-odde hine to me sende, odde on stafum

awrat 7 me sende. Fram fruman þyssa boca oð þa tíd, þe Angelcyn
Cristes geleafan onfeng, of ealldra manna sægenum- ; oð þas
andweardan tid swydost we geleornodon, þat we her writað, of
leorningcnihtum þæs eadigan papan Sce Gregorius, under hwilcum 5
cyninge pat donne geworden wæs, purh Albinus myngunge þæs
abbudes 7 ðurh Noðhelmes ærendo 7 gesægene. Swyde fela hi me
sædon fram gehwylcum biscopum, 7 hwylcum cyninga tidum
Eastseaxe 7 Westseaxe 7 Eastengle 7 Norðanhumbre pære gife
onfengon Cristes geleafan. Durh Albinus swiðost ic geðrist- 10
læhte pat ic dorste pis weorc ongynnan, 7 eac + mid Danieles
þæs arwurðan Westseaxna biscopes, se nu gyt lifigende ís. Fela
he me sæde ymbe Suoseaxe 7 embe Westseaxe ; 7 eac ymbe
Wiht det igland swydost he me sende on gewritum. +7 purh Cedde
pone arwurðan Myrcna bisceop 7 Ceaddan ymbe Myrcna peode 15
7 Eastseaxena + ; 7 eac ymb para biscopa líf 7 forpfore we
geacsodan fram þam broðrum þæs mynstres, de hi sylf astemnedon,
de Læstinga ea is nemned. pa þing þe on Eastenglum gewordene
waron, sume we pa of ealdra manna gewritum ode sægene
metton, sume we mid Isses gesagene pas arwurpan abbudes 20
geleornedon. 7 pat on Lindese geworden was ymbe Cristes
geleafan, þurh gesegene des arwurðan biscopes Cynebyrhtes 7
purh his ærendgewritu 7 oðra lifigendra swide getreowra we
geleornodon. 7 eac þat we on Norðanhymbrum geacsedon ymbe
Cristes geleafan oð dysne andweardan dæg, nalæs mid anes mannes 25
gepeahte ac mid gesægene unrim geleaffulra witena, pa pe pa
ding wiston 7 gemundon, 7 syððan þæt ic sylf ongeat, ne lét ic
þæt unwriten. Pat ic be dam halgan fæder Cuðbyrhte wrat
odde on þysse bec odde on oðre , þa dæda his lifes, sume ic ærest
nom of þam gewritum de ic awriten gemette mid þam broðrum 30
þære cyricean æt Lindesfearona ea, sumu, da pe ic sylf ongitan
mihte purh swide getreowra manna gesægene, ic toycte. 7

1. 5. 7 Ca., B. (before leorning-). 1. 7. 7 ðurh B. 7 not in Ca. 1. 11. † mid,

read myngunge, here or after Albinus ? 1. 14. The passage from 7 þurh
to East Seaxena is corrupt. B. has 7 Ourh Cedde pon arweorðan Myrcna
bysceopes ymb Myrcna deode 7 Eastseaxena. 1. 24. Norðanhymbra Ca.
 20
PREFACE .

either sending him to me in person or forwarding a written state-

ment. From the beginning of these books till the English received
the faith of Christ, we have derived what is here written from the
traditions of old men, (thenceforward) up to the present, chiefly
5 from the disciples of the blessed pope St. Gregory, with the dates
according to the kings' reigns, all recorded through abbot Albinus
and the reports and statements of Nothhelm. They told me very
much as to the bishops and the dates of the kings, under whom the
East Saxons, West Saxons, East Angles and Northumbrians received
10 the grace of Christ's faith. And it was chiefly through Albinus
that I was encouraged to commence this work, (encouraged) also by
Daniel the venerable bishop of the West Saxons, who still survives .
He told me much about the South Saxons and West Saxons ; and
also about the Isle of Wight, (but this last) chiefly by letter. And
15 through Cedd, the venerable bishop of the Mercians, and Chad,
about the people of the Mercians and East Saxons †, and about the
life and death of the bishops, we have learnt from the brethren of
the monastery, founded by them, which is called Lastingham.
Events in East Anglia we have traced partly from the writings of
20 older men or their traditions ; partly we have ascertained them
from the statements of the venerable abbot Isse. The progress of
Christ's faith in Lindsey we have learnt from the statements of
the venerable bishop Cyneberht, and through written reports from
him and other very trustworthy persons still living. (I also relate)
25 what we have ascertained about the faith of Christ in Northumbria
up to the present day, not on the authority of a single person, but
from the statements of numberless faithful witnesses, who knew and
remembered the events, and afterwards what I myself knew, I did
not leave unrecorded . What I have written about the holy father
30 Cuthbert, either in this book or in another, his deeds and his
life, I have taken first from the writings I found among the
brethren of the church at Lindisfarne, and the particulars, which I
myself could ascertain from the report of very trustworthy persons,

Norðhymbru B. 1. 31. Lindesfearona ea C. Lindesfarena (no more) Ca.

Lindesfarene (no more) B.
6 CAPITULA.

pone leornere ic nu eadmodlice bidde 7 halsige, gif he hwæt

ymbe dis on oore wisan gemete odde gehyre, pat he me pat ne
otwite.

INCIPIUNT CAPITULA LIBRI PRIMI¹.

I. Be gesetnysse Breotene odde Hibernia Scotta ealandes, ond

heora þam ærran bigengum. 5
II. Ɖæt se ærra Romwara casere Gagius Iulius Breotene
gesohte.
III. Det se æftera Romwara casere, Claudius haten, þæt ylce
ealond gesohte ; 7 Orcadas pa ealand gepeodde to Romwara cyne-
dome ; ge eac Uespassianus fram him sended wæs, 7 he Wihte 10
ealond pam Romaniscan kynedome underðeodde.
IIII. Det Lucius Brytta cyning sende gewritų to Eleutherio pam
papam, bæd hine cristenne beon, and eac abæd.
V. Dat Seuerus se casere onfeng micelne dæl Breotene, 7 pone
mid dice tosceadde fram oðrum unatemedum þeodum. 15
VI. Be Dioclitianus rice, 7 þæt he cristene men was ehtende.
VII. Sce Albanus prowung 7 his geferena, þe on da ilcan tid for
Drihtne heora blod aguton.

VIII. Ɖæt, da seo ehtnysse blan, seo cyrice on Breotene hwæt-

hwugu fæc sibbe hæfde, od da tide pæs Arrianiscan gedwolan. 20
VIIII. Đæt ricsiendum Gratiano Maximus se casere was on
Breotene acenned , 7 eft mid mycle weorede ferde on Gallia rice.
X. Dæet ricsiendum Archadio Pelagius se Bryt wie Godes gife
geleafan unrihtlice lare onfeng.
XI. Đæt ricsiendum Honorio Gratianus 7 Constantius wæron on 25
Breotene acende ; 7 se ærra was on Brytton ofslegen, 7 se oðer
wæs on Gallia rice.

XII. Dat Bryttas fram Scottum 7 Peohtum wæron forhergode ;

7 hi to Rome him fultumes bædon.

1. 3. For the Wessex genealogy see end of volume. After otwile Ca. has
III (numeral). 1 The Capitula precede the Praefatio in B. 1. 4. on
 CONTENTS . 7

I have added on. And I now humbly beg and entreat the reader
that, if he find or hear anything different about this, he will not
blame me,

CONTENTS.

Book I.

I. About the position of Britain and Ireland, the island of the

5 Scots, and about their first inhabitants.
II. That the first emperor of the Romans, Gaius Julius, visited
Britain.
III. That the second emperor of the Romans, called Claudius,
visited the same island, and subjected the Orkney islands to the
10 Roman dominion ; that also Vespasianus was sent by him and
brought the Isle of Wight under the Roman rule.
IV. That Lucius, king of the Britons, sent letters to pope Eleu-
therius praying to be made a christian, and his prayer was heard.
V. That the emperor Severus took a large part of Britain,
15 and separated it with a dyke from the other savage tribes.
VI. About the reign of Diocletian, and that he persecuted the
christians.
VII. The passion of St. Alban and his companions, who shed
their blood for the Lord at the same time.
20 VIII. That when the persecutions ceased, the church in Britain
had peace for some time till the days of the Arian heresy.
IX. That in the reign of Gratianus the emperor Maximus was
born in Britain, and again proceeded to Gaul with a vast host.
X. That in the reign of Arcadius, Pelagius the Briton took up
25 false doctrine contrary to belief in God's grace.
XI. That in the reign of Honorius, Gratianus and Constantius
were born in Britain ; and the first was slain in Britain, the other
in Gaul.
XII. That the Britons were wasted by the Scots and Picts, and
30 entreated help from Rome.

( = ' et ' ) Ca. ,10B. (often in MSS.) . 1. 10. Uespassianus Ca. Vespasianus B.
1. 19. hwat h,ugu Ca. sum B.
 8 CAPITULA.

XIII. Det ricsiendum Theodosio, þæs tídum Palladius se biscop

was sended to gelyfendum Scottum on Crist, Bryttas to Rome
fram Ettio pam cyninge wæron him fultumes biddende 7 þær
nænigne hæfdon.
XIIII. Đæt Bryttas mid þy mærran hungre genedde på elreordian 5
of heora gemærum adrifan ; 7 sona æfter þam mycel eorpwæstm 7
firenlust 7 mancwealm 7 adla 7 gehrora pære deode wæron æfter-
fyligende.
XV. Ðætte Angeloeod was geladod fram Bryttum on Breotone ;
7 heo sona ærest heora pa widerweardan feor adrifan ; ac nalęs 10
æfter micelre tide pot hi geweredon wið him, 7 heora wæpen
hwyrfdon wið Bryttas heora gefaran.
XVI. Ɖætte Bryttas ærest on Angeloeode sige genaman ; wæs
Ambrosius heora heretoga Romanisc man.
XVII. Đæt Germanus se biscop mid Lupo to Breotene on scype 15
cumende, ærest pas sæs 7 æfter pam dara Pelagianiscan hreohnysse
mid godcunde mægene gestilde.
XVIII. Đæt se ylca pa dohter dæs ealdormannes blinde onlihte ;
7 æfter pam to Jam halgan Albane becumende þær ærest his
reliquias onfeng, 7 eac þær to asette da reliquias para halgera 20
apostola 7 eac oðra martyra.
XVIIII. Ɖætte se ylca biscop for dam intingan untrumnysse
+ feria gehæfd 7 þa brynas para husa gebiddende adwæscte ; 7 he
sylf Surh gesihpe fram his adle wæs gehæled.
XX. Ɖæt þa ylcan biscopas Bryttum on gefeohte godcundne 25
fultum forgeafon ; 7 swa ham wæron eft hweorfende.
XXI. Ðæt eft spryttendum þam twigum das Pelagianiscan woles
Germanus mid Seuero to Breotene eft cumende ærest þam healtan
geongan his stæpe he geedniwode, 7 æfter pam Godes folce,
geniðeredum ge eac gebettum þam gedwolmannum, he him geedni- 30
wode pone stæpe rihtes geleafan.
XXII. Ɖætte Bryttas sume tide gestildon fram utgefeohte ; 7
hie sylfe præston on ingefeohtum, 7 on manegum manum hi sylfe
besencton.

1. 1. pallidius Ca. paladius B. 1. 2. Before Bryttas MSS. insert 7.

1. 7. gerora Ca. gehrero C. gehroro B. 1. 23. feria Ca. þær was B.
 CONTENTS. 9

XIII. That in the reign of Theodosius, in whose days bishop

Palladius was sent to the Scots who believed in Christ, the Britons
sought help from king Aetius at Rome and received none.
XIV. That the Britons , forced by severe famine, drove the bar-
5 barians beyond their borders ; and soon after this an abundant
harvest and luxury, mortality, sickness and ruin of the people
followed.
XV. That the Angles were invited into Britain by the Britons :
who first soon drove out their adversaries, but not long afterwards
10 made a treaty with them and turned their arms against the Britons
their allies.
XVI. That the Britons first won a victory over the Angles under
the leadership of Ambrosius, a Roman.
XVII. That bishop Germanus came by ship to Britain with
15 Lupus, and by divine power first calmed the wildness of the sea
and afterwards that of the Pelagians.
XVIII. That the same bishop restored to sight the blind
daughter of the magistrate ; and after that coming to St. Alban
there first received his relics, and deposited with them relics of
20 the holy apostles and of other martyrs besides.
XIX. That the same bishop was detained there from illness, and
by his prayers quenched the conflagration of the houses, and was
himself cured of his sickness by a vision.
XX. That the same bishops brought divine aid to the Britons
25 in battle ; and then returned home.
XXI. That when the pestilent heresy of Pelagius sprouted afresh,
Germanus returned to Britain with Severus and first restored to a
lame youth the power of walking, and then, by condemning or re-
forming heretics, brought back the people of God to walk in the
30 ways of true faith.
XXII. That the Britons for a time had rest from foreign wars,
and wasted themselves in civil contests and plunged into many
sins.
healtan
færinga C. 1. 28. healtun B. C. halgan Ca. (but healtan above is modern)
1. 29. godes B. gode Ca.
10 CAPITULA .

XXIII. Ɖæt se halga papa Gregorius Augustinum sende mid

munecum Angeldeode to bodiganne Godes word 7 geleafan 7 eac
swylce mid trymmendlice ærendgewrite hi gestrangode, þæt hi ne
ablunnen fram þam gewinne.
XXIIII . Đæt Augustinus was cumende on Breotone ærest on 5
Tenet pam ealonde ; 7 Cantwara cyninge Cristes geleafan bodode ;
7 swa mid his lefnysse Godes word bodigende on Cent eode.
XXV. Dat he Augustinus on Cent pære frymoelican cyrican lif
7 lare was onhyrigende, and on cyninges byrig bisceopsetl onfeng.
XXVI. Ðæt se ylca, biscop geworden, onbead Gregorio pam papan 10
da þe on Breotene gedon wæron, 7 somod be pam nydþearflican
dingum his andsware biddende onfeng.
XXVII. pat se ylca papa Gregorius sende Agustino pallium 7
maran fultum Godes word to læranne.
XXVIII. Dat he se papa Edelbyrhte pam cyninge gewrit 7 15
gyfe sende pætte Agustinus Cristes cyrican geedniwode, 7 Sce
Petres mynster getimbrade.
XXVIIII. Đæt Agustinus Cristes cyrican geedniwode 7 worhte
mid þæs cyninges fultume Æðelbyrhtes.
XXX. Ɖætte Agustinus pat mynster para apostola Petrus 7 20
Paulus getimbrade ; 7 be his þam ærestan abbude Petro.
XXXI . Ɖætte Æðelfrið Norðanhymbra cyning Scotta þeode mid
gefeohte ofercom, 7 hi of Angelðeode gemærum adrof.
Her endað seo forme bóc.
Her onginneð seo oder bóc. 25
I. Be for fore pæs eadigan papan Gregorius.
II. Đæt Agustinus Brytta biscopas for rihtgeleaffulre sibbe lærde
7 monade, ge eac gedonum beforan him heofonlican wundre : 7
eac hwyle wracu him forhogiende æfterfyligde.
III. Pat he Agustinus Mellitum 7 Iustum to biscopum gehalgode : 30
7 be his for fore.
IV. Ðæt Laurentius mid his efenbiscopum Scottas was mani-

1. 3. trymmendlice C. -med- Ca. trumum B. gestrangode B. -gedon Ca.

1. 5. Brotone Ca. Brytene B. 1. 7. eode B. C., not in Ca. 1. 12. bin-
f
dende Ca. bidd. B. 1. 27. rihtgelea,fulra Ca. -leafulre B.
 CONTENTS. 11

XXIII. That the holy pope Gregory sent Augustine with

monks to preach God's word and faith to the English, and also
encouraged them with comforting letters not to give up their task.
XXIV. That Augustine first landed in Britain on the Isle of
5 Thanet, and preached Christ's faith to the king of Kent ; and
then by his permission proceeded to preach God's word in Kent.
XXV. That Augustine in Kent imitated the life and teaching of
the primitive church, and received an episcopal seat in the king's
town.
10 XXVI. That the same, on becoming bishop, reported to pope Gre-
gory what was done in Britain, and at the same time asked and
received the pope's answer on necessary points.
XXVII. That the same pope Gregory sent Augustine a pallium
and more help to teach God's word.
15 XXVIII. That the pope sent to king Æthelberht a letter and
presents ; that Augustine restored Christchurch and built St.
Peter's monastery.

XXIX. That Augustine restored and built a church of Christ

with the help of king Æthelberht.
20 XXX. That Augustine built the monastery of the apostles Peter
and Paul, and about its first abbot Peter.
XXXI. That Æthelfrith, king of Northumbria, overcame the
Scots in battle, and drove them over the English border.
Here ends the first book.
25 Here begins the second book.
I. About the death of the blessed pope Gregory.
II. That Augustine instructed and admonished the British
bishops for the sake of catholic unity, and also by performing a
miracle before them ; and what punishment overtook them for
30 disregarding him.
III. That Augustine consecrated as bishops Mellitus and
Justus ; and of his death.
IV. That Laurentius and his fellow bishops admonished the
12 CAPITULA.

gende on a annysse ære halgan cyrican, ealles mæst ymb

Eastrena healdnyssa : 7 pat Mellitus to Rome com.
V. Forðferendum þam cyningum Ædelbyrhto 7 Sæbyrhto, heora
æfterfyligendas wæron deofolgylde folgiende ; forðam Mellitus 7
Iustus da biscopas of Brotene gewiton. 5

VI. Đætte Laurentius se arcebiscop was gepread fram þam

apostole Sce Petre ; Eadbaldum pone cyning to Criste gecyrde ; 7
Mellitum 7 Iustum þa biscopas to bodigenne hider gecyrdon.
VII. Ðæt Mellitus æfter Laurentio arcebiscop geworden was ;
pa ligeas his byrnendre ceastre gebiddende adwæscte. 10

VIII. Be cynedome Eadwines ; 7 þæt cumende Paulinus him

godspell bodade, 7 ærest his dohtor mid oðrum monnum gelærde
mid halgum gerynum Cristes geleafan.
VIIII. Ɖæt se papa Bonefatius pone ylcan cyning, onsendum
gewritum, was trymmende to rihtum geleafan. 15
X. Hwylc gepeaht se ylca cyning mid his ealdormonnum
hæbbende was be pære onfengnysse Cristes geleafan.
XI. Đæt se ylca Edwine mid his peode geleafful geworden wæs ;
7 þæt Paulinus hine gefullade.
XII. Ɖæt seo mægðe Eastengla Cristes geleafan onfeng. 20

XIII. Đæt Paulinus on Lindesege mægðe bodigende was Cristes

geleafan.
XIIII. Be þære sibbe 7 stillnysse Eadwines cyninges rices.
XV. Be forðfore Iustus pas arcebiscopes : 7 þæt Honorius for
him gecoren wæs 7 fram Paulino on Lindcylene gehalgod was ; 25
7 þæt he fram Honorio pam papan ærendgewrito 7 pallium
onfeng.
XVI. Ɖætte, ofslegenum Eadwine fram Pendan Myrcna cyninge,
Paulinus se bisceop was eft cumende to Cent 7 on Hrofeceastre
biscopsetl onfeng. 30
Her endað seo oder bóc.
and her onginned seo pridde.

bā
1. 6. fra aplē Ca. fram þam aplē B. 1. 18. was B., not in Ca.
1. 25. lindcylne Ca. lindcylene B. 1. 28. myrena B. mycna Ca.
1. 29. biseop Ca. bysceop B.
 CONTENTS . 13

Scots as to the unity of Holy Church, and above all as to the ob-
servance of Easter : and that Mellitus went to Rome.

V. On the deaths of kings Æthelberht and Sæberht, their

successors turned to idol worship ; wherefore bishops Mellitus and
5 Justus withdrew from Britain.

VI. That the archbishop Laurentius was chastised by the

apostle St. Peter, and converted king Eadbald to Christ ; and of
the recall of the bishops Mellitus and Justus to preach.
VII. That Mellitus became archbishop after Laurentius, and

10 by his prayers quenched the flames of his burning city.

VIII. About the realm of Eadwine ; and that Paulinus came and

preached the gospel to him, and first instructed his daughter and
others in the holy mysteries of Christ's faith.
IX . That pope Boniface sent a letter to exhort the king to the
15 true faith.

X. Of the counsel taken by the king with his chief men as to

the reception of Christ's faith.

XI. That Eadwine and his people received the faith, and of his
baptism by Paulinus.

20 XII. That the East Angles received Christ's faith.

XIII. That Paulinus preached Christ's faith in Lindsey.

XIV. Concerning the peace and quiet of Eadwine's reign.
XV. Of the death of archbishop Justus ; that Honorius was
chosen in his place, and consecrated by Paulinus at Lincoln ; and

25 that he received a letter and the pallium from pope Honorius.

XVI. That when Eadwine was slain by Penda, king of Mercia,

bishop Paulinus returned to Kent and received the bishop's seat

at Rochester.
Here ends the second book.

30 And here begins the third.

 14 CAPITULA .

I. Det pa forman æfterfyligende Eadwines cyninges pone

geleafan his agenre peode besmiton : 7 Oswald se cristenesta
cyning para ægder geedniwode.
II. Det se ylca cyning biddende of Sceotta peode biscope onfeng
Aidanum on naman gehatenne, 7 him on Lindesfarona ealonde 5
biscopsetl forgeaf.
III. Be Aidanus life pæs biscopes.
IIII. Be eaufæstnysse 7 wundorlicre arfæstnysse Oswaldes cy-
ninges.
V. Det seo mæg Westseaxna, bodigendum Birino pam biscope, 10
onfeng Godes word ; 7 be his æfterfyligendum Ægelbyrhto 7
Leotherio.
VI. Dætte Cantwara cyning Erconbyrht bebead deofolgyld beon
toworpene : 7 be his dehter Ercengota 7 hire magan Æðelburge
Gode gehalgedum fæmnum . 15

VII. Det on pære stowe, Jær ofslægen was se cyning Oswald,

gelomlicu wundurgeweorc gewordene wæron : 7 pat dær ærest
anes wegferendes mannes nyten geheeled wæs, 7 æfter þam an
mæden, seo was ær lama.
VIII. Det pære ylcan stowe myl wið fyre was freomigende. 20

IX. Dæet ofer his reliquias pat heofonleoht ealle niht was oferges-
tondonde 7.scinende ; 7 þæt deofolseoce at his reliquium wæron
gelacnode.
X. Det æt his byrigenne an lytel cniht fram lengtenadle wæs
gelacnod. 25

XI. Ðætte on Hibernia sum man fram his reliquium fram deaðes
lide was gehæled .
XII. Đætte forðferdum Paulino pam biscope Ithamar for him æt
Hrofeceastre biscopsetle onfeng. 7 be wundorlicre eadmodnesse
Oswines pas cyninges, se fram Oswio wælhreowlice was ofslægen, 30
XIII. Đæt se biscop Aidan þam scypfarendum pone storm to-
wardne foresægde, 7 eac him gehalgodne ele sealde, mid pam hi
pone storm gestildon .

1. 15. gehagedū Ca. gehalgode B. 1. 20. myl wið B. mid (only) Ca., C.
1. 31. storm B. stream Ca. 32. foresægde B. sagde Ca.
 CONTENTS . 15

´I. That the first successors of king Eadwine defiled the faith of
his people, and Oswald the most christian king restored both (the
faith and the royal power).

II. That the same king on his request received a bishop from
5 the Scots named Aidan, and gave him a bishop's seat in the island
of Lindisfarne.

III. About the life of bishop Aidan.

IV. About the religion and admirable piety of king Oswald.

V. That the West Saxons received God's word on the preaching

10 of bishop Birinus ; and of his successors Ægelberht and Leutherius.

VI. That Erconberht, king of Kent, ordered the destruction of

idols : and about his daughter Ercengota and her relative Æthelburh,
virgins consecrated to God.

VII. That on the spot, where king Oswald was slain, frequent

15 miracles took place ; and that there first a traveller's horse was
healed and afterwards a girl previously lame.

VIII. That mould from the same place was efficacious against
fire.

IX. That a light from heaven stood and shone all night over
20 his relics ; and that demoniacs were cured at his relics.

X. That a little child was cured of fever at his tomb.

XI. That in Ireland a man at the point of death was healed by

his relics.

XII. That on the death of bishop Paulinus, Ithamar received the

25 see of Rochester in his place. And of the wonderful humility of
king Oswine, who was cruelly slain by Oswio.

XIII. That bishop Aidan foretold a coming storm to men on

board ship, and gave them also consecrated oil, with which they
calmed the storm .
16 CAPITULA.

XIIII. Ɖæt se ylca biscop pat togewehgene fyr pære cynelican

burghe gebiddende onweg gewende.
XV. Ɖætte Middelengla mægð under Peadan Pendan suna wæs
cristen geworden .
XVI. Ðæt Eastseaxan pone rihtan Godes geleafan, done hi gefyrn 5
awurpon, under Sibrihte heora cyninge, mid geornfulnysse Oswies
Jæs cyninges, 7 Cedde him bodiendum, eft onfengon.
XVII. Ɖæt se ylca biscop Cedde onfonde fram þam cyninge
Æðelwalde sume stowe mynster on to timbrianne, 7 þa mid halgum
gebedum 7 fæstenum Drihtne gehalgode ; 7 be his for fore. 10
XVIII. Det Mercna mago, ofslegenum Pendan hyra cyninge,
Cristes geleafan onfengon ; 7 Oswio se cyning for dam sige sealdan
him for Gode æhta micle 7 twelf bocland Gode mynster on to
getimbrianne sealde 7 forgeaf.
XIX. Ðæt Ecbyrht se halga wer of Angelcynnes cynne acenned 15
munuclif wæs lædende on Hibernia.
XX. Ðæt, forferdum Tudan, Wilfrid was sended on Gallia,
7 þær was gehadod fram Æðelbyrhte pam biscope ; 7 Ceadda on
Westseaxum fram Wine biscope. 7 hi begen wæron Norðhymbrum
to biscopum gehalgode. 20
XXI. Ɖæt se mæssepreost Wigeard arcebiscop to gehadianne on
Breotene to Rome was onsended, ponone sona hi hider onsendon
gewritu þæs apostolican papan 7 þær cyddon hine for ferende.
XXII. Ðæt Eastseaxan on pa tid das mancwealmes to deofolgylde
wæron eft gecyrde, 7 eft purh da geornfulnesse Germanus Cæs 25
biscopes hi sona fram heora gedwolan wæron eft gecyrde.
Her endað seo pridde bóc.
Her onginned seo feorde bóc.
I. Dætte for ferdum Deusdedit don arcebiscope, Wigheard was
pam biscophade to onfonne to Rome onsended : ac him þær forð- 30
ferendum, Deodorus was to arcebiscope gehalgod 7 mid Adriane
pam abbude was to Breotone onsended.
II. Dæt Peodorus se arcebiscop * gondferend ealle Angelcynnes

1. 9. stow Ca. -we B. 1. 13. micle B. mila Ca. 1. 14. sealde 7

forgeaf not in Ca., inserted from B. 1. 23. 7 B., not in Ca. 1. 29. don B.
se Ca. 7 wigheard Ca. wigheard (only) B. 1. 30. 7 to Ca. to (only) B.
 CONTENTS . 17

XIV. That the same bishop by his prayers diverted the fire
brought up against the royal city.
XV. That the Middle Angles became christians under Peada,
son of Penda.
5 XVI. That the East Saxons returned to the true faith of God,
which they had formerly rejected, under their king Sigberht,
through the zeal of king Oswio and the preaching of Cedd.
XVII. That the same bishop Cedd obtained ground from king
Ethelwald to build a monastery, and consecrated it to the Lord
10 with holy prayers and fastings ; and concerning his death.
XVIII. That the Mercians received the faith of Christ when
their king Penda was slain, and king Oswio, in return for the
victory granted him, gave and assigned for God's sake many
possessions and twelve boclands to erect a monastery on to God.
15 XIX . That Ecgberht, a holy man of English descent, lived as a
monk in Ireland .
XX. That on the death of Tuda, Wilfrid was sent to Gaul, and
there was ordained by bishop Æthelberht, and Chad by bishop
Wine in Wessex ; and both were consecrated as bishops for
20 Northumbria.
XXI. That the priest Wigheard was sent to Rome to be ordained
archbishop in Britain ; whence letters of the apostolical pope were
presently sent here and announced his death there.
XXII. That the East Saxons in time of plague returned to
25 idolatry, and soon again were converted from their error by the
zeal of bishop Germanus.
Here ends the third book.
Here begins the fourth book.
I. That on the death of archbishop Deusdedit, Wigheard was
30 sent to Rome to receive episcopal ordination , and on his death there
Theodore was consecrated archbishop and sent with abbot Adrian
to Britain.
II. That archbishop Theodore visited all the churches in

him þærforðferendum B. hi ðær forðferdon 7 Ca. 1. 33. gondferendū Ca.

peodoro dam arcebysceope geondfarendum B.
18 CAPITULA.

cyricean mid * rihtgeleaffulre so fæstnysse, 7 swylce eac mid halgum

gewritum 7 stæfcræftum hi georne het beon lærede : 7 þæt Putta
for Damiano æt Hrofeceastre to biscope was gehalgod.
III. Đæt Ceadda, be pam de we ær bufan spræcon, Myrcna
mæge was biscop seald : 7 be his life, 7 be his for fore, 7 be his 5
byrigenne.
IV. Ðæt Coloman se biscop, forletenre Breotone, twa mynstro
on Scottum geworhte, oder pam Scottum, oder dam Engliscan, de
he mid hine dider gelædde.
V. Be deade Oswies 7 Ecbyrhtes para cyninga : 7 be pam 10
sinode pe geworden was æt Heortfeorda, pam was foresittende
se arcebiscop Deodorus.
VI. Đæt adune asetton of pam biscoprice Winfride, Seaxulf his
biscoprice onfeng : 7 Erconwold Eastseaxum was biscop seald.
VII. Ðæt on Berccingum þam mynstre mid heofonlice leohte 15
getacnod was, hwær gesette beon sceoldon pa lichaman haligra
fæmnena.
VIII. Det on þam ylcan mynstre sum lytel sweltende cniht be
naman genemde da mynsterfæmnan, de him æfterfyligende węs :
7 þæt oðru of lichaman utgangende sumne dæl geseah þæs 20
heofonlican leohtes.
IX. Hwylce heofonlicu tacnu ætywde wæron, pa da seo modur
sylf ære gesomnunge of middanearde ferde.
X. Ɖæt Torhtgy seo Godes peowen Oreo gear æfter dære
hlæfdian for fore pa geta on life hæfd wæs. 25
XI. Ðæt æt þam lictune des mynstres an blind wif hire was
gebiddende ; 7 forðam onfeng þam beorhte hire eagena.
XII. Ɖæt se cyning dære ylcan magde Sebbe on munuclicum
drohtode his lif geendode .
XIII. Det Westseaxna biscophad for Eleutherîo Hædde was 30
onfonde, 7 done at Hrofeceastre for Puttan Cwichelm onfeng, 7
for him Gifmund : 7 eac hwylce da waron Nordanhymbra bisceopas.
XIV. Det se steorra ætywde, se is cometa nemned, 7 preo
monað was wuniende, and symble on uhtatid was upyrnende.
1. I. cyricu Ca. ciricean B. rihte Ca. rihtre B. 1. 2. lærede B.
lærende Ca. 1. 3. Damiana Ca. Daniano (ni not original) B. 1. 20. ut-
 CONTENTS. 19

England, and bade them be instructed diligently in orthodox truth

and also in Holy Writ and in secular learning : and that Putta was
consecrated as bishop of Rochester in place of Damian.
III. That Chad, about whom we spoke above, was assigned as
5 bishop to the Mercians : and of his life, death, and burial.
IV. That bishop Colman left Britain and established two
monasteries among the Scots, one for the Scots, the other for the
English, whom he brought there with him,
V. Of the death of kings Oswio and Ecgberht : and concerning
10 the synod held at Hertford, where archbishop Theodore presided .
VI. That Winfrid was deposed , and Seaxulf received his bishopric :
and Erconwald was assigned as bishop to the East Saxons.
VII. That a sign was given by heavenly light in the monastery
at Barking, where the bodies of the holy virgins should be buried .
15 VIII . That in the same monastery a little child, at his death,
named the nun who should follow him : and that another nun, when

about to depart this life, saw some portion of the heavenly light.
IX. What signs from heaven were shown, when the mother of
the society was herself leaving this earth .
20 X. That Torhtgyth the servant of God, three years after this
lady's death, was still detained in this life.

XI. That a blind woman was praying in the burial-ground of

this monastery, and thereby recovered her sight.

XII. That Sebbe, king of this province, ended his life as a monk.
25 XIII. That Hædde received the bishopric of the West Saxons in
place of Eleutherius, and Cwichelm the see of Rochester in place of
Putta, and Gifmund in his place : and also who were then bishops
in Northumbria.

XIV. That the star, called comet, appeared and remained

30 three months, and always rose at dawn. In the same year

gangende B. -dū Ca. (perhaps read -du). 1. 22. heofonlicu tacnu B. -ca
-na Ca. 1. 29. drohtode B. drohtunge Ca.
C 2
20 CAPITULA.

On þam ylcan geare Ecfrið Norðanhymbra cyning adræfde Wilfirð

pone arwyrðan biscop.
XV. Dat Willferð biscop Sudseaxna mægde to Criste gecyrde,
seo hwædere, him anon gewitendum, for ære grimman feonda
of rycnesse agenne biscop habban ne mihte. 5
XVI. Det pot ealond Wiht onfeng cristene bigengan, þæs
twegen cynelice cnihtas æfter pon onfangenan fulluhtes bæðe sona
wurdon ofslegene.
XVII. Be pam sinode se was geworden on pam felda, se wæs
genemned Hæpfeld, andweardan þam arcebiscope Theodore. 10
XVIII. Be Iohanne þam heahseangere pas apostolican setles, se
for lare com to Breotone.
XIX. Đæt seo cwen Æðeldryð clæne fæmne þurhwunode, þære
lichama on byrigenne gewemmed beon ne mihte : 7 be þam hymene
þe we be hire geworhton. 15
XX. Đæt se biscop Deodorus betweox Ecgferde 7 Æðelrede
pam cyningum sibbe geworhte.
XXI. Đæt da benda sumes gehæftes * tolysede wæron, ponne for
him mæssan sungene wæron.
XXII. Be life 7 for fore Hilde pære abbudissan. 20
XXIII. Đæt on hire mynstre was sum broðor, pam godcundlice
forgifen wæs seo gyfu to singanne.
XXIIII. Hwilc gesiho sumum Godes were ætywde, ær þam de
þæt mynster æt Coludes byrig mid bryne fornumen wäre.
XXV. Be deade para twegea cyninga Ecferdes 7 Hloðheres. 25
XXVI. Đæt se Drihtnes wer Cuobryht was biscop geworden,
7 þat he ða gyt on munuclicum life geseted lærde 7 bodade.
XXVII. Đæt se ylca wer Cuðbyrhtus on ancerlife geseted an
easpring of drigre eorðan gebiddende up gelædde, 7 ænne æcer of
dam gewinne his agenre handa ofer þa tid æs sæwetes onfeng. 30
XXVIII. Đæt se ylca biscop Cupbryht his forpfore da towear-
dan Herebyrhto pam ancran foresæde.
XXIX. Đæt his lichoma æfter endleofon gearum his byrigenne
was clæne ælcere brosnunge funden 7 gemeted : 7 æfter noht
mycele fyrste das his æfterfyligend of þyssum middanearde geferde . 35
1. 16. ec,ferde Ca. ecgferð B. 1. 18. tolysende Ca. toslitene B.
 CONTENTS . 21

Ecgfrith, king of Northumbria, expelled the venerable bishop

Wilfrid.
XV. That bishop Wilfrid converted the South Saxons to Christ,
who however, on his departure, could not maintain a bishop of their
5 own on account of the dire oppression of their enemies.
XVI. That the Isle of Wight received christian inhabitants,
and that two of its young princes were slain immediately after being
baptized.
XVII. Of the synod held in the plain called Bishop's Hatfield,
10 in the presence of archbishop Theodore.
XVIII. Concerning John, precentor of the apostolic see, who
came to teach in Britain.
XIX. That queen Etheldreda remained a pure virgin, and that
her body could not decay in the tomb : and of the hymn we wrote
15 concerning her.
XX. That bishop Theodore brought about peace between kings
Ecgfrith and Ethelred.
XXI. That the bonds of a prisoner were loosed, when masses
were sung for him.
20 XXII. Of the life and death of abbess Hild.
XXIII. That in her monastery there was a brother divinely
endowed with the gift of song.
XXIV. The vision which appeared to a man of God , before the
monastery at Coldingham was destroyed by fire.
25 XXV. Of the death of the two kings, Ecgfrith and Hlothere.
XXVI. That the holy man Cuthbert became bishop, and that he
taught and preached while still a monk.
XXVII. That the same Cuthbert, while living as a hermit, by
his prayers brought up a spring out of dry ground, and obtained
30 a crop by the labour of his own hand, though it was past the right
seed-time.
XXVIII. That the same bishop Cuthbert foretold his coming
death to the hermit Hereberht.
XXIX. That his body, after eleven years in the tomb, was found
35 free from all decay and a short time after his successor departed
from this earth .
22 CAPITULA.

XXX. Đæt æt his reliquium nu niwan was sum man gehæled

fram þære adle his eagan .
XXXI. Ɖæt oðer æt his byrigenne fram lyftadle was gehæled.
Her endað seo feorde bóc.
Her onginneð seo fifte bóc. 5
I. Ɖæt Ædelwold Sce Cupberhtes æfterfyligend on ancersetle
ond life geseted þam winnendum broðrum on sæ gebiddende done
storm he gesette 7 gestilde .
II. Ɖæt se biscop Iohannes ænne dumbne monn gebiddende
gehælde. 10
III. Đæt se ylca biscop an adliende mæden gebiddende gehælde.
IIII. Đæt he anes gesi mannes wif untrum mid gehalgode
wætere gelacnode.
V. Dæt se ylca biscop anes gesi mannes cniht gebiddende fram
deade gecigde . 15
VI. Đæt he his preosta ænne of horse fallende 7 gebrysedne
gelice gebiddende 7 bletsigende fram deade gecyrde .
VII. Det Ceadwala Westseaxna cyning to gefulliane com to
Rome : swa eft his æfterfyligend Ine da ylcan þærscwaldas para
eadigra apostola estful geohte. 20
VIII. Đæt, forferdum peodoro, done arcebiscophád Beorhtwald
onfeng ; 7, betweox oðra monige þe he gehadode, eac swylce
Tobium done gelæredestan wer dære cyrican æt Hrofesceastre
biscop gehalgode.
VIIII. Đæt se halga wer Ecbyrht becuman wolde on Germaniam 25
to bodiaune godcunde lare. Ac he ne mihte : ac Wihtbyrht dyder
becom for him, 7 Jær nowiht ne fremede ; 7 þa eft was ham hweor-
fende on Scotland, þanon he ær becom.
X. Det Wilbrord on Frysena lande bodiende monega to Drihtne
gecyrde : 7 pot his geferan twegen healicne martyrdom wæron 30
prowiende.
XI. Đæt se arwurða wer Swiðbyrht on Breotone, 7 Wilbrord æt
Rome biscopas wæron Fresna deode gehalgode.
XII. Đæt sum on Norðanhymbra mægðe of deade arisende sume
a
1. 20. , postola Ca. apostola . B. estful B. eft Ca. 1. 21. peodore
Ca. teodoro B. 1. 27. for B. fro Ca.
 CONTENTS. 23

XXX. That quite lately a man was cured of an affection of the

eyes at his relics.
XXXI. That another, at his tomb, was cured of palsy.
Here ends the fourth book.
5 Here begins the fifth book..
I. That Ethelwald, who succeeded St. Cuthbert, dwelt as
hermit, and by his prayers for brethren in distress at sea, calmed
and stilled the storm .
II. That bishop John by his prayers cured a dumb man.
10 III. That the same bishop by his prayers cured a sick girl.
IV. That he cured the sick wife of a gesith with holy water.
V. That the same bishop by his prayers recalled from death
the attendant of a gesith.
VI. That by his prayers and blessing he similarly recovered
15 from death one of his priests, who had fallen from his horse and
was bruised.

VII. That Ceadwalla, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome to

be baptized : also later his successor Ine devoutly visited the
same threshold of the blessed apostles.
20 VIII. That on the death of Theodore, Beorhtwald succeeded to
the archbishopric, and among many others whom he ordained,
consecrated the learned Tobias as bishop of the church at
Rochester.

IX. That the holy man Ecgberht wished to visit Germany and
25 preach the word of God. And he might not : but Wihtberht went
there for him and effected nothing there ; and then returned home
again to Ireland, whence he first came.
X. That Wilbrord in Friesland by his preaching turned many
to the Lord, and that his two companions suffered glorious martyr-
30 dom .
XI. That the venerable Swithberht in Britain and Wilbrord at
Rome were consecrated as bishops for Friesland.
XII. That a man in Northumbria arose from the dead, and
 24 LIBER PRIMUS.

swide ondryslicu 7 eac to gewilnienne, da pe he gescah, secgende

wæs.
XIII. Ðæt ongean þam oder, to deade becumende, geseah him
fram deoflum tobrohte beon da boc his agenra synna.

XIIII. Đæt eft oder sweltende him pa getealdan stowe mid hel- 5
warum his agenra wita geseah .
XV. Ðæt monega cyricean on Hibernia lærendum Athamanó þa
eallgeleaflican Eastran onfengon : 7 be Ealdelme, se ða bóc ' de
uirginitate ' 7 eac oðra manega geworhte : ge eac pat Suðseaxan
agenne biscopas onfengon Eadbyrht 7 Eollan ; 7 Westseaxan 10
onfengon Danielum 7 Aldelmum : 7 be Aldelmes gewritum .
XVI. Ɖætte Cynred Mercna cyning 7 Offa Eastseaxna cyning on
munuclicum hadum to Rome becom, 7 þær heora lif geendode : 7 be
life 7 for fore pas arwurdan biscopes Wilfrides.
XVII. Đæt þam eaufæstan abbude Adriano Albinus æfterfyligde : 15
7 fram þam biscope Wilfride Acca his mæssepreost biscophade
onfeng.
XVIII. Đæt se abbud Ceolfrid Peohta cyninge, Neaton was
haten, heahcræftigan somod 7 eac epistolam be healdnesse rihtre
Eastran onsende. 20
XVIIII. Đæt pa munecas on Híí þam ealonde mid him dam
underpeoddum mynstrum þa da rihtgeleaffullan Eastran, bodiendum
Ecbyrhte 7 lærendum, weorpian ongunnon.
XX. Be forðfore Tobias pas biscopes æt Hrofesceastre 7
Ecgbyrhtes pas arwurpan biscopes on done forman Easterdæg : 25
7 by ylcan geare foröferde Osric Norðanhymbra cyning.
XXI. Hwylc se staðol is on andweardnesse Angelcynnes peode
ge eac ealre Breotone.

LIBER PRIMUS¹.

P. 473. Breoton ist garsecges ealond, dat was iu geara Albion haten : is
Cap. I. geseted betwyh norðdæle and westdæle, Germanie 7 Gallie 7 His- 30
panie pam mæstum dælum Europe myccle fæce ongegen. Pat is
1. 10. westseaxan B. weast- Ca. 1. 18. was B.: not in C. The heading
LIBER PRIMUS (SECUNDUS, etc.) occurs first on p. 13 of Ca., and thenceforward
is continuous. The Roman numerals at the head of sections are also from Ca.
Also in Ca. the first 25 words (in red) of the Latin Praefatio precede Breoton.
 I. 1. 25

>
told of very fearful, but also very desirable things, which he
saw.

XIII. That on the contrary another, on his death-bed, saw the

book of his own sins brought to him by devils.
5 XIV. That again another, when dying, saw the place of his own
punishment assigned to him among those in hell.

XV. That many churches in Ireland accepted the catholic

Easter, on the teaching of Athaman : and of Ealdhelm, who
wrote the book ' De Virginitate ' and many others : and also
10 that the South Saxons received as their own bishops Eadberht and
Eolla ; and the West Saxons received Daniel and Ealdhelm : and
of the writings of Ealdhelm .
XVI. That Cynred, king of Mercia , and Offa, king of the East
Saxons, came to Rome as monks, and there ended their lives : and
15 of the life and death of the venerable bishop Wilfrid .

XVII. That Albin succeeded the pious abbot Adrian, and Acca
his priest succeeded Wilfrid as bishop .
XVIII. That abbot Ceolfrid sent architects to Naiton, king of
the Picts, and also an epistle on the correct observance of Easter.
20 XIX. That the monks in the isle of Iona, with the monasteries
subject to them, began then to celebrate the orthodox Easter on
the preaching and teaching of Ecgberht.
XX. Of the death of Tobias, bishop of Rochester, and the vener-
able bishop Ecgberht, on the first Easter day : and in the same
25 year died Osric , king of Northumbria.

XXI. What the condition of the English and of all Britain is

at present.

BOOK I.

Britain is an island in the ocean, formerly called Albion, lying

between the north and the west, opposite, though far apart, to
30 Germany, Gaul and Spain, the chief divisions of Europe. It
 26 LIBER PRIMUS.

norð ehta hund mila lang, 7 tu hund mila brad. Hit hafað fram
suðdæle þa mægþe ongean, þe mon hatep Gallia Bellica . Hit is
welig pis ealond on westmum 7 on treowum misenlicra cynna ; 7
hit is gescræpe on læswe sceapa 7 neata ; 7 on sumum stowum
wingeardas growap. Swylce eac peos eorpe is berende missenlicra 5
fugela 7 sæwihta, 7 fiscumwyllum wæterum 7 wyllgespryngum.
7 her beop oft fangene seolas 7 hronas and mereswyn ; 7 her beop
oft numene missenlicra cynna weolcscylle 7 muscule, 7 on pam
beoð oft gemette pa betstan meregrotan ælces hiwes. 7 her beoð
swype genihtsume weolocas, of pam bið geweorht se weolocreada 10
tælgh, pone ne mæg sunne blæcan ne ne regn wyrdan ; ac swa he
biþ yldra, swa he fægerra bip. Hit hafað eac pis land sealtseapas ;
7 hit hafap hat wæter, 7 hat bado ælcere yldo 7 hade ðurh todælede
stowe gescrape. Swylce hit is eac berende on wecga orum ares 7
isernes, leades 7 seolfres. Her bip eac gemeted gagates : se stan 15
bið blæc gym ; gif mon hine on fyr dep, þonne fleop þær neddran
onweg. Was pis ealond eac geo gewurðad mid pam æðelestum
ceastrum , anes wana þrittigum, da pe wæron mid weallum 7
torrum 7 geatum 7 pam trumestum locum getimbrade, butan
oðrum læssan unrim ceastra. 7 forðan de dis ealond under pam 20
sylfum norðdæle middangeardes nyhst ligep, 7 leohte nihte on
sumera hafað, -swa pat oft on middre nihte geflit cymeð þam
behealdendum, hwæder hit si pe æfenglommung de on morgen
deagung- is on don sweotol, dæt þis ealond hafað mycele lengran
dagas on sumera, 7 swa eac nihta on wintra, ponne ða suðdælas 25
middangeardes.

I.

P. 474. Dis ealond nu on andweardnysse æfter ríme fif Moyses boca, dam
seo godcunde a awriten is, fif deoda gereordum ænne wisdom
þære hean sopfæstnysse 7 pære soðan heanesse smead 7 andetteap ;
pæet is on Angolcynnes gereorde 7 Brytta 7 Scotta 7 Peohta 7 30

1. 6. ferscum wille (r crossed out) B. We should perhaps insert onwille,

or welig. 1. II. regn C. rén B.: not in Ca. 1. 20. læs,an Ca. læssum
B.. 1. 24. d,agung Ca. dagung B.
 I. 1. 27

runs northward for 800 miles, and is 200 miles broad. It has
on the south opposite to it the province called Gallia Belgica.
The island is rich in crops and trees of various kinds, and it is
suited for grazing sheep and cattle, and vineyards are grown in
5 some places. This land also produces birds of various kinds and
marine animals, and (it abounds) in springs and waters full of fish.
Seals, whales, and porpoises are often caught here, and various
kinds of shell-fish and mussels are commonly taken, and in these are
often found the finest pearls of every colour. There is also here

10 abundance of molluscs, from which is made the dye of ' shell-fish red ' ;
this neither the sun can bleach nor the rain mar, and it grows

fairer with age. The land also has salt-pits and hot water, and hot
baths in various localities , suitable for every age and both sexes ;
it also produces ores of copper and iron, lead and silver in masses.
15 Jet is also found here, which is a black gem ; if put in the fire,

adders fly from it. Formerly this island was also embellished
with the noblest of towns, twenty-nine in number, furnished with
walls, towers, gates and the strongest of locks, besides countless
other towns of smaller size. As this island lies close under the

20 very north of the world and the nights here are light in summer-
so that often at midnight a question arises among the spectators,

whether it is the evening gloaming or morning dawn- by this it

is clear that the days are much longer in this island in summer, and

also the nights in winter, than in the southern parts of the world.

I.
.

25 At this present time the island studies and acknowledges one and
the same science of sublime truth and true sublimity in the tongues
of five nations, according to the number of the five books of Moses,

in which the Divine law is written ; that is in the tongues of the

English, Britons, Scots, Picts and Latins. This one, the Latin, is
28 LIBER PRIMUS.

Ledenwara : pot an is, þæt Leden, on smeaunge gewrita eallum

pam oðrum gemæne .
On fruman ærest wæron þysses ealondes bigengan Bryttas ane,
fram þam hit naman onfeng. Is put sæd, æt hi comon fram
Armoricano þære mægepe on Breotone, 7 þa suðdælas þyses 5
ealondes him gesæton 7 geahnodon.
Pa gelamp æfter pon pætte Peahte deod com of Scydia lande on
scipum 7 þa ymbærndon eall Breotone gemæro, pat hi comon on
Scotland upp, 7 þær gemetton Sceotta peode, 7 him bædon setles 7
eardungstowe on heora lande betwyh him. Andswearedon Scottas, 10
pat heora land ne were to þæs mycel, þæt hi mihton twa
peode gehabban. Ac cwædon : We magon eow sellan halwende
geþeahte, hwæt ge don magon. We witan heonan noht feor oder
ealond eastrihte, þat we magon oft leohtum dagum geseon. Gif ge
pat secan wyllap, ponne magon ge þær eardungstowe habban : 15
odde gif hwylc eow widstonded, ponne gefultumiað we cow.
Da ferdon Peohtas in Breotone, 7 ongunnon eardigan pa norðdælas
þyses ealondes ; 7 Bryttas, swa we ar cwædon, da suðdælas. Mid
þy Peohtas wif næfdon, bædon him fram Scottum. Da gepafedon
hi dære arednesse, 7 him wif sealdon, pat dær seo wise on 20
tweon cyme, pat hi donne ma of þam wifcynne him cyning curan
ponne of pam wæpnedcynne : pat get to dæg is mid Peohtum
healden.
Đa, forþgongenre tide, æfter Bryttum 7 Peohtum, þridde cynn
Scotta Breotone onfeng on Pehta dæle, da wæron cumene of 25
Hibernia Scotta ealonde mid heora heretogan, Reada hatte : odpa
mid freondscipe oðþa mid gefeohte him sylfum betwih hi seðel
7 eardungstowe geahnodon, pa hi nu get habbað. Pat cynn nu
geond to dæg Dalreadingas wæron hatene.
Hibernia Scotta ealond ge on brædo his stealles ge on halwend- 30
nesse ge on smyltnysse lyfta is betere mycle ponne Breotone land,
swa þæt dær seldon snau leng ligeð ponne dry dagas. 7 þær nænig
mann for wintres cyle on sumera heg ne máwep, ne scypene his
neatum ne timbrep. Ne þær monn ænigne snicendne wyrm ne

1. 26 обра ...
. · 7 þa Ca. oððe ... oðße B. 1. 29. geond Ca. gyt B.
(perhaps we should read geona and earon) . 1. 30. ge B. is Ca.
 I. 1. 29

common to all the others, in the study of the Scriptures. At the

very first the Britons were the sole inhabitants of this island, which
received its name from them. They, it is said, came into Britain
from the province of Armorica, and occupied and appropriated the
5 southern parts of this island. Subsequently it happened, that the
Picts came in ships from Scythia, and passed round the whole
British coast, till they landed in Ireland. And there they found
Scots, and prayed for a settlement and dwelling-place in their
country among them. Then the Scots answered, that their land
10 was not large enough to contain two nations. But they said : We
can give you sound advice, as to what you may do. We know, not
far from this, another island to the east, which we can often see on
clear days. If you will proceed there, you may find a dwelling-
place or if any oppose you, we will assist you. Then the Picts

15 landed in Britain, and began to occupy the north of this island,

the south, as we said before, being in the hands of the Britons.
Now as the Picts had no wives, they asked wives from the Scots.
These consented to give them, on condition that, if the matter was
doubtful, they should choose the sovereign rather from the female
20 line than from the male ; which custom is still observed among the

Picts to this day. In the course of time, next after the Britons
and the Picts, a third race, that of the Scots, occupied Britain
within the borders of the Picts. They came from Ireland , the
island of the Scots, with their leader named Reada, and partly on
25 friendly terms, partly after a struggle, secured for themselves
a settlement and dwelling- place among them, which they still hold.
Up to this day the race is called Dalreadings. Ireland, the island
of the Scots, is far superior to Britain in the breadth of its confor-
mation and in salubrity and mildness of climate, so that snow seldom
30 lies there more than three days. No one there mows hay or builds
stalls for his cattle, as a provision against winter's cold. No
poisonous reptile is to be seen there, nor indeed may any viper
live there ; for vipers have been brought on board ship from
 30 LIBER PRIMUS.

ætterne gesihp ; ne þær ænig nædre lifian ne mæg. Forpon of Breo-

tone nædran on scipum lædde wæron : sona swa hi ðæs landes lyft
gestuncan, swa swulton hi. Eac neah pan calle pa ðing, þe ðanon
cumað, wið ælcum attre magon. pot to tacne is, þæt sume menn
gesawon, ða þe wæron fram nædran geslegene, þæt man scof þara 5
boca leaf, þe of Hibernia coman, 7 pa sceafpan dyde on water,
7 sealde drincan þam mannum ; 7 sona was pot atter ofernumen,
7 hi wæron gehælde. Is pat ealond welig on meolcum 7 on
hunige ; 7 wingeardas weaxap on sumum stowum. 7 hit is fiscwylle
7 fugolwylle, 7 mære on huntunge heorta 7 rana . Pis is agendlice 10
Scotta edel ; heonon coman seo Oridde deod Scotta, swa we ær
cwædon, eac be Bryttum 7 Peohtum on Breotone.

II.1

P. 475. Was Breotene ealond Romanum ' uncu , odræt Gaius se casere,
Cap. 2. oðre naman Iulius, hit mid ferde gesohte 7 geeode syxtygumwintra
ær Cristes cyme . 15

III.

Cap. 3. Da æfter pon Claudius se casere, se was feorpa fram Agusto eft
fyrde gelædde on Breotone, 7 þær butan hefegum gefeohte 7
blodgyte mycelne dæl þæs landes on anweald onfeng. Swylce he
eac Orcadas pa ealond, þa wæron ut on garsecge butan Brotone, to
Romwara rice gepeodde. 7 þy syxtan monde, þe he hider com, he 20
eft to Rome hwearf. Deos fyrd was getogen dy feorðan geare his
rices, pat gér was fram Cristes hidercyme pat sixte eac feower-
tigum .
Fram þam ylcan casere Claudie was sended Uespassianus on
Breotone, se æfter Nerone ricsode. Se geeode pat ealond + on 25
Wiht 7 Romana onwealde underpeodde. Pat is prittiges mila
lang east 7 west, 7 twelf mila brad suð 7 norð. Da feng Neron to
rice æfter Claudie þam casere. Se naht freomlices ongan on þære
cynewisan, ac betwuh odera unrim awyrdleana Romwara rices,
þæt he Breotone rice forlet. 30

1 This chapter is wanting in B. 1. 14. fýrde Ca. fyrde B.

 I. 1-3. 31

Britain, but they died as soon as they smelt the air of the land.
Besides, almost everything from that country is efficacious against
all poisons. In proof of this, men have been seen, who were bitten
by vipers ; shavings have been taken from leaves of books brought
5 over from Ireland and put into water and given to the men to
drink, and at once the poison was overpowered and the men cured .
The island is rich in milk and honey, and vineyards grow in some
places. It abounds in fish and fowl, and is famous for hunting the
hart and the roe. This is the proper home of the Scots ; hence

10 came that third race of Scots mentioned above, as dwelling in

Britain along with Britons and Picts.

II.

The island of Britain was unknown to the Romans, till the

emperor Gaius, also called Julius, came with an army and overran
it, sixty years before the advent of Christ.

III.

15 After this the emperor Claudius, who was fourth from Augustus,
again led an army into Britain, and there, without serious resistance
or bloodshed , took possession of a great part of the country. He
also united to the Roman empire the Orkneys, islands out in the
ocean beyond Britain. He returned again to Rome within six
20 months of his first coming. This expedition was made in the
fourth year of his reign, which was the forty-sixth from the
advent of Christ. The same emperor Claudius dispatched

Vespasian to Britain, who became emperor after Nero. He

overran the Isle of Wight also, and brought it under the Roman
25 dominion. It is thirty miles long east and west, and twelve miles
broad north and south. Nero succeeded to Claudius. He did no
service in the state, but among countless other disasters to the
Roman empire, he also lost the dominion of Britain.
 32 LIBER PRIMUS.

IIII.
Cap . 4. Da was fram Cristes hidercyme hundteontig 7 fiftig 7 six gear,
þæt Marcus, opre naman Antonius, se was feowerteopa fram Agusto
pam casere, se onfeng Romwara rice mid Aurelia his breder.
Dara cyninga tidum was se halga wer Eleuther biscop 7 papa þare
Romaniscan cyrican. Sende to him Lucíus Breotone cyning 5
ærendgewrit ; bæd hine 7 halsade, pot he purh his bebod cristene
gefremed wære. 7 hrade pa gefremednesse ære arfæstan bene
wæs fylgende. 7 da onfengan Bryttas fulluhte 7 Cristes geleafan,
7 done onwealhne 7 unwemmedne on smyltre sibbe heoldan op
Deoclitianes tide þæs yfelan caseres. 10

V.

p. 476. Đa was ymb hundteontig wintra 7 nigan 7 hundeahtatig wintra

Cap. 5. fram Drihtnes menniscnysse, pat Seuerus casere, se was Effrica
cynnes, of pære byrig de Lepti hatte,―se was seofonteogeða fram
Agusto-pat he rice onfeng, 7 þæt hæfde seofontyne gear. Þes
casere framlice rehte da cynewisan, ac hwædere mid gewinne. 15
He com on Breotone mid fyrde, 7 þær mid myclum 7 hefegum
gefeohtum mycelne dæl þæs ealondes on anweald onfeng ; 7 hit
begyrde 7 gefæstnade mid dice 7 mid eor wealle from sæ to sæ
fram oðrum elreordum þeodum. 7 he dær on Eoforwicceastre adle
fordferde ; 7 Basianus his sunu feng to Breotenrice. · 20

VI.

Cap. 6. Đa was ymb tu hund wintra 7 syx 7 hundeahtatig æfter þære

Drihtenlican mennyscnysse, þæt Dioclitianus casere, se wæs fram
Agusto ridde eac drittigum, se hæfde twentig wintra rice. Se
geceas Maximianum him to fultume his rices ge sealde him westdæl
middaneardes. 7 he onfeng cynegewædum 7 com on Breotone. 25
pa betwyh da monigan yfel pe hi dydon, Dioclitianus in estdæle
middangeardes 7 Maximianus on westdæle, hi hendon 7 hergedon

1. 5. lucius B. lucias Ca. cyning B. cyninge Ca. 1. 9. onwealhne 7 B.

anweald Ca. onwald C. 1. 26. in estdæle to Maximianus B. , wanting in
Ca. 1. 27. hýndon Ca. hyndon B.
 I. 4-6. 33

IV.

Then came the hundred and fifty-sixth year after Christ's advent,
and Marcus, also called Antonius, who was fourteenth from the
emperor Augustus, succeeded to the Roman empire jointly with his
brother Aurelius. In the time ofthese kings the holy Eleutherus was
5 bishop and pope of the Roman church. To him Lucius, king of
Britain, sent a letter, praying and entreating, that under his direction
he might be converted to christianity. And his pious request was
quickly carried into effect. Then the Britons received baptism and
the faith of Christ, and maintained it unimpaired and undefiled in
10 quiet and peace till the time of Diocletian the bad emperor.

ས.

Then came the hundred and eighty-ninth year from the in-
carnation of Christ, and the emperor Severus, who was an African
by descent, from the town called Leptis, succeeded to the empire,
and held it for seventeen years. He was seventeenth from
15 Augustus. This emperor governed the state vigorously, but yet
not without toil. He brought over a force to fight in Britain,
and there, after prolonged and severe encounters, recovered a
great part of the island ; he then surrounded and fortified it
with a ditch and rampart from sea to sea, severing it from the
20 other barbarous tribes. He died from illness in the island at York ;
and Bassianus his son succeeded to the government of Britain.

VI .

It was then about two hundred and eighty-six years after the
incarnation of our Lord, when the emperor Diocletian, who was
the thirty-third from Augustus, filled the throne for twenty years.
25 He chose Maximian as his coadjutor, and assigned him the western
portion of the world . The latter on assuming the purple came to
Britain.
Then among the many ill deeds done by them, Diocletian in the
East and Maximian in the West afflicted and harassed the
D
 34 LIBER PRIMUS.

Godes cyrican 7 yfeledon, 7 slogan cristene men. Onfengon hi da

teopan stowe on ehtnysse Godes cyrcena æfter Nerone casere.
Was seo ehtnysse pyssa arleasra cyninga unmetra 7 singalre eallum
pam ærgedonum on middanearde, fordon Jurh tyn winter full
Godes cyricena hynnysse 7 unscea diendra fordemednesse 7 slege 5
haligra martyra unblinnendlice don wæs. Was eac Bryten pa.
swyde gehyned on myclum wundre Godes geleafan 7 ondetnysse.

VII.

Cap. 7. Swylce eac on pa tid on Breotone was Orowiende Ses Albanus ;

be pam Fortunatus presbyter on fæmnena lofe, da he gemy-
negode para eadigra martyra, da þe of eallum middangearde 10
to Drihtne coman, cwæð he : pone æðelan Albanum seo wæstm-
berende Bryton forðbered. Was he Albanus hæden da gyt, þa
Jara treowleasra cyninga beboda wið cristenum monnum grimsedon.
Đa gelamp þat he sumne Godes mann preosthades, se was da
repan ehteras fleonde, on gestliðnysse onfeng. And mid by de he 15
hine þa geseah on singalum gebedum 7 wæccum dæges 7 nihtes
P. 477. beon abysgadne, pa was he semninga mid pam godcundan gyfe
gesawen 7 gemildsad. 7 he sona bysene his geleafan 7 arfæstnesse
onhyrigean ongan ; 7 swylce eac sticcemælum his þam halwendan.
trymnyssum was gelæred, þat he forlet pa dystro deofulgylda 20
7 of inneweardre heortan cristen was geworden.
Mid by a se foresprecena Godes man fela daga mid him
was on gestliðnesse, pa becom pot to earan þæs manfullan ealdor-
mannes, þæt Albanus hæfde Cone Cristes andettere digollice mid
him . Đa het he hraðe his pegnas hine secan 7 acsian. Đa sona 25
þæs pe hi coman to pees martyres huse, pa Ses Albanus for dam
cuman, þe he gefeormade, gegyrede hine da his munucgegyrelan ;
7 eode him on hond. 7 hi hine gebundenne to him læddon.
Da gelamp hit on þa ylcan tid, þe Albanus to him gelæded wæs,
þat he se dema stod at his godgyldum 7 deoflum onsægdnesse 30
bær. Mid þy de he geseah Sem Albanum, þa was he sona yrre
a
1. 3. arleasre Ca. -ra B. 1. II . was,m- Ca. -wasm- B. 1. 19. on-
byrigean Ca. onhyrian B. 1. 28. hi hine B. hi hine Ca. 1. 31. geseah B.
beseah Ca.
 I. 6, 7. 35

churches of God , and illtreated and slew christians. These

emperors occupy the tenth place among the persecutors of God's
church since the emperor Nero. The persecution of these impious
kings was more violent and continuous than any before in the
5 world, for with burning of God's churches and condemnation of the
innocent and slaughter of holy martyrs it went on incessantly for
ten years' time. Britain also was sorely afflicted, to the great glory
of the faith and confession of God.

( VII.

At this time also St. Alban suffered in Britain , of whom the

10 priest Fortunatus, in his ' Laus Virginum,' when mentioning the
blessed martyrs, who came from all the earth to the Lord, thus
spoke : 6 Fruitful Britain produces the noble Albanus.' Albanus

was still a heathen, when the commands of the faithless kings burst
forth in fury against christians. It so happened that he enter-
15 tained a pious man of the priesthood, who was fleeing from the cruel
persecutors. And when he saw him day and night busied in continual
prayers and vigils, then was Alban suddenly visited by the mercy
of God's grace. And he soon began to imitate the example of his
belief and piety ; and also gradually was taught, by his saving
20 exhortations, to leave the darkness of idol worship and become with
sincere heart a christian man. Now when the aforesaid man of
God had been entertained many days by Alban, it came to the ears
of the sinful governor, that Alban had this servant and confessor of
Christ concealed in his house. Then he quickly ordered his atten-
25 dants to go and demand him. As soon as they came to the
martyr's house, St. Alban put on the monk's dress, substituting him-
self for the stranger who was his guest, and gave himself into their
hands. And they brought him bound to the governor. Now it
happened at the very time, when Alban was led to him, that the
30 judge stood by his idols and offered sacrifice to devils. On seeing
St. Alban he at once burst into a passion, because the saint wil-
D 2
36 LIBER PRIMUS.

geworden, forþam he mid his sylfes willum gepristade, pœt he

hine sylfne on geweald sealde swylcere frecednysse for þam cuman,
pe he on gestliðnysse gefeormode. Het hine da teon 7 lædan to
Sam deofolgyldum, de he æt stod ; cwad him pus to : Fordon de
Ju pone mangengan 7 pone wipfeohtend 7 pone forhycgend ura 5
goda + ðu me helan woldest, swydor ponne minum degnum secgean,
ponne wite ðu þat þu scealt dam ylcan wite onfon, de he geearnode,
gif ðu gewitan dencest fram þam bigange ure æfestnysse. And Scs
Albanus da mid his sylfes willan cyode 7 openade pam ehterum
Godes geleafan, þat he cristen wäre. 7 he ne was ondredende 10
da beotunge þæs ealdormannes, ac he begyrded was mid wæpnum
pæs gastlican camphades ; 7 he openlice sæde pæt he his bebodum
hyrsumian ne wolde. Da cwad he se ealdorman 7 se dema him to
Saga me hwylces hiredes 7 hwylces cynnes þu si . And þa andswarede
him Ses Albanus : Hwæt limpep pas to de of hwylcum wyrtruman 15
ic acenned si ? Ac gif du wylle gehyran þat sop minre æfestnysse,
ponne wite pu me cristene beon : 7 ic cristenum þenungum eowian
wylle. pa cwad he se dema : Gesaga me pinne naman, hwæt du
haten sie. pa cwaỡ he : Albanus ic eom geciged fram minum
yldrum ; 7 pone soðan.God 7 pone lifigendan, se gescop heofon 7 20
eorðan 7 ealle gesceafta, ic symble bigange, 7 me to him ge-
bidde. Pa was he se dema yrre geworden ; cwæð him to : Gif ðu
wille þysses lifes gesælignysse mid us brucan, ne yld þu þæt þu
pam myclan godum mid us onsecge. Da andswarede Scs Albanus :
Da onsægdnysse, pa de fram eow deoflum wæron agoldene, ne 25
magon hi dam underðeoddum gefulltumian, ne heora lustas ne
heora willan gefyllan. Ac gyt sopre is, swa hwyle man swa pissum
onlicnyssum 7 deofolgyldum ansægdnysse bered, se forðam mede
onfehð, þæt is ecum tintregum helle wites. Da se dema þas word
gehyrde, da wæs he mid miclum wylme 7 yrre onstyred ; het da 30
7 bebead hraðe swingan 7 tintregian done Godes andettere.
Tealde 7 wende pat he mid swinglan sceolde pa * beldu 7 pa
anrednesse his heortan anescian, da he mid wordum ne mihte. Ɖa
he da mid grimmum swinglum 7 tintregum wæced was, 7 he calle

1. 20. pone lifigendan B. pone soðan lifigendan Ca. 1. 32. bedu Ca.
byldo B.
 I. 7. 37

fully presumed to give himself over to such risk in place of the

stranger, whom he entertained as guest. Then he ordered him to
be taken and dragged before the idols by which he stood, and thus
spoke : 'As you sought to conceal from me the impious foe and scorner
5 of our gods rather than betray him to my servants, know that you
shall receive the same punishment as he earned, if you think to
withdraw from the worship of our religion.' Then St. Alban
voluntarily declared and confessed to the persecutors of God's faith,
that he was a christian man. Nor did he fear the governor's

10 threats, but girding himself with the armour of spiritual warfare,

openly said that he would not obey his commands. Then said the
governor and judge to him : ' Tell me of what family and of what
race thou art.' Then St. Alban answered : ' What matters it to you
from what stock I am sprung? But if you wish to hear the truth as
15 to my religion, know that I am a christian, and will devote myself
to christian services .' Then said the judge : ' Tell me thy name by
which thou art called.' Then said he ' I am called Alban by my

parents ; and I ever worship and pray to the true and living God
who created heaven and earth and all creatures.' Then the judge

20 grew angry, and said to him , ' If you wish to enjoy with us happi-
ness in this life, delay not to join us in worshipping the great
gods.' Then answered St. Alban : " The sacrifices which were offered
by you to devils cannot benefit the devil's subjects, nor fulfil their
lusts and their will ; nay more, whoever offers to these images and
25 idols, for that receives his reward, the eternal pains of hell tor-
ments.' When the judge heard those words he was stirred with great
wrath and fury. Then he ordered his men at once to scourge and
torture this confessor of God, for he reckoned and supposed that

by scourging he would weaken his courage and the steadfastness of

30 his heart, though he could not by words. And then the saint was
afflicted with grievous scourging and tortures, and he bore and
 38 LIBER PRIMUS.

pa witu, de him man dyde, gepyldelice 7 gefeonde for Drihtne abær 7

p. 478. aræfnde. Pa se dema pot da oncneow 7 pa ongæt, þat he hine mid
tintregum 7 mid swinglan oferswiðan ne mihte, ne from þam
bigonge dære cristenan æfestnysse acyrran, pa het he hine heafde
beceorfan. 5
Mid dy he pa to deade gelæded wæs, pa com he to swið-
stremre eá, seo flowep neah dære ceastre wealle. 7 he geseah Jær
micle menigo monna æghwæðeres hades ; 7 wæron missenlicræ yldo
7 getincge men. Seo menigo monna butan tweon mid godcundre
onbryrdnysse wæs geciged to penunge æs eadigan martyres. 7 hi 10
swa des streames brycge abysgade waron pat hi hwene ær
æfenne oferfaran ne mihten ; 7, neah don eallum utagangendum, þæt
se dema butan denunge abád on þære ceastre. And ða Ses Albanus,
on dam was byrnende wilsumnes modes, pæt he recenust to
prowunge become, eode da to pære burnan þe ic ær sæde, 15
7 his eagan ahóf upp to heofonum, þa sona adrugode se
stream 7 beah for his fotum, swa pœt he mihte dryge ofer-
gangan. Pa dis wundor da geseah betwuh oore se sylfa cwellere de
hine slean sceolde, pa was he sona mid godcundre on-
bryrdnysse innan monad, pot he wearp pat sweord onweg 20
þæt he on handa hæfde, 7 him to fotum feoll ; 7 he geornlice bæd
7 wilnade, þat he mid done martyr oððe for hine prowian moste,
de he ær slean sceolde. Đa wæs þes man ðurh Godes gyfe of
ehtere geworden soðfæstnesse freond ond Cristes geleafan. And
pa astah se arwurdesta Godes andettere mid pa menigeo on þa 25
dune upp, seo was da tidlice grene 7 fæger 7 mid misenlicum
blostmum wyrta + afed 7 gegyred æghwyder ymbutan. Wæs
þat þæs wyrde, pat seo stow swa wlitig 7 swa fæger wære, þe eft
sceolde mid by blode des eadigan martyres gewurðad 7 gehalgod
weorban. On þysse dune ufanweardre bed Scs Albanus fram Gode 30
him wæter seald beon to sumre his þenunge. 7 þa sona hraðe
beforan his fotum was wyl upp yrnende, þæt ealle menn ongytan
mihtan, pat dat water to his penunge sended wæs, þe he ær to
Gode wilnade. 7nu seo wylle 7 pot water, gefylledre wilsumnesse

1. 12. utagangende Ca. utgangendum B. 1. 27. afed Ca. afægrod C. B.

cp. i. 25. 1. 28. wlitig C. B. welig Ca.
 I. 7. 39

endured with patience and joy all the pains inflicted on him for
the Lord's sake. When the judge perceived this, and saw that he
could not conquer him with torture or scourging, nor turn him
from the worship of the christian religion, he ordered him to be
5 beheaded. As he was led to death, he came to a very rapid stream
which flows near the town wall. And he saw there a great crowd
of persons of both sexes, of various ages and ranks. The crowd
was doubtless summoned by an inspiration from heaven as an

escort for the blessed martyr : and they were so detained by the
10 bridge over the river that it was hardly possible to cross till a little
before evening. And as almost all had gone forth, the judge re-
mained in the town without escort. And when St. Alban, in
whom there was a burning fervour of mind to attain with all
speed to his martyrdom, came to the brook which I mentioned
15 before, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, then the stream at
once dried up and gave way before his feet, so that he could
pass over dry shod. When among others the executioner, who
should slay him, saw this marvel, he was at once inwardly warned
by the inspiration of divine grace, so that he threw the sword
20 away, that he held in his hand and fell at his feet ; and he earnestly
prayed and desired that he might suffer with the martyr whom he
was to have slain, or in his place. So by God's grace was this
man turned from a persecutor into a friend of the truth and of the
faith of Christ. Then went up the venerated confessor of God on
25 the hill with the crowd, which was then green with the season, and
fair and painted and adorned on all sides with flowers of various
plants. And this was meet, that the place should be so comely
and so fair, which afterwards was to be glorified and sanctified
with the blood of this blessed martyr. On the top of this hill St.
30 Alban prayed that water might be given him for his use by God.
Then, at once, a fountain quickly sprang up before his feet, so that
all men might perceive that this water was sent for his service, as
he already desired of God. And now the fountain and the water,
 40 LIBER PRIMUS.

7 Jære denunge pæs eadigan martyres was forlætende da

cypnysse pære denunge, 7 hwearf eft to gecynde. Was seo stow
hwæthwugu on healfre mile fram þære ceastre wealle, 7 fram þære
burnan þe he ær drigum fotum ofereode. Dær wæs pa heafde
beslagen se strengesta martyr Scs Albanus, 7 þær he onfeng beah 5
7 sige eces lífes, pone ylcan sige God behét eallum þam de hine
lufian wyllað. Ac se cwellere, se de his arlease handa aðenede
ofer pone arfæstan sweoran das martyres 7 his heafod of asloh,
ne was he forlæten þat he ofer him deadum gefege : ac him da
eagan of his heafde ascuton 7 ætgædere mid þæs martyres heafde 10
on eorðan feollan. Da wæs eac swylce heafde beslegen 7 gemar-
tyrad se mon, se de wæs ær don mid þam uplican mihte geðread,
þat he wiðsoc pat he done Godes andettere sloge. Be pam donne
cud is, peah de he mid wætere fulluhtes bæpes abwegen ne wære,
þat he was hwædere mid by bade his blodes geclansad 7 das 15
heofonlican rices wyrde geworden. Da wæs se dema æfter dyssum
mid pa neownysse swa monigra heofonlicra wundra swype ge-
drefed 7 gefyrhted, het pa sona blinnan fram ehtnysse cristenra
P. 479.
manna, 7 ongan arweorpian da prowunge para haligra martyra,
þurh da he ær wende pœt he hi acyrran meahte fram æfestnysse 20
þæs cristenan geleafan. Was he prowigende se eadiga Albanus Oy
teoðan dæge Kalendarum Iuliarum neah dære ceastre, de Romane
heton Uerolamium, seo nu fram Angeloeode Werlameceaster oppe
Wæclingaceaster is nemned. Da wæs sona, æfter pon þæt
smyltnes com cristenra tida, pat dær was cyrice geworht 7 getim- 25
brad wundorlices geweorces 7 his prowunge 7 martyrdome wyrpe.
On ære stowe nu soolice od dysne andwardan dæg untrumra
manna hælo 7 wyrcnes heofonlicra mægena gelomlice beoð mærsade,
7 monigfealde wundra gelimpað.
Weron eac swylce prowiende on a tíd Ááron 7 Iulilius, þa 30
weron burhwarumen on Ligeceastre, 7 eac oðre monige ægh-
wæderes hades on missenlicum stowum, da wæron missenlicum
cwealmnyssum Oreste 7 ungeheredre leoma toslitnysse wundade.

1. 17. neowabnysse (dots below and stroke through ul) Ca. mid pa n. notin
B. 1. 28. halo onfoo Ca. B. omits onfoð.
 I. 7. 41

having fulfilled devotion and service to the holy martyr, returned

to its natural condition and ceased to give evidence of this service.
The place was about half a mile from the wall of the town and
from the brook which he crossed before dry shod.
5 Then was this most brave martyr St. Alban beheaded there,
and received the victorious crown of eternal life, which God has
promised to all who will love him. But the executioner, who
stretched forth his impious hands against the pious neck of this
martyr and struck off his head, was not permitted to rejoice over
10 his death ; his eyes shot out of his head and fell to the earth with
the head of the martyr. Then was also beheaded and martyred
the man, who had before been rebuked by the heavenly power and
refused to be the slayer of God's confessor. As to him, it is
certain, though he was not washed with the water of baptism, that
15 he nevertheless was cleansed by the washing of his blood, and made
worthy of the kingdom of heaven. Thereupon the judge, much
troubled and affrighted by the strangeness of so many heavenly
wonders, at once ordered them to cease from the persecution of
christians, and began to honour the sufferings of the holy martyrs,
20 by which he previously supposed he could turn them from their
devotion to the christian faith. The blessed Alban suffered on
the 22nd of June close to the town which the Romans called

Verolamium, and is now named by the English Werlameceaster or

Wæclingaceaster. Soon after that a season of serenity for chris-
25 tians came, and there was a church wrought and built there of ad-
mirable structure, worthy of his passion and martyrdom. At that

spot indeed, up to the present day, are still often proclaimed cures
of the sick and the performance of divine miracles, and manifold
wonders take place. At the same time suffered also Aaron and
30 Julius, who were burgesses of Chester ; and many others also of
both sexes, in various places, were racked with various tortures
and lacerated with unheard-of rending of their limbs. Their strife
 42 LIBER PRIMUS.

Fulfremede compe heora sawle to gefean sendon pære upplican

ceastre heofona rices wuldres.

VIII.¹

Cap. 8. And þæs de pa seo costnung dære ehtnesse gestilled wæs, þa

wæron for gongende pa cristenan men 7 da geleafsuman, þa þe
hi ær on ða frecnan tid pære ehtnysse on wudum 7 on westenum 5
7 scræfum hi hyddon 7 digledon. 7 hi da edniwedon Godes
cyricean pa de ær toworpene wæron, 7 eac cyricean timbredon
7 halgodon þam halgum martyrum, 7 heora stowe bræddon 7
weoroodon, swa swa sigefæst tacon, 7 symbeldagas mærsedan ;
7 pa godcundan geryno clænan mude 7 clænre heortan halgedon 10
7 fremedon. Peos sibb áwunade on Cristes cyrican, ða þe on
Brytene wæron, o da tide pe se Arrianisca gedweolda aras.
Dyssum tidum Constantinus, se be Diocletiane lyfgendum Gallia
rice 7 Ispania heold 7 rehte, -wæs se mon monoware 7 for
weorulde gód -ferde he ford on Breotone ; 7 Constantinus his sunu 15
pam godan casere, se was of Eléna þam wife acenned, his rice
forlét. Writeð Eutropius pat Constantinus se casere wære on
Breotone acenned, 7 æfter his fæder to rice feng. pas cyninges
tidum se Arrianisca gedwola was upcumen ; 7 þæt deadbærende
attor his getreowleasnysse, nalæs pat on eallum middangeardes 20
cyricum þat he stregde, ac hit eac swylce on pis ealond becom.
Se gedweola was on pam Nyceaniscan sinope geniðerad 7 afylled on
Constantinus dagum.

IX,2
p. 480. Da wæs ymb feower hund wintra 7 seofone æfter Drihtnes
Cap . II.
menniscnysse ; feng to rice Honorius casere, se wæs feorða eac 25
feowertigum fram Agusto pam casere- twam gearum ær Romaburh
abrocen 7 forhergad wære. Seo hergung was purh Alaricum
Gotena cyning geworden. Was Romaburh abrocen fram Gotum

1. 1. sendon B. syndon (e late ?) Ca., cp. ii. 12, iii. 15. 1 XI Ca. (the
numbering to the end of Bk. I is confused, perhaps altered : see note to XV) .
d
1. 8. brad,on Ca. bræddon B. 1. 13. Constantinus (Cõstantius in margin
is modern) Ca. -tinus C. Constanti.us (n erased) B. be Diocletianū lifien-
dum B. bæd Dioclyane fylgendum, the d struck through in modern ink :
 I. 7-11 . 43

being ended, they gave up their souls, to enter the joys of the city
above amid the glory of the kingdom of heaven.

VIII.

When the trials of this persecution quieted down, faithful

christians came forth, who previously, in the dangerous times
5 of persecution, lay hid in woods and wastes and caves. They
repaired God's churches which had been thrown down , and built
and consecrated others in honour of the holy martyrs, extending
and honouring their sites in token of victory and celebrating their
festivals, and hallowed and performed the divine mysteries with
10 pure mouth and pure heart. This peace ever continued in the
churches of Christ, which were in Britain up to the time when the
Arian heresy arose. In these times died Constantinus in Britain.
He held and swayed the empire of Gaul and Spain in the lifetime
of Diocletianus , and was a man of much clemency and goodness in
15 the world. He left his power to his son Constantine, the good
emperor, who was born of his wife Helen. Eutropius writes that
the emperor Constantine was born in Britain, and succeeded his
father on the throne. In this king's time the Arian heresy arose ;
and the deadly poison of his unbelief he spread not only to all
20 churches in the world, but it also came into this island. This
heresy was condemned and crushed in the days of Constantine at
the Council of Nicæa.

IX.

It was then about 407 years after our Lord's incarnation ;

Honorius was on the throne, being the forty-fourth from the
25 emperor Augustus ; and it was two years before Rome was taken
and devastated. The devastation was caused by Alaric, king of
the Goths. The capture by the Goths took place about 1164 years

d
fylgendum rudely altered to lyfgendum (modern) Ca. 1. 14. heol, Ca.
ge
heold B. mon (above line modern ?) Ca. mann B. 1. 22. ,dweola Ca.
dwola B. nyceaniscan (part of y and nearly all a erased) Ca. niwan B.
(Read niceniscan ?). 2 XII Ca.
 44 LIBER PRIMUS.

ymb pusend wintra 7 hundteontig 7 feower 7 syxtig das pe heo

geworht wæs. Of pære tide Romane blunnun ricsian on Breotene.
Hæfdon hi Breotona rice feower hund wintra 7 þæs fiftan hund-
seofontig, das de Gaius, oore naman Iulius, se casere pat ylce
ealond gesohte. 7 ceastre 7 torras 7 stræta 7 brycge on heora rice 5
geworhte wæron, pa we to dæg sceawian magon. Eardædon
Bryttas binnan pam dice to suðdæle, pe we gemynegodon þæt
Seuerus se casere het pwyrs ofer þat ealond gedician.
Cap. 12. Pa ongunnan twa deoda Pyhtas nordan 7 Scottas westan hi
onwinnan 7 heora æhta niman 7 hergian ; 7 hi fela geara yrmdon 10
7 hyndon. Da on dære unstilnysse onsendon hi ærendwrecan to
Rome mid gewritum 7 wependre bene : him fultumes bædon, 7
him gehetan eaðmode hyrnysse 7 singale underpeodnysse, gif
hi him gefultumadon þæt hi mihton heora fynd oferwinnan. Đa
onsendan hi him mycelne here to fultume. 7 sona þæs de hi 15
on pis ealond comon, þa cómpedon hi wið heora feondum, 7 him
mycel wel ongeslogan, 7 of heora gemærum adrifon 7 aflymdon.
7 lærdon þæt hi fæsten worhtan him to gebeorge wið heora feondum :
7 swa mid mycele sige ham foran.
Da þat da ongeaton ða ærran gewinnan þæt se Romanisca here 20
was onweg gewiten, da coman hi sona mid sciphere on heora landge-
mæro, 7 slogan eall 7 cwealdon þæt hi gemetton ; 7 swa swa ripe
yrð fortreddon 7 fornamon, 7 hi mid ealle foryrmdon. And hi ða
eft sendon ærendracan to Rome 7 wapendre stefne him fultumes
bædon, þat þæt earme eðel mid ealle ne fordiligad ne wære, ne se 25
nama ære Romaniscan peode, se de mid him swa lange scéan 7
bryhte, fram fremdra deoda ungepwærnesse fornumen 7 fordilgad
beon sceolde. Pa wæs eft here hider sended, se wæs cumende
on ungewénedre tíde on herfeste : 7 hi sona wid heora feondum
p. 481. gefuhtan, 7 sige hæfdan, 7 ealle ða de pone deað beswician myhtan 30
ofer done sæ norð aflymde, pa de ær ælce geare ofer done sæ
hloðedon 7 hergedon. Da gesægdon Románe on án Bryttum þæt
hi no má ne mihton for heora gescyldnysse swa gewinnfullicum
fyrdum swencte beon. Ac hi manedon 7 lærdon pot hi him
1.6. eardædon Ca. eardedon B. 1. 14. hi B. hi Ca. 1. 34. fyrdu
(traces of erased stroke over u. Interlinear writing has been erased here
and often elsewhere) Ca. fyrdon B.
 I. II , 12. 45

after the foundation of the city. From that time the Romans ceased
to have dominion in Britain : they had had dominion for 470 years,
since Gaius, also called Julius, the emperor landed on the island.
Cities, towers, roads and bridges had been constructed under their
5 rule, which may be seen at the present day. The Britons dwelt
to the south within the dyke we spoke of, built by order of
the emperor Severus right across the island.
Then began two nations, the Picts on the north and the Scots on
the west, to assail them, to seize and waste their possessions ; and
10 for many years they caused misery and distress . During these
troubles they sent messengers to Rome with letters and a plaintive
petition, begging for help, and offering humble obedience and
perpetual submission, if help were granted that they might
overcome their foes. Then they sent a large force to their aid,
15 which on landing in the island at once fought against the enemy,
defeated them with great slaughter, and drove them in flight beyond
the borders. Then they taught the Britons to construct fortifi-
cations as a defence against their enemies : and so with great
triumph returned home. But when their former adversaries saw
20 that the Roman army had gone away, they proceeded at once with
a fleet to the British borders, slew and murdered all they met, and ,
as if it were a ripe field of corn, trod them under foot, and made
havoc, and utterly ruined all. Then once more they sent mes-
sengers to Rome and in plaintive tones begged for aid, that their
25 poor country might not be utterly destroyed, nor the name of the
Roman people, which so long was bright and shining among them,
be overcast and obscured by the violence of foreign nations. Once
more an army was sent here, which arriving unexpectedly at
harvest time, at once took the field against the enemy and won a
30 victory, and drove all who could escape the slaughter northward over
the sea, after they had each year before crossed the sea to spoil and
lay waste. Then the Romans said to the Britons once for all, that
they could no longer exhaust themselves in such toilsome expeditions
for their defence. But they admonished and instructed them to
 46 LIBER PRIMUS.

wapno worhton 7 modes strengoo naman þæt hi compedon 7 wið-

stodan heora feondum. 7 hi him ða eac to ræde 7 to frofre fundon, þæt
hi gemænelice fæsten geworhten him to gescyldnesse, stænene weal
rihtre stige fram eastsæ oỡ westsæ, þær Seuerus se casere iu het
dician 7 eorowall gewyrcan : done mán nu to dæg sceawian mæg 5
eahta fota bradne 7 twelf fota heanne. Swylce eac on þæs sæs warope
to suðdæle, panon de hi sciphere on becom, torras timbredon to
gebeorghe dæs sas. Da sona þæs de pis fæsten geworht was,
da sealdon hi him bysne monige, hu hi him wapen wyrcean
sceoldan, 7 heora feondum wiðstondan. 7 hi da grettan 7 him 10
cyodan þæt hi næfre má hi sécan woldan ; 7 hi sigefæste ofer sæ
ferdon. Da pot pa Pehtas 7 Scottas geacsedon, þæt hi ham
gewitene wæron, 7 eac þæt hi hider no eft ma hi secan ne woldan,
pa wæron hi de baldran gewordene, 7 sona ealne norðdæl Öysses
ealondes oð done weall genoman 7 gesetton. Wið þyssum stod on 15
pam fæstene ufanweardum se earga feða Brytta 7 þær forhtigendre
heortan wunode dæges 7 nihtes. Pa sohtan heora gewinnan him
sarwe 7 worhton him hocas, 7 mid þam tugan hi earmlice adún of
pam wealle. 7 hi wæron sona deade, swa hi eorðan geschtan.
Hig pa forlættan pone wall 7 heora burh, 7 flugan onwæg : 720.
heora gewinnan hi ehtan 7 slogan, 7 on wæll fyldon. Was pis
gefeoht wælgrimre 7 strengre eallum þam ærgedonum. Fordon
swa swa sceap from wulfum 7 wildeorum beoð fornumene, swa pa
earman ceasterwaran toslitene 7 fornumene wæron fram heora
feondum, 7 heora æhtum benémde 7 to hungre gesette. 25

X.1

Cap. 13. Da wæs ymb feower hund wintra 7 preo 7 twentig pære
Drihtenlican menniscnysse ; Theodosius casere æfter Honorie rice
onfeng, 7 þæt hæfde syx 7 twentig wintra. Se was fifta eac feower-
tigum fram Agusto pam casere. Pas caseres rices dy eahtepan
geare Palladius biscop wæs ærest sended to Scottum , þa de on Crist 30
gelyfdon, fram þam biscope pære Romaniscan cyricean, Celestinus

1. I. s,aldon Ca. sealdon B. 1. 16. feða C. B. fede Ca. 1 XIII Ca.

1. 31. Celestinus C. B. Cal- Ca.
 I. 12 , 13. 47

manufacture arms, and pluck up stout hearts that they might fight
and withstand their foes. They also thought it advisable and
helpful, that they should construct a general line of fortification for
their protection, that is a stone wall in a straight line from the sea
5 on the east to the sea on the west, where the emperor Severus
formerly directed the construction of a ditch and a rampart of earth :
this may still be seen, and is eight feet broad and twelve feet
high. They also built for protection from the side of the sea,
towers on the sea coast south of this point, where they were
10 assailed by fleets. As soon as they had completed this fortification,
and given them many examples how to manufacture arms and
withstand their foes, they took their leave, informing them that
they should return no more, and then sailed in triumph across the
sea. Now when the Picts and Scots learnt that they had gone
15 home and would return no more here, they were emboldened
by this, and at once seized and occupied all the north part of this
island up to the rampart. To oppose this the cowardly British
soldiers took their stand on the top of the fortification, and there
remained day and night with trembling hearts. Then their
20 adversaries sought implements and made hooks, and with these
dragged them down miserably from the ramparts : and their death
followed immediately on their reaching the ground. So the
Britons abandoned the rampart and their cities and fled away,
and their adversaries pursued and slew them with a great
25 slaughter. This contest was more bloody and violent than any
before for as sheep are destroyed by wolves and wild beasts, so
the poor townsmen were rent and destroyed by their foes, being
stripped of their possessions and left to starve.

X.
It was then about four hundred and twenty-three years after
30 the incarnation of Christ ; the emperor Theodosius succeeded
Honorius in the empire, and reigned twenty-six years ; he was the
forty-fifth from the emperor Augustus. It was in the eighth year
of this emperor's reign that bishop Palladius was first sent to the
Scots who believed on Christ, by that bishop of the Roman church
 48 LIBER PRIMUS.

wæs haten. Swylce eac his rices þy Oriddan geare eac twentigum
Aetius was haten mære man ; se wæs iu ær heah ealdorman, 7 þa
wæs þriddan side consul 7 cyning on Rome. To þysum ða þear-
fendan lafe Brytta sendon ærendgewrit ; was se fruma pus awriten :
Ettio Origa * cyninge : Her is Brytta geong 7 geomerung. 7 on forð- 5
geonge þæs ærendgewrites pus hi heora yrmoo arehton : Us drifað
p. 482. pa ellreordan to sæ ; wiðscufeð us seo sa to pam ællreordum : betwih
him twam we pus tweofealdne dead prowiað, odde sticode beo
oððe on sæé adruncene. Deah de hi pas ding sædon, ne mihton
hi nænigne fultum æt him begitan, forpon on da ylcan tid he was 10
absgyad mid hefigum gefeohtum wið Blædlan 7 Atillan Huna
cyningum .
XI.'

Swylce eac pissum tidum com mycel hungor on Constanti-

nopolim Creca ealdorburh : 7 sona wól was æfterfyligende. Ge eac
monige weallas mid seofon 7 fiftegum torran gehruron 7 gefeollan : 15
7 swylce eac monige oðre ceastre tohrorene wæron. 7 se hunger 7
se wolberenda stenc bære lyfte monige pusendo monna 7 neata
fordilgade 7 fornam.
Cap. 14. Com se foresprecena hungur eac swylce hider on Bryttas 7 hi to
Jon swype wæhcte, pat heora monige heora feondum on hand eodan ; 20
7 gyt ma was pe pat dón ne wolde : ac, pa him ælc mennisc
fultum blonn, þæt hi ma on godcundne fultum getreowodan. 7 pa
ongunnan ærest wið heora fynd feohtan, þa þe monige gear ær hi
onhergedon 7 hleodedon. 7 hi him da micel wel ongeslogan, 7 hi
ham bedrifan, 7 sige ahton. Efter þyssum com gód gear, 7 swa 25
eac micel genihtsumnys wæstma on Breotone lond, swa nænig æfter-
yldo syððan gemunan mæg. Mid þy ða ongon firenlust weaxan ;
7 sona wól ealra monna somod gehradode, þat was wallhreownysse
7 soðfæstnysse feoung, 7 seo lufu líges 7 leasunge. 7 nalæs þæt án
pæet das ding dyden weoruldmen, ac eac swylce pat Drihtnes eowde, 30
7 his hyrdas. 7 hi druncennesse 7 oferhydo 7 geciide ond geflite 7
æfeste 7 oðrum mannum þysses gemetes wæron heora swiran
t yrmd
1. 5. etio origa cyninga Ca. These words are not in B. geong Ca.
gnornung B. 1 XIIII Ca. 1. 18. fornam B. fornumene waron Ca.
 I. 13, 14. 49

who is called Celestinus. Also in the twenty-third year of his reign

there was a famous man named Aetius, who was formerly patrician
and was then consul for the third time and king in Rome. To
him the miserable remnants of the Britons sent a letter, of which
5 the beginning ran thus : To Aetius, thrice king, these are the
groans and laments of the Britons.' And in the course of the
6
letter they thus set forth their misery : The barbarians drive us to
the sea, the sea thrusts us back to the barbarians ; between both we
thus suffer a twofold death, we are either stabbed or drowned in the
10 sea. Though they pleaded thus, they could not get any help from
him, for at that time he was engaged in severe struggles with
Blaedla and Attila, kings of the Huns.

XI.

Also, at this time, there arose a great famine at Constantinople,

the capital of the Greeks, immediately succeeded by a pestilence.
15 Also many walls along with fifty-seven towers collapsed and fell ;
and many other towns too were ruined. And the famine and
pestilential stench of the air carried off and destroyed many thou-
sands of men and cattle. The famine just mentioned spread also
to Britain, and affected the people to such a degree, that many gave
20 themselves up into the hands of their enemies ; but there were yet
more who would not do so ; and as all human aid failed them, they
trusted the more to aid from heaven. Then for the first time
they began to resist their enemies, who now for many years
had wasted and spoiled them. They defeated them with great
25 slaughter, drove them home and secured the victory. After this
came a good year, and such abundant crops in Britain, as no age
since can record. With that began an increase of riotous living ;
and at once a general corruption hastened in its train, cruelty,
hatred to truth, and love of lying and leasing. Nor was it only
30 worldly men who acted thus, but also the fold and shepherds
of the Lord. And they cast off the light and pleasant yoke of
Christ, and bowed their necks to drunkenness, pride, strife, conten-
1. 28. þæt swa was (swa struck through) Ca. p was B. 1. 31. 7 gecííd 7
geflit B. gecygde on geflite Ca.
E
 50 LIBER PRIMUS .

underpeoddende, onweg aworpenum Cristes geoce pam leohtan 7 þam

swetan. Betwih das ping pa com semninga mycel wól 7 grim
ofer da gehwyrfdon modes menn. 7 se on hrærdnesse swa mycele
menigo heora fornóm 7 gefylde, pætte da cwican no genihtsumedon
þæt hi ða deadan bebyrigdan. Ac hwæðere þa de lifigende wæron 5
for dam ege þæs deades noht pon sel woldan, ne fram heora sawle
deade acigde beon ne mihton. Fordon nalæs æfter myclum fæce
grimmre wræc pa þære fyrenfullan þeode þæs grimman mannes wæs
æfterfyligende. Pa gesomnedon hi gemot 7 peahtedon 7 ræddon,
hwæt him to donne wære, hwær him wære fultum to secanne to 10
gewearnienne 7 to wiðscufanne swa reðre hergunge 7 swa gelomlicre
para nor peoda. 7 pa gelicode him eallum mid heora cyninge, Wyrt-
georn was haten, þat hi Seaxna peode ofer þam sælicum dælum
him on fultum gecygdon 7 geladedon . Pæt cuð is þæt þæt mid
Drihtnes mihte gestihtad wæs, þæt yfell wræc come ofer ða wipcore- 15
nan, swa on þam ende para wísena sweotolice atywed is.

XII.1
p. 483. Da wæs ymb feower hund wintra 7 nigon 7 feowertig fram ures
Cap. 15.
Drihtnes menniscnysse, pat Martianus casere rice onfeng 7 VII
gear hæfde . Se was syxta eac feowertigum fram Agusto pam
casere. Da Angel þeod 7 Seaxna was geladod fram þam fore- 20
sprecenan cyninge, 7 on Breotone com on þrim myclum scypum ; 7
on eastdæle þyses ealondes eardungstowe onfeng purh dæs ylcan
cyninges bebod, pe hi hider geladode, pat hi sceoldan for heora
edle compian 7 feohtan. 7 hi sona compedon wið heora gewinnan,
þe hi oft ær norðan onhergedon ; 7 Seaxan pa sige geslogan. 25
Pa sendan hi ham ærenddracan 7 heton secgan þysses landes
wæstmbærnysse, 7 Brytta yrgpo. 7 hi pa sona hider sendon maran
sciphere strengran wighena ; 7 was unoferswidendlic weorud,
pa hi togædere gepeodde wæron. 7 him Bryttas sealdan 7
geafan eardungstowe betwih him pet hi for sibbe 7 hælo 30

1. 1. leohtan B. leohtam Ca. 1. 3. on hrædnesse Ca. ( = hrérednesse). on

pære
hrednesse B. 1. 8. grimmre C. grimre B. grim Ca. fyren- (sic)
pa
Ca. pære not in B. 1. 12.7 Ca. 7 B. 1. 13. hi B. he Ca.
 I. 14 , 15. 51

tion, envy, and other sins of the same kind . During these things,
there suddenly came a great and furious pestilence upon these
men of perverted hearts, which speedily laid low and carried
off such numbers of them, that the living no longer sufficed to
5 bury the dead. And yet the living were not the better disposed
for all that terror of death, nor could they be rescued from the
death of their souls. Therefore after no long time direr venge-
ance for their dire sin overtook this depraved people. Then they
gathered an assembly and took counsel together, as to what should
10 be done, and where they should look for help to avoid and repel
such savage and repeated devastations of the northern nations.
Then it seemed best to all, and to their king, Vortigern by name,
to invite and call in to their aid the people of the Saxons from the
parts beyond the sea. It is evident that this was so arranged by
15 the divine power, that heavy vengeance should come on these
outcasts, as is clearly shown by the issue of events.

XII.

It was 449 years after our Lord's incarnation, when the emperor
Martianus succeeded to the throne, which he occupied for seven
years. He was the forty-sixth from the emperor Augustus. At
20 that time the Angles and Saxons were called in by the aforesaid
king, and arrived in Britain with three great ships. They received
settlements on the east side of the island by order of the same
king, who had invited them here, to fight as for their country.
They at once took the field against the foe, who had often before
25 overrun the land from the north ; and the Saxons won the victory.
Then they sent home messengers, whom they bade to report the
fertility of this land, and the cowardice of the Britons. Im-
mediately a larger fleet was despatched here, with a stronger force
of warriors ; and the host when united overpowered resistance.
30 The Britons gave and assigned to them settlements among them-
selves, on condition of fighting for the peace and safety of their
country and resisting their enemies, while the Britons also provided \
$ n
1 XV Ca. 1. 23. 7 Ca. B. 1. 26. æreddracan Ca. ærendracan B.
1. 30. hi B. he Ca,
E 2
 52 LIBER PRIMUS .

heora edles campodon 7 wunnon wið heora feondum, 7 hi him

andlyfne 7 are forgeafen for heora gewinne. Comon hi of prim
folcum dam strangestan Germanie, pot of Seaxum 7 of Angle 7 of
Geatum . Of Geata fruman syndon Cantware, 7 Wihtsætan ; þæt
is seo deod pe Wiht þat ealond oneardað. Of Seaxum, þæt is of 5
Jam lande pe mon hateð Ealdseaxan, coman Eastseaxan 7 Suðseaxan
7 Westseaxan. And of Engle coman Eastengle 7 Middelengle 7
Myrce 7 eall Nordhembra cynn ; is poet land de Angulus is nemned,
betwyh Geatum 7 Seaxum ; is sad of pære tíde pe hi danon
gewiton o to dæge, pat hit weste wunige. Wæron da ærest heora 10
latteowas 7 heretogan twegen gebroðra Hengest 7 Horsa. Hi
weron Wihtgylses suna, þæs fæder was Witta haten, þæs fæder
0
was Wilta haten 7 þæs Wihta fæder was Woden nemned, of dæs
strynde monigra mægða cyningcynn fruman lædde. Ne was da
ylding to pon pat hi heapmælum conan maran weorod of þam 15
deodum, þe we ær gemynegodon. 7 þæt folc, de hider cóm, ongan
weaxan 7 myclian to pan swide, þæt hi wæron on myclum ege
pam sylfan landbigengan de hi ær hider ladedon 7 cygdon.
Æfter pissum hi pa geweredon to sumre tide wið Peḥtum, þa hi
ær þurh gefeoht feor adrifan. 7 þa wæron Seaxan secende intingan 20
7 towyrde heora gedales wið Bryttas. Cyddon him openlice 7
sædon, butan hi him maran andlyfne sealdon, þæt hi woldan him
sylfe niman 7 hergian, þær hi hit findan mihton. 7 sona da beotunge
dædum gefyldon : bærndon 7 hergedon 7 slogan fram eastsæ oð
wests ; 7 him næenig widstod. Ne was ungelic wræcc pam de 25
iú Chaldeas bærndon Hierusaleme weallas 7 da cynelican getimbro
mid fyre fornaman for des Godes folces synnum. Swa ponne her
fram þære arleasan deode, hwædere rihte Godes dome, neh ceastra
gehwylce 7 land forheregeode wæron. Hruran, 7 feollan cynelico
p. 484. getimbro 7 anlipie : 7 gehwær sacerdas 7 mæssepreostas betwih 30
wibedum wæron slægene 7 cwylmde : biscopas mid folcum buton
ænigre are sceawunge ætgædere mid iserne 7 lige fornumene
wæron. 7 ne was ænig se de bebyrignysse sealde pam de swa
á
1. 7. mi,delengle Ca. midd- B. 1. 12. pasfæder was witta haten B.
butan
(wanting in Ca. ).. 1. 22. nemne Ca. butan B. 1. 29. forheregeode waron
B. was forhergiende Ca. hrusan a ( = ō ?) Ca. hruran 7 B. 1. 30, the
third 7 B., not in Ca. somed 7 C. ?
 I. 15. 53

them with a maintenance and estates in return for their labours.

The new-comers were of the three strongest races of Germany,
namely, Saxons, Angles and Jutes. Of Jutish origin are the men of
Kent, and the Wihtsætan ; that is the tribe dwelling in the Isle
5 of Wight. From the Saxons, that is from the people called Old
Saxons, came the East Saxons, the South Saxons, and the West
Saxons ; and from Angle came the East Angles and the Middle
Angles, Mercians , and the whole race of the Northumbrians. This
is the land which is named Angulus, between the Jutes and
10 Saxons, and it is said to have lain waste, from the time they left it,
up to this day. Their leaders then and their commanders were at
first two brothers, Hengist and Horsa, sons of Wihtgils, whose
father was called Witta, whose father was Wihta, and the father of
Wihta was called Woden. From his race the royal families of
15 many tribes derived their origin. Then without delay they came
in crowds, larger hosts from the tribes previously mentioned . And
the people, who came here, began to increase and multiply to such
an extent, that they were a great terror to the inhabitants them-
selves, who originally invited and called them in. Later on , when
20 occasion offered, they entered into alliance with the Picts, whom
they had previously driven out by arms. And then the Saxons
sought excuse and opportunity for breaking with the Britons.
So they publicly announced to the Britons and declared, that, unless
they gave them a more liberal maintenance, they would take it for
25 themselves by force and by plundering, wherever they could find it.
And they soon carried their threats into execution : they burned
and plundered and slew from the sea on the west to the sea on
the east ; and now no one withstood them. Their vengeance was
not unlike that of the Chaldees, when they burned the walls of
30 Jerusalem and destroyed the royal palace by fire for the sins
of God's people. So then here almost every city and district was
wasted by this impious people, though it was by the just judgment
of God. Buildings both public and private collapsed and fell ;
by every altar priests and clergy were slain and murdered. Bishops
35 and people, without regard for mercy, were destroyed together by
fire and sword ; nor was there anyone who bestowed the rites of
 54 LIBER PRIMUS.

hreowlice acwealde wæron . 7 monige ære earman lafe on

westenum fanggene wæron 7 heapmælum sticode. Sume for hungre
heora feondum on hand eodon 7 ecne peowdom geheton, wiðpon pe
him mon andlifne forgefe : sume ofer sa sarigende gewiton : sume
forhtiende in eðle gebidon, 7 þearfende lif in wuda 7 in westenum 5
7 in hean cleofum sorgiende mode symle dydon.
Cap. 16. Ond pa æfter pon pe se here was ham hweorfende 7 heo hæfdon
utamærede pa bigengan pisses ealondes , da ongunnon heo sticcemæ-
lum mod 7 mægen monian ; 7 fordeodon of pæm deaglum stowum ,
þe heo ær in behydde wæron, 7 ealra anmodre geþafunge heofonrices 10
fultomes him wæron biddende, pæt heo of forwyrd æghwær
fordilgode ne wæron. Was in da tid heora heretoga 7 latteow
•
Ambrosius, haten oðre noman Aurelianus. Was gód mon 7
gemetfæst, Romanisces cynnes mon . In pisses monnes tid mod
7 mægen Brettas onfengon : 7 he heo to gefeohte forðgecegde 7 15
him sige geheht : 7 heo eac on þam gefeohte þurh Godes fultom
sige onfengon. 7 pa of pære tide hwilum Brettas, hwilum eft
Seaxan sige geslogon oð þæt ger ymbsetes pære Beadonescan dune,
pa heo micel wæl on Ongolcynne geslogon, ymb feower 7 feowertig
wintra Ongolcynnes cymes in Breotone . 20

XIII.1

p. 485. Da wæs æfter forðyrnendre tide ymb fif hund wintra 7 tu 7

Cap . 23. hundnigontig wintra from Cristes hidercyme ; Mauricius casere
feng to rice 7 þæt hæfde an 7 twentig wintra . Se was feorða eac
fiftegum from Augusto . Dæs caseres rices dy teodan geare
Gregorius se halga wer , se was on lare 7 on dæde se hehsta , feng 25
to biscophade pære Romaniscan cyrican 7 þæs apostolican seðles :
7 þæt heold 7 reahte preotteno ger 7 syx monað 7 tyn dagas . Se
was mid godcundre inbryrdnesse monad by feowertegeðan geare
þæs ylcan caseres , ymb fiftig wintra 7 hundteontig Ongolcynnes
hidercymes in Breotone , dat he sende Agustinum 7 ore monige 30
munecas mid hine Drihten ondrédende bodian Godes word
Ongolpeode . Pa hyrsumodon heo pas biscopes bebodum to pæm

1. 2. T. begins sume. 1. 7. Ca. has chapter heading XVI, no break in T.

¹ XI, T. XXIII, Ca. 1. 31. ondréde T. ondrædende Ca. adrædende B.
 I. 15, 16, 23 . 55

burial on those so cruelly slaughtered. Many of the miserable

survivors were captured in waste places, and stabbed in heaps.
Some through hunger surrendered themselves into the enemy's
hands, and engaged to be their slaves for ever in return for a
5 maintenance ; some in sorrow went beyond the sea ; some timidly
abode in the old country, and with heavy hearts ever lived a life of
want in wood and wilds and on lofty rocks. Then when the host
returned to their home after expelling the inhabitants of the island,
the latter began little by little to rouse up their strength and
10 courage : issuing from the obscure retreats in which they had
hidden themselves, they began all with one consent to entreat
heaven's aid, that they might not utterly and everywhere be
annihilated. At that time their general and leader was Ambrosius,
also called Aurelianus : he was of Roman origin, and a man of
15 courage and moderation. In his time the Britons recovered heart
and strength, and he exhorted them to fight and promised victory ;
and by God's help in the fight they did win the victory. And then
from that time now the Britons, now again the Saxons were
victors, till the year in which Mount Badon was beset ; there they
20 made a great carnage of the Angles, about forty-four years after
the arrival of the Angles in Britain.

XIII.

Then, as time went on, about five hundred and ninety-two

years after Christ's advent, the emperor Mauricius succeeded to
the throne, and occupied it for twenty-one years. He was the
25 fifty-fourth from Augustus. In the tenth year of this emperor's
reign the holy Gregory, foremost both in learning and in active
life, succeeded to the bishopric of the Roman church and of the
apostolic see, which he held and directed for thirteen years six
months and ten days. In the fourteenth year of the same
30 emperor, about one hundred and fifty years after the Angles
came into Britain, he was directed by divine inspiration to send
Augustine and many other monks with him, men who feared
the Lord, to preach the word of God to the Angles . They
obeyed the behests of the bishop as to the aforesaid work, started
 56 LIBER PRIMUS.

gemyngedan weorce, ond feran ongunnon 7 sumne dæl þæs weges

gefaren hæfdon, da ongunnon heo forhtigan 7 ondredan him pone
siðfæt, 7 pohton þæt him wislicra 7 gehæledra wære, þæt heo ma
ham cerdon, ponne heo pa elreordan þeode 7 pa redan 7 pa ungeleaf-
suman, para pe heo furðum gereorde ne cupon, gesecan scolde. 75
pis gemænelice him to ræde gecuron. Ond pa sona sendon Agusti-
num to þæm papan, pone pe him to biscope gecoren hæfde, gif heora
lár onfongen wære, pæt he scolde eaðmodlice for heo pingian, þæt
heo ne porfte in swa frecne siofæet 7 in swa gewinfulne 7 in swa
uncude elpeodignesse faran. Pa sende Scs Gregorius ærendgewrit 10
him to, 7 heo trymede 7 lærde in pam gewrite pæt heo eaðmodlice
ferde in þæt weorc pas Godes wordes 7 getreowde in Godes
p. 486. fultum ; 7 þæt heo ne fyrhte pet gewiin pas siðfætes ne
wyrgcweodulra monna tungan ne bregde : ac pot hi mid ealre
geornfulnysse 7 mid Godes lufan ða gód gefremede pe hi purh 15
Godes fultum doon ongunnon : 7 pot hi wiston pat dæt micle
gewin mare wuldor éces edleanes æfterfyligde : 7 he ælmihtigne
God bed pot he hi mid his gife gescylde : 7 þat he him seolfum
forgeafe pot he moste done wæstm heora gewinnes in heofona
rices wuldre geseon, forðon he gearo were in þam ylcan gewinne 20
mid him beon, gif him lefnys seald wære.
Cap. 25. Da was gestrangod Agustinus mid trymnysse þæs eadigan fæder
Gregorius mid Jam Cristes peowum, da pe mid him wæron ; 7
hwearfeft on poet weorc Godes word to læranne 7 com on Breotone.

XIV.¹

Ɖa was on pa tíd Adelbyrht cyning haten on Centrice, 7 25

mihtig : he hæfde ríce oð gemæro Humbre streames , se tosceaded
suofole Angelpeode 7 norðfolc. Ponne is on easteweardre Cent
mycel ealand Tenet, pæt is syx hund hida micel æfter Angel-
cynnes æhte. Pæt ealond tosceaded Wantsumo stream fram þam
togepeoddan lande. Se is preora furlunga brad : 7 on twam stowum 30

1. 14. Tanner 1 ' ends cweodulra. 2ª begins lærdon. A scrap is left of

missing leaf. Text from Ca. monna T. manna Ca. B. 1. 16. doon T. don
Ca. B. 1. 17. wuldor T. B. -dur Ca. 1. 18. seolfu. T. sylfum Ca.
 I. 23 , 25. 57

and advanced some way on their route. Then they began to feel
alarmed and dread the journey, and thought it would be wiser and
safer to return home, than to visit a barbarous and savage race of
unbelievers, whose very language was strange. They decided
5 in common on this course, and at once sent Augustine to the pope,
having selected him to be their bishop, in case their teaching found
acceptance, charging him to entreat humbly on their behalf, that
they might not undertake an expedition so dangerous and toilsome,
to a barbarous race so utterly unknown . Then St. Gregory sent a
10 letter to them, in which he exhorted and instructed them to proceed
humbly to the work of God's word, and trust in God's support ;
that they should not be afraid of the toil of the journey, nor dread
the tongues of evil-speaking men : that they should with all readiness
and love to God fulfil the good work, which they by God's help
15 had begun and that they should be assured that greater glory of
everlasting reward would attend their great toil and he prayed to
Almighty God to shield them with his grace, and grant to him-
self that he might see the fruit of their toil in the glory of the
kingdom of heaven, for that he was ready to be with them in that
20 same toil, if permission should be given him.
Then Augustine was fortified by the exhortations of the blessed
father Gregory, along with the servants of Christ accompanying
him, and returned again to the work of teaching God's word, and
came to Britain.

XIV.
25 At that time there was a powerful king in Kent named
Æthelberht : his kingdom extended to the boundary of the river
Humber, which separates the southern and northern sections of the
race of the Angles. Now there is to the east of Kent a large
island, Thanet, containing six hundred hides according to the English
30 mode of reckoning. The river Wantsome separates this island
from the adjoining country. It is three furlongs broad, and ford-

1. 19. in T. on Ca. wanting in B. 1. 20. in T. B. on Ca. 1 XXIIII Ca.

1. 27. streames B. streame Ca. 1. 28. Text follows O., which begins ealand.
. þ
tenet B. C. tenent O. tenen Ca. 1. 29. at 0. 7 Ca. B.
 58 LIBER PRIMUS .

lið on see. On pyssum eálande

is oferfernes, 7 æghwæper ende lid
com upp se Godes peow Agustinus 7 his geferan ; was he feower-
tiga sum. Nóman hi eac swylce him wealhstodas of Franclande
mid, swa him Scs Gregorius bebead . 7 pa sende to Æpelbyrhte
ærenddracan 7 ónbead, þat he óf Rome come 7 þæt betste 5
ærende lædde ; 7 se þe him hyrsum beon wolde, buton tweon he
gehet eene gefean on heofonum 7 toweard rice butan ende mid
pone sopan Gode 7 pone lifigendan. Đa he pa se cyning þas word
gehyrde, pa het he hi bidan on pæm ealonde, pe hi upp comon : 7
him þider hiora pearfe forgeafon, oð þæt he gesawe hwæt he him don 10
wolde. Swylce eac ær þam becwom hlisa to him þære cristenan
æfestnesse, forpon he Cristen wif hæfde, him gegyfen of Francena
cyningcynne, Byrhte was laten. pot wif he onfeng fram hyre yl-
drum þære arednesse, pat hio his leafnesse hæfde pat heo pone
peaw æs Cristenan geleafan 7 hyre æfestnesse ungewemmedne 15
healdan moste mid by biscope, pone pe hi hyre to fultome
þæs geleafan sealdon, þæs nama wæs Leodheard.
Ɖa was æfter mónegum dagum, þæt se cyning com to pam
ealonde, 7 het him ute setl gewyrcean ; 7 het Agustinum mid
his geferum þider to his spræce cuman . Warnode he him þy læs 20
hie on hwyle hus to him ineodan ; breac ealdre healsunge, gif hie
p. 487. hwylcne drycræft hæfdon pat hi hine oferswidan 7 beswican
sceolden. Ac hi nalæs mid deofulcræfte ac mid godcunde mægene
gewelgade coman : bæron Cristes rode tacen, sylfrene Cristes mæl
mid him 7 anlicnesse Drihtnes Hælendes on bréde afægde 7 awritene, 25
7 wæron haligra naman rimende, 7 gebedo singende ; somod for
hiora sylfra ecre hælo 7 para pe hi to comon to Diihtne pingodon. Pa
het se cyning hie sittan, 7 hie swa dydon ; 7 hi sona him lifes word
ætgædere mid eallum his geferum, þe þær ætwæron, bodedon 7
7
1. 1. oferfernes second e out of a 0. fer- Ca. B. 1. 3. wea,h- O. wealh-
Ca. B. 1. 9. first hi. (one erased) O. hig Ca. hi B. pœm T. þam O. Ca.
B. ealonde T. Ca. -la- O. B. comon þider coman ( þ . c struck out) 0. þ.c
บ
not in Ca. B. 1. 10. forgeafon T. forge,fan (y above and on erased a) 0 .
-gyfan Ca. -geaf B. oð þæt T. B. (P) 7 pot O. Ca. 1. 11. pam becwō T.
pan becom O. þam b Ca. þon becóm B. 1. 12. hi gegyfen (but hi in margin,
not original hand) O. seo was hi forgifen Ca. him was forgifen B. 1. 13.
ea
byrht T. berhte O. Ca. beorhte B. 1. 14. l.fnesse (ea above, e erased) 0.
 I. 25 . 59

able in two places, and both ends run out into the sea. The servant
of God Augustine and his companions landed on this island,
amounting in all to forty persons. They also brought with them
interpreters from France, as St. Gregory directed them. And he
5 sent a messenger to Æthelberht, announcing that he came from
Rome and brought the good news, and if any would be obedient to
him, certainly promising them eternal joy in heaven and a kingdcm
to come, that should never end, with the true and living God .
When the king heard these words, he ordered them to remain on
10 the island, where they had landed : and they provided them what
they needed, till he saw what he should do with them. Besides,
the fame of the christian religion had already reached him, as he
had a christian wife belonging to the royal family of the Franks
named Bertha. She had been given in marriage to him by her
15 parents, on condition of his allowing her to maintain inviolate the
practice of the christian faith and of her religion, along with the
bishop assigned to her for her support in the faith, whose name was
Leodheard. Then after several days the king came to the island,
and ordered them to make him a seat in the open air, and directed
20 Augustine and his companions to come there to confer with him.
He was on his guard against their entering under the same roof as
himself, employing an old counter-charm , in case they had any
magical arts to overpower or delude him. But they came not en-
dowed with devils' craft, but virtue from heaven : they bore the
25 emblem of Christ's cross, and had a silver crucifix with them and a
likeness of the Saviour drawn and coloured on a panel , and recited
the names of saints and intoned prayers ; at the same time they
made intercession to the Lord for the eternal salvation of themselves
and of those to whom they came. Then the king bade them sit
30 down, and they did so ; and they at once declared and made known
m
leafnysse Ca. leue B. 1. 18. .ónegum (m above : erasure of one) 0.
e
monigum Ca. manegum B. 1. 19. ut setl (tl on erasure) O. úte setl Ca.
úte seldan B. 1. 21. first h,e O. hi Ca. B. ealdre B. ealre O. Ca. 1. 23.
n
sceolde, O. -dan Ca. -don B. first mid Ca. (O. above line) ; not in
B. C. 1. 24. sylfrene (e on erasure not first hand) O. Ca. sylefren B. 1. 26.
haliyra (first a out of O. haligra Ca. B. 1. 28. hi Ca. (O. on erasure of
three). him B.
 60 LIBER PRIMUS.

lærdon. Pa ondswarede se cyning 7 þus cwæð : Fæger word pis

syndon 7 gehat þe ge brohtan 7 us secgað. Ac fordon heo neowe
syndon 7 uncuðe, ne magon we nu gen þæt þafian, þæt we forlæten
pa wisan, þe we longre tide mid ealle Ongolpeode heoldon . Ac
fordon pe ge hider feorran elpeodige cwomon ond, þæs pe me 5
gepuht is 7 gesewen, þa þing, da de soð 7 betst gelefdon, þæt eac
swilce willadon us pa gemænsuman, nellad we forðon eow hefige
beon. Ac we willad eow eac fremsumlice in gestliðnesse onfon, 7
eow ondlifen sellan 7 eowre pearfe forgifan. Ne we eow beweriad
þæt ge ealle, da pe ge mægen, purh eowre lare to eowres geleafan 10
æfæstnisse gedeode 7 gecyrre. Pa sealde se cyning him wunenesse
7 stowe in Cantwara byrig, seo was ealles his rices ealdorburg, ond
swa swa he geheht, him ondlifen forgeaf 7 weoruldpearfe ; ond eac
swylce leafnesse sealde, pæt heo mosten Cristes geleafan bodian 7
læran. Is þæt sægd, þa heo ferdon 7 nealehton to dære ceastre, 15
swa swa leora peaw was, mid þy halgan Cristes mæle 7 mid
onlicnesse pas miclan cyninges usses Drihtnes Hælendes Cristes,
þæt peosne letaniam 7 ontemn gehleoðre stefne sungon : Depre-
camur te, Domine, in omni misericordia tua ut auferatur furor
tuus, et ira tua a ciuitate ista et de domo sancta tua quoniam pec- 20
cauimus.
XV.1

Cap. 26. Đa ws sona Čes pe heo inneodon in pa eardungstowe pe him

alyfed was in pære cynelecan byrig, da gunnon heo pat apostolice
lif þære frymoelecan cyrcan onhyrgan, þæt is, in singalum gebedum
7 in wæccum 7 in fæstenum Drihtne peodon ; 7 lifes word, þæm
heo meahton, bodedon 7 lærdon, ond eall þing þisses middangeardes 25
swa fremde forhogodon : da þing aan, da de hire ondleofne ned-
pearfleco gesewen waron, heo onfengon from þæm þe heo lærdon.
Æfter pon pe heo lærdon, heo sylfe purh all lifdon, ond heo hæfdon
geara mod þa wiðerweardan ge eac swylce dead sylfne to prowianne
for ære soðfæstnesse, pe hy bodedon 7 lærdon. Ne was pa elding 30
þætte monige gelefdon 7 gefulwade waron ; wæron wundriende þa

1. 1. T. begins lærdon. 1. 18. stefne O. B. -a- Ca. stefnum T. 1. 20. scā.

qm. " XV (converted by a late hand into XXVI with dotted i) T. XXV
Ca.
 I. 25 , 26. 61

to him and all his companions who were present the word of life.
Then answered the king, and said : " These are fair words and
promises which you have brought and announce to us. But as
they are new and unknown, we cannot yet consent to leave those
5 things, which we have long held with all the English race. But
as you are foreigners, come here from afar, and, as I think and seem
to see, you desired to impart to us those things which ye believed
true and best, we will therefore not molest you. But we will
receive you heartily as guests, will provide for your maintenance
10 and supply your necessities. Nor do we hinder you from attaching
and converting to the religion of your faith all, that you may, by
your teaching.' Then the king assigned them a place with a
dwelling in Canterbury, which was the capital of all his kingdom,
and as he promised, provided for their maintenance and worldly
15 needs ; and also gave permission for them to proclaim and teach the
faith of Christ. It is said, as they proceeded and drew near to the
town, as their custom was, carrying the holy crucifix and image
of the great King our Lord and Saviour Christ, that they sang
this litany and anthem with harmonious voice : ' Deprecamur te,
20 Domine, in omni misericordia tua, ut auferatur furor tuus et ira
tua a ciuitate ista et de domo sancta tua, quoniam peccauimus.'

XV.

Then soon after they entered into the habitation which was as-
signed them in the royal city, they began to imitate the apostolical
life of the primitive church, that is, they served the Lord in
25 continual prayers, vigils and fasts ; and they preached and taught
the word of life, to whomsoever they might, and they despised all
things of this earth as alien. Those things only which appeared
needful for their maintenance, they received from those whom they
taught. In all points they lived as they taught, and their minds
30 were ready to suffer adversity and even death itself for the truth
which they preached and taught. Then without delay many be-
lieved and were baptized ; they admired the simplicity of that
innocent life and the sweetness of their heavenly doctrine. There
 62 LIBER PRIMUS .

bilwitnesse pas unsceõpendan lifes 7 swetnesse heora þære heofon-

lican lare. Wæs bi eastan þære ceastre welneah sumo cirice in áre Sci
p. 488. Martini geo geara geworht, mid þy Romani pa gyt Breotone beeodon ;
in pære cirican seo cwén gewunade hire gebiddan, þe we ær cwædon
þæt heo Cristen wære. In pisse cyrican ærest þa halgan lareowas 5
ongunnon heo somnian 7 singan 7 gebiddan 7 mæssesong don
7 men læran 7 fulwian, oð þæt se cyning to geleafan gecyrred was,
7 maran leafnisse onfengon ofer eal to læranne 7 circan to timbri-
ganne 7 to betanne.
Pa gelamp purh Godes gife, þæt se cyning eac swylce betuh opre 10
ongon lustfullian þæt clænoste lif haligra mid heora þam swetestan
gehatum. Ond heo eac getrymedon, þat þa soð wæron, mid monigra
heofonlicra wundra æteownesse ; 7 he pa gefeonde was gefulwad.
Pa ongunnon monige dæghwamlice efstan 7 scyndan to gehyranne
Godes word ; 7 hæðenesse peaw forleton 7 to ære annesse hy 15
gepeoddan þurh geleafan pære halgan Cristes cirican . Fara
geleafan 7 gehwyrfednesse is sægd þæt se cyning swa wære
efnblissende, þæt he nænne hwædre nydde to Cristes geleafan, ac
da de to geleafan 7 to fulwihte cerdon, þæt he þa inwordlicor lufode,
swa swa hy wæron him efnceasterwaran þæs heofonlican rices. 20
Forðon he geleornode from his lareowum 7 fram þam ordfruman
his hælo, pætte Cristes peowdom sceolde beon wilsumlic, nales
geneðedlic. Ond he pa se cyning geaf 7 sealde his lareowum
gerisne stowe 7 setl heora hade in his aldorbyrig, 7 þær to sealde
heora nyd earfe in missenlicum æhtum. 25

XVI.¹

Cap. 27. Betweoh das ding pa se halga wer Agustinus ferde ofer sæ ,
7 com to Aréla þære ceastre ; 7 from Otherio þam arcebiscope pære
ilcan ceastre æfter hæse 7 bebode pæs eadigan fæder Scē Gregorii
was gehalgod ęrcebiscop Ongolpeode. 7 eft hwearf 7 ferde to
Breotone ; 7 sona sende ærendwrecan to Rome, þat was Laurentius 30
mæsɛepreost 7 Petrus munuc, þæt heo scoldan secgan 7 cyþan þam

ro
1. 7. gecyrede (last e struck through) T. gecyrred O. Ca. -cirr- B.
1. 8. onfengon O. Ca. B. onfeng T. 1. 11. mid B. 7 T. O. Ca. 1. 13. he
 I. 26, 27 . 63

was close to the town on the east a church, built long ago in
honour of St. Martin, when the Romans were still in occupation of
Britain ; in which church the queen usually prayed, who, as we
have already said, was a christian. In this church the holy teachers
5 first began to assemble for song and prayer, and to celebrate mass,
teaching and baptizing men, till the king was converted to the
faith, and they received more liberty to teach everywhere and to
build and restore churches.
It then happened by God's grace, that the king also among
10 others began to take pleasure in this pure life of holy men and in
their sweet promises. And they also confirmed the truth of these
with display of many heavenly miracles ; and he then gladly received
baptism . Then began many daily to hurry and hasten to hear the
word of God ; and they left heathen worship, and through faith
15 joined the unity of Christ's holy church. In their faith and con-
version the king is said to have felt pleasure, but yet so that
he forced none to belief in Christ, only he loved more deeply those
who were converted to faith and baptism, as if they were his fel-
low-citizens in the kingdom of heaven. For he learnt from his
20 teachers and from the authors of his salvation, that Christ's service
should be voluntary, not compulsory. And then the king gave
and bestowed on his teachers a place and settlement suitable to
their station in his chief city, and ministered also to their necessities
in stores of various kinds.

XVI.
25 Now in the meantime the holy man Augustine crossed the sea,
and went to the city of Arles, and was consecrated by Etherius,
archbishop of that city, according to the direction and ordinance of
the blessed father St. Gregory, to be archbishop of the English
people. He then returned, and proceeding to Britain immediately
30 despatched envoys to Rome, namely, the priest Laurentius and the
monk Peter, to report and make known to the blessed bishop St.

O. Ca. B. hy T. ¹ XVI changed by late hand into XXVII, T. XXVII

Ca.
 64 LIBER PRIMUS .

eadigan biscope Sce Gregorii, pætte Ongelpeod hæfde onfongen

Cristes geleafan 7 þætte he to biscope gehalgad wære : swylce eac
be monegum sócnum 7 frigenessum, þa de him nedpearflice gesegen
wæron, his geþeahte was biddende. Ond he sona þara gerisne
andsware onsende.

¹ INTERROGATIONES SCE AGUSTINI ARCHIEPISC ET

RESPONSO SCI GREGORII PAPAE URBIS ROMANORUM.

Interrogatio I.

Ærest bi biscopum, hu hy mid heora geferum drohtian 7 lifgan

sculon ? Oopo in þam lacum geleafsumra, þe heo to wigbedum 7 to
Godes cirican bringað, hu monige dælas para beon scyle ? Ond hu
biscop in cirican don scyle ?

Responsio.

p. 489. Cwæð he : þæt halige gewrit þæt cyðeð, þæt me nis tweo þæt þu 10
gearwe const, ond synderlice pæs eadgan Paules epistola pone he
wrát to Timotheo, in þam he hine geornlice tydde 7 lærde, hu he
in Godes huse drohtian 7 don scolde. Ponne is peaw pas
apostolican sedles, ponne heo biscopas halgiað, þæt him bebodu
sella , ond pætte ealles pas ondlifenes, pe him gegonge, feower 15
dælas beon scyle, an ærest biscope 7 his heorode for feorme 7
onfongnesse gæsta 7 cumena, oder dæl Godes peowum, pridda
pearfum, seo feorda to edneowunge 7 to bóte Godes ciricum. Ac
fordon pin broðorlicnes is in mynstres regolum getýd 7 gelæred, ne
scealt pu hwæpre sundor beon from þinum geferum in Ongolcircan, 20
seo nu gen neowan is becumen 7 gelæded to Godes geleafan. pas
drohtunge 7 pis liif þu scealt gesettan, pætte in fruman þære
acennendan cirican wæs ussum fædrum, in þæm nænig heora, of
pam þe heo ahton, owiht his beon onsundrad cwao, ac him eallum
wæron eall gemæno . Gif ponne hwylce preostas 7 Godes peowas 25
synd butan halgum hádum gesette, pa de heo from wiifum ahabban
ne mæge, nimen heom wiif 7 heora ondleofone utan onfongen.

¹ In all MSS. the Interrogationes are placed at the end of Bk. iii.
1. 20. pum T. pinu R. O. Ca. 1. 24. cwæð O. cu Ca. : not in T. and B. How-
 I. 27. 65

Gregory that the English people had received the faith of Christ,
and that he was consecrated bishop. He also begged for his advice
on many questions and points , which seemed to him necessary. And
he soon returned a suitable answer to his enquiries.

THE INTERROGATIONS.

QUESTION I,
5 First as to the bishops. How shall they conduct themselves and
live with their clergy ? And in the gifts of the faithful, which they
bring to the altars and God's church, how many shares shall be
made ? And how shall a bishop act in the church ?

ANSWER.

He said : Holy Writ states this, which I doubt not you know
10 well, and especially the epistle of the blessed Paul which he wrote
to Timothy, in which he earnestly directed and taught him, how he
should behave and act in God's house. Now it is the custom of
the apostolical see, when consecrating bishops, to give them
directions, and that four shares shall be made of all the maintenance
15 which is provided for them, one first for the bishop and his
household to entertain and receive guests and strangers, a second
share for God's servants, a third for the poor, the fourth for the
repair and improvement of God's churches. But yet, as you, my
brother, have been trained and taught in monasterial discipline, you
20 shall not keep apart from your clergy in the English church, which
is but lately brought over to God's faith. You shall establish the
mode of life and conduct which our fathers followed in the
beginning of the rising church, among whom none maintained
that anything they possessed was their private property, but they all
25 had all things in common. If then any priests and servants of
God, not included in the holy brotherhoods, cannot live without
wives, let them take to them wives and receive a maintenance

ever, B. inserts leton before beon. 1. 25. gemæno O. -ro T. -ne Ca. B.
1. 26. synd butan O. Ca. syn b- B. Not in T.
F
 66 LIBER PRIMUS .

Fordon bi dæm ilcum fædrum, bi dæm we foresprecende wæron,

awriten is, þæt heo wæren todælende heora weoruldgood syndrigum
monnum, swa æghwylcum þearf was. Swylce eac be heora ondlifne
is to pencenne 7 to foreseonne, þæt heo godum þeawum lifgen
under ciriclecum regole 7 sealmas to singenne 7 wæccan to bigon- 5
genne, 7 from eallum unalyfednessum heora heortan 7 tungan 7
lichoman Gode ælmihtegum clæne healden. pæm lifiendum ponne
in gemænum lífe hwæt is us to sprecenne, hu heo heora ælmesse
dæle oope gestliðnesse bigonge 7 mildheortnesse fyllen ? Mid þy
eall, pætte ofer bid to láfe on heora weoruldspedum , arfæstum 7 10
gódum is to reccenne 7 to sellenne, swa swa ealra magister
Drihten Crist lærde 7 cwæð: Quod superest, date elemosynam et
ecce omnia munda sunt vobis : Sætte ofer seo 7 to láfe, sellað
ælmesse, 7 eow beod eal clano.

INTERROGATIO II.

Mid by an geleafa ís 7 seondon missenlice gewunan ciricena, 15

oder gewuna is mæssesonga in þære halgan Romaniscan cirican
7 oder is hæfd in Gallia rice.

RESPONSIO.

Du seolfa const þeaw 7 gewunan þære Romaniscan cirican in

pære pu afeded wære. Ac me nu þynced 7 bet licað, þætte swa
hwat swa þu o po in Romana cirican opo in Gallia oðpo in 20
hwylcre oðerre hwæt þæs gemætte, pætte ælmeahtegum Gode ma
licie, pet pu bihygdelice pæt geceose ond in Ongoldeode cirican
fæstlice to healdenne gesette, seo nu gena is neowu in geleafan.
Fordon ne seondon to lufienne pa wiisan fore stowum, ac fore gódum
P. 490. wisum stowe seondon to lufienne. Forpon of syndrigum ciricum 25
gehwylcum þa du æfest 7 good 7 riht geceose, þa ðu togædre
gesomna, 7 on Ongolpeode mod in gewunan asete.

INTERROGATIO III.

Ic pec halsio, hwyle wiite sceal prowian, swa hwyle swa hwæt-
hugu of cirican purh stale ut abrygdeð ?
1. 2. todælende O. Ca. -enne B. todælde T. 1. 12. supēst, om̃a T.
1. 20. romana O. Ca. B. -ne T. 1. 26. first du O. Ca. B. pe T.
 I. 27. 67

without. For it is written about those fathers, of whom we have

already spoken, that they distributed their worldly property to
individuals, as each had need. Also with regard to their main-
tenance, care and caution is necessary, that they may live morally
5 under church discipline for singing psalms and attending vigils,
and that they should keep their hearts, tongues, and bodies, in the
sight of God Almighty, pure from all that is unlawful. What are
we to say about those who share in the common life, as to their
distribution of alms, their practising hospitality, and showing
10 compassion ? For all that remains over of their worldly goods is to
be devoted and given to the pious and good, for so Christ the Lord
and teacher of us all directed, saying, Quod superest, date
elemosynam, et ecce omnia munda sunt nobis,' ' What is over and
above, give as alms, and all things are clean unto you.'

QUESTION II.
15 Whereas there is one faith and there are diverse customs among
the churches, there is one custom for the celebration of mass in the
holy Roman church and another maintained in the realm of Gaul.

ANSWER.

You know yourself the mode of worship and customs of the

Roman church, in which you were brought up. But it now seems
20 to me, and I prefer, that whatever it be that you find in the Roman
church or the church of Gaul or in any other, which may be more
pleasing to Almighty God, that you carefully choose this, and
establish it to be firmly maintained in the church of England,
which is still new in the faith. For things are not to be loved for
25 sake of the places, but places for the good things. Therefore,
whatever you select as pious, good and right from among all the
various churches, put together and establish in the minds of the
English as a custom.

QUESTION III.

I beseech you, what punishment shall a man suffer, who steals

30 anything away out of a church ?
F 2
68 LIBER PRIMUS.

RESPONSIO.

Dis mæg gepencan pin broðorlicnes of pæs peofes hade, hu he

geriht beon mægge. Fordon sume syndon pa de habbað world-
spede 7 hwæðre stale fremmad, sume seondon pa pe in pisse
wiisan þurh wæðelnesse agyltað. Fordon is ned pætte sume mid
woningum sume pearlicor, sume liðelecor, synd gerehte. Ond þeah 5
de pat wiite hwene heardor 7 strongor don sý, ponne is hit of
lufan to donne, nales of welme ne of hatheortnesse. Forðon þæm
menn þurh pa prea pis bið gegearwod, þæt he ne sy seald þæm
ecan fyrum helle tintreges. Forpon þys gemete we sculon men
preagean, swa swa a goodan fædras gewuniad heora flæslecu 10
bearn, pa heo for heora synnum þreageap 7 swingað ; ond hwæðre
pa seolfan, þe heo mid þam wiitum preagad 7 swencað, lufiað eac
7 wilniað him to ærfeweardum to habbenne ; 7 heora weoruldgod,
þa heo ágan, him healdað þa de heo geare gesegene beoð eahtan 7
witnian. Fordon seo lufu is á in pæm moode to haldanne, 7 hit 15
þæt gemet para prea dihtað 7 finded, swa dætte pæt mód buton
rihtum regole allinga nowiht deo. Eac swylce pu toætectest in
þinre frignesse, hu da þing mon geldan sceolde, pa de mid stale
of cirican afyrred wære. Ac feor þæt la sy, pætte Godes cirice
mid æteacnesse onfo, þæt heo gesegen bið of eorðlicum þingum 20
anforlæten, 7 heo bi idlum þingum weoruldgestreon sece.

INTERROGATIO IIII.

Hwæðer moton twegen æwe gebroðor twa geswustor in gesin-

scipe onfon, pa de beod feorr heora cneorisse from him acende ?

RESPONSIO.

Dis mot beon swa ; 7 eallum gemetum þæt is alyfed. Fordon

nis ówer gemeted in halgum bocum, þætte pisse frignesse wærword 25
sy gesegen.
INTERROGATIO V.
O hwelce cneorisse sculon cristne men mid heora mægum
him betweohn in gesinscipe gepeodde beon ? 7 steopmodrum 7

1. 12. lufiað eac 7 Ó. Ca. lufigeað 7 B. 7 (only) T. 1. 15. á accent by

Ist hand ? T. á O. B. áá Ca. 1. 25. warword injured by damp, perhaps
 I. 27. 69

ANSWER.

You, my brother, may consider according to the condition of the

thief, how he may be reformed. For there are some who have
worldly wealth and yet thieve ; there are some who transgress in
this point from poverty. Therefore it is needful that some be
5 corrected by loss of goods, some with more severity, some more
lightly. And though the punishment may be carried out with
some harshness and severity, yet it is to be done out of love, not
in passion or hot temper. For by the chastisement we provide, that
the man shall not be given over to the everlasting fires of hell's
10 torment. Therefore we should discipline men, in the same way as
good fathers are wont to do to their children after the flesh, whom
they discipline and scourge for their sins ; and yet too they love
those whom they discipline and pain with the punishment, and
they desire to have them as their heirs, and they reserve for them,
15 whom they have clearly been seen to afflict and punish, the worldly
property that they possess. For love is ever to be maintained in
the heart, and it dictates and determines the measure of correction,
so that the heart does nothing at all without reasonable rule.
You also further ask, how a man should make good what has been
20 taken from a church by theft. But far indeed be it from God's
church to recover with increase, what it seems to lose of earthly
things, and to seek worldly gain in things which are of no account.

QUESTION IV.
May two full brothers take in marriage two sisters, who are far
removed in descent from them ?

ANSWER .
25 This may be So, and is in every way allowable : for we cannot find
anywhere in holy books anything, that seems a negative to this
question.
QUESTION V.
Up to what degree of affinity may christian men be joined in

freshened up, but certain T. wiperword O. Ca. B. 1. 27. Od O. Ca. B.

oðde T.
 70 LIBER PRIMUS.

broðorwiifum ac þæt alyfed is, þæt heo moten in gesinscipe

gegadrode beon ?
RESPONSIO.

P. 491 . Cwæð he sum eorolicæ in pære Romaniscan cynnewisan

forlæteð, þætte odde broðor oðpe sweostor odde twegra gebroðra
bearn oððe twegea gesweostra sunu 7 dohtor gemengde wæren 5
in gesincipe. Ac we þæt cuðlice oncneowon 7 ongeton, þætte þæt
tuddur growan ne weaxan meahte of swylcum gesinscipe ; ond
seo halige a bewered 7 forbeodeð þa scondlicnesse onwreon
mægsibba. Fordon is ned , þætte cristene men in þære priddan
cneorisse oððe in þære feorðan him betweohn wifian scyle, forpon 10
seo æftere cneoris, þe we forecwædon, alle gemete is to forbeorenne
7 to forlætenne. Hefig máán is 7 godfrecnis þæt mon hine menge
mid his steopmeder, fordon in Godes æ is awriten : Turpitudinem
patris tui non reuelabis : Ne onwreoh pu scondlicnesse pines fæder.
Ac fordon pe awriten is : Erunt duo in carne una : wer 7 wiíf, 15
heo tu beod in anum lichoman, ono se de gebyrstigao onwreon
pa sceondlicnesse his steopmeder, seo án lichoma mid his fæder
wæs, hwæt se soolice onwriid his fæder scondlicnesse. Swelce
is eac bewered pæt mon hine menge wið his broðorwiife, fordon
purh pa ærran geþeodnesse heo was geworden his broðor lichoma. 20
For pære wiisan eac swilce Iohannes se Baptista was heafde
becorfen 7 halige martirdome his liif geendade, pa he pam cyninge
sægde, þæt him alyfed nære pæt he his brodor wiif brohte 7 hæfde.
Ac fordon monige seondon on Ongoldeode, [pa pe] mid by heo pa
gena in ungeleafsumnesse wæron, þissum maanfullum gesinscipum 25
wæron gemengde sægde-ac heo seondon to monienne, nu heo to
geleafan cwomon, þæt heo ahebban heo from swylcum unrihtum , 7
ongyten þætte þæt is hefig synn, ond him ondræden pone forh-
tiendan Godes dom, by læs heo for flæsclicre lufan tintrego ecre
cwealmnisse onfoon. Ne seondon heo hwæðre for pisse wiisan 30
to biscergenne gemænsumnisse Cristes lichoman 7 blódes, þy læs
on him gesegen sy pa ding onwrecen beon, in þæm heo þurh
unwisnesse gesyngodon ær fulwihtes bede. Forðon in pas tid

1. 13. -dině ( em) ; n ( = non ) T. 1. 24. [pa þe] ( = qui) not in MSS.
 I 27. 71

wedlock with their relations ? And is it allowed to be united in

wedlock with stepmothers and brothers ' wives ?

ANSWER.

He said : There is an earthly law in the Roman commonwealth ,

which allows brother and sister, or the children of two brothers or
5 a son and a daughter of two sisters, to be joined in marriage. But
we have certainly learnt and understood, that no offspring may be
produced or grow up from such wedlock ; and the holy law prohibits
and forbids uncovering the shame of relatives . Therefore it is
needful that christian men shall marry among themselves in the
10 third or fourth degree, for the second degree already mentioned
must absolutely refrain and abstain. It is a grievous sin and
offence against God for a man to wed his stepmother, for it is
written in God's law, Turpitudinem patris tui non reuelabis,'
" Thou shalt not uncover thy father's shame.' And as it is written,
15 Erunt duo in carne una,' ' Man and wife, they two shall be in one
body,' then he who dares to uncover the shame of his stepmother,
who was one body with his father, in very truth he uncovers his
father's shame. So also it is forbidden a man to wed his brother's
wife, for by the previous union she became his brother's body. For
20 this cause also John the Baptist was beheaded and ended his life
by holy martyrdom, because he said to the king, that it was not
lawful for him to marry and have his brother's wife. But as there
are many in England [who], while still in unbelief, were said to
have been united in this sinful wedlock, so they are to be warned,

25 now they have come to the faith, to abstain from such unrighteous-
ness, and to understand that it is grievous sin, and to fear the
tremendous judgment of God, lest they receive the torments.of
eternal death for their carnal affections. However, they are not,

for this cause, to be excluded from the communion of Christ's body

30 and blood, lest we seem to revenge on them the sins committed in

ignorance before baptism. For at this time, holy church amends

 72 LIBER PRIMUS.

seo halige cirice sumu þing þurh welm reced, sumu purh monp-
wærnesse aræfned, sumu purh sceawunge ældeo, 7 swa ábireð 7
ældeð, þætte oft þæt widerworde yfel abeorende 7 ældend bewereð.
Ealle, pa pe to Cristes geleafan becumað, seondon to monienne, þæt
heo nowiht swelces ne durron gefremman. Gif hwyle ponne ofer 5
þæt gefremmen, ponne seondon heo to bescyrienne Cristes lichoman
7 blodes . Fordon, swa swa bi pam monnum is hwæthwugu to
aræfnenne, pa Jurh unwisnesse synne fremmað, swa ponne is
stronglice to ehtenne, pa de him ne ondrædað weotonde syngian.

INTERROGATIO VI.

Gif micel feornis siiðfætes betweohn liged, pætte bisceopas 10

æpelice cuman ne magon, hwæðer mot biscop halgad beon buton
odera biscopa ondweardnesse ?

RESPONSIO.
p. 492. Soolice in Ongolcirican , in pære þu ána nu gena eart biscop
gemeted, ne meaht pu on oore wisan biscop halgian buton oðrum
biscopum. Ac pe sculon of Gallia rice biscopas cuman, pa þe æt 15
biscopes halgunge in witscipe stonde. Forpon ne sceal biscopa
halgung on oðre wisan weosan, nemne in gesomnung 7 in gewitscipe
preora oope feower biscopa, þæt heo fore his gehælde pæm
ælmihtigan Gode ætgædre heora bene 7 gebedo senden 7 geoten.

INTERROGATIO VII.

Hu sculon we don mid Gallia 7 Bretta biscopum ? 20

RESPONSIO.

In Gallia biscopum ne sellað we þe ænge aldorlicnesse, forpon

pe fram þam ærran tidum minra foregengena pallium onfeng
se biscop in Areéla þære byrig, pone we ne sculon bescerian ne
beneoman þære onfongnan aldorlicnesse. Ac gif þe foor gelimpe in
Gallia mæge, hafa du mid pone ilcan biscop sprece 7 gepeahte 25
hwæt to donne sy, o po gif hwelc uncyste in biscopum gemette

1. 12. oder T. oðerra B. opra O. Ca. 1. 14. nemne buton = nisi sine :
all MSS. buton (-an) only. 1. 21. forþon fram þam ærran tidum minra O. Ca.
B. forpon pefor minra T.
 I. 27 . 73

some things with fervour, some it tolerates out of gentleness, with

some it temporises out of consideration, and so bears and temporises,
that oft by tolerating and temporising it checks the evils to which it
is opposed. All those, who come to the faith of Christ , are to be
5 admonished that they may not attempt any such thing. If then
any subsequently do attempt, they are to be cut off from Christ's
body and blood. For as in those men, who sin through ignorance,
something is to be tolerated, so those who fear not to sin wittingly
are to be visited with severity.

QUESTION VI.
10 If the distance between places is great, so that bishops may not
easily travel, may a bishop be consecrated without the presence of
other bishops ?
ANSWER .

Certainly, in the Church of England in which you, so far, are

the only bishop to be found, you cannot in any other way conse-
15 crate a bishop [except ] without other bishops. But bishops shall
come to you from Gaul, who may assist as witnesses at a bishop's
consecration. For the consecration of bishops may not take place
in any other way, save before a congregation and in presence of
three or four bishops, that they may make prayer and send up
20 their petitions together to Almighty God for his protection.

QUESTION VII .

How shall we proceed with the bishops of the Gauls and of the
Britons ?
ANSWER.

We do not grant you any authority in the case of the bishops of

the Gauls, for ever since the old days of my predecessors the bishop
25 in the city of Arles has received the pallium, whom we should not
deprive or bereave of the authority he has obtained . But if you
chance to travel in the land of the Gauls, confer and consult with
this bishop as to the course of action, and if there be any fault
 74 LIBER PRIMUS .

syn, hu þa gerehte 7 gebette beon scylen . Ond gif wen sy, þæt he
in strengo peodscipes 7 prea to wlæc sy, ponne is he to onbærnenne
7 to gebetenne mid pinre broðorlicnesse lufan, ond pætte he, pa de
widerworde seondon pære hæse 7 bebodum usses sceppendes , from
biscopa peawum bewerge. Ne meaht pu deman Gallia biscopas 5
buton heora agenre aldorlicnesse, ac þu hy á scealt liðelice monigan
7 him æteawan pinra godra weorca onhyrenesse. Alle Bretta
biscopas we bebeodað þinre broðorlicnesse, to don pætte unlærde
seon gelærede, 7 untrume mid pinre trymenisse syn gestrongade, 7
unrehte mid pinre aldorlicnesse seon gerehte. 10

INTERROGATIO VIIIª.

Hwæder sceal geeacnad wiif fulwad beon oope æfter pon pe heo
bearn cenned? Oope æfter hu micelre tide mot heo in circan
gongan ? Oopo eac swylce pætte bearn þæt heo cende, þy læs hit
seo mid deade fornumen, æfter hu feola daga alefað him þæm gerýne
onfoon fulwihtes bedes ? Oope æfter hu micelre tiide mot pæm 15
wiífe hire wer in lichoman gegadrunge gepeoded beon ? Oope gif
wiif numen sy in monaðaðle gewunan, hwæder alefað hire in circan
gongan ope pæm gerýne onfoon pære halgan gemænsumnesse ?
Oope se wer, se de his wiife gemenged bið, ærþon he bibaðod sy,
mot he in circan gongan ode to dæm geryne pære halgan 20
gemænsumnesse ? All pas ping pære neowan deode Ongolcynnes in
Godes geleafan gedafenað cuð habban.

RESPONSIO.

P. 493 . Forhwon ne sceal þæt geeacnade wiif fulwad beon, mid þy nis
beforan Godes ælmihtiges eagum ænig synn wæstmbeorendes
lichoman ? Forpon mid þy usse ealdras, pa ærestan men, in 25
neorxna wonge agylton, þa forluran hy rehte Godes dome pa undeað-
licnesse, pe heo onfengon 7 in gescepene wæron. Ono hwæt pa se ilca
ælmihtega God monna cyn allinga adwæscan ne wolde for heora synne,
he ða þæm menn undeaðlicnesse onweg ahof ofer his synne, 7 hwædre
for fremsumnesse his arfæstnesse him geheold wæstmbeorennisse 30
n
1. 24. eagum B. O. Ca. geagum T. cp. 212, 20. 1. 30. -beorenisse T.
-berenesse O. -bernysse Ca. -berendnesse B.
 I. 27. 75

found in bishops, how they should be corrected and reformed .

And if it be supposed, that he is too remiss in vigour and severity
of discipline, then he must be incited and reformed with your
brotherly love, so that he may remove from the conduct of bishops
5 those habits, which are contrary to the law and ordinance of our
Creator. But you may not judge the bishops of Gaul without
their own authority, but you shall ever admonish them gently and
show them the example of your own good works. We commit
to you, my brother, all bishops of the Britons, to the end that the
10 unlearned may be taught, and the feeble may be strengthened with
your encouragement, and the perverse amended by your authority.

QUESTION VIII.

Shall a woman with child be baptized or after the birth of the

child ? And after what period may she go to church ? And also
after how many days may the child that is born be allowed to
15 receive the sacrament of baptism, lest it be carried off by death
beforehand ? And after how long a period may man and wife come
together again ? Or if a woman be menstruous, is she allowed to go
to church or receive the sacrament of the Holy Communion ? Or
may a man · after approaching his wife go to church, or to the
20 sacrament of the Holy Communion before bathing ? It is proper
for the English people, who are still new in the faith of God,
to have all these points ascertained .

ANSWER.

Why should not a woman that is pregnant be baptized, seeing

that there is no sin in fecundity of the body before the eyes
25 of God Almighty ? For our parents, the first of mankind, on
sinning in Paradise, lost by the just judgment of God the im-
mortality they had received and were created in. Now, as Al-
mighty God would not utterly destroy mankind for their sin, he
deprived man of immortality for his sin, and yet reserved to him
30 fertility in offspring out of the kindness of his mercy. If this was
76 LIBER PRIMUS.

tudres. Ono pætte pære menniscan gecynde of ælmehteges Godes

gefe gehealden was, hwelce rehte mæg ponne bewered beon from
gife þæs halgan fulwihtes ? In þæm geryne, þe bið æghwylc synn
grundinga adwæsced, swide dyslic is þætte scyle pære godcundan
gife wiocweden beon. Du frugne eac swylce, ponne wiif cennende 5
wære, æfter hu feola daga heo moste in circan gongan. Hwæt .
þu þæt seolfa leornadest in bebode pære aldan cyðnesse, þætte fore
wæpnedbearne heo sceolde heo áhabban from Godes huses ingonge
preo 7 pritig daga, fore wiifcilde syx 7 syxtig daga. Pat is hwæðre
to weotanne, pætte pæet is on gastlicum geryne ongyten. Forpon 10
peah pe heo in pa ilcan tiid, þe heo acenned hæbbe, Gode poncunge
to donne in circan gonge, ne bið heo mid nænige synne byrðenne
ahefigad. Forpon se willa þæs lichoman bið in synne, nales
þæt saar þære cennisse : in pæs lichoman gemengednesse bið willa,
ponne in þæs tudres forðlædnisse bið gooung 7 sár. Bi on þære 15
ærestan meder ealles moncynnes was cweden : In dolore paries : in
saare þu cennest bearn. Ono gif we beweriað þæt acennende wiif,
þæt heo ne mot in circan gongan, hwat we ponne þæt seolfe sár 7
wiite hire in synne tellað. Fulwian ponne þæt cennende wiif oðpe
þæt bearn þæt þær acenned bið, gif heo syn þreade mid frecen- 20
nisse deades, ge heo in þa seolfan tíid þe heo cenneð ge þæt þær
acenned bið, nænige gemete is bewered. Forpon seo geofu þæs
halgan gerynes, swa swa lifgendum 7 pæm ongeotendum mid micle
gesceade is to forseonne, swa ponne, pæm þe se dead tobeotað, buton
ænigre ældenne is to gebeorenne 7 to gefremmenne, þy læs gif 25
hwylc lytel ælding sy, þætte ne mægge gemeted beon se de álesed
si. To hire gerestscipe ponne hire wer ne sceal gongan, ær þon
þat ácennde bearn from meolcum awened sy. Ac unriht gewuna
wel hwær is arisen betweoh gesinhiwum, þætte wiif forhycgað
heora bearn fédan, þa de heo cennað, 7 heo oðrum wiifum to 30
fedenne sellað. Pæt is ponne gesegen gemeted fore intingan
unforhæfdnisse ánre, forpon, ponne heo ne willað ahabban from
heora werum, þætte heo forhycgad fedan pa de heo cennað. Ono
þas wiíf, þa de heora bearn of unrihtum gewunum oðrum to fedenne

1. 19. fulwien (only) T. fullian we O. Ca. B. 1. 20. frecernisse T. frec-

nesse O. B. -cnysse Ca.
 I. 27.

reserved by the grace of God Almighty for human nature, what

reason is there in prohibiting from the grace of Holy Baptism ? In
the sacrament by which all sin is thoroughly done away with, it is
very foolish to offer opposition to the divine grace. You asked also,
5 how many days after childbirth a woman might go to church.
Now you have yourself learnt in the ordinances of the Old Testa-

ment, that for a man-child she should abstain thirty-three days

from entering God's house, for a woman-child sixty-six days. You
must know, however, that this is understood as a spiritual mystery.
10 For even if she should go to church, to thank God, in the very
hour after childbirth, she does not incur any burden of sin. For
carnal pleasure is sinful, not the pains of childbirth. In carnal
copulation there is pleasure, in the birth of offspring groaning and
pain. As to this it was said to the first mother of all mankind, ‘ in
15 dolore paries ,' ' in sorrow thou shalt bear children .' Now if we
prevent a woman after childbirth from going to church, surely we
then account this pain and penalty as her sin. So then, to baptize
a woman after childbirth or the new-born child , if threatened with
danger of death, either the woman in the very hour of childbirth or
20 the babe, is a thing in no wise prohibited. For as the grace of the
holy sacrament is to be provided with much discretion for those
who are alive and sensible, it is however without any delay to be
brought and administered to those threatened by death, lest, if
there be any little delay, no one may be found who may be redeemed .
25 A husband shall not enter his wife's bed, before the babe is weaned

from the breast. A culpable habit indeed has arisen in places

between the married pair, that the woman neglects to feed her
child, that she has borne, and hands it over to others to feed. Now
this seems to occur through incontinence only, for they neglect to
30 feed their own babes, when they will not live apart from their
husbands. Now these women, who from culpable habit give their
children to others to feed, shall not enter their husband's bed,
 78 LIBER PRIMUS.

sellað, nemne seo clæsnunge tiid forðgeleore, ne sceolon heo heora

werum gemengde beon. pa pe ponne in gewunan monaðaðle
numene beoð, butan beordres intingan , heo wæron bewered heora
weorum gemengde beon, swa ðætte seo halige & mid deade slæhð,
gif hwylc wæpnedmon gonged to monaðaðlium wiífe. Hwæðre 5
þæt wiif, mid by heo pone gewunan prowað monaðaðle, ne sceal
p. 494. heo bewered beon þæt heo mote in circan gongan ; forðon seo
oferflownis pas gecyndes hire ne mæg in synne geteled beon, 7
purh þæt pe heo purh nead prowað, nis þæt reht pæt heo sy
bescyred from Godes circan ingonge. Hwat we weotan 7 leorniað 10
in Cristes bocum, þætte þæt wiif, þe was prowiende blodes flownisse,
heo ea modlice was cumende æfter Drihtnes bæce 7 gehran þæt
fæs his hrægles, 7 sona instæpe hire untrymnes onweg gewat 7
heo was hal geworden. Ono nu þæt wiif in blodes flownesse
geseted hergendlice meahte Drihtnes hrægle gehrinan, forhwon 15
ponne, se pe blodryne prowað monaðaðle, ne alefad hire in Drihtnes
cirican gongan ? Ac pu cwist nu : Heo nedde hire untrymnesse
pat heo Cristes hrægle gehrine ; pas wiif, bi pæm we sprecað,
gelomlic gewuna getið. Ono gepenc, bropor þu leofesta, patte
eal, pe we prowiað in pissum deaðlican lichoman, is of untrymnesse 20
þæs gecyndes rehte Godes dome geendebyrdad. Wæs æfter synne
þæs ærestan monnes, forðon hyngran, þyrstan, hátian, calan, wæri-
gian,-al þæt is of untrymnesse pas gecyndes. Ond hwæt elles is
to secenne wið þæm hungre nemne ondlifen, wið þurst dryne, wið
hæto celnis, wið cyle hrægl, wid werignesse reste, wid untrymnesse 25
lacedom +secan. Hwet wiifum heora monadable blodes flownes bið
untrymnis. Ono nu þæt wiif wel geþyrstgade, þætte Drihtnes hrægle
in aðle geseted gehran, þætte anum untrumum hade was forgifen,
forhwon ne sceal þæt eallum wiifum beon forgyfen, pa de mid uncyste
heora gecyndes beod geuntrumade. Swelce eac in þæm ilcum 30
dagum ne sceal him bewered beon pæm geryne onfon þære halgan
gemænsumnesse. Gif ponne for micelre árwyrðnesse hwyle mon
ne geþyrstgað onfón, se is to herienne ; ac gif he onfeho, nis he
to demenne. Forðon þara godra mooda 7 monna þeaw bið, þæt
heo þær hwilum synne ongeotað, þær þe syn ne bio, 7 oft buton 35

1. 3. butan O. Ca. B., wanting in T. 1. 12. pas T. 70. Ca. B.

 I. 27. 79

unless the time of purification has past. Those who are men-
struous were prohibited from entering their husband's bed, except
for the sake of offspring, so that the holy law visits with death
any man going to a menstruous woman. Yet the woman, while
5 menstruous, shall not be prohibited from going to church, for
the natural overflow may not be counted as her sin, and it is
not right that she should be cut off from entering God's church
through a necessary affliction. Now we know and learn in Christ's

books, that the woman suffering from an issue of blood came

10 humbly behind the Lord's back and touched the hem of his
garment, and at once her infirmity departed and she became
whole. Now if this woman while suffering from an issue of blood
might laudably touch the Lord's garment, why should one, who is
menstruous, not be allowed to go to the Lord's church ? But you
15 say now : Her infirmity forced her to touch Christ's garment ; the
women of whom we speak are constrained by constant habit.
Think now, my dearest brother, that all , which we suffer in this
mortal body, is ordered by the just judgment of God from the
infirmity of nature. It followed on the sin of the first man,
20 for hunger and thirst, fever, chill, fatigue, all come from the
infirmity of nature. And what else is to be sought for against
hunger than food ; against thirst, drink ; against heat, coolness ;
against chill, a garment ; against weariness, rest ; against illness
medicine is + to be sought. Now for women the menstrual flow is
25 an illness. If now the woman was justly bold in touching the
Lord's garment in time of illness, why should not that be allowed
to all women, that was allowed to a single sick person, seeing that
they are all visited with the infirmity of their nature ? Also during
these days they shall not be prohibited from receiving the Holy
30 Communion. Now if anyone out of great veneration does not
venture to receive, he is to be praised ; but if he receive, he is not
to be judged. For it is the habit of good minds and men, that at
times they imagine sin where there is no sin, and often a thing
 80 LIBER PRIMUS.

synne bið doen, pætte of synne cymeð : swa swa þæt is, ponne us
eac hyngreð, þat we etað buton synne, 7 us þæt was geworden of
synne þæs ærestan monnes, þæt us eac hyngran meahte. Forpon
swa swa bi þæm aldan þeodscipe pa utteran weorc wæron bi-
healden, swa in þæm neowan þeodscipe , nales swa swide pætte 5
utan doen bið, swa þætte innan þoht bið, bihygdelice is behealden.
Forpon, mid by seo a monig þing bewered to etanne, swa swa
unclæne, hwæðre in godspelle Drihten cwæð : Nales þætte in-
gonged in muð monnan besmíted, ac pa de utgongað of múðe, þa
seondan pe pone monnan besmited. 7 wene æfter pon wæs þæt 10
areccende 7 cwæð : Of heortan utgongað yfele geþóhtas. Þær
genihtsumlice is gesægd, þætte þæt from þæm ælmihtegum Gode
unclæne 7 besmiten æteawed bid in weorce beon, pætte of wyrt-
ruman besmitenes gepohtes 7 unclænes acenned bið. Bi pon
swelce Paulus se apostol cwæð : Eall bio clæne clænum þæm 15
besmitenum 7 ungeleafsumum noht bio clæne. 7 he sona se
apostol pone intingan þære ilcan besmitenesse was gesec-
gende, 7 æfter cwæð : Fordon bismiten syndon ge heora mód ge
ingewitnis. Ono nu nu þæm mete ne bið clæne, þam þęt mod ne
p. 495. bio clæne, forhwon ponne pæet wiif þæt heo clæne móde of 20
gecynde prowad, sceal hire in unclænnesse geteled beon ?
Se wer, se pe mid his ágene wiife bio slepende, nemne he mid
wætre apwegen 7 bibaðod sy, ne sceal he in circan gongan, ne,
peah pe he bibaðod si, sona mot ingongan. Forpon seo a bibead
þæm aldan Godes folce, pætte se wer, se de ware his wiife gemenged , 25
þæt he sceolde wætre adwegen 7 bebaðad beon, 7 ær sunnan
setlgonge ne moste in heora gesomnunge ingongan. Pæt hwædre
mæg gastlice ongyten beon ; forpon wer bid wife gemenged,
þonne unalyfedre willunge monnes mood in gepohte purh lustful-
nesse bið geþeoded. Forpon, nemne ær þæt fyr þære unrehtan 30
willunge from pam mode acolie, ne sceal he hine wyröne telgan
broðra 7 Godes peowa gesomnunge, sede hine gesiið hefigadne
beon purh yfelnesse unrehtes willan. Peah pe bi pisse wisan mis-
senleco cynn monna missenlice ongete 7 halde, hwædre symble wæs

1. 17. In O. Ca. B. ylcan is before besmitenesse : in T. after (¿-). 1. 18. ge O.

Ca.; not in T. In B. the previous ge is omitted and 7 inserted after mod in
 I. 27. 81

originating in sin is done without sin : as for instance when

hungry we eat without sin, and yet the possibility of hunger arose
from the sin of the first man. For as in the old covenant, external

works were regarded, so in the new covenant, not so much the

5 external act, as the internal thought, is carefully regarded. For
while the law prohibits the eating of many things as unclean, yet
in the gospel the Lord saith, ' Not that which entereth into the
mouth of man defileth, but that which goeth out of the mouth, that
defileth the man.' And a little after he explained that and said,
C
10 Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts.' There it is sufficiently
declared that, whatever is produced from the root of polluted
and unclean thought, is shown by God Almighty to be unclean and
polluted in act. About this also the apostle Paul says, ' To the
clean all is clean : to the polluted and unfaithful nothing is clean .'
15 And immediately the apostle declared the cause of this pollution,
subjoining, 'Therefore their mind and conscience are polluted .' If
then meat is not clean to him whose mind is unclean , why should
to the woman that be accounted for uncleanness, which she with
clean mind suffers by nature ?
20 The man, who has entered his wife's bed, shall not go into,
church, except he be washed with water and bathed, nor though
bathed may go in at once. For the law directed the old
people of God, that a man, after approaching his wife , should
be washed and bathed with water, and not enter their assembly
25 before sunset. This, however, may be spiritually understood ;
for a man approaches a woman, when the mind is associated by
delight in thought with unlawful desire. For this, unless the
fire of illicit desire cool down in the mind, he shall not deem
him worthy of the congregation of the brethren and God's
30 servants, when he sees himself burdened by the evil of unrighteous
desire. Though in this point various races of men have a variety
of ideas and observances, yet it was ever the custom of the Romans,

the place of the second ge. 1. 33. pisse willan T. O. þissum w. B. Ca. Read
wisan ( = de hac re).
G
 82 LIBER PRIMUS.

Romana gewuna from heora yldrum æfter gemængnisse agenes wiifes,

þæt heo clæsnunge bades 7 pweales sohton, 7 from cirican ingonge
hwylchwugu fæc arwyrölice áhabban. Peah pe we pas ping
cwede, ne tellad we synne weosan gesinscipe ; ac fordon seo
alefde gemængnis wiifes buton willan þæs lichoman ne mæg beon, 5
from ingonge pære halgan stówe is to ahaabbenne ; fordon se
seolfa willa nænge þinga buton synne beon mæg. Ne was acenned
of unrehthæmde ne purh dyrne forlegenesse, ac acenned was of
ælicum gesinscipe, se de cwæd : Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus
sum et in delictis peperit me mater mea : ic wat þæt ic was in 10
wænessum geeacnod 7 in scyldum mec cende min modor. Ono
he wiste hine in wenessum geeacnade, he pa geomrade hine from
scylde acennedne. Fordon he bær þa wætan þære uncyste in
þæm telgan, pone he geteah ær of þam wyrtruman. Hwæðre in
pam wordum is sweotol, pæt he wenesse nemde, nales pa gemeng- 15
nisse pas gesinscipes, ac pone seolfan willan þære gemengnisse.
Fordon gedafenao, pætte seo alice gegadrung lichoman seo for in-
tingan tudres, nales þæs willan, 7 seo gemengnes pæs flæsces seo
for intingan bearna to cennenne, nales cwemnis uncysta. Swa
hwelc mon swa his wiif, nales for unrehtes willan willunge, ac for 20
intingan anum bruced to streonne, pes mon is his seolfes dome to
forlætenne, odde be cirican ingonge, oope to onfonne pæm geryne
Cristes lichoman 7 his blode ; forpon we him ne sculon bi-
werigan þam halgan geryne onfon, se de in fýre geseted bio7 beornan
ne conn. Mid þy ponne seo lufu ne bið tudres to tilienne, ac 25
se willa ma wealded in pæm weorce pære gemengnisse, ponne
habbað þa gesinhiwan Jearfe be heora gemengdnesse, þæt hi
wepen 7 hreowe don. Fordon seo halige laár him þis forgifeð, 7
hwæðre be pære seolfan forgifenesse mid ége þæt mood instyreð.
Fordon se apostol Ses Paulus mid y cwæð, Qui se continere non 30
potest, habeat uxorem suam, se de hine ahabban ne mæg, hæbbe
his wiif, he da sona se apostol underðeodde 7 æfter cwæð : Hoc
autem dico secundum indulgentiam, non secundum imperium : dis
p. 496. ic cwe o æfter forgifnesse, nales æfter hebodo. Forpon ne bið þæt
i
1. 9. iniquitatib3 T. 1. 17. alece T. -li- O. Ca. B. 1. 21. mon O. Ca.
mann B. monnes T. 1. 26. ponne to gemengdnesse not in T. As in text 0.
 I. 27. 83

from the time of their ancestors, that after approaching their wives
they sought purification by bath and washing, and reverently
abstained for some time from entering church. Though we say
this, we do not account wedlock a sin ; but as the lawful
5 union with a woman may not be without carnal pleasure, a
man should abstain from entering the holy place, because the
pleasure itself may in no wise be without sin. He was not born
of adultery nor fornication, but of lawful wedlock, who said, ' Ecce
enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum, et in peccatis concepit me
10 mater mea ; ' ' I know that I was conceived in iniquity, and in
transgression did my mother bear me.' Since he knew himself to
be conceived in iniquity, he lamented that he was born of trans-
gression. For he bore in the branch the sap of vice, which he pre-
viously drew from the root. Still in these words it is clear, that
15 he called iniquity, not the union in wedlock, but the actual
pleasure in the union. It is fit then that lawful copulation
should be for the sake of offspring, not of pleasure, and that fleshly
union should be for the sake of child-bearing , not the satisfaction
of vice. Whatever man visits his wife, not with the desire of
20 unrighteous pleasure, but only for the sake of begetting, is to be
left to his own judgment, either as to entering church or receiving
the sacrament of Christ's body and blood ; for we shall not pro-
hibit him from receiving the holy sacrament, who is placed in the
fire and yet cannot burn. But when the desire is not to beget
25 offspring, but pleasure prevails rather in the act of union, then
the married pair have need for sorrow and repentance in their
union. For the holy teaching concedes this to them, and yet, as
regards the actual concession, moves the mind with terror. There-
fore when the apostle St. Paul says, ' Qui se continere non potest,
30 habeat uxorem suam,' ' he who cannot contain, let him have his
wife,' at once the apostle subjoined and said, ' Hoc autem dico
secundum indulgentiam, non secundum imperium,' ' but this I
speak by permission, and not of commandment.' For that is not

gd
(gemen,nesse), Ca. (gemengednysse), B. (gemengnesse). 1. 31. uxorē.
1. 33. autě scdm scdm.
G 2
84 LIBER PRIMUS.

forgifen, pætte alefed bio, ac pæt bið riht. Dætte he cwæð bi

Mid wæccre
pære forgifnesse, pa æteawde he dær synne weosan.
moode is to smeageanne 7 to gepencenne, þæt, þa he Drihten wolde
his folc gesprecende beon in Sinai dúne, he þa ærest bebead , þæt
heo heora hrægl woosce 7 clansode 7 heo from wiifum ahæfde. 5
Ono nu in þære stówe, þær þe Drihten was purh pa underðeoddan
gesceafte to monnum spreocende, mid swa micle forseonesse was
þæs lichoman clænnisse asoht, þæt, pa de Godes worde onfengon,
ne sceoldon wiifum gemengde beon, micle ma ponne pa wiif, da de
ælmehteges Drihtnes lichoman onfood, in him seolfum sculon 10
lichoman clænnisse healdan, þy læs heo mid þa seolfan micelnisse
þæs ungeæhtendlican gerynes hefigade syn. Swelce eac bi pisse
wisan to Dauide purh pone sace rdwæs cweden be his geferum,
þætte, gif heo fram wifum clane wæren, þæt heo moston onfoon
7 picgan pa foresetenesse hlafes, þa de mid him halige wæron, 15
pa heo eallinga onfoon ne þycgan moston, ær þon Dauit ondete heo
fram wiifum clæne beon. Ponne se wer, se de æfter his wiifes
gemengnisse wætre apwegen 7 bibaðod bið, he mot þam geryne
onfón þære halgan gemænsumnesse, mid þy him eac alyfed bið, swa
we ær cwædon, in cirican gongan . 20

INTERROGATIO VIIII.

Hwæder after bysmrunge, seo purh slæp wæpnedmonnum

gelimpeð, oððo Drihtnes lichoman ænig onfoon mot, oðþo, gif hit
sacerd bio, mot he pa halgan gerýno mærsian mæssesonga ?

RESPONSIO .

Ɖeosne mon eac swylce seo cyonis pære ealdan á bismiten cwið,
swa we ær in þæm uferan kapitule cwædon, 7 him ne forgifeð 25
þætte he móte in Godes hus gongan, nemne he sy wætre aðwegen,
ne bonne gena ær æfenne. Pæt hwædre on oðre wisan þæt
gastlice folc is ongeotonde under þam ilcan ondgete, þe we fore-
sprecende wæron. Fordon se mon bid bismrad swa swa purh
swefn, se de costad bio mid unclænnesse, ond ponne mid soðum 30
onlicnessum in gepohte bið * bismiten . Ac he is mid wætre to

1. 13. Dauide O. Ca. B. uide T. 1. 31. smiten T. besmiten O. Ca. B.

 I. 27. 85

conceded which is lawful, but it is right. In what he said of

concession, he showed that there was sin. With vigilant mind we
must consider and reflect, that, when the Lord would address his
people on Mount Sinai, he first commanded that they should wash
5 and cleanse their garments and abstain from their wives. If now
in the place, where the Lord spoke to men through the subject
creature, bodily cleanness was sought after with such care, that
those, who received God's word, should not come at their wives,
much more then the women, who receive the body of the Lord
10 Almighty, shall maintain in themselves bodily cleanness, lest they
be burdened with the very greatness of the inestimable mystery.
Also on this point it was declared to David by the priest about
his companions, that, if they had abstained from women, they might
receive and partake of the shewbread, whoever were pure among
15 his company, which they might not at all receive, before David
confessed that they had abstained from women. Then the man,

who after approaching his wife is washed with water and bathed,
may receive the sacrament of Holy Communion, since he is allowed,
as we said before, to enter a church.

QUESTION IX.
20 After the delusion, which comes on men in sleep, may one receive
the Lord's body, or, in case of a priest, celebrate the holy mystery
of mass ?
ANSWER.

The Testament of the old law declares this man also polluted , as
we said in the former chapter, and does not allow him to enter
25 God's house, unless he be washed with water, nor even then before
evening. This however the spiritual people will understand
in another way with the same interpretation , as we made before.
For a man is deluded, as it were, by a dream, who is tempted with
uncleanness, and then is polluted with real imaginations in thought .
30 But he is to be washed with water, that is, he is to wash away the
 86 LIBER PRIMUS.

áþweanne, tæt is, þæt he pa synne pas gepohtes mid tearum

apwea, 7 nemne ær þæt fýr þære costunge gewitee, þæt he hine
scyldigne ongete swa swa oð æfentiid. Ac hwæðre is on þære
ilcan bysmrunge swide nedpearflic gescead, pa we smealice gepencan
sculon, of hwylcre wísan þæm moode hit gegonge pas slæpendan. 5
Fordon hwilum hit gelimped of oferfylle, hwilum of pæs gecyndes
oferflownesse 7 untrumnisse, hwilum of gepohte. Ond ponne
hit of pæs gecyndes ofer flownesse 7 untrumnesse becymeð, ealle
gemete peos bysmrung nis to ondrædenne, mid þy þæt mood pis
ne weotende aræfned ; forþon heo is ma to sorgienne, ponne to 10
gefremmenne. Mid þy heo ponne gelimped seo bysmrung for ofer-
fyllo, ponon hafað þæt mod hwylcehugu scylde, nales hwæðre oð
bewerennisse to onfonne pæm halgan gerýne, oope pa symbelnesse to
P. 497. mærsienne mæssesonges, gif þæt ned abædeð oðpe symbeldæg
gelimpeð oðdo oper sacerd in þære stówe ne bið, se de for hine 15
þæt geryne mæssesonges gegearwie. Gif þær þonne oðre seon, þe
Ja þegnunge gefyllan mægge, ponne sceal he hine eaðmodlice
ahabban from onsægdnesse pas halgan gerynes, þæs pe ic demo.
Gif ponne of scondlicum gepohte þæs wæccendan upcymeð seo
bysmrung slæpendes, hwæt ponne openað þæm moode his scyld ; 20
fordon he gesiiofrom hwylcum wyrtruman seo bismitenis for bicwom ,
þæt is, þæt he wæccende pohte, þæt he weotonde aræfnde. Ac
þonne gena is se seolfa gepoht to asmeagenne, hwæder he geeode pe
mid scynisse pe mid lustfulnisse, odde hwæper ponne gena, þæt
mare is, mid gyfunge þære synne. Forþon prim gemetum bið 25
gefylled ghwile syn, pat is, ærest purh scynnesse, 7 purh
lustfullnesse, 7 þurh geðafunge. Seo scynis bið þurh deoful, seo
lustfulnes bið þurh lichoman, seo geðafung þurh gast. Forðon pa
ærestan synne se weriga gast scyde þurh pa næddran , ond Euae þa
swa swa lichoma was lustfulliende, ond Ádám heo ponne swa swa 30
gast gepafode : da was seo synn gefylled . Ond micel nedpearfnis
is, pætte [mid] gescead betwihan pa scynisse 7 þa lustfulnisse 7 eft
betweohn pa lustfulnisse 7 pa gepafunge þæt mood seolf his dema
sy. Forpon mid þy se weriga gast þa synne scyed in moode,
n d
1. 24. cỡðe to lustfullnesse not in T. Text from O. (scy,nesse =Ca. scynnysse
= B. scynesse). 1. 32. pætte pæt T. þtep B. pp 0. Ca. mid not in MSS.
 I. 27. 87

sin of thought with tears, and unless the fire of temptation depart, he
is to consider himself as guilty, as it were till evening. But yet
in this very delusion distinction is very necessary, as we should
carefully consider, in what way it comes to the mind of the sleeper.
5 For sometimes it comes from overfulness , at times from the overflow
and infirmity of nature, at times from thought. When it comes
from the overflow and infirmity of nature, this delusion is in
no wise to be feared, as the mind does not suffer it wittingly ;
wherefore it is more a subject for sorrow than it is of action .
10 When the delusion comes from overfulness, then the mind has some

tinge of guilt, yet not so as to prevent receiving the Holy Com-

munion or performing the celebration of mass, if need require, or it
be a festival, or if there be no other priest in the place, who can
officiate in his place in the sacrament of mass. If then others are

15 there, who can perform the service, he shall humbly abstain from

offering the holy sacrament, according to my judment. If however

the sleeper's delusion arises from foul thoughts in the waking man,
surely then the mind discerns its guilt, seeing from what root the
pollution came, namely, that he wittingly suffered, what was in his

20 waking thoughts. But further the thought itself is to be considered,

whether it came in by suggestion or of delight, or whether further,

what is more, with consent to the sin. For every sin is fulfilled in

three ways, namely, first through suggestion, and through delight, and
through consent. Suggestion is of the devil, delight of the body,
25 consent of the spirit. For the accursed spirit suggested the first sin

through the serpent, and Eve then, as it were the body, took delight,
and Adam then, as it were the spirit, consented : then was the sin
fulfilled. And there is great need, that the mind itself sit as its

judge, distinguishing between suggestion and delight and again

30 between delight and consent. For when the accursed spirit suggests
 88 LIBER PRIMUS .

gif nænig lustfulnis þære synne æfterfylged, allum gemetum ne bið

þær syn purhtogen. Mid þy ponne se lichoma onginneð lustfullian,
ponne onginneð þær seo syn acenned beon. Gif he ponne mid
poncmeotunge 7 preodunge geþeafað, þonne bið ongyten þær syn
gefremed beon. Ond in scynisse synne, gif þæt mod bið in 5
lustfulnesse, þæt bið fædnis : in pafunge bið deofolfremednis : ond
þæt oft gelimpeð, þætte se weriga gast sawed in gepolte, pætte se
lichoma þæt in lustfulnesse tiho ; ond hwæðre pæt mod pære ilcan
lustfulnesse ne gepafað. Ond mid by we weoton Fæt se lichoma ne
mæg lustfullian buton þam móde, hwædre þæt seolfe mod bið 10
winnende wið þæm únrihtwillungum þæs lichoman : hwæt ponne
þæt mód in þæm lichomlecan lustfulnesse sume gemete purh ned
bið gebunden, þæt hit pære lustfulnesse of pam sylfan rihte wið-
cwyð, þat hit ne gepafige ; 7 hwæpere mid pa lustfulnesse gebunden
bið, ac he swide goað 7 geomrað hine swa gebundenne beon. 15
Bi ðon se mæsta cempa 7 se hehsta þæs heofonl can weorodes Scs
Paulus se apostol goiende 7 geomriende cwæð : Ic geseo odere a in
minum leomum wiöfeohtende pære æ mines moodes, 7 gehæftedne
mec is lædende in synne æ, seo is in minum leomum. Ono gif he
gehæfted wæs, hwæt he ponne nó feaht ; ac pa he feaht, fordon he 20
was gehæfted. Ono he feaht mid pa á þæs moodes, pære wiðfeaht
seo æ, seo pe in his leomum was. Gif he feaht, ne was he
gehæfted. Ono se mon bið, þæs þe swa to cwedenne sy, æghwæðer
ge gehæfted ge freo : he bið freo of pære soðfæstnesse, þe he lufað ;
he bið hæfted of pære lustfullnesse, pe bired he geneded. 25
pis seondon ondsware pæs eadigan papan Scs Gregorius to
gefeahtunge 7 to frignesse pas arwyrðan biscopes Agustinus.

p. 498. Swelce Agustinus heht him eac onbeodan, pætte her wære
Cap. 29. micel rip onweard 7 fea worhton ; ond he da sende mid pæm
foresprecenan ærendwrecan him maran fultom to godcundre lare. 30
In pæm wæron pa ærestan 7 þa mæstan Mellitus 7 Iustus 7
Paulinus 7 Ruffianus ; ond purh heo sende gemænelice pa þing all,

1. 13. bið O. Ca. B. bid T. ofpam to lustfulnesse not in T. Text from O,

1. 28. These words (swelce, etc. ) follow after onsende (cap. 27) without any
break in MSS. her ware O. Ca. B. he dære T.
 I. 27, 29. 89

sin in the mind, if no delight in the sin follow, in no wise then is

the sin carried out. But when the body begins to have pleasure,
then first is sin born. If he then consent with thought and
deliberation, then sin is understood to be committed. And in the
5 suggestion of sin, if the mind is in delight, that is nutriment : in
consent the devil fulfils his purpose : and it often happens, that what
the accursed spirit sows in the thought, the body makes into
delight ; and yet the mind does not assent to the delight. And while
we know that the body cannot have delight without the mind, yet
10 the mind itself struggles against the unlawful desires of the body : so
then the mind, in this delight of the body, is in a way held fast by
compulsion, so that with the reason itself it refuses assent to the
delight ; and yet is held fast by the delight, deeply groaning and
lamenting at being so held fast . For this cause the most mighty
15 and exalted champion of the heavenly host, the apostle St. Paul,
with groans and lamentations thus spake, ' I see another law in my

members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing

me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.'
Now if he was captive, then certainly he did not fight ; but as
20 he fought, he was for that reason taken captive. Now he fought
with the law of the mind, which the law in his members resisted .
If he fought, he was not captive. Well then man is, so to speak,
both captive and free. He is free, because of the truth he loves,
captive, because of the delight which he submits to out of com-
25 pulsion.
These are the answers of the blessed pope St. Gregory to the
consultation and enquiry of the venerable bishop Augustine.
Augustine also bade them announce to him, that the harvest here
was now plenteous, but the labourers few ; so he then sent him
30 with the aforesaid envoys greater help for the teaching of the Word.
The first and chiefest among these were Mellitus and Justus and
Paulinus and Ruffianus ; and he sent by them all those things in
general, which were necessary for church worship and service,
 SO LIBER PRIMUS.

pa de to cirican bigonge 7 þegnunge nedpearflecu wæron, huslfatu

7 wigbedhrægl 7 circan frætwednes 7 biscopgegyrlan 7 diaconge-
gyrlan, swylce eac para apostola 7 haligra martira reliquias 7
monige bec. Sende eac swylce Agustine pæm biscope pallium 7
gewrit, in þam he getacnode, hu he sceolde oore biscopas halgian 7 5
on hwylcum stowum settan in Breotone.
Cap. 32. Sende eac swilce se eadiga papa in pa ilcan tid Gregorius
Æpelberhte cyninge ærendgewrit somed 7 woruldgífe monige in
missenlicum mægwlitum : wolde eac pone cyning swilce mid
pissum wilwendlicum aarum wuldrigan, þæm þe he ðæs heofonlican 10
rices wuldor mid his gewinne 7 mid his lare geornnesse openede 7
cyðde.
XVII.¹

Cap. 33. Ond da Ses Agustinus se biscop sona, þæs þe he pæm biscopseðle
onfeng in pære cynelecan byrg, da edneowade 7 worhte mid
cyninges fultome pa cirican, þe he ær geara geo geleornade ealde 15
Romanisce weorce geworhte beon ; ond pa in usses Drihtnes
Hælendes Cristes noman gehalgode ; ond he þær him seolfum
eardungstowe gesette 7 eallum his æfterfylgendum. Swelce eac
mynster getimbrade be eastan pære ceastre, in pæm mid his
trymnesse 7 lare Æðelberht se cyning weorolice cyrcan heht getim- 20
p. 499. bran para eadigra apostola Petri 7 Pauli, 7 mid missenlecum
geofum welgade ; in þære cirican Agustinus lic 7 ealra Cont-
warena biscopa somed ge heora cyninga geseted beon meahte.
Pa cirican hwæðre nales he Agustinus, ac Laurentius biscop his
æfterfylgend heo gehalgode . Was se æresta abbud þæs ylcan 25
mynstres Petrus haten mæssepreost, se wæs eft ærendwræca
sended in Gallia rice, ond pa was besenced in sumne sæs sceat, se
wæs haten Amfleat ; 7 from pære stowe bigengum in uncýmre
byrgenne geseted wæs. Ac se ælmihti God wolde gecypan, hwylcre
gearnunge se halga wer wære : ond æghwelce niht ofer his byrgenne 30
heofonlic leoht was æteawed, oð þæt pa neahmen ongeton, pa hit
gesawon, þætte fat was micel wer 7 halig mon, se de þær bebyrged
was. Ond heo da aspyredon þæt, 7 hwonan he was : genoman þa
1 The number XXXIII in T. is a late alteration out of XVII. Ca. has
XXVIIII. 1. 24. a . gustinus (one letter erased) T. ag. O. Ca. B.
 I. 29, 32 , 33. 91

sacramental vessels, altar covers, church ornaments, bishops' and

deacons' robes, as well as relics of the apostles and holy martyrs, and
many books. He sent also to bishop Augustine a pallium and a
letter, in which he signified how he should consecrate other bishops,
5 and in what places in Britain he should establish them. The blessed
pope Gregory sent also at the same time a letter to king
Æthelberht, along with many worldly gifts of various kinds :
he desired also with these temporal distinctions to glorify the
king, to whom, by his labour and zeal in teaching, he disclosed and
10 made known the glory of the kingdom of heaven.

XVII .

Then the bishop St. Augustine, as soon as he received the epi-

scopal seat in the royal city, repaired and restored with the king's
help the church, which he learnt had been constructed long ago of
old Roman work ; and he consecrated it in the name of our Lord
15 and Saviour Christ ; and there he established a habitation for himself
and all his successors . He also erected a monastery to the east of

the town, in which, by his exhortation and direction , king Æthel-

berht ordered a church to be erected of becoming splendour,
dedicated to the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and endowed it
20 with a variety of gifts ; in which church the body of Augustine
and also those of all bishops and kings of Canterbury might be
laid. However it was not Augustine, but his successor bishop
Laurentius, who consecrated the church. The first abbot of this
monastery was a priest called Peter. Afterwards he was sent as
25 an envoy to Gaul, and there was drowned in an inlet of the sea
called Ambleteuse ; and he was buried by the inhabitants of this
place in a mean tomb. But God Almighty desired to make known ,
what the deserts of this holy man were : and every night over his
tomb a heavenly light was displayed, till those, that dwelt near and
30 saw it, understood that it was a great and holy man who there was
buried. Then they enquired as to this, and whence he came ; then
they took his body, and it was deposited and buried in a church in
 92 LIBER PRIMUS.

his lichoman, ond in Bonagia pa ceastre, æfter gerisenre are swa

miclum were 7 swa halgum in cyrican gesette 7 bebyrged wæs.

XVIII.¹

Cap. 34. Dyssum tidum forewæs Norðanhymbra rice se strongesta

cyning 7 se gylpgeornesta, Ædelfrid haten. Se me allum Ongol-
cynnum 7 aldormonnum Bretta þeode fornom 7 forhergade, swa 5
efne þæs de meahte widmeten beon Saule iu cyninge Israhela
peode, butan þæt he was pære godcundan æfestnisse unwís. Ne
wæs æfre ænig cyninga ne aldormonna, þætte má heora londa
utamærde 7 him to gewealde underpeodde ; fordon he to gafolgyl-
dum heo gesette Ongolpeode, ope of heora londum adráf. Meahte 10
se cwide wel beon to him gepeoded, pe Iacob se heahfæder in
Saules hade pas cyninges cwæð, þa he his sunu bletsode : Benia-
min is risende wulf ; on ærmergen he iteð hlode 7 on æfenne
herereaf dæle . Da was for his fromscipe onstyred Ædan Scotta
cyning, þa de in Breotone eardigað ; teah hine pa ferd on 7 cwom 15
mid únmate weorode 7 stronge wið hine to gefeohte. Ac he
hwædre oferswiðed mid feawum onweg fleah. Was dis gefeoht
geworden on pære mæran stowe pe cweden is Degsastan. Pær
lytestne eal his weorud ófslegen was. On þam gefeohte eac
swylce Deodbald Æpelfripes bropor was ofslægen mid ealle þy 20
weorode pe he lædde . Poet gefeoht Epelfrið gefremede þy
endlyftan geare his rices, pat he hæfde feower 7 twentig wintra.
Pat was pæt æreste gear Focatis pas caseres, se pe hæfde
Romana rice. Siddan of pære tide nænig Sceotta cyninga ne dorste
25
wið Angelpeode to gefeohte cuman od dysne andweardan dæg.
Her endað seo æreste boc
7 onginneð seo oder.

¹ The number in T. is now XXXÍÍÍÍ ( sic) made out of original XVIII (?) .
In Ca. XXXI. 1. 3. In T. fore fore, the first being in capitals : fore (once)
O. Ca.: B. omits both, reading cining for rice. 1. 14. feor (e imperfectly
erased) T. for O. Ca. B. 1. 17. Tanner 4ª ends on : a leaf is lost : text
 I. 33, 34. 93

the town of Boulogne, with the honour suitable to a man so great

and so holy.

XVIII.

At this time there ruled over the kingdom of Northumbria a

king named Æthelfrith, who was very brave and very ambitious.
5 He destroyed and wasted the Britons more than all the English and
their chiefs, so that he might be exactly compared to Saul of old,
king of Israel, except that he was ignorant of the divine religion.
There never was a king or chief who depopulated or reduced to sub-
jection more of their lands ; for he rendered them tributary to the
10 English or drove them out of their country. The words might
well be appropriated to him, which the patriarch Jacob said re-
·
garding the person of king Saul, when he blessed his son : Benja-
min is a ravening wolf : in the morning he shall devour the prey,
and in the evening he shall divide the spoil.' Then Ædan, king
15 of the Scots who dwell in Britain, was roused by his progress ; he
went to war, and came with a vast and powerful host to fight
against him. However he was defeated, and fled away with only a
few. This battle took place at that famous place which is called
Dawston. There almost all his host was slain. In this battle too
20 Theodbald, Æthelfrith's brother, was slain, with all the host he led.
Æthelfrith finished this war in the eleventh year of his reign,
which lasted twenty-four years. This was the first year of the
emperor Phocas, who was at the head of the Roman power. From
that time on no king of the Scots ventured to meet the English in
25 battle, up to this present day.
Here ends the first book
and the second begins.

20088
from 0. 1. 19. ófslegen O. ofslegen was Ca. was ofslagen B.
ge
1. 21. ,feoht 0. gefeoht Ca. B. 1. 26-7. From Ca. Nothing in O. or B.; O.
has blank of half line ; B. blank space of two lines.
 94 LIBER SECUNDUS .

LIBER SECUNDUS¹.

I.

p. 500. DYSSUM tidum, þat is fif winter 7 syx hund wintra æfter
Cap. I.
þære Drihtenlican menniscnesse, se eadiga papa Gregorius, æfter
pon pe he pot setl pære Romaniscan cyricean 7 pære apostolican
preottyne gear 7 syx monað 7 tyn dagas wulderlice heold 7 rehte,
pa was forðfered 7 to pam ecan setle pæs heofonlican rices læded 5
was. Heold he 7 rehte þa cyricean on para casera tidum Maurici
7 Uocati ; 7 þy æfteran geare þæs ylcan Uocatis þæt he forðferde óf
byssum life, 7 ferde to pam sodan life pam pe on heofonum is :
7 his lichama was bebyriged on Sce Petres cyricean beforan þam
husulportice þy feorpan dæge idus Martiarum, 7 he nu hwonne on 10
pam ilcan bid on wuldre arisende mid oprum hyrdum þære halgan
cyricean. 7 awriten is on his byrigenne þysses gemetes byrgen-
leod.
Onfoh pu eorpe lichaman of pinum lichaman genumen, þæt þu
hine eft agyfan mæge, ponne hine God liffæste. Se gast úp to 15
heofon geschte ; nænig anweald deapes him sceðþað ; þam opres
lifes se sylfa dead me is weg. Pas hean bisceopes leoma on pysse
byrigenne syndon betyned, se symble leofað gehwær on unrim
godum. Earmra hungur he oferswiðde mid mettum, 7 heora cyle
mid hrægle, 7 he mid halgum monungum saule fram feonde 20
gescylde. 7 he mid dęde gefylde, swa hwet swa he mid worde
lærde. Was he gerynelico word sprecende, pot he lifes bysen
wære haligra manna. To Criste he Óngle gehwyrfde mid arfæst-
nesse lareowdomes. (Was he on ære feode begytende níwe
wered Godes geleafan. ) pis gewin 7 þissum gelic, peos gemen þe 25
wæs, 7 pis pu hyrde dydest, pat pu Drihtne brohtest micel gestreon

. ¹ Page heading in Ca. The chapter headings (from Ca.) are now in order.
23 læded was hine
1. 5. heofonlica , rices , heold O. (Ca. B. as in text. ) 1. 15. ponne , god
O. (Ca. B. as in text.) 1. 20. halgum (u on erasure) O. halgū Ca. halegum
un n
B. mon.gum (one letter erased) O. monungum Ca. manegum B. feo,de
 II. I. 95

BOOK II .

I.

AT this time, that is, six hundred and five years after the
incarnation of our Lord, the blessed pope Gregory, after he had
ruled and directed the see of the Roman and apostolic church with
great glory for thirteen years six months and ten days, departed
5 this life, and was led to his everlasting seat in the kingdom of
heaven. He ruled and directed the church in the time of the
emperors Mauricius and Phocas ; and it was in the second year of
this Phocas, that he departed this life and went to the true life
which is in heaven : and his body was buried in the church of
10 St. Peter before the sacristy on the twelfth of March, and he
now will one day with it arise in glory with other pastors of the
holy church. And on his tomb an epitaph is written to this effect,
' Receive, thou earth, body taken of thy body, that thou mayest
again give it up when God quickens it. The spirit mounted to
15 heaven ; no power of death will hurt it ; death itself is for it rather
the way to a second life. The members of this exalted bishop are
enclosed in this tomb, who lives ever and everywhere by his
countless good deeds . The hunger of the poor he assuaged with
food, and their chill with garments, and he by holy admonitions
20 protected their souls from the foe. And he fulfilled in deed, whatever
he taught in word. He spoke mystic words, that he might be an
example of life to holy men. By the piety of his teaching he
converted the English to Christ, and of them won fresh hosts for
God's faith. This toil and more like this, this care thou hadst and
25 this thou didst as a pastor, so that thou broughtest to the Lord a
great treasure of holy souls. In these triumphs thou mayest rejoice,

(eo on erasure) O. feonde B. -dū Ca. 1. 21. dęď O. dæde Ca. B.

7 sū 7
1. 24. domes (e by erasure out of œ) 0. gewin , þis , gelic peos gemen þe was
pis pu hyrde dydest O. Ca. has pyssū, omits be wœs, and has bus ou. B. inserts
the words in brackets (not in O. Ca. C.) , and then continues þis gewinn was
gamen de bu sorgende dydest.
 96 LIBER SECUNDUS.

haligra saula pyssum sigorum pu Godes bysceop blissian miht,

forpon pu þinra weorca ece mede butan ende nimest.
p. 501. Nis us ponne se hlisa to foreswigienne, pe be pam eadigan
Gregorie purh yldra manna segene to us becom, for hwilcum
intingan he monad wære, þat he swa geornfulle gymenne dyde 5
ymb pa hælo ure peode. Secgeað hi, þæt sume dæge þider niwan
come cypemen of Brytene 7 monig cepe ping on ceapstowe brohte,
7 eac monige cwomon to bicgenne pa ding. Pa gelomp pætte
Gregorius betweoh oore eac pider cwom, 7 pa geseah betweoh oder
þing cype cneohtas þær gesette : wæron hwites lichoman 7 fægres 10
ondwlitan men 7 ædellice gefeaxe. Da he a heo geseah 7
beheold, þa frægn he, of hwelcon londe oope of hwylcre peode hy
brohte wæron. Sægde him mon, þæt heo of Breotone ealonde
brohte wæron, ond þæs ealondes bigengan swelcre onsyne men
weron. Eft he frægn, hwæðer þa ilcan londleode cristne wæron 15
þe hi pa gen in hæðennesse gedwolan lifden. Cwed him mon to
7 sægde, þæt heo hæone wæron ; 7 he da of inneweardre
heortan swide sworette 7 pus cwæð : Wala wá : þæt is sarlic,
þætte swa fæger feorh 7 swa leohtes ondwlitan men scyle ágan 7
besittan þeostra aldor. 20

Eft he frægn, hwæt seo peod nemned wære, pe heo of cwomon.

Ondswarede him mon pæt heo Ongle nemde wæron. Cwad he :
Wel þæt swa mæg : forðon heo ænlice onsyne habbað, 7 eac
swylce gedafonað, þæt heo engla æfenerfeweardas in heofonum
sy. Pa gyt he furdor frægn 7 cwæð : Hwæt hatte seo mægð, þe 25
pa cneohtas hider of lædde wæron. Pa ondswarede him mon 7
cwæð, þæt heo Dere nemde wæron . Cwæð he : Wel þæt is cweden
Dere, de ira eruti ; heo sculon of Godes yrre beon abrogdene, 7
to Cristes mildheortnesse gecegde. Da gyt he ahsode hwæt heora
cyning haten wære : 7 him mon ondswarade 7 cwæð, þætte he Æll 30
haten wære. Ond pa plegode he mid his wordum to þæm noman

7 cwæð : Alleluia, pat gedafenad, pætte Godes lof usses scyppendes

in þæm dælum sungen sy. Ond he pa sona eode to dæm biscope 7
to dam papan þæs apostolican sedles, fordon he seolfa þa gyt næs

1. 2. O. has we, rca ; ece (e out of a) ; .ninest (a stroke erased) . Ca. has
weorca ; ece ; nimest (brucest above) . B. worca ; éce ; nimest. 1. 5. monað 0.
 II. I. 97

thou bishop of God, because thou hast an eternal reward for thy
works without end.'
We cannot pass over in silence the report which has come to us
by the tradition of older men about the blessed Gregory, as to the
5 reason why he was warned to take such zealous care for the
salvation of our people. They say, that one day merchants came
there fresh from Britain, and brought to market many wares, and
many also came to buy those things. Then it happened that
Gregory among others also came there, and saw among other
10 objects for sale, youths placed there : they were men of fair
complexion and handsome appearance with beautiful hair. When
he saw them there and regarded them, he asked from what land or
race they were brought, and was told that they were brought from
the island of Britain, and that the inhabitants of this island had
15 this appearance. Again he asked, whether the people in that
country were christians or still living in heathen error. They
replied and told him that they were still heathen ; and he then
sighed deeply from the bottom of his heart and thus spoke, ' Alas
the pity ! it is grievous that such fair forms and men of such
20 bright faces should be owned and possessed by the prince of darkness.'
Again he asked what the people was called from which they came ;
they answered that they were called English. He said, ' That may
well be ; for their look is peerless, and also it is fit that they
should be joint-heirs with the angels in heaven.' Then he
25 further asked and said, ' What is the people called, from which the
youths were brought here ? ' They answered him and said that they
were named Deiri. He said , ' Deiri is well said, de ira eruti ; they
shall be rescued from God's wrath and called to the mercy of Christ .'
Further he asked their king's name ; and they answered and said that
30 he was called Ælle. And then he played on the name in his words
and said, 'Alleluia, ' tis fit that the praise of God our creator should
be sung in those parts .' And then he went at once to the bishop and
pope of the apostolic see, because he himself had not yet been

(cross-stroke partially erased). gymenne (y on erasure) O. -y- Ca. B. 1. 7.

come (o . on erasure) 0. -0- Ca B. bytene O. bry- Ca. B, 1. 8. T. begins
again 5º, cwomon. 1. 16. (i out of e ? ) T. hi O. Ca. B.
H
 98 LIBER SECUNDUS .

biscop geworden : bed hine, pet he Ongolpeode onsende in

Breotene hwelcehwego lareowas, þætte purh pa heo to Criste
gecyrrede wæron ; ond cwæð þat he selfa geara wære mid Godes
fultome pæet weorc to fremmenne, gif þæm apostolican papan þæt
licade, 7 æt his willa 7 his leafnis wære. Pa ne wolde se papa 5
þæt pafian ne pa burgware pon ma, þætte swa æðele wer 7 swa
geþungen 7 swa gelæred swa feor fram him gewite. Ah he sona
hrade, pas pe he biscop geworden was, pætte he gefremede þæt
weorc pæt he longe wilnade, 7 pa halgan lareowas hider onsende ,
be we ær beforan sægdon. Ond he Scs Gregorius mid his trym- 10
nessum 7 mid his gebedum was gefultumende, þæt heora laar
wære wæstmbeorende to Godes willan 7 to ræde Ongolcynne.

II.¹
p. 502. Da wæs ætte Agustinus se biscop mid Æðelberhtes fultome pæs
Cap. 2. cyninges gelaðode to his spræce Bretta biscopas 7 lareowas in
þære stowe, pe mon gyt nemneð Agustinus aac, in Hwicna gemære 15
7 Westseaxna. Ond he da ongon mid broðorlice lufan heo monian
7 læran, þæt heo rihte sibbe 7 lufan him betweonum hæfden, 7
gemæne gewin fore Drihtne ondfenge godcunde lare to læranne
Ongolpeode. 7 heo him hyran ne woldon, ne woldon riht Eastran
healdan in heora tid ; ge eac monig oder þing þære ciriclican 20
annisse heo ungelice 7 widerword hæfdon. Da heo pa hæfdon longe
spræce 7 geflit ymb þa þing, ne heo Agustines larum ne his benum
ne his peawum 7 his geferena ænige þinga gepafian woldon, ac
heo heora sylfra þeawas 7 gesetenesse betron dydon, pon heo
gepwæredan eallum Cristes circum geond middangeard, pa se 25
halga fæder Agustinus pisses gewinnesfullan geflites ende gesette
7 pus cwæð : Uton biddan ælmihtigne God, se de eardigan deð þa
anmodan in his fæder huse, pæt he geea modige us togetacnian
mid heofonlicum wundrum, hwelc gesetenes to fylgenne sy, hwelcum
wegum to efestenne sy to ingonge his rices. Læde mon hider to 30
us sumne untrumne mon ; ond purh swa hwelces bene swa he

¹ II Ca. XVII (?) T. The numbers in T. have been altered and defaced
by a late hand, and will only occasionally be cited. 1. 24. þon T. þoñ 0.
ponn Ca. ponne B. ( pon porne recurs in T.)
 II. 1, 2. 99

made bishop : he begged him to send some teachers to Britain for

the English, that they through them might be converted to Christ ;
and he said that he himself was ready with God's help to carry out
that work, if it pleased the apostolical pontiff, and it were with
5 his will and leave. But the pope would not suffer that, nor yet
the citizens, that a man so noble and so excellent and so learned
should go so far from them. But as soon as he was made bishop,
he carried out the object that he had long desired, and sent here the
holy teachers, whom we mentioned before. And by his exhortations
10 and prayers St. Gregory gave his help, that their teaching might
be fruitful with God's will and with benefit to the English people.

II.

Then bishop Augustine, supported by king Æthelberht, invited to

a conference the bishops and teachers of the Britons, at a place still
called the oak of Augustine, on the borders of the Hwiccas and West
15 Saxons. And he there began with brotherly love to admonish and
teach them, to maintain due peace and love among one another, and

to undertake joint labour for God in order to instruct the people of

England in the divine teaching. But they would not listen to him,
nor would they keep Easter at its proper time ; and they had also
20 many other observances dissimilar and contrary to the unity of the
church. Now when they had had a long discussion and conflict on
these points, and would not in any way assent to the teaching and
entreaties of Augustine, nor to his usages and those of his clergy, -
but preferred their own usages and ordinances, rather than conform
25 to all the churches of Christ throughout the world, then the holy
father Augustine put an end to this wearisome conflict and spoke
as follows : ' Come, let us pray God Almighty, who maketh those who
are of one mind to dwell in his Father's house, that he will con-
descend to declare to us by heavenly miracles, which ordinance is to
30 be followed, and on what path we must speed to enter his kingdom.
Let them bring here to us some sick man ; and let the faith and works
H2
 100 LIBER SECUNDUS,

gehæled sy, pisses geleafa 7 wyrcnis seo lefed God onfenge 7

allum to fylgenne. Pa geðafodan þæt uneade pa his gesacan, pa
lædde mon forð sumne blinde mon of Ongolcynne. Wæs ærest
læded to Bretta biscopum : 7 he nænige hælo ne frofre purh heora
segnunge onfeng. Pa æt nehstan was Agustinus mid reohtre ned- 5
pearfnisse gebæded ; aras 7 gebegde his cneo ; bæd God Fæder
ælmihtigne, þæt he þam blindan men gesyhoe forgefe, þæt he purh
anes monnes lichomlice inlihtnesse in monigra geleafsumra heortan
þæs gastlican leohtes gife onbærnde. Pa sona buton eldnesse was
se blinda man onlehted 7 gesyhoe onfeng : ond se soða boda þæs 10
hean leohtes Agustinus was from him eallum bodad 7 hered. Ɖa
ondetton eac Brettas scomiende pæt heo ongeton, þætte þæt wære
soðfæstnesse weg þone Agustinus bodade. Cwædon hwæðre þæt
heo ne meahton buton heora leoda gepafunge 7 lefnesse heora
ealdan peawas onscunian 7 forlætan : bædon þæt eft oðer seonoð 15
wære ; 7 heo ponne wolden mid ma heora witena gesecan.
Pa se da geseted was, cwomon seofon Bretta biscopas 7 ealle pa
gelæredestan men, pa wæron swiðost of Boncra byrig. Pære tide
Dinoo was haten þæs mynstres abbod. Pa heo pa to pæm gemote
ferdon, pa cwomon heo ærest to sumum aancoran, se wæs mid him 20
halig 7 wiis. Frugnon heo hine 7 ahsodon, hwæder heo sceoldon
p. 503. to Agustinus láre heora gesetenesse 7 heora peawas forlæton.
Ondswarede he him : Gif he Godes man sy, fylgað ge him.
Cwædon heo to him : Be hwon magon we dat weotan, hwæðer he
sy ? Cwed he: Drihten seolfa cwæd in his godspelle : Nimao ge 25
min geoc ofer eow eac 7 leorniað æt me, þæt ic eom milde 7 eað-
modre heortan : 7 nu gif Agustinus is milde 7 eaðmodre heortan,
ponne is he gelyfed pæt he Cristes geoc bere 7 eow lære to
* beorenne. Gif he ponne is únmilde 7 oferhygdig, ponne is þæt
cuð þæt he nis of Gode, ne ge his worda gemad. Cwadon heo eft : 30
Be hwon magon we pis gescead witon ? Cwa he : Foreseoð ge
þætte he ærest mid his geferum to pære seono stowe cume 7
gesitte. Ond gif he aríse ongegnes eow bonne ge cuman, ponne
ge
1. 2, allu T. eallū B. Ca. O. ( um). 1. 6. begde T. bigde B. gebigde O. Ca.
1. 27. 7 nu to heortan not in T. Text from O. 1. 29. beorrenne (beor ends 6",
renne begins 7a ) T. beranne O. berenne Ca. berende B.
 II. 2. 101

of him, through whose prayers he is healed, be believed acceptable to

God and to be followed by all.'
When his opponents reluctantly consented, they brought out a
blind man of English descent. First he was brought to the bishops
5 of the Britons : and he received neither healing nor comfort by their
benediction. Then at last Augustine was compelled by the just
necessity of the case ; he arose and bowed his knee ; he prayed God
the Father Almighty to give the blind man sight, that he, by the
bodily illumination of one man, might kindle the grace of spiritual
10 light in the hearts of many faithful men. Then without delay light
was given to the blind, and he received his sight : and Augustine was
declared and magnified by all as the true declarer of light from on
high. Then the Britons also acknowledged with shame their con-
viction, that that was the way of truth which Augustine declared.
15 They said however, that they might not without consent and leave
from their people reject and give up their old usages : they begged
that a second synod might be held again, and they would come with
more of their leading men. When this was settled, there came seven
bishops of the Britons and all their most learned men, who were
20 chiefly from Bangor. At that time the abbot of this monastery
A
was called Dinoth. As they were on their way to the meeting, they
came first to an anchorite, a holy and wise man among them.
They consulted him and asked , whether they should give up their
own ordinances and usages in accordance with Augustine's teaching.
25 He answered them : 'If he is a man of God, follow him.' They said
to him, ' How may we know whether he is one ?' He said, ' The Lord
himself saith in his gospel, " Take my yoke upon you, and learn of
me, that I am meek and of lowly heart : " and now if Augustine is
meek and of lowly heart, then it is credible that he bears the yoke
30 of Christ and teaches you to bear it. If however he is not meek
but proud, then it is clear that he is not of God ; and heed not his
words.'
They said again, ' How may we discern this ? ' He said, ' See that
he comes first with his followers to the place of meeting and takes
35 his seat. And if he rises up to meet you when you come, then be
 102 LIBER SECUNDUS.

witað ge pæt he bio Cristes peow, 7 geeaðmodlice his word 7 his

lare gehyrað. Gif he ponne eow eac forhogie 7 eow ne wille
arisan togegnes, mid by eower má is, sy he þonne from eow
forhogad. Hwæt heo dydon, swa swa he cwæð. Cwomon heo to
pære seonoðstowe : sæt se arcebiscop Agustinus on setle. Pa heo 5
pa gesegon pæt he ne aras for him, pa wæron hi sona yrre
gewordne 7 hine oferhygdigne tealdon 7 eallum his wordum hy
widewædon 7 wiowunnun. Cwad he se heah biscop to him : In
monegum þingum ge widerworde weron ussum gewunan 7 ealre
Godes cirican swa. Ond hwæðre gif ge æt pissum preom þingum 10
me hyrsume beon willað, þæt ge ærest rihte Eastron weordien in
heora tiid ; ond ge pa þegnunge fulwihte, purh pa we beoð Gode
to bearnum acende, æfter peowe pære halgan Romaniscan cirican
7 þære apostolican gefyllen ; ond þæt pridde, þæt ge Ongolpeode
ætgædre mid us Drihtnes word bódige, all oder þing da ge doo, 15
peah heo ussum þeawum widerworde syn, we geþyldelice aræfnað.
Cwædon heo, pæt heo nænig þyssa don wolde, ne hine for ærce-
biscop habban wolden. Spræcon him betweonum : Gif he nu for
us arísan ne wolde, micle ma gif we him underpeodde beoð, he us
eac for noht gehyged. pa se Godes wer Scs Agustinus is sægd 20
þæt he beotigende forecwæde, gif heo sibbe mid Godes monnum
onfon ne wolden, þæt heo wæren unsibbe 7 gefeoht from heora
feondum onfonde : ond gif heo Ongoleynne lifes weg bodigan ne
woldon, þæt heo ponne wæron purh heora honda deades wræc
prowigende. 25
Pæt purh eal, swa se Godes wer forecwed, rehte Godes dóme
geworden was . Ond sona hræde after pissum þætte Æpelfrið
Ongla cyning, bi dæm we ær spræcon, gesomnode micle fyrd 7 pa
gelædde to Legaceastre 7 þær wið Brettum gefeaht : 7 Sæt mæste
wæl geslogon pære getreowleasan peode. Mid þyhe past feoht ongon, 30
pa geseah he Æðelfrið se cyning heora sacerdas 7 biscopas 7 munecas
sundor stondan ungewæpnade in gehęldran stowe, þæt heo scoldon
for heora compweorod gebiddan 7 to Gode pingian. Frægn he 7
p. 504. ahsode, hwæt þæt weorod wære 7 hwet heo þær dydon . Pa he ða
1. 6. Before gesegon erasure of two letters, g is partly on latter, T. No
variant in MSS. 1. 14. gefyllen (erasure before n : stroke of e drawn across
 II. 2. 103

sure that he is Christ's servant, and listen to his words and his
teaching with submissiveness. If however he scorns you and will
not rise to meet you, when you are in the majority, then let him be
acorned by you.' Now they did, just as he said. They came to the
5 place of meeting : archbishop Augustine sat in his chair. When
they saw that he did not rise up for them, they were at once angered
and considered him haughty and contradicted and opposed all his
words. The great bishop said to them : ' In many things you were
opposed to our rite and that of the universal church of God too:
10 And yet if you will hearken to me in these three things, that first
you will keep the right Easter at its proper time ; and if you will
celebrate the office of baptism, through which we are born children
of God, according to the usage of the Holy Roman and apostolical
church ; and if, thirdly, you will join us in preaching God's word to
15 the English, we will patiently tolerate everything else that you do,
though they are opposed to our usages. ' They replied, that they
would not do any of these things, nor have him as archbishop. Among
themselves they said, ' If he would not now rise up for us, much
more will he regard us as nought, if we are subject to him.' Then
20 St. Augustine, the man of God, is said to have threatened and fore-
told, that if they would not accept peace with God's servants, they
would have hostility and war from their enemies and if they would
not preach the way of life to the English, they would suffer the
penalty of death at their hands. All this followed, by the just judg-
25 ment of God, as foretold by the man ofGod. And very soon after this,
Æthelfrith, king of the Angles, about whom we spoke before, assem-
bled a large army and led it to Chester, and fought there with the
Britons and they made a very great carnage among the unbelieving
people. When king Æthelfrith began the battle, he saw their priests
30 and bishops and monks standing apart, unarmed , in a safer position ,
that they might pray and entreat God for their host. He enquired and
asked, what that gathering was, and what they did there. When he

it) T. gefyllen O. gefyllan Ca. gefillednesse B. 1. 23. onfonde O. Ca. B.

onfonne T.

•
 104 LIBER SECUNDUS .

ongeat pone intingan heora cymes, cwæð he : Hwat ic wat, gif heo
wid us to heora Gode cleopigad, peah pe heo wepen ne beran, þæt
heo wið us feohtad, fordon heo us mid heora widerwordum onbenum
7 wyrgnessum ehtað. Heht pa sona ærest on heo cerran 7 slean.
Secgað men pæt þæs weorodes were twelf hund monna, 7 heora fiftig 5
þurh fleam onweg losodon. 7 he swa pa oder weorod þare mán-
fullan þeode fornom 7 fordilgade, nales buton micelre wonunge his
weoredes. Ond swa was gefylled se witedom þæs halgan biscopes
Agustinus, þæt heo sceolden for heora treowleasnisse hwilendlicre
forwyrde wræc prowigan, forðon heo þa ær lærdon geþeahte heora 10
ecre hælo forhogodon .

III.

Cap. 3. Đa wæs æfter dissum þætte Agustinus Breotone arcebiscop

gehalgade twegen biscopas : oder was Mellitus haten, oder Iustus.
Pone Mellitum he sende Eastseaxum to bodigenne godcunde lare, pa
seondon Temese streame tosceadne from Centlonde 7 to eastsæ 15
geoeodde. Is heora aldorburg nemned Lundenceaster, on ófere
geseted pæs foresprecenan streames ; ond seo is monigra folca ceap-
stow of londe 7 of sæ cumendra. In pære peode was in pa tíd
Sæberht cyning, Æðelberhtes swustorsunu 7 his hera. Da onfeng
Eastseaxna peod soðfæstnisse word 7 Cristes geleafan þurh Mellitus 20
láre pæs biscopes. Pa heht Ædelberht cyning in Lundenceastre
cirican getimbran, 7 þa gehalgian Sci Pauli þæm apostoli, þæt he in
Jære stowe biscopsetl hæfde 7 his æfterfylgend. Pone Iustum he
in Cent sylfre to biscope gehalgode to Hrofesceastre. Seo is from
Cantwarena byrig on feower 7 twentigum mila westrihte. In 25
pære ceastre eac swylce Edelberht cyning heht cirican getimbran
7 þa gehalgian Sce Andreæ þæm apostoli. Ond se cyning
æghwæðerum þissa biscopa his gyfe sealde 7 boclond 7 ahte, him
to brucanne mid heora geferum. After pissum þa forðferde Gode
se leofa fæder Agustinus : 7 his lichoma wæs úte bebyrged neah 30
cirican para eadigra apostola Petrus 7 Paulus, þe we ser gemyngodon ;
fordon heo pa gytá næs fullice geworht ne gehalgod. Sona þæs þe

1. 14. bodienne O. Z. bodigenne Ca. bodianne B. bodigende T. 1. 31.

ciricum T. cyricean O. Ca. ciricean B.
 II . 2, 3. 105

understood the cause of their coming, he said : ' Well then I am sure,
if they call to their God against us, though they do not bear arms,
that they fight against us, because they assail us with their adverse
imprecations and curses. Then he ordered , at once , to turn first
5 against them and slay them. They say that there were twelve
hundred in that gathering, and fifty of them got away by flight.
And then he destroyed and cut to pieces the rest of the host of that
sinful people, not without great loss to his own army. And so was
fulfilled the prophecy ofthe holy bishop Augustine, that they should
10 suffer the penalty of temporal destruction for their faithlessness,
because they despised the counsel previously given them for their
eternal salvation.

III.

Then after this Augustine, archbishop of Britain, consecrated

two bishops ; the one was called Mellitus, the other Justus. He
15 sent Mellitus to preach the word of God to the East Saxons, who
are separated by the river Thames from Kent and adjoin the
eastern sea. Their chief town is called London, situated on the
bank of the aforesaid river ; it is a mart for many nations coming
by sea and land. In that province Sæberht was then king, nephew
20 of Æthelberht and dependent on him. Then the province of the
East Saxons received the word of truth and faith of Christ by the
teaching of bishop Mellitus . Then king Ethelberht ordered a
church to be built in London and to be consecrated to the apostle
St. Paul, that Mellitus and his successors might have an episcopal
25 seat in that place. He consecrated Justus as bishop at Rochester
in Kent itself. This town is four-and-twenty miles to the west of
Canterbury. In it also king Æthelberht ordered a church to be
built and consecrated to the apostle St. Andrew. And to each of
these bishops the king gave gifts, bocland and possessions for the
30 use of themselves and their clergy. After this the well-beloved
father Augustine died and his body was buried outside close to
the church of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, which we
mentioned before ; because it was not yet fully completed nor
 106 LIBER SECUNDUS .

heo gehalgad was, pa dyde mon his lichoman in ; 7 in þære cirican

nor portice was bebyrged gedæftlice. In pæm eac swilce ealra
þara æfterfylgendra ærcebiscopa lichoman sindon bebyrgede, buton
twegra, þat is peodoris 7 Berhtwaldes ; heora lichoman syndon in
þære circan seolfre gesette, forðon in pone forecwedenan portic má 5
ne meahte. Is wel neah in middre pære miclan cirican wigbed
geseted 7 þæt on Sce Gregorius naman gehalgod . In dæm æghwylce
Sæternes dæge from pære stowe massepreost heora gemynde 7
forðfore mid mæssesonge mærsode syndon. Is awriten in Sce
Agustinus byrgenne pisses gemetes gewrit : Her rested domne 10
Agustinus se æresta arcebiscop Contwarena burge, se geara hider
from þæm eadigan Gregoriæ þære Romaniscan burge biscope sended
p. 505. was, 7 from Gode mid wundra weorcnesse awreded wæs. Ædelberht
cyning 7 his peode from deofulgilda ongonge to Cristes geleafan he
gelæde, 7 on sibbe gefylldum dagum his þegnunge fordfered wæs, 15
by dæge septima Kalendas Iunias in þæs ylcan cyninges rice.

IIII.
Cap. 4. Æfter Agustini fyligde in biscophade Laurentius, pone he forðon
bi him lifigendum gehalgode, þy læs him for ferendum se steall
swa neowre cirican ænige hwile buton heorde taltrigan ongunne.
Onhyrede he on pon pa bysene þæs ærestan heordes Godes cirican 20
Sce Petres pas apostoles, pa he æt Róme ærest Cristes cirican
staðolode is sægd þæt he Clementem him to fultome godcundre
lare 7 him to æfterfylgende gehalgade. Pa he da Laurentius
ærcebiscophade onfeng, da ongon fromlice pa staðolas pære cyrican,
pe he eaðelice alegde geseah, ecan ; 7 to forðspownisse gedefre 25
heannisse mid gelomlicre stefne haligre trymnisse 7 lare 7 mid
singalum bysenum arfæstre wyrcnesse he ongon hean 7 miclian.
Nales pæet an þæt he gemæne dyde pære neowan cirican, þe of Ongol-
cynne gesomnod was, ac swilce eac para ealdra biggengena Bretta
7 Scotta. Forðon he ongeat þæt heo on monegum þingum Godes 30
cirican ungepwærodon, ond ealra swiðust þæt heo pa symbelnesse
d
1.6. midre T. middre O. Ca. middan B. 1. 8. preoste O. Ca. B. preost T.
1. 22. godeundre O. Ca. B. -de T. 1. 25. to O. Ca. B.: not in T. 1. 31.
eircan T. cirican B. cyricean Ca. cyricũ 0.
2

II. 3, 4. 107

consecrated. As soon as it was consecrated, they placed his body

in it ; and he was, with due honour, buried in the northern transept
of the church. In this are also buried the bodies of all succeeding
archbishops, except two, namely Theodore and Beorhtwald ; their
5 bodies are placed in the church itself, for there was no more room
in the aforesaid transept. Almost in the centre of the great church
an altar has been set up and consecrated in the name of St. Gregory.
At that mass is celebrated every Saturday, and their memory and
their death are set forth by the priest of that place. On the
10 tomb of St. Augustine there is an inscription to this effect : Here
rests the reverend the first archbishop of Canterbury, Augustine,
who long ago was sent here by the blessed Gregory, bishop of the
city of Rome, and was supported by God with the working of
miracles. He led king Æthelberht and his people from the
15 worship of idols to the faith of Christ ; and having fulfilled the
days of his service in peace, he departed this life on the 26th of May,
during the reign of this king.'

IV.

Laurentius succeeded Augustine as bishop, whom he had con-

secrated in his own lifetime, lest on his death the position of a
20 church so new should be unsettled for a time if without a pastor .
In this he imitated the example of the apostle St. Peter, the
first pastor of God's church, when he first established Christ's
church at Rome : it is said that he consecrated Clement to assist
him in teaching the word of God and to be his successor. Now
25 when Laurentius succeeded to the archbishopric , he began zealously
to enlarge the foundations of the church, which he saw nobly laid ;
and he began to raise and increase it, that it might attain to due
height, by frequent repetition of holy exhortation and instruction
and by continual examples of pious deeds. And he not only cared
30 for the new church, which was gathered together out of the English
race, but also for the old inhabitants, the Britons and Scots. For
he saw that in many things they were at variance with the churches
of God, and above all that they did not celebrate the feast of
 108 LIBER SECUNDUS .

Eastrana 7 pone dæg pære drihtenlecan æriste ne weoroodon mid

rihtre tide. Wrat he 7 sende ærendgewrit to him : bæed heo 7
halsade, pæt heo in annesse sibbe 7 in gehælde rihtra Eastrana
gepwærede mid pa Cristes cirican, seo geond ealne middangeard
togoten is. Ac peah þe he pas ping dyde, hu swide him speow, nu 5
gen þas ondweardan tide, +þa ilcan þeowas cyðað.
Dissum tidum cwom Mellitus Lundenceastre biscop to Róme bi
þæm nedpearflicum intingan Ongolcirican. Ond he da was smea-
gende mid pone apostolican papan Bonefatio, se was feorða biscop
þære Romaniscan burge from Sci Gregorii. Ond he ða des ilca 10
pápa seonoð gesomnode Eotolwara biscopa ; 7 he was endebyrdlice
settende bi muneca life 7 bi heora stilnesse. Was pes seono
þy eahteðan geare Uocatis rices pas caseres. 7 Mellitus betweoh hy
æt þæm seonode sæt ; 7 þa ding, þe dær regollico gedemed wæron,
mid his aldorlicnesse mid Cristes rode tacne wrat 7 fæstnode ; ond 15
eft hwearf to Breotone , 7 þa mid hine Ongolciricum to healdanne
awriten brohte ætgædre mid þæm ærendgewritum, þe se ilca papa
Gode pam leofan arcebiscope Laurentie 7 eallum his geferum 7
Æðelberhte cyninge 7 ealre Ongolpeode sende, to frofre 7 to trym-
nisse rihtes lifes. 20

V.

p. 506. Pa was ymb syx hund wintra 7 syxteno winter from Drihtnes
Cap. 5 . menniscnesse, þæt was ymb an 7 twentig wintra, þæs Agustinus
mid his geferum to læranne Ongolpeode sended wæs, þætte Ædel-
berht Contwara cyning æfter pæm willendlecan rice, þæt he syx 7
fiftig wintra wuldorlice hæfde, ond pa to pam heofonlican rice mid 25
gefean astag. Was he se ridda cyning in Ongolpeode cyningum
þæt allum suðmægpum weold 7 rice hæfde od Humbre stream.
Hæfde ærest pisses gemetes rice Elle Suoseaxna cyning. Se æftera
was Ceawlin haten Westseaxna cyning. Se pridda wæs , swa we
ær cwædon, Æðelbehrt Contwara cyning. Feorða was Redwold 30
Eastengla cyning : fifta Eadwine Nordanhymbra cyning, se
hæfde rice ofer ealle Breotone buton Contwarum anum. Swelce he

1. 6. pa ilcan peowas T. O. Ca. B. (last three with spelling pea-) . It is

perhaps a gloss on preceding words pas o. t. ( = praesentia tempora). 1.25-
ond all MSS before pa (the pleonastic ond).
་

II. 4, 5. 109

Easter and the day of the Lord's resurrection at the right time.
He wrote and sent a letter to them, praying and entreating, that
they would agree with the church of Christ, which is spread
throughout the world, in the unity of peace and observance of the
5 right Easter. And though he did so, the present times and the
same usages prove, how little he succeeded. At this time Mellitus,
bishop of London, visited Rome to determine certain points
necessary for the English church. And he took counsel with the
apostolic pope Boniface, who was the fourth bishop of Rome from
10 St. Gregory. At that time this pope assembled a synod of
Italian bishops, and was about to make orderly arrangements for
the life and retirement of monks. This synod took place in the
eighth year of the reign of the emperor Phocas. And Mellitus sat
among them at the synod, and with his authority signed with the
15 cross of Christ and confirmed, what was there determined to be in
accord with monastic rule ; and he returned again to Britain and
brought these rules in writing with him, to be observed by the
English churches, along with the letters, which the pope sent to
archbishop Laurentius, well- beloved of God, and to all his clergy and
20 to king Æthelberht and the whole people of England, for their
comfort and encouragement in a righteous life.

V.

Then about six hundred and sixteen years after the incarnation
of our Lord, that was about twenty-one years after Augustine and
his companions were sent to teach the people of England, Æthelberht,
25 king of Kent, after gloriously ruling the temporal kingdom for fifty-
six years, now ascended with joy to the kingdom of heaven. He
was the third among the kings of England who ruled over all the
southern provinces and held sway as far as the river Humber.
Elle, king of the South Saxons, was the first who had authority of
30 this kind. The second was a king of the West Saxons called
Ceawlin. The third was, as we have already said , Æthelberht, king
of Kent. The fourth was Redwald, king of the East Angles. The
fifth was Eadwine, king of Northumbria, who had authority over
all Britain, Kent alone excepted. He also brought under the

L
 110 LIBER SECUNDUS.

eac Monige Bretta ealond, pa seondon geseted betweoh Ibernia,

Scotlond 7 Breotone, Ongolcynnes rice underpeodde. Syxta wæs
Oswald, Norðanhymbra cyning se betsta 7 se cristenesta, se pissum
ilcum gemærum rice hæfde. Seofoda was Osweo his brooor, se
eac swylce Peohta peode 7 Scotta of miclum dæle geeode, 7 to 5
gafolgyldum gesette. Pa forðferde Ædelberht cyning æfter an
7 twentegum wintra pas pe he fulwihte 7 Cristes geleafan onfeng,
ond in cirican para eadigra apostola Petrus 7 Paulus in Sce Marti-
nus portice bebyrged wæs ; 7 þær eac Beorhte seo cwén bebyrged is.
Se cyning betweoh pa oder god, þe he his leodum þurh gepeaht 10
gefremede, eac swylce rihtra doma gesetenisse mid snotera gepeahte
gesette æfter Romana bysene, 7 þa heht on Englisc gewritan : þa
nu gena oð þis mid him hæfde 7 haldne syndon. In pæm he ærest
sette hu mon pæt betan scolde, se de oope cirican eahte oope
biscopes ope overra hada mid stale afyrde . Wolde he Yam 13
gcscyldnesse gegearwian, pe he heora lare onfeng. Was pes ilca
Æðelbehrt Eormanrices sunu ; þæs fæder was Octa haten ; þæs
fæder wæs Oeric ; was his freonama Esc, from þæm sy pan Cont-
wara cyningas wæron Escingas nemnde. Pas Esces fæder was
se Hengest, se de was ærest latteow 7 heretoga Ongolcynnes in 20
Breotone, swa we ær beforan sægdon.
Pa was æfter Edelbehrtes for fore, Eadbald his sunu feng to
Jam rice, ond he sona micle wonunge 7 æwerdlan was pære
mærwan cyrican weaxnisse. Fordon nales þæt aan þæt he
Cristes geleafan onfon ne wolde, ac swylce eac unalyfedre for- 25
legenesse 7 egeslicre was besmiten, swa þæt he eode to his
fæder wife. For æghwæðrum þissa mana he intingan sealde þæm,
þæt heo hwurfe to pære ærran unclænnisse, pa de under his fæder
P. 507. rice oope mid by cynelecan fultome odde * his ege clænnisse reht 7
Cristes geleafon onfengon. Ne pæm treowleasan cyninge pære 30
uplecan prea sweopon gewon wæron, þæt he purh pa geclænsed 7
gereht beon sceolde ; fordon he gelomlice mid wedenheortnesse
modes 7 þæs unclænan gastes inswogennisse prycced was.

1. 3. cristenessa T. -esta O. Ca. B. 1. 5. to O. Ca. B.: not in T. 1. 9. eac

O. Ca. B. ea T. 1. 29. his odde ege clænnisse T. O. (-esse). his eges clan-
nesse Ca. his oð þá clænnessa B. 1. 30. 0. Ca. read onfengenfrã his sylfes,
 II. 5 . 111

authority of the English Man, islands of the Britons lying between

Ireland, Scotland and Britain. The sixth who had authority within
these limits was Oswald, the best and most christian king of
Northumbria. The seventh was his brother Oswio, who also over-
5 ran in great part the land of the Picts and the Scots, and made them
tributary. Then king Æthelberht died, twenty-one years after
receivingbaptism and the christian faith, and was buriedin the church
ofthe blessed apostles St. Peter and St. Paul in St. Martin's chapel ;
and queen Bertha is also buried there. Among other blessings which
10 the king by wise deliberation conferred on his people, he also drew
up after the Roman model with the advice of experienced men,
codes of just decisions, and ordered them to be written in English ;
and these are still preserved and observed among them up to the
present. In these, he first set down what reparation is to be made
15 by the man, who steals church property or the property of a bishop
and other ecclesiastical orders. He wished to provide protection
for those, from whom he received instruction.
This Æthelberht was the son of Eormanric ; whose father was
called Octa ; whose father was Eric and surnamed Æsc, from whom
20 the kings of Kent afterwards were called Æscings. The father of this
Esc was that Hengest, who was first leader and general ofthe English
in Britain, as we have already related . Then after Æthelberht's
death his son Eadbald succeeded to the throne, and he soon was cause
of great loss and injury to the growth ofthe tender church ; because
25 he not only refused to receive Christ's faith, but also was polluted
with unlawful and fearful fornication, so that he went in to his
father's wife. By both of these sins he gave occasion to those to
return to their former impurity, who in his father's reign, either by
the royal support or out of fear of him, received the laws of purity
30 and faith in Christ. Nor yet were there wanting to the faithless
king scourgings of the heavenly discipline, that he might thereby be
cleansed and reformed ; for he often was afflicted with insanity and
with attacks of the unclean spirit. The death of Sæberht, king of

omitting the rest of this chapter and most of the next. The omitted part
is found in T. B. C. (frā his sylfes from his seolfes p. 118. 1. 16). 1. 31 .
geclænsedan T. geclansad 7 B. geclansað 7 C.
112 LIBER SECUNDUS.

Swelce eac toætecte pisse gedrefnisse storm Sæberhtes dead

Eastseaxna cyninges. Fordon pa he was pa ecan riceo secende,
forlet he þæs hwilenlecan rices yrfeweardas his suna dry. pa
ongunnon heo sona openlice deofolgildum peowian, þe monnum
puhte pæt heo hwæthwugu forlæten hæfde bi pæm fæder lifiendum ; 5
ond heo freo lefnesse sealdon deofolgyld to bigongenne þam folcum,
pe him underpeodde wæron. Mid by heo pa gesegon pone biscop
mæssan onsymbelnesse mærsian in Godes cirican 7 þæm folce husl
syllan, wæron heo mid elreorde dysignesse onblawne. Cwædon to
him : Forhwon ne ręcst þu us pone hwitan hlaf, þone pu sealdest 10
Saban ussum fæder-nemdon heo hine swa―7 nu gena folce in cirican
sylest ?Ondswarede se biscop him : Gif ge willað onpwegene beon
by halwendan wellan fulwihtes bedes, swa eower fæder aðwegen
wæs, ponne magon ge eac swylce pas halgan hlafes dælneomende
beon, swa he dælneomende wæs. Gif ponne ge lífes bæð forhycgað, 15
ne magon ge ænige þinga lifes hlafe onfon. Cwædon heo : Ne
willað we in þæt bæð gongan, fordon we weotan þat we þæs
pearfe nabbað ; ac hwæðre we willað mid þy hlafe gereorde beon.
Mid by heo oft 7 geornlice from him monode wæron, þæt þæt
nænige pinga beon meahte, þæt hy buton pære halgan geclæsnunge 20
fulwihtes bæðes pæm halgan hlafe gemænsumede, pa æt neahstan
weron heo mid hatheortnesse onstyrede. Cwædon him to : Gifpu
ne wilt us geðafian in swa æðelicum pinge, þe we biddað, ne meaht
þu in usse mægde ne ussum gemánan wunian. 7 dreofon hine onweg,
7 heton þæt he mid his geferum of heora rice gewite. Pa he 25
onweg adrifen was, cwom he to Cent, sohte 7 smeade mid Laurentio
7 Iusto his efnbiscopum, hwæt him be Syssum þingum to donne
wære. Ond pa to ræde fundon mid gemænre gepeahte, þæt him
selre 7 gehæledre wære, þæt heo ealle hwurfon to heora eðle 7 þær
mid freo mode Drihtne peowede, ponne heo betweoh pa elreordan 30
7 þa wiðfeohtend Cristes geleafan leng buton wæstme sæton. Da
geweoton ærest ofer se twegen biscopas Mellitus 7 Iustus 7
cwomon in on dælas Gallia rices, 7 gestihtedon þæt heo þær wolden
þære wisan ende gebidan. Ac pa arleasan cyningas nales micelre

1. 13. by C. B. þa_T. ( =pam or mid ba ?) . 1. 16. ge (g out of æ ?) T.

ge B.: not in C.
 II. 5. 113

the East Saxons, also increased the tempest of this confusion . For
when he was departing to the eternal kingdom, he left his three sons
as heirs of his temporal kingdom. At once they began openly to serve
idols, which men supposed that they had, in their father's lifetime,
5 to some extent given up ; and they gave free permission to the people,
who were subject to them, to worship idols. When they saw the
bishop perform the celebration of the mass in God's church and
give the sacrament to the people, they were puffed up with bar-
barian folly. They said to him, ' Why do you not present to us the
10 white bread, which you gave to our father Saba-so they named
him-and still give to the people in church ?' The bishop answered
them : If ye will be washed with the saving fount of baptism, as
your father was, then you may also be partakers of that holy bread,
as he was ; but if you despise the laver of life, you may not in any
15 wise receive the bread of life.' They said : ' We will not enter that
laver, for we know we need it not ; but yet we will be fed with that
bread.' When they were often earnestly admonished by him, that
this in no wise might be, that they should partake of the holy bread
without the holy cleansing of baptism , then at last they were roused
20 to fury. They said to him : If you will not assent to us in a matter
so easy, which we request, you may not remain in our province or
in our society.' And they drove him away, and ordered him to de-
part with his companions from their kingdom. When he was driven
away, he came to Kent, and went and took counsel with Laurentius
25 and Justus his fellow bishops, as to what he must do under these cir-
cumstances. And after joint deliberation they settled, that it was
their better and safer course for all to return to their own homes and

serve God there with a free spirit, than to remain any longer fruit-
lessly among the barbarians and adversaries of Christ's faith. Then

30 first the two bishops, Mellitus and Justus, crossed the sea and came

into the districts of the kingdom of Gaul, and resolved that they there
would await the end of this business . But the impious kings, soon
I
 114 LIBER SECUNDUS.

tide, æfter pon pe heo pone soðfæstnisse bodan from him adrifon,
þæt heo deofla bigængum freolice peowedon. Ac heo wæran cumene
wið Westseaxna peode to gefeohte, 7 ealle ætgædre gehruron 7
ofslegene wæron mid heora compweorode. Ond peah de heora
alderas forlorene wæren, ne meahte pat folc pa gen gereaht beon, 5
þætte ær to mánum getogen wæs, ne eft geceed beon to hluttor-
nisse geleafan ne to Godes lufan.

VI.

p. 508. Mid y he a Laurentius se arcebiscop pa odre biscopas his

Cap. 6. geferan fylgan wolde 7 Breotone forlætan, da heht he in pære
seolfan nihte, pa he on morne feran wolde, in cirican para eadigra 10
apostola Petrus 7 Paulus, bi þære we gelomlice sægdon, him
streowne gegearwian, þæt he hine gerestan meahte. Ond pa ærest
longe nihtes in halgum gebedum wæs, 7 his tearas geat, 7 his bene
to Gode sende for pære cirican stealle ; 7 geswenced 7 werig gesette
pa his leomu to restenne 7 hwæthwugo onslepte. Da æteawde 15
him sona se eadgesta aldor para apostola Scs Petrus, 7 hine micelre
tide pære deahlan neahte mid grimmum swingum swong 7 þreade :
ond hine was frignende mid þa apostolican pearlwisnesse, forhwon
he pæt Godes eowde forlætan wolde, pætte he him bead to
healdanne, oope pa gesettan Cristes scep in middum wulfum 20
hwylcum heorde he fleonde forlete. Cwed him eac to : Wære pu
ofergeotende minre bysne, hwæt ic fore Cristes eneohtum, þa he me
in tacnunge his lufan bebead, bende 7 swingan 7 carcern 7 monige
geswencednesse,―-7 æt neahstan pone seolfan dead 7 rode dead from
ungeleafsumum 7 Cristes feondum ic prowade 7 aræfnde, þæt ic mid 25
Criste gesigefæsted wære ? Pa was he se Cristes peow Laurentius
mid þæs apostoles swingum 7 trymnessum swiðe gebylded ; cwom
sona on marne to pam cyninge, 7 his hrægl onwrag 7 him eawde,
mid hu miclum swingum he pread 7 witnod was. Da wundrade
he swide, 7 ahsode hwylc mon to das gedyrstig wære, þæt he swa 30
miclum were swile witu dyde. Pa he da se cyning gehyrde 7
oncneow, þætte he se biscop fore his hælo intingan from Cristes

1. 6. getogen B. C. gegoten T. 1. 9. forlætan B. forlæan (not -lætin) T.

Phi hine ne forleton (om. 7 breotone) C.
 II. 5, 6. 115

after they had driven away from them the preacher of the truth,
gave themselves up without restraint to the worship of devils .
And they marched to battle against the West Saxons, and all fell
together and were slain with their army. And though they had
5 lost their princes, yet the people, who had previously been seduced
to sin, could not yet be reformed, nor called back to the purity of
faith and love of God.

VI.

When archbishop Laurentius was about to follow the other

bishops his companions and leave Britain , intending to start on
10 the morrow, he ordered on that very night his bed to be prepared,
that he might repose, in the church of the blessed apostles Peter
and Paul, which we have often mentioned. And then first during
the night he continued long in holy prayers, and shed tears and
offered up his petitions to God for the state of the church ; and
15 being fatigued and weary he laid his limbs to rest and fell asleep
for a little. Then presently there appeared to him the most
blessed prince of the apostles, St. Peter, and for a long time, in
the secrecy of the night, scourged and chastised him severely.
And he asked him with apostolical severity, why he was about to
20 leave the flock of God, which he had entrusted to him to keep, and
to what pastor he left Christ's sheep, who were set in the midst of
wolves, now that he was fleeing. He further said to him : Did
you forget my example, what I suffered and endured for Christ's
little ones, whom he committed to me in token of his love, that is,
25 bonds, scourging, imprisonment and manifold afflictions, and finally
death itself, and death on the cross at the hands of unbelievers and
enemies of Christ, that I with Christ might be crowned with
triumph ?' Then Laurentius the servant of Christ was much en-
couraged by the chastisement and exhortations of the apostle ; at
30 once in the morning he came to the king, and opening his robe
showed him, with what a scourging he was chastised and punished.
Then the king wondered much, and asked who was so audacious as
to inflict such punishment on so great a man. And when he heard
and understood, that the bishop endured such torture and punish-
I 2
 116 LIBER SECUNDUS.

apostole swa micele tintregu 7 wítu prowade, pa was he swide

forht geworden, 7 him swide ondred ond sona towearp al þa bigong
para deofolgelda, pa he ær beeode, 7 forlet pa unrihtwifunge 7
Cristes geleafan onfeng ; ond se biscop hine gefulwade. 7 sona in
eallum þingum þære cirican eahtum 7 godum freoðode 7 fultemede, 5
swa he fyrmest meahte. Ond he swelce eac sende ærendwrecan in
Gallia rice, 7 heht ham lapian pa biscopas Mellitum 7 Iustum ; 7
he het freolice to heora biscopscire ham hweorfan. 7 heo ymb an
ger ham hwurfon des pe heo ær of Breotone ferdon. Iustus
hwearf to Hrofesceastre, þær he ær biscop was. Mellitum pone 10
biscop Lundenwaran onfón ne woldon, ac ma lufodon pæt heo
peowedan heora deofolgelda biscopum. Ond heo Eadbaldes pæs
cyninges worda ne gemdon, fordon his rice ne was ofer heo, swa
swa his fæder hæfde. Hwæðre he mid his peode mid Contwarum,
seoopan he to Drihtne gecerred wæs, þæm godcundan bebodum 15
peowode 7 hearsumede. Pæs gen to tácne is, þæt he het in Sce
Petres mynstre cirican getimbran in áre þære eadigan fæmnan Sca
Marian, da eft Mellitus on hyre noman gehalgode, pa he was ærce-
biscop.
VII.¹

P. 509. In disses cyninges rice se eadiga ærcebiscop Scs Laurentius forð- 20

Cap. 7. ferde, 7 þæt heofonlice rice gestáh ; 7 in circan 7 in mynstre pæs
eadigan apostoles Sce Petres bii his foregengan Sce Agustine
bebyrged was by feorðan dæge nonarum Februarium. Efter
pæm Mellitus, se was ær Lundenceastre biscop, feng to pam
biscopseole Contwara burge cirican ridda biscop from Sce 25
Agustine. Was Iustus se biscop pa gen lifigende 7 reahte pa
gesomnunge æt Hrofesceastre. Ond heo begen mid micle gemænne
7 gewinne Ongoleiricean heoldon 7 reahton. Was he Mellitus mid
lichoman untrymnesse mid fotadle swide gehefigad ; ac hwæðre
halgum gongum his modes he glædlice all eorðlic þing was 30
oferhleapende, ond symle mid his mode was flegende pa heo-
fonlecan to lufienne 7 to biddenne 7 to secenne. Was he lichom-
licre gebyrde ædeles cynnes, ac mid modes heanisse micle ædelra.

1 XII (apparently original) T.

 II. 6, 7. 117

ment at the hands of Christ's apostle for the sake of his salvation,
he was seized with great fear, and being in great alarm at once
utterly rejected the worship of the idols, which he had followed
before, gave up his unlawful wedlock, and received the faith of
5 Christ ; and the bishop baptized him. And at once in all things
he protected and defended the property and goods of the church,
as far as he might. And he also sent messengers to the kingdom
of Gaul, and bade them invite home the bishops Mellitus and
Justus ; and he bade them return home freely to their bishoprics.
10 And they returned home a year after their departure from Britain.
Justus returned to Rochester, where he was bishop before. The
Londoners would not receive bishop Mellitus, but preferred being
under the bishops of their idols. And they disregarded the words
of king Eadbald, for he had not authority over them, such as his
15 father held. However he and his people of Kent, after his con-
version to the Lord, obeyed and submitted to the divine ordinances.
The proof is this, that he ordered a church to be erected in the
monastery of St. Peter in honour of the blessed lady St. Mary,
which Mellitus afterwards consecrated in her name, when he was
20 archbishop.

VII.

In this king's reign the blessed archbishop St. Laurentius

departed and ascended to the kingdom of heaven, and was buried
in the church and monastery of the blessed apostle St. Peter
beside his predecessor St. Augustine on the 2nd of February.
25 After him Mellitus, who was formerly bishop of London, succeeded
to the see of the church of Canterbury, being the third after St.
Augustine. Bishop Justus was still alive, and directed the
church at Rochester. And they both governed and ruled the
church of England with great care and labour. Mellitus suffered
30 severely from bodily infirmity with gout ; but still, in the holy
courses of his mind, he surmounted with alacrity all earthly obstacles,
and ever in his mind he was in haste to love, to desire and to seek
the things of heaven. He was of noble descent by his carnal
birth, but much nobler by the elevation of his mind . We shall
 118 LIBER SECUNDUS.

Sculon we áne cyonesse his mægenes secgan, þæt we his oðer

mægen þy eað ongytan magon. Gelomp sumre tide, þæt seo ceaster
Contwara burge purh ungemænne synna wearð fyre onbærned .
7 þæt fýr 7 þæt leg swide weox 7 miclade, 7 him nænig mon mid
wætra onweorpnesse wiðstondan meahte ; 7 micel dæl þære ceastre 5
wæs fornumen. Ɖa for se wallenda lég 7 hine brædde to pam
biscope, pa getreowde he in godcundne fultom, þær se mennesca
wan was ; heht his þegnas hine selfne beran ongean þæm fyre 7
asettan, þær se lég 7 seo frecnis mæst wæs ; ond untrum ongon
purh his gebed pa frecenisse pas fyres onweg adrifan, þætte ær seo 10
trume hond strongra monna purh micel gewin don ne meahte.
7 se wind sona, se de ær suðan bleow 7 þa bærnnisse in þa burg
strægd, hine norðan awearp ond þa bærnnisse ut ofbegde ; 7 sona
eallinga þurh his gebed þæt fyr acwán 7 adwæsced was. Ond fordon
pe se Godes wer stronglice innon born mid by fyre godcundre lufan, 15
7 oft stormas 7 hreonisse para werigra gasta from his seolfes
scedenisse 7 his geferena mid his gelomelicum gebedum 7 trymen-
issum scilde 7 wiosceaf, was pet pæs wyrde , pæt he wið pam
middangeardlicum windum 7 légum swiðan meahte, þy læs heo him
7 his freondum scededen. Onu pes halga biscop, æfter pon pe he 20
fif winter pa cirican heold 7 reahte, in Eadbaldes rice leorde to
heofonum, 7 bebyrged was mid his fædrum in þæm oft cwedenan
mynstre 7 cirican Sce Petres by eahteðan dæge Calendarum
Maiarum.
p. 510.
Þæm sona æfterfylgde Iustus in biscophade , se wæs æt Hrofesce- 25
Cap. 8.
astre ær biscop. 7 he dære cirican for hine oderne biscop gehalgode,
Romanus wæs haten, fordon he aldorlicnisse onfeng from Bone-
fatio pam papan, þæt he biscopas hadian moste.

VIII.1
Cap. 9.
Pære tide eac swylce Nordanhymbra þeod mid heora cyninge
Eadwine Cristes geleafan onfeng, pe him Paulinus bodade se halga
biscop 7 lærde. pæm cyninge * pære * onfongennisse Cristes

1. 9. untrum C. B. (ún-) . trumion T. 1. 11. hond C. B. 7 T. meahte C.

mihte B. meahton T. 1. 16. oft C. B. eft T. O. Ca. continue onfengon
fra his sylfes. 1. 23. arium T. ¹ VIII Ca. XIII (beyond, in late hand, IX)
 II. 7, 8, 9. 119

give one proof of his miraculous power, that we may the more
readily comprehend his other miracles. It happened once, that the
town of Canterbury was set on fire by sinful carelessness. And
the fire and flame grew and increased much, and no resistance
5 could be offered to it by pouring on water ; and a great part of
the town was destroyed. When the raging flames advanced and
extended to the bishop, he trusting in the divine help, as human aid
failed, directed his attendants to carry him towards the fire
and set him down, where the flame and danger were greatest ; and
10 though infirm he began by his prayers to repel the danger from
fire which previously the firm hand of strong men with great
labour could not do. And at once the wind, which previously blew
from the south and spread the conflagration into the city, turned
round north and diverted the fire outwards ; and soon by his
15 prayers the flames completely died down and were extinguished .
And as the man of God burnt strongly within with the fire of
divine love, and often kept away and repelled the storms and
tempests of evil spirits from injury to himself and his companions
by repeated prayers and exhortations, so was it now fit, that he
20 should prevail against earthly winds and flames, so that they
should not injure himself and his friends. And now this holy
bishop, after governing and directing the church for five years,
during the reign of Eadbald departed to heaven, and was buried
with his fathers in the oft-named monastery and church of St.
25 Peter on the 24th of April. He was immediately succeeded in the
bishopric by Justus, who was previously bishop at Rochester. He
consecrated in his place another bishop for that church, called
Romanus, as he had received authority from pope Boniface to
ordain bishops .

VIII.

30 At this time also the people of Northumbria with their king

Eadwine received the faith of Christ, which the holy bishop
Paulinus preached and taught them. As an omen for the king

T. 1. 31. MSS. all read seo onfongennis ( -fengnes O. Ca. fængennes B.) .
B. alone mihta for meaht.
 120 LIBER SECUNDUS.

geleafan 7 þæs heofonlecan rices eac swelce on healsunge, geweóx

meahteorolices rices, swa [ þæt] , þætte nænig Ongolcyuna ær him, eall
Breotono gemæro on anweald onfeng, da de orde heora megbe
Ongolcynnes oope Bretta eardodon : all þæt he on anwald onfeng ;
5
ge eac Monige swelce Bretta ealond Ongolcynnes rice underpeodde,
swa we ær beforan sægdon.
Disse peode, þæt is Norðanhymbrum, wæs se æresta intinga to
onfonne Cristes geleafan, þætte se foresprecena heora cyning
Edwini was mid mægsibbe geþeoded Contwara cyningum ; onfeng
he ponan wiife Æpelbeorge, Ædelberhtes dohtor pæs cyninges , seo 10
oðre noman was Táte haten. Pa he ærest his ærendwrecan sende
to Eadbolde hire breder, se wæs pa Contwara cyning, 7 pisse
fæmnan gemánan bæd 7 wilnade, ondswarede he pæt þæt alyfed
nære, þætte cristeno fæmne hæðnan men to wiife seald wære, þy
læs se geleafa 7 þa geryno þæs heofonlecan cyninges mid þæs cy- 15
ninges gemánan aidlad wære, se de pæs sodan cyninges bigong ne
cude. Pa da ærendwrecan eft Eadwine sægdon pas word, þa gehet he
sona þæt he noht widerweardes don wolde pæm cristenan geleafan ,
þe seo fæmne beeode, ac pæt heo moste pone geleafan 7 bigong
hire æfestnisse mid eallum hire geferum, þe heo mid cwomen, 20
by cristuan peawe lifian 7 þone wel healdan. Ne he ne wiðsóc

þæt he seolfa eac pa ilcan æfestnisse underfenge, gif wise witan þæt
funde pæt heo haligra gemeted beon meahte. Pa was seo fæmne
gehaten, 7 æfter fæce Eadwine onsénded. Ond æfter pon pe heo
ær funden hæfdon, was gehalgod to biscope Gode se leofa wer Scs 25
Paulinus, se mid heo feran scolde, to don þæt he pa fæmnan 7 hire
geferan æghwæder ge mid pa mærsunge heofonlicra geryna ge mid
his dæghwamlicre lare trymede, pæet heo in pam gemanan para
hæðenra besmiten ne wære.
Was he Paulinus to biscope gehalgod from Iusto þam arcebiscope 30
þy twelftan dæge Calendarum Augustarum. Da cwom he mid pa
p.511 . foresprecenan fæmnan to Eadwini þæm cyninge, swa swa he wære
gesið licumlicre gegaderunge ; ac he ma mid ealle his mode
beheold, þæt he pa peode, pe he gesohte, to ongytenisse pas soðan
Godes 7 to Cristes geleafan þurh his lare gecegde. Mid þy he ða 35
1. 2. [ æt] not in MSS. 1. 16. aidlad Ca. O. (á-). adilgod B. C. andlád T.
 II. 9. 121

of his reception of Christ's faith and also of the heavenly kingdom,

the power of his earthly kingdom had increased, so that, what none
of the English had done before him, he got into his power the
whole extent of Britain-all that tribes either of English or of
5 British race occupied, he got into his power. He also subjected to
the authority of the English Man, the islands of the Britons, as we
mentioned before. The first motive for the acceptance of Christ's
faith by this people, that is the Northumbrians, was that their
aforesaid king Eadwine was connected by affinity with the kings
10 of Kent ; from this family he received as wife Æthelburh, daughter
of king Æthelberht, who was also called Tate. When he first
sent his envoys to her brother Eadbald, who was then king of
Kent, and begged and desired the hand of this lady, Eadbald
replied that it was unlawful to give a Christian woman as wife to
15 a heathen, lest the faith and sacraments of the heavenly King
should be profaned by association with this king, who knew not
the worship of the true King. When the envoys reported these
words to Eadwine, he promised at once to do nothing adverse to
the christian faith, which the lady held, saying that she might
20 live according to christian usage in the faith and exercise of her
religion and keep it fully, with all the companions she brought
with her. Nor did he refuse even to take up that religion himself,
if wise councillors on examination found that it was holier. Then
the lady was promised, and after a time sent to Eadwine. And as
25 they had already arranged, St. Paulinus, a man beloved of God , was
consecrated bishop, who should proceed with her, that he might
confirm the lady and her companions by celebration of the holy
sacraments and by his daily instruction, so that she should not be
defiled in the society of the heathen. Paulinus was consecrated
30 bishop by archbishop Justus on the 21st July. Then he came
with the aforesaid lady to king Eadwine, as if he were an
attendant at carnal wedlock ; but with all his mind he strove to call
by his teaching the people, whom he visited, to a knowledge of the
true God and to Christ's faith. Now whenthe bishop came with the
122 LIBER SECUNDUS.

se biscop in pa magde cwom mid pære fæmnan, pa wonn he swide,

þæt he æghwæder ge his feran, pa de mid him cwomon, þurh
Drihtnes gife geheolde pæt heo ne asprunge from heora geleafan,
7 gif he hwylce meahte para hæðenra, þat he purh his lare to Cristes
geleafan gecerde. Ac swa se apostol cwæð, þeah de he micelre tide 5
wunne in his lare, pætte God pa mood para ungeleafsumra áblænde,
þy læs him scine seo onlihtnes Cristes godspelles 7 his wuldres.
Ɖa wæs þy æfteran geare, cwom sum monn in Norðanhymbra
mæge ; was his noma Eomær. Was he sended from Westseaxna
cyninge, se was haten Cwichelm, þæt he scolde Eadwine pone 10
cyning somed ge rice ge lif beneoman. Hæfde he 7 wæg mid hine
twiecge handseax geættred , þæt gif seo wund to lyt genihtsumode
to pæs cyninges deade, pat pat attor gefultmade. Cwom he to
pam cyninge by ærestan Eastordage bii Deorwentan þære ea,
þær was pa cyninges aldorbold. Pa eode he inn, swa swa he his 15
hlafordes ærendo secgan scolde. Ond mid by he pa geswippre
mupe licetende ærend wreahte 7 lease fleosewade, pa astod he
semninga, 7 getogene by wæpne under his sceate, ræsde on pone
cyning. pa þæt þa Lilla geseah, se cyninges þegn him se holdesta,
næfde he scyld æt honda, þæt he pone cyning mid scyldan meahte : 20
sette pa his lichoman betweoh beforan pam stynge. 7 þurhstong
pone cyninges þegn 7 pone cyning gewundade. Pa was sona
æghwonan mid wæpnum ymbheped. Hwæt pa gena oðerne cyninges
þegn in þæm ungerecce, se was Fordhere haten, mid by manfullan
wæpne acwealde. 25
Pa was þære ilcan neahte þære halgan Eastrena, cende seo cwen
dohtor þæm cyninge, þære noma wæs Eanflæd. Mid þy þe he da se
ilca cyning in pas biscopes ondweardnesse poncunge dyde his
Godum for pære deahter, þe him acenned wæs, ongegn þon ongon
se biscop poncunge don Drihtne Criste ond þam cyninge cypan, þæt 30
he þæt mid his benum æt him onfenge, pæt heo seo cwen gesund 7
buton hefigum sare pæt bearn cende. pa se cyning pis gehyrde,
pa ongon he lustfullian þæs biscopes wordum, 7 geheht hine sylfne
deofolgildum wiosacan ; 7 þæt he wolde Cristes deowdom geceosan,
he
1. 4.70. Ca. B. be T. 1. 16. mid by pa geswip.re T. B. has geswiperā .
O. Ca. as in text.
 II. 9. 123

lady into that province, he contended earnestly that by God's grace he

might keep both his companions, who came with him, from turning
aside from the faith, and that he might, if possible, convert some of
the heathen by his teaching to the faith of Christ. Yet, as the
5 apostle said, though he strove long in his teaching, God blinded
the minds of the unbelievers, lest the enlightenment of Christ's
gospel and glory should shine upon them. Then next year there
came a man to the province of Northumbria, whose name was
Eomær. He was sent by the king of the West Saxons, named
10 Cwichelm, to deprive king Eadwine of throne and life. He had
and carried upon him a two-edged and poisoned dagger, that if
the wound was not sufficient to cause the king's death, the poison
might help. He came to the king on the first day of Easter, near
the river Derwent, where at that time there was a royal residence
15 and estate. Then he entered, as if to deliver his lord's errand.
And as with crafty lips he reported his feigned errand and falsely
whispered, suddenly he got up, and drawing his weapon under his
garment, rushed on the king. Now when Lilla saw this, who was
the most devoted of the king's attendants, having no shield at hand
20 to defend the king, he interposed his body to meet the thrust. And
Eomær thrust through the king's attendant and wounded the king.
Then he was at once assailed with weapons on all sides. But still
he slew with his wicked dagger yet another of the king's attend-
ants in the tumult, who was called Forthere. Then on the very
25 night of holy Easter, the queen bore the king a daughter, whose
name was Eanflæd. And when the king in the bishop's presence
gave thanks to his gods for the daughter, that was born to him,
the bishop on the other hand began to give thanks to Christ the
Lord, and to make known to the king, that through his prayers he
30 received this grace from him, that the queen bore that child
healthily and without severe suffering. When the king heard this,
he began to rejoice at the bishop's words, and promised that he
himself would renounce his idols ; and said that he would choose
Christ's service, if he would give him life and victory in the
35 contest, which he contemplated against the king, who sent the
 124 LIBER SECUNDUS.

gif he him lif 7 sige forgefe on pæm gewinne, pe he gehogad hæfde

wið þam cyninge, *from þæm þe se myrðra ær sended wæs , se pe
hine gewundade. Ond pa ilcan his dohtor to gehalgienne Criste
pam biscope to wedde gesealde, þæt he þæt gehat gelæstan
wolde. Seo was gefulwad by halgan dæge æt Pentecosten ærest 5
monna of Norðanhymbra þeode, mid endleofan fæmnan oðrum of
pære cwene hyrede ; heo was twelfta.
p. 512. Pære tide eac was se cyning gehaled from pære wunde, pe him
ær gedon wæs. Pa gesomnode he his fyrd wid Westseaxum 7
pider cwom ; 7 sona þæs þe he on heo feaht, wæron him ealle his 10
fynd gecydede, pa þe ær ymb his feorh syredon. 7 he pa sume
ofslog, sume on onweald onfeng ; 7 he sigefæst swa eft ham ferde.
Nales pæt sona þæt innstæpe 7 ungepeahtenlice pæm gerynum onfón
wolde pæs Cristenan geleafan, þeah pe pæet wære, þæt ofer þæt
deofolgeldum ne þeowode , seoðþan he hine to Cristes peowdome 15
gehatenne hæfde. Ac he ærest geornlice aa of tide æghwæðer ge
from þæm arwyrðan were Sce Paulini þæt riht leornade pæs hal-
gan geleafan ; ge eac mid his ealdormonnum, þa de he wiseste 7
snottroste wiste, þæt he gelomlice mid him peahtode 7 sohte, hwæt
be pissum þingum to donne wære. Ge eac he seolfa, mid by þe he 20
was in gecynde se gleawesta mon, oft longe ana sæt swigende
mude, ac mid inneweardre heortan monig mid hine sprecende
smeade, hwæt him selest to dunne wære 7 hwylce æfæstnis him to
healdenne wære.

VIIII,¹

Cap. 10. Dære tide eac swylce pas apostolican se les biscop Bonefatius 25
papa sende Eadwini gretinge 7 gewrit, mid þy he hine trymede to
onfonne Cristes leafan.

Cap. 12. Swylce eac was sum Gódgespræce 7 heofonlic onwrigenis, pe him
geo seo godcunde arfæstnis onwrah, pa he wrecca was mid Ræd-
wald Eastengla cyning, seo swide gefultumede his ondgit to 30
onfonne 7 to ongeotonne monunge pære halwendan láre. Mid þy he

1. 2. þefromþœm þe se myrðra ær sended wæs T. defrom ðæm se C. frāþā

se myrðra ær sended was O. (but the words from gehogad to myrðra are omitted
in text and written at bottom of page, their place marked with points, and two
 II . 9 , 10, 12 . 125

murderer, that wounded him. And he gave his daughter also to

the bishop to be consecrated to Christ, as a pledge that he would
fulfil the vow. She was baptized on the holy day of Pentecost,

being the first among the people of Northumbria, with eleven

5 ladies besides belonging to the queen's household , she being the
twelfth. At that time also the king was healed of the wound
previously inflicted upon him. Then he assembled his army to
fight the West Saxons, and advanced into their country ; and as
soon as he attacked them, all his enemies were denounced to him,
10 who had plotted against his life. And he slew some, and accepted
the submission of others ; and so returned home in triumph. Yet he
would not at once, on the spot and without consideration , receive
the sacraments of the Christian faith ; though the fact was, that
he never served idols, from the day he vowed to be Christ's
15 servant. But first earnestly, from time to time, he studied the
truth of the holy faith under the venerable St. Paulinus ; and also
with his nobles, whom he knew to be wisest and most prudent, he
often took counsel, and enquired of them what should be done in
these matters . Besides, as he was himself naturally a man of the
20 greatest sagacity, he often sat alone with silent lips, while in his
inmost heart he argued much with himself, considering what was
best to do and what religion he should hold to.

IX.

At that time also pope Boniface, bishop of the apostolic see,

sent greeting to Eadwine and a letter exhorting him to receive
25 Christ's faith. There was also a message from God and a heavenly
revelation, which the divine goodness once revealed to him, when he
was an exile with Redwald, king of the East Angles, which supported
his mind much in receiving and comprehending the admonitions of

letters are erased before frā). de se myrðra ær fram sended was Ca. pepone
myrðran þider sende B. ¹ VIIII Ca. XIIII (but IIII partly erased) T.
 126 LIBER SECUNDUS.

pa se biscop Paulinus geseah, pet he uneadelice meahte da

heannesse pas cynelican modes to ea modnesse gecerran, þæt
he onfon wolde his ecre hælo 7 þæm geryne pære liffæstan róde
Cristes, ond he somed for his hælo pas cyninges 7 pære peode, pe
he fore wæs, ge mid worde trymenesse mid monnum wonn, ge eac 5.
mid da godcundan arfæstnesse mid worde his gebeda won, þæt he
forepingode, -pa æt nyhstan geleornade he in gaste 7 him onwrigen
was, hwelc onwrigenis giu heofonlic æteawde pæm cyninge, þa
he wrecca wæs. Ne ylde he hit pa leng ; ac eode sona to pam
cyninge 7 hine monade pæt he his gehat gefylde, pæt he in pære 10
onwrigenesse geheht, þe him æteawed wæs, gif he þære tiide ærmþa
biswicade 7 to heannisse cynerices becwome.
p. 513. Was pis gódgespræce 7 peos onwrigenis pisses gemetes. Mid
þy hine ehte Æðelfrið, se de ær him cyning wæs, 7 purh missenlice
stowe he monigra geara tide flyma was, da gesohte he set nyhstan 15
7 cwom to Radwolde Eastengla cyninge ; 7 hine bæd þæt he his
líf gescylde wið swa micles ehteres sætingum, 7 him feorhyrde
wære. Ond he lustlice hine onfeng 7 him geheht, þæt he swa don
wolde swa he hine bæd. Efter þon þa Æþelfrið se cyning hine
þær geahsode, þæt he mid Rædwold pone cyning was , pa sende he 20
sona ærendwrecan to him 7 micel feoh, wid pon de he hine ofsloge
oope him to cwale agefe ; ne hwæðre owiht on pon fromade.
Sende he eft æfteran side ærendwrecan ; synde þriddan side, 7
maran gife micle 7 feoh, ponne he him ær sende, wid his cwale :
ond het eac him onbeodan, þæt he hine wolde mid fyrde to 25
gefeohte gesecan, gif he his word 7 his gife forhogode. Pa was
his mod æghwæder ge mid pæm beotungum gebreged ge mid þæm
geofum gewemmed, þæt he geþafode pas cyninges bene 7 gehet,
þæt he Eadwine ofsloge o pe feondum to cwale gefe. pa was
sum cyninges þegn his freond se getreowesta, þe das ping gehyrde 30
7 onget. Pa eode he to his inne, þær he hine restan wolde, --
wæs foreweard niht -7 hine acegde út 7 him sægde 7 cyode, hu
him mon emb don wolde. Cwæð him pa gyt to : Gif du wilt

1. 2. 70. Ca. B. þa T. 77, C. 1. 5. ge to won wanting in T. Text from

O. Ca. has -nyssa and omits won. gebeda won C. ge eac mid ðære godcundan
arfæstnesse mid wordum his gebeda wann B. 1. 11. onwrigenesse O. Ca.
 II. 12. 127

saving doctrine. When bishop Paulinus saw that he could not

easily convert to humility the pride of this royal spirit, so that he
would accept his eternal salvation and the mystery of Christ's
quickening cross-and he at the same time, for the salvation of the
5 king and the people he ruled, strove with men by word of exhorta-
tion, and strove with the divine goodness by word of prayer in
intercession then at last he learnt in spirit, and it was revealed to
him, what heavenly revelation was formerly disclosed to the king,
when an exile. He delayed no longer, but went at once to the
10 king and admonished him to fulfil his vow, made at the time of
the revelation granted to him, in case he should escape the misery of
that time and be raised to the throne. This divine message and
revelation was to this effect. When Æthelfrith, his predecessor,
persecuted him, and he was a fugitive for many years in various
15 places, at last he turned and came to Redwald, king of the East
Angles, and begged him to protect his life against the snares
of his mighty persecutor, and ensure his saiety. The king wel-
comed him, and promised to do as he asked . When king Æthel-
frith found him out there, at the court of king Redwald, he at once
20 sent envoys with large sums, as the price of his murder or his
surrender to death. However he effected nothing by this. Again
a second time he sent envoys ; he sent a third time, with much
richer gifts and bribes than before, as price of his death . He also
bade them threaten, that he would march against Redwald with an
25 army, if he rejected his request and his gifts. Then the king's
mind was moved by the threats and corrupted by the gifts, so that
he granted the king's prayer and promised to slay Eadwine or give
him up to his enemies to be put to death. Now there was one of

the king's followers, who was Eadwine's most faithful friend , and he
30 heard and understood the matter. And going to the chamber,
where Eadwine was about to lie down to sleep-it was early in
the night- he called him out, spoke to him and told what they would
do to him. He added , ' If you wish, at this moment, I will bring

-genn- B. wrignesse T. 1. 23. second side O. Ca. siða T. , not in B. 1. 31 .

hine O. Ca. B. inne T.
 128 LIBER SECUNDUS.

in pas seolfan tid, ic pe alædo of pisse mæge, 7 in þa stowe

alæde, þær þe næfre Redwald ne Ædelfrið gemetan magon.
Cwæð he to him : On ponce me synd þin word 7 pin lufo, 7
hwæðre ne mag ic þæt dón, þæt þu me lærest, þæt ic ærest þa
wære forlate, pe ic to swa miclum cyninge nom, mid þy he me 5
noht yfeles dyde ne lades æteawde. Ac gif ic deað þrowian sceal,
leofre me is, þæt he mec to deade sylle ponne unæðelra mon.
Oope la hwider mæg ic nu leng fleon ? Monigra geara tida ofer
ealle Breotone ic flyma wæs, þæt ic me his hete bearh 7 warenode.
pa eode se his freond onweg from him, 7 he Eadwini ana þær 10
ute gewunade ; sæt swide unrot on stane beforan pære healle,
7 ongon mid monegum hætum his gepohta swenced beon : 7 ne
wiste, hwider he eode o pe hwæt him selest to donne wære.
Mid þy he pa longe swigendum nearonissum his modes 7 mid þy
blindan fyre soden wæs , þa geseah he semninga on midre niht 15
sumne mon wið his gongan uncupes ondwlitan 7 uncuðes gegyrlan.
pa he ða to him cwom, pa was he forht geworden . Pa eode he
to him, grette hine 7 frægn, for hwon he in pære tide, pe oore
men slépon 7 reston, ána swa unrot on stane wæccende sæte. Da
frægn he hine, hwæt þæs to him lumpe, hwæðer he wacode pe 20
slépe, 7 hwæðer he pe ute pe inne wære. Da ondswarade he
7 him to cwæð : Ne tala þu me, þæt ic ne cunne pone intingan
þinre unrotnisse 7 þinre wæcene 7 * onlæpnesse pines sedles. Ac
p. 514. ic cuðlice wat, ge hwet pu eart ge for hwon þu gnornast, 7 hwylc
toweard yfel þu þe in * neahnesse forhtast. Ac gesaga me hwylce 25
mede pu wille syllan þam men, gif hwylc sy, þætte pec from
þissum nearonessum alyse ond Rædwalde on mod beswápe, þæt he
noht lades ne gedo ne pec pinum feondum to cwale agife ? pa
ondswarede 7 cwæð, þæt he ealle da god , þe he meahte, for mede
pislicre fremsumnesse syllan wolde. Da ætecte he pa gyt his 30
gesprec 7 cwæð : 7 nu gif he de eac, adwæsctum pinum feondum,
in soðe toweard cynerice gehateð, swa þæt nales þæt an ealle pine
yldran, ac ealle cyningas, pa de in Breotone wæron ær, þu in

1. 19. slépo T. slep . on (t erased) O. slepon Ca. B. 1. 23. onslæpnesse

T. anlepnesse Ca. anlipnesse (i out of e by erasure) 0. anlypnesse B.
1. 25. nihtnesse T. eh,nesse (one letter before e erased, e on erasure) O. eht-
 II. 12 . 129

you out of this country, and into a place where neither Redwald
nor Æthelfrith can ever find you.' Eadwine replied : ' I am grate-
ful for your offer and your love, but yet I cannot do what you advise,
and wilfully forsake the compact made with so great a king, seeing
5 that he has done me no harm nor showed any hostility. And
if I must suffer death, I would rather he put me to death than a
meaner man. And see now, where can I flee any longer ? For many
a year I have been a fugitive throughout all Britain, enduring and
guarding against his hate.' Then his friend left him, and Eadwine
10 stayed alone outside ; he sat in great despondency on a stone
before the hall, and began to be troubled with many a feverish
thought, not knowing where to go or what it was best to do.
After long brooding in silent anguish of mind and with secret
heartburning, suddenly he saw at midnight a man approach him,
15 of strange appearance and strange dress. His coming alarmed
him ; but the man came up, saluted him, and asked why at
that time, when other men were asleep and took their rest, he sat
alone on a stone awake and gloomy. Then Eadwine asked, what
that was to him, whether he was awake or asleep, outside or
20 within. The other answered and said : ' Do not imagine that I am
ignorant of the cause of your despondency and wakefulness and
your sitting solitary. But I know well, what you are and why you
sorrow, and the coming trouble which you dread as imminent.
But tell me what reward you will give to the man, if there be any
25 one, to rescue you from these troubles, and prevail on Redwald's
mind not to do you any harm, nor surrender you to your enemies to
be put to death.' Then he answered and said, that he would
make every return in his power as a reward for such service.
Then the other continuing said : ' And now if he also truly promises
30 you a throne in the future, after the extinction of your enemies, so
that you may far surpass in power and authority not only your

nysse Ca. neahnysse B. (C. ?). Perhaps neawestein proximo. 1. 30. ætecte
C. æticte B. œtycte 0. geycte Ca. gyt ecte T.
K
130 LIBER SECUNDUS.

meahte 7 in rice feor oferstigest ? Pa was he Eadwine baldra

geworden in þære frignesse, 7 sona gehet, se de him swa micle
fremsumnesse forgefe, þæt he him þæs wolde wyrðelice poncunce
don. Cwæð he priddan side to him, se pe him wið spræc : Ono gif
se mon, se de þyslice gife 7 swa micle soolice pe towearde forecwid, 5
ond eac swylce geþeahte pinre hælo 7 betran lifes 7 nyttran þe
æteawan mæg, ponne ænig þinra maga oope yldrena æfre gehyrde-
cwist pu hwæder pu his pa halwendan monunge onfon wille 7 him
hearsum beon ? Pa ne * elde he Eadwini owiht ac sona gehet, þæt
he wolde in eallum þingum him hearsum beon 7 his lare lustlice 10
onfon, se pe hine from swa monegum ermþum 7 teonum generede 7
to heanisse cynerices for gelædde. pa he da pisse ondsware
onfeng, se pe mid hine spræc, pa instæpe sette he mid pa swidron
hond him on Sæt heafod 7 pus cwed : Donne pis tacen pislic pe
tocyme, ponne gemyne pu pas tide uncres gespreces 7 ne yld 15
þu þæt þu þa þing gefylle, þe du me nu gehete. Pa he da pas word
spræc, pa ne wiste he semninga hwær he cwom ; wolde pæt he
in pon ongete, þæt þæt mon ne wæs, se pe him æteawde, ac þætte
þæt gast wæs.
Ond mid þy he da se geonga æþeling ána þær þa gyt sæt, ond 20
was swide gefeonde bi pære frofre pe him gehaten wæs, ac hwæðre
sorgende mode geornlice pohte, hwæt se wære oope hwonan he cwome,
se das ping to him sprecende wæs, pa com eft to him se foresprecena
his freond 7 mid blide ondwleotan hine halette 7 grette ; 7 pus cwæð :
Aris, gong in ; gerest pinne lichoman 7 pin mod buton sorgum, 25
fordon þæs cyninges heorte is oncerred ; ne wile he de owiht lades
gedon, ac he ma wile his treowa 7 his gehat wið þe gehealdan 7 þe
feorhhyrde beon.Sægde him pa æfter pon pæt : Se cyning his
gepoht, bi Sæm pe ic de ær sæde, pære cwene in deagolnesse
onwreah. Da onwende heo hine from þære yflan inngehygde his 30
modes ; lærde hine 7 monade, pætte þæt nænige pinga gedafenode
swa æðelum cyninge 7 swa gepungennum, þæt he sceolde his freond
þone betstan in neede gesetum in gold bebycgan, 7 his treowe for
fea gitsunge 7 lufan forleosan, seo wære deorwyrore eallum

1. 9. helde T. ylde O. Ca. B. 1. 34. deorwyrore C. Ca. -de T. -de

7 mare O. -Ore 7 máre B.
 II. 12. 131

forefathers, but all kings that ever were in Britain ? ' Then Eadwine
was encouraged by these questions, and at once promised, that
whoever did him such service, should receive due gratitude at his

hands. Then the man, who talked with him, spoke a third time :
5 ' Well, if the man who foretells truly to you such a great gift in the
future, also can show you a way to salvation and to a life better
and more useful than any of your kindred or forefathers ever heard

of, do you say that you will receive his salutary advice and
hearken to him? ' Then Eadwine made no delay, but promised at

10 once to hearken in all things and receive his instruction cheerfully,

when he saved him from such misery and calamity, and raised him
to the throne. When the man who spoke with him received this
answer, at once he put his right hand on his head and said : ' When
this token comes to you in this wise, then remember the time
15 of our conversation, and delay not to fulfil your present promise.'
After these words were spoken, suddenly Eadwine knew not
where he went ; he would have it understood thereby, that it was
not a man who appeared to him but a spirit. As the young prince
still sat there alone, rejoicing greatly at the comfort promised him,
20 yet earnestly, with anxious heart, considered who he was, or
whence he came, who thus spoke to him, then the aforesaid friend
came again to him, and with cheerful face hailed and greeted
him saying thus : Arise, and go in ; rest body and mind without
anxiety, because the king's heart is turned ; he will do you no harm,
25 but rather keep his faith and promise to you and ensure your
safety.' He then told him this : The king disclosed to the queen
in secret his intentions, of which I told you before. Then she

diverted him from the evil purpose of his heart, instructing

and admonishing him, that it in no wise became a king so noble and
30 so excellent to sell for gold his best friend in the hour of his need,

and to sacrifice honour, which is dearer than all treasures, for greed
K 2
 182 LIBER SECUNDUS.

P. 515. maomum. Hwæt sculon we pas nu ma secgan ? Dyde se cyning

swa hit ær cweden was ; nales þæt an þæt he done wreccan to
cwale ne gesealde, ac eac swylce him gefultumade, þæt he to rice
becwom. Forpon sona siopan þa ærendwrecan ham cerdon, pe his
cwale ærendodon, þa gebeon Redwald his fyrd 7 micel weorod 5
gesomnade to gewinnenne wið Æpelfriðe. pa for he him togegnes
ungelice weorode, forpon he ne wolde him fyrst alyfan, þæt he moste
his weorod eal gesomnian . Da
Đa geforon heo tosomne 7 gefuhton on
gemære Mercna þeode æt eastdæle pære eá, þe is Idle nemned ;
7 þær mon Æðelfrid pone cyning slog. Swylce eac in dæm ilcan 10
gefeohte mon sloh Radwoldes sunu, se was haten Regenhere. Ond
swa Eadwine æfter þam gódgesprece, þe he ær onfeng, nales þæt an
þæt he him pa sætunge pa gewearonode pæs unhóldan cyninges, ac
eac swylce æfter his slege him in pas rices wuldor æfterfylgde.
Mid þy he pa Paulinus se biscop Godes word bodade 7 lærde, 7 15
se cyning elde þa gyt to gelyfanne 7 þurh sume tide, swa swa we
ær cwædon, gelimplicum ana sæt, 7 geornlice mid him seolfum
smeade 7 pohte, hwæt him selest to donne wære 7 hwylc æfæstnes
him to healdanne wære, pa was sume dæge se Godes wer in-
gongende to him, þær he ana sæt, ond sette his pa swiðran hond him 20
on þæt heafod, 7 hine ahsode hwæder he þæt tacen ongytan meahte.
Pa oncneow he hit sona sweotole 7 was swide forht geworden, 7 him
to fotum feoll ; 7 hine se Godes monn up hof, 7 him cuðlice tospræc,
7 þus cwæð : Ono hwæt þu nu hafast þurh Godes gife pinra feonda
hond beswicade, pa du de ondrede, 7 pu purh his sylene 7 gife pæm 25
rice onfenge, pe du wilnadest. Ac gemyne nu þæt þu þæt pridde
gelæstest, þæt pu gehete, þæt pu onfo his geleafan 7 his bebodu
healde, se de pe from wilwendlecum earfeðum generede 7 eac in áre
wilwendlices rices ahóf. Ond gif du forð his willan hearsum beon
wilt, pone he purh me bodað 7 læred, he þonne pe eac from tint- 30
tregum genered ecra yfela ond pec dælneomende gedeð mid him þæs
ecan rices in heofonum .

1. 1. hwat O. Ca. B. hwas T. 1. 9. eá (accent not certain) T. cá B.

ea O. Ca; 1. 11. regnhere T. regenhere O. Ca. rægnere B. 1. 18. 7
 II . 12 . 133

and love of money.' Why should we say more ? The king did as it
has been said ; he not only did not give up the exile to death, but
also aided him in attaining to the throne. For soon after the envoys
returned home, who sought his death, Redwald summoned his troops
5 and gathered a large army to attack Æthelfrith. The latter
marched to meet him with an inferior force, as the other did not give
him time to assemble all his men. They encountered and fought on
the borders of Mercia, east of the river called the Idle ; and there
king Æthelfrith was slain. A son of Redwald, called Regenhere,
10 also fell in the battle. So Eadwine, in accordance with the divine
message before received, not only escaped the snares of the hostile
king, but also, after his death, succeeded to the throne of that
kingdom. As bishop Paulinus preached and taught God's word,
and the king still hesitated to believe, and for a period, as already
15 said, often sat alone and earnestly debated and considered with
himself, what he had best do and what religion he should follow,
then one day the man of God came in to him, as he sat alone,
and putting his right hand on his head, asked him whether he could
understand the token. Then he at once clearly recognised it, and
20 being much alarmed fell at his feet ; but the man of God raised
him up and spoke to him kindly, saying : Well now, you have by
God's grace escaped the hand of your enemies, whom you feared,
and by his gift and grace succeeded to the throne you desired. But
remember now to fulfil the third thing, namely, your promise
25 to receive his faith and keep his commandments, who rescued you
from temporal adversities and exalted you to the glory of a temporal
kingdom. And if you will further hearken to his will, which he
preaches and teaches through me , he will also rescue you from the
torments of everlasting sufferings, and make you partaker with him
30 of the everlasting kingdom in heaven.'

hwyle to ware not in T. Text from O. 1. 32. T.18 ends heofonum, Iga begins
bedo pa : leaf lost. Text from 0.
 134 LIBER SECUNDUS.

X.

Cap. 13. pa se cyning pa pas word gehyrde, pa andswarode he him 7 cwæð,

þat he æghwæper ge wolde ge sceolde pam geleafan onfon pe he
lærde. Cwæð hwæpere, þat he wolde mid his freondum 7 mid his
wytum gesprec 7 geþeaht habban, þæt gif hi mid hine þæt gepafian
woldan, þat hi ealle ætsomne on lifes willan Criste gehalgade 5
wæran. pa dyde se cyning swa swa he cwæð, 7 se bisceop þæt
gepafade. Pa hæfde he gesprec 7 gepeaht mid his witum 7
syndriglice was fram him eallum frignende, hwyle him puhte 7
gesawen wære þeos niwe lar 7 þære godcundnesse bigong, þe þær
læred wæs . 10
p. 516. Him pa andswarode his ealdorbisceop, Cefi was haten : Geseoh
pu, cyning, hwelc peos lar sie, pe us nu bodad is. Ic pe solice
andette, þæt ic cuðlice geleornad hæbbe, þæt eallinga nawiht
mægenes ne nyttnesse hafao sio æfæstnes, pe we od dis hæfdon 7
beeodon. Forðon nænig þinra þegna neodlicor ne gelustfullicor 15
hine sylfne underpeodde to ura goda bigange þonne ic ; 7 noht þon
læs monige syndon, þa þe maran gefe 7 fremsumnesse æt þe onfengon
ponne íc, 7 on eallum þingum maran gesynto hæfdon. Hwæt ic wat,
gif ure godo ænige mihte hæfdon, ponne woldan hie me ma fultumian,
forpon ic him geornlicor peodde 7 hyrde. Forpon me pynced wislic, 20
gif þu geseo pa þing beteran 7 strangran, pe us niwan bodad
syndon, þæt we þam onfon.
Pæs wordum oper cyninges wita 7 ealdormann gepafunge sealde,
7 to pære spræce feng 7 þus cwæð : Pyslic me is gesewen, þu cyning,
pis andwearde lif manna on eorðan to wiðmetenesse þære tide, 25
pe us uncuð is, swyle swa pu æt swæsendum sitte mid pinum
ealdormannum 7 þegnum on wintertide , 7 sie fýr onælæd 7 þin
heall gewyrmed, 7 hit rine 7 sniwe 7 styrme ute ; cume an
1. 3. mid Ca. B.: not in O. 1. 7. gesprec. (after c erasure of one letter) O.
8
Ca. has gespræce. spræce B. 1. 8. ,yndriglice O. syndriglice Ca. syn-
derlice B. 1. 9. bigong. (erasure of a final e) O. bigong Ca. begang B.
8 st
1. 14. di, 0. dis Ca. pis B. 1. 15. gelu.fullicor (the second stroke of first
u and st and tick below in pale ink. Different hand) 0. gelustfullode (omit
 II. 13. 135

X.

When the king heard these words, he answered and said, that it
was both his desire and duty to receive the faith which the bishop
taught. Yet he said, he would speak and take counsel with his friends
and counsellors, and if they agreed with him, all together would
5 be consecrated to Christ in the fount of life. Then the king did as
he said, and the bishop assented . Then he conferred and took
counsel with his advisers, and asked all of them separately their
opinion about this new doctrine and worship of the Deity, which
was taught therein. Then his chief bishop, called Cæfi , answered :
10'Consider for your part, O king, what this doctrine is, that is now
preached to us. I truly confess to you, what I have learnt for
certain, that the religion we have held and maintained hitherto is
absolutely without use or excellence. For none of your followers
devoted himself more closely or cheerfully to the worship of our
15 gods than I did ; but nevertheless many have received more gifts
and promotion from you than I, and in all things have prospered
more. Well, I am sure if our gods had any power, they would
help me more, for I more zealously served and obeyed them.
Therefore, if you consider the religion to be fairer and stronger,
20 which is newly preached to us, it seems wise to me that we should
receive it.' Another of the king's counsellors, one of his chief men,
assented to his words, and taking up the discussion thus spoke :
' O king, the present life of man on earth, in comparison with the
time unknown to us , seems to me, as if you sat at table with your
25 chief men and followers in winter time, and a fire was kindled and
your hall warmed, while it rained, snowed, and stormed without ;

underpeodde) Ca. gelistfullicor hine geþeodde on úra B. 1. 23. -mann ..

(erasure) 0. -mann Ca. -man B. 1. 26. sw. lic swa (letter a erased and
nothing inserted) O. swa gelic swa Ca. swyle (no more) B. sitte. (letter
ย
erased) O. sitte Ca. B. 1. 28. gew.rmed O. -wyr- Ca. B. rine 7 sniwe
(ine,ni on erasure) O. rine 7 sniwe Ca. ríne 7 sníweB . (reads hagelge for
styrme; C. reads hagelge).
 136 LIBER SECUNDUS.

spearwa 7 hrædlice pæt hus purhfleo, cume purh opre duru

in, purh opre ut gewite. Hwat he on pa tid, þe he inne bið,
ne bið hrinen mid by storme pas wintres ; ac pæt bið an eagan
bryhtm 7 þæt læsste fæc, ac he sona of wintra on þone winter eft
cymeð. Swa ponne pis monna lif to medmiclum fæce ætywed ; 5
hwæt þær foregange, odde hwæt þær æfterfylige, we ne cunnun.
Fordon gif peos lar owiht cuðlicre 7 gerisenlicre brenge, þæs weorpe
is þæt we pære fylgen. Peossum wordum gelicum odre aldormen
7 Cæs cyninges gepeahteras spræcan.
Pa gen tóætyhte Cęfi 7 cwæð, þat he wolde Paulinus pone bisceop 10
geornlicor gehyran be pam Gode sprecende pam pe he bodade.
Pa het se cyning swa don. Pa he pa his word gehyrde, þa
clypode he 7 pus cwad : Geare ic pęt ongeat, pat dæt nowiht wæs,
þæt we beeodan. Forþon swa micle swa ic geornlicor on pam
bigange þæt sylfe soð sohte, swa ic hit læs mette. Nu ponne 15
ic openlice ondette, þæt on þysse lare þæt sylfe soð scineð, þæt
us mæg þa gyfe syllan ecre eadignesse 7 eces lifes hælo. Forþon ic
þonne nu lære, cyning, þæt þæt templ 7 pa wigbedo, pa da we
buton wæstmum ænigre nytnisse halgodon, þæt we pa hrape
forleosen 7 fyre forbærne. Ono hwæt he pa wæs se cyning 20
openlice * ondettende pam biscope 7 him eallum, þæt he wolde
fæstlice pam deofolgildum wiðsacan ond Cristes geleafan onfon.
Mid by pe he pa se cyning from pæm foresprecenan biscope sohte
7 ahsode heora halignesse, pe heo ær bieodon, hwa da wigbed 7 þa
hergas para deofolgilda mid heora heowum, pe heo ymbsette wæron, 25
P. 517. heo ærest áidligan 7 toweorpan scolde, pa ondsworede he : Efne ic.
Hwa mæg þa nu eað, þe ic longe mid dysignesse beeode, to bysene
oðerra monna gerisenlecor toweorpan, ponne ic seolfa þurh pa
snytro, pe ic from þæm soðan Gode onfeng Ond he ða sona from
him awearp þa idlan dysignesse , þe he ær beeode, ond pone cyning 30
w
1. 1. spearca (c crossed by stroke from w) O. -wa Ca. B. fleo cume (o cu
h
on erasure) O. fleoge 7 cume B. fleo (only) Ca. 1. 3 . rined (a stroke
erased before n) . rined Ca. hrinen B. 1. 4. lasste (te over original este ?
the stain of e plain in blank beyond, but crossed by stroke of final e) O. læste
Ca. B. 1. 5. medmiclum (d in erasure of ðð ?) O. medmyclum Ca.
medmiclum B. mendlicum (sic) C. 1. 6. hwat .... þær (erasure of four
letters) 0. hwat þær Ca. B. 1. 7. 7 yerisenlicre Ca. (O. above line).
 II. 13. 137

and there came a sparrow and swiftly flew through the house,
entering at one door and passing out through the other. Now as
long as he is inside, he is not pelted with winter's storm ; but
that is the twinkling of an eye and a moment of time, and at once
5 he passes back from winter into winter. So then this life of man
appears for but a little while ; what goes before, or what comes
after, we know not. So, if this new doctrine reports anything more
certain or apt, it deserves to be followed.' The other elders and
the king's counsellors expressed themselves in similar terms. Then
10 Cæfi further said, that he wished to hear more attentively Paulinus
speaking about the God whom he preached. This the king ordered
to be done. On hearing the bishop's words Cæfi exclaimed, ' I see
clearly, that all we worshipped, was but naught. For the more
attentively I sought this very truth in our worship, the less I
15 found it. Now then I openly acknowledge that the very truth is
evident in this teaching, which can give us the grace of eternal
blessedness and the salvation of eternal life. Therefore , O king, I
now advise, that we should speedily destroy and burn with fire the
temple and the altars, which we consecrated without producing any
20 benefit.' So then the king openly professed before the bishop and
all, that he would firmly renounce idols and receive Christ's faith.
When the king asked the aforesaid bishop of that religion, which
they previously maintained , who should first profane and throw
down the altars and fanes of the idols, and the thedges which
25 surrounded them, then he answered, ' Who but I ? As I long in
my folly worshipped them, who may now more readily and suitably
overthrow them, as an example to other men, than I myself
through the wisdom received from the true God ? ' And he at once
cast away from him the vain folly, which he previously entertained,
t
grislicre B. geweorlicre C. 1. 15. me,te (first e out ofi ; after it one letter
pon
erased) O. mette Ca. B. 1. 17. for,ic ponne O. fordon ic (only) Ca.
forðam ic pon B. 1. 18. T. begins at bedo 19ª. 1. 19. hrape (a out e ; p
out of a letter likeƒ) T. hraðe Ca. rade B. hrape O. 1. 21. ondette T.
(O. Ca. a-, but these two omit was) . andettende B. 1. 26. ic O. Ca. C. eac T.
efne ic wanting in B. 1. 27. bysene O. C. bysne Ca. bisencenne T. The
words pe .... gerisenlecor are not in B.
 138 LIBER SECUNDUS.

bæd þæt he him wapen sealde 7 stodhors, þæt he meahte on cuman

7 deofolgyld toweorpan. Fordon pam biscope heora halignesse ne
wæs alyfed, þæt he moste wapen wegan, ne elcor buton on myran
ridan. Pa sealde se cyning him sweord, þæt he hine mid gyrde ; 7
nom his spere on hond 7 hleop on pas cyninges stedan 7 to þæm 5
deofulgeldum ferde. Pa det folc hine pa geseah swa gescyrpedne,
pa wendon heo þæt he teola ne wiste, ac pæt he wedde. Sona þæs
þe he nealehte to pæm herige, pa sceat he mid þy spere, þæt hit
sticode fæste on pæm herige, ond was swide gefeonde pære
ongytenesse þæs soðan Godes bigonges. Ond he da heht his 10
geferan toweorpan ealne pone herig 7 pa getimbro 7 forbærnan .
Is seo stow gyt æteawed gu deara deofulgilda, noht feor east from
Eoforwicceastre begeondan Deorwentan þære ea, ond gen to dæge
is nemned Godmundingaham, þær se biscop purh pæs soðan Godes
inbryrdnesse towearp 7 fordyde pa wigbed, pe he seolfa ær gehal- 15
gode.
XI.

Cap . 14. Da onfeng Eadwine cyning mid eallum þæm æðelingum his
þeode 7 mid micle folce Cristes geleafan 7 fulwihte bære þy end-
lyftan geare his rices. Was he gefulwad from Paulini pæm biscope
his lareowe in Eoforwicceastre by halgestan Eastordage in Sce 20
Petres cirican pas apostoles, pa he þær hræde geweorce of treo
cirican getimbrode. Siopan hegecristnad wæs, swylce eac his lareowe
7 biscope Paulini biscopseðl forgeaf. Ond sona þæs þe he geful-
wad was, he ongon mid þæs biscopes lare maran cirican 7 hyrran
stænenne timbran 7 wyrcan ymb þa cirican utan, þe he ær worhte. 25
Ac ærpon heo seo heannis pæs wealles gefylled wære 7 geendad, þæt
he se cyning mid arleasre cwale ofslegen wæs , 7 þæt ilce geweorc his
æfterfylgende Oswalde forlet to geendianne. Of pære tide Paulinus
se biscop syx ger ful, þæt is 68 endan þæs cyninges rices, þæt he mid
his fultome in þære mæge Godes word bodode 7 lærde ; 7 men 30
gelyfdon 7 gefulwade wæron, swa monige swa forteode wæron to
ecum life. In þæm wæron Osfrið 7 Eatfrið Eadwines suna
cyninges, þa begen him wæron cende, pa he wrecca was, of Cwen-

1. 11. forbærnan O. Ca. B. ndon T.

 II. 13 , 14. 139

and prayed the king to give him arms and a stallion to ride on and
overthrow the idols. For the bishop of their religion was not allowed
to bear arms, nor ride except on a mare. Then the king gave him
a sword to gird on ; and he took his spear in his hand, and springing
5 on the king's stallion proceeded to the idols. Now when the
people saw him thus equipped, they supposed that he was not in his
right mind, but gone mad. As soon as he approached the sanctuary,
he cast his spear, so that it stuck fast in the sanctuary, and exulted
in his knowledge of the worship of the true God. Then he bade
10 his companions pull down all that sanctuary and its buildings, and
burn them up with fire. The place is still pointed out of that
former idol worship, not far east of York beyond the river Derwent,
and at this day it is still called Goodmanham, where the bishop, by
the inspiration of the true God, pulled down and destroyed the
15 altars previously consecrated by himself.

XI.

Then king Eadwine, with all the princes of his people and a
large crowd, received the faith of Christ and baptism in the
eleventh year of his reign. He was baptized by his teacher, bishop
Paulinus, at York on the most holy day of Easter in the church of
20 the apostle St. Peter, which he there hastily erected of wood.
After being catechized , he had also assigned an episcopal residence
to his teacher and bishop, Paulinus. As soon as he was baptized,
he began under the bishop's direction to erect and complete a
larger and loftier church of stone, around the church previously
25 built and enclosing it. But before the walls attained their
full height and were finished , the king was slain by a foul death,
and left the work for his successor Oswald to complete. For full
six years from that time, that is to the end of the king's reign,
bishop Paulinus with his support preached and taught God's word
30 in that province ; and men believed and were baptized, as many as
were predestined to eternal life. Among them were Osfrith and
Eatfrith, sons of king Eadwine, who were both born to him when in
 140 LIBER SECUNDUS.

burghe, seo was Ceorles dohtor Mercna cyninges . Weron eac

gefulwade æfterfylgendre tiide oder his bearn, of Æðelberge þære
cwéne acende, Epelhun 7 Ædelfrið his dohtor 7 oder his sunu ,
p. 518. Wuscfrea wæs haten ; ac pa ærran tu under crisman forðgeleordon
7 in cirican in Eoferwiicceastre bebyrgde wæron. Swilce eac was 5
gefulwad Yffe Osfriðes sunu, 7 monige æðelingas þæs cynecynnes.
Is pæet sægd, pætte swa micel hætu 7 lust wære Cristes geleafan 7
fulwihtbædes in Nordanhymbra peode, pætte Paulinus se biscop
sumre tide com mid pone cyning 7 cwene in pone cynelican tun, se
wæs nemned Ætgefrin ; 7 þær wunode syx 7 prittig daga, þæt he 10
þær þæt folc cristnade 7 fulwade. 7 he noht elles dyde eallum
pam dagum from ær morgenne oð æfen, pon pæt cumende Cristes
folc pider of eallum tunum 7 stowum mid godcundre lare timbrede
ond synna forlætnesse bæde adwóg in pæm streame pe Glene is
nemned. Pes tun was forlæten in para æfterfylgendra cyninga 15
tidum, 7 oðer wæs fore pæm getimbred in þære stowe þe Mælmen
hatte. Pa stowe syndon in Beornica mægðe ; ac swelce eac in
Dera mægde, þær se biscop oft mid pone cyning was, þæt he
fulwade pæt fulc in Swalwan streame, se liged bi Cetreht tune.
Forpon pa gena ne wæron cyrican getimbrode ne fulwihtstowe in 20
þæm fruman þære acendan cirican ; 7 hwædre in Donafelda, þær
was cyninges bold, het Eadwine þær cirican getimbran, ða æfter
fæce þa hæðnan mid ealle þy boðle forbærndon, from þæm eft se
cyning slegen was. For pæm eft pa æfteran cyningas him boðl
worhton in þæm londe, pe Loidis hatte. 25

XII.¹1
Cap. 15. Hæfde Edwine se cyning swa micle wilsumnesse pas bigonges
Cristes geleafan, þæt he eac swylce Eorpwald Eastengla cyning
Radwaldes sunu to pon gespeon, þæt he forlet þa idelnesse deofol-
gilda 7 þæm gerynum onfeng Cristes geleafan mid his mægðe
Eastenglum. Was Redwald his fæder geo geara in Cent gelæred 30
in þa gerynu Cristes geleafan, ac holinga ; fordon pa he eft ham

1. 14. on (i. e. ond) B. in T. 7 on (7 later insertion) O. 7 on Ca. glene B.

gien T. clane O. Ca. 1. 18. dera O. Ca. pære T. B. 1. 20. forbon
O. Ca. forðam B. ford T. 1 XII Ca. XVII (but last two strokes
erased) T.
 II. 14, 15 . 141

exile, of Cwenburh, daughter of Ceorl king of Mercia. At a later

time were baptized also his other children, born of queen Æthel-
burg, namely Æthelhun and Æthelfrith his daughters, and another
son named Wuscfrea. The first two died while chrisom-children,
5 and were buried in the church at York. Yffe, son of Osfrith, was
also baptized, and many princes of the royal race. It is said, that
there was such fervour and desire for Christ's faith and baptism
among the people of Northumbria, that bishop Paulinus came once
with the king and queen to the royal residence, which was called
10 Yeverin ; and there he remained thirty-six days to catechize and
baptize the people. And every day from early morning till evening
he did nothing but instruct Christ's people in the word of God,
who flocked there from all villages and places, washing them in
the laver of the remission of sins at the river called the Glen.
15 This royal residence was abandoned in the time of his successors,
and another was erected instead at the place called Melfeld .
These places are in the province of Bernicia ; but also in the pro-
vince of Deira, where the bishop was often with the king, he
baptized the people in the river Swallow, which passes by the
20 township of Catterick. For as yet, at the beginning of the new-
born church, neither churches nor baptisteries had been erected ;
still at Slack, where there was a royal residence, Eadwine ordered
a church to be built, which after a time, along with all the royal
buildings, was burnt down by the heathen, who afterwards slew the
25 king. Afterwards, instead of it, his successors built a residence in
the district called Leeds.

XII.

King Eadwine was so zealous for the worship of Christ's faith,

that he also induced Eorpwald, son of Redwald and king of the
30 East Angles, to give up the vanity of idol worship and receive the
sacraments of Christ's faith with his people, the East Angles.
Long before, his father Redwald had been instructed in the sacra-
ments of Christ's faith in Kent, but to no purpose ; for on returning
 142 LIBER SECUNDUS.

com , was biswicen from his wife 7 from sumum unrihtum lareo-
wum, þæt he forlet pa hluttornesse Cristes geleafan. 7 his pa
neorran tide wæron wyrson þam ærran, swa pætte by peawe pe
geo pa ealdan Samaritane dydon, þæt he was gesewen Criste
peowian 7 eac deofolgeldum ; ond he in pam ilcan herige wigbed 5
hæfde to Cristes onsægdnesse 7 oder to deofla onsægdnisse. Se ilca
here þær wunade of Aldwulfes tide pære ilcan mægðe cyninges ;
sægde he þæt he hine cneoht weosende gesawe. Was he se forespre-
cena cyning Redwald æðelre gebyrde, peah þe he on dæde unæðele
wære : was he Tyteles sunu ; þæs fæder was Wuffa haten, from 10
þæm Eastengla cyningas fordon Wuffingas wæron nemnde.
Óno hwæt Eorpwald þa se cyning nales æfter micelre tide wæs
ofslegen from sumum hæðnum men, Ricberht hatte. Ponon pa seo
mægð þreo gear ful in gedwolan was lifiende, oopæet Sigeberht
Eorpwaldes brodor to pam rice feng. Se mon was purh eall se 15
p. 519. cristenesta 7 se gelæredesta ; was he be pam breper lifigendum
wrecca in Gallia londe ; 7 þær was mid þam gerynum Cristes
geleafan wel gelæred. Pas geleafan he wolde his leode dælnimende
gedon, sona þæs pe he to rice feng ; 7 his þæm godan willan wel
gefultmode Felix se biscop, se cwom of Burgundena rices dælum, 20
þær he was acenned 7 gehalgod . Cwom he ærest hider ofer sæ to
Honorie pæm ærcebiscope ; 7 him sægde his willan 7 his lust. pa
sende he hine godcunde lare to læranne in Eastengle. Ond he sona
se arfæsta bigenga þæs gastlican londes micelne wæstm gemette in
þære peode geleafsumra folca. 7 he ealle pa deode æfter þæm 25
geryne his noman from longre wenisse 7 ungesælignesse alysde, 7 to
Cristes geleafan 7 to so fæstnesse weorcum 7 to geofum þære ecan
gesælignesse gelædde. Onfeng he biscopseol in Dommocceastre ; ond
mid þy þe he seofontyne winter in biscoplicum gerece fore wæs, 7 þær
he in sibbe his lif geendade. 30

XIII.

Cap. 16. Lærde he Scs Paulinus se biscop eac swelce Godes word in
Lindesse, seo mægð is seo neahste in sudhealfe Humbre streames ;

1. 2. þæt heforlet O. 7heforlét Ca. phe forlet B. pa forlet he T. After

pa in T. stands ærran, but struck through : not in O. Ca. B. 1. 12. óno O.
 II. 15 , 16 . 143

home he was seduced by his wife and unrighteous teachers, and

left the first purity of Christ's faith. And his last time was worse
than his first, so that, imitating the usage of the old Samaritans
long ago, he was seen to serve Christ as well as idols ; and in the
5 same sanctuary he had an altar for Christ's sacrifice and another
for sacrifice to devils. This sanctuary remained there till the
time of Aldwulf, king of that people ; he said that he saw it when
a boy. The aforesaid king Redwald was of noble birth, though
ignoble in his deeds. He was son of Tyțel, whose father was called
10 Wuffa, from whom the kings of the East Angles were accordingly.
named Wuffingas. Now the king Eorpwald soon after was slain
by a heathen, named Ricberht. Then for three years' time this
people lived in their errors, till Sigeberht, brother of Eorpwald,
succeeded to the throne, a man in all points most christian and
15 most learned. In his brother's lifetime he had been an exile in
Gaul ; and there was well instructed in the sacraments of Christ's
faith. In this faith he would have his people partake, as soon as
he succeeded to the throne ; and his good will was well seconded
by bishop Felix, who came from the district of Burgundy, where he
20 was born and consecrated. He came here across the sea, first to
archbishop Honorius, and told him his will and desire. And he
sent him to teach the word of God in East Anglia. And this pious
cultivator of the spiritual soil soon found much fruit of faithful
people in that nation. And he released all that people from long
25 continued iniquity and infelicity, in accordance with the mystic
import of his name, and turned them to the faith of Christ, to the
works of truth, and to the grace of eternal felicity. He received
an episcopal residence at Dunwich ; and after ruling as bishop for
seventeen years, he there ended his life in peace.

XIII.

30 Bishop Paulinus also taught God's word in Lindsey. This

province is the nearest on the south side of the river Humber, and

and T. and B.: not in Ca. 1. 15. to pam to bepam not in T. Text from
0. 1. 29. 7 pœær ( = ibidem) T. C. O. B. þær Ca.
 144 LIBER SECUNDUS.

ligeð ut on see. Ond pa ærest to Drihtnes geleafan gecerde Lind-

cylene ceastre gerefan, þæs noma was Blacca, mid his heorode.
Swelce he in pære ceastre stænenne cirican getimbrede æðeles
geweorces, þære gen to dæge mæg mon geseon þa weallas stondan ;
ond þær gen æghwylce geare æteawed bio monig wundor untrumra 5
hælo para de ða stowe mid geleafan secao. In þære seolfan
cirican Scs Paulinus se biscop, pa Iustus se biscop to Criste leorde,
Honorium for hine to biscope gehalgode, swa we eft heræfter
gemyndgiað. Bi pisse mægde geleafan, cwad he Beda, me sægde
sum arwyrðe mæssepreost 7 abbud of Peortanea þæm ham, se was 10
Deda haten. Cwed he, pet him sægde sum eald weota, þat he wære
gefulwad æt middum dæge from Paulino dæm biscope in Eadwinis
ondweardnisse pas cyninges, ond micel menigeo þæs folces in
Treontan streame bi Teolfinga ceastre. Sægde se ilca mon hwyle
þæs biscopes heow wære Sce Paulinus : cwæð þæt he wære long 15
on bodige 7 hwon for heald ; hæfde blæc feax 7 blácne ondwlitan,
medmicle nose pynne, 7 wære æghwæder ge arwyrðlic ge onderslic
on to seonne. Hæfde he him to fultome in pære godcundan
þegnunge Iacobum diacon ; was se mon wel gelæred 7 æðele ge
in Criste ge in his cirican : se leofað usse tide. 20

XIIII.

p. 520. Is Sæt sægd, dat in da tid swa micel sib wære in Breotone
æghwyder ymb, swa Eadwines rice wære, peah pe an wiif wolde
mid hire nicendum cilde, heo meahte gegan buton ælcere scedenisse
from sa to se ofer eall pis ealond. Swylce eac se ilca cyning to
nytnisse fond his leodum, þæt in monegum stowum, þær hluttre 25
wællan urnon, bi fulcúðum strætum, þær monna færnis mæst wæs,
þæt he þær gehet for wegferendra gecelnisse stapolas asetton 7 þær
ærene ceacas onahón : ond þa hwædre nænig fore his ege 7 his
lufan hrinan dorste ne ne wolde buton his nedpearflicre þegnunge.
Swelce he hæfde swa micle heannisse in pæm cynerice, pætte nales 30
þæt aan þæt heo segn fore him bæron æt gefeohte, ac eac swylce in

1. 17. arwyrðlic O. Ca. -u- -weorð- B. -wyrlic T. 1. 20. criste O. Ca.

cirste T. on cristes cirican B. 1. 22. an O. B. án Ca. aa T.
 II. 16. 145

runs out into the sea. And there first he converted to the faith of
the Lord the reeve of Lincoln, whose name was Blacca, and all
his household. Also in that town he built a stone church of noble
workmanship, of which the walls may be still seen standing ; and
5 there too every year are displayed many miracles in the healing of
the sick, who visit that place in faith. In the same church bishop
Paulinus, after bishop Justus departed to Christ, consecrated
Honorius bishop in his room, as we will relate afterwards. With
regard to the faith of this people, says Beda, a venerable priest,
10 abbot at the house of Parteney, called Deda, spoke to me. He

said, an old councillor had told him, that he was baptized at mid-
day by bishop Paulinus in presence of king Eadwine, along with
a great crowd of people, at the river Trent by the town of Torksey.
The same man described the appearance of the bishop Paulinus : he
15 said that he was long in body and slightly bent ; he had black
hair, a pale face and a small thin nose, and was both venerable and
awful in aspect. He had, to assist him in the divine ministry, the
deacon James, a man well instructed and noble both in Christ and
in his church : he is alive in our day.

XIV.

20 It is said, that in those times there was such peace in Britain,

everywhere around where Eadwine had authority, though a woman
should go alone with her new-born child, she might proceed with-
out injury from sea to sea all over this island. Also the king
established for the use of his people a custom, that in many places
25 where clear springs ran, and on frequented roads, where there was
most traffic, he directed for the refreshment of travellers that
poles should be set up and brazen cups hung upon them : and yet
no one, out of fear and love for him, durst or would touch them ,
except for his necessary use. He maintained such a noble style in
30 his realm, that not only were standards borne before him in battle,
but also in time of peace, wherever he rode, among his hamlets or
L
 146 LIBER SECUNDUS.

sibbe tiide, þær he rad betweoh his hamum ope be tunum mid
his þegnum, ge peah he eode, pæt him mon symle þæt tacn beforan
bær.
Cap. 17. In þære tide hæfde Honorius biscophád pæs apostolican seoles,
se was Bonefatius æfterfylgend. Da he da se papa þæt geahsode, 5
þætte Norðanhymbro þeod mid Eadwine heora cyninge to Cristes
geleafan 7 to his ondetnesse gecerred was purh Paulinus godcunde
lare, pa sende he pam ilcan biscope hider pallium ; 7 eac swylce
Eadwine pæm cyninge sende trymmendlic gewrit, 7 mid fæderlice
lufan hine was onbærnende, þæt heo in þæm geleafan soðfæstnisse, 10
pone pe heo onfengon, symle fæstlice astoden 7 aa wunedon.

XV .

Cap. 18. Betweoh das ding da was Iustus se arcebiscop gelæded to pæm
heofonlecan rice by feordan dæge iduum Novembrium. Ond
Honorius wæs haten se de for hine to biscope gecoren was. Se
cwom to See Paulini, þæt he hine halgian sceolde ; 7 he him 15
togegnes ferde to Lindcylene, 7 in pære cirican, þe we ær beforan
sægdon, he hine þær to biscope gehalgode . Se was from S
Agustine fifta arcebiscop Contwara burge. Pæm biscope eac
swylce se ilca papa Honorius sende pallium 7 gewrit, in þæm he
gesette 7 arædde, pætte swa oft swa Cantwareburge biscop oope 20
Eoforwicceastre of pissum life geleorde, pætte se de lifigende wære
þæs hades, hæfde meahte oderne biscop his stowe to halgianne, þær
se oðer forðleorde, dy læs nead wære, þæt heo simle swencte wæron
ofer swa longne wæg sæs 7 londes to Rome for halgunge ærce-
biscopes. 25

XVI .

p.21. Ono hwæt he Eadwine, æfter pon pe he seofonteone winter

Cap. 20. Ongolpeode 7 Bretta in cynedome wuldorlice fore wæs, of pæm
wintrum he syx winter Cristes rice compade, -pa wonn wið hine
Ceadwealla Bretta cyning ; 7 him Penda on fultome wæs, se fro-

1. I. be tunum (first u on erasure) O. B. túnum (only) Ca. be tweonum T.

1. 6. -bro T. -bra O. Ca. B. 1. 10. -nende O. Ca. B. -nendne T. 1. 17.
+
from agustine (s above line and crossed) T. sce austine O. 8ce angustine
 II. 16-20. 147

townships with his retinue, and even if he was on foot, the ensign
was always borne before him.
At that time Honorius was bishop of the apostolic see, being
successor to Boniface. Now when this pope learnt, that the people
5 of Northumbria along with king Eadwine had been converted to
the faith and confession of Christ by Paulinus' preaching, he sent
here a pallium to this bishop ; and he also sent a letter of exhorta-
tion to king Eadwine, and with fatherly affection encouraged him,
that they might ever stand fast and always abide in belief of the
10 truth, which they had received .

XV.

Meantime archbishop Justus had been taken to the kingdom of

heaven on the tenth of November. Honorius was the name of the
bishop chosen in his room. He came to St. Paulinus to be con-
secrated ; who proceeded to Lincoln to meet him and consecrated
15 him as bishop, in the church we have mentioned before. He was
fifth archbishop of Canterbury from St. Augustine. To this bishop
also pope Honorius sent a pallium and a letter, in which he ar-
ranged and directed, that as often as the bishop of Canterbury or
York departed this life, the survivor of this rank should have power
20 to consecrate another bishop, in room of the one who had departed ,
that there might be no need for perpetually toiling over so long a
journey by sea and land to Rome, for consecration as archbishop.

XVI.

Now after Eadwine had reigned gloriously over English and

Britons for seventeen years- during six of which he had been
25 champion of Christ's kingdom - Ceadwealla king of the Britons
went to war with him, and was supported by Penda, the most

Ca. sce agustine B. 1. 20. bisceop O. 5 Ca. bysceop B.: not in T. 1. 28.
wintr T. -ter O. B. winł Ca.
L 2
148 LIBER SECUNDUS .

mesta esne of Mercna cyningcynne. Ond he Penda of pære tide

pære ilcan peode Mercna rice tu 7 twentig wintra missenlice hlete
fore wæs. Pa was gedeoded hefig gefeoht 7 micel on Hæðfelda, 7
þær mon Eadwine pone cyning sloh by feordan dæge iduum
Octobrium ; hæfde he pa seofon 7 feowertig wintra : 7 eall his 5
weorod oope ofslegen was oope geflymed. Swylce eac in pæm
ilcan gefeohte Osfrið his sunu oder ær him gefeoll, se hwätesta
fyrdesne. Oder his sunu for neade Eadfrið to Pendan þæm
cyninge gebeag ; ond se æfter fæce from him, þa Oswald cyning
wæs, unrihtlice ofslegen was ofer aðas 7 treowe. 10
Pære tide wæs þæt mæste wæl geworden in Norðanhymbra
deode 7 cirican. Ne was pet holinga ; fordon oder para heretogena
wæs hæden, pe pat gefeoht fremede, oder was pæm hædnum reðra
7 grimra, forðon pe he elreordig was. Was he Penda mid ealle

Mercna peode deofolgeldum geseald, 7 þæs Cristnan noman was 15

unwis. Ceadwealla, þeah de he da ondetnesse hæfde pæs Cristenan
noman, hwæðre he was in his mode 7 on his peawum to pon
elreordig, þæt he ne furþum wiiflice hade oope pære unsceðpendan
eldo cilda árede, ac he ealle mid wildeorlicre reðnesse purh tintrego
deade gesealde. Ond he longre tide ealle heora mægde mid gewede 20
wæs geondferende, ond on his mode pohte 7 preodode, þæt wolde eall
Ongoleyn of Breotone gemærum aflyman. Ond þeah þe he Cristen
beon sceolde, ne wolde he ænige aare weotan on pære Cristnan
æfestnisse, seo mid him up cumen was : swa gen to dæge Bretta
peaw is, þæt heo Ongolcynnes geleafan 7 æfæstnisse for noht 25
habbað, ne him in ængum þingum ma gemænsumigan willað þon
hæðnum monnum .

Da was broht Eadwinis heafod pæs cyninges to Eoforwiicceastre,

7 wæs eft æfter pon gedon in Sce Petres cirican þæs apostolis, pa
he timbran ongon ; ac Oswald his æfterfylgend heo geendade, swa 30
we ær beforan sægdon. Was hit geseted in Sce Gregories portice
pæs papan, from pas discipuli he lifes word 7 Cristes geleafan
onfeng.
Da æfter Eadwinis slege 7 for pisse tida frecelnisse Scs Paulinus

1. 14. grimra (out of original grenra ?) T. grimra Ca. grimgra O. (7

grimra not in B). 1. 15. crist.nan (e erased, space left) T. -ten- O. Ca. B.
 II. 20. 149

valiant soldier of the Mercian royal race. And this Penda at that
time, had ruled over the kingdom of the Mercians for twenty-two
years with varying fortune. The battle took place at Hatfield and
was violent and bloody ; in it fell king Eadwine on the twelfth of
5 October ; he was then forty-seven years old : and all his people were
slain or put to flight. Also in this fight one of his sons, Osfrith, was
killed before him, who was a brave warrior. His other son, Eadfrith

of necessity submitted to king Penda ; and he after a time, when

Oswald was king, was unrighteously slain by him in defiance of oath
10 and good faith. At that time very great carnage was wrought in the
nation and church of Northumbria. Nor was that without reason ;
because one of those leaders, who carried on the war, was a heathen
and the other more furious and cruel than the heathen, being a
barbarian. Penda and all the Mercians were given up to idolatry

15 and ignorant of the name of Christian. Though Ceadwealla professed

to bear the name of Christian, yet in his mind and habits he was
such a barbarian, that he respected not even the female sex nor the
innocent years of children, but put all to death by torture with the
savagery of a wild beast. And for a long time he traversed all that
20 district like a madman, and in his heart thought and devised to
drive all the English race beyond the borders of Britain. And
though he should have been a christian, he would not show
any regard for christian piety, which had sprung up among
them. Such is still to this day the custom of the Britons, that they
25 utterly disregard the faith and piety of the English, and will not
communicate with them in any way more than with the heathen .
Then the head of king Eadwine was brought to York, and later on
was desposited in the church of the apostle Peter, which he began to
build ; but as we said before, it was completed by his successor
30 Oswald. It was deposited in the chapel of pope St. Gregory, from
whose disciples he had received the word of life and faith of Christ.
Then after the slaughter of Eadwine, owing to the danger of the
 150 LIBER SECUNDUS.

se biscop genom mid hine Æðelbyrge pa cwene, pa he ær brohte, 7 in

scipgefære hwearf eft to Cent. Wes Bassa heora latteow Eadwines
p. 522. cyninges þegn se fromesta. Ond hi from Honorie pæm ærcebis-
cope 7 Eadbalde pam cyninge swide arweorðlice onfongne wæron.
Hæfdon heo swylce mid him Eanflæde Eadwines dohtor 7 Wusc- 5
frean his sunu, swylce eac Yffe his suna sunu Osfriðes, da eft seo
modor æfter pon onsende for Eadbaldes ege 7 Oswaldes para
cyninga in Gallia rice to fedanne Dægbrehte pæm cyninge, se wæs
hire freond. 7 heo begen þær in cildhade foröferdon, 7 æfter
gerisenre are heora æðelnisse 7 unscæ dednisse in cirican bebyrgde 10
wæron. Brohte heo seo cwen mid heo monig deorwyrde fatu
Eadwines pas cyninges, mid pæm was sum micel gylden Cristes
mæl 7 gylden cælic gehalgad to wigbedes þenunge, pa nu gen oð
pis mæg mon sceawigan gehealden in Contwara cirican.
In pa tid seo cirice at Hrofesceastre was heordeleas, forðon 15
Romanus pære ceastre biscop was from Iusto pæm ærcebiscope to
ærendwrecan onsended to Honorie pam papan, 7 wearð bisenced in
sæs yðum. Ond purh pet se foresprecena biscop Scs Paulinus
pære cirican scire onfeng mid þæs arcebiscopes hæse 7 Eadboldes
þæs cyninges ; 7 he a hæfde, oopæet he on his tide pat 20
heofonlice rice gestah mid wæstme his pæs wundurlican gewinnes.
On þære cyricean he forlet his pallium þæt he onfeng fram þam
Romaniscan papan, 7 his lichama on sibbe rested. Forlet he
on his cyricean æt Eoforwicceastre Iacobum pone diacon ; wæs
þæt cyriclic wer 7 halig on eallum þingum : 7 he syððan langre 25
tide on pære cyricean was wuniende, 7 micle hlope purh his lare
7 fullwihte pam ealdan feonde afyrde. 7 pone tun, þe he oftust on-
eardode, wel neah Cetrehtan geen tó dæge mon his naman cneodeð.
7 forpon pe he was on cyricsonge se gelæredesta, 7 æfter fæce
sibbe tide comon eft on Norðanhymbra mægde 7 þæt rim weox para 30
leafsumra, þat he was monigra magister ciriclices sanges æfter

1. 1. 7 0. Ca. B.: not in T. 1. 4. swide O. Ca. swyồe B.: mwa T. 1. 20.

From tide to ac hwæðre (Bk. iii. c. 1) wanting (leaf lost ) in T. Text follows
en
0. 1. 21. heof, lice O. heofonlice Ca. B. 1. 28. geen (en on erasure, not
first hand) 0. gýt Ca. gyt B. 1. 30. on sibbe tide comon Ca. B. O. (has
com ... two erased).
 II. 20. 151

times, bishop Paulinus took with him queen Æthelburh, whom he

had previously brought there, and returned on board ship to Kent.

Their guide was Bassa, a very brave follower of king Eadwine. And
they were received with great honour by archbishop Honorius and
5 king Eadbald. They had also with them Eanflæda daughter of
Eadwine and his son Wuscfrea, as well as Yffe his son Osfrith's son.

These their mother afterwards, for fear of the kings Eadbald and
Oswald, sent to Gaul to be brought up by king Dagobert, who was

her friend. There they both died in childhood , and were buried in
10 church with the honour due to their birth and innocence. The queen

brought with her much valuable plate belonging to king Eadwine,

among which was a large golden crucifix and a golden chalice, con-
secrated for altar service, which may be still seen preserved in the
church of Kent. At that time the church of Rochester had no pastor,

15 because Romanus bishop of that town had been sent as envoy to

pope Honorius by archbishop Justus, and had been drowned in the

waves of the sea. For this reason the aforesaid bishop Paulinus

received charge of the church, by invitation from the archbishop

and king Eadbald ; and he held it, till in his time he ascended to the

20 kingdom of heaven with the reward of his glorious toil. In that

church he left the pallium received from the Roman pontiff, and his

body rests in peace. He left behind also in his church at York

James the deacon, an ecclesiastic of great holiness : and he remained

long after in that church, and by his teaching and by baptism he

25 took much spoil from the old enemy. And the township in which

he mostly lived, close to Ketterick, is still called by his name.

And as he was most skilful in church music, and soon after times of

peace returned to the people of Northumbria and the number of the

.faithful grew, he taught many church music after the usage of Rome
 152 LIBER SECUNDUS.

Romane peawe 7 Cantwara. 7 he pa eald 7 dagana full, þat is

godra dæda, æfter pon pe halige writu sprecao, pęt he fædera weg
wæs fylgende.
Her endap seo æftre bóc.

TERTIUS INCIPIT ECCLESIASTICAE HYSTORIAE

GENTIS ANGLORUM LIBER.

I.

p. 523. DA Eadwine pa was on pam gefeohte ofslegen, þa feng to Dera 5

Cap. I. rice his fæderan sunu Elfrices, Osric was haten, forpon of pære
mægpe he Eadwine hæfde cneorisse 7 rices fruman. Se Ósric
purh Sce Paulines lare pæs bisceopes mid pam gerynum Cristes
geleafan gelæred was. Ponne feng tó Beornica rice Epelfripes
sunu, Eanfrið was haten, forpon he was pare mægpe cyning- 10
cynnes. In pas twa magpa Norpanhymbra deod iu geara todæled
was. 7 eallre pære tide pe Eadwine cyning wæs, þat he se Eanfrið
Æpelfripes sunu mid micelre æpelinga geogede ge mid Scottum ge
mid Pehtum wracodon ; 7 þær þurh Scotta lare Cristes geleafan
onfengon, 7 gefullade waron. 7 sona þæs pe Eadwine ófslegen 15
wæs hiora feond, þa hwurfan hi ham to hiora eðle ; 7 se Eanfrið
feng to Beornica rice. Óno hwæt æghwæper para cyninga, syðþan
hi rice hæfdon, forletan þa geryno þæs heofonlican rices mid pam
hi gehalgede wæron, 7 eft hwurfan to pam ealdan unsyfernessum
deofolgylda. 7 hi sylfe purh pet forluran. 20
7 sona butan yldincge æghwæperne Cadwalla Bretta cyning mid
arleasre hond, ac hwædre mid rihte wrace heo kwealde. Ond
ærest þy neahstan sumera in municep þære byrig on ungearone
pone Osric mid his fyrd becwom, 7 hine mid ealle his weorode

1. 2. halige Ca. -igge O. pa halegan B. fædera (æ on erasure of two) O.

fœ- Ca. B. 1. 4. These words and the Latin heading of Bk. iii. from C.
Nothing in O. to mark division except that next line begins with capital Ð.
Nothing in B.; but there is a break of 1 lines and blank for capital (Ɖ). -cę .
-ria Ca. The chapter number ( Iº) precedes the Latin. 1. 5. fen, O. feng
Ca. B. 1. 6. osric B. ósfrið O. osfrið Ca. C. 1. 7. cneorisse (i by erasure
 II. 20, III. I. 153

and Kent. And then old and full of days, that is of good deeds,
as holy writ says, he went the way of his fathers.
Here ends the second book.

THE THIRD BOOK OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL

HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE BEGINS.

I.

WHEN Eadwine was slain in the battle, the son of his uncle
5 Ælfric, Osric by name, succeeded to the throne of Deira, for
Eadwine was by origin from that province and there first reigned.
Osric had been instructed in the mysteries of Christ's faith by the
teaching of the bishop Paulinus. Then Æthelfrith's son, by name
Eanfrith, succeeded to the throne of Bernicia, for he belonged to the
10 royal family in that people. The nation of Northumbria was of old
divided into these two tribes. And as long as Eadwine was king,
Eanfrith, son of Æthelfrith, along with a large number of young
nobles, remained in exile among the Scots and Picts ; and there
they received Christ's faith through the teaching of the Scots and
15 were baptized. And as soon as their enemy Eadwine was slain,
they returned home to their native land ; and Eanfrith succeeded to
the throne of Bernicia. Now both of those kings, after their ac-
cession, gave up the sacraments of the kingdom of heaven by which
they were sanctified, and fell back into the old foulness of idolatry.
20 And by this they ruined themselves . At once without delay
Cadwalla king of the Britons slew both with impious hand, but
yet with just vengeance. And first, next summer, he came with
his army on Osric by surprise at the town ' Municep,' and de-

out of e) 0. -isse Ca. B.

1. 9. beorni .. ca (two erased, the latter perhaps
nu
g) O. beornica Ca. B. 1. 10. Su , 0. suna Ca. sunu B. 1. 13. geogede
Ca. geogope B. gegobe O. 1. 14. pe.htum (one erased) 0. peohtum B.
pehtum Ca. wra.codon (one erased) O. wracnodon B. wracode Ca. 1. 22.
T. begins 24ª at ac.
 154 LIBER TERTIUS .

adilgade. After pon he eall ger onwalg Norpanhymbra mægðe

ahte, nales swa swa sigefæst cyning, ac swa swa leodhata, þæt he
grimsigende forleas ond heo on gelicnesse pas traiscan wæles
wundade. Pa æt nyhstan cwom Eanfrio buton gepeahte, his
weotena twelfa sum, to him, þæt he wolde sibbe 7 friðes wilnian. 5
Pone he a gelice hlete geniörade 7 ofslog. pis ungesælige
gear 7 þæt godlease gen to dæge lade wunað, ge fore fleame
p. 524. cyninga from Cristes geleafan-7 eft to deofolgyldum cerdon,—ge
for wedenheortnisse pas leodhatan Bretta cyninges. Fordon þæt
þa eallum gemænelice licade, pe dara cyninga tiide teledon , þæt 10
heo onweg adyde pa gemynd þara treowleasra cyninga ; ond þæt
ilce ger to pæs æfterfylgendan cyninges rice teledon, þæt is, Gode
Pa wæs æfter Eanfrides slege his
þæs leofan weres Oswaldes.
broðor, pæt he cwom Oswald mid medmicle weorode ac mid
Cristes geleafan getrymede, pat he pone mánfullan Bretta cyning 15
mid his unmætum weorode, pæm he gealp, þæt him nowiht wið-
standan meahte, ofslog 7 acwealde in pære stowe, pe Ongle nemnað
Denises burna.
Cap. 2. Is seo stow gen to dæge æteawed 7 is in micelre arwyrðnesse
hæfd, þær se Oswald to pissum gefeohte cwom, 7 þær þæt halige tacn 20
Cristes rode arærde 7 his cneo bęgde 7 God was biddende, þæt he
in swa micelre nedþearfnisse his bigengum mid heofonlice fultome
gehulpe. Is pæt sægd, þæt he pat Cristas mæl hraðe weorce
geworhte 7 seað adulfe, in þæm hit stondan scolde. Ond he se
cyning seolf was wallende in his geleafan ; 7 þæt Cristes mæl 25
genom 7 in pone seað sette 7 mid his hondum bæm hit heold 7
hæfde, oð þæt his þegnas mid moldan hit bestryðed hæfdon 7
gefæstnadan. Ond þa hit aræred wæs, þat he his stefne up ahóf 7
cleopode to him eallum þæm weorode 7 cwæð : Uton ealle began
usser cneo 7 gemænelice biddan pone ælmihtigan God pone 30
lifiendan 7 pone soðan, þæt he us eac from þæm oferhygdigan
feonde 7 þæm reðan mid his miltsunge gescylde : forðon he wat
pat we rihtlice winnad for hælo usse peode . Pa dydon heo calle
swa he heht. 7 sona on morne, swa hit dagian ongan, þæt he fór

1. 22. heofonlic T. -ce (e on erasure) O. -ce Ca. cum B. 1. 26. genome

T. genam O. B. -nám Ca. 1. 32. gescylde O. Ca. B. -dan T.
 111. 1 , 2. 155

stroyed him and his whole force. After that for a whole year he

held the province of Northumbria, not as a victorious king, but as

a tyrant, furiously ruining and rending it as it were with tragic
carnage. Then at last Eanfrith, with twelve nobles, rashly came to
5 him, purposing to sue for peace and alliance. Him the tyrant con-
demned to a like fate and slew. This inauspicious and miserable
year is still odious, both for the apostasy of the kings from Christ's
faith and they returned to their idols-and for the fury of the
tyrannical king of the Britons. Therefore all in common have
10 determined, in computing the times of those kings, to strike out the
record of these faithless monarchs, and reckon this year in the reign
of their successor Oswald, the well beloved of God. Now after the
death of his brother Eanfrith, Oswald marched with a small army
but strengthened with the faith of Christ, and at the place, which
15 in English is called Dilston, he defeated and slew the sinful king
of the Britons, along with a monstrous host which he boasted was
invincible.

The place is still shown at this day and is much venerated, where
Oswald marched to the battle, and raised the holy ensign of Christ's
20 cross and bowed his knees, and prayed God to assist with heavenly
aid his worshippers in such dire necessity. It is said that the
crucifix was of hasty workmanship, and that he dug a pit in which
it should stand. The king himself was fervent in faith, and taking

the crucifix set it in the pit, and with his two hands held and
25 supported it, till his followers had piled up clay about it and made
it fast. And when it was set up, he lifted up his voice and called
to all that host and said : ' Come let us all bow our knees and
together pray to the Almighty, living, and true God, to defend us

from this proud and savage foe, with his mercy : for he knows
30 that we justly fight for the safety of our people.' Then they all did
as he bade. And in the morning, as soon as it began to dawn, he
 156 LIBER TERTIUS.

on pone here pe him togegnes gesomnad wæs, 7 æfter geearnunge

his geleafan þæt heo heora feond oferswiðdon 7 sige ahton. In
pære gebedstowe æfter pon monig mægen 7 hælo tacen gefremed
wæron to tacnunge 7 to gemynde pæs cyninges geleafan. Ond
monige gen to dæge of pæm treo þæs halgan Cristes mæles sponas 5
7 scefpon neomað ; 7 þa in wæter sendað, 7 þæt water on adlige
men oðre on neat stregdað oðpe drincan syllað; 7 heo sona hælo
onfoð. Is seo stow on Englisc genemned Heofenfeld . Was geo
geara swa nemned fore tacnunge æra toweardan wundra, forðon
þe þær þæt heofonlice sigebeacen aræred beon scolde, 7 þær heo- 10
fonlic sige pam cinge seald wæs, 7 þær gen to dæge heofonlic
wundor mærsode beod.
Nis fordon ungerisne, þæt we aan mægen 7 aan wundor of
monegum asecgan, pe æt pissum halgan Cristes mæle geworden
was. Was sum Godes peow of pæm broðrum þære cirican æt 15
p. 525. Agostaldes éa, þæs noma was Bothelm. Pa eode he sume
neahte on ise unwærlice, pa gefeoll he semninga on his earm ufan ,
7 pone swide geðræste 7 gebræc, 7 mid pa hefignesse pas gebro-
cenan earmes swide geswenced was, swa þæt he for þy sáre ne
meahte furdon his hond to mude gedon. Da gehyrde he sumne 20
para broðra sprecan, þæt he wolde feran to pæm halgan Cristes
mæle, pa bæd he hine þat he him þæs arwyrðan treos hwylcne-
hwego del brohte, ponne he eft ham come ; cwæð þæt he gelyfde,
þæt he purh þæt meahte hælo onfon purh Drihtnes gife. Pa eode
se broðor, swa swa he hine bæd, 7 cwom eft on æfenne ham. Pa 25
brodor æt beode sæton. Pa brohte him sumne dæl ealdes meoses,
þe on þam halgan treo aweaxen was. Pa sæt he æt beode, næfde
pa æt honda hwær þæt brohte lac gehealdan scolde ; sende þa in
his bosm. Pa he to reste eode, pa forget he þæt he in oðere
stówe þæt geheolde ; let forð in his bosme áwunian. Pa wæs æt 30
middre neahte, pa he wæccende was, pa ne wiste he hwæt he
gefelde cealdes æt his sidan licgan ; cunnode pa mid his hond 7

1. 9. dæra O. þara B. þære Ca. T. 1, 30. áwunian (accent dubious) T.

awunian Ca. .wunian (one erased) O. ğ wunedon (omits let) B. 1. 32. cun-
node pa O. Ca. B. cunnoða T.
 III. 2. 157

advanced against the enemy which was arrayed against him, and
as his faith deserved, they defeated their enemies and won the
victory. Afterwards at this place of prayer many marvels and
miracles of healing were performed in token and memory of the
5 king's faith. And at the present day still many take chips and
shavings from the wood of this holy crucifix, and put them in
water, and sprinkle the water on sick men or cattle, or give it to
drink ; and they are at once cured . The place is called in English
' Heavenfield.' It was of old so named, foreshadowing the future
10 wonders, because there the heavenly trophy should be reared, and
there victory from heaven was given to the king, and still at the
present day heavenly marvels are celebrated there. It is not
therefore unsuitable to relate one miracle and one marvel out of
many, which took place at this holy crucifix. There was a servant

15 of God among the brethren of the church at Hexham, whose

name was Bothelm. He was walking one night on the ice in-

cautiously and suddenly fell upon his arm, violently bruising and
fracturing it, and was so tortured with the pain in the broken arm,
that he could not on account of the pain even raise his hand to his
20 mouth. When he heard one of the brethren say, that he was going
to that holy crucifix, he begged him to bring a little bit of that
precious tree, when he returned home ; he said he believed, he
might by God's grace be cured through its efficacy. Then the
brother went, as he asked, and came home in the evening. The
25 brethren were sitting at table. Then he brought him a bit of old
moss, grown on the holy timber. As he sat at table, he had nothing
at hand to keep the proffered gift in ; so he slipped it into his
bosom. When he went to bed, he forgot to put it away elsewhere,
and let it remain in his bosom. Rousing up at midnight he felt, he
30 knew not what, lying cold at his side, and tried with his hand to
find what it was. Then he perceived that his arm and his hand
 158 LIBER TERTIUS.

sohte, hwæt þat wære. Pa gemette he his earm 7 his hond swa
hale 7 swa gesunde, swa him næfre bryce ne daro gedon wære.

II.

Cap. 3. Ono da se ilca cyning Oswald sona, pas pe he rice onfeng, lufade
7 wilnade, pætte eall seo peod, þe he fore wæs, mid þære gife þæs
cristnan geleafan gelæred wære, pæs geleafan ondcyonesse he swiðust 5
onfeng in sigegefeohtum ellreordra cynna. Pa sende he to Scotta
aldormonnum ærendwręcan, betweoh pa de he longre tide wræcca
wæs, 7 from þæm he fulwihtes geryno onfeng mid his þegnum , þe
him mid wæron : bad he pet heo him biscop onsende, þæs lare 7
þegnunge Ongolpeode, pe rehte, þæs Drihtenlecan geleafan gife 10
leornade 7 þæm geryne onfenge fulwihtes bades. 7 heo him
lustlice tigðodon 7 him biscop sendon ; Aidan was haten micelre
monpwærnesse 7 arfæstnisse 7 gemetfæstnisse monn ; 7 he hæfde
Godes ellenwodnisse 7 his lufan micle.
Pa he da se biscop to pæm cyninge cwom, pa sealde he him stowe 15
7 biscopseol in Lindesfarena ea, þær he seolfa bæd 7 wilnade. Ond
he se cyning his monungum eaðmodlice 7 lustlice in eallum þingum
hyrsum was ; 7 he Cristes cirican in his rice geornlice timbrede 7
rærde. 7 oft fægre wæfersyne gelomp, * pa se biscop codcunde lare
lærde se de Englisc fullice ne cuðe, þæt he se cyning seolfa, se de 20
p. 526. Scyttisc fullice geleornad hæfde, his aldormonnum 7 his þegnum
þære heofonlecan lare was walhstod geworden. Of pære tide
monige cwoman dæghwamlice of Scotta lande on Breotone ; 7 on
þam mægþum Angelpeode , pe Óswald ofer cyning was, mid micelre
willsumnesse Cristes geleafan bodedon 7 lærdon. 7 þa þe sacerd- 25
hades wæron, him fulwihte penedon . pa wæron eac cyricean
timbrede on monegum stowum, 7 þider gefeonde coman Angel-
cynnes folc Gódes word to gehýranne, þe hí bodedon 7 lærdon. 7
se cyning him gef 7 sealde æhte 7 land mynster to timbrianne ; 7
Scottas lærdon geonge 7 ealde on reogollicne péodscipe, forpon pe 30
þæt munecas wæron, pa pe hider coman to læranne. Was eac munuc

1. 19. bet T. 70. B. donn Ca. donne not in C. I have therefore

written pa. codcunde T. god- O. Ca. B.: cp. v. 9. 1. 23. 25ª in T. ends
 III. 2, 3. 159

were as whole and sound, as if they had never suffered fracture or

injury.

II.

Now as soon as king Oswald succeeded to the throne, it was his

desire and will, that all the people he ruled over should be instructed
5 in the grace of the christian faith, of which faith he most effectively
received evidence in his victories over barbarous races. So he sent
envoys to the chief men of Scotland, among whom he had long been
an exile, and from whom he had received the sacrament of baptism,
along with his followers : he begged them to send him a bishop, by
10 whose teaching and ministry the English people, which he ruled,
might learn the grace of God's faith and receive the sacrament of
baptism. And they gladly assented and sent him a bishop named
Aidan, a man of much gentleness, piety and moderation ; and he
had the zeal of God and love for him in a high degree. Now when
15 the bishop came to the king, he assigned him a place and an
episcopal residence in Lindisfarne, in accordance with his own
prayer and desire. And the king humbly and cheerfully followed
his admonitions in all points, and zealously set up and estab-
lished Christ's church in his realm. And oft there was the fair
20 spectacle, when the bishop was teaching the word of God, that as he
was not quite familiar with English, the king himself, being fully
acquainted with the Scots' tongue, acted as interpreter of the
heavenly doctrine to his chief men and followers. At that time
many came daily from the land of the Scots into Britain ; and with
25 great fervour preached and taught Christ's faith in the tribes of
English under Oswald's rule. And those who belonged to the
priesthood, administered baptism to them. And churches were
also built in many places, and the people of English race flocked
there eagerly to hear the word of God, which they preached and
30 taught. And the king gave and bestowed on them possessions and
land for the erection of a monastery ; and Scots instructed young
and old with monastic discipline. For those who had come to

doghwamlice. 26ª begins heo purh eall. Text from 0. 1. 25. be (e out of
æ) O. de Ca. pe B.
 160 LIBER TERTIUS.

se ylca bysceop Aidan ; wæs he sended of þam ealande 7 of pam

mynstre pe Híí is nemned. Det mynster on eallum Nordscottum
7 eallum Peohta mynstrum mycelre tide ealldordom 7 heanesse
onfeng ; ac hwæpere hit Peohtas sealdan 7 geafon Scotta munucum ,
5
forpon pe hi ær þurh heora lare Cristes geleafan onfengon.

III.

Cap. 5. Ono fram þyssum ealande 7 fram þyssa munuca framscype

tó lærenne Cristes geleafan Angelpeode was sended Aidan se bisceop.
7 he pa se bisceop, betwih opre lare mannum to lyfigeanne, pa
fægerestan bysene his gingrum forlet, pæt he was micelre forhæfd-
nesse 7 forwyrnednesse lifes. 7 þæt swiðust his lare gefultu- 10
made, þæt he oðre wisan ne lyfede nemne swa he lærde . Forpon
he nowiht sohte ne ne lufade da de pyses middangeardes
wæron ; ac eall þa woruldgód þa þe him fram cyningum 7 fram
weligum mannum þysse worulde gegyfene wæron, sona he þa
* gifeonde pearfum réhte 7 sealde, pa pe him togenes coman . 15
Ferde he geond eall ge purh mynsterstowe ge purh folcstowe, ne hé on
horses hricge cuman wolde, nemne hwilc mare nyd abædde, ac he hit
eall his fotum geeode. 7 swa hwær swa he com, 7 swa hwilce swa
he geseah, swa rice swa heane, donne cyrde he to pam ; gif hi
ungeleafsume wæron, ponne lapode he hi pot hi onfengan þam 20
geryne Cristes geleafan ; oððe gif hi geleafsume wæron, þæt he
pa strangede 7 trymede þæt hi fæstlice on hiora geleafan áwuna-
den, 7 to ælmessum 7 to godra dæda fylignessum hí awehte ge
mid wordum ge mid dædum.
7 swa swide his lif tosced fram ussa tida aswundenesse, þætte 25
eall, þa þe mid hine eodan, ge bescorene ge læwede, on swa

1. 2. híí B. his O. Ca. After Norðscottum O has 7 eallum Norðscottum 7 ;

the words e. n. 7 are struck through. 1. 4. pohtas O. peohtas Ca. B.
1. 6. ono (no on erasure, the o out of d) O. and Ca. .a (blank left for or-
ne
namented Ð) B. 1. 7. se .. (two erased) O. se Ca. B. 1. 10. forwyr,dnesse
O. -wyrnednesse B. -wyrdnesse Ca. 1. 15. gife B. gyfeonde C. gyfende O.
eal d
Not in Ca. s.de (one erasure) O. sealde Ca. B. 1. 17. nyd abæ, de (y on erasure
7
of e ?) O. nyd and abædde Ca. neodware B. abædde not in C. 1. 18. swa
hwilce (7 above. e of hwilce on erasure) O. 7 swa hwylce Ca. 7 swa hwylcne
 III. 3, 5. 161

teach, were monks, as was the bishop Aidan himself. He was sent
from the island and monastery which is called Iona. For a long
time this monastery was the chief seat and ruling authority among
all the North Scots and monasteries of the Picts. However the Picts
5 assigned and made over this place to the monks of the Scots,
because they had formerly received Christ's faith through their
teaching.
III.

It was from this island and this brotherhood of monks that

bishop Aidan was sent to preach Christ's faith to the English
10 people. And among other instruction for men to live by, the
bishop left to his disciples the fairest example, in that he was of
great abstinence and continence of life. And this chiefly supported
his teaching, that he lived just as he taught. For he did not seek
or desire the things of this world ; but all the worldly goods given
15 him by kings and rich men in the world, he at once gladly distributed
and made over to the poor who met him. He travelled everywhere
through cities and country districts, and never would mount on
horseback, except there were special need, but went about every-
where on foot. And wherever he came and whomsoever he saw,
20 rich or lowly, he turned to them ; if they were unbelievers, then he
invited them to receive the mysteries of Christ's faith ; and if they
were believers, he confirmed them, exhorting them to continue
steadfast in their faith ; and by word and deed he stirred them up
to almsgiving and the performance of good deeds. And his life so
25 differed from the sluggishness of our time, that all who went with
him, whether tonsured or lay, wherever they came, must either

B. 1. 19. hea.ne (erasure of one) O. heane Ca. heanne B. 1. 22. p hi

n
(i by rough erasure out of e) O. 7 hi Ca. B. áwunade O. awunedon Ca.
i
áwunedon B. 1. 23. fylgnessu hí aw.ehte (erasure of one after w. erasure
of a ? above e, tick below) O. fylignessū he hi aweahte Ca. fylgnessū he hi
arehte B. he not in C. 1. 25. tosc.e.d (e out of æ ; before d erasure of g)
O. toscægde Ca. tosced B. ussa (ss on erasure, tick of r seen on a).
10
ussa Ca. ura B. as,undenesse 0. aswundennysse Ca. -dennesse B.
1. 26. læ.wede (erasure of one) O. lawede Ca. B.
M
 162 LIBER TERTIUS.

hwilcre stowe swa hi cóman, þæt hi sceoldan oððe sealmas

P. 527. leornian oððe opre halige gewrito odde pridde on halgum
gebedum standan. Pis was his dæghwamlice weorc 7 eallra
para, pe mid hine wæron. 7 gif þæt was, þat hwæpere séldon
gelomp, þæt he to cyninges simble gelapad wære, eode he in mid 5
ane odde mid twam his preosta, 7 pas de hi hwon gereorde wæron,
aras he hrade, 7 ut eode to his gebede ode to leornianne mid his
geferum. Mid þyses halgan mannes bysenum wæron getrymede on
pa tid gehwilce æfeste ge wæpnedmen ge wimmen, þæt hi him
tó gewunan genaman, þæt heo purh eall ger buton fiftig neahta ofer 10
Eastron, þæt heo by feorðan wicdæge 7 þy syxtan fæston to nones.
Ond he pes biscop ricum monnum no for are ne for ege næfre
forswigian nolde , gif heo on hwon agylton, ac he mid heardre
prea hiæ onspræc 7 heo gebette. Ond nænigum ricum men æfre
ænig feoh sellan wolde, nemne mete 7 swæsendo pæm þe hine 15
sohton ; ac he ma ða gife 7 þa feoh pe him rice men sealdon,
oope pearfum to áre gedælde oope to alysnesse gesealde para
monna, þe unrihtlice bebohte wæron. Ond he monigne para, þe he
mid weorpe alysde, him to discipulum genom, 7 þa æfter fæce to
sacerhade mid his geornnisse getyde 7 gelærde. 20
Secgað men, pa Oswald se cyning of Scotta ealonde biscopes bede,
se de him meahte 7 his peode Cristes geleafan 7 fulwihte þegnian
7 healdan, þa wæs him sended ærest oder biscop redes modes monn.
Mid by he a sum fæc Ongolpeode bodade 7 lærde, 7 he nowiht
fromade in his lare, ne hine pæet folc lustlice geheran wolde, pa 25
hwearf he eft in his edel on Scottas 7 in gemote heora weotena
sægde, þæt he nowiht fromian meahte in his lare pære peode pe he
sended wæs ; forðon þa men wæron unatemedlice 7 heardes modes
7 elreordes. Ond heo pa hæfdon, þæs pe men sægdon, in þæm
gemóte micle smeaunge 7 gepeahte, hwæt him to donne wære, 30
Ond cwædon, þæt him leofre wære 7 heo wilnadon, þæt heo pære
peode hælo beon meahten, pe heo bedene wæron ; ond swiðe

1. 2. halig, O. halige Ca. B. 1. 3. his (is on erasure) O. his Ca.: not

a
in B. 1. 4. þá , þe O. ðara þe Ca. þara de B. para not in C. sé.ldon
he
(one erased) O. seldon Ca. seldñ B. 1. 5. eode , O. eode he Ca. B. 1. 6. hi
 III. 5. 163

learn psalms or other holy writings , or thirdly devote themselves

to holy prayer. This was his daily work and that of all with him.
And if it happened, which was seldom, that he was invited to
the king's table, he went there with one or two of his priests,
5 and as soon as they had refreshed themselves a little, he at once
arose and went out to his prayers, or to study with his clergy.
By the example of this holy man at that time all religious
people, whether men or women, were so confirmed, that it became
their habit throughout the year, except during fifty days after
10 Easter, to fast up to the ninth hour on the fourth and sixth
days of the week. And this bishop never would either out
of respect or fear be silent before rich men, when they did anything
wrong, but addressed them with severe rebuke and corrected them.
And he never would give any money to a sick man, but merely food
15 and entertainment to those who visited him ; but rather he
either bestowed the gifts and money, given him by the rich, for the
use of the poor, or made it over for the redemption of men, who had
been unjustly sold. And many of those whom he redeemed with a
price he took as his disciples, and by his zeal in training and
20 instructing them, raised them after a time to the priesthood. It is
said, when king Oswald begged for a bishop from the island of the
Scots, who should minister and maintain Christ's faith and baptism
among his people, there was first sent to him another bishop, a
man of harsh temper. When he had been preaching and teaching
25 the English for some time and effected nothing by his teaching, and
the people were reluctant to hear him, he returned back to the
Scots in his native land, and in an assembly of their councillors he
declared, that he could not do anything by his teaching for the
people to whom he was sent ; because the men were untameable
30 and of a hard and savage temper. And as it is related, they then
had long discussion and deliberation in the assembly, as to what
they should do. They declared, they preferred and desired to be
the saving of the people, as they were entreated ; and they grieved

hwon .. gereo,de (erasure of two) O. hi hwon gereorde Ca. B. 1. 8. by.ses

2
(s erased) O. pysses Ca. þyses B. get,ymede 0. getrymede Ca. B. 1. 10. T.
begins heo 26º. 1. 14. hia T. hi O. Ca. him B.
M 2
 164 LIBER TERTIUS.

on pon sargedon, þæt heo pam lareowe onfon ne woldon, pe heo him
to sendon. Da sæt he Aidan in þæm gemote betweoh oðrum
weotum ; cwæo to pam biscope, siopan he his word gehyrde : Me
pynced, broðor, cwad he, þæt þu wære þæm ungelærdum monnum
heardra, ponne hit riht wære, in pinre lare, ond þæt þu him ærest 5
ne woldest æfter pæm apostolican peodscype meolc drincan pære
hnescan lare, oopæet heo styccemælum aafedde mid by Godes
*
worde pa pa fulfremedan 7 pa heredan Godes beboda onfón
meahte. Da heo pa weotan pas word gehyrdon, þa gecerdon heo
heora eagan 7 heora ondwlitan ealle to him,7 geornlice smeadon hwæt 10
he cwæde. Ond þa heora ealra dome gedemed wæs, þæt he wære
biscophade wyroe, 7 þæt he to lareowe sended wære Ongolcynne,
se de mid Godes gife swylc gescead funde in heora geþeahte. 7
heo swa dydon : hine to biscope gehalgedon, ond Oswalde pam
cyninge heora freonde to lareowe onsendan. Pa he pa biscophade 15
onfongen hæfde, swa swa he ær mid þa metgunge pas gesceades
funden hæfde, swa he æfter fæce mid oðrum gastlicum mægenum
gefrætwed æteawde.

IV.

p. 528. Ono mid dysses biscopes lare Oswald mid Ongolpeode, pe he ofer
Cap. 6. cyning was, gelæred wæs , þætte nales þæt an þæt he at him 20
geleornade, þæt he þa uplican ricu gehyhte heofona to onfonne, ac
swelce eac eorolico rico ma ponne ænig his eldrena from þæm ilcan
Gode onfenge, pe heofon 7 eorpan gescop. Fordon eall Breotone
cyn 7 mægð , þa seondon on feower gereordo todæled, þæt is Bretta
7 Peohta 7 Scotta 7 Ongla, in onwald onfeng. Ond peah pe he mid 25
pa heanisse pas eorðlican rices swa ahefen wære, nohte pon læs he,
þæt is wundor to cweðanne, þearfum 7 elpeodigum symle eaðmod
7 fremsum 7 rummód wæs.
Secgað men, þæt þæt gelumpe in sume tid þy halgan Eastordæge,
þæt he mid by foresprecenan biscope sæte æt his undernswesendum 30
7 him was hefen beod to ; 7 þær stod micel seolfren disc on, ond

1. 8. All MSS. þat þa : to amend the construction O. Ca. insert þu after

oððæt ; B. puts in beon after afedde, reading also oop de pe hi. In O. the u of
bu is on an erasure and the u is not first hand. 1. II. dome B. dom T.
 III. 5, 6. 165

very much at their refusal to receive the teacher sent to them.

Now Aidan sat in the assembly among the other councillors ; and
said to the bishop on hearing his words : ' I think, brother,' said he,
'you were in your teaching harder with those illiterate men than
5 was right, and that you would not, in accordance with the apostolical
discipline, first give them to drink the milk of gentle doctrine, till
they being fed gradually with the word of God, might receive then
the perfect and glorious ordinances of God. ' Now when the council
heard these words, they turned their eyes and faces all to him, and
10 earnestly considered what he said. And it was decided by the
judgment of all, that he was worthy of the episcopate, and that he
should be sent as teacher to the English, as he by God's grace had
exhibited such discretion at their deliberations. And they did so :
they consecrated him bishop, and sent him as teacher to their friend
15 king Oswald. Now when he received the episcopate, just as he
had previously succeeded by the temperance of his discretion, so
after a time he showed himself adorned with other spiritual virtues.

IV.

Now through this bishop's teaching Oswald, with the English

under him, was instructed, and not only learnt from him to
20 entertain hopes of a heavenly kingdom, but also received an
earthly kingdom beyond any of his forefathers, from that same God
who created heaven and earth. For all the race and tribes of
Britain, which are divided into four languages, namely those of the
Britons, and Picts and Scots and Angles, passed under his
25 authority. And though he was so exalted with the elevation of
his earthly kingdom, none the less, wonderful to relate, he was
ever humble and helpful and liberal to poor men and foreigners.
It is said, that once, on the holy Easter day, he happened to be
sitting with the aforesaid bishop at his early meal, and the table
30 was set before him ; and on it stood a large silver dish filled with

dóme O. Ca. 1. 12. ongon- T. óngel- O. angel- Ca. B. 1. 17. he O. Ca. B.

he fie (sic) T. - eft? 1. 20. first was O. Ca. B., not in T. 1. 24. is O. Ca.
B., not in T.
 166 LIBER TERTIUS.

se was mid cynelicum mettum gefylled. Ond se biscop nom hlaf 7

oletsode 7 þæm cyninge sealde. Pa eode semninga his þegna sum
inn, þæm he hæfde beboden þæt he scolde pearfena 7 earmra monna
ærendowreccan, ondsægdepæm cyninge, pæet æghwonan cwome micel
menigeo þearfena, þæt se weordig ful sæte 7 hine ælmessan bædon. 5
Pa het se cyning sona neoman pone mete 7 pa swæsendo, pe him to
aseted wæs , 7 beran þam þearfum ; 7 eac bebead, þæt mon pone disc
tobræce to styccum 7 þæm þearfum gedælde. pa se biscop þæt þa
geseah, pe him big sæt, þa licode him seo arfæste dæd þæs cyninges ;
genom hine pa big þære swiðran honda 7 cyste, 7 pus cwad : Ne 10
forealdige peos hond æfre. Pæt eac swa æfter þam willan his
bletsunge geworden wæs. Fordon, pa hine mon eft in gefeohte slog,
þa gelomp þætte him mon aheow pa hond mid þy earme of þæm
lichoman ; 7 nu gena oð þis ungebrosnade wuniað. Brohte heo mon

in þa cynelecan burg, pe mon nemneð Bebbanburg ; 7 þær in 15

seolfrene cyste arweorolice gehealdene syndon. Swelce eac mid
pisses cyninges geornisse pa twa mægða Norðhymbra, Dere 7
Beornice, pa de od pet him betweoh ungepwære 7 ungesibbe wæron,
in ane sibbe 7 in án folc geteoh 7 gepwærade. Was he Oswald
Eadwines nefa þæs æðelan cyninges, his sweostor sunu. Wæs þæt 20
þæs wyrðe þæt swa æðele foregenga swylcne yrfeweard his æfæst-
nisse 7 his rices hæfde of his seolfes mægsibbe.

ས.

P. 529. Dæretide da Westseaxna peod mid Cynegelse heora cyningeCristes

Cap. 7. geleafan onfengon. Bodade him 7 lærde Godes word Birinus biscop,
se mid Honorius gepeahte þæs papan cwom in Breotone. Gehet 25

he him, þat he wolde in þam fyrrestum dælum Ongolcynnes, þær

nænig lar ær cwom, þa sæd sawan þæs halgan geleafan . Pa het se
papa hine to biscope gehalgian, 7 hine on Breotone sende. Pa com
he a rest upp in Westseaxum 7 heo þær hæðne gemette, pa Juhte
him nyttre 7 betre, þæt he dær Godes word bodade 7 lærde, ponne 30
he fyrr in Breotone feran scolde. Ond he da swa dyde : lærde þær
godcunde lare 7 pone cyning to Cristes geleafan gecerde, 7 hine
 III. 6, 7. 167

royal dainties . And the bishop took bread and blessed and gave
it to the king. Then suddenly came in one of his attendants ,
whom he had directed to take charge of the poor and needy, and
he told the king, that on all sides there was flocking a great crowd
5 of the poor, so that the street was full of them sitting and begging
for alms. Then at once the king bade the meat and the victuals
set before him to be taken and carried to the poor, and also
ordered the dish to be broken in pieces and distributed to them.
When the bishop, who sat by him, saw this, he was pleased with
10 the king's pious action, took him by the right hand, kissed it and
said : ' May this hand never grow old .' And this was fulfilled also
in accordance with the desire in his benediction . For when he
was afterwards slain in battle, it so happened that they cut off the
hand with the arm from the body ; and they still remain un-
15 decayed to this day. These were carried to the royal city called
Bamborough , and are there kept with reverence in a silver box.
By the efforts of their king also the two provinces of Northumbria ,
Deira and Bernicia , which till then had been disunited and
unfriendly to one another, were drawn together and united into
20 one league and one people. This Oswald was nephew of the noble
king Eadwine , being his sister's son. It was meet that so noble
a predecessor should have out of his own kindred such an in-
heritor of his piety and dominions.

V.

At that time the people of the West Saxons with their king
25 Cynegels received the faith of Christ. Bishop Birinus preached
and taught them God's word, who came to Britain by advice of
pope Honorius. He promised him to sow the seed of the holy
faith in the most remote parts of England, where no teaching had
ever penetrated before. Then the pope directed him to be con-
30 secrated as bishop and sent him to Britain. When he landed first
in Wessex and found the people there heathen, he thought it more
useful and better to preach and teach God's word there, than to
travel further into Britain. And he did so he taught God's word
.
there and converted the king to Christ's faith, and catechized him
 168 LIBER TERTIUS.

gecristnade, 7 bine eft æfter fæce mid fulwihtes bede apwoh mid
his peode Westseaxum. Pa gelomp in seolfan tid, pa mon pone
cyning fulwade, at þær was se halgesta 7 se sigefæsta cyning
Norðanhymbra Oswald ondweard. Hæfde he his dohtor him to
wife beweddad. Pa onfeng he him 7 nom æt fulwihte bæde 7 æt 5
pæs biscopes honda pære godcundan þegnunge him to godsuna .
Đa sealdon 7 gefon þa cyningas begen þæm biscope eardungstowe
7 biscopseal on Dorcotceastre. Ond he þær se biscop Gode lifde 7
circan worhte 7 halgade ; 7 mid his arfæste gewinne monig fole to
Drihtne gecerde. Ond he þær his dagas geendade 7 to Drihtne 10
ferde, 7 in pære ilcan ceastre bebyrged wæs. Ond eft æfter
monegum gearum Hædde biscop heht his lichoman upadón 7 lædan
to Wintaceastre, 7 in cirican para eadigra apostola Petrus 7 Paulus
arwyrolice geseted is.
Efter pissum þa for ferde Cynegils se cyning, 7 his sunu 15
Canwalh feng to his rice. Se wiosoc, pæt he geleafan onfenge
7 þæm geryne pæs heofonlican cyninges ; ond sona æfter medmi-
clum fæce pa meaht forleas þæs eorðlican rices. Forlet he án,
Pendan swustor, þa he hæfde ær him to wífe broht, nom him oðer
wiif. Pa teah Penda hine fyrd on 7 here, 7 hine his rices benom. 20
Da gewat he to Eastengla cyninge, se was Anna haten. Mid pon
he preo ger was wrecca, 7 he þær onget soðfæstnisse geleafan
7 onfeng 7 gefulwad was Fordon pe se cyning, þe he mid wrecca
was, was god wæpnedmon 7 goodes tudres 7 haliges gesælig, swa we
æft heræfter ongitan magon. 25
Mid þy pe he eft Canwalh on his rice geseted wæs, þa com in
Westseaxe sum biscop of Ibernia Scotta ealonde, pas noma was
Ægelberht. Was he Gallia cynnes ; ac for leornunge haligra
gewreota he was micelre tide in Ibernia Scotta ealonde wuniende.
Ond he pa wilsumlice hine gepeodde to pæm cyninge 7 hine godcunde 30
lare lærde. Pa he pa se cyning his gelærednesse 7 his geornfulnisse
geseah, bad he hine, þæt he gewunade in his peode 7 heora biscop
p. 530. wære : 7 he him wolde arlic biscopsel gesceawian. Ond he his
benum gepafode ; 7 he monig ger pære ilcan peode on biscoplicum
onwealde fore wæs. Da æt nehstan se cyning, se de Seaxna gereorde 35
to
1. 21. he T. he tỏ O. he to Ca. B. C. 1. 28. -brht T. -berht 0.
Ca. -by- B.
 III. 7. 169

and, after a time, washed him in the laver of baptism, with his
people the West Saxons. It so happened that at the very time of
the king's baptism , Oswald, the saintly and victorious king of
Northumbria , was present . He had betrothed his daughter to
5 Cynegils ; and he received and took him as godson at the font, after
the sacred administration by the bishop's hands. Then the kings
jointly made over and gave to the bishop a dwelling and episcopal
seat at Dorchester-on-Thames. And the bishop lived there to God
and built and consecrated a church ; and by his pious labours
10 converted much people to the Lord. And there he ended his days,
and departing to the Lord was buried in that town. But many
years later bishop Hædde directed his body to be taken up and
brought to Winchester, and it was buried with honour within the
church of the blessed apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. After this
15 king Cynegils died, and his son Canwalh succeeded to tae throne.
He refused to receive the faith and sacraments of the Heavenly
King ; and shortly after he lost the dominion of his earthly
kingdom. He abandoned one wife , sister of Penda, whom he had
previously wedded, and took another wife. Then Penda led his
20 troops and a host against him, and deprived him of his throne.
And he departed to the king of the East Angles named Anna, and
with him remained in exile three years, and he there learnt the
true faith, received it and was baptized. For the king, at whose
court he was an exile, was a good man, blessed with goodly and
25 holy offspring, as we shall learn hereafter. When Canwalh was
restored to his kingdom, there came to Wessex from Ireland, the
island of the Scots, a bishop named Ægelberht. He was of Gallic
origin, but had lived long in Ireland to study the holy scriptures.
And he readily joined the king and instructed him in God's word.
30 When the king perceived his learning and zeal, he prayed him to
remain among his people and be their bishop, promising to provide
a bishop's seat suitable to his rank. And he assented to his
request, and for many years presided with episcopal authority over
that people. At last the king, who knew the Saxon tongue only,
170 LIBER TERTIUS.

án cuðe, wæs aðroten his elreordre spræce : aspon þa in Westseaxe

oðerne biscop, se de his gereorde cude : se wæs Wine haten, 7
se was in Gallia rice gehalgod. Ond he pa todælde in twa biscop-
scire Westseaxna mægde, ond pæm Wine gesealde biscopseol in
Wintaceastre. Pa was Ægelberht swide abolgen, forpon se cyning 5
buton his gepeahte swa dyde ; gewat pa of Breotone 7 hwearf eft in
his agene leode in Gallia rice. Ond þær he onfeng his agenre
ceastre bisscopscire , Parisiace hatte ; 7 he þær ald 7 godra dæda ful
fordferde. Da was æfter noht monegum gearum æfter his on-
weggewitenesse of Breotone, pætte Wine was adrifen from þæm 10
ilcan cyninge of his biscopsele. Pa gewat he to Wulfhere Mercna
cyninge ; ond mid feó gebohte æt him þæt biscopseol æt Lunden-
ceastre, 7 his biscop was of his daga ende. Ond swa Westseaxna
mægð micelre tide was buton biscope.
Pære seolfan tide pa eac swelce se foresprecena cyning þære 15
peode mid þam hefigestum wonungum his ríces gelomlice from his
feondum swenced was. Da cwom him æt nehstan to gemynde, þæt
hine ær his getreowleasnis of his rice adraf, ond eft, pa he Cristes
geleafan onget, þæt he his rice onfeng. 7 pa eac ongeat pat he
hæfde on pweorh gedon, pætte seo mago was buton bisscope, 7 þæt 20
heo ætgædre mid þy godcundan fultome forlæten wæs. Fordon he
pa sende ærendwracan in Gallia rice to Ægelberhte pæm biscope, 7
mid ea modre pingunge 7 bene hine bæd, þæt he hwurfe to pæm
biscopsele his peode. Pa ladode he hine 7 cwæð, þæt he ne meahte
hider cuman, fordon he onfongen hæfde his agenre ceastre bisscop- 25
scire. Ond hwæðre for his geornlicum benum, þæt he him fultom
sohte, ond he him sende to Leutherium mæssepreost his nefan.
Cwæð þæt he pone meahte, gif he wolde, him to biscope gehadigan,
7 he hine þæs wyröne wisse on his lifes geearnungum. Ond sona wæs
from þæm cyninge, 7 from eallum his leodum arwyrolice onfongen. 30
Ond þa bædon Theodorum pone pe pa was arcebiscop Contware-
burge cirican, þæt he hine to biscope gehalgode. Ond he pa swa dyde;
gehalgode hine in pære ilcan ceastre ; ond he ana æfter alles seonodes
1. 11. cyninige T. cyninge O. Ca. B. C. 1. 16. pam B. Ca. O. pære T.
1. 19. he to pot wanting in T.; and also in B. Text from O. Ca. 1. 27.
send,to T. onsende to Ca. B. O. (tó).
 III. 7. 171

got tired of his foreign speech, and invited into Wessex another
bishop acquainted with his language, who was called Wine and
had been consecrated in Gaul. And the king then divided Wessex
into two bishoprics, and assigned to Wine the episcopal seat at
5 Winchester. Then Egelberht was very angry, because the king
acted without his advice ; he left Britain and returned to his own
people in Gaul. And he there received the bishopric of his own town,
which was called Paris ; and there he departed old and full of good
deeds. Then a few years after his departure from Britain, Wine
10 was expelled from his episcopal seat by the same king. So he
went to Wulfhere, king of Mercia, and with money bought from
him the episcopal seat in London, and was his bishop to the end
of his days. And so the province of Wessex was long without
a bishop. At the same time also the aforesaid king of this people
15 frequently suffered severe damage to his dominions at the hands of
his enemies. Then at last he recollected, that his want of faith
formerly caused his expulsion, and that on receiving the faith of
Christ he recovered the throne. So he also saw, that by his perverse

conduct his land was without a bishop, and at the same time
20 deprived of the divine support. So he sent envoys to bishop
Ægelberht in Gaul, and with humble supplication and petition
prayed him to return to the episcopal seat among his people. But
the other excused himself, saying that he could not come here, as
he had received the bishopric of his own town. And yet because of
25 his earnest prayers in seeking his support, he also sent him his
nephew the priest Leutherius. He said that he might, if he
would, ordain him as bishop, and that he knew him to be worthy
of the position by his meritorious life. And he was at once
received with honour by the king and all his people. And they
30 requested Theodore, then archbishop of the church of Canterbury,
to consecrate him as bishop. And he did so ; he consecrated him in
that very town ; and he, as sole bishop, with the sanction of the
 172 LIBER TERTIUS.

dome monig ger pone biscophad mid micle gerece heold 7 ræhte
Westseaxna peode.

VI.

p. 531 . Pa was ymb syx hund wintra 7 feowertig wintra from Drihtnes
Cap. 8. menniscnesse, pætte Eadbald Contwara cyning leorde of pissum life ;
ond Erconberht his sunu feng to his rice, 7 þæt eaðlice heold 5
7 steorde feower 7 twentig wintra 7 sumne monað. Pes cyning
ærest Ongoleyninga in eallum his rice he heht deofolgild toweorpan
7 fæstlice forlætan ; ond swelce eac mid his ealdorlicnesse bebead, þæt
feowertiglice fæsten healden beon ær Eastrum bi witerædenne. Þæs
cyninges dohtor Ercongota was micelra mægena fæmne, swa þæt swą 10
æðelum aldre gerás . Was heo seo fæmne Drihtne peowiende in
þæm mynstre, pe in Fronclonde was getimbred from pære ædelan
abbudessan, þe Fara hatte, in þære stowe pe cweden is in Briige.
Forðon in þa tíd pa get ne wæron monig mynster getimbred in
Ongolpeode, ond fordon monige gewunedon of Breotone for intingan 15
munuclifes secan Froncna mynster 7 Gallia. Swelce eac cyningas 7
rice men sendon heora dohtor þider to læranne 7 to gepeodenne pæm
heofonlican brydguman, ond swipust in pissum mynstrum in Briige
7 in Caale 7 in Andelegum. Betweoh pa was Sæðryð Annan wiifes
dohtor Eastengla cyninges, 7 þæs ylcan cyninges gecyndelice dohtor 20
Ædelberg. Æghwæder heora was elpeodig þær, 7 hwæðre for
heora lifes geearnunge gepungon, þæt heo buu wæron abbudissan
in Briige pam mynstre. Pas ilcan cyninges seo yldre dohtor
Sæburg was Erconberhtes wiif Contwara cyninges ; hæfde heo
dohtor pa Ercongotan, bi dare we nu syndon sprecende. 25

Pisse fæmnan Gode gehalgodre monig weorc gastlicra mægena 7

monig tacen heofonlicra wundra from þæm bigengum þære stowe
gewuniað oð þisne ondweardan dæg sægd beon. Ac we nu sculon
hrædlice hwæthwugu be hire for fore anre secgan, hu heo þæt
heofonlice rice gesohte. Ona pa dæm dæge nealæhte hire geceg- 30
nesse of pissum life, pa ongon heo ymbgongan pa hus þyses

1. 20. eastengla to dohtor not in T. Text from O. Ca. B. 1. 21.

heora
for,lifes T. for heora lifes Ca. O. (hiora) . B. for heora (only).
 III. 7, 8. 173

whole synod for many years held and directed the bishopric of
Wessex with much authority.

VI.

Now about 640 years after our Lord's incarnation Eadbald,

king of Canterbury, departed this life ; and Erconberht his son
5 succeeded to his dominions, which he nobly swayed and directed
for twenty-four years and a few months. He was the first among
the kings of England, who ordered the idols to be overthrown and
finally abandoned throughout all his kingdom ; and by his
authority he also directed the forty days' fast to be observed before
10 Easter under fear of penalty. The king's daughter Ercongote was
a lady of great virtues, as befitted such noble descent. She was
a servant of the Lord in the convent built in France, by the noble
abbess called Fara, at the place called Brie. For at that time but
few monasteries had as yet been erected in England, and ac-
15 cordingly it was usual for many to leave Britain and go to monas-
teries in France and Gaul for the sake of monastic life. Kings
also and rich men sent their daughters there, to be educated and to
be espoused to the heavenly bridegroom, and above all at these
monasteries, Brie, Chelles, and Andely. Among these was Sæ-
20 thryth, daughter of the wife of Anna king of the East Angles, and
Æthelberg the king's own daughter by birth. Both of these were
foreigners there, and still from their meritorious life both were

advanced to the position of abbess at the monastery in Brie. The

king's elder daughter Sæburg was wife of Erconberht, king of
25 Canterbury, and had a daughter Ercongote, about whom we shall
now speak. The inhabitants of this place are wont to relate, up to
the present day, many works of spiritual virtue and many signs of
heavenly miracles wrought by this virgin hallowed to God. But we
now shall rapidly touch on some points concerning her death only,
30 and the manner of her ascent to the heavenly kingdom. Now
when the day was at hand that she should be called from this life,
she began to go round the dwellings of the infirm servants of
 174 LIBER TERTIUS .

mynstres para untrumra Cristes peowna, 7 swiðust þa pe gelyfdre

eldo wæron, oope in gecorenisse heora peowa mærran 7 betran
wæron. Ond heo ealle pa eaðmodlice hire gebeodo bæd, 7 him
cyode 7 sægde , þæt heo geleornade on onwrignesse, þæt hire endedæg
7 hire for fore wære swide neah. Sægde heo him, pat seo 5
onwrigenis pyslic wære ; cwæð, fæt heo gesege micelne preat
hwittra monna 7 fægerra in þæt ilce mynster ingongan, ond þæt
heo pa hy frugne, hwæt heo sohten oððe hwæt heo pider wolden .
Ondswaredon hy 7 cwædon, þæt heo to pon pider sende wæron,
p. 532. þæt heo sceolden þæt gyldne mynet mid him geneoman, þætte pider 10
of Cent cwom . Pa was in pære seol'an nihte pæm ytmæstan
dæle, pæt is pa hit dagian ongon, pæet heo pa peostru pisses
ondweardan middangeardes oferstag, 7 to þæm uplecan leohte leorde
heofona rices. Ond monige para broðra þæs ylcan mynstres para
pe in oðrum husum wæron, sægdon, þæt heo swutolice engla song 15
geherdon, ge eac swég gehyrdon swa swa micelre mengu in þæt
mynster gongan. Ond heo sona arison 7 ut eodon ; woldon gewitan
hwæt þæt wære. Pa gesegon heo micel leoht heofonlic þær cuman.
Pæt leoht pa halgan sawle from pæm bendum þæs lichoman
onlesde, 7 to dæm ecan gefean þæs heofonlican edles gelædde. 20
Etecton heo eac 7 sægdon odero wundro, pa de godcundlic æteawed
wæron in þæm ilcan mynstre, þa de nu to long to secgenne syndon.
Pa was bebyrged se lichoma þære arwyrðan fæmnan 7 þære
Cristes bryde in Sce Stephanes cirican pæs ærestan 7 þæs eadgan
martires. Da puhte pam broðrum þy þriddan dæge, þæs þe heo 25
bebyrged wæs, þæt heo wolden pone stan, pe seo byrgen mid
bewrigen was, hear 7 gerisenlicor in pære ilcan stówe gesettan.
pa by pa hine onweg dydon, pa cwom of inneweardre pære
byrgenne swa micel swetnisse stenc, pætte eallum þam higum þuhte,
pe þær ætstodon, swa swa mon hordærn ontynde + de balsami 7 30
para deorwyrdestena wyrta 7 para swetestena para pe in middan-
gearde wæron.
Swelce eac hire modrige Ædelberg Gode seo leofe, be pære we

fed
1. 1. gelyfede T. gely.re (erasure of one) O. gelyfedre Ca. B. 1. 18. hwat
น
O. Ca. B., not in T. cman T. cuman O. Ca. B. 1. 30. de balsami T.
 III. 8. 175

Christ in this monastery, and especially if they were of advanced

age, or remarkable and superior for the excellence of their conduct.
And she then humbly asked the prayers of all, and made known to
them in words, that she had learnt by revelation her last day and
5 her departure to be close at hand. She told them the revelation
was on this wise ; she said, she saw a great company of men white and
fair enter the monastery, and she asked, what they sought or wanted
there. They replied and said, that they were sent there to fetch
the golden coin, that had come there from Kent. Now in the last
10 hours of the same night, when daybreak began, she rose above the
darkness of this present world and passed to the light of the
heavenly kingdom above. And many of the brethren of this
monastery, who were in other dwellings, said that they clearly
heard the song of angels, and heard too a noise as it were of a
15 great multitude entering the monastery. And they arose at once and
went out, desiring to know what that was. And they saw a great
light in the heaven approaching. This light released the holy
soul from the fetters of the body, and led it to the eternal joys of
the heavenly home. They further told other wonders, divinely
20 displayed at the same monastery, which are too long to be now
related. Then the body of this honoured virgin and bride of Christ
was buried in the church of St. Stephen the first and blessed
martyr. Now the third day after her burial the brethren thought,
they would set the stone, with which the tomb was covered, in
25 a higher and more suitable position at the same spot. On their
removing it, there came from within the tomb such a sweet odour,
that to all of that household who stood by, it seemed as if a
storehouse of balsam and of the most valuable and sweetest spices
in the world had been opened . Also her aunt Æthelberg, beloved
30 of God, of whom we spoke before, maintained the glory of per-
(=opobalsami). þa balsami O. Ca. In B. the construction is altered be
9
balsamu on wære 7 da etc. 1. 33. modrie T. modri.e (one erased) O.
moddrige Ca. modrige B.
 176 LIBER TERTIUS.

ær sægdon, þæt wuldor hire ecre clænnisse 7 mægðhades in micelre

forhæfdnesse hire lichoman geheold. Hwylc hire mægen wære, ma
æfter hire deade gecyded was. Pa heo abbudesse was, ongon heo
on hire mynstre cirican timbran in áre ealra þara haligra
apostola, in pære heo wilnade pæt hire lichoma bebyrged wære. 5
Ac þa ðæt weorc pære cirican huhugu healf was geworht, þa wæs
heo mid deade forgripen, ær heo hit geendian moste ; 7 in þære
seolfan stowe pære cirican, þær heo wilnade, bebyrged wæs. pa
wæs æfter hire deade, þæt pa broðor oðerra weorca swiður gemdon,
7 pisse cirican timbro forlæton seofon gear. Da pa seofon ger 10
gefylled wæron, pa gesetton heo fæstlice fore unmætnisse þæs
gewinnes, þæt heo eallinga forlete pa getimbro pisse cirican. 7
þære abbuddyssan ban upp adydan of pære stowe, 7 on opre
cyricean, pe fullice getimbred 7 gehalgod wære, gesetton. Ond
heo pa ontyndon hire byrgenne, ond hire lichoman gemetton swa 15
ungewemmedne ond swa gesundne, swa swa heo was from gebros-
nunge lichomlicre wilnunge clæne 7 unwemme. Ond heo pa eft
pone lichoman onpwógon 7 mid oðre hrægle gegyredon, 7 hine
gesetton in cirican pæs eadigan martires Sce Stephanus. pære
abbudessan gemynddæg oð þas tid in pære stówe in miclum 20
wuldre weorðad is, þy dæge pe nemned is Nonarum Iuliarum.

VII.

P. 533. Hæfde Oswald se cristnesta cyning Norðanhymbra nigon gear

Cap. 9. ríce, togeteledum þy geare pe seo wildeorlice arleasnis Bretta
cyninges 7 seo awegoncernis from Cristes geleafan Ongelcyninga
onscuniendlic wæs, swa swa we ær beforan sægdon. pa se ryne þyssa 25
geara gefylled wæs, slog mon Oswald . Was hefig gefeoht 7 micel
gefremed from þæm ilcan hæðnan cyninge 7 þære hæðnan þeode
Mercna, from pæm his foregenga eac Eadwine ofslegen was, in
pære stowe pe nemned is Maserfeld. Hæfde he Oswald lichomlicre
yldo seofon 7 pritig wintra, pa hine mon slóg þy fiftan dæge 30
Agustus mondes.
ban
1. 12. 7 þære to cyricean wanting in T. Text from O. (abbuddyssan,). Ca.
(bán ; adydon ; ore cyrican .) B. (abbuddessan bán ; adon ; 6ðre cyrean . )
 III. 8, 9. 177

petual purity and virginity with great continence. What her virtue
was, was more fully made known after her death. While abbess

she began to build a church in her monastery in honour of all the

holy apostles, in which she wished her body to be buried. But as
5 the work on the church was about half completed , she was carried
off by death, before she could finish it ; and she was buried in the
part of the church, where she desired. Then after her death, the
brethren were more occupied with other works, and for seven years
neglected the erection of the church. At the end of the seven
10 years, they then finally resolved to give up altogether the con-
struction of the church, owing to the immense labour. So they
took up the bones of the abbess from that place, and laid them in

another church, which was completed and consecrated. And then

they opened her tomb, and found her body as undecayed and as
15 sound, as it was pure and undefiled by the corruption of bodily
desire. And they washed the body afresh and wrapped it in

another shroud, and laid it in the church of the blessed martyr St.
Stephen. And the festival of the abbess to this time is celebrated
with much pomp at that spot, on the 15th of July.

VII.

20 Oswald, the most christian king of Northumbria, reigned for

nine years, if we reckon in the year, which was disgraced by the
savage impiety of the king of the Britons and the apostasy of the
English kings from Christ's faith, as we related above. When the
course of these years was fulfilled , Oswald was slain. There was a

25 great and bloody battle, brought on by the same heathen king and
by the heathen people of Mercia, by whom his predecessor Eadwine
was slain, in the place which is called Maserfield. Oswald was in
the thirty-eighth year of his earthly life, when he was slain on the
fifth day of August. What this king's faith and devotion to God
N
 178 LIBER TERTIUS.

Hwelc pas cyninges geleafa 7 modes wilsumnis in Gód wære,

þæt æfter his deade mid mægena wundrum was gecyded. Fordon
in þære stowe, pe he for his eöle mid his leodum cómpade 7 from
þæm hæðnum ofslegen was, oð þeosne ondweardan dæg þæt þærhælo
untrumra monna 7 neata mærsodon seondon. Donon gelomp þætte 5
pa seolfan moldan, þær his lichoma gefeol, monige men neomende
weron, 7 in water dydon 7 sealdon heora untrumum monnum 7
neatum drincan ; 7 him sona wél was. Ond þæt men to pon
gelomlice dydon sticcemælum, þæt heo pa moldon namon, oð þæt
þær was deop seað adolfen, pætte wæpnedmon meahte of his 10
sweoran inn stondan. Ne pæt swide to wundrienne is, þeah þe in
pære stowe his deades untrume hælo onfenge, se symle, mid þy pe
he lifde, pearfum 7 untrumum árode 7 ælmessan sealde, 7 heora
helpend was on heora sáre. Ond monig wundor mægena earon
sægd, þæt in þære stowe gelumpon ge bi dære moldan , þa de in 15
pære stowe genumene wæron. Ac us genihtsumað nu þæt we tuu
án o pe preo gehyran.
Gelomp noht micelre tide æfter his slege, pætte sum man rad be
pære stowe. Pa ongon his hors semninga wergian 7 gestondan, 7
his heafod on eorðan hylde ; 7 þa fáam of þæm mude eode, 7 þæt 20
unmæte sáar weox 7 miclade, oppæt hit on eorðan hreas . pa lihte
se eoredmonn 7 þæt gebate of ateah, 7 þær hwile bád, hwonne his
horse bet wurde oope he hit þær deád forlete. Pa was hit longe
mid hefige sáre swide swenced 7 in missenlice dælas hit wond 7
præste, pa semniga becwom hit in pa stowe, þær se gemyngoda 25
cyning ofslegen was. Ne was pa elden, pætte pæt sáar gestilled
was ; 7 hit blonn from unhalum styrenessum þara leoma, 7 þy
gewunelican þeawe horsa æfter werignesse ongon wealwian, 7 on
æghwæðre siidan hit gelomlice oferwearp : 7 sona aras purh eall
hal 7 gesund, 7 ongon giferlice þæt gærs etan. 30
Pa he da se mon þæt geseah, pa onget he mid scearpre gleawnisse
p. 534. hwathwugu wundorlicre halignesse in pære stówe beon, þær his
hors swa hrade gehæled wæs. Ond he þær tacen asette 7 pa stowe
gemearcode, 7 on his hors hleop 7 rad þider he ær mynte. Pa he
Ja cwom to pæm men þe he secan wolde, pa gemette he þær 35
1. 21. hi T. hit O. Ca. B.
 III. 9. 179

were, was manifested after his death by miraculous wonders. For

at the spot, where he with his people fought for his land and was
slain by the heathen , up to this present day, there are notable
cures of sick men and animals. Hence it happened that the very
5 clay, where his body fell, was carried away by many, and being put
into water was given to sick men or animals to drink ; and they at
once recovered. And this was done gradually so often, that the
clay was removed, till a deep pit was hollowed out, in which a man
might stand up to his neck. It is no great marvel, that the sick
10 were cured at the place of his death, seeing that he ever in life
regarded the poor and sick, giving them alms and assisting them
in their suffering. And many miraculous wonders are said to have
taken place at that spot and with the clay taken from it. But it is
now enough for us to hear two or three only. Not long after he
15 was slain, a man happened to be riding past the place. Suddenly
his horse began to tire and stand still, and hung its head to the
ground ; foam came from its mouth, and violent pains grew and
increased, till it fell to the ground. The rider dismounting took
off the bridle and waited awhile there, till his horse should get
20 better or he should leave it there dead. After suffering long and
severely from violent pain and rolling and twisting in every
direction, suddenly it came to the spot, where the aforesaid king
was slain. Without delay, the pain was relieved ; and it ceased to
move its limbs in suffering, and in the usual manner of horses after
25 fatigue began to roll, and threw itself repeatedly from side to side :
and soon arose thoroughly whole and sound, and began to eat the
grass greedily. When the man saw this, he understood by keen
discernment that there was some wonderful sanctity in the spot,

where his horse was so rapidly cured. So he set up a sign and

30 marked the spot, and jumping on his horse rode to the place he
had previously intended. And on coming to the person he wished
N 2
 180 LIBER TERTIUS .

fæmnan ; wæs nift þæs higna aldres pe he sohte ; was mid longre
aðle legeres swiðe gehefigad. Pa ongunnon þa higan beforan him
seofian be þære grimman untrymnesse pære fæmnan, þa ongon he
secgan be pære stowe, þær his hors gehæled was. Hwat by
gearwodon sona wægn 7 asettan þa fæmnan inn 7 læddon to þære 5
stówe, 7 heo þær asetton. Pa heo pa on pære stowe geseted was,
Ja was heo werig ; onslep þær hwon. Sona þæs þe heo onwóóc, pa
gefelde heo, þæt heo was gehæled from hire lichoman untrymnesse,
7 hire wætres bæd, 7 heo þwóh 7 hire feax gerædde, 7 heo mid
scytan bisweop 7 mid pæm monnum, þe heo þider læddon, on hire 10
fotum hál 7 gesund ham hwearf 7 eode.

VIII.
Cap. 10. Swylce eac in da ilcan tid cwom oder mon sum : sægdon men
þæt he wære Bretta leod . Ferde he be pære ilcan stowe, in þære
þæt foresprecene gefeoht geworden was. Pa geseah he ánre stowe
fæc pæm oðrum felda grenra 7 fægera. Đa ongon he mid gleawe 15
mode pencan 7 ræsian, þætte nænig oder intinga wære pære
stowe grennis 7 fægernis, nemne pæt þær sum * haligra mon hwylch-
wugu þam oðrum weorode ofslegen wære. Genom pa þære moldan
dæl in þære stowe, gebond in his sceate, pohte þæt seo ilce molde
to læcedome 7 to hælo geweorðan meahte untrumra monna : ond 20
he eft for eode in his weg. pa cwom he to sumum huse in æfentiid,
7 eode in þæt hus, þær þæt ham eall to symble gesomnod was.
Was he onfongen from þam hlaforde þæs huses, 7 him mon setl
tæhte, 7 he sæt mid him at þæm symble. Áheng he pone
sceat mid pære moldan, þe he brohte, on ane studu þæs wages. 25
Wæs micel fýr onæled on middum þam húse. Mid þy heo pa longe
symbledon 7 druncne wæron, 7 þa spearcan up flugon in þæs huses
hróf, se wæs mid gyrdum awunden 7 mid pace bepeaht, pa gelomp
þæt þæt hus eall was in fyren 7 ongon semninga byrnan. pa þæt
pa gebeoras gesawon, pa flugon heo forhte út, 7 nænige helpe pam 30
beornendan huse gedon meahton ; ac hit clæne forborn, nemne

1. 4. gehaled O. Ca. B. gelæded T. 1. 16. þætte B. pætte pæt T. Pp0.

Ca. 1. 17. halig all MSS. But B. omits hwylchwugu and inserts on before
pam (Latin sanctior).
 III . 9, 10. 181

to visit, he found there a woman, niece of the head of the household

he was visiting ; she had long been sorely afflicted with paralysis.
When the people of the household began to lament before him
about the dreadful illness of the woman, then he began to tell them of
5 the place where his horse was cured. So they at once got ready a
cart, put the woman in, brought her to the place and set her down
there. She was tired when she was set down, and fell asleep for a
little. As soon as she awoke, she felt she was healed of her bodily
infirmity, called for water, washed and arranged her hair, and
10 wrapping herself in a garment returned back home on foot whole
and sound, in company of the men who brought her there.

VIII.

At that time also there came another man, who is said to have
been of British descent. He was travelling past the spot, in which
the aforesaid fight took place. He saw a portion of one place
15 greener and brighter than the rest of the field. So being a man
of sagacity he began to think and reason, that there was no other
cause for the greenness and brightness of the place, than the
circumstance that some man was slain there more holy than the
rest of the army. He took some portion of the clay at that spot,
20 tied it up in his garment, supposing that this clay might prove to
be a medicine and a cure for the sick and he went on his way once
more. Then in the evening he came to a house, and went in and
found all the hamlet assembled and feasting. He was received by
the owner of the house, and they pointed him out a seat, and he sat
25 down with them to the feast. But the cloak with the clay, which
he brought, he hung on one of the supports of the wall. A large
fire had been kindled in the middle of the house. And when they
had been long feasting, and had drunk much, and the sparks flew
up to the roof of the house, which was interwoven with rods and
30 thatched, then it happened that the whole house within caught fire
and suddenly began to burn. When the guests saw this, they fled out
in fright, and could give no help to the burning house ; and it was
burnt clean down, except the single support on which the clay
 182 LIBER TERTIUS.

seo studu aán þe seo molde on hongode, seo gesund 7 ungehrinen

from þæm fyre astód 7 awunade. Da wundrodon heo þæt swiðe ;
7 smealice sohton on hwon pat gelang wære. Pa was him
gecyded þæt seo molde þær ón hongode, pe in pære stowe genumen
p. 535. wæs, þær Oswaldes blód þæs cyninges on agoten wæs. Wæron pas 5
wundor feorr 7 wide gemered 7 gecyped ; 7 monige men seoopan
dæglwamlice pa stówe sohton, 7 þær hælo gife him seolfum 7
heora freondum neoman ongunnon .

VIIII.

Cap. II. Betweoh das ding nis to forswigienne, hwelc heofonlic wundor 7
mægen æteawed wæs, pa his bán funden 7 gemeted wæron 7 to 10
þære cirican gelædde, þær heo nu gehealden syndon. Was pis
geworden purh Ospryde geornnesse Mercna cwene, seo was
Oswiges dohtor his broðor, se æfter him feng to Norðanhymbra
riice.
Is ædele mynster in Lindesse ; is nemned Beardan ea. Dæt 15
mynster seo ilce cwén mid hire were Epelrede swide lufade 7
arweorðade 7 beeode. In þam heo wilnade gehealdan þa arwyrðan
bán hire fædran. Mid by se wægn þa cwom, pe pa baan in leded
wæron, in þæt foresprecene mynster, pa ne woldon pa hiwan him, pe
in þæm mynstre wæron, lustlice onfoón. Forþon peah þe heo hine 20
haligne wisten, hwædre fordon pe he of operre mægpe was 7 ofer
heo rice onfeng, ealdum feoungum hine eac swylce deadne ehton.
Đa was geworden, þætte pære seolfan neahte pa brohton bán ute
awunedon, nemne mon geteld ofer abrædde. Ac seo ateawnis
heofonlices wundres geopenade, hu arwyrölice heo wæron to under- 25
fonne eallum geleafsumum. Fordon ealle pa niht stód swylce
beorht sunbeam from þæm wægne up o heofon heah, pone mon
meahte lytesne of ealre Lindesse stowum sweotole geseon . pa hit
pa was on marne dæg geworden, pa ongunnon pa broðor pæs
mynstres, þa de ær wiðsócon, geornlice biddan, pætte mid him pa 30
halgan reliquias 7 Gode pa leofan gehealdne beon moston. Ond heo
pa da baán onpwógon 7 in cyste gedydon 7 in cirican æfter gerisenre
aare gesetton. Ond pætte se cynelica had pas halgan weres

1. 21. pære T. odre B. obre (on erasure) O. oðre Ca. operre C.

 III . 10, II. 183

hung, which remained standing sound and untouched by the fire.

Then all marvelled at that very much, and enquired carefully into
the cause of this. Then it was shown them that the clay hung
there, which was taken from the place, where king Oswald's blood
5 was shed, These marvels were celebrated and spread far and wide ;
and since that many men daily visited the spot, and there began to
obtain the grace of healing for themselves and their friends.

IX.

In speaking of this, we cannot pass over a heavenly marvel and

miracle, displayed when they came upon and found his bones and
10 brought them to the church, where they are now kept. This was
done through the zeal of Osthryth, queen of Mercia ; she was
daughter of his brother Oswio, who succeeded him on the throne of
Northumbria. There is a noble monastery in Lindsey, called
Bardney, which the queen and her husband Æthelred loved,
15 honoured and cherished much. In this she wished to preserve the

bones of her venerated uncle. When the wain came conveying the
bones to the aforesaid monastery, the inmates in the monastery
were unwilling to receive them. For though aware of his sanctity,
yet as he was of another province and received authority over
20 them, out of ancient hostility they persecuted him, even when dead,
So it was, that the bones when brought remained outside that
night, only that an awning was spread over them. But the display
of a heavenly wonder showed, how reverently they should be
received by all believers. For all night there stood as it were a
bright sunbeam high up to heaven from the wain, which might be
25 clearly seen almost from every part of Lindsey. So when it was
light on the morrow, the brethren in the monastery, who had
previously refused, earnestly begged, that the holy relics so precious
in God's sight might be preserved among them . Then they
30 washed the bones, and putting them in a chest, deposited them
in the church with due honour. And that the royal rank of this
 184 LIBER TERTIUS .

ece gemynd hæfde, his segen, se was mid golde 7 mid godwebbe
gefrætwad, 7 ofer his byrgenne geseted. Ond þæt seolfe wæter,
þæt heo þa báán mid pwógon, guton in ænne ende pære cirican.
Of pære tide was geworden, þætte seo seolfe eorde, pe þæt arwyrðe
bæð onfeng, meahte to hælo feondseocra monna 7 oderra untrymn- 5
essa.
Gelomp þæt æfterfylgendre tide, mid by seo foresprecene cwén
was wuniende in þæm ylcan mynstre, pa cwom sum arwyrðe abbud-
esse to hire, seo was haten Æpelhild ; was sweostor para haligra wera
Æðelwines 7 Aldwines. Para was oder biscop in Lindesse, oder was 10
p. 536. abbud in þæm mynstre pe hatte Peortanea, from þæm mynstre
unfeor wæs pære abbudessan mynster. Mid by heo pa to pære
cwene cwom, 7 heo gesprecen hæfdon, 7 betweoh oder spræcon heo
be Oswalde, cwæð heo seo abbudesse, þæt heo gesawe pære nihte þæt
leoht ofer his banum úp oð heofon heah. Cwæð heo seo cwén, 15
þætte of pære moldan þæs flores, in pæm pot water his bana
pweales goten was, monige untrume gehælede waron. Ond heo
pa bæd, þæt hire mon sumne dæl þære halwendan moldan sealde ; 7
hire mon swa dyde ; 7 heo þa in cláde bebond 7 in cyste dyde 7
hire ham ferde. þa æfterfylgendre tide, seoppon heo in hire 20
mynstre wæs, þætte pider cwom sum cuma, se was neahtlicum
tidum semninga from únclænum gaste hefiglice swenced. Pa was
he fremsumlice onfongen ; 7 æfter his æfengereorde hine gerestan
wolde. Pa was he semninga from deofle gerisen, 7 ongon cleo-
pian 7 hlydan 7 mid his toðum gristbitian, 7 þa fáam of his 25
mude ut eode, 7 he missenlecum styrenessum ongon his leomu
præstan. Mid þy hine pa nænig mon ne gehabban ne gebindan
meahte, pa orn sum þegn 7 sloh tacen æt geate, 7 sægde pære
abbudessan. Ond heo sona þæt geat þæs mynstres ontýnde, 7 eode
mid áne hire pinenna to pære wæpnedmonna stowe, 7 gehet pone 30
mæssepreost to hire, þæt he sceolde mid heo gán to þam untruman
Pa heo pa dider cwómon, pa gesawon heo þær monige men .
æt him beon, þa de georne ongunnon, þæt heo his wedenheortnisse
gestilden ; ac heo ne meahton. Song he se mæssepreost 7 rædde
orationem, pa de wid pære adle awritene wæron, 7 pa þing dyde, pe 35
1. 2. 7 all MSS. ? was.
 III. II. 185

holy man might be kept in perpetual remembrance, his ensign,

adorned with gold and purple, was placed above his tomb. And

the water, in which the bones were washed, was poured out at
one end of the church. From that time on the earth, which
5 received this holy water, had power to heal demoniacs and other
infirmities. At a later time, when the aforesaid queen happened

to be staying in the monastery, she was visited by a venerable abbess

called Æthelhild, sister of the holy men Æthelwin and Aldwin. Of
these one was bishop in Lindsey, and the other abbot at the
10 monastery called Parteney, not far from which was the convent of
the abbess. When she came to the queen, and they had been
conversing, among other topics they spoke of Oswald. Then
the abbess declared, that she saw on the night the light over
his bones high up to heaven. The queen told her, that many sick
15 were healed by dust from the floor, where the water that washed
his bones had been poured. She begged that some of this healing
dust might be given her ; and this was done ; and she bound it in
a cloth, put it in a box and went home. At a later time, after her
return to the monastery, a stranger came there, who in the hours of
20 the night used to suffer severely by sudden visitations from an un-
clean spirit. He was hospitably received ; and after supper desired
to repose. Then he was suddenly seized by the devil, and began
to call and shout and grind his teeth, and the foam came from his
mouth, and he began to twist his limbs with all sorts of movements.
25 As no one could hold or bind him, an attendant ran and knocked
at the gate and told the abbess. She at once opened the monastery
gate, and went with one of her women to the men's quarter, sum-
moning the priest to accompany her to the sick man. On coming

there they saw many with him, who earnestly endeavoured to calm

30 his madness, but could not. The priest chaunted and recited an
exorcism composed for this sickness, and did all that he knew to be
 186 LIBER TERTIUS .

he selust wið þon cuðe ; 7 he hwæðre noht on þon fremede. Mid

þy heora pa nænig ænige helpe him findan meahte, pa cwom
semninga þære abbudessan in gemynd seo foresprecene molde. pa
het heo sona hire pinenne gaan 7 þa cyste hire to gefetigan, pe seo
molde in wæs. Pa heo pa mid þa cyste in þone cafertún eode þæs 5
huses, pe se feondseoca mon in præsted wæs, pa geswigade he
semninga 7 his heafod onhylde, swa swa he slapan wolde, 7 his
leomu in stilnesse gesette. Pa swigodon heo eac ealle 7 stille
wæron ; 7 sorgiende bidon to hwon his ping weorðan scolde. Da
wæs efter medmicelre tide fæce Sæt he upp asæt 7 hefiglice 10
asworette 7 cwæð : Nu ic wat teala, 7 ic onfeng gewit mines
modes. Ond heo pa geornlice hine ahsodon, hu þæt gelumpe.
Cwæð he Sona mid by pe seo fæmne mid pære cyste, pe heo bær,
geneolecte pæm cafertune pas huses, pa gewiton ealle þa wergan
gastas onweg, þa de mec swencton 7 þrycton, 7 mec forleton 7 15
nower seo pan æteawdon. Pa sealde seo abbudisse him sumne dæl
þære moldan ; 7 seo mæssepreost orationem rædde, 7 heo for hine
gebædon : 7 he da niht ealle hal 7 gesund hine reste. Ond
siðpan of pære tide pa awyrgedan gastas hine mid nænige ege ne
mid geswencnisse grétan dorston. 20

X.
P. 537. Efter dissum was æfterfylgendre tide sum cneoht in þæm
Cap. 12.
mynstre in Beardan ea in longre lenctenadle hefiglice swenced. pa
was sume dæge, pætte he sorgende bad hwonne seo aol to him
cwome, pa was gongende in to him sum þara broðra ; cwæð him
to : Wilt þu min cild þæt ic pe lære, hu þu gehæled beon meaht 25
from pisse aðle hefignesse ? Aris 7 gong to cirican to þæs halgan
Oswaldes lice, 7 site þær 7 stille wuna, 7 geseoh þæt þu ut ponon
ne gonge, ær seo aol from pe gewiten sy. Ponne cume ic to de 7
pec ponon ham lado. pa dyde he swa he hine lærde ; eode
gesittan to pæs halgan weres liice. Pa ne cwom him no seo 30
untrymnis to þy dæge ; ac heo, swa ondrædende, from him gewat,
þætte ne dy æfteran dæge ne dy þriddan ne ofer þæt siðan hine oo
gehrinan dorste. Cwom sum broðor ponon, cwæð Beda, þe me sægde
þæt hit pus gedon wære : 7 eac sægde, pæet se ilca brodor pa gyt in
 III. 11 , 12. 187

best for it, but still produced no effect by this. As none could
find anything to help him, suddenly the abbess bethought her
of the aforesaid dust, and at once ordered her attendant to go and
fetch the box containing it. When she with the box entered the
5 hall of the house, where the demoniac was tormented, he suddenly
became silent and dropped his head, as though he would sleep, and
composed his limbs to rest. Then all were silent and still, and
awaited the result with apprehension. Then after a little he sat
up, sighed heavily and said : ' Now I am in my right mind, and
10 have recovered my senses.' And they eagerly asked him, how that
was. He replied : ' As soon as the woman carrying the box came near
the hall of the house, all the evil spirits departed, who tormented
and oppressed me, and they left me and appeared not here any
more.' Then the abbess gave him a portion of the dust ; and

15 the priest recited an exorcism, and they prayed for him : and
all that night he rested whole and sound. And from that time
on the evil spirits durst not visit him with any terror or torment.

X.

After this at a subsequent time a boy in the monastery at

Bardney suffered severely from a prolonged fever. When one

20 day he was looking with apprehension for an attack, then one

of the brethren came in to him and said : ' My child , will you learn
from me, how you may be cured of this grievous sickness ? Rise up

and go into the church, and sit by the body of the holy Oswald and
keep still, and see that you do not leave, till the attack is gone. Then
25 I will come to you and bring you off home.' The boy did as he
was directed, and went to sit by the saint's body. And that day
the illness did not visit him, but kept away as if afraid, nor on the
next, nor on the third day, nor ever after durst attack him. A
brother coming from that place, said Beda, told me that it so
30 happened, adding that the brother was still alive in the monastery
 188 LIBER TERTIUS .

þæm mynstre lifigende wære, in pæm cneohtwesendum pis hælo

wundor geworden was. Ne was þæt ponne to wundrienne, peah
pe pas cyninges bene, pa he mid Drihtne ricsade, mid him
swidade 7 genge wæren, se de ær, þendæn he pis hwilendlice hæfde
riice, ma he gewunade, pæt he for pæm ecan riice symle wonn 7 5
God bletsode.
Sægdon þætte pa menn, þa hit cuðon, þæt he oftost from þære
tide pæs uhtlican lofsonges oð hluttorne dæg in gebedum astóde 7
awunade ; 7 for pæm gelomlicum þeawe his gebeda, swa hwær swa
he sæt, þæt his gewuna was þæt he his honda upweard hæfde ofer 10
his cneo, 7 symle Drihtne Gode his gooda panc sægde. Wæs eac
swylce wiid mærsed 7 in gewunan gyddis gehwyrfed, þæt he eac
swylce betweoh gebedes word his lif geendade. Forðon pa he was
mid wæpnum 7 mid feondum all utan beheped, 7 he seolfa onget
þæt hine mon ofsléan scolde, pa gebæd he for þam sawlum his 15
weorodes. Cwædon heo bi don pus in gydde : Drihten God miltsa
þu sawlum ussa leoda, cwæð se halga Oswald, þa he on eorðan
sáág.
Weron his baan gelæded 7 gehealden in þæm mynstre, þe we ær
cwædon æt Beardan ea. Heht se cyning, se de hine slóg, his heafod 20
on steng asetton ; 7 his hond mid by earme, þe of his lichoman
aslegen was, het to ahoon. pa cwom æfter géres fæce mid herige
se æfterfylgend his riices Osweo his mæg 7 heo pþær genom : 7 his
heafod mon lædde to Lindesfearena eae, 7 þær in cirican bebyrgde ;
7 his hond mid þy earme in þære cynelican ceastre in Bebbanbyrig 25
gehealdene syndon.
XI.

p. 538. Nales at an ætte se hlisa pises æðelan weres eall Breotene

Cap . 13 . gemæro geondscine, ac swylce eac bi suðan sæ in Germania 7 eac
somod pa dælas Hibernia Scotta ealondes se hlisa his wundra
bicwoom. Fordon Acca se arwyrða biscop gewunode oft secgan, 30
pa he to Rome was ferende, 7 mid Wilbrord pone halgan biscop
ย
1. 12. geddis T. gyddes O. (y in erasure.) Ca. godes B. C. 1. 20. Beardan ea
"
O Ca. (éa). B. (éa). Bearda ea T. 1. 24. li,desfarena ea O. lindesfearena
éa Ca. lindesfarene ea B. lindesfeara eaae (the a before r and the first a in
 III. 12 , 13. 189

on whom, as a boy, this miracle of healing had been wrought. It

was no wonder, if the king's prayer, when reigning with the
Lord, prevailed and was effective with him, seeing that while
he held this temporal kingdom, it was rather his wont ever to
2
5 contend and bless God for the eternal kingdom. Those who knew
said, that he very often continued and persevered in prayer from
the time of lauds till clear daylight ; and owing to his constant
habit of praying, wherever he sat, he habitually kept his hands
on his knees with the palms upwards, and he was continually
10 thanking God for his mercies. It was also repeated far and
wide, and it turned into a current saying, that he died with a
prayer on his lips . For being surrounded on all sides by armed
enemies, and perceiving that he should be slain, he prayed for the
souls of his army ; and thus they expressed it in a saying : ' The
15 Lord God have mercy on the souls of our people, said the holy
Oswald, as he sank to the ground.' His bones were brought
and preserved in the aforesaid monastery at Bardney. The king
who slew him, ordered his head to be set on a pole, and to hang up
his hand with the arm, that was struck from his body. Then after
20 a year's time, his brother Oswio, who suceeeded to his throne, came
with a host and took them away from that place and his head
was brought to Lindisfarne and was buried in the church ; but

his hand and arm are preserved in the royal town of Bamborough.

XI.

The fame of this noble man not only was diffused over all
25
Britain, but also the fame of his miracles spread along the south
sea into Germany, and also into the districts of Ireland the
island of the Scots. For the venerable bishop Acca was often
wont to repeat that, on his way to Rome, when staying with the
holy Wilbrord, bishop of the Frisians, he often heard him speak of
+
eaae resemble n) T. cp. iv. 23. v. I. 2 (bis) . 1. 31. 7 mid wilb, ord O. 7 mid
wilbrord Ca. 7 wilbrond (mid wanting) T. 7 mid wilbrande B.
190 LIBER TERTIUS .

Fresena was wuniende, þæt he hine gelomlice herde secgan in þære

mægde bi pæm wundrum, þe æt þæm banum þæs arwyrðan cyninges
gedon wæron.
Swelce he eac sagde se biscop, mid by he da gena mæssepreost
was in Hibernia 7 þær for heofona rices lufan in elpeodignesse 5
lifde, pæt he þær þone hlisan in pæm ealonde his halignesse feorr 7
wide gelomlice herde secgan. Ponne magon we nu an wundor
secgan, pe he sægde betweoh oder monego. Sægde he, þæt in þa
tid þæs miclan wóles 7 monncwilde, pe Breotone ealond 7 Hibernia
mid micle wale fornom 7 forhergade, pa was geslegen betweoh 10
oore monige mid by wæle pas ilcan wóles sum leornungmon in
scole Scotta cynnes. Was se mon wel gelæred in gewritum ; ac
ymb þa gemænne his ecre hælo was to sæne 7 to receleas. Da he
pa geseah þæt he was neah deade, pa ongon he forhtian 7
him ondrædon, þæt he sona, þæs pe he dead wære, fore geearnun- 15
gum his synna to helle locum gelæded beon sceolde. Cleopode mec
pa 7 cegde, mid by ic was him ón neoweste : 7 betweoh pa
untruman sworetunge he forhtigende 7 wependre stefne pus wæs
spreocende 7 seofiende to me, 7 cwæð : Hwæt þu gesyxt, þæt peos
aðl 7 peos hefignes mines lichoman swide weaxeð, þæt ic eom neded 20
þæt ic sceal hrade deað underhnigan. Ne twygeo ic ponne mec
noht æfter pæs lichoman deade hræde gelæd beon to þam écan
deade minre sawle 7 helle tintregu underdeoded ne beon. Forpon
micelre tiide betweoh geleoso þære godcundan leornunge ic ma
synnum 7 leahtrum peowde, ponne Godes bebodum. Me is nu 25
fæstlice in mode, gif seo uplice arfæstnis me ænig fæc to lifigenne
forgeofan wille, pat ic wille mine leahtorfulle peawas gesecgan, 7 to
bebode pæs godcundan willan eall min mod 7 min lif fæstlice
gecerran. Ic for soo wat, þat þæt nis minre gegearnunge, þæt ic
yldenne onfó to lifigenne, odpo ne getreowe me onfoende beon, 30
nemne God me earmum 7 unwyrðum gemiltsigan wille þurh para
fultum 7 bene, pe him getreowlice peowdon. We gehyrdon 7 se

d
1. II. sum O. Ca. B. sumne T. 1. 25. peode T. deod,e O. deodde Ca.
ge
underðeodde B. 1. 30. ylden.ne (erasure of one) T. yldinc, O. yldinge Ca.
ylde B. onfende (o aboveƒ) T. onfonde O. Ca. onfeonge (om. beon) B.
 III. 13. 191

the wonders, that had been wrought in that land at the relics

of the revered king. The bishop also said, that when he was still

a priest in Ireland, living there in a foreign land for love of

the heavenly kingdom, that he often heard the fame of his sanctity

5 repeated far and wide in that island. So we may now relate one
miracle, which he mentioned among many others. He said that

at the time of the great plague and loss of life, which ruined
and wasted the islands of Britain and Ireland with great mortality,

among many others there was smitten by the mortality a disciple in

10 the school of Scotch descent. He was well read, but too slack

and careless in regard for his eternal salvation . When he saw

himself near death, he began to fear and to dread that, as soon as he

died, he should be carried to hell prison according to his sins'

deserts. As I was near him, he called me, and amid his feeble

15 sighs, trembling and with plaintive voice, he thus spoke lamenting

to me, and said : 'Now you see that this sickness and heaviness of my

body increases much, so that I am forced soon to undergo death. I

do not doubt, that after the death of this body I shall be carried at

once to the eternal death of my soul and be subject to hell's torments.

20 For I have long served sin and vice rather than God's command-

ments, while studying the divine word. I am now firmly resolved ,

if the heavenly goodness will grant me any time to live, that

I will renounce my vicious habits, and steadfastly change all

my mind and life to the ordinance of the divine will. I know in

25 truth, that I shall not receive for my own merits a respite to live,
nor do I trust to receive it, unless God will have mercy on me, a

miserable and unworthy man, through the aid and prayers of

his true servants. We have heard, and it is everywhere reported,
 192 LIBER TERTIUS .

mæresta hlisa is, þætte wære in eowerre peode wundorlicre

halignesse cyning, Oswald hatte, pas cyninges geleafan 7 mægenes
heannis æfter deade eac swilce mid gelomlicra wundra wyrcnisse
scán 7 beorhte. Biddo ic pe la, gif þu ænige his reliquias hæbbe mid
þec, þæt þu me selle . Eade mæg, þæt me Drihten þurh his geearnung 5
miltsigan wille. Da ondsworede ic him : Ic hæbbu, cwæð, þæs
treowes dæl, pe his heafod on aseted was, pa he ofslegen was.
p. 539. Ond gif þu mid trumre heortan gelefest, ponne mæg seo godcunde
arfæstnisse purh geearnunge swa micles monnes æghwæðer ge lengre
fæc pisses lifes pe forgifan, ge pec eac þæs ecan lífes ingonges 10
wyröne gedon. Ne was he pa eldende , ac sona andsworode 7 cwæð,
þæt he in pissum hæfde fæstne geleafan 7 onwalhne. Pa gehalgode
ic wæter 7 scæfpan dyde in pæs foresprecenan treoes, 7 sealde pam
untruman drincan. 7 sona þæt him was bet 7 hine getrumade 7
gewyrpte from pære untrymnesse . 7 he longe tiid seopdan lifde 7 15
mid ealle his heortan 7 dædum fæstlice to Gode gecerde ; ond swa
hwær swa he cwom, þæt he eallum monnum sægde 7 bodade
pa mildheortnesse pas arfæstan scyppendes 7 þæt wuldor his
getreowan peowes.

XII.

Cap. 14. Ono da Oswald was gelæded to pam heofonlican rice, pa onfeng 20
þæs eorðlecan rices sepl æfter him his broðor Osweo . Hæfde he
pritig wintra, pa he to riice feng , 7 þæt eahta 7 twentig wintra
gewinnesfullice heold 7 hæfde . Feaht him ón 7 wonn Penda se
cyning 7 seo hæðne þeod Mercna ; swelce eac his agen sunu
Alhfrið 7 Ædelwald his brodor sunu, se ær him riice hæfde . Da 25
was by æfteran gere his rices , pætte se arwyrða fæder Paulinus , se
was geo in Eoferwicceastre biscop , pa was in Hrofesceastre , forð-
gewát 7 to Drihtne ferde by syxtan dæge Iduum Octobrium, æfter
pon þe he nigontyne winter 7 twegen monað 7 an 7 twentig daga
biscophade onfeng. Ond he was bebyrged on Sce Andreas 30
cirican þæs apostoles , da Apelberht se cyning in pære ilcan

1. 7. pa he ofslegen was O. Ca. B. Not in T. 1. 10. in.gonges (erasure of

n) T. inganges O. Ca. B. 1. 29. nigon T. nygantyne O. Ca. nigontyne B.
1. 30. on O. Ca. B. 7 T.
 III. 13, 14. 193

that in your people there was a king of wondrous sanctity called

Oswald ; and the loftiness of this king's faith and virtue shone out
and was evident even after death by the working of repeated wonders.
Lo now I pray you, if you have any of his relics with you, that you
5 give them me. It may easily be, that the Lord will have mercy on me
for his merits .' Then I answered him : 'I have,' said I, ' a portion of
the tree on which his head was placed, when he was slain. And
if you believe with a firm heart, then divine goodness, through the

merits of so great a man, may either give you a longer time in

10 this life, or make you worthy to enter into eternal life.' Then
at once without delay he answered and said, that he had firm and
full belief in this. Then I blessed water and put in it a chip from
the aforesaid tree, and gave it to the sick man to drink. And at
once he was better, grew strong and recovered from sickness. And
15 he lived long after and turned steadfastly to God with all his
heart and actions ; and wherever he came, he reported and preached
to all the mercy of the good God and the glory of his faithful
servant.

XII.

Now when Oswald was carried to the kingdom of heaven ,

20 his brother Oswio succeeded him on the throne of his earthly
kingdom. He was thirty years old at his accession, and held and
maintained the kingdom amid many difficulties for twenty-eight
years. King Penda and the heathen people of the Mercians
assailed and fought with him, as well as his own son Alhfrith , and
25 Ethelwald, son of the brother who reigned before him. In the
second year of his reign the venerable father Paulinus, formerly
bishop at York, then at Rochester, departed and went to the Lord
on the 10th of October, after he had been bishop for nineteen years
two months and twenty-one days. He was buried in the church
30 of the apostle St. Andrew, which king Ethelberht formerly
0
 194 LIBER TERTIUS.

Hrofesceastre ær heht getimbran. In pære stowe Honorius se

ærcebiscop gehalgode Itthamar, se was Contwara leod, ac on
his life 7 on his gelærednesse he was his foregengum gelic.
Hæfde Osweo se cyning in þæm ærestan tidum his riices efen-
hletan þære cynelecan weoronesse, þæs noma was Oswine, of Ead- 5
wines strynde pas cyninges. Was he Osrices sunu, bi þæm we
beforan sægdon. Was he seofon winter Dera cyning Oswini in
pære mæstan genihtsumnesse ealra þinga. Was he se mon æfest
7 arfæst, 7 fordon eallum his leodum leof. Ac ne meahte he
hwæðere mid pone cyning, pe pone operne dæl Norðanhymbra riices 10
hæfde, þæt is Beornica, sibbe habban ; ac swa micel ungepwærnes
7 unsibb betweoh him aras, þætte heo heora weorod 7 fyrd gesom-
nodon. Mid þy Oswini þa geseah, pætte he ne meahte wið hine
gewinnan, forðon he maran fultum 7 mare mægen hæfde, þa wæs
he nyttra pinga þencende, 7 demende pæt he þæt gefeoht forlete 7 15
hine geheolde to betran tide. Forlet pa his weorod, 7 bebead þæt
monn hwa him ham ferde from þære stowe, pe is nemned Wilfares
dún. Seo is tyn milum westrihte from Cetreht weorpige. Pa
gecerde he mid áne his þegne, þe he him getreowestne tealde, þæs
noma was Tondhere, to Hunwaldes ham his gesides, pæt he þær 20
wolde deagol beon, pone he him ær þone holdestan gelefde. Ac
hit feorr on oðre wisan was. Forpon se ilca gesiið þurh Æðelwine
his geréfan mid þy foresprecenan his þegne hine þær ameldedon ;
p. 540. 7 hine mon þær laðlice deade cwealde. Was pis geworden þy
preottopon dæge Kalendarum Septembrium by nigopan geare 25
Oswios riices in pære stowe, pe is cweden Ingetlingum. Þær
æfter fæce for intingan clæsnunge pisses manes was mynster
getimbred, in þæm for æghwæðres cyninges sawle alesnesse, ge
pæes ofslegenan ge þæs pe hine slean het, dæghwamlice Drihtne
bene 7 gebedo borene beon scoldon. 30
Was he Oswine se cyning ge on ónsyne fæger ge on bodie heah
ge wynsum on gespræce, 7 in þeawum monpwære ; 7 he was eallum
rumgeofa ge æðelum ge únæðelum . Donon gelomp, þætte fore his
cynelicnesse ge modes ge onsynes 7 his geearnunge wyronesse, þæt
he was from eallum monnum lufod . Ond æghwonan lytesne of 35
1. 7. dera O. Ca. para T. daera B.
 III. 14. 195

ordered to be built in this town of Rochester. In his place

archbishop Honorius consecrated Itthamar, of Kentish descent,
but in life and learning equal to his predecessors . In the first
years of his reign king Oswio had a partner in the royal dignity,
5 named Oswini, of the family of king Eadwine, being son of Osric
whom we mentioned before. Oswini reigned over Deira for seven
years in complete affluence. He was just and pious, and for
this beloved by all his people. But he could not maintain peace
with the king, who had the other part of the Northumbrian realm,
10 that is, Bernicia. Such disunion and hostility sprang up between
them, that they assembled their followers and armies. Now when
Oswini saw that he could not cope with him, as he had more
auxiliaries and a greater force, he bethought him of the more ex-
pedient course, and determined to give up the struggle and reserve
15 himself for better times. So he disbanded his troops and directed
everyone to return home from the place, which is called Wilfares-
dun, which is ten miles west from the village of Catterick. And
he turned off with one attendant, whom he considered most faithful,
named Tondheri, to the house of his gesith Hunwald, whom
20 he formerly believed to be most loyal to him, intending to conceal
himself there. But it was far otherwise. For this gesith, by the
instrumentality of his reeve Æthelwin, betrayed the king with his
aforesaid attendant ; and he was shamefully put to death. This
took place on the 20th of August in the ninth year of Oswio's
25 reign, at the place called Gilling. There after a time to purge
away this sin a monastery was erected, in which daily prayer and
supplication should be offered to the Lord for the deliverance of the
souls of both kings, the one that was slain and the one who
ordered his slaying. King Oswini was handsome in appearance,
30 tall in person, and pleasant in address, gentle in his manners, and
liberal to all whether gentle or simple. Consequently he was
beloved of all for the kingliness of his spirit and his looks, and his
high merits. And the noblest flocked to join his retinue and
0 2
196 LIBER TERTIUS.

eallum pissum bifylcum to his folgade 7 his þegnunge pa æpelestan

men cwomon.
Pisses cyninges betweoh oder mægen 7 gemetfæstnisse 7 synd-
riglicre bletsunge wuldor, eac swilce is sægd, þæt he wære pære
mæstan ea modnesse, swa swa we magon on ánre bisene sweotole 5
oncnawan. Geaf he 7 sealde pæt betste hors 7 pas fægerestan
eondes Aidane pæm biscope, peah pe he gewuna wære þæt he ma
eode ponne he ride, dat he hwædre on pæm meahte fordas oferrídan,
ponne he to hwelcere ea cwome ; oðpe gif hwyle ned gelumpe, þæt
he hrædlicor feran scolde. Pa was æfter medmicelre tiide, þa he 10
on pæm horse sæt, þæt him cwom sum pearfa togeanes 7 him
ælmessan bæd. pa lihte he sona 7 heht þam pearfan þæt hors
syllan mid pæm cynelicum gebætum þe him onstodon. Forpon he
was swiðe mildheort 7 þearfena bigenga 7 swa swa fæder earmra.
pa pis pa was pæm cyninge gesægd, cwæd he to pam biscope, pa 15
heo wærun to heora swæsendum gongende : Hwæt woldest pu, min
domne biscop, þæt cynelice hors pæm þearfan syllan, þe de geda-
fenade agan to habbanne ? Ac ne hæfdon wit monig oder uncymre
hors 7 oðres eondes, pet wit meahton pearfum to tigde sellan,
peah pu þæt hors him ne sealde, þæt ic de synderlice to æhte 20
geceas ? Đa andswarede se bisceop him sona 7 cwæð : Hwat
sprycest pu cyning ? Cwist du pat pe sy leofre pære myran sunu
ponne pæt Godes bearn ? Da heo pa pis spræcon, pa iodon heo in
to swæsendum, 7 se biscop eode ge sæt in his stówe on his sele.
Se cyning ponne, fordon he of huntað cwom, gestód æt þam fýre 25
7 hine wyrmde mid his þegnum. Ond pa semninga betweoh pa
werminge gemunde pæet word, pat se biscop him ær to cwæð :
ongyrde hine pa his sweorde 7 sealde his þegne, 7 stop ofostlice
toforan biscope 7 feoll to his fotum, 7 bæd þæt he him bliðe wære,
7 cwæð : Næfre ofer þis ic owiht ma spreco oððe demo, hwæt oðpe 30
hu micel of uncrum feó ðu Godes bearnum selle. pa se biscop pa
geseah pa eaðmodnesse pas cyninges swa micle, þa ondred he him
swide 7 sona aras him togegnes 7 hine up ahóf, 7 geheht þæt

1. 3. gemetfæstnisse syndrigliore bletsung T. gemetfæstness syndriglicre

bletsunge (the last s of first word and the first s of second word on erasure) O.
 III. 14. 197

service, from almost every quarter in all the adjoining provinces.

Among other virtues of this king and signal instances of modesty
and of special blessedness, it is also said that he was of the
utmost humility, as we may clearly perceive from a single example.
5 He bestowed and gave his best horse of the finest breed to bishop
Aidan, though the latter was wont to travel more on foot than on
horseback, to enable him at any rate to ride over the fords, when
he came to any river, or in case of need, to proceed more rapidly.
Now after a little, when the bishop was on horseback, a poor man
10 met him and begged alms. Then he dismounted at once and ordered
the horse to be given to the poor man, along with the royal trap-
pings that were on it. For he was very benevolent and cared
for the needy and was, as it were, a father to the poor. On
this being reported to the king he said to the bishop, as they were
15 going to dinner : ' Sir bishop, why would give that royal steed to the
poor man, which it was proper for you to keep for yourself ? Had
we not many other less handsome horses of other breeds, which we
might give to the poor as a gift, without your giving them the
horse, which I specially chose to be your own property ? ' The
20 bishop replied at once : ' What do you say, O king ? Do you say
that the offspring of a mare is dearer to you than God's child ? '
Having thus spoken they went in to dinner, and the bishop went
and took his place on his own chair. Then the king, having just
come from hunting, stood at the fire and warmed himself among his
25 attendants. And suddenly, while warming himself, he recollected the
words which the bishop had just said to him, unbuckled his sword
and gave it to his attendant, and stepping up quickly to the bishop,
fell at his feet and begged him to be friendly with him, saying
' Never after this will I say a word more, or judge as to what or how
30 much you give of our property to God's children.' When the
bishop saw the king's humility to be so great, he was much afraid,
at once arose to meet him, lifted him up, promised to be very

gemetfæstnys syndrilicre bletsunge Ca. gemetfæstnesse 7 synderlice bletsunge

B. 1. 21. da- cwæð not in T. Text from O. Ca. B.
 198 LIBER TERTIUS.

he him swide blide wære, 7 georne bæd þæt he code to his seðle
P. 541. sittan to his swæsendum 7 unrotnisse of his heortan asette. Mid
þy he da se cyning bi pas biscopes hæse 7 bene blisse onfeng,
Ja ongon he se biscop ongegn þon unrot weosan, 7 swa unrot
wæs, þæt he ongon wepan hluttrum tearum. pa frægn hine 7 5
ahsode his mæssepreost on his agen gedeode, pe se cyning ne cude
ne his higen, for hwon he weope. Cwad he : ic wat pætte pes
cyning æfter pissum noht longe ne leofað, forþon ic næfre ær
þissum geseah eaðmodne cyning. Forpon ic ongeote, þæt he
hrædlice of pissum life leoran sceal ; ond nis peos peod wyroe 10
þæt heo swilcne reccend 7 cyning hæbbe. Ne was pa long fæc
æfter pætte se grimma witedom þæs biscopes was gefylled, þæt
mon la lice deape pone cyning acwealde, swa we ær beforan
sægdon. Ge eac se seolfa biscop Aidan nales ma ponne by
twelftan dæge æfter pæs cyninges slege, pone pe he lufode, pæt 15
is by arran dæge Kalendas Septembris, of pisse worulde alæded
wæs, 7 ece mede his gewinna from Drihtne onfeng.

XIII.

Cap. 15. Ono hwylere geearnunge pes biscop wære, mid wundra tacnum
eac swilce se innlica dema ælmihtig God monnum gecydde. Ponne
is us nu genoh, þæt we of monegum þreo areccen for intingan 20
his gemynde. Was sum arwyrde mæssepreost, þæs noma was
Útta : was micelre gestapignesse 7 so fæstnisse wer, 7 he
forðon eallum ge pisse worulde aldormonnum wæs leof 7 weord.
Was he sended in sume tid to Cent, pæt he sceolde Osweo þæm
cyninge wiif fetigan Eanflæde Eadwines dohtor pas cyninges , 25
seo wæs ær þider gelæded, pa hire fæder ofslegen wæs. pa
gestihhade he 7 funde, þæt he wolde londfyrde þider gefaran, 7
eft in sciplade mid þære fæmnan haam hweorfan . Pa eode se
mæssepreost to Aidane pæm biscope ; bad hine pæt he for hine
gebæde 7 for his geferan, 7 for heora gesyntu to Gode pingade, 30
pa heo swa micelne siðfæt feran scolden. pa dyde he swa :
α
1. 2. gesette T. asette Ò. Ca. B. 1. 10. nis O. Ca. is T. B. 1. 16. ka-
lendas O. Ca. -dos T. -darú B. 1. 23. aldormon T. ealdormonnú O. Ca.
-mannā В (ea.).
 III. 14, 15. 199

friendly to him, earnestly entreating that he would go and sit

in his place at the meal, and put away sadness from his heart.
Now when the king at the bishop's bidding and request recovered
his spirits, the bishop on the other hand began to be sad, and so sad
5 that he began to weep profusely. Then his priest asked him in
his own language, which neither the king nor his household knew,
why he wept. He said : ' I know that this king will not survive long,
for I never before saw humility in a king : therefore I feel that
he is soon to depart this life ; and this people is not worthy to
10 have such a king and ruler.' Not long after the dire prophecy of
the bishop was fulfilled , namely, that the king was murdered by a
foul death as already related. And bishop Aidan himself, not more
than twelve days after the death of the king whom he loved,
that is on the last day of August, was taken from this world,
15 and received from the Lord the eternal reward of his labours .

XIII.

Now what this bishop's merits were, was made known to men

also by miraculous signs from God the judge of hearts. But it is now

enough to relate, for his memory's sake, three out of many. There
was a venerable priest named Utta, a man of great gravity and

20 truthfulness, and for this reason beloved and valued by all, as well
as by the great men of this world. He was once sent to Kent to

fetch Eanflæde, daughter of king Eadwine, to be wife of king

Oswio, who had been brought there, when her father was slain.

Then he settled and arranged to go there by a land route, and to

25 return home with the lady on board ship. Then the priest went to

bishop Aidan, entreated his prayers for himself and companions

and supplications to God for their safety, as they had such a long

journey to travel.. Then he did so he prayed for them, blessed them,

 200 LIBER TERTIUS.

gebad heo fore 7 heo gebletsade 7 Gode bebead ; sealde eac

swylce pæm mæssepreoste gehalgodne éle. Cwed him to : Ic wat
sona, cwæð he, þæs pe ge in scip astigað, þæt ofer eow cymeð
micel storm 7 hreonis, 7 widerweard wind astigeð. Ac gemyne pu
þæt þu pisne ele, pe ic pe nu sylle, synd in þa sæ ; 7 sona instæpe 5
se wind gestilleð 7 sæs smyltnes æfterfylged, 7 eow eac blide
on eowerne wilsið hám forlætað.
Ond eal pas ping, swa se biscop forecwæð, of endebyrdnesse
gelumpun 7 gefylde wæron. Ond sona ærest, þæs þe heo in scip
eodon 7 ut leton, þætte astigon wiðorwearde windas, 7 þa yða 10
weollon 7 weddon pas sæs. Pa ongunnon pa nedlingas 7 þa
scipmen pa oncras upp teon, 7 in þone sæ syndon ; woldon þæt
scip mid gefæstnian. 7 peah þe heo pis dydon, noht heo on þon
fremedon ; ac pa yoa weollon 7 ymbsweopon 7 æghwonan þæt
scip fyldon, þæt heo him nænigra gesynta wendon, ac heo ealle 15
p. 542. deað seolfne him onweardne geseagon. Pa æt nyhstan gemunde
se mæssepreost pas biscopes word : genom his ompellan, 7 sumne
dæl þæs éles sende in pone sæ. Ond sona instæpe, swa hit
forecweden was , gestilde se sa from pæm wylme. Ond swa was
geworden, þætte se Godes wer purh wítedomes gast þone storm 20
toweardne foreseah, 7 purh þæs ilcan gastes mægen, þa he up
cumen wæs, pet he hine aswefede 7 gestilde, peah pe he lichomlice
þær æfweard wære. pisses wundres endebyrdnesse nænig tweonde
secgend, ac se getreowesta mæssepreost usse cirican, Cynemund
hatte, me pis sægde ; sægde he, he hit gehyrde from pæm seolfan 25
Uttan mæssepreoste, in þæm 7 þurh pone pis wundor gefylled wæs.

XIIII.

Cap. 16. Ponne secgeað monige, þa þe hit gearuwe cuðon, oðer gemyn-
delic wundor þæs ilcan fæder. Pæt gelomp in pa tid his
biscophada, pætte Penda Mercna cyning gelædde here on Norðan-
hymbra lond, 7 hit feor 7 wide mid arlease wæle hyðde 7 hergode. 30
Pa becwom he æt nyhstan to þære cynelecan byrig, seo is nemned
Bebbanburg. Pa he pa geseah, pat seo burg was to pon fæst, þæt

1. 22. gescilde T. gestillde 0. gestilde Ca. B.

 III. 15, 16. 201

and commended them to God. He also gave the priest consecrated

oil, saying : ' I know that, soon after you embark, a great storm and
tempest will come upon you, and a contrary wind will arise. But
remember to cast into the sea this oil which I give you ; and at
5 once the wind will fall, and calm will follow and send you home re-
joicing on your way, as you desire.' And all fell out in order, and

was fulfilled according to the bishop's prophecy. And first, as

soon as they went on board and put out, contrary winds arose, and
the waves of the sea rose and raged. Then the ship's crew and the
10 sailors hoisted the anchors, and dropped them into the sea, intend-
ing to moor the ship with them. But they effected nothing, though
they did so ; for the waves seethed and swept round them, and
filled the ship from all sides, so that they utterly despaired of
safety, and all saw death before their eyes. At last the priest
15 recollected the bishop's words, took his flask and poured some of
the oil into the sea. And at once, as it was foretold, the sea calmed
down from its fury. And so had the man of God by a spirit of
prophecy foreseen the storm coming, and by virtue of the same
spirit, laid to rest and stilled it, after it had arisen, though not
20 there present in the body. The circumstances of this miracle were

reported to me by no doubtful authority, but by a most trustworthy

priest of our church called Cynemund, who said he heard it from
the priest Utta himself, in whose case and through whom this
miracle was wrought.

XIV .

25 Now many, who are well informed, relate another memorable

miracle of the same father. During the time of his episcopate it
happened, that Penda, king of Mercia, led his host into the land of
Northumbria, wasting and despoiling it far and wide with cruel
carnage. At last he came to the royal city, named Bamborough ;
30 and seeing that the town was so strong, that he could not by assault
 202 LIBER TERTIUS.

he ne meahte ne mid gefeohte ne mid ymbsete heo abrecan ne gegaan,

pa wolde he mid fýre forbærnan. Aslát þa þa túnas ealle ymb
pa burg onwæg, de he þær on neaweste gemette, 7 to þære byrig
gewæg, 7 micelne ád gesomnade on beamum 7 on ræftrum 7 on
wagum 7 on watelum 7 on deacon ; 7 mid pissum þa burg mid 5
micelre heannisse ymbsealde from pæm dæle, pe heo londe gepeoded
is. pa hit pa was wel gewinde in pa burg, pa onbærnde he pone
aád 7 þa burg forbærnan wolde.
Da in pa seolfan tid was se arwyrða biscop 7 se halga Aidan in
Farne pæm ealonde, þæt is on twæm milum from þære byrig ut on 10
sæ. Was his gewuna þæt he da stowe gelomlice sohte for intingan
stilnesse 7 his deagolra gebeda, ond mon mæg gen to dæge pa
stówe his sedles on þæm ilcan eálonde sceawian. pa he pa se
p. 543. biscop geseah swapendum windum pone leg þæs fyres 7 pone réc
up ofer þære burge wallas ahefenne, is sægd, þæt he his eagan mid 15
his hondum to heofonum hofe 7 mid tearum pus cwæde: Pu
Drihten, geseoh hu micel yfel Penda wyrced. Ond þa sona
instæpe oncerde se wind from pære byrig, 7 se leg 7 seo hætu
ræsde on þa seolfan, þe þæt fyr ældon 7 bærndon, 7 monig monn
swide gewyrdledon ; 7 heo ealle afyrhte onweg flugon 7 blunnon pa 20
burg afeohton, pa heo ongeton þæt heo godcundlice gescilded wæs.

Cap. 17. Da det da gen wæs, þat þa ger gefylled waron his biscophada ,
þæt he pis deadlice lif forlætan sceolde , 7 he úntrum wæs, þa wæs
he in þæm cynelecan tune noht feorr from þære byrig, þe we ær 25
foresprecende wæron , in þæm he hæfde cirican 7 cýtan. 7 his
gewuna wæs, þæt he gelomlice pider cerde 7 þær wunade, 7
ponon eode gehwyder ymb, 7 þær godcunde lare bodade 7 lærde.
(Dat eac swilce his peaw was ón oðrum cyninges tune tó donne,
swa swa hit eaðe beon mihte , fordon þe he nowiht agnes hæfde , 30
butan his cyricean 7 þær to feower æceras.) pa aslogon his
1. 3. de T. pe Ca. O. de to gewag not in B. 1. 9. The divergency is
now so great between T. B. on one side and O. Ca. (C.) on the other, that full
citations of the latter must be reserved for Part ii. (to end of cap. 18) .
с
1. 13. seawian T. sceawian B. 1. 14. wi.ndu (erasure) T. windu B.
1. 22. T. has the illuminated initial, and coloured capitals ( as far as was),
marking the beginning of a new chapter. The number XVII is late. There
www
.
 III. 16, 17. 203

or investment destroy or capture it, he determined to burn it down.

So he pulled down all the villages around the city, which were to
be found in the neighbourhood, and conveyed to the city and
collected a huge pile of beams, rafters, partition walls , wattles
5 and thatch. With these he surrounded the city to a great height,
on the side where it adjoins the land. And when the wind blew
fair on to the town, he kindled the pile, intending to burn down
the town. Now just at this time the venerable bishop St. Aidan
was at the island of Farne, which is two miles out at sea from the
10 town. He was wont often to visit the place for the sake of retire-
ment and prayer in secret, and still at this day his dwelling-place
may be seen on the island. Now when the bishop saw the flames
of fire and the smoke carried up by the sweeping winds over the
walls of that city, it is said that he raised his hands and his eyes to

15 heaven and spoke thus with tears : ' Lord, see how much evil
Penda does .' And then at once on the spot the wind shifted from
the town, and the flames and the heat turned on those, who kindled
and burnt the fire, and many were much injured ; and all fled away
in alarm and ceased to attack the city, which they saw was divinely

20 protected. Now when the years of his episcopate were fulfilled ,

that he should leave this mortal life, and he fell sick, he was then

at that royal residence, not far from the city we have mentioned
before, at which he had a church and a cell. And it was his wont

to go often and stay there, and from this he went about in every
25 direction, preaching and teaching the word of God. This also it
was his habit to do at other residences of the king, as easily might
be the case, for he had nothing of his own, save his church and
a few fields adjoining. Then his companions, when he fell ill, put

is no number in Ca. (which numbers Cap. 21 as XV) ; but here is inserted in

red letters eft oder cw , and at beginning of Cap. 18, 7 eft oder cwide : cc. 19,
20 are wanting in O. Ca. C. The beginning of the chapter is marked in O.
(as usual) by a capital coloured ; in B. (as generally) by a blank left for the
initial. 1. 29. Dat to aceras inserted from O. Ca. (C) : not in T. B.
 204 LIBER TERTIUS.

geferan teld, þa he untrum wæs, on westan pære cirican fæst. pa

gelomp, pa he forðferan scolde, þæt he genom þa studu , þe seo cirice
mid awreðed wæs, 7 on þære styde stóndende forðferde ymb
feowertyno ger, pas pe he biscop wæs, ærran dæge Kalendarum
Septembrium. Lædde mon his lichoman to Lindesfarena eá, 7 5
in broðra lictune was bebyrged. Pa wæs æfterfylgendre tide,
mid by þær mare cirice getimbred was 7 in Sce Petres noman
p. 544. pæs aldorapostoles was gehalgod, pæt heo his bán úpp adydon 7
in pa cirican in suphealfe pæs wigbedes asetton æfter arwyrðnesse
swa micles biscopes. Efter him fylgde in pone biscophad Fiinan , 10
se was eac from Híí Scotta mynstre 7 ealonde sended, 7 longe
tiid biscop was.
Pa gelomp æfter unmonegum gearum, þætte Penda Mercna cyning
cwom mid Mercna here in þa stówe, 7 all þa dæ he meahte, mid iserne
7 fyres lége fornom 7 forleas, 7 swylce eac pone tún, þe se biscop 15
in for ferde, ætgædre mid pa gemyndgedan cirican fýre forbærnde.
Ac wundorlice gemete pa studu áne, þe se biscop onhleoniende forð-
ferde, þæt fýr gretan ne meahte. Pa pis wundor pus gecyded was,
timbrede mon brade eft þa cirican 7 þa ilcan studu útan tógesette
to trymnesse pas wages, swa swa heo ær wæs. Eft gelomp æfter 20
tida fæce purh ungemænne synne, þætte se ilca tún forborn 7 seo
ilce cirice ætgædre was mid fýre fornumen. Ac hwæðre se leg þa
ilcan stúdu gehrinan ne meahte, 7 mid micle wundre, þætte se lég
purhæt pa næglas in pæm þyrelum, pe heo mid pæm to pæm timbre
gefæstnad wæs , 7 hwædre pa stuðo sceopan ne meahte . Pa tim- 25
brode mon priddan side pa cirican þær ; 7 þa ilcan studu nales swa
swa ær uton togesetton to trymnesse pas huses, ac in gemynd
þæs wundres in þa ciricon setton, þætte pa ingongendan þær heora
cneo begean scolden 7 him heofonlicre mildheortnesse wilnian 7
secan. Ond pæt cud is, pætte monige of pære tiide in pære ilcan 30
stówe hælo gife onfengon. Ge eac swylce of pære ilcan styðe
spónas pweoton 7 sceafpan nomon, 7 in wæter sendon 7 untrumum
drincan sealdon, 7 monigra úntrymnessa læcedomas onfengon.

1. II. Hii (accents later ?) T. Hi O. Ca. Hibernia B. sended was T.

B. but B. inserts of heora before ealande. 1. 21. purh B. þur T.
h
1. 24. pur,æt B. burh T. 1. 29. heofonlicre B. -rice T.
 III. 17. 205

up a tent fastened to the west side of the church. And it happened,

when he was about to die, that he took hold of the buttress, which
supported the church, and leaning on that so died, in the four-
teenth year of his episcopate, on the last day of August. His
5 body was carried to Lindisfarne and buried in the cemetery of
the brethren. And at a later time, when a larger church was
built there and consecrated in the name of the chief apostle St.
Peter, they took up his bones and laid them in the church, on the
south of the altar, as was due to so great a bishop . Finan followed
10 him in the episcopate ; he too was sent from Iona, a monastery
and island of the Scots, and was a long time bishop. After not
many years it happened that Penda, king of Mercia, came with a
Mercian host to that place, and ruined and destroyed all he could
with fire and sword, and burnt also the village where the
15 bishop died, along with the church we have mentioned. But in
a wonderful way the fire could not touch the buttress alone, on
which the bishop leant when he died. Now when the story of
this marvel was made known, the church was quickly rebuilt and
the same buttress set up without, to support the wall as before.
20 Again after a time it happened by sinful carelessness, that the
same village was burnt down, and the same church along with it,
was destroyed in the fire. Yet the flame might not touch this
buttress, but very wonderfully the flame eat through the nails in the
nail holes, by which it was fastened to the edifice, and still might
25 not injure the buttress. Then the church was built a third time
on that spot ; and the buttress was not placed as before outside to
support the building, but in memory of the miracle, they put it in
the church, that those who entered might there bow the knee, and
desire and seek for themselves the mercy of heaven. And it is
30 well known, that many from that time received the grace of healing
at that spot. They also cut off chips from the same buttress and
took shavings, and put them in water and gave them to the sick to
drink, and they obtained remedies against many infirmities.
 206 LIBER TERTIUS.

(Soolice pis ic wrat be pam weorcum þæs foresprecenan weres :

p. 545. ac me swa peah no ne licede on hím, þat he pa weorpuncge
Eastrena on riht ne heold ne nyste ; ac ic hit swide onscunede,
swa swa ic on pære bec, pe ic worhte de temporibus, swipe sweotole
gecyðde. Ac ic, swa swa soðsagal stærwritere, pa þing, þe be him 5
odde purh hine gewordene wæron, ic awrat, 7 pa þing þe herunge
wyrde wæron, ic herede. He hæfde swiðe micle geornnesse sibbe 7
soore lufan 7 forhæfdnesse 7 eaðmodnesse. Næfde he on him
naðer ne yrre ne oferhyd ne gytsunge, ne idel gylp him on ne
ricsade. He hæfde þa gleawnesse Godes bebodu to healdanne 7 to 10
læranne ; 7 he hæfde pa geornfullnesse haligu gewritu to rædanne
7 wæccean tó beganganne ; 7 he hæfde sacerde gerisene ealdor-
licnesse pa ofermedan to preageanne 7 þa weligan ; 7 he hæfde
mildheortnesse pa untruman 7 pa þearfendan mid to frefregenne.
Swa swa ic nu æt feawum wordum secge, be pon þe pa sædon þe 15
hine cupon, pot of eallum þon, þe on halgum bocum beboden is to
healdanne, he nowiht to gymeleste ne forlet, ac he hit eall, swa forð
swa he mihte, hæfde gelæste. Das þing ic on þam foresprecenan
bisceope swipe lufie, forðan ic nó ne tweoge pat hi Gode liciað.
Dat he pa Eastran on hiora rihttíd ne heold, forðon þe oððe he 20
hiora gesetton tíde nyste odde, peah pe he wiste, for pære ealldor-
licnesse his agenre þeode he hire ne gymde, ic no ne herige. On
þara Eastrana mærsunge swa peah he nowiht oðres ne ne gelyfde
ne ne weorðode ne ne bodode, buton pæet ylce pot we, pat is pa
alysnesse monna cynnes purh prowunge 7 purh æriste 7 þurh 25
úpstige on heofonas pas midligendes Godes 7 monna, monnes
Hælendes Cristes. Ne heold he no pa Eastran, swa swa sume
men wenað, mid Iudeum on feowertynenihtne mónan gehwylce
dæge on wucan, ac a symle on Sunnandæge fram feowertyne-
nihtum monan od twentigesnihtne, for pam geleafan þære 30
Dryhtenlican æriste, pa æriste he gelyfde on anum þara restedaga

1. I. soðlice to end of chap. , not in T. B. Text from 0. we,rcum O.

weorcum Ca. 1. 2. swa C. se O. seo Ca. 1. 6. herunge wyrðe (u out
of o by erasure of top ; de on erasure) O. her on wyroe Ca. 1. 8. næfde he
hi
Ca.; O. has the words in margin and not first hand. Not in C. 1. 9. gylp ,
O. gylp hi Ca. him not in C. 1. 12. hæfde Ca. hafde (with cross stroke
 III. 17. 207

Now I have written thus about the works of the aforesaid man. Still
I did not approve of this in him, that he did not rightly hold or
know the celebration of Easter ; but I objected to it strongly, as
I very clearly showed in the book which I composed, De tem-
5 poribus. But I, as a truthful historian, wrote what was done
about him or through him, and praised what deserved praise. He
was very earnest for peace and true love, for temperance and
humility. There was in him neither anger nor pride nor covetous-
ness, nor had idle boasting any hold on him . He was wise in
10 keeping and teaching God's ordinances ; he was zealous in reading
Holy Scripture and in keeping vigils. He had authority befitting
a priest to check the arrogant and powerful ; he was compassionate
in comforting the sick and needy. To declare in a few words all
that was said by those who knew him, of all that is ordained in
15 the holy books to be kept, he allowed nothing to be neglected , but
ever fulfilled all, as far as he had power. This then I heartily love
in the aforesaid bishop, not doubting that it is well pleasing in
God's sight. But that he did not keep Easter at its right time,
either not knowing its appointed season, or, though he knew, dis-
20 regarding it owing to the authority of his own people, this I do
not approve. However in celebrating Easter he neither believed,
nor esteemed, nor preached anything else than we do, that is, the
redemption of mankind by the passion, resurrection and ascension
of our Saviour, the man Christ, the Mediator between God and man.
25 He did not keep Easter, as some imagine, in agreement with the
Jews, on the fourteenth night of the moon on any day of the week,
but always on Sunday, from the fourteenth night of the moon up
to the twentieth night, from belief in our Lord's resurrection,
which he believed to have been on one of the days of rest, and also

partly erased) O. 1. 14. þearfendan (second e out of a) O. ðœarfan Ca.

wa if
1. 23. 8 , O. swa Ca. 1. 26. midligendes C. midli,gendes O. lifigendan Ca.
on
monna C.: erased in O. but traceable : not in Ca. 1. 28. iudeum,. (letter
erased after m) 0. iudeūm on (sic) Ca. nihtne mónan (the second stroke of
n,e and all monan on erasure) 0. nihte monan Ca. 1. 29. ac Ca.: not in
O.C. 1. 31. æriste (i out of e) O. æriste Ca.
 208 LIBER TERTIUS .

beon gewordene, 7 eac for þam hyhte ure toweardan æriste, pa he

on anum þara restedaga, se nu Sunnandæg is nemned, soolice
towearde mid pære halgan 7 mid þære rihtgeleaffullan gesomnunge
gelyfde .)

Cap. 18. Pissum tidum Eastengla rice æfter Eorpwalde Redwaldes æfter- 5
fylgende Sigeberht his brodor fore was. Was he god man 7 æfest,
se ær in Gallia rice fulwihtes bæde onfeng, þa he þær wrecca was 7
Radwaldes feondscipe fleah . Ond sona þæs pe he eft on his edel hwearf
ond ríce onfeng, pa wilnade he liif onhyrgan, þe he wel geseted geseah
in Gallia rice. ond he scole gesette, in pære cneohtas 7 geonge menn 10
P. 546. tydde 7 lærde wæron ; 7 him fultmade Felix se biscop, þone he of
Cent onfeng. Gesette he magistras 7 lare æfter Contwara peawe.
Ond swa swide se cyning was geworden lufiend þæs heofonlican
rices, þæt he at nyhstan forlet pæt eorðlice rice, 7 his mæge
Ecgberhte bebead, 7 in mynster eode, pæt he him seolfær getimbrade, 15
7 sceare onfeng 7 ma gemde for þam ecan ríce to compienne.
Pa he pæet pa longe tiid dyde, pa gelomp þætte Penda Mercna
cyning teah here 7 fýrd wið Eastengle 7 þider to gefeohte cwom.
Pa heo pa hie in þæm gefeohte neopor gesegon 7 lassan weorude
heora feondum, pa bædon heo Sigeberht, þæt he mid him cwome 20
to pæm gefeohte heora compweorod to trymmanne. Pa ne wolde
he ac widewæ , pa tugon heo hine nydinga of pam mynstre
7 læddon on pone here. Wendon heo þæt heora compweorodes mód
þy unforhtre beon sceolde, 7 þy læs fluge for his andweardnesse ;
forðon he was ær se fromesta heretoga. Ac he was gemyndig 25
his ondetnesse 7 his gehata, þe he Gode geheht. Pa he was mid
þy unmætan weorode ymbhæfd, ne wolde he oder wapen nemne áne
gýrde him on honda habban ; ond he was ofslegen mid Ecgrice pam
cyninge, 7 eall heora weorod oope geslegen odde geflymed wæs .
Was æfterfylgend his rices Anna geworden Eanes sunu of heora 30
cyningcynne ; was god monn 7 pas betstan tudres * cennend, bi E
Jon her æfter in heora tiid is to secgenne. Ond he seolfa æfter pon

1. 5. T. marks beginning of chapter by illumination, etc., as usual. Ca. has

7 eft oder cwide. O. has coloured initial. B. has blank for Ð, in which a
 III. 17, 18 . 209

from the hope of our future resurrection, which he believed would

really come to pass on one of the days of rest, now called Sunday,
in accordance with the opinion of the holy and orthodox church'
At this time after Earpwald, successor to Redwald, his brother
Sigberht ruled over the kingdom of the East Angles. He was a good
5
and pious man, who had formerly received baptism in Gaul, where
he was an exile, flying from the hostility of Redwald . And im-
mediately on his return to his country and his accession to the
throne, he desired to imitate the life which he saw well established
in Gaul. And he founded a school in which boys and young men
10 were taught and educated, being supported by bishop Felix, whom
he got from Kent. He established masters and teaching after the
usage in Kent. And the king became so ardent a lover of the
heavenly kingdom, that at last he gave up his earthly kingdom, *
handing it over to his kinsman Ecgberht, and withdrew to a
15 monastery formerly built by himself, and receiving the tonsure,
devoted himself rather to contend for the eternal kingdom. Now
when he had done so for a long time, it so happened that Penda,
king of Mercia, led his troops against the East Angles and advanced
to a battle there. Now when they saw themselves inferior in the
20 field, and less in number than their enemies, they begged Sigberht
to accompany them to the battle in order to encourage their troops.
As he was unwilling and refused, they dragged him by force from
the monastery and brought him to the host. They supposed the
spirit of their troops would be higher, and that they would be less
25 disposed to fly because of his presence ; for he had formerly been
a most active general. But he remembered his profession and the
vows he made to God : and when he was encompassed by immense
numbers, he would not take any other weapon in his hand except
a rod ; and he was slain with king Ecgric, and all their soldiers
30 were either killed or put to flight. His successor on the throne
was Anna son of Eane, one of their royal family ; he was an ex-
cellent man and progenitor of a most excellent offspring, of whom
we shall have to speak afterwards at their proper time. And he

later hand has inserted small. 1. 12. cantwara T. cant. B. O. Ca.

1. 15. ecgberhte T. -rice O. Ca. B. 1. 31. cenned T. B. Different in
other MSS.
P
 210 LIBER TERTIUS.

from þam ilcan hæðnan cyninge Mercna, from pæm eac his fore-
genga, ofslegen was.

P. 547. Mid y de Sigeberht þa gytá rice hæfde, cwom of Hibernia

Cap. 19. Scotta ealonde halig wer sum, þæs noma wæs Furseus. Se was in
wordum 7 dædum beorht 7 scinende, swelce he was in ædelum 5
mægenum mære geworden. Wilnade he, þætte he swa hwær swa
he gelimplice stowe findan meahte, þæt he wolde for Godes noman
in elpeodignisse lifian. pa cwom he in Eastengla mægðe, 7 he was
from þæm foresprecenan cyninge arwyrölice onfongen. Ond sona
fylgde pæt weorc, þæt him gewunelic wæs, þæt he godspellice láre 10
lærde ; 7 monige he mid bysene his mægenes 7 mid his wordeş
trymnesse ungeleafsume to Cristes geleafan getrymede.
Pa was he þær mid sume untrymnesse his lichoman pread,
in þære he geearnade þæt he was brucende engellicre gesyhðe.
In pære he was monad, þæt he geornlice atfele pære ongunnan 15
þegnunge pas godcundan wordes 7 his þæm gewunelican wæccenum
7 gebedum geornlice peawe ; forðon him cúð forðfór tóweard ware
7 úngewiis seo tíd pære ilcan for fore, bi don Drihten cwæð :
Waciad ge, fordon þe ge ne weoton ne ðone dæg ne ða tíde. pa wæs
se Godes monn mid pa gesihde swide getrymed : ongon pa 20
hrædlice timbran pa stowe pas mynstres, pe he from þam fore-
sprecenan cyninge onfeng Sigeberhte, 7 þæt mid regellicum
þeodscipum stæfnde. Wæs fæger mynster getimbred in wuda neah
sæ in sumre ceastre, seo is nemned on Englisc Cnoferesburg ; pa
burg eft æfter pon Anna þære mægðe cyning 7 monige æðele menn 25
mid hearum getimbrum 7 geofum frætwade 7 weorade. Was pes
wer Furseus of þæm æþelestan cynne Scotta ; ac feor micele þæt
he was on his moode ædelra ponne on woruldgebyrdum, ond from
pære seolfan tide his cneohthada þæt he micle gemænne hæfde
haligra leornunga 7 eac swilce mynsterlicra peodscipa ; 7 þætte 30
swipost halgum gedafenað, call þa de he geleornade to donne, he
bighygdelice teolode to healdanne.

1. 3. cc. 19, 20 wanting in O. Ca. C. 1. 5. was B.: Not inT. 1. 14. bru-
cende B. brucen T.
 III. 18, 19. 211

himself was slain later on, by the same heathen king as his pre-
decessor.

While Sigberht was still on the throne, there came from

Ireland, the island of the Scots, a holy man, Furseus by name.
5 He was bright and shining in word and deed, just as he was
famous for his noble virtues . He desired, wherever he might find
a suitable place, to live in a foreign country for God's name.
Then he came to the province of the East Angles, and was
received with honour by the aforesaid king. And at once he took
10 up the work that was habitual to him, to teach the doctrine of the
gospel ; and he encouraged many by the example of his virtue
and by the exhortation of his words, even though unbelievers, to
believe in Christ. Then he was afflicted with a bodily infirmity,
in the course of which it was vouchsafed him to enjoy an angelic
15 vision. By this he was warned to devote himself zealously to the
ministry of the divine word, which he had begun, and to observe
zealously his wonted vigils and prayers ; for his coming death was
certain, but the hour of death unknown ; as to which the Lord
says : Watch, for you know not the day nor the hour' Then was
20 the man of God very much cheered by the vision, and began
rapidly to build on the site of the monastery, which he received
from the aforesaid king Sigberht, and he established it with
monastic discipline. It was a fair monastery, built in the forest
adjoining the sea, at a town called in English Burghcastle. Later
25 on Anna, king of the province, and many noblemen adorned and
embellished this city with loftier buildings and more splendid
donations. This man Furseus was from one of the highest
families among the Scots ; but he was far nobler in mind than in

worldly origin, and from the time of his childhood he had great
30 zeal for sacred study and also for monastic discipline ; and what
is most becoming in holy men, all he learnt to do, he carefully
strove to maintain. Then in course of time he erected for himself
P 2
 212 LIBER TERTIUS .

Pa was forogongendre tide, þæt he him syndrig wiic getimbrade,

in pæm he freolslice meahte lifian. Par he was mid untrymnesse
lichoman pread, swa swa seo bóc sagað, seo is awriten be his life, 7
p. 548. sweotolice cydeo, pæt he was alæded of lichoman 7 from æfenne oð
honcred, dat he was lichoman ongyrwed 7 þa engla weorod 7 heora 5
onsyne sceawode. Ond he gegearnode, pæt he pa eadigan herenesse
eac gehyrde, hu heo God lofodon 7 heredon. Was his gewuna
þæt he sægde, þæt he openlice heo gehyrde betweoh monig oder
hleoðrian 7 singan : Ibunt sci de uirtute in uirtutem ; uidebitur Ds.
Deorum in Sion : halige gongað of mægene in mægen ; bid gesegen 10
haligra God in wlite sceawunge. Pa was he eft læded in lichoman ;
7 þy riddan dæge eft was of lichoman alæded. Pa geseah he nales
þæt an þa maran gefean þara eadigra gasta, ac swylce eac pa
mæstan gefleoto 7 gewinn para wargra gasta. Da fliton him
on pa wergan gastas 7 þa mid gelomlicum oncunnissum teoledon, 15
þæt heo him pone heofonlican weg forsette 7 fortynde ; ne heo
hwædre owiht in pon fromedon, ac pa englas hine scyldon.
Mid þy he da was in heannisse ahefen, þa wæs he haten from
þæm englum, þe hine læddon, þæt he locode in peosne middangeard ;
7 he pa his eagan begde 7 locode hider on pas niðerlecan. pa 20
geseah he swa peostre dene áne under him in nipernesse gesette.
Geseah he eac feower fýr oneled on pære lyfte noht micle fæce
betweoh him tosceaden. Pa frægn he a englas, hwæt þa fýr
wæron. Cwædon heo : pis syndon pa fýr, þa de middangeard
wæron forbærnende 7 forneomende. An is ærest lyges fýr ; þæt is, 25
pæet we nogefyllað, þat we at fulwihte hatað, þat we deofle wiðsæcen
7 eallum his weorcum. Oder is unrihtre willunge fýr, þæt is,
ponne we pisses middangeardes welan foresettað 7 us leofran lætað,
pon pa lufan para heofonlicra eadignessa. Pæt pridde is, unsibbe
fýr, þæt is, ponne we ne forhtiað, þat we þa mod abelge ussa para 30
neahstena on idlum þingum. Pæt feorde is arleasnisse fýr, þæt is
ponne we us for noht dop, þat we earme men reafige 7 strude on

1. 14. flito T. fliton B. 1. 20. .eagan, before e erasure (ofg ?) T. eagan B.

1. 25. waron ( = essent) T. ær on B. ? earon. 1. 26. third we B.: not in T.
 III. 19 . 213

a separate dwelling, in which he might live in freedom. There he

was attacked with a bodily infirmity, as related in the book
composed about his life, which clearly states, that he was led
forth from the body and from evening to cockcrow was divested
5 of his body, and beheld the host of angels and their appearance.
It was vouchsafed him also to hear the blessed songs of praise, in
which they magnified and praised God . He was wont to affirm,
that he clearly heard them, among many other things, cry aloud
and sing, ' Ibunt sancti de virtute in virtutem, videbitur Deus
10 Deorum in Sion : ' The saints shall go from virtue to virtue, the
God of saints shall be seen in bright vision .' Then he was again
brought back into the body, and on the third day was once more
led forth from the body. And he not only saw the greater bliss of
the blessed spirits, but also the very great struggle and toil of the
15 accursed spirits. The accursed spirits fought against him, and by
frequent accusations strove to shut up and cut off from him the
road to heaven ; but yet they effected nothing in this point, for the
angels protected him. When he was raised up on high, he was
ordered by the angels, who led him, to look at this earth ; and he
20 then bent his eyes and looked here on these lower things. And
then he saw, as it were, a single dark valley lying below him at the
bottom. He saw also four fires kindled in the air and separated
from one another by slight intervals. Then he asked the angels
what those fires were, and they said : These are the fires which
25 + are to burn up the earth and destroy it. One is , first, the fire of
lies ; that is, that we do not fulfil, what we promise at baptism, to
renounce the devil and all his works. The second is the fire of
unlawful desire, when we prefer the riches of this world and allow
them to be dearer to us, than the love of heavenly blessings. The
30 third is the fire of dissension, that is, when we do not fear to
irritate the minds of our neighbours in idle matters. The fourth is
the fire of impiety, that is, when we think nothing of despoiling
poor men and robbing them of their property and their goods.'

29. -nessa B. -nesse T. 1. 31. feo,de (the r is later) T. feorðe B. 1. 32.

for
us noht T. us for nowiht B.
 214 LIBER TERTIUS.

heora æhtum 7 on heora gódum. Pa weoxon pa fyr swide 7

heo togædre peoddon 7 somnodon, oð þæt heo wæron in æne
unmætne læg geanede 7 gesomnade. Mid þy pæt fýr him nealecte,
pa was he him ondrædende 7 forht geworden ; cwæð to pæm
engle : Min domne, hwæt is þis fýr ? Me swiðe nealæceð. 75
he pa him ondsworede 7 cwæð : þæt þu ær ne bærndest, ne
beórneð þæt in de. Fordon peah de pis fýr sy egeslic 7 micel
gesegen, hwæðre hit æfter weorca gegearnunge anra gehwylcne
demeð 7 bærned ; fordon anra gehwylces unrihtwillunge in peossum
fýre byrned. Fordon swa swide swa hwylc mon byrned in 10
lichoman þurh únalyfedne willan, swa eft onlysed by lichoman
byrne purh pæet gescyldgade wíte. Pa geseah he ænne of pæm
preom ænglum, þa de him in æghwæðre gesyhð latteowas wæron,
foregongende in pone leg þæs fyres todælan. 7 pa twegen him twa
healfe flugon, 7 hine scildon wið þæs fyres frecelnisse. Geseah he 15
eac swylce pa wergan gastas þurh þæt fýr fleogende ; 7 heo
bærnisse gefeht timbredon wið soðfæstum. 7 heo pa eac wið him
weron, 7 hi wrohtas 7 yfel onsægdon : ac wæs mara gesyho para
godra gasta 7 heofonlicra weoroda para pe hine scyldon . Swylce
he þær eac halige weras of his cynne gemitte 7 oncneow þa de geara 20
in sacerdhade æðelice gewelgode wæron 7 hlísan hæfdon, þæt heo
Gode georne hyrden. From þæm he monig þing gehyrde, þa de ge
him sylfum ge eallum þæm, pe hit gehyran woldon, swide halwende
weron to weotonne. Pa heo pa heora word 7 spræce geendedon, 7
swelce eft mid pæm engelicum gastum to heofonum hwurfen, 25
pa wunedon mid þy eadigan Fursiæ þa pry englas, be pon we ær
sædon. Mid þy heo pa eft geneolecton pam foresprecenan fyre
7 þam miclan, þa todælde se engel eft pone leg þæs fyres fore him,
swa swa he ær dyde. Ac se Godes mon, þæs þe he to þære dura
openan betweoh pa legeas becwom, da gegreopon þa únclænan 30
gastas ænne of þam monnum, þe heo in pæm fyre bærndon 7
p. 549. præston, 7 wurpon swa beornendne on hine ; 7 he gehran his
sculdra 7 his ceácan, 7 hine swa forbærndon. Pa onget he pone
mon, 7 him to gemynde becwom, þæt he his hrægle onfeng, þa he
1. 7. beórned T. bærneð B. 1. 11. eft onlysed ( e in eft out of a by
erasure) T. eft onlysed B. 1. 14. 7 pone T. in done B. 1. 19. weoro-
 III. 19. 215

Then the fires grew much and joined together and combined, till
they were united and joined into one monstrous flame. When the
fire came near him, he was frightened and alarmed, and said to the
angel : ' Sir, what is this fire ? It comes very near me.' And he
5 answered and said to him : ' What you did not kindle before, that
does not burn in you. Therefore, though this fire seems great and
terrible, yet it judges and burns everyone according to the merits
of his works ; for the unlawful desire of everyone shall burn in
this fire. For, as everyone burns in the body through unlawful
10 desire, so afterwards, when released from the body, he burns
through the punishment he has incurred.' Then he saw one of
the three angels, who were his guides in either vision, go before
into that flame of fire and divide it. And the two flew on his
two sides, and protected him from the danger of the fire. He
15 saw also the accursed spirits flying through the fire ; and they set
up a war of fire against the righteous. And they were also against
him, and brought forward accusations and calumnies : but there
was a vision of the good spirits in greater numbers and heavenly
hosts, who protected him. He also found there holy men of his
20 nation and recognised men, who formerly had been nobly endowed
in the priesthood, and were reported to have served God with zeal.
From them he heard much, very salutary to be known, both for
himself and for those who would hear it. And when they ended
their words and advice, and also had returned again with the
25 angelic spirits to heaven, there remained with the blessed Furseus
the three angels, of whom we have spoken before. Now when
they again drew near the great fire mentioned before, then again
the angel divided the flame of fire before him, as he had previously
done. And when the man of God came to the door, which was
30 open between the flames, the unclean spirits caught one of the
men, who were burnt and tormented in the fire, and threw him all
burning on Furseus ; and he touched his shoulders and cheek, and
so they scorched him. Then he recognised the man, and recollected
that he had received his garment when he died. Then at once
dra T. wereda B. 1. 26. Above þry englas, but wiped out, þa de ær (?) T.
we
Nothing in B. pon, ær T. dam we ær B.
216 LIBER TERTIUS.

for geleored wæs. Đa genom se engel sona pone mon ; wearp eft
in þæt fyr. Cwed he se werga feond : Ne willað la wiðscufan pone,
de ge ær onfengon . Fordon swa swa ge ær his synfullan góde
onfengon, swage sculon dælneomende beon his wiíta. Pa wið-
cwæð him se engel : Nese, cwad he, ne onfeng he his gódum 5
gitsiende, ac forpon pe he wolde his sáwle gehælan. Ond blon
þæt fyr from him. pa cerde se engel to him 7 cwæð : Þæt þu
onbærndest, þæt beorned be de ; fordon gif þu pisses monnes fea
in his synnum deades ne onfenge, ne burne his wiite on pe. Ond
he was se engel monig þing sprecende to him, 7 mid halwende 10
worde lærde, hwæt ymb para hælo to donne wære, þa de æt þam
deaðe heora synna hreowe dydon. 7 pa was æfter medmiclum
fæce eft in lichoman geseted ; 7 ealle his lifes tiid þæt tacen pære
bærnnisse, þæt he on his sawle aræfnde, gesenelice eallum monnum
in his sculdre 7 his ceacan on bær ; ond wundorlice gemete, pætte 15
seo sawl in deagolnisse prowiende was , pat se lichoma eawesclice
foretacnode. Pa gemde se Godes mon symle georne, swa his
gewuna wæs þæt he ær dyde ; eallum monnum mægena weorc
æghwæder ge mid bysenum æteawde ge mid wordum bodade. 7
toendebyrdnesse his gesihða þæm monnum anum hit cypan 7 20
secgan wolde, pa de hine frugnon 7 ahsodon fore pæm luste
inbryrdnisse 7 heofona rices lufan. Is nu gena sum ald broðor
lifiende usses mynstres, se me sægde, cwæð se þe das booc wrat,
þæt him sægde sum swide æfest monn 7 gebungen þæt he done
Furseum gesege in Eastengla mægde, 7 pa his gesihde æt his seolfes 25
muðe gehyrde. 7 pa gen toætecte pæt hit were wintres tiid ; 7
se winter wære grim 7 cald 7 fyrstig 7 mid hiise gebunden. Cwæð
þæt se halga wer sæte in þynnum hrægle, 7 betweoh pa his
geseagone fore micelnisse pas gemyndigan eges his gesyhða
þæt he swa swide swætte swa in swóle middes sumeres. 30

He pes Godes wer monig gér ærest in Scottum allum þæm

Godes word bodode 7 lærde. Đa ne meahte he eaČelice pa
unstillnesse onfallendra mengu aberan, þa forlet he eal þa ðing,
a
1. 5. onfeng B. onfenge T. 1. 9. deades B. deades T. 1. 12. synne. T.
-na B. 1. 15. bær B. on bærnd T. B. inserts (before his ceacan) on.
 III. 19. 217

the angel took the man, and threw him back into the fire. But the
accursed foe said : ' Seek not to reject him, whom you received
before. For as you formerly received his sinful goods, so you must
share his torments.' Then the angel replied to him : ' Nay,' said
5 he, ' he did not receive his goods out of covetousness, but because
he would save his soul.' And the fire ceased from him. Then the
angel turned to him and said : ' What you kindled burns in you ; for
if you had not received the property of this man, who died in his
sins, his punishment would not burn in you.' And the angel
10 spoke much to him, and with salutary words counselled him, what
should be done for the salvation of those, who repented their sins
in the hour of death. Then after a little he was restored to the
body ; and for all his lifetime the mark of the burning which he
suffered in his soul, he bore so that all could see, in his shoulder
15 and on his cheek ; and in wondrous fashion, what the soul suffered
in secret, that the body showed openly. Then the man of God
ever anxiously strove, as he was wont to do before ; he both by
example showed and by word taught virtuous conduct to all men.
But the series of his visions he would reveal and relate only to
20 those, who asked and questioned him for sake of devotion and love
of the heavenly kingdom. There is now still living an old brother
belonging to our monastery, who told me said the author of this

book -that he was informed by a very pious and excellent man of

having seen Furseus in the province of the East Angles, and of
25 having heard his visions from his own mouth. And he also added
that it was winter time ; and the winter's cold was severe, and all
hard with frost and ice. He added, that the holy man sat in a
thin garment, and while speaking, owing to the extreme terror
recalled by his vision, sweated excessively, as if in the sultriness
30 of midsummer. Now this man of God preached, and taught for
many years the word of God at first to all among the Scots. But
as he could not easily endure the disturbance of invading multi-
tudes, he left all, that he had in the world, for God's sake, and also
 218 LIBER TERTIUS.

pe he for worulde hæfde, for Godes naman, 7 eac of his eðle

gewát : 7 mid feawum broðrum þurh Brettas cwom in Eastengle
mægðe , 7 þær Godes word bodade 7 lærde, swa swa we ær sægdon,
7 æðele mynster getimbrede. Pa he pæt hæfde mynsterlice 7
peawlice geseted, pa wilnade he hine seolfne from eallum bigongum 5
pisse worulde fremöne gedon. Forlet pa da scire þæs mynstres
Fullane his breðer 7 twæm mæssepreostum Gobbona 7 Dicula ;
ond he from eallum middangeardes pingum freo in ancorlifes
drohtunge gestihhade his life geendian. Hæfde eac oðerne broðor,
se was haten Ultanus, se of deeghwamlicre gecostnisse þæs 10
mynstres becwom to ancorlife. 7 he eall ger mid him in micelre
forhæfdnesse 7 gebedum 7 on hondgewinnum lifde.
Efter pissum he geseah pa magde mid hæðenra hergungum
gedrefde, ond he foreseah Godes cirican 7 mynstrum micle frecel-
p. 550. nisse * toworde ; pa forlet he þa mægðe 7 ofer sæ lað in Gallia 15
rice. Ond he þær from Hlodwiæ Froncna cyninge 7 Erconwalde
his aldormen árwyrðlice onfongen wæs, 7 þær mynster getimbrede
in þære stówe, pe nemned is Latiniaco. pa wæs efter medmice-
lum fæce, þæt he was untrymnesse gestonden, 7 on pære his dagas
geendade. 7 his lichoman se ilca ealdormon Eorconwald onfeng, 7 20
in portice his cirican sumre geheold, pa he in his tune getimbrode,
þæs noma is Perrona, oð þæt seo cirice gehalgod wære.
Pa was geworden æfter seofon 7 twentegum daga, þa dydon
heo his lichoman up of pam portice, 7 in circan neah wiigbede
byrgan woldon. Pa was he meted swa unsceðed, swa he in þa 25
ilcan tid of pissum leohte gelæded wære. Pa wæs æfter feower
wintrum eft, þæt mon oðre cirican getimbrede : 7 him eallum þuhte
þæt hit gerisenre wære, þæt his lichoman mon gesette to eastdæle
þæs wigbedes. Pa gena he buton womme gebrosnunge was
gemeted, 7 heo hine þa dær mid wyrore áre gesetton. Ond þær 30
his geearnunge oft þurh godcunde wyrcnesse mid miclum mægenum
scinað 7 beorhtað.
i
1. 1. of B. for T. 1. 15. toworlde T. towearde B. 1. 27. hm T. him
B. 1. 31. god . . cunde (erasure of two) T. godcunde B.
 III. 19. 219

withdrew from his country : and with a few brethren, passing

through the Britons, he came into the province of the East Angles,
and there preached and taught God's word, as we said before, and
built a noble monastery. Now when he had established this with
5 all monastic usages, he desired to estrange himself from all com-
munication with this world. So he left the charge of the monastery
to his brother Fullan and two priests Gobban and Dicul, and
settled to end his life in the manner of a hermit, free from all
things of this earth. He had also another brother called Ultan ,
10 who withdrew to a hermit's life from the daily trials of the
monastery. And he lived a whole year with him in prayer and

in much abstinence, labouring with his own hands. After this

seeing the province troubled by the incursion of the heathen, and

foreseeing much danger imminent for God's churches and monas-

15 teries, he left the province and crossed the sea into Gaul. And

there he was received with honour by Clovis, king of the Franks,

and the patrician Erchinwald, and he there founded a monastery

at the place which is called Lagny. Then after a little, he was

seized with illness there and ended his days. And this patrician

20 Erchinwald took his body, and kept it in a portico in his church,

which he had built in his township called Péronne, till the church

was consecrated. Then after twenty-seven days, they took up his

body from this portico, intending to bury it in the church near the
altar. Then he was found as free from decay, as if he had departed
25 from this life at that very hour. Then four years later, another

church was built : and it seemed fitter to all, that his body should be
laid on the east of the altar. Then still he was found without

spot of corruption, and they laid him there with due honour. And

his merits there often shine and are displayed, through the divine
30 agency, in abundant miracles.
 220 LIBER TERTIUS.

Cap. 20. Betweoh das ding ða forðferdum Felice Eastengla biscope æfter
seofontyne gearum his þæs onfangnan biscophades, Honorius se
ærcebiscop in his stowe gehalgode Thomam his diacon to biscope,
se was of Gýrwa magoe. 7 þes wæs æfter fif gearum his
biscophade of pissum leohte alæded. Pa was Berhtgels , oore 5
noman Bonefatius, of Cantwara mægðe in his stówe to biscope
geseted. Ond he a swylce Honorius se arcebiscop, æfter pon
be he pa gemæro his yrnes gefylde, of pissum leohte leorde, arran
dæge Kalendarum Octobrium ymb syx hund wintra 7 preo 7 fiftig
from Drihtnes menniscnesse. Ond pa blonn se biscophad eall ger 10
7 þæs oðres syx moonað. pa was gecoren sexta ærcebiscop
Deosdedit to pæm sedle Contwara burge, se wæs of Westseaxna
peode ; pane cwom þider to halgianne Itthamar se biscop pære
cirican æt Hrófesceastre. pa was he gehalgad by seofoðan
dæge Kalendarum Aprelium, ond he pa cirican heold 7 rehte 15
nigon ger 7 feower monad 7 twegen dagas. Ond him for ferdum
Itthamar gehalgode Damianum for hine, se was of Subseaxna
cynne cumen .

XV.1

Cap 21. Pissum tidum Middelengle mid Peadan Pendan sunu þæs 20
cyninges Cristes geleafan 7 soðfæstnisse geryne onfengon. Was
he Peada ging æðeling good 7 cyninges noman 7 hada wel wyrðe ;
7 se fæder him fordon rice gesealde pære peode. Pa com he to
Oswiæ Norðanhymbra cyninge, 7 bad pæt he him Ealhflæde
his dohtor to wife gesealde. Ne hine mon on oore wisan his 25
p. 551. bene tygpian wolde, nemne he Cristes geleafan onfenge mid pa
deode, pe he cyning ofer wæs . Pa he da gehyrde sodfæstnesse
bodunge 7 lare 7 þæt gehat pæs heofonlican rices 7 ærest hyht
7 pa toweardan undeaðlicnesse, pa ondette he, pæt he lustlice
wolde Cristen beon, peah de he no furðum þa fæmnan onfenge. 30
Ond he was swiðust gespónen to onfonne Cristes geleafan from
Oswies suna þæs cyninges, þæs noma wæs Alhfrið. Se was his

1. 2. seofontyne gearum B.: not in T. 1. 9. kalendariu T. kalendaru B.

1. 12. conwara T. cant- B. 1 Number from Ca. O. Ca. C. begin again.
 III. 20, 21 . 221

Meantime on the death of Felix, bishop of the East Angles,

after an episcopate of seventeen years, archbishop Honorius con-
secrated his deacon Thomas as bishop in his stead, who was from
the district of the Fens. After an episcopate of five years he departed
5 this life, and Berhtgels, also called Boniface, from Kent, was
appointed as bishop in his stead. Then too archbishop Honorius,
after fulfilling the term of his course, departed this life on the
30th of September, 653 years after our Lord's incarnation . Then
the bishopric was vacant for a whole year and six months of the
10 next. Then Deusdedit was chosen as sixth archbishop in the see

of Canterbury, who was of Wessex. Itthamar, bishop of the church

at Rochester, came there to consecrate him ; and he was consecrated
on the 26th of March, and ruled and directed the church for nine
years four months and two days. And on his death Itthamar

15 consecrated in his place Damianus, who was by origin of Sussex.

XV.

At this time the Middle Angles , with Peada, son of king Penda,

received the faith of Christ and the mysteries of the truth. Peada

was an excellent young prince, well worthy of the name and rank

of king ; and for this reason his father made over to him the govern-
20 ment of that people. Then he came to Oswio, king of Northumbria,

and begged him to give him his daughter Ealhfled in marriage.

His prayer was only granted on condition of his receiving the faith

of Christ, along with the people under his rule. When he heard the
truth preached and taught and of the promise of the kingdon of heaven

25 and the hope of the resurrection and future immortality, he professed

that he would gladly be a christian, even though he should not ob-
tain the maiden. He was chiefly induced to receive Christ's faith by
a son of king Oswio, named Alhfrith, his kinsman and friend, who
222 LIBER TERTIUS .

mæg 7 his freond ; hæfde his sweostor to wife, seo was haten
Cyneburg Pendan dohtor þæs cyninges.
Pa was he gefulwad from Finano pæm biscope mid eallum his
geferum, pe mid him cwomon, 7 cyninges þegnum 7 eallum heora
peowum, in pæm mæran túne cyninges, se is nemned æt Walle. 5
7 he onfeng, 7 se cyning him sealde feower mæssepreostas, þa
sceoldon his peode fulwian 7 læran, a wæron ge on gelæred-
nesse ge on heora lífe micle 7 goode ; ond he mid micle gefean
swa wæs eft ham hweorfende. Weron pa mæssepreostas pus
hatne, Cedd 7 Adda 7 Bete 7 Deoma. Se nyhsta was Scyttisces 10
cynnes ; pa oore wæron Englisce. Was se Adda Uttan broðor
þæs mæran mæssepreostes 7 abbudes pas mynstres, pe nemned
is æt Rægeheafde, pæs we ær gemyndgodon. Pa heo pa pa
gemyndgedan sacerdas in pa mægde cwomon mid Peadan pone
cyning, 7 þær Godes word bodedan 7 lærdon, 7 heo lustlice 15
geherde wæron, ond dæghwamlice ge ædele ge unæõele wiðsocan
þære unsyfernesse deofolgilda 7 mid fulwihte bæde from synnum
aðwegene wæron. Ne bewerede Penda se cyning pon ma, gif hwelce
men wolde in Mercna cynne Godes word læran, þæt heo ne
mosten. Ac gen ma þætte he forseah 7 on hete hæfde þa men, þe 20
he onget, þæt heo on Cristes geleafan gelærde waron, 7 þa weorc
þæs geleafan habban ne woldon. Ond cwæð, þæt heo fracuðe
7 earme wære, þæt heo ne woldon heora Gode hyran, þone þe
heo gelyfden.

Waron pas ping ongunnen twæm gearum ær Pendan deaðe þæs 25

cyninges. Ac pa he ofslegen was, 7 Oswię se cristna cyning to
his riice feng, swa we eft heræfter secgað; þa wæs Deoma aán of
þæm feower foresprecenan sacerdotum biscop geworden Middel-
engla 7 eac Mercna somod ; fordon seo feanis nedde para sacerda,
pætte aan biscop sceolde beon ofer tuu folc. 7 he da in medmicelre 30
tiide micel folc Drihtne begeat 7 gestrynde þurh his lare. Ond he
forðferde in Middelenglum in þæm peodlonde, pe is nemned in
Feppingum. Pa feng æfter him to biscophade Ceolloh, se wæs
eac Scotta cynnes. Se æfter medmicelre tide forlet pa biscopscire ;
1. 7. s.eoldon (erasure of one) T. sceoldon B. sceoldan O. Ca. 1. 18.
cynnig T. cyning O. Ca. B. 1. 28. biscop Ca. bisceop O. bysceop B.
biscopum T.
 III. 21 . 223

had married his sister, Cyneburg by name, daughter of king Penda.

Then he with all his companions , who had come with him, and the
king's followers and all their servants, were baptized by bishop Finan
at the well-known town of the king which is called Walbottle.
5 And he received, and the king made over to him, four priests to
baptize and teach his people, who were by their learning and their
life men of power and virtue ; and he returned home full of joy.
The priests were thus named, Cedd, Adda, Bete, Deoma. The

last was of Scot descent ; the others were English. Adda was

10 brother of Uttan, the noted priest and abbot of the monastery

called Gateshead, who has been mentioned before. Now when

the aforesaid priests came with king Penda into the province, they
preached and taught there the word of God and were gladly
heard, and daily both gentle and simple renounced the foulness
15 of idolatry and were washed in baptism from their sins. Then king

Penda no longer refused permission, if any would come to teach

God's word among the Mercian race. Nay more, he despised and
hated those, whom he saw to be instructed in Christ's faith and yet
unwilling to do the works of faith. And he said, that they were
20 wretched and miserable, as they would not obey their God, in whom
they believed. All this began two years before the death of king
Penda. But when he was slain and the christian king Oswio
succeeded to his authority, as we shall relate further on, then
Deoma, one of the four above mentioned priests, became bishop
25 both of the Middle Angles and of the Mercians ; for the scarcity
of priests made it necessary, that one bishop should rule over two
nations. And he there in a short time acquired and gained much
people for the Lord by his teaching. And he died among the
Middle Angles, in the district which is called Feston. Then

30 Ceolloh succeeded him as bishop , who was of the race of the Scots.

He after a little resigned his bishop's charge, and returned into his
 224 LIBER TERTIUS.

hwearf eft on his edel to Hii pæm ealonde, pæet monigra mynstra
heannisse 7 heafod Scottas hæfdon. Pa feng æfter him to pam
biscophade Trumhere æfest mon 7 gód, se was in munuclífe
gelæred ; wæs Englisces cynnes, ac he was from Scóttum to biscope
gehalgod. Pat was in Wulfheres tidum þæs cyninges, bi þæm we 5
heræfter secgað .

XVI.

P. 552. Dære tide eac swylce Eastseaxan pone geleafan, pe hy geara

Cap. 22. awurpon, pa heo Mellitum pone biscop ut ascufon, mid gyrnfulnesse
Oswiæs pas cyninges eft onfengon. Fordon se cyning þære ilcan
peode Sigeberht , se after pam oðrum Sigeberhte riice onfeng, was 10
freond Oswiæs pas cyninges. 7 he geloomlice to him cwom, 7 hine
sohte in Norðanhymbra mægde. Pa gewunade Oswia se cyning,
þæt he hine trymede 7 lærde, pætte he ongete pætte ne meahten
godo beon, pa de monna hondum geworhte wæron of eorðlicum
timbre, oope of treom, oope of stanum : para trea æcyrfe 7 láfe 15
oope fyre forbærnde wæron, oope in hwylchwugu fatu geheowad
wæren mennisces broces, odde cuðlice útworpen wæren 7 in for-
hogdnisse hæfde, 7 fótum treden 7 in eorðan gehwyrfde wæron.
Ac God ma wære to ongeotanne in prymme unbesændlicne, mennis-
cum eagum ungesenelicne, almeahtigne, ecne, se gescop heofon 7 20
eorðan 7 monna cyn 7 ealle gesceafta, ond wære toweard to demanne
eorðan ymbhwyrft on rihtwisnesse : ond pas sedel wære ece to
gelyfenne in heofonum, nales in eorolicre frætwednesse, in gewitendre
7 on uðgengre : ond þat wære rihtlic to ongeotanne, þætte calle
pa de his willan leornode 7 worhte, from pæm pe hy gescepene 25
wæron, þæt heo ponne wæren from him éce mede to onfonne. Đás
wórd 7 eac monig þysses gemetes mid by Osweo se cyning Sige-
berhte pam cyninge mid freondlicre 7 mid broðorlicre geþeahte
oft 7 gelóme tospræc, pa æt nehstan mid fultume 7 mid gepafunge
his freonda þæt he gelyfde. Ond pa hæfde geþeaht mid his weotum 30
7 freondum, 7 mid heora trymnesse 7 fultume 7 gepafunge Cristes
geleafan onfeng, ond mid his geferum gefulwad was from Finano

1. 5. 7. O. Ca. B. þa T. 1. 12. norðanhymbre T. þanhymbra O. Ca.

norohymbra B. 1. 19. unbesændlicne T. onbeseondlice B. unbefeondlicne
O. Not in Ca. Should we read unbefoendlicne ?
 III. 21, 22. 225

native country to the island of Iona, where the Scots had the
chief seat andhead of many monasteries. He was succeeded in the
episcopate by Trumhere, a man of piety and godliness, who was
trained in monastic life, and was of English descent, but was
5 consecrated as bishop by the Scots. This was in the days of king
Wulfhere, about whom we shall speak later.

XVI .

At this time also through the efforts of king Oswio the East
Saxons returned to the faith, which they formerly rejected, when
they expelled bishop Mellitus. For Sigeberht, king of this people,
10 who succeeded to the other Sigeberht, was king Oswio's friend, and
often went to visit him in the province of Northumbria. At those
times king Oswio was wont to exhort him and teach him to see,
that those could not be gods which were wrought with men's
hands, of earthly materials, either tree or stone ; of which trees
15 splinters and remnants were either burnt up with fire or fashioned
into some vessel for human use, or at any rate cast out, held in
contempt and trodden under foot and turned again to earth. But

God was rather to be understood as incomprehensible in majesty,

invisible to human eyes, almighty and eternal, who created
20 heaven and earth and mankind and all creatures, and should come
to judge the whole compass of the earth in righteousness : and his
seat men must believe to be eternal in the heavens, not in earthly
structures, transitory and fleeting : and it was right to hold, that
all who learnt and wrought his will, by whom they were created,
25 should receive from him an eternal reward. These words and much
to this effect king Oswio often and repeatedly addressed to king
Sigeberht with friendly and fraternal advice. Then at last he
became a believer, with the support and agreement of his friends.
Then he took counsel with his nobles and friends, and with their
30 encouragement, support and consent he received Christ's faith and

was baptized with his companions by bishop Finan, in the royal

 226 LIBER TERTIUS .

dæm biscope in pæm cynelecan tuune, pe we beforan gemyngodon, þe

is nemned æt Walle. Is se bi pam walle, pe geara Romani Breotone
ealond bigyrdon, twelf milum from eastsæ.
Ono pa Sigeberht se cyning þa was ceasterwara gefremed þæs
ecan rices, 7 wolde eft þæt seal secan his hwiilwendlices riíces, pa 5
bad he Osweo pone cyning, þæt he him hwylcehwego lareowas
sealde, pa de his peode to Cristes geleafan gecerde, 7 mid pa
halwendan wýllan fulwihtes bæðes aþwóge. Ond he da se cyning
sende ærendwrecan to M iddelenglum, 7 him to geheht Cedd pone
halgan Godes mon, 7 him sealde operne geferan sumne mæssepreost 10
to fultome, 7 heo sende Godes word bodian Eastseaxna peode.
Pæs pe heo pa eal pa lond purhferdon 7 micle cirican 7 gesom-
nunge Drihtne gestryndon 7 begeaton, pa gelomp sumre tíde, þætte
Cedd ham ferde 7 cwom to his cirican to Lindisfarena ea fore
spręce Finano pas biscopes. Pa he pa se biscop onget, pæt he 15
þære godspellican láre georne gefealh 7 þa deode to Cristes geleafan
p. 553. gecerred hæfde, pa gehadode he hine Eastseaxum to biscope, 7 to
nim geheht oðre twegen biscopas to pære þegnunge his halgunge.
Đa he ða hæfde biscophade onfongen, þa hwearf he eft to East-
seaxna mægðe 7 mid maran aldorlicnesse þæt ongunnene weorc was 20
gefyllende ; timbrede cirican in monegum stowum, 7 mæssepreostas
7 diaconas halgode, pa pe him on godcundre láre 7 in þære
þegnunge fulwihte bæðes fulteman scolde, ond swipust in þære stowe
pe is nemned Yopanceaster 7 in oder stówe, pe is nemned Tulaburg.
Seo ærre stów is in Pente stæðe pære ea, oðer is in Temese stæðe. 25
In þæm he gesomnode micel weorod Cristes peowa, 7 heo lærde to
healdanne regollices liifes peodscipe, swa swide swa pa neowan
Cristnan pa get hit neoman meahton.
Mid þy pa micelre tide in þære foresprecenan mægðe, gefeóndum
pam cyninge 7 efengefeondum allum þam folce, seo gesetenes pæs 30
heofonlican lifes dæghwamlice toecnesse nom, pa gelomp, inbryrden-
dum þæm feonde ealra goda, þæt se cyning purh his mæga hond
was ofslegen. Waron twegen gebrodor, pe pis mán gefremedon.
Mid þy heo mon pa eft frægn, for hwon heo pis dydon, ne meahton

1. II. sende O. Ca. B. sendan T. 1. 20. ongunnene O. Ca. -nnenne B.

ongunne T.
 IlI . 22 . 227

township mentioned before, which is called Walbottle. It is by

the wall, with which the Romans formerly enclosed the island of
Britain, twelve miles from the east sea. Now when king Sige-
berht was made a citizen of the heavenly kingdom, and wished to
5 return to the seat of his temporal kingdom, he prayed king Oswio
to give him some teachers, who should convert his people to Christ's
faith and wash them in the saving fount of baptism . And this
king sent envoys to the Middle Angles, and summoned to him Cedd,
the holy man of God, and gave him for help another associate, who
10 was a priest, and sent them to preach God's word to the people of
the East Saxons. After they had travelled through all the land
and acquired and won over a large church and congregation to
the Lord, it happened on one occasion, that Cedd travelled home and
came to his church at the island of Lindisfarne, to consult bishop
15 Finan. Now when the bishop perceived , that he had devoted himself
earnestly to the teaching of the gospel and had converted the
people to the faith of Christ, he ordained him as bishop for the
East Saxons, and summoned to him two other bishops for the con-
secration service. Now when he had received the episcopate, he
20 returned again to the province of the East Saxons and carried out
with more authority the work he had begun, building churches in
many places and ordaining priests and deacons, to assist him in
teaching the word and administering baptism, especially at the
place which is called Ythanceaster [ Othona ] , and at another place
25 which is called Tilbury. The first place is on the banks of the
river Freshwell, the other is on the banks of the Thames. At this
place he gathered a great host of Christ's servants, and taught
them to observe the discipline of monastic life, in as far as the new
christians could yet receive it. Now when for a good while in
30 the aforesaid province the ordinance of heavenly life daily gathered
strength, to the joy of the king which was shared by all his people,
then it happened, through the instigation of the enemy of all good,
that the king was slain by the hand of his kindred. There were
two brothers who committed this sin : and when afterwards asked
35 why they did so, they could give no other answer, except that they
Q2
228 LIBER TERTIUS.

heo owiht elles ondswarian, nemne pæt heo forpon yrre wære 7
þæm cyninge feond, fordon he gewunode, þæt he his feondum swide
árode 7 þa gefremedan teonan fram him, sona þæs þe heo him
þingodan 7 forgifnesse bædon, þæt he smylte móde 7 bliðe him
forlét. Pyslic was seo syn, þe se cyning fore ofslegen wæs, forðon 5
he pa godspellican bebodu mid wilsume heortan heold 7 læste.
Hwæore in þæm únscyldgan deade was his soð syn wítnad æfter
forecwide pæs gódan weres þæs halgan biscopes .
Fordon oder para gesiða, þe pone cyning slogon, hæfde unalyfedne
gesinscipe. Pa se biscop þæt pa ne meahte bewerian ond gereccan, 10
pa amænsumade he hine, 7 eallum bebead, pam þe him hyran
woldon, þæt heo in his hus ne eodon, ne of his swæsendum
mete pege. pa oferhogode se cyning his gebod ; gelaðode se gesið
hine to his ham, 7 he hine gesohte 7 in his hus eode, 7 his swæsendo
pegde. pa he pa onweg þonan ferde, pa com se biscop him 15
togeanes. pa se cyning him pa on beseah, pa was he forht
geworden 7 lihte of his horse 7 feol him to fotum, 7 his scylde
forgifenesse bed. Pa lihte se biscop eac somod ætgædre ; 7 he
eorre pone cyning liggende gehran mid þære gyrde, þe he him
on honda hæfde ; 7 mid biscoplicre aldorlicnesse was cypende, 7 þus 20
cwæð : Ic pe secgo, cwad he, fordon þu ne woldest pec ahebban
from þam huse þysses forlorenan mannes 7 þæs genipredan, þæt þu
scealt in pæm sylfan huse sweltan 7 deap prowigan. Ac to
gelyfanne is, þæt swylc deað þæs æfestan monnes nales þæt an
swylce synne adilgode, ac swylce eac his geearnunge toycte ; fordon 25
him swa gelomp for arfæstnesse intingan 7 for gehýlde Cristes beboda.
Pa feng æfter Sigeberhte to Eastseaxna rice Swiðhelm Sexbaldes
sunu, se wæs gefulwad from pam sylfan Cedde in Eastengla
mægðe in þæm cynelican túne, þe is nemned Rendlesham ; 7 hine
onfeng æt fulwihte bade him to godsuna Edelwold Eastengla cyning 30
Annan broðor heora cyninges.

ún
1. 7. scyldgan T. unscyldigan O. Ca. unscildigan B. 1. 9. siða T.
gesiða O. Ca. gesi.ða (h erased) B. 1. 19. liggende (above line) T. lic-
gendne O. licgende Ca. licgendre B.
 III. 22. 229

were angry and hostile to the king, because he was wont to show
too much mercy to his enemies, and to condone the injuries
wrought by them, mildly and cheerfully, as soon as they supplicated
him and prayed forgiveness. Such was the sin, for which the king
5 was slain, because he observed and carried out the commands of the

gospel with fervent heart. Yet in his undeserved death a true sin
of his was punished according to the prophecy of the good and holy
bishop. For one of those gesiths, who slew the king, was unlawfully
wedded ; and as the bishop could not prevent and correct this, he
10 excommunicated him and ordered all, who would listen to him, not
to enter his house or taste meat at his table. Then the king dis-

regarded his order ; the gesith invited him to his house, and he
visited him, entered, and partook of his meal. As he was going

away, the bishop met him. And when the king looked upon him, he
15 was afraid, and dismounting fell at his feet and asked forgiveness
for his guilt. Then the bishop dismounted also at the same time,
and in his anger touched the king, as he lay, with the rod he had in
his hand ; and with episcopal authority he declared and said : ' I
tell you,' said he, 'as you would not refrain from the house of this lost

20 and condemned man, you shall perish and suffer death in the same
house.' But we must believe, that such a death of a pious man not
only did away with such sin, but also increased his merits ; for it

befell him because of piety and observance of Christ's command-

ments. Then Swithhelm, son of Sexbald, succeeded Sigeberht on
25 the throne of the East Saxons, who had been baptized by this
same Cedd, in the province of the East Angles, at the royal town-
ship called Rendlesham ; and Ethelwald, king of the East

Angles and brother of their king Anna, received him as godson

at the baptismal font.
 230 LIBER TERTIUS.

XVII.

P. 554. Was disses ilcan godes monnes gewuna, pa he in Eastseaxum

Cap. 23. biscoppegnunge brucende wæs, þat he gelomlice his leode Norðan-
hymbra mægðe sohte 7 neosode fore intingan godcundreláre. Pahine
pa Edelwald geseah Oswaldes sunu þæs cyninges, se hæfde Dera
riice, 7 ongeat haligne wer 7 snotorne 7 gecorenne on his þeawum, 5
pa bad he hine, pæt he sumne dæl londes æt him onfenge, þæt
he meahte mynster getimbran 7 Godes peowas tosomnigan ; in þæm
se cyning gelomlice his gebedo meahte gesecan 7 godcunde lare
gehyran, 7 eac ponne he forferde, þæt he þær bebyrged beon
sceolde. Ond cwæð, þæt he getreowlice gelyfde, þæt he meahte swide 10
gefultumed beon in heora dæghwamlicum gebeodum, þa de in þære
stówe Drihtne peowdon. Hæfde he se ilca cyning þæs biscopes
brodor mid hine, se wæs Cælin haten ; se was mæssepreost 7
efenlice Godes mon til : se him 7 his hiwum godcunde láre lærde, 7
þa gerýno þegnade pæs halgan geleafan. Purh pæs cyopo swipost 15
gelomp, þæt se cyning pone biscop lufade 7 cúðæ. Pa gefultmode
se biscop þæs cyninges willan, 7 him stowe geceas mynster to
getimbrigenne in heawum morum uppe, in pæm wæs má gesegen
scea ena deagolnesse 7 wildeora fernisse ponne monna eardungstow.
Da æfter Esaies witedome, in þæm cleofum, þe ær dracan eardodon , 20
wære úpyrnende grownes hreodes 7 rixa : þæt is to ongeotonne,
þætte acende wæron wæstmas godra dæda, þær ær oope wildeor
eardedon ore mæn wunedon wildeorlice lifigan.
Đa teolode sona se Drihtnes wer pa onfongnan stówe pæs myn-
stres ærest mid gebedum 7 mid fæstenum from unsyfernessum heo 25
clænsigan þara ærrena mána 7 bismitenessa, ond swa in þære stówe
pa staðolas sette pas mynstres. Bæd pa pone cyning, þæt him
spede 7 lyfnesse sealde, pæt he der wunigan moste for intingan his
gebeda alle tíd pas feowerteglecan fæstenes ær Eastrum, þe da
toweard was . Ond eallum þam dagum buton Sunnandagum he 30

1. 3. godcunde T. godcundre O. Ca. B. 1. 14. efenlice O. Ca. B. -lic T.

1. 30. eadgum T. dagum O. -gũ Ca. B.
 III. 23. 231

XVII.

It was the habit of this good man, when fulfilling the office
of bishop among the East Saxons, often to go and visit his
own people, the Northumbrian nation, for the sake of teaching the
Word. Now when Ethelwald, son of king Oswald, who ruled
5 in Deira, saw him and knew him to be a man of sanctity and
wisdom and excellent in his character, he prayed him to accept at
his hands a portion of land, that he might build a monastery and
gather servants of God ; in which too the king might often come
for his prayers and to hear the word of God, and also be buried on
10 his decease. And he declared, that he fully believed he could
be much assisted by the daily prayers of those, who served the
Lord at that place. The king had had with him a brother of the
bishop called Cælin, who was a priest and equally devoted to God :
he taught the word to himself and his household, and administered
15 the sacraments of the holy faith. It was chiefly through his
information, that the king learnt to like and know the bishop.
Then the bishop supported the king's wishes, and chose a place for
the erection of a monastery high up upon the moors, in which
place there seemed to be rather a retreat for robbers and a lair for
20 beasts than habitation for man. There, according to the prophecy
of Isaiah, sprang up a growth of reeds and rushes in the clefts,
where formerly dragons dwelt : by which we should understand,
that the fruits of good works were produced, where formerly either
beasts dwelt or men were wont to live like beasts. Then at once
25 the man of God strove first to cleanse the site of the monastery,
which he had received, from the foulness of former sins and pollu-
tions, with prayer and with fasting, and then laid the foundations
of the monastery at that place. Then he prayed the king to give
him means and leave to dwell there for his prayers, all the time of
30 the fast of forty days before Eastertide, which was then approach-
ing. And on all those days he fasted till evening, as his wont was,
 232 LIBER TERTIUS.

áfæste to æfenes, swa swa his þeaw was ; ne ponne nemne medmicel
dæl hlafes 7 án henne æg mid litle meolc wætre * gemengede he
onfeng. 7 peah cwæð he , pætte þæt wære heora gewuna, from þæm
he þæt gemet geleornade regollices peodscipes, pætte pa onfongnan
neowan stówe mynster to timbrenne ope cirican- pætte pa sceolde 5
ærest mid gebedum 7 mid fæstenum Drihtne gehalgian. Mid þy
pa ten dagas pæs feowerteglecan fæstenes to lafe wæron, cwom
ærendwraca, se de hine to cyninge feran het. 7 he ða bæd Cynebill
his mæssepreost, se was eac swylce his agen bróðor, þæt he da
árfæstan ongynnisse his gefylde 7 geendade, pa he ne moste, by læs 10
p. 555. þæt æfest weorc forlaten wære for intingan þara cynelicra scíra.
Ond he him pa lustlice gepafode : 7 gefylledre geornfulnisse para
fæstenna 7 gebeoda, getimbrede þær mynster, þæt is nu geceged
Læstinga ea. 7 he hit mid æfestum þeawum gesette 7 gestaðolode
æfter þam þeawum in Lindisfarena ea, þær he afeded wæs. 15
Pa he da monig ger in pære foresprecenan mægðe biscophad
pegnade, swylce eac pisses mynstres gemænne dyde, 7 þær prafost
7 ealdormon gesette, pa gelomp pætte he to pæm seolfan mynstre
becwom in pa tíde pære miclan deadlicnesse 7 wooles, pe ofer moncyn
cumen was. Pa was he þær gestonden lichomlicre untrymnesse 7 20
fordferde :: 7 his lichoma wæs ærest úte bebyrged. Ɖa wæs eft
forðgongendre tide in þæm ilcan mynstre stænen cirice getimbred,
in áre pære eadigan fæmnan Sca Marian, ond eft in þære his
lichoma geseted wæs, be suðan þam wigbede.
Sealde he se biscop þæt mynster to reccenne æfter him Ceaddan 25
his breder, se was after pon biscop geworden 7 halig Godes mon,
swa we heræfter secgad. Wæron heo feower gebroðor Cedd 7
Cynebil 7 Cælin 7 Ceadda, ealle Godes sacerdas, þæt seldon gemeted
bið, mære 7 gode. Twegen wæron biscopas, twegen wæron mæsse-
preostas pa selestan. Mid þy pa brodor pa gehyrdon, pa pe in his 30
mynstre wæron in Eastseaxna mægde, heora biscop for ferendne
7 bebyrgedne in Norðanhymbrum, þa eode heora pritig of þam
mynstre 7 þider cwomon. Woldon heo 7 willnadan æt heora fæder

. 1. 2. gemenged B. -ngdre T. -ngedre O. Ca. 1. 10. ongymnisse T. on-

gunnenesse B. ongunnænesse (but a of a erased) O. ongunnennysse Ca.
1. 33. willanadan T. willnadon O. willnodon B. wilnedon Ca.
 III. 23. 233

except on Sundays ; nor then did he take anything except a small

slice of bread and a hen's egg with a little milk mixed with water.
However he said it was the habit of those, from whom he learnt
the rule of monastic discipline, to hallow first to the Lord, by
5 prayer and fasting, the new sites which they received for the
erection of monastery or church. When ten days of the

forty days' fast were still left, a messenger came bidding him
proceed to the king. Then he prayed his priest Cynebill, his own
brother, to fulfil his pious function, as he could not, lest the pious
10 work should be abandoned, because of the royal service. And
he gladly consented : and having fulfilled his devotions in fasting
and prayer, he erected the monastery, which is now called Lasting-
ham. And he established and founded it with religious usages in
accordance with the usages at Lindisfarne, where he was educated.
15 Now when he had served as bishop for many years in the aforesaid
province, and also had taken charge ofthe monastery, and established
there a prior and head man, he happened to arrive at this monastery
at the time of the great mortality and plague, which had come
upon mankind. There he was attacked with bodily infirmity and
20 died and his body was first buried without. Then later in
course of time a stone church was erected at this monastery, in
honour of the blessed virgin St. Mary, and his body was deposited
afterwards in it on the south of the altar. The bishop made over
the monastery to his brother Chad, to rule as his successor, who

25 later on became a bishop and was a holy man of God, as we shall

afterwards relate . There were four brothers Cedd and Cynebill
and Cælin and Chad, all priests of God- -a rare occurrence- and

famous and good men. Two were bishops, two were distinguished
priests . Now when the brethren, at the monastery in the province
30 of the East Saxons, heard that their bishop was dead and buried in
Northumbria, thirty of them proceeded from the monastery and
came to that place. It was their will and desire beside their
 234 LIBER TERTIUS.

lice ope Gode lifgan, gif þæt Gode licade, oope for ferde pær
bebyrged beon. 7 heo lustlice from þam broðrum þæs mynstres
onfongne wæron. Ond heo ealle þær mid by wæle pas foresprecenan
wooles hrędlice forðferdon 7 bebyrgede wæron, buton ánum cneohte,
be pæm cuð stondeð, þæt he mid gebedum þæs halgan biscopes from 5
deade gescylded was. Fordon mid þy he micelre tide æfter lifde 7
georne halig gewreotu leornade 7 smeade, pa æt nyhstan onget he
7 geleornade in gaste, þæt he ne was mid wætre fulwihtes bædes
Gode to bearne ácenned ; ond sona wæs mid þa wyllan þæs
halwendan bæðes from synnum aðwegen, ond æfter fæce geþah, þæt 10
hine mon to mæssepreoste gehalgode : 7 he monegum in Godes
ciricum nytt 7 bryce was. Bi þæm menn nis to tweogienne, ac is
to gelyfenne, swa we ær cwædon, þæt he mid pa þingunge his fæder
was gescylded from pære tide pæs deapes, to das lichoman he for
intingan his lufan cwom, to don pætte he æghwæder ge pone ecan 15
deað beswicade, ond swylce eac oðrum broðrum lifes þegnur ge 7 ecre
hælo purh his lare 7 purh his lífes bysene gegearwode.

XVIII.

p. 556. Pissum tídum Osweo se cyning, mid by he grimme hergunge 7

Cap. 24. unaræfnedlice prowade pas oft cwedenan Mercna cyninges Pendan,
se eac his broðor ofslog, þa æt nyshstan was he mid neade gebæded, 20
þæt he him gebead 7 gehet wið his sibbe únrím máðma 7 cynelicra
geofona, má þonne fela monna gelyfan mægge, wið þon þe he ham
cerde mid his fyrde 7 his lond 7 his riice oð forwyrd ne forhergode.
Mid þy he da se getreowleasa cyning nænige pinga his benum
gepafian wolde, se de pæt on his mode gehogod 7 geteod hæfde , þæt 25
he wolde ealle his peode from pæm geongrum oð þa yldran fordon 7
fordilgian, da beseah he to fultome þære godcundan arfæstnisse, þa
he from þam arleasan cyninge nænige sibbe findan meahte. Ond he
pa was mid gehate hine seolfne bindende, 7 þus cwæð : Nu se
hæðna ne con usse gife onfón, wuton we pam syllan 7 bringan, pe 30
onfón con, ussum Drihtne Hælendum Criste. Ond he pa gehet, gif
Drihten him sige sellan wolde, þæt he wolde his dohtor Gode
forgeofan 7 gehalgian in clænum mægðhade ; ond swelce eac twelf
1. 19. mercna O. myrcna Ca. B. merc T.
 III. 23 , 24. 235

father's body, either to live to God, if it pleased God, or to die and

there be buried. And they were welcomed by the brethren of
the monastery. And there all were soon carried off by the ravages of
the aforesaid plague, and there were buried, save one lad , of whom it
5 is certain, that he was saved from death by the prayers of the bishop.
For when he had lived a long time after and zealously studied and
meditated on the Holy Scriptures, at last he understood and learnt
in spirit, that he had not been regenerated as a child of God,
in the water of baptism ; and he was soon washed from sin with
10 the fount of the laver of salvation, and was after a time advanced
to receive priestly orders. And he was useful and of service
to many in God's churches. We cannot doubt about this man, but
must rather believe, as we said before, that he was saved from
the hour of death by the intercession of his father, to whose body
15 he came out of love, so that he both escaped eternal death and also
by his teaching and life's example provided for other brethren
the ministry of life and eternal salvation.

XVIII .

At this time king Oswio was suffering the furious and intolerable
devastations of the oft-mentioned Penda, king of Mercia, who also
20 slew his brother. Then at last he was forced by necessity to offer
and promise to him, in return for peace, a vast amount of treasure
and royal gifts , more than many men will believe, on condition that
Penda returned home with his army and did not waste his land
and kingdom to its utter destruction. Now when the faithless
25 king absolutely rejected his prayers, as he thought in his mind and
had determined to destroy and annihilate all his people from
the young up to the elders, then Oswio looked for support to the
divine mercy, as he could not receive any peace at the hands of the
cruel king. And he bound himself with a vow, thus saying : ' Since
30 the heathen may not receive our gifts, come, let us give and offer
them to the Lord our Saviour Christ, who may receive them.' And
he vowed, if the Lord would give him victory, to present his
daughter to God and consecrate her as a pure virgin ; and also
 236 LIBER TERTIUS.

boclanda æhte pæt he Gode geaf mynster on to timbrenne : 7 swa

medmicle weorode pæt he to pam compe ferde.
Is þæt sægd, þæt þa hæðnan pritigum siða mare weorod
hæfdon ; þæm Osweo se cyning mid Alhfriðe his sunu―was ge-
treowende in Cristes fultum- mid medmicle weorode him togegnes 5
cwom . Fordon Ecgferð his oder sunu in pa tid in Mercna lande
mid Cynwisse pa cwene was to gisle geseald . Æpelwald ponne
Oswaldes sunu þæs cyninges , se pe him on fultome beon sceolde, se
was in þara wiðerweardra dæle 7 feaht 7 wonn wið his eðle 7 wið
his fædran. Da wæs sona, þæs þe heo þæt gefeoht ongunnon, þætte 10
þa hæðnan wæron slegene 7 geflemde ; ond þritig aldormonna 7
heretogena, þa de þam cyninge to fultome cwomon, lytesne ealle
weron ofslegene. In þæm wæs Æðelhere Annan broðor Eastengla
cyninges, se æfter him to rice feng se was ordfruma þæs gefeohtes.
Pone mon slóg eac mid ealle his compweorode, pe he mid him 15
brohte. Ond forþon, þa dis gefeoht neah Winwede streame was
gefohten, was seo ea pa for regna micelnesse swide rede, 7 heofon-
flód micel onset, pa gelomp, da heo fleonde wæron, þæt þær micle
má moncynnes ádronc on þam wætre , ponne mid sweorde ofslegen
wære. 20
pa dyde Osweo se cyning, æfter pon þe he Drihtne gehet, 7 for
Jan forgifenan sige Gode ponc sægde, ond Elfflæde his dohtor
Gode forgef, 7 him gehalgode écre clænnisse. Ond eac swilce pa
twelf boclond him gefreode eorðlices comphades 7 eorðlicre here-
nisse to bigongenne pone heofonlican comphad, 7 to munucstowum 25
gesette, 7 him weoruldspede 7 æhte forgeaf, þæt heo scoldon for
hine pingian 7 for sibbe his peode. Wæs pas londes ealles hund-
twelftig hida, syxtig in Dera mægðe, syxtig in Beornicum. Þa
eode seo foresprecene dohtor Oswies pas cyninges Gode gehalgod
P. 557. in þæt mynster, pe is nemned Heorot ea, in þæm was in þa tid 30
Hilde abbudesse. Seo æfter twæm gearum gebohte tyn hida lond
hire in æhte in pære stówe, seo is cweden Streoneshealh, dær heo
mynster getimbrode, in pæm seo gemyngade cyninges dohtor ærest
was discipula 7 leornungmon regollices lifes, ond eft æfter pon

1. 3. þæt hewære þritigum siða mara weorod hæfdon þa hæðnan T. The

other MSS. (O. Ca. B.) omit heware and transfer þa hæðnan into its place.
 III. 24. 237

to give a possession of twelve boclands to God for the erection of

a monastery. And so with a small force he advanced to battle. It
is said that the heathen had thirty times as large a host ; to meet
which king Oswio and his son Ahlfrith advanced with a small
5 host, trusting in Christ's aid . For another son of his, Egferth, was
at that time in the land of Mercia with the queen Cynwisse,
having been given as a hostage. Moreover Ethelwald, son of
king Oswald, who should have aided him, was on the side of
his adversaries, and fought and strove against his country and
10 his uncle. Soon after they began the fight, the heathen were
slain and put to flight ; and thirty chief men and leaders who had
come to the king's aid, were almost all slain. Among these was
Æthelhere, brother of Anna, king of the East Angles, who succeeded
him on the throne : he was the instigator of the war. He was slain
15 and all the troops he brought with him. And because the river
Aire, near which the battle was fought, was very furious owing
to abundant rains, and heavy floods filled it, it so happened, that in
their flight a much larger number were drowned in the water, than
were slain with the sword. Then king Oswio did, as he had
20 promised the Lord, and gave thanks to God for the victory vouch-
safed him, and gave his daughter Elffled to God and consecrated
her to him in perpetual chastity. And he exempted also the twelve
boclands from the obligation of earthly service and earthly
lordship, to perform the service of heaven, and established them as
25 monastic settlements, and gave the brethren wealth and possessions
to pray for him and for the peace of his people. There were 120
hides in all of this land, sixty in the province of Deira and sixty in
Bernicia. Then the daughter of king Oswio being consecrated to
God entered the monastery, that is called Hartlepool, in which
30 Hilde was then abbess. She after two years acquired by purchase ten
hides of land at the place, which is called Whitby, and here erected
a monastery, in which the aforesaid king's daughter was first a pupil
and novice in monastic life, and after mistress and teacher in the

They also read mare. 1. 15. his biscopweorode (i. e. his cōpw.) T. his comp-
weorode O. his campweorude Ca. his campwerede B. his compwerode C.
238 LIBER TERTIUS.

wæs magister 7 lareow pas mynstres, oð þæt heora daga rim

gefylled wæs, pet is anes wonpe syxtig wintra. pa heo to
clypnesse 7 to gemungum þæs heofonlican brydguman eadig
fæmne ineode. In pæm mynstre heo 7 Osweo hire fæder 7 hire
modor Eanflæd 7 hire modorfæder Eadwine 7 monige oore ædele 5
in Sce Petres cirican pas apostoles bebyrgde wæron.
pis gefeoht Osweo se cyning þy preotteopan geare his rices, in
þæm londe pe Loidis hatte, by seofonteopan dæge Kalendarum
Decembrium gefremede mid micelre nytnisse æghwæores folces.
Forpon pe he his peode alesde 7 generede from þære feondlican 10
hergunge para hæðenra, 7 eac swylce Mercna þeode 7 para
neahmægða, ofheawnum þy getreowleasan heafde Pendan, to gife
Cristes geleafan gecerde. Wæs ærest Mercna biscop 7 Lindes-
farena 7 Middelengla Deoma geworden, swa we beforan sægdon.
Se in Middelenglum fordferde 7 bebyrged was. Se æftera was 15
Cellah, se forlet his biscoppegnunge in Englum 7 lifigende to
Scottum hwearf. Æghwæder heora was Scotta cynnes. Se
pridda biscop was Trumhær, se wæs Ongolcynnes, ac he was
gelæred 7 gehadad from Scottum ; se was abbud in þæm mynstre,
pe cweden is Ingatlingum. Pæt is seo stow, þær Oswine se cyning 20
ofslegen was , swa we beforan gemyndgedon. Ond fordon Eanflæd
seo cwen his mæge fore geclæsnunge his unrihtes sleges, bæd
Osweo pone cyning þæt he þær forgefe stowe mynster on to
timbrenne pæm foresprecenan Godes peowe Trumhere— forðon
þe he eac swylce was mæg þæs ofslegenan cyninges-þæt in þæm 25
mynstre wæron singal gebedo for æghwæðres cyninges ecre hælo,
ge pas ofslegenan ge pas pe hine slean het. Ono hwet he pa
se ilca cyning Osweo æfter Pendan slege preo winter ful Mercna
peode 7 swylce eac pam oðrum folcum para suðmægða in aldor-
dóme ofer wæs. Ond he swylce eac Peohta þeode of þam mæstan 30
dæle Ongolcynnes rice underpeodde, 7 him to hyrnesse geteah.
In pa tid eac swylce Osweo se cyning geaf 7 sealde þam fore-
sprecenan Peadan Pendan suna þæs cyninges, fordon pe he was
his mæg, Suðmercna rice, pa seondon, þæs pe men cweðað, fif

1. 32. T. has the words se cyning before and after Osweo, the other MSS. (O.
Ca. B. C.) after only. (se cyning osweo se cyning T.).
 III. 24. 239

monastery, till the number of her days was fulfilled, that is to say,
full fifty-nine years. Then this blessed virgin passed to the
embrace and espousals of the heavenly bridegroom. At this
monastery she and her father Oswio and her mother Eanfled and
5 her mother's father Eadwine and many other nobles were buried in
the church of the apostle St. Peter. King Oswio brought this
war to a conclusion in the thirteenth year of his reign, on the 15th
of November, in the district called Leeds, to the great advantage of
both nations. For he relieved and rescued his people from the
10 hostile devastations of the heathen, and also converted the nation
of the Mercians and adjoining provinces to the grace of Christ's
faith, by cutting off their faithless head Penda. Deoma had been
the first bishop of Mercia and of Lindsey and the Middle Angles,
as we mentioned before. Among the Middle Angles he died and
15 was buried. The second was Cellah ; he gave up his episcopal
functions among the English and in his lifetime returned to the
Scots. Both of these were of the Scot race. The third bishop was
Trumhere, who was of English descent, but trained and ordained by
Scots ; he was abbot in the monastery, which is called Gilling.
20 This is the place where Oswini was slain, as we mentioned before.
And so queen Eanfled, his kinswoman, to atone for his unrighteous
murder, begged king Oswio to grant a site to the aforesaid servant
of God Trumhere, to build a monastery there for he too was
a kinsman of the murdered king-that in that monastery might be
25 perpetual prayers for the eternal weal of both kings, both for
the murdered man and for him who ordered the murder. Now

this king Oswio after Penda's death for three whole years had
authority over the Mercians and the other nations also of the
southern provinces. And he also subjected the Picts in great part
30 to the English dominion, and brought them under obedience to
himself. At that time also king Oswio assigned and gave the
kingdom of South Mercia to the above-mentioned Peada, son
of king Penda, because he was his kinsman, in which there are,
 240 LIBER TERTIUS.

pusendo folces : ond þa synd tosceadenne mid Treontan streame

wið Norðmercum, para londes is seofon pusendo. Ac he pa se
ilca Peada þy nehstan lenctenne swide mánfullice acwald w æs
þurh meldunge , þæs þe men secgað, his agenes wiifes in þære
Easterlecan symbelnesse. 5

Ono pe da preo winter gefylled wæron , æfter Pendan slege þæs

cyninges, pa wunnon 7 fuhton wid Osweo Mercna heretogan 7
aldormen Immen 7 Eafa 7 Eadberht ; 7 hofon Wulfhere Pendan
sunu Mercum to cyninge, pone hy geongne ær deogolice heoldon 7
hæfdon. 7 awurpon pa ealdormen pæs fremdan cyninges, 7 heora 10
land 7 heora gemæro stronglice geeodon 7 freodom onfengon. 7
swa freo heo mid heora cyninge Drihtne Criste pam soðan
p. 558. cyninge for pam ecan rice in heofonum gefeonde peowodon. Was
he Wulfhere Mercna cyning seofontyne winter : 7 he hæfde ærest
Trumhare biscop him to lareowe, be þam we beforan sægdon. Se 15
æftera wæs Gearumon : pridda was Ceadda, feorða Wynferð.
Ealle pas wæron endebyrdlice in his dæge biscophada brucende in
Mercna peode.
XIX.

Cap. 27. Pa was geworden ymb syx hund wintra 7 feower 7 syxtig æfter
Drihtnes menniscnesse eclipsis solis, þæt is sunnan asprungennis, 20
þæt heo sciman ne hæfde : 7 was eatolice ón to seonne. Was by
priddan dæge Mai pas monpes hu hugu ymb pa teogðan tíd dæges.
Efter pon swylce was by ylcan geare semninga wool 7 aðol
forhergiende 7 forneomende ærest þa suðdælas Breotone, 7 swylce
eac Norðanhymbra mægde was preagende, 7 mid grimme wæle 25
longe feor 7 wide grimsigende micle menigeo monna afylde 7
fornom. Py wiite eac swylce Tuda Cristes peow, se was æfter
Colmane Norpanhymbra biscop, was of middangearde genumen,
7 was arweorolice bebyrged in pæm mynstre, pe nemned is
Pæginalæh. pis ylce wiite eac swylce Hibernia Scotta ealond 30
gelíce wæle sloh 7 cwealmde, Weron þær in pa tiid monige of
Ongelpeode ge ædelinga ge oderra, þa de in para biscopa tide

1. 3. cweald (a small, pale and ill-formed ; original ?) T. acweald O. Ca. B.

C. 1. 8. Immen O. Ca. C. Not in T. B. 1. 12. heo swa (swa struck
 III. 24, 27. 241

as men say, five thousand families : and they are parted by the
river Trent from the North Mercians, whose land contains seven
thousand. But then this Peada next spring was very foully slain
by the treason, as men say, of his own wife, at the feast of Easter.
5 Now three full years after the death of king Penda, Immen and Eafa
and Eadberht, Mercian chiefs, rebelled and fought against Oswio,
and raised Wulfhere, son of Penda, to the throne of Mercia, whom
they had kept in hiding before, as he was young. They ex-
pelled the foreigner's chiefs, occupied in force their own land
10 and borders and recovered freedom. And so, free with their king,
they joyfully served the Lord Christ, who is the true King, for the
sake of the eternal kingdom in heaven.
Wulfhere was king of Mercia for seventeen years : and he first
had bishop Trumhere as his instructor, of whom we have spoken
15 before. The second bishop was Gearuman, the third was Chad,
the fourth was Wynferth. All these in succession filled the
episcopate among the people of Mercia in his day.

XIX.

Then 664 years after our Lord's incarnation, there was an

eclipsis solis, that is to say, a failing of the sun, so that it had no
20 light and it was dreadful to see. It took place on the third of
May, about the tenth hour of the day. After this in the same
year there also suddenly arose a plague and sickness , which wasted
and destroyed first the southern districts of Britain ; but it also
afflicted the province of Northumbria, and with fearful mortality
25 long raged far and wide, killing and destroying a great multitude
of men. Tuda, servant of Christ, who was bishop of Northumbria
after Colman, was also carried off from this world by the plague,
and was honourably buried at the monastery which is called
Finchale. Ireland, the island of the Scots, was also assailed and
30 ravaged with the same mortality. There were there, at that time,
many of English descent, both nobles and others, who, during the

through) T. hie swa O. hi swa Ca. hie swa C. Both words wanting in B.
1. 28. biscope T. bysceop O. B. Ca. 1. 32. pa de O. Ca. B. Not in T.
R
 242 LIBER TERTIUS .

Finanes 7 Colmanes forleton heora eðelturf 7 þider gewiton, sume

for godcundre leornunge, sume for intingan forhebbendran liifes.
Ond sume sona in mynsterlicre drohtnunge in regollicum lífe
getreowlice Drihtne peowodon ; sume geond mynster eodon 7
him godcunde lareowas sohton. Oud ealle hy Scottas lustlice 5
onfengon 7 him dæghwamlice ondlifne buton ceape sealdon, 7 eac
swylce béc on to leornienne 7 lareowas orsceattinga gefon 7
sealdon.
Betweoh pas wæron twegen geonge ædelingas micelre gleawnisse
men of Óngolpeode Apelhun 7 Ecgberht. Se ærra was Æðelwines 10
brodor Gode pæs leofan weres, se seolfa eac swilce pære æfterfyl-
gendan eldo Hiberniam gesohte fore intingan godcundre geleor-
nunge ; ond pa he wel gelæred wæs, þa hwearf he eft to his eðle
7 was biscop geworden in Lindisse londe : 7 he micle tiide Godes
cirican ædellice 7 wel heold 7 reahte. Wæron heo in pæm mynstre, 15
pe in Scyttisc is genemned Rathmelsigi ; ond ealle his geferan oð-
po in pære dea licnesse pas wooles of worulde genumene wæron
oððe purh oðre stówe wæron todælde . Pa wæron heo begen mid pa
aðle pære ilcan deadlicnesse swide preade 7 hefiglice swencte, 7 him
mon feores ne wende. Pa aras se Ecgberht, swa swa me sum ald 20
mæssepreost árwyrolice sægde , pæt he at his seolfes mupe gehyrde,
mid by pe he tealde 7 wende, þæt he sweltan scolde 7 deað
P. 559. prowian. Pa eode út in dagunge of þam huse, þe da untruman
menn in reston, 7 ána gesæt in deagolre stówe 7 geornlice ongon
pencan bi his dædum, ond was inbryrded mid gemynd his synną 25
7 weop, 7 his onsyn mid tearum pwoh : 7 of inneweardre heortan
God was biddende, þæt he ða gena sweltan ne sceolde, ær don pe he
bi dæm fordgewitenum gemeleasnissum his, þa de he in cildhade
odde in cneohthade gefremede, fulfremeplicor of tíde geclæsnade,
ge hine seolfne on godum weorcum genihtsumlecor beeode. Swelce 30
he eac gehat geheht, þæt he á wolde for Gode his liif in elpeodignesse
lifigan 7 næfre to Breotone ealonde hweorfan, þær he acenned was ;
7 þæt he buton sealmsonge regollicra tída, gif him lichoman
untrymnis ne wiðstóde, pæt æghwelce dæge alne saltere in
gemynd þære godcundan herenesse ásunge ; 7 þæt ælcere wucan 35
I. 31. á B. a O. Ca. Not in T.
 III. 27. 243

time of the bishops Finan and Colman, left their native soil and
withdrew there, some for study of the Word and some for the sake
of an ascetic life. And some at once faithfully served the Lord in
monastic discipline, living by the rules of the brotherhood ; but
5 some travelled from monastery to monastery in search of teachers
of the Word. And the Scots gave a welcome to all and provided
them with a daily maintenance free of cost, giving them also and
assigning gratuitously books for study and teachers. Among
these there were two young nobles of English descent, Æthelhun
10 and Ecgberht, men of much ability. The first was brother to
Æthelwini, the well beloved of God, who himself also at a later
time visited Ireland for the sake of theological study ; and when he
was well instructed, he returned home again to his country and
became bishop in Lindsey and for a long time nobly and well
15 he ruled and directed God's church. Now these were in the
monastery, which in the Scots ' tongue is called Rathmelsigi
(Mellifont) ; and all his companions were either carried off from the
world in the mortality of the plague or were scattered through
other places. And they both were violently attacked with the
20 disorder of this pestilence and suffered severely, and they despaired
of their lives. Then Ecgberht got up, (so I was told by a venerable
old priest, that he heard from his own mouth), as he considered and
supposed that he must succumb and suffer death. He went in the
early morning out of the house, in which the sick slept, and sat
25 down by himself at a retired spot, and began earnestly to think of
his conduct, and he was moved at the thought of his sins and wept,
and washed his face with tears and from the bottom of his heart
prayed to God, that he might not die as yet, before that with time
he had purified himself more perfectly from past acts of omission
30 in childhood or in youth, and exercised himself more abundantly in
good works. And he also made a vow, that he would for God's
sake live all his life in a foreign land , and never return to the
island of Britain, where he was born ; and that besides psalm-
singing at the regular hours, if not prevented by bodily infirmity,
35 he would every day sing through the whole pealter in memory of
the divine praise ; and that every week he would fast a night and
R 2
 244 LIBER TERTIUS.

dæg mid neahte ætgædre áfæste. Mid by he da his gehat 7 bene

7 his tearas geendade, pa eode he eft to his huse, 7 þa gemette
pone his gepoftan slepende. 7 he da eac swylce on his reste gestag,
7 hine sume hwile gerestan wolde ; ond mid þy he da medmicel fæc
hine gereste, pa onbrægd se his geþofta 7 locade to him, 7 þus 5
cwæð : Eala broðor Ecgberht ; eala, cwæð he, hwæt dydest þu ?
Ic gehyhte 7 wende, fæt wit nu hrade scoldon ætgædre in ece liif
gongan. Ac wite pu hwæðre, þæt þu onfehst pas pu bæde. Forðon
he purh gesyho geleornade, ge hwæs he God bæd 7 to him wilnade,
7 þæt þe his bene gehyrede wæron. Hwæt sculon we nu þæs mare 10
sprecan ? Hwæt se Edelhun þær nehstan neahte forferde ; 7
Ecgberht hine pære aðle getrumade , 7 micle tide æfter pon lifde 7
biscophade onfeng, 7 pone had mid efenweorðum dædum frætwade.
Ond æfter monegum goodum gastlicra mægena, swa swa he wilnade,
mid by he was hundnigontiges wintra ald, þæt he leorde to pæm 15
heonfonlecan ríce. Lifde he his lif in micelre ea modnesse 7
monnpwærnesse 7 in forhæfdnesse 7 in bilwitnesse 7 in so fæstnesse
7 in fulfremednesse. Ond he purh pæt ge his peode ge eac pam
cynnum Scotta 7 Peohta, in þæm he in ellpeodignesse lifde, ge mid
his liifes bysene ge mid lare ge mid alderlicnesse prea ge mid arfæst- 20
nesse his sylena of þam goodum, þe he from rícum monnum onfeng,
swide bricsade. Etecte he eac his gehatum, þe we ær sægdon, þæt
he symle in þæm feowertiglecan fæstenne ær Eastrum æne siða in
dæge gereorde, 7 elles ne peah nemne medmicel hlafes mid pinre
meolc. Dære ilcan forhæfdnesse gemet he eac swilce heold pæt 25
feowertig daga ær Cristes gebyrdtide 7 þæt feowertig daga æfter
Pentecosten.

XX.

p. 560. Betweoh das ding sende Alhfrið se cyning Osweoes sunu Willferð
Cap . 28.
his mæssepreost, þæt hine mon sceolde him 7 his hiwum to biscope
gehalgian. Sende he hine to hadiganne ofer sæ to Ægelberhte 30
biscope, bi pæm we ær beforan sægdon, se ær Breotone forlet
7 Parisiace pære ceastre biscop geworden wæs. Ond he wæs

1. 26. ar to daga O. (e of tide on erasure of a ?) . Also in Ca., (B.-tídeþæt).

Not in T.
 III. 27, 28. 245

a day continuously. And when he had ended his vows, prayers,

and tears, he returned home, and found his comrade sleeping. He
also got into bed to rest for awhile ; and when he had rested for
a short time, his comrade roused up and looked at him saying, ' Oh,
5 brother Ecgberht ; oh,' said he, ' what have you done ? I hoped and
thought, that we two should now soon pass together into eternal life.
Know however, that you will receive what you prayed for.' For by
a vision he had learnt, both what he prayed God and desired, and
that his prayers were heard. Why should we speak further of
10 this ? Well then, Æthelhun died next night ; and Ecgberht
recovered from the illness, and lived long after this and became
a bishop and adorned his office with corresponding conduct. And
after many blessings of spiritual virtues, according to his desire,
when he was ninety years old, he departed to the heavenly
15 kingdom. He spent his life in great humility and gentleness, in
abstinence, innocency, truth and perfection. And he thereby

greatly benefited his people, as well as the nations of the Scots

and Picts among whom he lived in exile, both by the example of
his life and by his teaching and by authoritative discipline, and
20 piety in giving away the property, which he received from the
rich. He added to the vow previously mentioned, that always
during the forty days' fast before Easter he took food only once
a day, partaking of nothing else than a little bread and thin milk.
This same measure of abstinence he also maintained the forty days
25 before Christ's birth time and the forty days after Pentecost.

XX.

Meantime king Alhfrith, son of Oswio, sent his priest Wilfrid,

to be consecrated as bishop for himself and his household. He sent

him over the sea to be ordained by bishop Ægelberht, of whom we

have spoken before, who had previously left Britain and had
30 become bishop at Paris. He was consecrated by him with much
246 LIBER TERTIUS.

gehalgad from him mid micelre áre, efencumendum monigum

biscopum to pære halgunge, in pæm cynelecan tuune, pe is ceged
Inconpendia. Pa he pa gena wæs æfter his halgunge in þæm oferɛæ-
licum dælum wuniende, da was Osweo se cyning onhyrgende pæs
suna geornfulnisse. Sende pa eac to Cent haligne wer 7 in his 5
þeawum gemetfæstne 7 in leornunge haligra gewreota wel
gelæredne ; ond pa da he in wreotum leornade to donne, pa he in
his weorcum was geornlice fylgende ; se sceolde beon to biscope
gehalgod pære cirican to Eoforwicceastre. Wæs mæssepreost, se
was Ceadda haten, Ceddes broðor pas arwyrðan biscopes, þæs we 10
beforan gelome gemyndgedon. Sende se cyning eac mid hine his
mæssepreost, Eadeth was haten, se æfter pon in Ecgferpes riice
in Hrypum was biscop geworden. pa heo pa to Cent cwomon, pa
gemetton heo done arcebiscop Deosdedit geleoredne of weorulde.
Ond þa gytá nænig oder biscop for hine geseted wæs. 15
Đa cerdon heo to Westseaxna mæge, þær wæs Wine biscop ; 7
from him was se foresprecena Godes monn to biscope gehalgad.
Nom he twegen biscopas of Bretta deode in gesiðscipe pære
halgunge. Ne was in þa tiíd ænig biscop buton pam Wine in alre
Breotene para pe rihtlice gehalgad wære. Pa was se Cedda from 20
him to biscope gehalgod ; ond he sona ongon pa mæstan gemænne
don pære ciriclican soðfæstnesse 7 clænnisse, 7 eaðmodnisse 7
forhæfdnisse 7 leornunge geornnisse sellan, ond byrig 7 lond 7
ceastre 7 tunas 7 hus fore godspellicre láre purhferan, nales
ridende on horse ac para apostola peawe on his fotum gongende. 25
Was he of discipulum Aidanes pæs gódan biscopes, 7 his dædum 7
poawum 7 æfter bysene Ceddes his broðor his geherend trymede
7 lærde. Pa cwom eac swylce Willferð in Breotone, pa he was to
biscope gehalgod, 7 eac swylce monige gemetgunge þara rihtgele-
fedra, gehælde pære Romaniscan cirican, Ongolcynnes ciricum mid 30
his lare brohte. Ponon was geworden, pat seo rihtgelyfde laár
was dæghwamlice weaxende ; ond ealle Scottas, pa de betweohn
Ongle eardodon 7 þære rihtgelefdan láre wiðerwearde wæron ge
in gehælde rihtra Eastrena ge in monegum oðrum wisum, oðhe

1. 18. gesiðscipe C. -scype O. B. gésiðscipe Ca. siðscipe T. 1. 27. breder

T. broðor C. broþor O. broðer Ca. his broðor not in B.
 III. 28. 247

pomp, many bishops meeting for the consecration at the royal

township of Compiègne. While he still remained in the country
across the sea in consequence of his consecration, king Oswio
followed the example of his son's zeal, and sent to Kent a man of
5 holy life and modest character, and well learned in the holy
Scriptures ; and what he learned to do in the Scriptures, he zealously
followed in his conduct. He was to be consecrated bishop of the
church at York. He was a priest and called Chad, brother of
the venerable bishop Cedd, whom we have often mentioned before.
10 The king also sent with him his priest called Eadæth, who
subsequently in the reign of Ecgfrith became bishop at Ripon. On
coming to Kent, they found that archbishop Deusdedit had
departed this life and as yet no one else was appointed bishop in
his place. Then they returned to the province of the West Saxons,
15 where Wini was bishop ; and the aforesaid man of God was
consecrated bishop by him. He associated with himself at the
consecration two bishops of the Britons. At that time there was
no bishop in all Britain, except Wini, duly consecrated. Then
Chad was consecrated bishop by him ; and he soon began to take
20 the greatest care for truth and purity in the church, devoting
himself to humility, abstinence and study, and travelling through
town and country, castle, township and hamlet to teach the gospel,
not riding on horseback, but according to apostolical usage going
on foot . He was one of the disciples of the good bishop Aidan, and
25 by his conduct and habits, and after the example of his brother
Cedd, he confirmed and instructed his hearers. Then came also
Wilfrid to Britain on being consecrated, and with his teaching
introduced many rules of the orthodox, observances of the Roman

church, among the churches of the English. And so it came to

30 pass, that the orthodox doctrine flourished more every day ; and all
the Scots, who lived among the English and were opposed to
orthodox doctrine in the observance of the proper Easter and in
 248 LIBER TERTIUS.

heora treowe sealdon, þæt heo riht mid healdan woldon, oðpe ham to
heora e le hwurfen.

XXI.

p. 561. Ɖyssum tidum Ongolcyningas þa æðelestan Osweo Norðanhymbra

Cap. 29. cyning 7 Ecgberht Contwarena cyning hæfdon betweoh him spræce
7 geþeahte, hwæt to donne wære bi pæm stealle Ongolcynnes 5
cirican. Forðon Osweo soðlice onget, peah þe he from Scottum
afeded 7 gelæred wære, pætte seo Romanisce cirice 7 seo apostolice
was rehtgelefed. Da gecuron heo 7 genomon mid geþafunge pære
halgan cirican Ongolpeode goodne wer 7 gepungenne to biscophade
mæssepreost sumne, þæs noma wæs Wigheard, of geferscipe þæs 10
biscopes Deosdedit. 7 heo hine pa to Rome sendon, þæt hine mon
scolde þær to biscope gehalgian, þæt he þær onfenge arcebiscopes
hade 7rehtgelefde biscopas purh ealle Breotone Ongolcynnes ciricum
seopðan hadian meahte. Pa he pa Wigheard to Róme becwom ,
ær þou he to biscophade becuman meahte, was mid deade forgripen 15
7 þær fordferde.
Da sende Uitalius se papa Osweo Seaxna cyninge lufsumlic
ærendgewrit, pa he onget his aarfæstnesse willan 7 his hate Godes
lufan, pa he hæfde for pam eadgan liife, 7 forpam þe he purh
Drihtnes gescyldnesse to þam sóðan geleafan 7 þæm apostolican 20
gehwyrfed was. Ond cwæð þæt he gehyhte, swa swa he in his
peode hwilwendlice ricsade, þæt he swa in toweardnesse ecelice
ricsian mid Criste moste. Ond he eac swylce þær on þæm gewrite
gemyndgade bi þæs Wigheardes deade, þæt heo swiðe geunrotsade
weron, forhwon he þær forðferan scolde, 7 him geheht, swa ær swa 25
heo gepungenne mon 7 hades wyrone metan meahton, þæt heo hine
woldon to biscope gehalgian 7 hider onsendan.
Hwelc biscop pa fore Wighearde gecoren 7 gehalgod wære, þæt
we in pisse æfterfylgendan béc gerisenlicor 7 gelimplecor writað
7 secgað. 30

1. 1. healdan C. Ca. B. -don O. ealdan T. 1. 21. pat O. Ca. B. C.

pa (the stroke of e is prolonged to h, but the curve of t is wanting) T.
 III. 28, 29. 249

many other points, either pledged their faith to join in the right
observance, or returned home to their country.

XXI.

At this time the most noble kings of the English, Oswio of

Northumbria and Ecgberht of Kent, conferred and deliberated with
5 one another, what they should do with regard to the condition of
the church of England. For though Oswio had been educated and
taught by the Scots, he was fully aware that the Roman and
apostolic church was orthodox. Accordingly they selected and
took, with the consent of the holy church of England, a man of
10 piety and ability for the office of bishop, named Wigheard, a priest
among the clergy of bishop Deusdedit. And they sent him to Rome
to be consecrated there as bishop, that he, having received orders
as archbishop there, might ordain afterwards orthodox bishops for
the churches of England throughout all Britain. On Wigheard's
15 arrival in Rome, before he could be made bishop, he was there
attacked by mortal illness and died . Then pope Vitalius sent a
loving letter to Oswio, king of the Saxons, as he understood his
pious devotion and his warm love to God, which he had for the
blessed life, and because he by the protection of the Lord had
20 been turned to the true and apostolical faith. And he said that he
hoped, that, as he had a temporal throne among his people, so he
might in the life to come reign for ever with Christ. And he also
in the letter mentioned Wigheard's death, and their great grief at
his dying there, and promised him, as soon as they could find a man
25 of ability and worthy of the position, that they would consecrate
him bishop and send him here. In the next book we shall more
conveniently and aptly set down and state, who was chosen then
and consecrated as bishop in place of Wigheard .

1. 26. me.tan (erasure) T. metan O. métan Ca. mettan B. (omits meahton).

1. 29. gerisenlico T. licor Ca. B. licur O.
 250 LIBER TERTIUS.
i

XXII.

Cap. 30. In da ilcan tíd wæron in Eastseaxna mægde æfter Swiðhelme,

bi þæm we ær beforan sægdon, twegen cyningas Sighere 7 Sebbe,
peah þe heo Wulfhere Mercna cyninge underpeodde waren in
hernesse. Seo ilce mægð þa Eastseaxna mid by heo wæced was mid
þy wæle pære foresprecenan deadlicnesse, da Sighere mid þy dæle 5
his folces, pe he heold, forlet þa gerynu þæs Cristnan geleafan 7 to
hæðenisse was gehwyrfed. Fordon pe se seolfa cyning 7 his aldor-
men 7 monige of his folce lufodon þis deaðlice líf 7 þæt towearde ne
sohton, ne pæt furðum gelefdon, þæt hit ó wære. Pa ongunnon
heo pa heargas edniwian, þa de ær forlætene wæron, 7 deofolgild 10
weorpian 7 gebiddan, swa swa heo þurh pas ping meahton from
p. 562. þam woole 7 fram þære deaplicnesse gescilde beon. Se Sebb ponne
his gefera 7 efnerfeward þæs ilcan ríces mid micelre geornfulnesse
þone onfongenan Cristes geleafan heold mid ealle his folce, ond
mid micelre gesaglignesse getreowe lif gefylde, swa swa we 15
eft heræfter secgað.
Pa Sæt pa Wulfhere se cyning onget, 7 him gebodad wæs, þæt in
þære mægðe Eastseaxna of dæle Cristes geleafa áidlad wære, pa
sende he Gearaman þone biscop, se wæs Trumheres æfterfylgend, in
pa mæge Eastseaxna to gereccenne pone gedwolan, 7 heo to 20
soofæstnesse geleafan eft gecegan. 7 he pa mid micelre geornnesse
se biscop pæt was donde, æfter pan þe mæssepreost sægde, pe
his gefera was fultumiende pæs godeundan wordes. Was he se
biscop æfest mon 7 gód, 7 feor 7 wíde ealle pa leode was purh-
færende, 7 pat folc 7 pone forsprecenan cyning to sodfæstnesse 25
wege eft gelædde, to pon þæt heo forleton 7 towurpon pa hergas
7 þæt deofolgild, þæt heo ær dydon, 7 Godes cirican ontyndon,
7 Cristes noman, þæm hy ær widewædon, gefeonde ondettan. 7
heo ma mid geleafan þæs ecan lifes 7 æriste wuldres wilnadon,
þæt heo in pæm swulte, pon heo on únsyfernessum getreowleas- 30

1. 8. of O. of Ca. B. Not in T. 1. 16. eft heræfter O. Ca. B. her ær

æfter T. 1. 24. ealle O. Ca. B. 7 ealle (7 an after insertion ) T.
 III. 30. 251

XXII.

At this time there were in the province of the East Saxons two
kings, Sighere and Sebbe, who came after Swithhelm, of whom we
have spoken before, who however were subject in allegiance to
Wulfhere, king of Mercia. Now when the province of the East
5 Saxons was enfeebled by losses in the aforementioned mortality,
Sighere, with the division of people under his sway, abandoned the
mysteries of Christ's faith and reverted to heathenism. For this
king and his chief men and many of his people loved this mortal
life and sought not the life to come, nor even believed that there
10 ever should be one. Then they began to restore the temples, which
they had previously abandoned, and to worship and pray to idols,
as if by these means they might be protected from the plague and
mortality. But Sebbe, his associate and joint heir to the throne,
with great zeal kept with all his people the faith of Christ once
15 received, and he fulfilled a life of faith with great prosperity, as we
shall relate further on. Now when king Wulfhere learnt this, and

it was reported to him, that the faith of Christ was in part profaned
in the province of the East Saxons, he sent bishop Gearuman,
successor to Trumhere, into the district of the East Saxons, to
20 correct this heresy and to recall them to belief in the truth. And
this the bishop did with much zeal, as is related by the priest, who
was his companion and assistant in preaching the Word of God.
The bishop was a pious and good man and travelled far and wide
throughout all the people, and brought back the nation and the
25 aforesaid king to the way of truth, so that they gave up and
destroyed the temples and idol worship, which they had hitherto
followed, and opened God's churches and gladly confessed the name
of Christ, which they had previously opposed. And they rather,
with belief in eternal life and the resurrection to glory, desired to
30 die therein, than to live in foulness of unbelief among their idols.
 252 LIBER TERTIUS.

nesse betweoh deofulgyldum lifde. Pa pis pa pus gedon wæs, þa

se biscop 7 heora lareowas gefeonde 7 blissigende ham hwurfon.
Explicit liber tertius.

INCIPIT LIBER QUARTUS ISTORIAE GENTIS

ANGLORUM.

I.

p. 563. Py gemyndgadan gere þære foresprecenan sunnan asprungennisse

Cap. I. 7 hræðe sona þæs æfterfylgendan wooles 7 moncwilde, dy geare 5
Deosdedit se sexta arcebiscop Contwaraburge cirican forferde
þy ærran dæge iduum Iuliarum. Swelce eac Erconberht Contwarą
cyning þy ylcan monde ond dæge forðgeleorde, 7 his riices eðel
forlet Ecgberhte his suna, þæt he hæfde 7 heold anes woude twentig
wintra. Pa blon micelre tiide se biscopdom, da was sended to 10
Róme from Ecgberhte 7 from Osweo Norðanhymbra cyninge
Wigheard mæssepreost, swa swa we in pisse ærran béc feaum
wordum forecwædon. Was se mon in ciriclecum peodscipum of
Ongolcynne wel gelæred. Swylce hy eac pa cyningas begen
ætgædre sendon pæm apostolican papan micle gife on monegum 15
goldfatum 7 seolforfatum : ond bædon, þæt he Wigheard Ongol-
cynnes ciricum to arcebiscope gehalgode. Da he da to Róme
cwom, þa was in þa tid Uitalius pápa þæs apostolican seðles
aldorbiscop. Efter pon þe he pone intingan his siðfætes þæm
apostolican papan gecyded hæfde, pa æfter medm celre tíde se 20
Wigheard 7 lytestne alle his geferan, þa de mid him cwomon, þy
ofercumendan woole fordilgade wæron 7 forðgeleorde.
Da hæfde se apostolica papa gepeaht be pissum þingum 7 georne
sohte, hwelcne arcebiscop he onsendan meahte Ongolðeode ciricum.

1. 2. huurfon 7 her endað seo þridde bóc.; . Interrogationes, etc. (Book i. 27),
ending agustinus. Incipit ecclesiasticę hystoria gentis anglorum liber quartus.
Ca. hwurfon. Interrogationes, etc. ...
. . . agustinus. Below, Explicit liber ter-
tius. Then blank of half a page and a whole leaf. Then (66 ) Incipit liber
quartus, (text) . T. hwurfan; Interrogatio, etc.... agustinus. Incipit eclesiastice
 III. 30, IV. 1 . 253

When this was accomplished, the bishop and their teachers returned
home glad and rejoicing.
End of Book III.

BOOK IV .

Ι.

IN the year we have mentioned of the aforesaid eclipse, and

5 immediately, succeeding pestilence and mortality, it was that
Deusdedit, the sixth archbishop of the church of Canterbury,
departed this life on the 14th of July. Erconberht, king of
Canterbury, also died in the same month and on the same day, and
he left his dominions, that he had held and swayed for nineteen
10 years, to his son Ecgberht. When the bishopric had been vacant
for a considerable time, priest Wigheard was dispatched to Rome
by Ecgberht and by Oswio, king of Northumbria, as we briefly
stated in the previous book. This man was of English descent and
well trained in ecclesiastical discipline. The two kings also sent
15 along with him large gifts to the apostolic pope, consisting of much
gold and silver plate : and they begged him to consecrate Wigheard
as archbishop over the churches of England. Now when he came
to Rome, Vitalius was chief bishop of the apostolic see at that time.
When he had announced to the pope the motive for his journey,
20 after a short time, Wigheard and almost all his fellow travellers
were carried off and died from the attacks of the pestilence. Then

the apostolic pope took counsel on these matters, and sought

earnestly for some one to send as archbishop over the English

historia gentis anglor liber quartus. O. Nothing in B. 1. 7. iduu iuliarum

(the i on erasure) O. iduŭ iuliarū Ca. iduum iuliarū B. idum iularium T.
1. 8. on T. O. Ca. B. 1. 9. ecgb,rhte T. ecgbrihte B. ecbyrhte O. Ca.
1. 15. papan O. Ca. B. sedles T.
 254 LIBER QUARTUS .

Da was in Niridano pæm mynstre, pæet is unfeor pære byrig Nea-

poli in Campanię þære mægðe, Adrianus abbud. Was se mon
in halgum gewreotum 7 in mynsterlecum þeodscipum 7 in ciri-
clecum wel gelæred, 7 weorölice getýd ge in Lædenisc gereorde ge
in Grecisc. Pa het se papa þone mon to him gelaðian , 7 heht þæt 5
p. 564. he biscophade onfenge 7 to Breotone ferde. Pa ondswarede he him
7 cwæð, þæt he were swa micles hades unwyrde ; 7 cwæð þæt he
meahte oderne getæcnan, pe biscophada wyrðra wære ge on gelæred-
nesse ge on his lífes gegearnunge ge on gedefre ęldo . Tæhte pa
pam biscope in þæm neahnunnmynstre sumne gedefne munuc, þæs 10
noma was Andreas. Ac da wiðstod his lichomlic untrymnes, þæt
he biscop beon ne meahte. Eft se papa nedde pone abbud
Adrianus, þæt he biscophade onfenge. Pa bæd he hine eldenne
7 fyrstes, hwæðer he æfter fæce meahte oðerne findan, þe mon
to biscope hadian meahte. Was in þa tíd sum munuc in Róme, 15
se wæs cuð Adriane þæm abbude, þæs noma was Theodorus. Se
was acenned in Tarso Cilicio : was se mon ge in weoruldgewreotum ,
ge in godcundum, ge in Grecisc ge in Læden wel gelæred ; 7 he
gecoren was in his þeawum 7 arwyrore ældo, þæt is þæt he hæfde
syx 7 syxtig wintra. Peosne mon Adrianus se abbud þæm papan 20
cyode, 7 sægde þæt he to biscope gehalgad beon meahte : 7 he þæt
gepafode. Ond hwæðre pis áræddon betweonum him, þæt he se
abbud his latteow beon sceolde in Breotone, forpon pe he ær twiga
pa dælas Gallia rices fore missenlecum intingum geferde 7 gesolte,
7 forþon þe him se weg þæs siðfætes genoh cuð was , 7 eac swylce 25
þæt he was in his agnum geferscipe wel gemonnad ; ond ponne gen
eac pætte he scolde his fultemend beon in godcundre láre, ond þæt
he geornlice bihealdan scolde, þæt he nowiht widerweardes pære
soðfæstnesse pas geleafan Greca peawe in Ongolcynnes cirican inn
gelædde, pe he ofer beon sceolde. Pa was he ærest to subdiacone 30
gelalgad ; 7 þa baad feower monað, oððæt him feax geweoxe, þæt
he to preoste bescoren beon meahte, forþon þe he ær sceare hæfde
eastleoda þeawe Sce Paule pas apostoles. Pa was he gehalgad

ra
1. 8. wyrde T. eordra B. wyrde O. Ca. 1. 9. gedefre O. B. gedéfre
Ca. gedeffe T. 1. 16. adriane O. Ca. B. and- T. 1. 19. 70. Ca B.
þæt þæt T. 1. 32. hæfde O. Ca. B. Not in T.
 IV. I. 255

churches. There was at that time in the monastery of Nirida, not

far from the town of Naples, in the province of Campania,
the abbot Adrianus. He was well trained in the sacred writings
and in monastic and ecclesiastical discipline, and duly instructed
5 both in the Latin and Greek languages. Then the pope directed

that they should summon the man to him, and ordered him to
accept the episcopate and go to Britain. Then he answered and

said, that he was unworthy of such a high position ; and said he could
10 point out someone else, who was more deserving of the episcopacy,
both by learning and meritorious life and suitability of age.
Accordingly he pointed out to the pope a suitable monk in the
neighbouring cloister, whose name was Andrew : but his bodily
infirmity prevented his becoming bishop. Again the pope urged
15 the abbot Adrianus to accept the episcopate. Then he prayed him
for delay and an interval , to see whether he could after a time find
another, who might be ordained bishop. There was at that time a
monk at Rome named Theodore, well known to the abbot Adrianus.
He was born at Tarsus in Cilicia, a man well read both in profane
20 and sacred writings, in Greek and in Latin. And he was of excellent
conduct, and of dignified age, that is sixty- six years old. The abbot
Adrianus made him known to the pope, and said that he might be con-
secrated bishop : and he agreed. However they arranged between
them, that the abbot should be his guide to Britain, as he had already
25 twice visited and travelled over the districts of the kingdom of Gaul
for various purposes, and because the route was familiar to him,
` and also because he was well provided with a staff of attendants ;
and further he should aid him in teaching the Word, and carefully
provide that he introduced nothing contrary to the true faith, in
30 accordance with the Greek mode, into the Church of England, over
which he should rule. Then he was first consecrated sub-deacon ;
and waited four months till his hair grew, that he might receive
priestly tonsure, for he previously had the oriental tonsure after
the mode of the apostle St. Paul. Then he was consecrated by
 256 LIBER QUARTUS.

from Uitalio þæm papan to biscope ymb syx hund wintra 7 eahta
7 syxtig wintra from Drihtnes menniscnesse, by seofeðan dæge
7 þy drihtenlecan Kalendarum Aprelium. 7 swa ætgædre mid
Adriano pam abbude in sexta Kalendas Junias was to Breotone
onsended. 5
Þa ferdon heo ætgædre ærest to Masilia 7 ponon þurh Áréla lond,
þat heo cwomon to Iohanne pæm arcebiscope pære ceastre ; 7 him
sealdon Uitalianus gewrit þæs papan, þæt heo mon mid áre onfenge.
7 he swa dyde ; hæfde heo mid micelre áre mid him, oopæet Ebrinus
se ealdormon him spede 7 leafnesse sealde to ferenne, swa hwider 10
swa heo woldon. Da ferde Theodorus se biscop to Egelberhte
biscope Parissiorum, bi pæm we beforan sægdon ; ond from him
fremsumlice was onfongen, 7 micle tíd mid him wel gehæfd wæs.
Adrianus ferde ærest to Emme Senonum 7 æfter þam to Pharaorem
Mælda biscopum, 7 longe mid him wel gehæfd wæs. Forþon hy 15
nedde se towearda winter, þæt heo stille wunedon, swa hwær swa
heo meahten. Pa dæt pa cude ærendwrecan sægdon Ecgberhte pæm
cyninge, pætte se biscop were in Froncna ríce, pone pe hy Osweo
bædon from þam Romaniscan biscope, da sende he sona Redfrið his
gerefan þider, þæt he scolde hine fetigan 7 to him gelædan. pa he 20
pa pider cwom, pa nom he Theodor biscop mid Ebrinus leafnesse
þæs ealdormonnes, 7 hine gelædde to pam porte, pe is nemned
Cwæntwic. Pær hine gestod sumu untrymnis, 7 he þær fæc
gewunade ; 7 sona swa he trumian ongon, swa eode he in scíp 7.
ferde to Breotone. Ebrinus se ealdormon genom Adrianum þone 25
p. 565. abbud 7 on fæstene hæfde, forþon he resade, þæt he hæfde caseres
ærendo sumo to Breotone cyningum wið Froncna ríce, pas he da
micle gemenne bæfde. Ac pa he þa soðlice onget 7 onfand, þæt hit
swa ne was, swa he resade, pa onlesde he hine 7 let feran æfter pam
biscope. Ond sona þæs pe he to him cwom, pa sealde he him Sce 30
Petres mynster, þær þæra arcebiscopa liic bebyrged seondon, swa
swa we ær beforan sægdon. Forpon se apostolica papa bebead
Theodore biscope, pa he from him ferde, þæt he him on his
biscopscire gerisne stówe foresége 7 salde, in þære he mid his
geferum wunian meahte. 35

1. 28. hafde O. Ca. B. -don T. 1. 31. þær T. para O. ðara Ca. B.

 IV . I. 257

pope Vitalianus, 668 years after the Lord's incarnation, on Sunday

the 26th of March. And so he was dispatched along with abbot Adrian
to Britain on the 27th of May. Then they travelled together first
to Marseilles, and from that through the district of Arles, to visit
5 John, archbishop of that town ; and they delivered to him a letter
from pope Vitalianus, requesting for them an honourable reception.
And he acted accordingly, and entertained them with much honour,
till Ebrinus, the mayor of the palace, gave them leave and power
to proceed, wherever they would. Then bishop Theodore went
10 to Ægelberht, bishop of Paris, of whom we have spoken before ;
and was hospitably received by him, and well entertained for a
considerable time.Adrian went first to Emme, bishop of Sens, and
afterwards to Faro, bishop of Meaux, and was a long time well
entertained by them. For the approach of winter obliged them to
15 remain quietly, wherever they could . Now when king Ecgberht
was informed by trustworthy messengers, that the bishop was in
the kingdom of the Franks, whom he and Oswio had asked
from the Roman pontiff, he at once sent his reeve Rethfrith there,
to fetch and escort him to him. On arriving, by permission
20 of Ebrinus the mayor, he took bishop Theodore and brought him
to the port, which is called Etaples. He was there attacked by an
illness, and remained some time ; and, as soon as he began to
recover, he embarked and proceeded to Britain. The mayor Ebrinus
seized abbot Adrian and kept him in prison, for he suspected he
25 had an errand from the emperor to the kings of Britain to the
detriment of the kingdom of the Franks, which at that time
he was carefully guarding. But when he really understood and
perceived, that it was not as he suspected, he released him and let
him proceed after the bishop. Immediately on his arrival the
30 bishop assigned to him the monastery of St. Peter, where the
bodies of the archbishops are buried, as we have already mentioned.
For the apostolic pope directed bishop Theodore, on his departure,
to provide for the abbot a suitable place in his diocese and assign
it to him, as a dwelling for himself and his companions. Then
S
 258 LIBER QUARTUS.

Cap. 2. Pa cwom he Theodor biscop to his cirican in Contwara burg þy

æfteran geare halgunge dy syxtan dæge Kalendarum Iuniarum. 7
he lifde on biscophade aan 7 twentig wintra 7 preo monað 7 syx
7 twentig daga.

II.

Ond he sona Jurhferde eall Breotone ealond, swa hwyder 5

ymb swa Ongolpeode drohtedon 7 wunedon ; 7 he lustlice from
eallum onfongen was, 7 his word geornlice geherdon. Ond he
rehte endebyrdnesse lifes æteawde, 7 rihte Eastran to weordianne
lærde. Ond him Adrianus se abbud mid ferde, 7 to eallum rehte
fultemade. Wæs he ærest arcebiscopa, þæt him eall Ongoleyn 10
hyrnesse gepafode. Ond fordon heo begen wæron ge se biscop ge
se abbud, swa swa we ær cwædon, wel gelæred ge on godeundum
gewreotum ge in weoruldcundum, ond heo gesomnodon micelne preat
discipula ; 7 heo betweoh halige bec 7 ciriclicne peodscipe in
metercraft 7 in tungolcræft 7 in grammaticcræft týdon 7 lærdon. 15
Was pæt sweotol tacn, pætte heora discipulas wæron wel gelærde
ge in Grecise gereorde ge in Lædenisc ; ond him þa swa cude wæron
swa heora agen, þe heo in fedde wæron. Ne wæron her æfre,
seopðan Ongoleyn Breotone gesohte, gesæligran tíde ne fægeran.
Weron her stronge cyningas 7 wel cristne ond eallum ellreordum 20
cynnum ut in miclum ege ; ond ealra willa hleonade to geheranne pa
gefean pæs heofonlecan rices ; ond swa hwelce men swa swa wilnadon
þæt heo in halgum leorningum tyde wæron, heo hæfdon gearwe
magistras, þa de heo lærdon 7 tydon. Swylce eac sónas to singenne
in circan, da de oæt in Cent ánre menn cúðon, of pære tide 25
ongunnon men leornian þurh ealle cirican Ongolcynnes. Ond ærest,
buton Iacobe pæm songere bi þæm we beforan ær sægdon, wæs
songes magister Norðanhymbra cirican Ædde haten, þæs freo noma
wæs Steffanus. Was se asponen from Cent from Wilferð þæm
arwyrðan biscope, se ærest betweoh biscopum, þa de of Ongolpeode 30
wæron, regollicne peaw to lifgenne Ongolcynnes ciricum sægde 7
lærde.
p. 566. Pa ferde Theodor biscop geond ealle Ongolcynnes mægðe, 7

1. 15. týd T. tydan O. Ca. (B. -on). 1. 31. sægd T. sæde O. Ca. B.
 IV. 2. 259

bishop Theodore arrived at his church in Canterbury in the second

year after his consecration, on the 27th of May ; and he lived
as bishop for twenty-one years three months and twenty- six
days.

II.
5 Immediately he travelled through the whole island of Britain,
wherever the English lived and were settled ; and he was welcomed
by all, and they eagerly listened to his words. And he pointed
out to them the right mode of life, and taught them to solemnize
the canonical Easter. And abbot Adrian travelled with him, and
10 supported him well in all points. He was the first archbishop to
whom the whole English race yielded obedience. And as they
both were, both bishop and abbot, as we have already said, well
trained in knowledge both sacred and profane, they assembled a
large following of pupils ; and along with the holy books and
15 ecclesiastical discipline, they taught and instructed them in metre
and astronomy, and in grammar. The clear proof was, that their
pupils were well trained both in Greek and Latin ; and these
languages were as familiar to them as their own, in which they
were brought up. There never were, since the English race came
20 to Britain, times more prosperous or brilliant. There were in the
land powerful kings, thoroughly christian, and a terror to all
barbarous tribes without ; and the will of all was inclined to listen
to the joys of the kingdom of heaven ; and whatever men desired
to be instructed in sacred learning, they had masters at hand to
25 teach and instruct them. Also from that time throughout all the
churches in England, men began to learn how to use chanting in
church, which hitherto they had only known in Kent. And at first,
besides the precentor James already mentioned, there was a
teacher of music in the churches of Northumbria called Ædde,
30 surnamed Stephen. He had been invited from Kent by the
venerable bishop Wilfrid, who was the first of English bishops to
make known and teach in the churches of the English the catholic
rule of life. Then bishop Theodore traversed the entire country of
$ 2
 260 LIBER QUARTUS .

biscopas halgode in gelimplecum stowum. Ond pa ping, be he

unfulfremed gemette, mid heora fultume he da rehte 7 bette.
Betweoh pon, pa he Ceddan biscop mid wordum preade, pæt he
rihtlice gehalgad ne wære, pa ondsworede he ea modre stefne : Gif
pu pet wast, þæt ic unrehtlice biscophade onfeng, ic lustlice from 5
þære þegnunge gewíte, forpon ic þy hade mec seolfne næfre wyrone
demde. Ac for intingan hersumnesse ic haten gepafode, pœt ic pone
had underhnah, þeah de ic unwyrðe wære. Pa he ða gehyrde pa
eaðmodnesse his ondsware, cwæð he pæt he pone biscophad forlætan
ne scolde. Ac he eft his hadunge mid ciriclice rihte gefylde. In pa 10
tíd Deosdedit se biscop for ferde ; 7 Contwara burge biscop soht 7
sended was to hadienne. Ond Willferð biscop eac swylce of Breotone
in Gallia rice to hadienne sended wæs. He da eac in Cent
mæssepreostas 7 diaconas hadode, oopæt pe Theodor arcebiscop to
his se le cwom. Sona pas de he cwom to Hrofesceastre, 7 forð- 15
ferdum Damiano pam biscope se biscophad longe blon, þa gehadode
he summe mon, se wæs má in ciriclecum peodscipum 7 in lifes
bylwitnesse gelæred, pon he from wære in worulde þingum, þæs
noma was Putta. Was he swiðost in cirican songcræft getyd
Romanisce peawe, pone he geleornade from Sce Gregories dis- 20
cipulum .
III.

Cap . 3. In da tíd was in Mercna mægðe Wulfhere cyning. Ɖa forð-

ferdum Gearomonne biscope bad he Theodor biscop, pæt he him 7
his leodum biscop funde 7 sealde, pa ne wolde he him neowne
biscop halgian, ac bed Osweo Norðanhymbra cyning, þæt he him 25
Ceaddan gehalgodne biscop sealde, se da in his mynstre, pat is in
Læstinge, in stillnesse liifde. Pegnade Wilferd biscop pone bis-
cophad in Eoforwicceastre 7 eac swylce in eallum Norðanhymbrum
ge eac in Peohtum, swa Osweoes ríce was pas cyninges. Ond forpon
þeaw was pæm ilcan arwyrðan biscope, þat he pot weorc pæs 30
halgan godspelles , ma þurh his fota gong gefremede, ponne on horse
ride, heht hine Theodor biscop rídan, þær him se weg lengra
gelumpe. 7 he swide wið þon wonn for geornfulnesse 7 for lufan

1. 18. pon T. ponne O. donne B. pone Ca.

 IV. 2, 3. 261

the English and consecrated bishops at suitable places. And

whatever he found imperfect, he set right and improved with their
help. At this time when he reproved bishop Chad, saying, that
his consecration was irregular, Chad replied in a humble voice :
5 ' If you are sure that my consecration is irregular, I will cheerfully
resign the office, for I never deemed myself worthy of the position
But for the sake of obedience, when ordered , I consented to
undertake the position, though unworthy.' Now, on hearing the
humility of his answer, he said that he should not give up the
10 episcopate. And subsequently he completed his ordination accord-
ing to ecclesiastical order. At that time bishop Deusdedit had died ;
and a bishop for Canterbury was sought out and sent off to be
ordained. And bishop Wilfrid also was sent from Britain to Gaul to
be ordained. He then also ordained priests and deacons in Kent,
15 till archbishop Theodore came to his see. Immediately on coming
to Rochester, as the bishopric had long been vacant after the
decease of bishop Damianus, he consecrated a man who was more
perfect in ecclesiastical discipline and simplicity of life, than he
was energetic in the things of this world ; his name was Putta.
20 Above all he had been instructed in church music after the Roman
mode, which he had learnt from the disciples of St. Gregory.

III.

At this time Wulfhere was king in Mercia. When, on the death

of bishop Gearuman, he begged bishop Theodore to look out and
assign him a bishop for his people, Theodore refused to consecrate
25 a new bishop for him, and requested Oswio, king of Northumbria,
to let him have Chad, who was already consecrated, and at that
time was living in retirement, at his monastery in Lastingham.
Bishop Wilfrid was discharging episcopal duties at York, and also
throughout all Northumbria and among the Picts, wherever the
30 dominion of king Oswio extended. And as it was the custom of
this venerable bishop to carry on the work of the holy gospel,
rather by going about on foot than on horseback, bishop Theodore
bade him ride, wherever his journey proved unusually long. And
he was extremely reluctant because of his fervour and love for the
 262 LIBER QUARTUS.

þæs aarfæstan gewinnes. Pa nedde se arcebiscop hine swide, þæt

he ridan scolde, swa hwyder swa das pearf wære, 7 efne æt
nehstan mid his seolfes hondum up on hors hof ; forpon he done
mon micelne 7 haligne gemette in his lifes geearnungum. Đa
onfeng Ceadda biscopdóm Mercna þeode ætgædre 7 Lindesfearena ; 5
ond he sona æfter bisene haligra fædra in micelre fulfremednesse lifes
þone biscophad heold 7 þegnade. Sealde him 7 geaf Wulfhere se
cyning fiftig hida in Lindisse him mynster on to getimbrenne in
þære stowe pe is nemned Æt Bearwe. In þæm mynstre nu gen oð
to dæge pa swede áwuniað regollices lifes, pe he þær gesette. 10
Hæfde he bisceopseol in pære stowe, pe geceged is Liccedfeld,
p. 567. þær he forðferde 7 bebyrged is. Þær gen to dæge seðel is
Mærcna mægde para æfterfylgendra biscopa. Getimbrede he eac
sundorwíc noht feor from pære cirican, bi dæm he deagolice mid
feaum broðrum, þæt is seofonum oopo eahtum, he gewunade, þæt 15
he him gebed, 7 his bec rædde, swa oft swa he from þæm gewinne
þære þegnunge godcundre lare ametig was. Pa he da in pære
mægðe tu ger 7 pridda healf þa cirican wuldorlice heold 7 rehte,
da cwom seo tíd, dy uplican dome stihtigende, bi pære spriceð
Eclesiastes seo bóc : Tempus mittendi lapides et tempus colligendi : 20
pætte tid wære stánas to sendenne 7 tid to somnienne. pa cwom
micel wæl 7 moncwild godcundlice sended, þæt þurh lichoman
deað þa lifigendan stanas pære cirican of eor licum seplum to
þæm heofonlican timbre gebær. Mid by pa monige of pære
gesomnunge þæs ilcan árwyrðan biscopes of lichoman alædde 25
wæron, pa cwom his tid, þat he scolde of middangearde to Drihtne
feran. Pa gelomp sume dæge, þæt he was in þæm foresprecenan
wicum mid áne breder wuniende, pas noma was Ówine. His
oore geferan fore gelimplicum intingum hwurfon to cirican in þæt
mynster. Was he se ilca Oowine munuc micelre geearnunge 30
mon, .7 mid hlutre ingehygde pæs uplecan edleanes was iu
middangeard forlætende ; 7 he was purh all meodum 7 Gode
gecoren ; ond him Drihten synderlice his deagolnisse onwrah.
Cwom he mid Ædelprype of Eastenglum ; ond he was hire þegna
:
1. 8. lindesse T. lindesse O. Ca. lindesege B. 1. 19. dy O. Ca. pe T. pas
upplican domes B. 1. 20. temp3 T. 1. 31. in (i. e. iu) T. Not in O. Ca. B.
 IV. 3. 263

pious toil. Then the archbishop urged him strongly to ride,

whenever it was needful, and even at last put him up on horseback
with his own hands ; for he had found the man to be of power and
sanctity by the merits of his life. Then Chad took over the
5 bishopric of Mercia in conjunction with that of Lindsey ; and at
once, after the pattern of the holy fathers, he held and administered
the bishopric with great perfectness of life . King Wulfhere gave
and assigned to him at Lindsey fifty hides for the erection of a
monastery, at the place which is called Barrow. At this monastery
10 up to the present day there still remain the traces of the regular
discipline established by him there. He had an episcopal seat at
the place called Lichfield, where he died and is buried. There up
to the present is the seat of the succeeding bishops of Mercia. He
erected also a separate dwelling, not far from the church, at which
15 he resided privately with a few brethren, about seven or eight, for
the purpose of prayer and study, as often as he was at leisure from
the toil of service in teaching the Word. When he had been two
years and a-half in that province, ruling and directing the church
gloriously, the time came by the dispensation of the divine judgment,
6
20 of which the book Ecclesiastes speaks, Tempus mittendi lapides et
tempus colligendi : ' ' There is a time to cast away stones and a time
to gather stones together.' Then came a great mortality and loss
of life divinely appointed, which by death of the body transported
the living stones of the church from their places on earth to the
25 building in heaven. Now when many of the congregation of this
venerable bishop were led forth from the body, then came his time
to depart from earth to the Lord . Then it happened one day, that he
was staying at the aforesaid dwelling with a single brother named
Owini, and his other companions had returned to the church in
30 the monastery for due reasons. This same Owini was a monk of
much merit as a man, who, out of sincere regard for a reward in
heaven, had long before given up the world ; and he was a
thoroughly worthy man and one of God's elect ; and the Lord
revealed to him specially his mysteries. He had come with
35 Ethelreda from East Anglia, and was the chief head over all her
 264 LIBER QUARTUS.

7 huses 7 hire geferscipes ofer all aldormon. Da Godes geleafa

þa weox 7 háat wæs, þa pohte he put he sceolde worulde wiðsacan,
7 þat unaswundenlice swa gedyde ; 7 hine middangeardes pingum
to pon ongyrede 7 genacodade, pot he eal forlet, þa de he hæfde,
nemne his ánfealdne gegyrelan, ond cwom to Læstinga ea to þæm 5
mynstre þæs aarwyrðan biscopes. Bær him æxe 7 adosan on
honda ; tacnode in pon, þat he nales to idelnesse, swa sume oore,
ac to gewinne in þæt mynster eode ; 7 þæt seolfe eac swylce mid
dædum gecyðde. Ond forpon pe he lyt genihtsumade in smeaunge 7
in leornunge haligra gewreota, he by ma mid his hondum wonn 10
7 worhte pa þing, þe nydþearfleco waron. Pas is to tacne, þæt he
mid pone biscop in pæm foresprecenan wícum for his arwyrðnesse
7 for his geornfullnesse betweoh pa brodor was hæfd. Donne heo
inne heora leornunge 7 heora + becrædon beeodon, þonne was he
ute wyrcende, swa hwet swa pearf gesegen wæs. 15
Da he pa sume dæge hwæthwugu swelces úte dyde, 7 his
geferan to byrig to cirican eodon, swa heo gelomlice dydon, ond se
biscop ána in þære cirican oðpo in becrædinge oððo in gebedum
geornful wæs, pa geherde he semninga, swa swa he eft æfter
pon sægde, pa swetestan stefne 7 þa fægrestan singendra 7 20
blissiendra of heofonum od eordan astigan. Da stefne 7 pone
song he cwæð þæt he ærest geherde from eastsuðdæle heofones,
þæt is from heanisse pære winterlecan sunnan upgonge, 7 ponon
to him sticcemælum nealecton, oopæet he bicwom to peacan pære
cirican, þe se biscop in wæs ; 7 ingongende ealle gefylde, 7 in 25
ymbhwyrfte ymbsealde. Ond he pa geornlice his mod aðenede in pa
p. 568. ping de he gehyrde. Pa geherde he eft, swa swa healfre tíde
fæce, of hrofe pære ilcan cirican úp astigan þone ilcan blisse-
song, 7 þy ylcan wege, pe he ær cwom, upp oð heofonas mid
unasecgendre swetnesse eft hweorfan. Da wunade he dær sum 30
fæc tíde wundriende 7 wafiende, 7 mid bebygdige móde pohte 7
smeade, hwæt þa þing beon sceolde. Da ontynde se biscop þæt
eaghþyrel þære cirican 7 mid his honda slóg tacen, swa swa his
gewuna wæs, gif hwyle mon úte wære, þæt he in to him eode.
t
1. 8. Second þæ T. 7 0. Ca. B. 1. 29. up (a stroke indicating contraction
and an accent over p) T. upp B. up O. Ca.
 IV . 3. 265

servants, her house, and her retinue. When God's faith waxed
and grew fervent, he thought he should renounce the world, and
did so without delay ; and he so divested and stript himself of
things of the earth, that he left all he had, except his simple clothing,
5 and came to the monastery of the venerable bishop at Lastingham.
He carried in his hand an axe and an adze, intimating thereby that
he did not enter the monastery to be idle, as some others, but to
toil ; and this also he proved by his actions. And as he had but
little capacity for meditation and study of Holy Writ, he toiled all
10 the more with his hands, and wrought those things that were
needful . A proof of this is, that he was kept among the brethren
with the bishop at the aforesaid dwelling, for his worthiness and
fervour. While they within went about their studies and their
reading, he remained without at work on whatever seemed needful .
15 While engaged one day outside on something of this kind, his
companions having gone to church in the town, as they often did,
and the bishop being alone in his oratory, busied in reading or in
prayer, he suddenly heard, as he said afterwards, the sweetest and
fairest of voices of some, who were singing and rejoicing, descend
20 from heaven to earth. The voices and the song, he said, he first
heard from the south-east quarter of the sky, that is, from the
highest point of the sun's path, as it rises in winter, and from this
they gradually approached him, till it came to the roof of the
chapel, in which the bishop was ; and entering in, it filled all, and
25 enveloped the whole compass of it. And he earnestly gave up his
mind to the things which he heard. Then he heard again, about
the space of half an hour, the same song of joy mount up from the

roof of the church, and return up into heaven with unspeakable

sweetness, by the same route as it came. Then he remained there

30 some time wondering and hesitating, and with careful thought

reflected and considered, what those things might be. Then the
bishop opened the window of the chapel, and clapped his hands for
a sign, as his wont was, in order that if anyone were outside, he
266 LIBER QUARTUS .

Da eode he sona in to him. Cwed he se biscop him to : Gong

hræde to cirican, 7 hat ure seofon broðor hider to me cuman :
7 þu eac swelce mid was. pa heo pa to him cwomon, þa monade
he heo ærest, pæt heo betweonan him pet magen lufan 7 sibbe
7 betweohn eallum Godes monnum geornlice heolde ; ond eac 5
swelce pa gesetenesse pas regollican peodscipes, pe hy from him
geleornodon 7 on him gesegon, ope in para forðgeleoredra fædra
dædum ope godcundum gemete, pæt heo pa ungewergedre
geornfulnisse fylgden 7 læsten . Efter pon he underpeodde 7
him sægde, þæt se dæg swide neah stode his forefore, 7 pus 10
cwæð : Se leofa cuma 7 se lufiendleca, se de gewunade ure broðor
neosian, se cwom swelce to dæge to me 7 mec of worulde cegde 7
laðode. Forðon ge ponne nu eft hweorfað to cirican 7 biddað ure
brodor, pæt heo mine for fore mid heora gebedum 7 benum
Drihtne bebeoden, ond swelce eac heora seolfra forofore, pære 15
tide is uncu , þæt heo gemynen mid wæccenum 7 gebedum 7
mid godum forecuman. Mid þy he da pas word 7 pyses gemetes
monig to him sprecende wæs, 7 heo onfongenre his bletsunge swide
unrote ut from him eodon, da hwearf se ána eft in to him, se de
pone heofonlican song gehyrde, 7 hine ea modlice on eorðan 20
astreahte fore pone biscop ; 7 pus cwæð : Min fæder, mot ic pe
ohtes ahsian. Cwæð he : Ahsa þæs þu wille. Pa cwæð he :
Ic pa la halsie 7 bidde fore Godes lufan, þæt þu me gesecge hwæt
se song wære blissiendra, pe ic gehyrde of heofonum cumendra
ofer pas cirican ond æfter tide eft hweorfendra to heofonum. 25
Ondswarede he se biscop : Gif þu sónges stefne gehyrde 7 þu
heofonlic weorod ongete ofer us eac cuman, ic de bebeode on
Drihtnes noman, þæt þu þæt nænegum men cyðe, ne secge ær
minre for fore. Ic pe soolice secgo, pætte pet wæron engla
gastas pe þær cwomon, pa me to pam heofonlecan medum cegdon 30
7 laðodon, pa ic symle lufade 7 wilnade. Ond æfter seofon dagum
heo eft hweorfende 7 cumende me gehehton ; 7 me ponne mid
him lædan woldon. Pat was swa so lice mid dæd gefylled ,
swa him to cweden was. Pa was he sona gehrinen lichomlicre
untrymnesse, 7 seo dæghwamlice weox 7 hefigade ; 7 þa dy seofopan 35
1. 15. seolfra (o out of a) T. sylfra O. Ca. B.
 IV . 3. 267

should go in to him. Then he went in at once to him ; and the

bishop said to him : ' Go quickly to church, and bid our seven
brothers come to me here : and come you also along with them.'
And when they were present, he admonished them first to main-
5 tain zealously among themselves and with all men of God the
virtue of love and peace ; and also that they should follow
and carry out with unwearying zeal the ordinances of regular
discipline, which they had learnt from him or observed in
him or in the conduct of the deceased fathers, or in divine
10 law. After this he further added, that the day of his de-
parture was very near, and thus spoke : The well beloved and
loving visitant, who was wont to visit our brethren, came to me
also to-day, calling and summoning me from the world. There-
fore return now again to church and beg our brethren to commend
15 my departure with their prayers and supplications to the Lord,
and also that they remember to anticipate their own departure,
the time of which is unknown, with vigils and prayers and good
works.' After speaking to them these words and much to this
effect, when they had gone out from him, after receiving his
20 blessing, in great sadness, then he who had heard that heavenly
song returned alone in to him and humbly prostrating himself
before the bishop on the ground, thus spoke : My father, may I
ask something from you ? ' He said, ' Ask what you will.' Then said
he : See now, I entreat and pray you for the love of God to tell
25 me, what the song was of that joyous company, which I heard as
they came from heaven over the church and returned after a time
to heaven.' The bishop answered : ' If you heard the voice of song
and perceived the heavenly host also pass over us, I charge you in
the name of the Lord to make it known to no one, nor tell it
30 before my departure. I tell you of a truth, that they were the
spirits of angels who came there, to call and summon me to the
heavenly reward, which I have always loved and desired. And
they promised me to return and come again after seven days ;
and they wish to take me with them then.' That was indeed truly so
35 fulfilled, as was said to him. Then he was at once attacked by
bodily infirmity, and it daily increased and grew worse ; and on
 268 LIBER QUARTUS .

dæge, swa him gehaten wæs, æfter pon pe his forefore getrymede
mid onfongennesse pæs Drihtenlecan lichoman 7 blodes, pætte seo
halige sawl was onlesed from pæs lichoman hefignessum, 7 mid
engla latteowdome 7 geferscipe, swa riht is to gelyfanne, pa ecan
gefean 7 pa heofonlecan eadignesse gestah 7 gesohte.
Is þæt hwele wundor, peah de he pone dæg his deades o pe ma
pone Drihtnes dæg blide gesége, pone he symle sorgende bád, oð
p. 569. þæt he cwome ? Fordon betweohn monige geearnunge his mægena
in forhæfednesse 7 in ea modnesse 7 in godcundre lare 7 in
gebedum 7 in wilsumlicre pearfeðnisse 7 eac oðerra mægena, þæt he 10
was swa swide Drihtnes ege underpeoded ond swa swide his para
nehstena dogra gemyndig in eallum his weorcum, þætte-swa swa
ine sum broðor sægde of pæm þe me in wreotum cýde 7 lærde, 7 se
was in mynstre 7 in his lareowdome afeded 7 gelæred ; was his
noma Trumberht ; sægde he-gif he æt leorninga sæte odde elles 15
hwæt dyde, gif semninga mare blæd windes astah, þæt he sona
instæpe Drihtnes mildheortnesse gecegde 7 pa miltse bæd monna
cynne. Gif þonne swiðra wind arás, ponne tynde he his béc 7
forpleat in his ondwlitan 7 geornlice in his gebede hleoðrade : ond
ponne he gen, gif strengra storm 7 genip swiðor preade, 7 legete 7 20
punorrade eorðan 7 lyfte brægden 7 fyrhten, ponne eode he to
cirican 7 bigbigdelice in gebedum 7 on sealmsonge fæste moode
awunade, oððæt pære lyfte smyltnis eft hwearf 7 cwom . Mid by hine
frugnon 7 ascodon his geferan, for hwon he pis dyde, ondswarode he :
Ac ge ne leornodon : Quia intonuit de celo dñs et altissimus dedit 25
uocem suam : misit sagittas suas et dissipauit eos, fulgora multipli-
cauit et conturbauit eos : dætte Drihten hleoðrað of heofonum 7
se hehsta seled his stefne ; he sended his stræle 7 heo toweorpeð ;
legetas gemonigfealdad 7 heo gedrefed. Forpon Drihten lyfte
ontyneð, windas weceð, legetas sceotað of heofonum 7 hleoðrað, 30
þæt he eor bigengan awecce hine to ondrædanne ; þæt he heora
heortan in gemynd gecege pas toweardan dómes ; þæt he heora
oferhygd toweorpe 7 geþyrstignesse drefe, to heora mode * gelæd-
dre pære forhtiendan tíde, hwonne he, heofonum 7 eorðan byrnen-

1. 33. T. O. B. have gelæddū(um Ca. ) in agreement with mode, (reducto ad

mentem tremendo illo tempore.)
 IV . 3. 269

the seventh day, as promised to him, after he had fortified his

departure by receiving the Lord's body and blood, the holy soul
was released from the burdens of the body, and mounted and
attained to the eternal joys and heavenly bliss, as is right to
5 believe, with the guidance and attendance of angels. Is it any
wonder, that he saw with joy the day of his death or rather the
day of the Lord, the coming of which he always anxiously awaited ?
For among many merits of his virtues, in abstinence, humility,
teaching of the Word, prayer, voluntary poverty, and also of other
10 virtues, he was very submissive to the fear of the Lord and so
mindful of his last days in all his actions, that—as I was told by one
of the brethren, who gave me information in writing, being brought
up and educated in the monastery under his teaching ; his name
was Trumberht ; he said-if he sat at study or did anything else,
15 if suddenly a greater breeze of wind got up, he at once appealed
to the Lord for compassion and prayed for mercy to mankind. If
then a stronger wind arose, then he closed his books and fell on his
face and earnestly cried out in prayer : and then still , if a more
violent storm or tempest came down, and lightning and thunder
20 shook and terrified earth and air, then he went to church and
anxiously continued in prayer and psalm-singing with perse-
verance, till there was a return to a serene sky. When his
companions enquired and asked, why he did so, he answered :
' Have you never learnt, " Quia intonuit de celo dns et altissimus

25 dedit uocem suam misit sagittas suas et dissipauit eos ; fulgora

99
multiplicauit et conturbauit eos : " The Lord makes a sound from

heaven and the Highest utters his voice ; he sends out his arrows
and scatters them ; he multiplies his lightnings and confounds
them ? " For the Lord lets loose the air, arouses the winds, shoots
30 lightnings from heaven and thunders, that he may stir up the
inhabitants of the earth to fear him ; that he may recall their
hearts to the remembrance of future judgment ; that he may cast
down their pride and confound their boldness, by bringing before
their minds the fearful time, when he is to come in the clouds of
 270 LIBER QUARTUS .

dum, toweard sy in heofones wolcnum in micelre meahte 7 prymme

to demanne cwice 7 deade. Forpon us gedafenað, þæt we his
heofonlicre monunge mid gedefenlice ége 7 lufan ondswarige ; pætte,
swa he lyft onstyrge ond his hond swa swa us to sleanne beotiende
æteaweð, ne hwæðre nu gyt slæð, þat we sona cleopien 7 bidden 5
his mildheortnesse, 7 geondsmeage da deagolnesse usse heortan 7
geclæsnien þa unsyfernesse uncysta, 7 bihigdelice dón , þæt we næfre
ne geearnien þat we slegene beon scylon. Gepwærað eac swylce
þære onwrigenesse 7 pære gesegene pæs foresprecenan brodor bi
for fore pisses biscopes 7 eac pet word pas arwyrðan fæder 10
Ecgberhtes, bi pæm we beforan sægdon. Se geo ær mid pone ilcan
Ceaddan in Hibernia Scotta ealonde, begen in geogude, in munuc-
life in gebedum 7 in forhæfdnesse 7 in leornunge haligra gewrita
Gode lifdon. Ac he Ceadda eft æfter fæce in his edel hwyrfde in
Breotone ; se Ecgberht þær in elpeodignesse fore Godes noman 15
awunode of his lifes ende. Mid by ða æfter longre tiide cwom
to him of Breotone fore neosunge intingan se halgesta wer 7 se
forhæfdesta, Hygebald hatte, se was abbud in Lindesse, pa
spræcon heo be liife haligra fædra, swa swa halige men gedafonode,
7 þæt eac onhyrgan wolden. Betweoh pa cwom gemynd þæs 20
arwyrðan biscopes Ceaddan. Pa cwæo he Ecgberht : Ic wat sumne
mon in pissum ealonde nu gena in lichoman lifigende, mid þy se
p. 570. wer of middangearde leorde, þæt he geseah + Ceaddan sawle his
broðor mid engla weorude of heofonum astigan : 7 gefetedon his
sawle 7 mid him genoman 7 eft hweorfan to pam heofonlecan rice. 25
Hwæðer he þæt bi him seolfum cwæde þe bi oðrum men hwelcum,
þæt us is uncuð. Hwædre pa swa micel wer hit gecwæð, we weotan
þæt hit soð was. Pa forðferde Ceadda þy syxtan dæge Nonarum
Martiarum : 7 was ærest bibyrged bi Sca Marian cirican. Ac
æfter fæce, þær getimbrede cirican pæs eadgan aldores para apostola 30
Sce Petres, pa waron in pa his bán geseted . In æghwæðre para
stowa gewuniad to tacnunge his magenes 7 halignisse gelomlecu
wundor hælo geworden beon. Pas is to tacne, þætte neowan sum
gebræcseoc man, mid þy he purh monige stowe dwoliende orn 7
ferde, pa bicwom he þider on æfenne, ne weotendum oððo ne ge- 35
1. 16. æfter O. B. aft. Ca. aftre T. 1. 27. we O. Ca. B. ge T,
 IV. 3. 271

heaven, while heaven and earth are on fire, in great power and
majesty to judge the quick and dead. Therefore it behoves us to
answer his heavenly admonition with due fear and love ; that, as
he stirs the air and displays his hand threateningly, as if to slay us,
5 and still does not even yet slay us, we may at once cry and
entreat his compassion, and may consider the secrets of our hearts
and purge away the foulness of our vices, behaving ourselves with
care, that we may not merit to be slain.' With the revelation and
report of the aforesaid brother about this bishop's death correspond
10 also the words of the venerable father Ecgberht, of whom we
spoke before. He long before lived with this Chad in Ireland,
island of the Scots, when they were both youths, under monastic
discipline, in prayer, abstinence and study of the Holy Scriptures.
But Chad after a time returned back to his native land in
15 Britain ; but Ecgberht abode there in exile for God's name up to
his life's end. When a long time after there came to him on a
visit from Britain a most holy and most ascetic man, called
Hygebald, who was abbot at Lindsey, then they talked of the life
of holy fathers, as became holy men, desiring also to imitate it.
20 During this mention was made of the venerable bishop Chad.
Then said Ecgberht : ' I know a man in this island , still living in
the body, who, when the saint departed from the earth, saw the
soul of his brother Cedd descend with a company of angels from
heaven : and they fetched his soul and took it with them and
25 returned to the heavenly kingdom .' Whether he said this of
himself or of some other man, is unknown to us. Still as so great
a man said it, we are sure it was true. Then Chad died on the
10th of March : and was first buried in the church of St. Mary.
But after a time, when a church was built there in honour of St.
30 Peter, the blessed chief of the apostles, his bones were laid in
that. In both of these places frequent miracles of healing are
wont to be wrought, in token of his virtue and sanctity. The
proof is, that lately a lunatic, while running about and wandering
from place to place, came there in the evening, while the guardians
35 of the place either did not know or did not heed, and he rested
 272 LIBER QUARTUS .

mændum þæm heordum þære stowe, 7 þær ealle neaht wæs restende :
7 þa on morne gehælde witte arás 7 ut eode. Pa wundredon ealle
menn 7 on þæt gefegon, hwylc wundor þær hælo purh Drihtnes
gife æteawde 7 geworden wæs . Is ofer his byrgenne stówe
treowgeweorc on gelicnesse medmicles huses geworht mid hrægle 5
gegyrwed. Ponne is on þæm medmicel þyrel geworht, þurh þæt
gewuniað þa men, pa dider for intingan wilsumnisse cumað, heora
hond insendan 7 dæl þære moldan ponon neoman. Mid by heo pa
in wæter sendað 7 untrumum monnum 7 neatum to byrgenne
sellað, 7 heo sona from hefignesse þære untrumnesse generede beoð, 10
7 þær gefean þære willendan gesynta onfoð.
In þæs biscopes stówe gehalgode Theodor biscop Wynnferð
godne wer 7 gemetfæstne, se fore was in þegnunge biscophades,
swa swa his foregengan, Mercna mægde 7 Middelengla 7 Lindes-
farona ; in eallum þæm Wulfhere, se Ja gena lifiende wæs , riices 15
onweald hæfde . Was se Wynnfer of pæs biscopes geferscipe, pæm
he eft æfterfylgde, ond under him diaconðegnunge micelre tide
brucende was.

IV.

Cap. 4. Betweohn das ding da Colmanus se biscop , se of Scottum cwom

was Breotone forlætende, ond mid hine genom ealle pa Scottas, þa 20
he on Lindesfarena ea gesomnade, swelce eac pritig monna of
Ongolpeode ; æghwædre para wæron in drohtunge munuclifes
geornlice 7 wel gelærde ; 7 he forlet in þære cirican sume broðor.
Ærest he cwom to Hii þæm ealonde, ponon he was sended Ongol-
peode Godes word to bodienne 7 to læranne. Efter pon he gewat 25
to sumum medmiclum ealonde pæt is feor ascaden from Hibernia
to westdæle ; is in Scyttisc genemned Inisbofinde, þæt is ealond
hwitre heahfore. Pa he þa in þæt ealond cwom, pa getimbrede he
þær mynster 7 pa munecas þær gestadolode, pa he of æghwæorum
cynne gesomnade 7 mid hine brohte. 30

p. 571 . pa heo pa þær gestaðolode 7 gesette wæron, pa ne meahte heo

betweoh him gepwærigan 7 geweorðan. Forpon pe Scottas on

1. 3. nen T. menn Ca. men O. B. 1. 6. is.on (erasure ofp ?) T. is on

O. Ca. B. 1. 11. willendan T. O. Ca. B. (cupitae), cf. forhtiend.
 IV. 3, 4. 273

there all night : and then in the morning he arose in his sound
senses and went out. Then all men marvelled , and rejoiced at the
miracle of healing, which by God's grace was there shown and
performed. Over his burial-place a structure of timber has been
5 erected, in the form of a small house and furnished with a canopy.
Further there has been made in this a small aperture, through
which those, who come here because of devotion, generally put in
their hands and take thence a portion of the dust. When they
put this in water and give it to sick men or animals to taste, they
10 are at once cured from the severe symptoms of the distemper, and
have the pleasure of the health they desired . In this bishop's
room bishop Theodore consecrated Wynfrid, a man of piety and
modesty, who, like his predecessors, served as bishop over the
provinces of Mercia, of the Middle Angles and of Lindsey ; in all
15 of these Wulfhere, who was still alive , exercised royal authority.
Wynfrid was one of the clergy of the bishop, whom he succeeded,
and discharged the duties of deacon under him for a considerable
time.
IV.

During this time bishop Colman, who came from the Scots, left
20 Britain, and took with him all the Scots, whom he had assembled
at Lindisfarne, as well as thirty men of English race ; both of these
bands had been well and carefully trained in the discipline of
monastic life ; and he left at the church some brethren. First
he came to the isle of Iona, from which he had been sent out to
25 preach and teach God's Word to the English people. After this he
withdrew to a small island , far removed from Ireland on the west ;
in the Scots' tongue it is named Inishbofin, that is, island of the
white heifer. On coming to that island, he erected a monastery
there, and there established the monks , whom he had gathered
30 from both nations and brought with him. Now when these were
established and settled there, they could not live in unity and
harmony among themselves. For the Scots in summer and harvest

ge
2 synta T. gesynto O. Ca. B. 1.i 29. gestaðode T. gestaðolade O. gestaðe
lode Ca. gestadelede B. 1. 32. hym. T. him B. Not in O. Ca.
T
 274 LIBER QUARTUS .

sumera 7 on hærfesttide, ponne mon wæstmas insomnode, pon forleton

heo þæt mynster ond þurh cúde stówe swicedon 7 foron, 7 ponne
on wintra eft ham hwurfon 7 wilnedon þara góda gemænelice brucan,
pe Ongle gewunnon 7 gegearwodon. Pa sohte Colmanus pisse
gewesnisse 7 pisse unsibbe læcedom ; eode pa ymb monige stowe 5
ge neah ge feor ; pa gemette he sume gerisne stowe in Hibernia
mynster on to timbrenne, þæt on Scyttisc gereorde Maigeo is
nemned. Ond he gebohte noht micelne dæl þæs londes mynster
þær to getimbrenne æt sumum gesííde, pe þæt lond ahte, dære
arædnisse toætecedre, pæt heo eac swylce for hine, se de him pa 10
stówe gesealde, á þa stondendan munecas þær to Drihtne cleopodon
7 for hine pingodon. Ond he hrade þær mynster getimbrode, 7
him se gesíð eac fultmade 7 ealle þa neahmen ; 7 he ðær þa
Englescan men gesette 7 gestadolede, ond Scottas forlet in pæm
foresprecenan ealonde . Pæt mynster oo gen to dæge Englisce men 15
þær in elpeodignesse habbað. Is þat þæt mynster, þæt is nu micel
of medmiclum gefremed , pe gewunelice is Muigeo nemned ; ond geo
geara þær eallum gehwerfdum to pæm betran gesetenessum, nu gen
æðele weorod nimed muneca, pa of Ongoleynne þær gesomnode
seondon, 7 to bysene arwyrðra fædra under regole 7 abbude in 20
micelre forhæfdnesse 7 clænnisse lifes bi heora agnum hondgewinne
lifgað.

V.

Cap . 5. Ɖa was ymb syx hund wintra 7 hundseofontig wintra from 25

Drihtnes menniscnesse, þæt is þæt æftere ger þe Theodor biscop in
Breotone cwom, pætte Oswio Nordanhymbra cyning was gestonden
untrymnesse, on pære he eac forogeleorde, pa he hæfde yldo eahta 7
fiftig wintra. Was he se cyning in pa tid bicumen in swa micle lufan
þære Romaniscan cirican gesetenisse 7 þære apostolican, þæt gif he 30
from þære untrymnesse gehæled wære, pæt he wolde to Rome
feran 7 þær æt þam halgum stowum his lif geendigan, ond Wilferð
biscop bæd, þæt he him þæs siiðfætes latteow wære, 7 him micel feoh
7 unlytel wið þon gebead. Pa for ferde he by fiftegðan dæge

1. 2. cúde (accent dubious) T. cude Ca. B. cupe 0. 1. 17. muigeo T.

maigeo O. magigeo Ca. mageo B. (Muigeo in Lat.)
 IV . 4, 5 . 275

time, when the crops are gathered in, used to leave the monastery,
straying and travelling through familiar localities, and then re-
turning home again in winter, they wanted to enjoy in common
those stores, which the English by their labour had procured .
5 Colman, endeavouring to heal this dissension and disagreement,
went round many places far and near ; then he found a suitable
place in Ireland for the erection of a monastery, which in the
Scots' tongue is called Maigeo. And he bought a small portion of
land for the erection of a monastery from a gesith, the owner of
10 the land, with this condition attached, that the monks, who for the
time being were there, should cry to the Lord and entreat for him
who furnished them with the site. He quickly erected a monastery
there, with the aid of the gesith and all the neighbours ; and
there he placed and established the English, leaving the Scots on
15 the aforesaid island . This monastery up to the present day is still
occupied by Englishmen living there in exile. This is the monas-
tery, which has now been enlarged from a small beginning, and is
usually called Muigeo ; and as all there has long since been brought
under better regulations, it still holds a noble assembly of monks,
20 which are collected there from the English race, and , after the
pattern of the venerated fathers, live under rule and abbot in
great abstinence and purity of life, by the labour of their own
hands.

V.

It was now about 670 years after our Lord's incarnation, that
25 is, the second year after bishop Theodore came to Britain, when
Oswio, king of Northumbria, was attacked by a disorder, of which
he also died in the fifty- eighth year of his age. The king at that
time had become so much attached to the constitution of the Roman
and apostolical church, that, if he had been cured of this disorder,
30 he intended to proceed to Rome and there end his life at those
holy places, and he begged bishop Wilfrid to be his guide on the
journey, offering him in return no small sum of money. He died
then on the fifteenth of February and left his son Ecgfrith heir
T2
 276 LIBER QUARTUS.

Kalendarum Martiarum, ond Ecgferð his sunu forlet yrfeweard his

rices.
Pæs cyninges rices þy þriddan geare Theodor biscop gesomnade
biscopa gemot 7 seonoð ætgædre mid mongum magistrum cirican,
da de regollican gesetenesse haligra fædra ge lufedon ge cuðon. pa 5
heo ætgædre gesomnade wæron, he a geornlice ongon læran to
healdenne by moode, pe biscope gedafonode, pa þing þa de gepwære-
P. 572. don annesse þære ciriclican sibbe. Pære seonoolecan dæde peosses
gemetes gewrit is.
In noman Drihtnes Godes 7 ures Hælendes Ihu Xrī, ricsiendum 10
in ecnesse 7 steorendum his cirican þæm ilcan Drihtne Hælendum
Criste, licade us efencuman æfter þeawe arwyrðra rehta smeagende
bi þæm nedpearflecum intingum Godes cirican. Efencwomon we
in pas stówe, pe is cweden Heorotford, by twenteogðan dæge 7 þy
feorðan Septembris monpes ; was seo æreste indictio. Ic Theodor, 15
þeah ic unwyrðe sy, was ic from þæm apostolican seole sended biscop
Contwara burge cirican . Ond se arwyrdesta sacerd 7 usser broðor
Bise Eastengla biscop, ond swelce eac usser bropor 7 sacerd Wilferð
Norpanhymbra biscop purh his agenne ærendwrecan ætwæs.
Eac swylce ætwæron ure brodor 7 sacerdas Putta, Cantwara 20
ceastre biscop seo is cweden Hrofesceaster, Leotherius Westseaxna
biscop, Wynferð Mercna biscop. Mid by we da togædre cwomon
7 æfter endebyrdnesse ætsomne sæton, cwæðic : Ic biddo eow eac,
pa leofestan broðor, for ege 7 lufan ures Hælendes, þæt we calle
gemænelice smeagan for ussum geleafan, þæt pa domas 7 pa 25
gesetenesse, þa de from halgum fædrum 7 gecorenum arædde 7
gesette wæron, þætte þá from eallum us ungewemmedlice healdene
weron. Pa ic da þas 7 monig oder sprecende wæs, pa de to Godes
lufan gelumpon 7 to annesse pære halgan cirican, þa frægn ic anra
gehwylcne heora æfter endebyrdnesse, hwæder heo geþafedon þa 30
domas to healdenne, pa de geara from halgum fædrum gesette wæron.
Ond ealle pa biscopas him ondsworodon 7 cwædon, þæt him eallum þa
wel licodon, ond hy ealle pa blíðde mode lustlice healdon woldon. Ɖa

1. 12. licade O. B. -co- Ca. Not in T. 1. 19. pat was ....•þæt væron T.

p . .B. at ... at O. Ca. 1. 26. arædde O. Ca. B. aræddon T. 1. 27. ge-

wemmedlice T. unge- O. Ca. únge. B.
 IV . 5. 277

to his throne. In the third year of this king's reign bishop Theo-
dore held a meeting and synod of bishops along with many teachers
of the church, who knew and were attached to the canonical
ordinances of the holy fathers. When they were assembled, he
5 began earnestly to instruct them to maintain, in a spirit becoming
a bishop, those things which accorded with unity of peace in the
church. The text of the synodical proceedings is to this effect :
'In the name of the Lord God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Saviour Christ reigning for ever and guiding his church,
10 it seemed good to us to meet in accordance with the usage stated
in the venerated canons, to consider of the necessary business of
God's church. We met at the place which is called Hertford, on
the twenty-fourth day of the month of September ; it was the first
indiction. I, Theodore, though I be unworthy, was sent out from
15 the apostolic see as bishop of the church of Canterbury. And
the most venerable priest, our brother Bisi, bishop of the East
Angles, and also our brother, the priest Wilfrid , bishop of North-
umbria, by his own proxy were present. There were also present
our brethren the priests Putta, bishop of the town of Kent which
20 is called Rochester, Leotherius, bishop of Wessex, Wynfrid, bishop
of Mercia. When we had come together and taken our seats,

each in order, I said : I pray you also, dearest brethren, for the
fear and love of our Saviour, that we may all in common take
thought for our faith, that the decrees and ordinances, settled and
25 ordained by holy and elect fathers, may be maintained by us all
undefiled. When I had said this and much besides, that pertained

to the love of God and the unity of the holy church, then I asked
each one of them in order, whether they agreed to observe the
canons, which had been determined of old by holy fathers. And

30 all the bishops answered him and said, that they all fully accepted

them, and they would all readily and cheerfully maintain them.
t
 278 LIBER QUARTUS.

eowde ic him sona þa ilcan boc para regola ; 7 of pam ilcan bocum
tyn capitulas, pa ic geond stowe awrat 7 ic wiste pæt swiðost
ned earflecu wæron, sealde ic him, 7 bæd þæt heo ealle pa geornlice
heoldon.
Is se æresta capitul : þat we ealle gemænelice healdan pone 5
halgan dæg Eastrena by Drihtenlecan dæge æfter pæm feowerteogðan
monan þæs ærestan monpes. Se æftera is : pætte nænig biscop oðres
biscopes scire inswoge, ac pætte he poncful sy steore him þæs bibodenan
folces. Se pridda is : þætte pa mynster, pa pe Gode gehalgode syn,
nænegum biscope alefed seo in ængum þinge heo unstillian, ne owiht 10
of heora eahtum þurh nednyme ongeneman. Se feorða is : pætte
munecas ne leoren of stówe to oderre, ne of mynstre to oðrum,
nemne purh leafnesse his agnes abbudes ; ac pæt heo áwunien in
þære hersumnesse, pe hyGode gehehton in pa tid heora gehwyrfnesse.
Ponne is se fifta þæt nænig Godes peow biscopes gefera forlæte his 15
ægenne biscop, 7 geond missenlice stowe fere 7 eorne ; ne he ower,
þær he cyme, onfongen sy, buton biscopes tacne odde gewrite.
Gif he æne siða onfongen, haten ham hweorfan, ne wille, se pe hine
P. 573. feormade 7 se pe gefeormad wæs, seon heo begen biscopes dome
scyldige. Donne is se sexta : þætte elpeodige biscopas 7 Godes peos 20
seon poncfulle heora gestliðnesse 7 feorme ; 7 nængum heora alefed
sy ænge sacerdlice þegnunge don buton pas biscopes leafe, pe hy on
his scire gefeormad syn . Se seofoda is : pætte twigea on gere seonoð
gesomnode. Ac forþon missenlice intingan 7 unamtan oft gelimpað,
licade us eallum gemænelice, þætte in Agustus Kalende æne siða 25
on gere seonoð gesomnode in stowe, seo is nemned Clofeshoh. Se
eahtoða is pætte nænig biscopa hine oðrum forbære purh unrehte
willunge, ac ealle ongete pa tide 7 endebyrdnesse his halgunge. Se
neogoða capitul was gemænelice asmead : þætte weaxendum þæm
rime geleafsumra ma biscopa ætecte wæron. Se teogoda is for 30
gesinhigum þætte nængum alefed sy nemne ælice gesinscipe

1. 7. patte is (is washed off, but legible) T. pœt O. Ca. p te B.

1. 15. biscopes gefera ne biscop (the first two words struck through in pale ink,
the last two in dark, original ink) T. O. Ca. B. omit ne biscop. (Ca. B. bis-
ceopes.) 1. 26. cl.ofeshoh (erasure, of e ?) T. clofeshooh O. Ca. clofeshoh B.
"
1. 28. halguge T. halgunge O. Ca. T.
 IV. 5. 279

Then I at once showed them the book itself of the canons ; and I
put in their hands ten chapters out of these books, which I had
transcribed passage by passage, and which I knew to be most needful,
and I prayed them all to observe them diligently. This is the first
5 chapter : that we all in common observe the holy day of Easter on the
Lord's day after the fourteenth moon of the first month. The
second is that no bishop invade the diocese of another, but be
content with the management of the people committed to him.
The third is : that no bishop be allowed in any wise to disturb the
10 monasteries , which have been consecrated to God, nor to appropriate
by force any of their property. The fourth is : that monks shall
not stray from place to place, nor from monastery to monastery,
except with leave, each of his own abbot ; but that they continue
in the obedience, which they vowed to God at the time of their
15 conversion. The next and fifth is : that no servant of God, who is
one of the bishop's clergy, leave his own bishop and hurry about
through a variety of places ; and that he be not received, wherever
he come, without some token or writing from the bishop. If he be
received once, and when ordered to return home, refuse , both the
20 entertainer and the guest shall be liable to excommunication by
the bishop. Next the sixth is : that foreign bishops and servants
of God are to be content with hospitality and entertainment given
them ; and that none of them be allowed to exercise any priestly
function without leave from the bishop, in whose diocese they are
25 guests. The seventh is : that a synod assemble twice a year. But
because various reasons and occupations often arise, it was unani-
mously agreed by us all, that a synod should assemble once
a year on the first of August, at the place which is called Clofeshoh .
The eighth is that no bishop shall with undue ambition put
30 himself above another, but that all shall note the time and order
of their consecration. The ninth chapter was discussed in common,
namely that as the number of the faithful was increasing, there
should be an increase in the episcopate. The tenth regards
married persons : that no one be permitted to enter into any
 280 LIBER QUARTUS.

habban ; ne ænig mæghæmed ne unclæne fremme, ne nænig his

agen wiif forlæte , nemne, swa þæt halig godspel læreð, for intingan
dyrnre forlegenesse. Gif hwelc mon his agnum wife wioscufe, þæt
him mid rehte a forgifen 7 geþeoded wæs, gif he rihtlice cristen beon
wille, ne gegaderie he hine to ængum oðrum, ac swa awunie odpo 5
wið his agen wiif geþwarię.

VI.

Was das seono geworden by geare ymb syx hund wintra 7

preo 7 hundseofontig from Drihtnes menniscnesse, by geare eac
Ecgberht Contwara cyning foröferde in Iulius monde : 7 Hlodhere
his broðor feng to his rice, þæt he hæfde preottyne winter 7 seofon 10
monað.
Donne wæs Biise Eastengla biscop, þe we sægdon þætte in þæm
foresprecenan seonode wære ; wæs he Bonefatius æfterfylgend þæs
biscopes, pæs we beforan gemyndgodon, se was micelre halignesse
7 æfestnisse mon. Forðon þa Bonefatius forðferde æfter seofontyne 15
gearum his biscophada, pa gehalgode Theodor biscop after him pone
Biise to biscope ; ond pa gena bi him lifgendum, þæt he was bewered
from pære biscoppegnunge mid hefigre untrymnesse, wæron twegen
biscopas Ecce 7 Beadowine fore hine gecorene 7 gehalgode. Of
þære tide oỡ to dæge seo mægð hafað twegen biscopas. 20

VII.

Cap. 6. Efter issum nales micelre tide forðaurnenre, was Theodor

ærcebiscop abolgen from Wynferde Mercna biscope purh gewyrht
sumre unhearsumnesse. Pa benom he hine his biscopscire 7
on his stowe gehalgode Seaxwulf biscop, se was timbrend 7 25
abbud þæs mynstres, æt Medeshamstede is cweden, in Gyrwa
londe. Wynferp hwearf to his mynstre, þæt is nemned æt Bearwe,
7 þær on godre drohtunge his lif geendade.
Pa eac swylce he gesette Eastseaxum Erconwald biscop in Lunden-
P. 574. ceastre. Wæron heora cyningas in þa tiid Sebbe 7 Sighere, para we 30
beforan gemyndgodon. Pas biscopes lif 7 drohtunge in biscophade

1. 7. New chapter in MSS. Number VI (as usual) from Ca. 1. 15. after
O. Ca. B. Not in T.
 IV. 5, 6. 281

union save lawful wedlock ; that no one commit incest or impurity,

or leave his wife, except, as the holy gospel teaches, because
of fornication. If any man put away his own wife, who is given
and united to him duly by law, if he will be really a christian, he
5 shall not associate with any other, but so remain or be reconciled
to his own wife.'

VI.

This synod took place in the year, that was about 673 from our
Lord's incarnation, in which year also Ecgberht, king of Kent, died ,
in the month of July : and his brother Hlothere succeeded to the
10 throne, which he occupied for thirteen years and seven months.
Now Bise, whom we have mentioned as being present in the afore-
said synod, was bishop of the East Angles ; he was successor to
bishop Boniface, mentioned before, who was a man of great
holiness and piety. For when Boniface died, after being bishop
15 seventeen years, then bishop Theodore consecrated this Bise as
bishop after him ; and as, while he was still alive, he was prevented
by great infirmity from performing his episcopal functions, two
bishops, Ecce and Beadowine, were chosen and consecrated for
him. From that time up to the present this province has two
20 bishops.

VII.

After this, when a short time had elapsed , archbishop Theodore,

being offended by Wynfrid, bishop of Mercia, because of some act
of disobedience, deprived him of his bishopric, and consecrated
Seaxwulf as bishop in his room , who was the founder and abbot of
25 the monastery at Peterborough, as it is called, in the land of the
Gyrwas. Wynfrid returned to his monastery, which is called
Barrow, and there ended his days in a life of piety. Then he
also appointed Erconwald bishop at London for the East Saxons.
Their kings at that time were Sebbe and Sighere, whom we
30 have mentioned before. This bishop's life and conduct during his
 282 LIBER QUARTUS .

ge ær biscophade is sægd þætte wære þæt halgeste, swa swa eac

swylce æfter mid heofonlicra mægena tacnum gecyðed was. Ond
forpon seoppon longe his horsbær, þe hine mon untrumne on bær,
wæs from his discipulum gehealden ; 7 monige untrume, þa de in
lenctenadle oopo in oderre hefignesse 7 untrumnesse gewérgade 5
weron, þær æt hælo onfengon. Ond nales þæt an þætte pa untru-
man, þa de under þa bære o po to gesette [wæron ] , gehælde wæron, ac
swelce eac pa scæfþan, þe dær on genumene wæron, 7 to untrumum
monnum gelædde, hræde him læcedóm gebæron 7 brohton. Pes
halga wer, ær þon þe he biscop geworden wære, tu æðele mynster 10
he getimbrede, oder him seolfum oder Edelburge his sweostor,
7 æghwæðer þara regollecum þeodscipum wel gesette. Him he
getimbrade in Súðrigna lande bi Temese streame in stowe, seo is
geceged Ceortes eig, his sweoster, in Eastseaxna mægde in stowe
seo is nemned in Bercingum, in pære heo meahte Gode wilsumra 15
wífmonna lareow 7 festermodor gestondan. Pa heo þa onfeng þæm
gerece pæs mynstres , heo efenwyr de heo in eallum þingum þæm bis-
cope 7 hire breder in rehtum life 7 in regollecum gegearwode, swa
þætte eac swylce mid heofonlecum wundrum æfter gecyped wæs.

VIII.
Cap. 7. Fordon in dissum mynstre, þæt is in Bercingum, monig tacn 20
gastlicra mægena gefremed wæron, þa de to gemynde 7 to timber-
nesse para æfterfylgendra from monegum, þa de hit cudon, awriten
hæfd wæren, pa sumu woe nu gémdon gepeodan in þis user ciriclice
stær.
Mid þy seo hreonis pas oft cwedenan wooles feor 7 wide all was 25
forhergende 7 forneomende, pa cwom he eac swylce in pone dæl
þæs mynstres, pe da wæpnedmen in wæron ; ond dæghwamlice
gehwær of weorulde to Drihtne genumene wæron. pa wæs seo
abbudisse 7 seo modor pære gesomnunge bighygdig 7 sorgende, in
hwylce tid pone dæl þæs mynstres, pe se preat para Godes peowa in 30

1. 6. wáron (a stroke joins a to r, nothing is wanting but top curve to

complete a) T. waron O. Ca. B. 1. 7. [wæron ] not in MSS. gehældo T.
gehælede O. Ca. B. 1.9. gebrohton (ge not original : under e is seen a tick or
stroke of dark ink : the ink of ge has run) T. brohton O. Ca. onbrohton B.
 IV . 6, 7. 283

episcopate and previously are said to have been most saintly, as

was also proved subsequently by signs of heavenly miracles. And
for this reason long afterwards his horse litter, in which he
was conveyed while ill, was kept by his disciples ; and many sick
5 persons, suffering from fever or other complaints and infirmities,
were cured thereby. And not only the sick, who were placed under
the litter or close to it, were cured, but also splinters, cut from
it and taken to the sick, at once procured and brought them relief.
This holy man, before becoming bishop, erected two noble monas-
10 teries, one for himself, the other for his sister Æthelburg, and
established both of them excellently under regular discipline. For
himself he built one in Surrey by the river Thames, at the place
called Chertsey, for his sister, among the East Saxons at a place
called Barking, in which she might live as teacher and foster-
15 mother of women devoted to God. Now when she took over the
government of the monastery, she showed herself in all things
worthy to rank with the bishop her brother, by a life of piety
and discipline, as was afterwards also proved by heavenly marvels.

VIII.

For at the monastery in Barking many signs of spiritual powers

20 were exhibited, which were preserved in writing by many well-
informed persons, for the information and edification of posterity,
some of which we have now taken care to insert in this our
ecclesiastical history. When the storm of the oft-mentioned
pestilence was wasting and destroying all far and wide, it pene-
25 trated also into that part of the monastery occupied by the menn;
and daily on all sides some were taken to the Lord from the world.
When the abbess and mother of the society, anxious and appre-
hensive as to the time, when this plague should attack that part of
the monastery, in which the band of women serving the Lord dwelt,
gn
1. 13. súðri, a T. suðrigena O. Ca. B. (sup.). 1. 16. wifmanna B. wifmanna
O. wifCa. wifmonna monna T. 1. 17. heo efenwyrðe O. Ca. B. heofon-
wyrpe T. 1. 23. woe. nu (erasure of a blot ?) T. we nu O. Ca. wunigende
(➡ we nu gemdon) B. ciriclic T. ciriclice B. cyriclice O. Ca.
 284 LIBER QUARTUS .

wifhada in wæs, pat ilce wíte gehrine, da ongon heo gelomelice

in gesomnunge þara sweostra secan 7 ascian, in hwelcre stowe pas
mynstres heo woldon , þæt heora liictún geseted wære, þæt heo mon
bebyrgan meahte, ponne pæt gelumpe, pæt heo of middangearde
genumene wæron þy ylcan gehrore, pe heo oðre gesegon. Mid.þy 5
heo þa nænge cude ondswaro findan meahte, peah þe heo georne
p. 575. sohte æt þæmsweostrum, þa gelomp, þæt heo seolfa mid eallum þæm
swustrum þa cuðestan ondsware pære uplican foreseonesse onfeng.
Forpon sumre neahte, pa se sealmsong gefylled was pas uhtlecan
lofsonges, pa wæron da Cristes peowe utgongende of cirican to 10
byrgenne para broðra, þa de heo of pissum leohte foreeodon, 7 þær
þa wunelecan lofsongas Drihtne sungon. pa wæs þær semninga
heofonlic leoht onsended 7 cwom ofer heo ealle, ond swa swa micel
scéte heo ealle oferbrædde, 7 heo mid swa micelre fyrhtu 7 wafunge
gesloh, þæt heo pone song, þe heo sungon, forhtiende forleton. Wæs 15
seo beorhtnes þæs onsendan leohtes mara, þon sunnan leoht bið æt
middan dæge. Pa was æfter medmiclum fæce, þæt hit wæs úp
ahæfen of pære stówe 7 gewat in suðdæl þæs mynstres, þæt is be
westan pære cirican. 7 þær þa sum fæc wunade, 7 him pa stowe
was ontynende, pe heo ær ymbþeahtedon ; 7 swa eallum geseondum 20
úp in heofonas gewat, þætte nængum heora tweo wæs , þætte þæt
seolfe leoht pa sawle para Cristes peowa was gelædende 7 onfonde
in heofonas, þætte þæt eac swylce pa stowe him æteawde, þær heora
lichoman restan scoldon 7 æriste dæges bidan. Pas leohtes scima
was swa micel, swa swa sum ald broðor on morgenne sægde, se de 25
in pa ilcan tid in þære cirican mid oðre gingran breðer æt gebede
wæs, cwæð he, pat pas leohtes scima purh pa cinan þære dura 7
purh pa eagþyrel ineode, pæt hit ealle beorhtnesse dæghwamlices
leohtes oferswidde.

VIIII .

Cap. 8. Was in dæm ilcan mynstre cneohtcild sum ; ne was yldre pon 30
prywintre, was his noma Esica, se fore pære cildlecan eldo pa
gena was in para fæmnena mynstre Gode gehalgodra feded 7

1. 5. mid (out of original on ?) T. mid O. Ca. myd B. 1. 28. eugpyrel

(u not closed) T. eghþyrl O. (Ca.þyrla) . eahþyrelu B.
 IV. 7, 8. 285

she began often in meetings of the sisters to ask and enquire, in

what part of the monastery they desired to have the cemetery
placed for their burial, when the time came, that they should be
carried off from the earth by this plague, as they saw in the case
5 of others. When she could not obtain any certain answer, though

she earnestly sought one from the sisters, it happened, that she
herself and all the sisters obtained a most certain answer from

divine providence. For one night, when the psalm-singing at

lauds was ended, the servants of Christ issued from the chapel to
10 visit the graves of the brethren, who preceded them from this life,
and there were singing the usual songs of praise to the Lord.
Then suddenly a light from heaven was sent there and passed
above them all, spreading out over them like a great sheet, and struck
them with great terror and amazement, so that out of fear they in-
15 terrupted the song they were singing. The brightness of the light,
which had been sent, was greater than the light of the sun at mid-day.
Then after some time it was raised up from that place, and passed
to the south of the monastery, that is, to the west of the chapel.
It remained there some time and pointed out to them the place,
20 which they had previously been considering about ; and so in sight
of all it passed up into heaven, leaving no doubt in the minds of any,
that the light, which was to lead and receive into heaven the souls
of Christ's servants, was then also pointing out the place to them,
where their bodies should rest and await the day of the resurrection.
25 The rays of this light were so powerful, as an old brother next
morning stated, who was then at prayers in the chapel with a
younger brother, that, said he, the rays of light entered through
the crannies of the door and through the windows, surpassing all
brightness of light by day.

IX.

30 There was in that monastery a child, not more than three years
old, named Æsica, who because of his childish years was still
brought up and instructed in the monastery of the virgins conse-
 286 LIBER QUARTUS .

læred. Đa wæs he gehrinen mid pa foresprecenan aðle . Đa he Ya

to pæm ytmæstan dogor bicwom, pa cleopode he ðriga 7 ááne of
þæm gehalgedum fæmnum Criste hire agne noman cegde, swa swa
he hire ondweardre to spræce, 7 cwæð : Eadgy , Eadgyð, Eadgyð ;
7 swa was geendiende pis wilwendlice liif, 7 in þæt ece ineode. 5
Ond sona þa seo fæmne, þe he sweltende cegde, in þære stowe pe heo
wæs, þære ilcan untrymnesse was gehrinen, 7 by seolfan dæge, þe
heo geceged wæs, of peossum leohte was atógen : 7 pone was
fylgende, se de hy cegde, to pæm heofonlecan rice.

X.

Eft sumu of pæm ilcan Godes peowum mid pa foresprecenan aðle 10

was gestonden 7 to pæm uutmæstan dogor gelæded. Pa ongon
heo semninga on midde neaht cleopian þæm þe hire þegnodon ; bæd
þæt hy pæt blæcern 7 þæt leoht adwæscten, þæt þær inne onbærned
wæs ; 7 þæs heo gelomlice bad 7 monade, 7 hire nænig hwæðre
p. 576. hyran wolde. Da æt nehstan cwæð heo : Ic wat pþæt ge wenað, þæt 15
ic úngewitge móde sprece. Ac hwædre witað ge þæt hit swa nis.
Forpon ic eow soy secgu, þæt ic geseo pis hus mid swa micle leohte
gefylled, þætte pæt eower blæcern 7 leoht me is eallinga þeostre
gesegen. Ond ne pa gena, þeah pe heo pus spræce, hire ænig
ondswarade oope gepafian wolde. Cwæð heo eft : Bærnað nu eower 20
blácern 7 leoht, swa longe swa ge willen. Weotað ge hwæðre þæt
þæt nis min, forpon min leoht me to cymeð, þonne hit dagian
onginneð. Ongon him pa secgan, þæt hire ateawde sum halig wer,
se by ylcan geare forðferde, 7 hire cwæde to, ponne dagunge tíd
cwome, þæt heo wære to þæm ecan leohte ferende. Pære gesyhoe 25
soo was hrade gecyded 7 geseded ymb pas dæges upyrne in pære
fæmnan deade 7
7 forðfore .
XI.
Cap. 9. Mid y da eac seo arfæste modor Gode pære leofan gesomnunge
Æðelburg abbudisse was of middangearde to geleoranne, da
æteawde sweoster wundorlic gesyhð, þære noma wæs Torhtgyo. Seo 30
monig ger in þæm ilcan mynstre wuniende wæs, 7 heo symle in
ealre eaðmodnesse 7 in hluttornisse 7 in clænnisse geornlice Gode
1. 1. læced medicari. No variant.
 IV . 8, 9. 287

crated to God. Then he was attacked with the aforesaid sickness.

And when he came to his last day, he thrice cried out and called to
one of the consecrated virgins of Christ by her own name, as if
she were present and he was speaking to her ; he said : ' Eadgyth,
5 Eadgyth, Eadgyth ; ' and so he ended this temporal life and entered
into eternal life. And at once the virgin, whom he called to at
his death, at the place where she was, was attacked by the same
distemper and was removed from this life, on the very day she was
called and she followed him, who called her, to the kingdom of
10 heaven.

X.

Again one of these servants of God was seized by the afore-

mentioned sickness and was brought to her last day. Then she
began suddenly at midnight to call to those who tended her ; she
begged them to extinguish the lamp and the light burning there ;
15 and this she repeatedly begged and directed, and still no one
listened to her. Then at last she said : 6 I know, you suppose
I speak in delirium. But yet be assured it is not so. For I tell
you truly, I see this house filled with such a strong light, that your
lamp and light seem to me quite dark.' And not even then, though
20 she spoke thus, did any one answer or heed. Then again she said :
' Burn on now your lamp and light , as long as you will. Know how-
ever that it is not mine, for my light comes to me, when it begins
to dawn.' Then she began to say to them, that a holy man
appeared to her, who had died that very year, and told her, that
25 when dawn came, she should depart to the eternal light. The truth
of this vision was soon proved and verified by the woman's death
and departure about daybreak.

XI.

When the pious mother of God's well-loved congregation, the

abbess Ethelburg, was to depart from the world, a wonderful
30 vision appeared to a sister named Tortgyth. She had lived many
years in the same monastery, and ever with all humility, sincerity,
and purity zealously served God : and she assisted the mother and
 288 LIBER QUARTUS .

peodde ; ond was fultumend regollices peodscipes pære ilcan

moder 7 abbudissan, 7 pa geongran lærde 7 clænsade ge mid láre
ge mid lifes bysene. Pære sweostor mægen þæt æfter pæs apostolis
cwide in untrymnesse gefremed wære, was heo semninga gehrinen
mid hefigre untrymnesse lichoman, 7 þurh nigon ger full mid þa 5
arfæstan foreseonisse ures alesendes swipe swenced was, to pon
þætte, swa hwæt swa ín hire unclænes betweoh pa mægen þurh
unwisnesse oo purh ungemænne gelumpe, pætte eal þæt se ofn
þære singalan costunge asude. Peos sweostor sumre neahte, pa hit
dagian ongon, wæs utgongende of hire cleofan, pe heo inwunade. 10
Pa geseah heo sweotole swa swa monnes lichoman mid scetan
bewundenne, se was beorhtra þon sunne, in heanisse boren beon.
Was he ærest up ahefen of þæm huse, pe da sweostor in reston.
Mid by heo pa geornlecor bihealdende wæs, hwelcum teonde up
ahefen wære se wlite þæs wulderlecan lichoman, þe heo sceawiende 15
was, da geseah heo, swa swa mid gyldnum rapum he in þa uplecan
ahefen wære, o pat pe openiendum heofonum in gelæded wæs, 7
me from hire gesegen beon ne meahte. Pa pohte heo bi pære
gesyle ; 7 hire nænig tweo wæs, þætte hwylchugu hraðe of þære
gesomnunge sweltende wære, þære sawl þurh pa godan weorc 7 þa 20
scinendan, þe heo dyde, swa swa purh gyldne rapas to heofonum
ahefen beon sceolde. Pæt pa soðlice swa gelomp . Forðon, nales
monegum dagum betweoh gesettum, Gode seo leofe modor pære
gesomnunge of hefignesse lichoman alæded wæs ; 7 hire seo halige
25
sawl þæs heofonlecan edles ingong gestág.
p. 577. Swylce eac in pæm ylcan mynstre wæs sum æðele nunne æfter
peosse worulde wyronisse, 7 in lufan þære toweardan weorulde
micle ædelre. Seo monegum gearum swa eallre þegnunge hire
lichoman ofgefen 7 forlæten wæs, þæt heo nænig lim onstyrian-
meahte. Pa heo pa geascade, pat pære arwyrdan abbudissan 30
lichoma was in cirican broht 7 geseted, oopæt hine mon byrgan
sceolde, pa bæd heo þæt hy mon pider gebære. Pa čæt þa swa wæs,
pa onhelde heo to pam líice ond in gemet para biddendra, swa swa
heo to hire lifigendre spræce, bæd þæt heo funde 7 ábæde æt þæs

1. 3. sweostor O. sweotor T. swustor Ca. B. 1. 7. in (accent dubious)

T. in B. on O. Ca. 1. 12. in hea - nísse (sic ; accents dubious) T. on
 IV. 9. 289

abbess in the maintenance of regular discipline, instructing and

correcting the younger sisters by teaching and by her life's example.
That according to the apostle's saying, this sister's virtue might be
made perfect in weakness, she was suddenly attacked with a severe
5 bodily infirmity, and for full nine years, by the pious providence of
our Redeemer, was sorely tried, that whatever impurity in her
existed along with the virtues through ignorance or omission, the
fire of this continual trial should purge it all away. One night
towards dawn this sister was coming out of the cell, which she
10 occupied. Then she saw clearly, as it were a human body brighter
than the sun, carried up on high wrapt in a sheet. It was first
raised aloft from the house, in which the sisters were sleeping. As
she looked earnestly to see, who drew up the form of this glorious
body which she beheld , she saw this, as it were , raised aloft by
15 ropes of gold, till the heavens opened and it was carried in, and
could no more be seen by her. Then she reflected on her vision ;
and she had no doubt, that someone of the society should soon die,
whose soul, through the good and bright deeds she did , was to be
raised to heaven as if by ropes of gold . And this really so
20 fell out. For after an interval of not many days, the mother of the
society, well beloved of God, was delivered from the burden of the
body ; and her holy soul ascended to entrance into the kingdom of
heaven. Also, at the same monastery there was a nun, noble
according to rank in this world , and much nobler in love of the
25 world to come. She for many years had been so utterly deprived

of all use of her body, that she could not stir a limb. On
learning that the body of the venerable abbess had been

brought and deposited in the church, till she should be buried,

she begged to be carried there. This being done, she bowed
30 down to the body, and like to one in prayer, as though she
spoke to her in life, begged her to obtain permission from the

nesse O. on heannysse Ca. in hæannesse B. 1. 34. lifigendre B. Ca. lyfi

gendre O. lifigende T.
U
290 LIBER QUARTUS .

arfæstan sceppendes mildheortnesse, pæt heo from swa miclum

clamnessum 7 swa singalum onlesed beon moste. Ne hire bene
lator gehyrde wæron pon æfter twelf dagum, þæt heo was of
lichoman gelæded, 7 for pæm hwilwendlecum geswencnessum ece
mede 7 edlean onfeng. 5

XII.

Mid dy ða þa seo foresprecene Cristes peowe Torhtgyð þreo ger

pa gena æfter pære hlafdigan for fore in pissum life hæfd was, ond
heo swa swiðe mid þa untrymnesse þe we forecwædon, soden wæs,
þætte na pa baan an to lafe wæron : 7 æt nehstan, þa seo tíd
nealecte hire tolesnesse, nales þæt an oðerra leoma ac swylce eac 10
þære tungan onstyrenesse biswicade. Pa wæron preo dagas 7 preo
neaht fulle, þæt heo was uncwisse, pa was heo semninga mid
gastlicre gesihoe gereted, 7 hire muð 7 hire eagan ontynde 7
locade up in heofon 7 pus ongon sprecan to pære gesihče , pe heo
bihealdende wæs : Me is, cwæð heo, þin cyme on miclum donce ; 15
7 þu eart leof wilcuma. Pa heo þa dis cwæð, þa geswigade heo
hwon, swa swa heo bidende wære his ondsware, pone pe heo geseah
7 þæm þe heo tosprecende was . Eft heo, swa swa heo leohtlice
gebylged wære, æfter þon heo cwæð : Nænge pinga ic þás blíðe
aberan mæg. Eft heo midmicel fæc geswigade. Cwæð þa riddan 20
side : Gif hit nænge pinga to dæge beon mægge, ic halsio pætte ne
sy long fæc bitweonum. Swigade pa eft hwon, swa swa heo ær
dyde, ond pa ðus pæet word betynde 7 geendade : Gif hit callinga
pus aræded seo, 7 þes cwide onwended beon ne mote, ic biddo 7
halsio þæt ne sy mare fæc betweonum, pon peos nehste neaht án. 25
pa heó pa pis cwæð, þa frugnon heo þa ymbsittendan, mid hwone
heo sprecende wære. Cwæð heo : Mid mine pa leofestan modor
Æðelburge. Pa ongeton hy in pon, þæt heo to pon cwom, þæt heo hire
sægde pa neahtíde hire geleornesse. 7 eac swa wæs, swa swa heo bad :
pa se dæg 7 seo niht forogewat, þæt heo was onlesed from bendum 30
hire lichoman 7 untrymnesse, 7 to gefean ineode ecre hælo.
de
1. 7. after O. B. æft Ca. after T. 1. 15. bihealde was T. behealden,
was 0. behealdende was Ca. Not in B. 1. 17. bidende (1 on eras.)
te
O. bid- Ca. bidd- T. B. 1. 25. þæt, T. þæt ne O. 7 ne Ca. þærne B ..
 IV. 9. 291

mercy of our gracious Creator, that she might be released from such
severe and continued torment. And her prayer was heard not
later than twelve days after, so that she was taken from the body,
and for her temporal afflictions received an eternal meed and reward .

XII.

5 While the aforementioned servant of Christ, Tortgyth, was still

detained three years in this life after that lady's death, she was so
very much afflicted with the infirmity we have mentioned, that not
even the bones were left untouched and at last, when the time of
her release approached , she lost, not merely in her other members
10 but also in her tongue, all power of movement. When she had
been speechless for three days and three nights, then she was
suddenly refreshed by a spiritual vision, and opened her mouth and
eyes and looked up to heaven and thus began to speak to the vision,
which she beheld : To me,' said she, ' your coming is very grateful ;
15 and thou art dear and welcome.' Having said this she was silent
for a time, as though she were awaiting an answer from the person
she saw, and to whom she was speaking . Again, as if she were

slightly displeased, she said afterwards : ' I am not at all willing to

suffer that.' Again she was silent for a little time. Then she said
20 the third time : ' If it absolutely may not be to-day, I entreat that
there may be no long interval.' Then again she was silent for
a little, as before, and then concluded, ending with these words :
' If it is certainly so settled, and this decree may not be changed,
I beg and entreat that there may be no longer interval, than just
25 this next night.' When she had said this, those who sat by asked,
with whom she was talking. She said : ' With my well beloved
mother, Æthelburg.' Then they saw by this, that she had come to
tell her the approach of her decease. And it was, as she had asked :
when the day and night had passed, she was released from the
30 fetters of her body and of her affliction, and entered into the joys
of eternal weal.
U 2
 292 LIBER QUARTUS .

XIII.

p. 578. Đa æfterfylgde Æðelburge in abbudissan þegnunge seo wilsume

Cap. 10. Godes peowe, þære noma wæs Hildelid. Ond heo monig ger, þæt
is oð ða ytmæstan elde hire, pam ilcan mynstre fromlice' fore wæs
æghwæder ge in para pinga foresceawunge, pa de to gemænum
brocum belumpun, ge eac in gehælde regollices peodscipes. pa 5
licade hire fore nearonisse pære stowe, pe pat mynster ongetimbred
is, þæt heo wolde pa baan up adon para Cristes peowa, þe ðær
bebyrgede wæron, 7 in cirican gesettan þære eadigan fæmnan Sca
Marian 7 þær in ánre stowe healdan. Ond þær swide oft seoððan
beorhtnes heofonlices leohtes æteawde ; 7 eac oft micel swetnes 10
wundorlices stences becwom, 7 monig oder tacn 7 wundor æteawdon,
þa mæg in þære bec gemetan, swa hwylc swa heo rædeð, þe we þas
of alæson.
Ponne is sum wundor hælo, pe us nis to forlætenne, pe seo
ilce booc sagað, þætte et liictune geworden ware Gode pære leofan 15
gesomnunge. Was sum gesiið þær on neaweste. Pa gestod his
wiif untrymnes on hire eagum : 7 þa ðurh dagas þæt heo hefegedan
7 peostrodon, þæt heo æt nehstan nænigne dæl leohtes sciman geseon
meahte. Mid by heo pa sum fæc on pisse blindnisse wæs, þa wæs
sumre neahte, þær heo betyned wunade, pætte hire becwom on mod, 20
gif heo to pam mynstre gelæded wære Godespara gehalgedra fæmnena,
ond heo þær æt para haligra reliquium hire gebede, þæt heo meahte
þæt forlorene leoht eft onfon. Ne heo pa ne ælde, ac sona gefylde
þæt hire on mod becwom. pa was heo gelæded from hire peowum
7 þignenum to pæm mynstre, pe þær neah wæs. Þær heo was 25
ondettende, þæt heo hæfde onwalgne geleafan hire hælo. Pa was
heo gelæded to liictune para Godes peowa ; 7 mid þy heo þær longe
gebegdum cneom hire gebæd, sona geearnode þæt hire bene geherde
weron. Ond sona þæs pe heo fram þam bede aras, ær þon þe heo of
þære stowe eode, þæt beo onfeng gife þæs bedenan leohtes. Ond 30
seo ær hire peowa hondum þyder gelæded wæs, heo þa freo on hire
fota gongum blide ham hweorfende wæs, efne pon gelicost, swa swa
heo to don pet wilwendlice leoht an forlete, pæt heo in hire hælo
1. 17. -nes O. Ca. B. -nesse T. 1, 23. forlorene O. Ca. B. forleore T.
 IV . IO . 293

XIII.

Then the devout servant of God, Hildelid, succeeded Æthelburg

in the office of abbess. And she for many years, that is to extreme
old age, vigorously superintended the monastery, both in providing
for the things necessary for common use, and also in maintaining
5 regular discipline. Then it seemed good to her, because of the
confined space, on which the monastery is erected, to take up the
bones of Christ's servants there buried, and deposit them in the
church of the blessed virgin St. Mary, and there keep them in
one place. And there very often afterwards appeared a brightness
10 of heavenly light ; and also often great sweetness of wondrous odour
came, and many other signs and marvels appeared, which any one
may find, who reads it, in the book from which we have extracted
this. Now there is a marvel of healing, which we cannot omit,

related in this book, as taking place in the cemetery of God's well

15 loved society. There was a gesith in that neighbourhood . At
that time his wife was afflicted with an attack in her eyes : and
then for days they were so sore and so blind, that at last she could
not see a particle of daylight. After being thus blind for some
time, it came into her mind one night, where she lay confined, that
20 if she were brought to the monastery of God's consecrated virgins,
and prayed there at the relics of the saints, she might recover her
lost sight. She delayed no longer, but at once carried out what
came into her mind. Then she was led by her servants and maids
to the monastery close at hand. There she professed, that she had
25 full faith as to her being cured. Then she was led to the cemetery
of God's servants ; and remaining there a long time in prayer with
bended knees, she soon earned a hearing for her prayers. At once,
on arising from prayer, before leaving the spot, she received the
gift of sight she prayed for. And she, who had been led there
30 before by her servants' hands, returned home in joy, freely on her
feet, exactly as if she had only lost that temporal light, that she
 294 LIBER QUARTUS.

æteawde, hu micel leoht Cristes pa halgan in heofonum ahten, 7

hwylc gifu heora mægenes wære.

XIIII.

P. 579. Pære tide Eastseaxna rice fore wæs, swa swa seo ilce bóc sagað,
Cap. II . Gode se wilsuma wer, þæs noma was Sebbe, þæs we beforan
gemyndgodon. Was he se mon æfest in his dædum 7 gelóm in 5
halgum gebedum 7swide geornful in arfæstum westmumælmessena ;
ond he sundorliif 7 munucliif was forebeorende allum þam weolum
7 arum þæs eorðlecan riices. Pæt lif he oft 7 geara wolde geceosan
7 þæt eorðlice rice forlætan, gif him ne wiðstóde pæet widerworde
mód his wiifes. Ponon monegum was gesewen 7 oft cweden, þætte 10
swelces modes wer ma gedafonade beon to biscope gehalgad, ponne
cyning wære. Mid þy he da pritig wintra in þæm ríce áwunade 7
was cempa þæs heofonlecan ríces, þa was he lichomlicre untrym-
nesse micelre swiðe pread, 7 þære forðferde, Da monade he his

wíf, þæt heo pa gena ætgædre Gode peowde, pa heo ma æt- 15

gædre ne meahton middangeard lufian ne middangearde peowian.
Da he pæt pa for his untrymnesse uneade purhteah, pa cwom he to
Lundenceastre biscope, þæs noma was Waldhere, se was Ærcon-
waldes biscopes æfterfylgend ; ond purh his bletsunge pone
æfestnesse had underfeng, pone he longe ær wilnade. Swylce he 20
brohte pæm ilcan biscope micel feoh 7 unlytel þearfum to gedælanne ;
ond pæs ealles nowiht him seolfum was gehaldende, ac he má
wilnade pearfan gaste wunian for heofona rices lufan, Mid þy he
ða hefgad was mid þa foresprecenan untrymnesse, 7 he onget þæt
him deaðes dæg toweard was, pa ongon pas cynelecan módes monn 25
him ondrædan, ponne he to deade cumende wære 7 mid micle sáre
wæced by læs he owiht unwyrpes oope ungerisnes dyde mid his
múþe , oðpe mid oðerra lima styrenesse. Gehet him pa to þære
foresprecenan Lundenceastre biscop, inpære he da wunade ; bed hine
þæt he him forgéfe, ponne he forðferan scolde, þæt þær má monna 30
inne ne wære, ponne se biscop 7 twegen his þegna.
Pa gehet se biscop, þæt he leoflice swa gedyde, swa he hine bæd,

1. 1. my : cel (erasure of e ?) T micel O. mycel Ca. Not in B. 1. 3. was

O. Ca. B. Not in T.
 ས 295
IV. 10, 11 .

might show by her cure, how much light the saints of Christ had in
heaven, and what the grace of their virtue was.
2

XIV.

At this time the ruler of the East Saxons, as the same book tells
us, was the devout servant of God named Sebbe, of whom we have
5 spoken above. The man was religious in his conduct, much given
to holy prayers and very zealous in the pious fruits of almsgiving ;
and he preferred a retired monastic life to all the wealth and
honours of his earthly kingdom. This life he often desired long
before to adopt and resign his earthly kingdom, but the contrary
10 disposition of his wife prevented him. For this reason many
thought and often repeated, that a man of such a character was
more suitable for consecration as bishop, than for being king. Now
when he had continued thirty years on the throne, serving as a
warrior of the heavenly kingdom, he was much afflicted by a severe
15 bodily infirmity, of which he also died. Then he admonished his
wife, that even then they should join in serving God, when they
might no more love the world or serve the world. When he had
carried this out with some difficulty because of his infirmity, he
came to the bishop of London , called Waldhere, who was successor
20 to bishop Arconwald, and by his blessing received those religious
orders, which he had long before desired . He also brought the
same bishop no little amount of money to distribute to the poor ;
and of all this he reserved nothing for himself, but rather desired
to remain poor in spirit for the kingdom of heaven. Now when he
25 was overpowered with the aforesaid infirmity, and felt that his
death's day was at hand, then, being a man of royal character,
he began to fear, lest on the approach of death, enfeebled by great
pain, he might do something undignified or unbecoming, through
the words of his mouth or the movements of his other members.
30 Then he summoned to himthe bishop at the aforesaid town of
London, where he then dwelt ; and he begged of him the favour,
that when he should die, there should not be present more persons
than the bishop and two of his attendants. When the bishop
 296 LIBER QUARTUS.

pa was æfter medmiclum fæce, pætte se ilca Godes wer his leomu
in stilnesse gesette 7 hine gerestan wolde, 7 onslepte. Pa geseah
he frefrende gesihoe, seo him ealle pa nearonesse pære gemyndgadan
sorge afyrde, ond eac swelce him æteawde, hwelce dæge he sceolde
pis hwilwendlice líf geendian. Geseah he, swa swa he seolfa eft 5
æfter sægde, pry wæpnedmen to him cuman mid beorhtum hræglum
gegyrede. Para wæs án gesittende beforan his reste, 7 stodon his
geferan oðre , þa de mid him cwomon, Pa frugnon heo pone sittendan
bi his stealle, hu be him geweorðan scolde , pone þe hy untrumne
neosian cwomon . Cwed he, pætte sawl butan ængum sare 7 mid 10
micle beorhtnesse leohtes wære útgongende of lichoman : 7 him eac
cyode 7 sægde, pæt he py priddan dæge forðferan sceolde.
Eghwæper para þinga swa gefylled wæs, swa he of þære gesyhoe
geleornade. Fordon æfter þy þriddan dæge, gefylleddre nontíde, þa
p. 580. semninga wæs, swa swa he leohtlice onslepte, buton ænigre gefel- 15
nisse sáres pone gast onsende 7 forogeleorde. Da gearwodon heo
his líchoman to byrgenne stænenne pruh. Pa heo pa ongunnon pone
lichoman þær insettan, pa was se lichoma sponne lengra þære prýh.
Đa heowon heo pone stán, swa swide swa heo meahton, 7 toætécton
lengeo þære pryh twegra fingra gemet. Ac ne da gen swa þætte 20
heo pone lichoman neoman meahte. Pa was micel unecelicnes
geworden bi his byrgennesse, pa pohton heo 7 spræcon, þæt hy
oope oore prúh sohton odde pone lichoman on cneom gebegde, to
pon pæet heo hine þær in gedon meahton, Ac pa wundorlicwise 7
efne heofonlic was geworden, pætte bewerede pætte nohwæðer 25
pissa beon sceolde. Stód se biscop 7 þæs cyninges suna twegen æt
þæm líce, Sigeheard 7 Swefred, pa æfter him to ríce fengon, 7 eac
micelu mengeo manna. Da wæs semninga gemeted seo prúh
gerisenre lenge to gemete pas lichoman, to pon pætte from dæle
þæs heafdes eac swylce meahte wongere betweoh geseted beon ; 7 30
from dæle para fóta feower fingra gemet seo þruh was pæm
lichoman lengre. Pa was se Godes mon bebyrged in Sce Paules
cirican pæs apostoles, þæs monungum he gelæred was 7 geleornadę,
þæt he da heofonlecan eadignesse gehyhte.

1. 21. pa (later insertion) T. pa O. B. a. C. Ca. 1. 34. after gehyhte

break in all MSS. but T. which has Se with large capital merely (same line) .
 IV. II. 297

promised cheerfully to do as he requested, then shortly after

this man of God composed his limbs to rest, desiring to repose, and
fell asleep. Then he saw a comforting vision, which removed from
him all anxiety, as to the trouble we have mentioned , and also
5 showed him, on what day he should end this temporal life. He
saw, as he himself said afterwards, three men come to him clad in
bright garments. One of these took his seat before the bed, while
his companions , who came with him, remained standing. Then
they asked the one who was seated about the condition of the sick
10 man, whom they had come to visit, and how it should be with him.
He said, that soul and body should be parted without any pain and
amid a great splendour of light. And he also made known
and stated to them, that he should die on the third day. Both of
these things were fulfilled, as he had been informed by the vision.
15 For on the third day after at the end of the ninth hour, suddenly,
as if he had fallen gently asleep, he gave up the ghost without any
sense of pain and so departed . Then they prepared a stone coffin
to bury his body. Now when they had begun to lay the body
in it, it was a span too long for the coffin. Then they hewed
20 the stone, as well as they could, and increased the length of the
coffin to the extent of two fingers. But it could not even then
take in the body. And when there was great difficulty as to his
burial, they considered, and said they should either look for another
coffin or bend the body at the knees , that they might put it in. But
25 marvellously, nay even divinely, it came to pass, that both of these
proposals were frustrated. The bishop and the king's two sons,
Sigeheard and Swefred , who succeeded their father, were standing
by the body, along with a great crowd of men. Then suddenly the
coffin was found to be of a length proportioned to the body, in-
30 somuch that a pillow also could be inserted at the end by the head ;
and at the end by the feet, the coffin was four fingers longer than
the body. Then the man of God was buried in the church of the
apostle St, Paul, by whose admonitions he had been taught and
instructed to hope for heavenly bliss.
 298 LIBER QUARTUS .

XV.

Cap. 12. Se feorða biscop Westseaxna Leutherius was haten. Se æresta

wæs Birinus ; se æftera wæs Ægelberht ; pridda was Wíne.
pa Cenwalh se cyning for ferde, in þæs ríce se ilca Leutherius
was biscop geworden, þa fengon aldormen to þæm rice pære peode,
7 betweoh him todældon, 7 týn ger hæfdon. 7 in heora ríce Leu- 5
therius se biscop for ferde ; ond Theodor biscop fore hine gehalgode
Hædde to biscope in Lundenceastre. On pæs biscopes tide wæron
oferswiðde 7 geflymde pa aldormen : ond Ceadwalla feng to West-
seaxna rice. 7 mid þy he tu ger ríce hæfde 7 cyning was, þa was
he inbryrded mid lufan þæs uplecan ríces 7 þæt eorðlice forlet in 10
þæs ilcan biscopes tíd, 7 to Róme ferde 7 þær his líf geendade,
swa swa heræfter is swutolecor to secgenne.

XVI.

pa wæs ymb syx hund wintra 7 syx 7 hundseofontig æfter

Drihtnes menniscnesse, pætte Edelred Mercna cyning gelædde
wærge weorod, 7 Cent forhergode, 7 cirican 7 mynster buton gesihde 15
p. 581. arfæstnesse oope Godes egsan hwyrfde 7 fornom : ond Hrofesceastre
eac swelce, in pære was Putta biscop, þeah þe he in ða tíd þær
ondweard ne wære, he mid gemæne hergunge fornom. Da
he ða þæt onfond, þæt his cirice eallum hire æhtum was
bereafod 7 forhergad, pa cerde he to Seaxwulfe Mercna bis- 20
cope : 7 he him gesealde sumre cirican eahte 7 medmicel lond.
Ond he in pære cirican Gode peowode, 7 swa hwyder ymb swa he
beden was, ferde 7 ciricsong lærde ; 7 þær in sibbe his líf geendade.
For poem Theodor biscop in Hrofesceastre Quichelm to biscope ge-
halgode ; ac he æfter medmicelre tide for wædelnesse weoruldgoda 25
from pæm biscopsele gewát. He da Gefmund for hine to biscope
gesette.
Pa was ymb tu ger, þæs þe Æðelred Mercna cyning Centlond
forhergode, þæt is þæt nigode ger Ecgfrides rices pas cyninges, da
æteawde in Agustus monde neowe steorra, se is cweden cometa ; 7 30

1. 5. todældon (t on erasure of g) T. gedældon O. Ca. C. todældon B.

1. 7. on C. B. ond T. 7 on Ca. 70.
 IV . 12 . 299

XV.

The fourth bishop of the West Saxons was called Leutherius.

The first was Birinus ; the second was Ægelberht ; the third was
Wine. When king Cenwalh died, in whose reign this Leutherius
had become bishop, petty princes seized on the government of the
5 province, divided it between them, and held it for ten years.
During their government bishop Leutherius died ; and bishop
Theodore consecrated in his room Hedde, as bishop at London .
In this bishop's time the princes were overpowered and expelled :
and Ceadwalla succeeded to the throne of Wessex. And when he
10 had held it and been king for two years, he was inspired with love
of the heavenly kingdom, left the earthly kingdom in this bishop's
time, and going to Rome there ended his life, as we shall hereafter
relate more precisely.

XVI.

Then about 676 years after our Lord's incarnation, Æthelred,

15 king of Mercia, led up his wicked host and ravaged Kent, over-
throwing and destroying churches and monasteries without regard
for piety and without fear of God : and in the general devastation
he also destroyed Rochester, where Putta was bishop, though not at
that time present there. Now when Putta found that his church
20 was robbed and despoiled of all its possessions, he went off to Seax-
wulf, bishop of Mercia, who gave him possession of a church along
with a little land . And in that church he served God, travelling
everywhere about, as he was asked, and teaching church music ;
and there he ended his life in peace. In his room bishop Theodore
25 consecrated Cwichelm as bishop at Rochester ; but he after a short
time withdrew from the see, owing to lack of worldly means. He
then placed Gefmund as bishop in his stead . Then about two
years after Æthelred , king of Mercia, had wasted Kent, that is
the ninth year of the king Ecgfrith, there appeared, in the month
30 of August, a new star called a comet ; and it remained three months,
 300 LIBER QUARTUS .

preo mona was awuniende, 7 ín uhttide was upeornende 7

micelne scíman was beorende swa swa scinendes leges. Dy ylcan
gere was towestnis 7 unsib geworden betweoh Ecgfrið cyning 7
pone árwyrðan biscop Wilferð. 7 se ilca biscop was ascofen 7
adrifen of his biscopsele, ond twegen biscopas on his stówe gesette, 5
pa de Nordanhymbra peode fore wæron, þæt was Boosa, se styrde
Dera mægðe, 7 Eata Beornicea . Hæfde Bosa in Eoforwiicceastre
seðl, ond Eata in Eagostaldes ea 7 in Lindisfarona ea : weron
• heo begen of munuchade in biscophad gecorene. Mid pæm wæs
eac Eadhæd in Lindisse mægde to biscope gehalgod, þa neowan 10
Ecgfrio se cyning geeode, pa he oferswidde 7 geflymde Wulfhere in
gefeohte. Ond seo ilce mægð ærest peosne biscop agenne onfeng,
Se æftera wæs Edelwine ; se pridda Eadgar ; se feorða Cyneberht.
Hæfde seo mægð ær Eadhæðe Seaxwulf biscop, se eac swelce was
Mercna biscop 7 Middelengla. Ac he was of Lindesse adrifen, þa 15
Ecgfrid heo geeode, 7 in para oderra mægða gerece awunade.
Wæron gehalgode in Eoforwíc, Eadhæð, Boosa, 7 Eata from Theodore
biscope. Ond he da eac swylce æfter prim gearum Wilferðes
onweggewitenesse pissa rime twegen biscopas toætecte, Trumberht
to cirican Heagostealdes ea—7 Eata hwearf to Lindesfarona ea—- 20
7 Trumwine to Peohta mægðe, seo in þa tíd wæs Ongolcynríce
underpeoded. Eadhæð he gesette to biscope Hrypsetna cirican, pa
he of Lindesse hwearf, fordon pa Edelred Mercna cyning þa mægðe
onfeng 7 beget.

XVII.

Cap. 13. Da Wilferð biscop adrifen wæs of his biscopscíre 7 longe geond 25
monige stówe ferende wæs, 7 he Rome gesohte 7 eft hwearf to
Breotone. Ond peah he he for feondscipum þæs gemyndgedan
p. 582. cyninges in his edel odde in his biscopscire onfongen beon ne
meahte, ne meahte he hwæðre from þære þegnunge beon bewered
godspel to lærenne. Ac he cerde to Suðseaxna mægðe, seo æfter 30
Contwarum suð 7 west belimped to Westseaxna gemære. Is þæs
londes seofon pusendo, ond heo þære tide pa gena hæðnum bigongum
toworpednyss6
1. 3. towestnis (e out of a while ink was wet) T. towesnes O. C. towesnes
Ca. Not in B. 1. 7. dera B. þære T. O. C. ðære Ca. 1. 8. in in eagos,
 IV . 12, 13 . 301

rising at dawn and displaying a great beam, as it were of shining

flame. In the same year there arose dissension and discord between
king Ecgfrith and the venerable bishop Wilfrid. And the bishop
was thrust out and expelled from his see, and two bishops put in .
5 his place to be over Northumbria, namely Bosa, who directed the
province of Deira, as Eata did Bernicia. Bosa had his seat at
York, Eata at Hexham and Lindisfarne : both were taken from a
monk's life to become bishops. Along with them Eadhæd also
was consecrated bishop at Lindsey, which king Ecgfrith had lately
10 occupied, after he overthrew and routed Wulfhere in war. This
was the first bishop of their own, which this province received.
The second was Ethelwine ; the third Eadgar ; the fourth Cyne-
berht. Before Eadhæd the province had Seaxwulf as bishop, who
was also bishop of the Mercians and Middle Angles. But he was
15 expelled from Lindsey when Ecgfrith occupied it, remaining in
authority over the other provinces. Eadhæd , Bose and Eata were
consecrated at York by bishop Theodore. And he also three years
after Wilfrid's departure added two bishops to their number, Trum-
berht for the church at Hexham- while Eata withdrew to Lindis-
20 farne—and Trumwine for the province of the Picts, which at that
time was subject to English rule. He established Eadhæd as
bishop at Ripon, when he retired from Lindsey, because Ethelred,
king of Mercia, recovered and occupied the province.

XVII.

At this time bishop Wilfred was expelled from his see, and
25 travelled long through many places, visiting Rome and finally
returning to Britain. And though, owing to the hostility of the
aforesaid king, he could not obtain admission to his native province
or his diocese, still he could not be prevented from the service of
teaching the gospel. He turned aside to the province of Sussex,
30 which adjoins Kent on the south and west and extends to the
borders of Wessex. This land contains 7000 families, and at that

taldes T. on heagostealdes O. Ca. in heagos (rest covered) C. inn hæges-

tealdes B. 1. 21. pa. (erasure of d ?) T. pas B. pa O. C. da Ca.
302 LIBER QUARTUS .

peowdon. pisse peode se biscop Cristes geleafan word 7 fulwihte-

bæp þegnade. Was Edelwalh pære peode cyning noht micelre
tíde ær in Mercum gefulwad purh Wulfheres lare 7 geornfulnisse
Mercna cyninges. Eac swelce pa he at fulwihte bæðe onpwegen
wæs, him to godsuna onfeng, ond to tacne pære sibbe him twa 5
mægde forgeaf, þæt is Wihte ealond 7 Meanware mægðe in West-
seaxna þeode.
Was he se cyning swide gefeonde in pas biscopes cyme. Ond he
ærest ealdormen pære mæge 7 cyninges þegnas mid pa halgan
wyllan þwoh fulwihtes bedes ; ond mæssepreostas Eappa 7 Peadda 10
7 Burghelm 7 Oidde pæt oder folc ge pa ge æfterfylgendre tide
fulwadon. Seo qúen ponne, pære noma was Æbbe, in hire mægde,
þæt is in Hwiccum, was gefulwad . Was heo Eanfrides dohtor
Eanheres broðor, pa begen wæron Cristne mid heora folce. Ac
eal seo mægð Súðseaxna wæs unwís þæs godcundan noman 7 ge- 15
leafan.

Wæs þær sum múnuc of Scotta cynne, se wæs Dicul haten ;

hæfde he medmicel mynster sum in pære stówe, pe is nemned
Bosanham . Was mid wuda 7 mid sæ ymbsald, 7 in þæm wæron
fif gebroðor odde syxe in pearfendum lífe 7 earmlecum Drihtne 20
peowiende. Ac nænig mon in pære mægde ne heora líf onhyrgan
wolde ne heora lare gehyran.
Ond pa Wilferð biscop in pære peode godcunde lare lærde, nales
þæt an þætte from yrmðum écre niðrunge, ac swylce eac from pæm
mánfullan wæle hwilwendlicre forwyrde generede. Forpon prym 25
gearum ær his cyme in þa mægð þæt þær nænig regn in þæm stow-
um cwom ; 7 ponon se grimmesta hungor þæt folc was wacende,
7 heo mid arleasre cwale fylde wæron. Pæt is to tacne : secgad
men, þætte oft feowertig monna oope fiftig somed, þa de mid þy
hungre gewæcte wæron, þæt heo earmlice bi hondum nóman 7 ealle 30
ætgædre of sæs ófre ut feollan, 7 woldon heo sylfe oope offyllan
oðpe adrencan . Ond pa þy sylfan dæge, de seo peod Cristes geleafan
onfeng 7 fulwihte, da astah 7 cwom smolt regn 7 micel 7

1. 15. noman (o probably : surface peeled from damp) T. noman C. naman

O. Ca. B. 1. 27. patfolc was wacende C. O. Pfolc was wacende Ca. B.
pot was folc weaxende T.
 IV. 13. 303

time was still attached to heathen worship. To this people the

bishop became the minister of the Christian faith and baptism.
Æthelwalh, king of that people, shortly before had received baptism
in Mercia, owing to the prompting and the zeal of the Mercian
5 king Wulfhere. Also when he was washed in the laver of baptism ,
he took him as god-son, and in token of amity made over to him two
provinces, that is, the Isle of Wight and the district of Meon in
Wessex. The king rejoiced very much at the arrival of the bishop.
And he first washed with the holy fount of baptism the chief men
10 of the province and the king's followers ; and the priests Eappa and
Peada and Burghelm and Oidde baptized the rest of the people,
both then and subsequently. The queen moreover, whose name
was Æbbe, had been baptized in her own district, that is, among
the Hwiccas. She was daughter of Eanfrith, brother of Eanhere,
15 both of whom were Christians along with their people. But the
whole province of Sussex had been ignorant of the name and faith
of Christ. There was there a monk of Scottish race called Dicul ;

he had a small monastery, at a place called Bosham. It was sur-

rounded by forest and sea, and in it were five or six brethren,
20 serving the Lord, in a life of poverty and privation. But no man
in that province would imitate their life or heed their teaching.
And when bishop Wilfrid taught the word of God in that province,
he not only rescued it from the misery of eternal damnation, but
also from the foul disaster of temporal destruction. For three
25 years before his coming to that province, no rain had fallen in
those localities ; and consequently a most dreadful famine pros-
trated the people, and they were carried off by a cruel death. The
proof is this : men say, that often forty or fifty persons together,
being wasted with the famine, in their misery took one another by
30 the hand and jumped down in a body from the brink of the sea,
desiring either to kill themselves by the fall, or drown themselves.
But on the very day, on which the people received the faith of
Christ and baptism, there sprang up and came rain, gentle, wide-
 304 LIBER QUARTUS .

genihtsum ; 7 pa lond greowon 7 blostmedon, ond after cwom

god gear 7 wæstmbeorende. Ond swa awurpon pa aldan
dysignesse 7 deofolgild onscunedon, ond ealra heora heortan 7
lichoman wynsumedon in pone lifgendan God ; 7 pone ongeton, se de
soð God ís, ond þæt heo seolfe wæron ge on þæm nearran gódum, 5
ge on þæm utteran mid heofonlice gife gewelgade. Fordon se bis-
cop, mid þy pe he in þa mægðe cwom 7 swa micel wite hungres
þær geseah, lærde he da þæt hie in fiscade him ondlifene sohton ;
forpon de æghwæder ge sio sæ ge hiora eá fiscum genyhtsumade.
Ać sio deod pone cræft pas fiscapes ne cude, nemne to ælum 10
anum . Da gesomnodon pa bisceopes men pa ælnet æghwonan þe
hie meahton, 7 sendon in done sæ. 7 seo godcunde giofu him geful-
p. 583. tumade pæt hie sona gefengon preo hund fisca missenlicra cynna. Ond
da in preo todældon : hundteontig hie sealdon pearfum, hundteon-
tig þæm de pa net ahton ; hundteontig hy him selfum to nytte 15
dydon. Pære fremsumnesse se bisceop ealra hiora heortan in his
lufan gecerde : ond dy neodlicor purh his lare pa heofonlican god
gehyhton, þæs denunge hie da hwilwendlican god namon 7 on-
fengon.
Dære tide Epelwalh se cyning geaf 7 sealde dæm arwyrðan 20
bisceope Wilferpe seofon 7 hundeahtatig hida londes, des noma is
Syleseá, þæt he meahte his men on gehabban þa þe mid him wracc-
don. Is sio stow æghwonan mid sæ ymbseald butan westan ;
donan hit hafað ingang, swa micelre brædo swa mon mæge mid
lideran geweorpan. Mid dy he pa se bisceop pa stowe ónfeng, þa 25
gestapelode he þær mynster ond þæt to regollife gesette swipust of
pam broðrum, þe he mid him brohte. Pæt git to dæge his æfterfylgend
bisceopas habbað 7 agon. Penode se arwyrða bisceop Wilferð in dæm
dælum ða bisceopðenunge arwyrðlice fif gear, þæt is oð Ecgferþes
deað þæs cyninges. Ond forðon him Æpelwalh se cyning mid æhte 30
þære foresprecenan stowe ealle da spede pe þær on wæron mid lande
ond mid monnum sealde 7 forgeaf, ond he ealle on Cristes geleafan

1. 7. After swa leaf lost in T. 85a begins feng. Text follows C. (all but
complete here) leaf 10. 1. 10. nemne O. nymoe Ca. ne C. Not in B.
1. II. bisceopes B. -pas C. bysceopes O. ₺ Ca. 1. 13. li in missenlicra
gone C. No variant in MSS. 1. 15. ahton (no e seen) C. ahton O. B.
 IV. 13. 305

spread and abundant ; and the land bore and blossomed , and then
came a good and productive year. And so they abandoned their
old folly and rejected their idols ; and the hearts and bodies of all
took delight in the living God ; and they knew him who is the true
5 God, and that they themselves were, both with internal and ex-
ternal blessings, enriched by the heavenly grace. For the bishop,
on his arrival in the province, seeing the great plague of famine,
instructed them in procuring a maintenance by fishing ; for both
the sea and their rivers abounded in fish. But the people did not
10 understand the art of fishing, except for eels only. Then the
bishop's men collected the eel-nets wherever they could, and let
them down into the sea. And the divine grace aided them, so that
they soon caught three hundred fish of various kinds. And these they
divided into three shares : one hundred they gave to the poor ; one
15 hundred to the owners of the nets ; one hundred they kept for their
own use, By this service the bishop won the hearts of all to love
him : and they began more readily, from his teaching, to hope for
heavenly blessings, by whose instrumentality they received and
enjoyed temporal blessings. At this time king Ethelwalh gave
20 and assigned to the venerable bishop Wilfrid eighty-seven hides of
the land, which is called Selsey, for the settlement of his followers
who were in exile with him. The place is surrounded on every
side except the west by the sea ; there is an entrance on this side ,
as broad as a sling can throw. Now when the bishop took over
25 the place, he set up a monastery there, establishing it under regular
discipline, chiefly out of those brethren whom he brought with him.
This his successors in the episcopate still hold and possess to this
day. In these parts the venerable bishop Wilfrid discharged with
honour the duties of a bishop for five years, that is, till the death
30 of king Ecgfrith. And as king Æthelwalh, along with the posses-
sion of the aforesaid place, assigned and made over to him all the
property to be found there with land and men, so he established
all in the faith of Christ and washed them in the laver of baptism.

eahton Ca. 1. 22. sylesea Ca. ; O. (ea partly defaced) ; C. (second letter y or
e) ; seolesíg B. 1. 25. ónfeng (accent dubious) C. onfeng O. Ca. underfeng
B. 1. 27. pam (a or a ?) C. Jam O. B. dam Ca.
X
 306 LIBER QUARTUS .

gesette 7 mid fulwihte bæpe apwoh. Betwih da twa 7 hundteontig 7

fiftig þara manna esna ond menena gefulwade ; 7 ealle da swa swa
he purh fulwihte from deofles deowdome gehælde, 7 các swilce
mennisce eowdome onlesde 7 hie gefreode.
Cap. 15 .
Betwih pas ðing þa wæs cumende Ceadwalla mid weorode West- 5
seaxna æþeling, geong 7 from, pa he wreccea was, ond ófsloh Æpel-
walh done cyning 7 þa mægpe mid grimme wæle 7 herige onge-
bræc. Ac he was sona donon adrifen from dæs cyninges ealldor-
monnum Berhthune 7 Ándhune, þa syððan þære mægþe rice hæfdon.
Para se ærra was fram þam ylcan Ceadwala ofslegen, pa he West- 10
seaxna cyning wæs, 7 þa mægpe mid hefigran peowdome gehnægde.
Swylce eac Ine, se de æfter Ceadwalan tó rice feng, gelicre geswen-
cednesse monigra geara tide þa mægþe yfelade. For pære wisan
was geworden þat eallre pære tide hi agenne bysceop habban ne
mihton. Ac pa Willferð bysceop was eft ham gelaðad, heora se 15
æresta bisceop, syððan hie Westseaxna bysceopum underpeodde
wæron, þa þe wæron on Wintaceastre.

XVIII.

p. 584. Efter pon pa pe Ceadwala was gemægenad 7 gestrongod on

Cap. 16. Westseaxna rice, pa geeode he eac 7 onfeng Wiht þæt ealond, þæt
eal wæs oð þa tid deofolgildum geseald. Ond he gelice þy + trōiscan 20
wæle ealle pa londbigengan wolde ut amærian 7 his agenra leoda
monnum gesettan. Secgað men, þæt he eac wære mid gehate hine
seolfne bindende ―þeah þe he da gena in Criste ne wære eft acenned
purh fulwihtes bæð—‚þæt gif he þæt ealond gegan meahte, þæt he his
pone feorðan dæl 7 þære herehyde for Gode gesealde. 7 he pæt swa 25
gelæste, þæt þone dæl he Wilferde biscope for Gode gesealde to
brucenne, se in þa tíd of his peode þider cwom 7 þær ondweard
wæs. Is pas ilcan ealondes gemet æfter Ongolcynnes eahte twelf
hund hida. 7 he pa þam biscope gesealde in æht preo hund hida,
7 þær eahta to. Ond he pa pone dæl, pe he onfeng, bebead 30
i
1. 7. From mid text follows O. (C. 11. is defective) . her,ge O. herige Ca.
ánd
heregange B. 1. 9. , hune (original hand) O. hune Ca. húne B. 1. 12.
ine (i and e on erasure, stroke under e) O. ine Ca. ine B. 1. 14. ne B. C.
 IV. 13 , 15, 16. 307

Of these he baptized 250 , men and maids ; and as he by baptism saved

them all from the devil's service, so he also released and freed
them from service to man. Meantime Ceadwalla, a prince of the
West Saxons, young and valiant, and then an exile, came with an
5 army, and slew king Ethelwalh and ruined the province by dire
slaughter and devastation. But he was soon expelled by the king's
chief men, Berhthun and Andhun, who afterwards held the govern-
ment of that province. The former of these was slain by Ceadwalla,
when he was king of the West Saxons, and the province reduced .
10 under oppressive servitude. Also Ine, who succeeded Ceadwalla on
the throne, ill-treated the province with similar severities , for a
period of many years. For this cause, during all this time they
could not have a bishop of their own. But when bishop Wilfrid,
their first prelate, was recalled home, they then were placed under
15 the bishops of Wessex, who lived at Winchester.

XVIII .

After this, when Ceadwalla grew powerful and strengthened

himself on the throne of Wessex, he overran and took the Isle of
Wight, which till then had been wholly given over to idolatry.
And he, after the example of the + Trojan disaster, wished to ex-
20 terminate all the inhabitants and replace them with men of his own
people. It is said that he also bound himself with a vow- though
he was not yet regenerated in Christ by baptism- that if he should
conquer that island, he would make over the fourth part of it and
of the booty for God's service. And this he carried out, by giving
25 the portion to bishop Wilfrid to be employed for God's service,
who at that time had come there from his own people and was
present. The area of the island, according to English estimate,
contains 1200 hides. And he gave into the bishop's possession
three hundred hides and the stock besides. And he committed the
30 portion he had received to one of his clergy named Berhtwini, who
ne
,mihton (sic) Ca. ne not in O. 1. 15. se æresta bisceop B. på ærestan
a
bysceope. O. pone ærestan biscop Ca. 1. 17. wintaceastre Ca. wint,ceastre
O. wintceastre O. 1. 19. T. begins -feng 85ª.
X 2
 308 LIBER QUARTUS .

sumum his preosta, þæs noma was Berhtwini , se was his sweostor
sunu. Ond he sealde him mæssepreost, þæs noma was Hiddila, se
eallum þæm þa de woldon gehælde beon Godes word 7 fulwihte
bæð þegnode .
Nis ponne no to forswigienne, dætte in fruman pa de of pam 5
ilcan ealonde purh geleafan gehælde wæron, twegen cynelice
cneohtas þa mid synderlicre Godes gife wæron gesigefæste, þa
wæron Aarwaldes broðor pæs ealondes cyninges. Da Ceadwalla se
cyning mid þy here in þæt ealond for, þa flugon þa cneohtas út of
þæm ealonde, 7 wæron gelædde in pa neahmægde, seo is gecegd 10
Eota lond, in sume stowe seo is nemned Æt Stane. Woldon heo 7
wendon, þæt heo þær meahton deagle 7 beholene beon fróm ónsyne
þæs unholdan cyninges. Him da wæron heo þær gemeldode ; 7 se
cyning heo ofslean het. Da þæt þa gehyrde sum abbud 7 mæsse-
preost, þæs noma was Cyneberht, se hæfde ponon noht feor sum 15
mynster in þære stówe, pe is gecegd Hreodford, þa cwom he
to þæm cyninge, se da in þæm ilcan dælum deagollice lacnod wæs
from his wundum, þa de him gedonne wæron, þa he feaht 7 wonn
on Wiht Sæt ealond. Ond hine bad, gif pa cneohtas aninga ofslegene
beon sceoldon, þæt he him alefde 7 forgefe, þæt he moste heo 20
gelæran in þa gerynu þæs cristnan geleafan. Þa forgef se cyning
him þæt 7 alefde. Ond he da heo intimbrede 7 gelærde mid
soðfæstnesse worde 7 mid fulwihtes bæde heo from synnum aðwoh :
7 heo gewisse gedyde 7 gelærde bi ingonge pæs ecan rices. Ond
se quellere him oferstod : 7 heo sona unforhte 7 bliðe underhnigon 25
þone wilwendlecan deað, þurh pone heo ne tweodon ferende beon to
þæm ecan ríce heora sawla.
Ono pisse endebyrdnesse, æfter pon pe ealle Breotone mægðe
Cristes geleafan onfengon, onfeng eac Wiht þæt ealond. Hwæðre
in pæm nænig for ermpo pære utlecan underpeodnesse onfeng 30
biscoplicre þegnunge hád ær Daniele, se pa was Westseaxna
p. 585. biscop. Is pis ealond geseted ongegn midle Suoseaxna 7 West-
seaxna ; is se betweoh geseted preora mila brad, se is gecegd
Soluente. In pæm sa beod twegen sæéflódas, þa de ymb Breotone
of pæm ungeendedan norðgarsecge becumað 7 astigað : 7 dæghwam- 35

1. 30. underpeodnes T. -nesse O. B. -nysse Ca.

 IV. 16. 309

was his sister's son. And he gave him a priest, whose name was
Hiddila, to minister God's word and baptism to all, who would be
saved. We must not pass over in silence the fact that, as first-fruits
of those out of this island, who were saved through faith, two young
5 princes received the crown of victory by God's special grace, who
were brothers of Arwald , king of the island. When king Ceadwalla
landed on the island with his force, the princes fled out of the island
and were conveyed to the neighbouring province, which is called
the land of the Jutes, to a spot called Stoneham. Their intention
10 and hope was to be in hiding and concealed from the eyes ofthe cruel
king. Then they were betrayed to him there, and the king ordered
them to be slain. Now, when an abbot and priest, by name

Cyneberht, heard this, who had a monastery not far thence, at

a place called Redbridge, he came to the king, who in that district
15 was being secretly cured of the wounds he received, when fighting
and contending in the Isle of Wight. And he begged him that, if
the boys must certainly be slain , he would give him leave and
permission to instruct them in the mysteries of the christian faith.
Then the king granted and allowed this. And he then edified and
20 instructed them with the word of truth, and washed them from
their sins in the laver of baptism, assuring and instructing them as
to their entrance into the eternal kingdom. And the executioner
came upon them : and they at once fearlessly and joyfully submitted
to temporal death, through which they did not doubt they should
25 pass to the eternal kingdom of their souls. So in this order, after
all the provinces of Britain received the faith of Christ, it was
received also by the island of Wight. However, owing to the
misery of subjection to the stranger, no one undertook the office
of bishop there before Daniel, who was bishop of Wessex. This
30 island is situated opposite the middle of Sussex and Wessex ; the
sea lies between three miles broad , which is called the Solent. In
this sea there are two tides, which come in and rise up round
Britain from the boundless north ocean ; and daily they encounter
 310 LIBER QUARTUS .

lice him betweoh feohtende ongen cumað, 7 geendade þy compe in

pone sæ eft togotene hweorfað, þonon heo ær cwomon .

XVIIII .

Cap. 17. Pissum tidum gehyrde Theodor biscop pone geleafan þære cirican
Constantinopoli purh gedwolan Euticetis swide gedrefde beon.
Ond he ða wilnade, þæt he Ongolpeode cirican, þæm he da fore wæs, 5
from pisses gemetes woole clæne awunade. Ond gesomnedum
þreate árwyrðra biscopa 7 monigra lareowa on syndrige frægn 7
ascode, hwylces geleafan heo waren ; ond mid anmodre geþafunge
ealra heo on rehtum geleafan gemette. 7 peosne geleafan he gemde
bebeodan 7 gefæstnian mid seonoðlecum stafum to intimbernesse 7 10
to gemynde para æfterfylgendra. Para stafa 7 gewrites is pes
fruma.
In nomine Dnī nrī Ihū Xri Saluatoris : in noman usses

Drihtnes Hælendes Cristes, ricsiendum ussum þam árfæstan

hlafordum Ecgfride Nordanhymbra cyninge by tegdan gere his 15
ríces, under þæm fiftegðan dæge Kalendarum Octobris, þy eahteðan
indictione, ond Edelrede Mercna cyninge by syxtan geare his
riices, 7 Ealdulfe Eastengla cyninge by seofonteogeðan geare his
rices, ond Hlothere Contwara cyninge his rices by seofeðan geare ;
foresittendum Theodore mid Godes gife arcebiscope Breotone 20
ealondes 7 Contwara burge ceastre ; ætgædre mid hine sittendum
oðrum biscopum Breotone ealondes árwyrðum werum ; ond fore-
gesettum þæm swide halgum godspellum in pære stowe, pe is
nemned Hæðfeld ; ætgædre we wæron smeagende rehtne geleafan
7 rehtwuldriende. We asetton, swa swa usser Drihten Hælende 25
Crist in menniscum lichoman sealde his discipulum, da de hine
ondweardlice gesegon 7 gehyrdon his word. Ond he sealde
haligra fædra herebeacen, id est Credo ; ond gemænelice ealle
halige 7 ealle seonoðas 7 calle preat gecorenra lareowa þære
rehtgelefdan cirican. Das we seondon arfæstlice fylgende 7 riht- 30
1. 5. pæt he T. phe O. Ca. hepa B. ?þætte. 1. 7. on sindrige B.
7 syndrige T. 7 syndryge O. 7 syndrigne Ca. 1. 18. 7 Ealdulfe to rices
wanting in T. Text from 0. (Nine words) . seofonteogeðan Ca. seo-
fonteoðan B. séo.fe ....pan (erasure of five letters : fe is on erasure) 0.
 IV . 16 , 17. 311

and struggle with one another, and when the contest is at an end,
they pour back their waters and return to the sea, from which they
came.

XIX.

At this time bishop Theodore heard that the faith of the Church
5 at Constantinople was much troubled by the heresy of Eutyches.
Accordingly he desired to keep the Church of England , over which
he presided, clear from a plague of this kind . And having assembled
a number of venerable bishops and many teachers, he questioned
them one by one, and asked ofwhat faith they were ; and he found
10 them, by the unanimous consent of all, to be in the right faith.
And this faith he took care to commend and establish by synodical
documents for the edification and information of posterity. The
beginning of these documents and writings is as follows : ' In nomine
Dni nri Ihū Xrī Saluatoris : in the name of our Lord and Saviour
15 Christ, under the reign of our pious lords Ecgfrith, king of North-
umbria, in the tenth year of his reign, on the 17th of September, in
the eighth indiction ; and of Æthelred, king of Mercia , in the sixth
year of his reign ; and Ealdulf, king of the East Angles, in the
seventeenth year of his reign ; and Hlothere, king of Kent, in the
20 seventh year of his reign ; under the presidency of Theodore, by the
grace of God archbishop of the island of Britain, and of the city of
Canterbury ; in session with other venerable bishops of the island of
Britain ; the most holy gospels lying before us, at the place which is
called Hatfield ; we jointly considered about the right and orthodox
25 faith. We set down, as our Lord and Saviour Christ, being in
a human body, delivered to his disciples, who there saw him face to
face, and heard his words. And he delivered to them the watch-
word of the holy fathers, " id est Credo " ; and so do in common all
saints and all synods, and all the company of approved doctors of
30 the orthodox Church. These we follow piously and orthodoxly ;

1. 21. sittendu Ca. sittende T. O. B. 1. 28. id è credo T. id est credo B.

Not in O. Ca. After gemænelice T. has fylgende struck through : fylgende is
not in O. Ca. B.
 312 LIBER QUARTUS .

wuldriende ; æfter heora láre pa de wæron godcundlice inbryrde,

gepwærelice we gelyfad ondettende. Ond we ondettað æfter
halgum fædrum swæslice 7 soolice, Fæder 7 Sunu 7 Haligne
Gast, Prignisse in Annisse efenspedelice, ond Annesse in pære
Prignesse, þæt is ænne God in preom astondnessum oðpo hadum 5
efenspedelecum efenlices wuldres 7 aáre. Ond pisses gemetes
men æfter setton 7 spræcon, þa de belumpon to ondetnesse rihtes
geleafan. 7 pás swelce eac toætecte se halga seono his stafum :
We onfengon pa halgan fíf seonoðas 7 pa rehtgelefdan eadigra
fædra 7 Gode ondfengra þæt is da de in Nicena gesomnade 10
weron, preo hund biscopa 7 eahtatyne wið þæm arleasum Arreum
eretici 7 his láre ; ond in Constantinopoli wæron gesomnade hund-
teontig 7 fiftig biscopa wid wedenheortnisse Macedones 7 Eodoxæ
p. 586. 7 heora láre ; ond in Efessum tu hundteontig biscopa wid pone
wyrrestan Nestorium 7 his láre ; ond in Calcidone syx hund 15
biscopa 7 pritig wid Eotycem 7 Nestorium 7 his láre ; ond eft
in Constantinopoli se fifta seonoð was gesomnad, in Iustinianes
tide pæs geongran caseres, wið Peodorum 7 Theodoreti 7 Iiba
þæm ereticum 7 heora lárum. Ond we onfengon eac pone seonoð,
se was geworden in Rome byrig in Martinus tíide pæs eadgan 20
papan, þy nigoðan gere Constantines ríce pas arfæstan caseres.
Ond we wuldriað usserne Drihten Hælendne Crist, swa swa þas wuld-
redon, noht toætecende oope onweg ateonde pas pe heo wuldredon.
Ond we ámænsumiað mid heortum 7 mid mude, þa de heo amæn-
sumedan : ond pa de heo onfengon, we eac swelce onfoð, wuldriende 25
God Fæder butan fruman, 7 his Sunu pone acennedan of Fæder,
acennedne ær worulde, 7 Haligne Gast for leorendne of Fæder 7
Suna unasecgendlice, swa swa pa bodedon 7 lærdon, þa de we bufan
gemyndgodon, þa halgan apostole 7 witgan 7 lareowas. Ond we
ealle mid Cristes róde tacne fæstnodon 7 underwreoton, we pa de 30
asetton pone allican geleafan 7 pone rihtan mid Theodore ærce-
biscope .

1. 6. efenspedelicum B. C. efnespedelicum O. Ca. spedelecum T. 1. II.

arreum T. (-um O. Ca. B) . 1. 13. macedones O. Ca. B. -domes T. 1. 26.
butan to Fæder wanting in T. (nine words) . Text from 0 .
 IV . 17. 313

according to the teaching of those who were divinely inspired, we

unanimously believe and confess. And we confess, in accordance
with the holy fathers, properly and truly, Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, Trinity in Unity consubstantial, and Unity in Trinity, that
5 is, one God in three substances, or persons consubstantial, of equal
glory and honour.' And to this effect men afterwards set down
and stated those things, which belonged to the confession of right
faith . And these also the holy synod added to its documents :
' We received the five holy and orthodox synods of the blessed
10 fathers, well pleasing to God : that is, those who were assembled
at Nicea, 318 bishops, to oppose the impious heretic Arius and his
doctrine ; and at Constantinople were assembled 150 bishops,
to oppose the madness of Macedonius and Eudoxius and their
doctrine ; and at Ephesus 200 bishops, to oppose that most
15 wicked Nestorius and his doctrine ; and at Chalcedon 630
bishops, to oppose Eutyches and Nestorius and his doctrine ;
and again at Constantinople the fifth synod was assembled ,
in the time of the emperor Justinian the younger, to oppose
Theodorus and Theodoret and Iba, the heretics and their
20 doctrines . And we received also the synod which met at Rome,
in the time of the blessed pope Martin, in the ninth year of the
reign of the pious emperor Constantine. And we magnify our
Lord and Saviour Christ, as they magnified him, adding nothing
and subtracting nothing of all they set forth. And we anathema-
25 tize, with heart and mouth, those whom they anathematized : and
whom they received, we also receive, magnifying God the Father
without beginning, and his Son the begotten of the Father, begotten
before the world, and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father
and the Son ineffably, as they preached and taught, whom we
30 mentioned above, the holy apostles and prophets and doctors. And
we all confirmed and subscribed this with the token of Christ's
cross, we who, along with archbishop Theodore, set forth the right
Catholic faith.'
 314 LIBER QUARTUS.

XX.

Cap. 18. Was eac swylce in pæm seonode, 7 ætgædre trymede pa domas
þæs ilcan geleafan se arwyrða wer Iohannes, Sce Petre cirican pas
apostolis heahsongere 7 abbud Sce Martines mynstres, se neowan
cwom from Rome purh hæse Agothones pæs papan. Wees him
latteow se arwyrða abbud , þe mon heht Benedictus. Mid þy se ilca 5
Benedictus mynster getimbrode in Breotone in áre Sce Petres þæs
aldorapostoles in pære stowe, pe mon hated Æt Wiramupan, þa
cwom he to Roome mid his efnwyrhtan 7 geferan þæs ilcan
weorces Ceolferð, se æfter him þæs ilcan mynstres abbud was.
Was his gewuna, þæt he eac oft ær on pære fóre wæs. Önd he 10
arwyrolice from pære eadgan gemynde Agothones pas papan
onfongen wæs. Ond he bad 7 onfeng in trymnesse pas mynstres
freodómes from him, þe he geworhte, priuilegium of pære apos-
tolican aldorlicnesse getrymede, æfter pon pe he wisse þæt
Ecgfripes willa was pas cyninges ond his leafnes wæs. Forþon 15
þe him pa londare forgeaf 7 sealde, pe he pet mynster on getim-
brade. pa onfeng he eac pone foresprecenan abbud Iohannem 7
in Breotone gelædde, pæt he sceolde in his mynstre pone song
læran to twelf monpum, þe he æt Sce Petre geleornade. pa dyde
he Iohannes, swa þæs pápan bebod was ; endebyrdnesse 7 þeaw 20
þæs songes cwicre stæfne pas foresprecenan mynstres sangeras
lærde ; 7 pa pe se hring ealles geares in weorðunge symbeldaga
abædde, eac swilce stafum awrát 7 on béc gesette, seo in pam ilcan
mynstre oð þis is gehealden, ond from monegum siððan oft
gehwider emb writen was. 25
Swylce he Iohannes eac oder bebod from pæm apostolican pápan
p. 587. onfeng, þæt he þæt sceolde geornlice gewitan 7 geleornian, hwylces
geleafan Ongolcynnes cirice wære, 7 him þæt gesægde, ponne he
eft to Rome hwurfe. For pære wisan was se seono gesomnad in
Breotone, þe we ær sægdon. 7 pa was gemeted in eallum unge- 30
wemmed geleafa 7 riht ; ond him was seald seo bysen on gewrite
þæs seonodes, pæt he sceolde to Róme lædan. Da he pa was
1. 11. -nes pas Møs. 1. 21. sangeras O. Ca. B. -ra T.
 IV. 18. 315

XX.

The venerable John, precentor of the church of the apostle St.

Peter and abbot of the monastery of St. Martin, who had lately
come from Rome, by the order of pope Agathon, was also present
at the synod and joined in affirming the decrees of the faith. His
5 guide was the venerable abbot called Benedict. When this
Benedict had founded a monastery in Britain, in honour of St.
Peter the chief of the apostles, at the place called Wearmouth,
he went to Rome, with his co- operator and associate in the work,
Ceolferth, who was abbot of the monastery after him. He had
10 often before been in the habit of taking the journey. And he was
received with honour by pope Agathon of blessed memory. And
he requested and received from him, in confirmation of the freedom
of the monastery that he had erected, a privilege confirmed by the
apostolic authority, when he had ascertained that this was the
15 wish of king Ecgfrith and was with his permission. For he had
granted and assigned to him the property in the land, on which he
erected the monastery. Then he also took charge of the aforesaid
abbot John and brought him to Britain , to teach for twelve months
in his monastery the music he had learnt at St. Peter's . Then
20 John did as the pope directed ; he taught viva voce the singers
in the aforesaid monastery the order and practice of song ; and he
also committed to writing all, that was necessary for the course of
the year in the celebration of feast days, and set it down in a book,
which is still kept in the same monastery, and since then has often
25 been copied by many everywhere around. John also received a
further direction from the apostolic pope, to enquire and ascer-
tain carefully the faith of the English Church, and to report to
him, on returning again to Rome. For this object the synod
was assembled in Britain, which we have already mentioned.
30 And then in all there was found uncorrupted and orthodox faith ;
and he was given a copy in writing of the synodical proceedings to
take to Rome. On his way back to his people, shortly after
 316 LIBER QUARTUS .

to his ylde hweorfende, þa æfter medmiclum fæce þæs þe he sæ

oferfaren hæfde, pa was he gehrinen mid untrymnesse 7 for ferde.
7 his lichoma from his freondum 7 for Sce Martines lufan was to
Turnan gelæded, 7 þær arwyrðlice bebyrged in þæm mynstre, pe he
fore was in abbuddome. Ond peah þe he in þam siðfæte forðferde , 5
nohte pon læs seo bysen þæs rihtan geleafan Ongelcirican to Róme
gelæded was , ond from pæm apostolican pápan 7 allum, þe pe hine
gehyrdon oope reordan, pancwyrolice was onfongen.

XXI.

Cap. 19. Onfeng Ecgfrið se cyning gemæccan 7 wif, þære noma wæs
Æðeldryð, Annan dohtor Eastengla cyninges, þæs we oft ær 10
gemyndgodon. Was se mon god 7 æfest, 7 þurh eal ge ón
móde ge on dædum æðele. Brohte heo ær oder wer him to wife
Suðgyrwa aldormon, þæs noma wæs Tondberht ; ac æfter
medmiclum fæce, pas pe he hy to wife onfeng, he forðferde.
Pa was heo seald 7 forgifen þæm foresprecenan cyninge. Pæs 15
gemanan myd þy heo was twelf winter brucende, hwære heo
mid ecre onwalhnesse mægðhades wuldorlice áwunade ; swa swa
me seolfum frinendum, mid þy sumum monnum cwom in tweon
hwæder hit swa wære, pa þære eadgan gemynde Wilferp biscop
sægde ; 7 cwæð, þæt he wære se cuesta geweota hire clænnisse 20
7 hire mægðhades, to don pætte Ecgfrið se cyning him geheht
ge lond ge micel feoh to gesyllenne, gif he da cwene gesponan
7 gelæran meahte, pet heo brucan wolde his gesynscypes ; forpon
he geare wiste pat heo nænigne wæpnedmon ma lufade ponne
hine. 25
Nis pet to geórtrywanne, þæt in usse eldo þæt beon meahte,
þætte forogongendre eldo oft geworden getreow spell cyðað 7
secgað, þurh anes Drihtnes gife 7 þæs ilcan, se de hine gehatende
was mid us eac wunian aa oo weorulde ende. Was eac swelce
þæs godcundan wundres sweotol tacnung, þæt pære ilcan fæmnan 30
1. 23. pat to wiste wanting in T. Textfrom O. 1. 29. wunian O. Ca. B.
wunien.. (space of two letters blank ; erasure ?) T. ? wuniende cp. iv. 3. hweor-
fende... gehehton.
 IV . 18 , 19 . 317

crossing the sea, he was attacked with illness and died . And his

body was conveyed by his friends, and out of love for St. Martin,

to Tours, and there honourably buried in the monastery, over which

he presided as abbot. And though he died on the journey, never-

5 theless the copy of the orthodox creed of the English Church was
taken to Rome, and was thankfully received by the apostolic pope

and by all who heard or read it.

XXI.

King Ecgfrith had received, as his wife and consort, a daughter

of Anna, king of the East Angles, already often mentioned, whose

10 name was Etheldreda. He was a good and pious man, and

thoroughly noble both in mind and conduct. She had been

previously married to another, a prince among the South Gyrwas,

whose name was Tondberht ; but he died shortly afrer the mar-

riage. Then she was given and contracted to the aforesaid king.
15 And when she had been twelve years married to him, she still

gloriously retained her virginity unimpaired ; as bishop Wilfrid of

blessed memory told myself, when I asked, as some doubted this

being the case. He said, that he was the most certain witness to

her purity and virginity, inasmuch as king Ecgfrith promised to

20 give him land and much money, if he would induce and prevail on

the queen to share his bed , for he well knew she loved no one

more than him. It is not to be doubted , that this might be in our

age, which trustworthy records attest and report to have often

taken place in bygone days, through the grace of our Lord alone,

25 who also promised to dwell with us ever to the end of the world.

It was also a clear token of this divine marvel, that this same
 318 LIBER QUARTUS .

lichoma bebyrged brosnian ne meahte , pet heo from werlicre

hrinenesse ungewemmed áwunade. Bæd heo swide longe pone
cyning, þæt heo moste weoruldsorge 7 gemænne forlætan, 7 heo
forlete in mynstre pæm soðan cyninge Criste peowian. pæt
heo þa æt nehstan ma þurhteah, ða eode heo in Æbban mynster 5
þære abbudissan, seo was Ecgfrides fáde pæs cyninges ; þæt is
geseted in pære stowe, pe mon nemned Coludis byrig. 7 heo
þær haligrefte onfeng 7 Godes peowhade from pæm foresprecenan
p. 588. biscope Wilferde . Pa was emb an ger æfter pissum þæt heo was
abbudisse geworden, in þæm þeodlonde pe is geceged Elige, þær 10
heo mynster getimbrode Gode wilsumra fæmnena. 7 heo fæmne
monigra modor ongon beon, ge mid bysenum heofonlices lifes
ge eac mid monungum .
Secgað men be hire, seoopan heo mynster gesohte, pæt heo
næfre linnum hræglum brucan wolde ac wyllenum . Ond seldon 15
in hatum baðum heo badian wolde, buton þam hyhstan symbel-
nessum 7 tidum æt Eastran 7 æt Pentecosten 7 þy twelftan dege
ofer Geochol. 7 ponne heo ærest purh hire þegnunge 7 hire
pinenna þa oðre Cristes peowas, pa de þær wæron, onþwegne,
ponne wolde heo ealra nyhst hy bapian 7 þwean. 7 seldon, 20
buton maran symbelnessum 7 tidum ope maran nydþearfe, má
þonne æne side on dæge þæt heo wolde mete þycgan. 7 symle,
gif hire hefigre untrymnesse ne bewere, of pære tide uhtsanges
oð hluttorne dæg in cirican in halgum gebedum stod. Sume
men eac swylce sægdon, þæt heo purh witedomes gast þa adle 25
forecwæde, pe heo on for ferde ; ond swelce eac para Godes peawa
rim, þa de of heora mynstre of middangearde wæron to geleorenne,
þæt heo sweotolice eallum cyðde. Pa geleorde heo to Drihtne on
middum hire hiwum æfter seofon gearum, þæs þe heo abbudessan
had onfeng. Ond pa, gelice swa swa heo bebead, nales in oðre 30
stówe butan in middum hire hiwum æfter endebyrdnesse, þe heo
geleorde, in treowenre pryh was bebyrged.
Pa feng after hire in pa þegnunge abbudissan Seaxburh hire
sweostor, pa hæfde to wife Erconbyrht Contwara cyning. Ond

1. 10. lige T. elige Ca. hélige O. ál ág B. 1. 19. waron onßwegne T.

waron onpwegene B. onpwegene waron O. aðuægene wæron Ca. ? onp-
 IV. 19. 319

lady's body might not decay after burial, showing that she re-
mained inviolate from man's touch. She had long and earnestly
prayed the king, that she might give up all care and thought of
the world, and that he would allow her to serve the true king
5 Christ in a monastery. And when she at last prevailed in
carrying this out, she went into the monastery of the abbess
Ebbe, who was aunt of king Ecgfrith ; which monastery is
situated at a place called Coldingham. And she there received
the veil and consecration to God's service at the hands of the
10 aforesaid bishop Wilfrid. And about a year after this she became
abbess in the district called Ely, where she founded a monastery
of virgins devoted to God. And this virgin began to be mother of
many, both by example of heavenly life and also by her admoni-
tions. Men say of her, that after she entered the monastery, she
15 never would use linen garments, but woollen only. And she would
seldom bathe in hot water, except at the highest festivals and
seasons, as Easter and Pentecost and the twelfth day after Yule tide.
And when she at first, by her own ministrations and those of her
attendants, washed the other servants of Christ who were there,
20 then she would last of all bathe and wash herself. And seldom,
except at greater festivals and seasons, or in case of greater need,
would she touch food more than once a day. And always , unless
unusually severe illness prevented her, she continued in holy
prayer at the church from the time of lauds till clear day. Some
25 also said, that by the spirit of prophecy she foretold the illness of
which she died ; and also the number of those servants of God, who
from her monastery should leave this world, she clearly made
known to all. Then she departed to the Lord amid her house-
hold, seven years after becoming abbess. And then, just as she
30 directed, she was buried in no other place than among her house-
hold, according to the order in which her death took place, and was
laid in a wooden coffin. She was succeeded in her office as abbess
by her sister Seaxburh, the wife of Ærconberht, king of Kent.

burh
we(g)n(d)e cp. gepwænan. 1. 25. for (for struck through) T. purh O. ðurh
be
Ca. B. 1. 27. rim B. sum T. O. Ca. 1. 30. .bead T. bebead O. Ca. B.
 320 LIBER QUARTUS .

mid þy Æðeldry was syxtyne gear bebyrged, pa licode pære

abbudissan hire mægan, þæt heo hire ban up adyde 7 in neowe
pruh gesette 7 in circan gedyde. Pa heht heo sume brodor faran
7 pone stán secan, þæt mon meahte pa druh of geheawan 7
gewyrcan. Pa eodon heo in scíp, forþon Elia lond is æghwonan 5
mid wætrum 7 mid fennum ymbseald, ne hit micele stánas hafað.
pa cwomon heo to sumre ceastre gehrorenre noht feor ponon,
seo is on Englisc Grantacester geceged . 7 heo sona gemetton
bi þære ceastre wallum pruh of hwitum stáne fægere geworhte,
7 seo was swilce eac gerisenlice gehleodad mid gelice stane. 10.
Pa ongeton heo sona, þæt heora ærende wæs 7 heora siðfæt
from Drihtne seolfum gehradod 7 gesyndgad ; 7 heo þæs
Gode panc sægdon, 7 þa þruh to þæm mynstre gelæddon.
Mid þy pa se lichoma þære halgan fæmnan 7 þære Cristes
brýde openre pære byrgenne was ford on leoht gelæded, pa 15
was he gemeted swa ungebrosnad 7 swa ungewemmed, swa heo
þy ylcan dæge forðfered 7 bebyrged ware ; swa swa se foresprecena:
biscop Wilferð 7 monige oore, pa de hit cuðon, cyddon 7 sægdon ;
ac hwæðre cuðran gewitnesse Cyneferð læce, se æt hire wæs,
pa heo for ferde 7 eft þa hire lichoman mon of byrgenne uphof. 20
Was his gewuna þæt he sægde, pa heo untrumu wæs, þæt heo
hæfde micelne swile on hire sweoran. Pa heht me mon, cwæð
p. 589. he, pæt ic pone swile gesticade, pætte seo sceopende wete ut
fleowe, seo þær in wæs. Mid þy ic pat pa dyde, pa was heo
gesegen þurh twegen dagas, þæt hire leohtor 7 wel wære, swa 25
pætte monige tealdon, pæt heo gehæled beon meahte from pære
untrymnesse.. pa þy priddan dæge heo wæs eft hefigad mid
þæm ærrum sarum, 7 sona was gerisen 7 genumen of middan-
gearde, 7 eal þæt sár 7 pone dead mid ecre hælo 7 life
onwænde. Mid þy þa æfter swa monegum gearum hire lichoma 30
was of byrgenne up ahæfen, þa apenedon heo 7 aslógon geteld
ófer , 7 eal seo gesomnung broðra 7 sweostra on twa healfe
singende ymbstodon . Ond seo abbudisse in þæt geteld eode 7
an
1. 1. par T. pære O. Ca. dære B. 1. 2. mægen T. B. magan Ca. mag
(1st a out of a) O. 1. 5. elia T. elíga B. heliga O. Ca. 1. 31. lichomanæs
(n clumsily changed to w : hand and ink not original) T. -ma was 0. Ca. B.
 IV . 1 231
9.

And when Etheldreda had been buried sixteen years, it seemed

well to her sister, the abbess, to take up her bones and put them
in a new coffin and translate them to the church. Then she
ordered some brethren to go in search of stone, out of which a
5 coffin might be hewn and wrought. So they went in a boat, for
the district of Ely is surrounded on all sides by water and fens,
and the stones there are not of large size . Then they came to a
ruined town, not far distant, called in English Grantchester. And
they immediately found by the walls of the town a fair coffin
10 wrought of white stone, furnished with a very proper lid also of

similar material. Then at once they perceived, that their errand

and journey were promoted and prospered by the Lord himself ; and
they thanked God for it, and brought the coffin to the monastery.
When the body of this holy virgin and bride of Christ was brought
15 out into the light, on the grave being opened, it was found as sound
and undecayed, as if she had died and been buried that very day ;
as the aforesaid bishop Wilfrid and many others, who knew the
matter, testified and declared . But still more certain testimony

was that of the leech Cynefrith, who was present when she died,
20 and again when her body was taken up out of the grave. He

was wont to say, that when ill she had a large tumour on her
neck. ' Then ' said he, ' they told me to lance the tumour, that the

noxious moisture within might flow out. When I did so, she
seemed to be easier and well for two days, so that many con-

25 cluded she might be cured of the disorder. But on the third day
she suffered again with the former pain ; she soon was seized and
taken from the earth, and exchanged all pain and death for
eternal life and health . When after so many years her body was

taken up out of the grave, they set up and spread a tent over it,
30 and all the congregation of brethren and sisters on either side
stood by singing. And the abbess went into the tent, and a few
Y
322 LIBER QUARTUS.

fea monna mid heo, þæt heo þa bán woldon up adon 7 inpwean
7 gefeormian æfter monna gewunan. Pa semninga gehyrdon
we pa abbudissan inne hludre stefne cleopian : Seo wuldor,
cwæ heo, Drihtnes noman. Da æfter medmiclum fæce pa
cleopode me mon 7 cegde in. Onwreogon pa duru þæs geteldes ; 5
pa geseah ic lichoman pære halgan Godes fæmnan up ahefenne of
byrgenne 7 on bedde gesetedne : 7 was slapendum men gelicra
ponne deadum. Pa onwreogon heo eac hire ondwlitan 7 eowdon
me da wunde pas snides, pe ic geo ær dyde. Ɖa was heo
fæstlice gehalad, þætte wundorlice gemete for openre wunde 7 10
geoniendre, mid pa heo bebyrged wæs, pa seo þynneste dolgswæð 7
seo læsseste ateawde ; ge eac ealle pa scytan, þe se lichoma mid
bewunden was, swa onwalge 7 swa neowe 7 swa clæne æteawdon, swa
swa þy seolfan dæge hire þæm clænum leomum ymbseald wæron.
Secgad eac men, pa heo prycced was 7 swenced mid swile 7 15
sare hire swiran, þæt heo wære swide lustfulliende pisse untrym-
nesse cynne, 7 heo gewunalice cwæde oft : Ic wat cuðlice, þæt ic
be gewyrhtum on minum sweoran bere pa byrðenne pisse aðle
7 pisse untrymnesse, in þæm ic gemon mec geo beran, þa ic geong
wæs, þa iidlan byrdenne gyldenra sigila. Ond ic gelyfo, pætte me 20
fordon seo uplice arfæstnis wolde mec hefigade beon mid sáre
mines sweoran, þæt ic swa wære onlesed pære scylde pære
swiðe idlan leasnisse, mid þy me nu for gólde 7 for gimmum
of swiran forðhlifað seo readnis 7 bryne pas swiles 7 wærces.
Hwæt þa gelomp mid þa gehrinenisse para ilcena gegyrelena, þe 25
mon of hire lichoman dyde, pætte deofulseoce men 7 monige
oderre untrymnesse oft gehælde wæron. Swelce eac seo þrúh, in
þære heo ærest bebyrged wæs, monegum monna, þe heora eagan
sárgedon 7 hefigodon, wear to hælo, ponne heo heora heafod 7
heora eagan to onheldon 7 him to gebædon : 7 sona seo unges- 30
crepnes þæs sares 7 pære hefignesse from heora eagan gewat. Ono
hwat heo pa pwogon 7 baðodon pone lichoman þære halgan
fæmnan, 7 mid neowum hræglum gegyredon 7 in cirican bæron
7 in þa stænenan þruh gesetton, pe yder gelæded wæs ; 7 þær
nu gena od pisne ondweardan dæg in micelre arwyronesse is hæfd. 35
1. 29. after hefigodon T. has 7 him to gebædon struck through.
 IV . 19. 323

persons with her, to take up the bones and wash and cleanse them,
as the manner of men is. Then suddenly we heard the abbess
within cry out with a loud voice : " Glory be," said she, “ to the name

of the Lord." Then, after a short time, they called me and sum-
5 moned me inside. They opened the door of the tent ; then I saw
the body of God's holy virgin taken up from the grave and laid
upon a bed and she was more like one asleep than dead. Then

they uncovered her face also and showed me the wound of the cut,
which I had formerly made. And it was healed and closed, so that
10 marvellously, instead of an open and yawning wound with which
she was buried, there appeared only the thinnest and slightest
scar ; and also all the cloths, with which the body was swathed,
seemed as entire and fresh and pure as if they had that very day
been put round her pure limbs.' It is also said, that when she was
15 afflicted and suffering with the tumour and pain in her neck, she
rejoiced much in the nature of this malady, and she commonly
repeated : ' I know well that I deserve to bear on my neck the
burden of this illness and malady, as I remember that long ago,
when I was young, I bore the idle burden of a golden necklace.
20 And I believe the divine goodness would have me to be afflicted
with a pain in my neck, that so I might be released from the guilt
of my very idle levity, seeing that I now for gold and gems have
this redness and burning of the tumour and pain standing out
from my neck.' Now it happened that, on touching the robes taken
25 from her body, demoniacs and many other forms of infirmity were
often cured. Also the coffin, in which she was first buried, served
to cure many persons, who had sores and pains in their eyes, when
they bowed down their heads and eyes to it and prayed at it : and
at once the discomfort of the sore and the pain left their eyes .
30 Well then, they washed and bathed the body of the holy virgin,
and wrapping it in new robes carried it into church and laid it in
the stone coffin, which had been brought there ; and there it is still
kept with great honour to the present day. It was also a great
Y 2
 324 LIBER QUARTUS .

Was þæt eac micel wundor, þæt seo þruh was swa gescrepe
þære fæmnan lichoman gemeted, swa swa heo synderlice hire
p. 590. gegearwad wære . Swelce eac seo heafodstow wundorcræftiglice
geworht 7 gescrepelice geheowod æteowde to pam gemete hire
heafdes. 5
Is Elia lond in Eastengla mægðe huhugu syx hund hida in
ealondes gelicnesse. Is eal, swa swa we cwædon, mid fenne 7 mid
wætre ymbsald : ond mid genihtsumnesse ælo, pa de in þæm ilcan
fennum fongne beoð, hit noman onfeng. Þær wilnode mynster
habban seo gemyndgode Cristes peowe, fordon heo of pære ylcan 10
mægðe Eastengla lichoman frympe lædde, swa swa we forespre-
cende wæron .

XXII.

Cap. 21 . Þy nigoðan geare Ecgfrides rices pas cyninges was gepeoded

7 ongunnen hefig gewinn 7 micel gefeoht betweoh hine 7 Æpelred
Mercna cyning. Pa was ofslegen in þæm gefeohte be Treontan 15
þære ea Ælfwine Ecgfrides brodor þæs cyninges, geong æðeling
eahtatynewintre. Se was swide lufiendlic 7 leof æghwæderre
peode, fordon pe his sweostor, seo was Ospryð haten, hæfde
Æðelred Mercna cyning him to wife. Mid by pa grimran
gefeohtes 7 lengran feondscipes ontimber betweoh pa redan cy- 20
ningas 7 þa folc was gesegen up cumende, þa Deodor Gode se
leofa biscop mid godcunde gife 7 fultume mid his halwendre
trymenesse 7 lare pa ongunnon bernisse swa micelre frecennisse
allinga adwæscte , to don þæt he gesibbode pa cyningas betweohn
7 þa folc, pætte næniges monnes feorh to lose weard, ne mara 25
blodgyte was for pæm ofslegenan cyninges breder ; ac he mid fea
wið hine geþingade, þæt heora sib wæs. Dære sibbe wære micelre
tide æfter don betweoh pa ilcan cyningas 7 heora ríce awunedon.
1. 3. wundorcræftigle T. wundurcraftiglice O. sundercraftiglice Ca.
wundorcræfte B. 1. 4. gework T. geworht O. Ca. B. 1. 6. elia T. he-
 IV . 1 , 2 .
9 1 325

marvel that the coffin was found to fit her body so exactly, as if it
had been made specially for her. Also the place for the head
seemed to be wrought with marvellous skill and properly cut out
in proportion to the head. Ely is a district in East Anglia of
5 about six hundred hides, in the form of an island . It is all, as we
have said, encompassed with fen and water : and it got its name
from the abundance of eels caught in these fens. The aforesaid
servant of Christ desired to have a monastery there, because she
derived her origin according to the flesh from this province of East
10 Anglia, as we have already stated.

XXII.

In the ninth year of the reign of king Ecgfrith he and Æthelred,

king of Mercia, began and engaged in a severe struggle and bloody
contest. In the battle by the river Trent, Ælfwine was slain,
brother of king Ecgfrith, a young prince eighteen years of age.
15 He was very amiable and a favourite in both countries, as his
sister, called Osthryth, was wife of Æthelred , king of Mercia. Now
when a subject for furious strife and prolonged enmity between
these violent kings and their nations seemed to be rising up, then
bishop Theodore, well beloved of God, by the divine grace and aid,
20 through his salutary exhortation and advice, completely ex-
tinguished the kindling flames of this great peril , and so fully,
that he brought about peace between the kings and the nations,
and no life was lost, and there was no further bloodshed on account
of the death of the king's brother ; but he arranged a payment of
25 blood money for him, so that there was peace between them. The
conditions of this peace between the kings and their realms con-
tinued long after.
hit
ligea O. élig Ca. B. 1. 9. noman T. hit namon O. hit naman Ca. hit
naman B. 23. fræcennesse B. frecenesse O. -ednesse Ca. -ernisse T.
 326 LIBER QUARTUS .

XXIII .

Cap. 22 . In pæm foresprecenan gefeohte, pa Elfwine pæs cyninges broðor

ofslegen was, was sum gemyndelic wise geworden, seo nis to fors-
wigienne, ac heo brycað monigra hælo, gif heo asægd bið. Wæs
þær ofslegen in pæm gefeohte betweoh odere sum geong cyninges
þegn Ecgfrides, þæs noma wæs Imma . Mid þy he pa þy dæge ond 5
þære æfterfylgendan nihte betweoh þara oðerra ofslegenra [ líc ]
geliic deadum læg, ða æt nyhstan onfeng he gaste 7 wearð
geedwerped 7 up asæt 7 seolfa his wunde wrað, swa swa he
meahte. Ond æfter pon he hine gereste medmicel fæc , da ahof
p. 591. hine up 7 ongan aweg gan, gif he hwær ænigne freond metan 10
meahte, pe his gymenne dyde 7 his wunda lacnian wolde. Pa he
ða þæt dyde , þa was he gemeted 7 genumen from þæm monnum
þæs feondlecan weorodes ; 7 pa læddon hine to heora llaforde, þæt
was Æðelredes gesiið þæs cyninges. Pa frægn hine se, hwæt he
wære, pa ondred he ondettan, þæt he cyninges pegn wære, ac 15
sæde, pæt he folclic mon wære 7 pearfende 7 gewiifad hæfde ;
7 pætte he fordon in pa fyrd cwome, pæt he sceolde cyninges
þegnum heora ondlifen 7 mete lædan mid heora heafodgemæccum.
Pa onfeng se gesiið hine 7 his gýman dyde 7 his wunde het
læcnian. Pa he da ongon trumian 7 haligan, pa bebead he pæt 20
hine mon gebunde, þy læs he on niht onweg fluge 7 bestæle. Pa
ne meahte hine mon gebindan ; fordon sona þæs þe heo onweg
eodon, pa de hine bundon, ponne toslupon da bendas 7 tolesde
wæron.
Hæfde he agenne broðor mæssepreost, pas noma wæs Tuna, 25
se was abbud in þæm mynstre 7 in þære ceastre, seo nu od pis is
nemned from his noman Tunnanceaster. Mid þy he hine hyrde in
þæm gefeohte ofslegenne, pa cwom he 7 sohte in pæm wæle his líc,
hwæðer he hit findan meahte. pa funde he oðerne purh eal ping
him pone gelicestan, pa tealde he pet he hit wære. Bær hine 30
pa to his mynstre, 7 arlice bebyrgde : ond fore alysnesse his sawle

1. 6. [ líc] not in MSS. = inter cadavera occisorum, cp. below his líc. B. how-
ever has datives here, betweoh pam ofslegenum. cp. iv. 29, licum = licumlicum.
 IV . 22 . 327

XXIII.

In the aforesaid fight, when the king's brother Elfwine was

slain, there was a memorable circumstance, which must not be
passed over in silence, for the story may prove the salvation of
many. Now in that battle there was struck down among others
5 a young follower of king Ecgfrith, named Imma. And when he
had lain there that day and the following night, among the corpses
of the others who had fallen, as if dead, then at last he came to
life, recovered, and sat up, and bound up his wounds, as well as he
could. And after he had rested for a short time, he got up and began
10 to move away, on the chance of finding a friend somewhere, to take
care of him and attend to his wounds. While doing this he was
met and seized by men from the enemy's army ; and they brought
him to their lord, who was a gesith of king Æthelred. When he
asked him what he was, he feared to acknowledge that he was a
15 follower of the king , so he declared that he was a man of the people,
poor and married ; and that he had joined the expedition, in order
to fetch supplies and food to the king's followers and their com-
panions. Then the gesith received him, took care of him, and
ordered his wounds to be attended to. And when he began to
20 recover and get well, he directed him to be bound, that he might
not flee away or steal off by night. Then no one could bind him ;
for, as soon as those who had bound him went away, the bonds
gave and became loose. He had a brother Tuna, a priest, who was
abbot at the monastery and town, which is still to this day named
25 after his name, Towcester. On hearing that he had been slain in
the battle, he came and searched among the slain in hopes of find-
ing his corpse. And he found another, exactly like him in all
points, and supposed it was he. Then he brought him to his
monastery and buried him with honour : and often sang masses

1. 25. ma (space vacant at end of line for two letters, next begins ma) T. noma
Ca. nama O. B.
 328 LIBER QUARTUS.

gelomlice mæssesong dyde. Pære mærsunge was geworden, þæt

ic ær cwæð, þæt hine nænig mon meahte gebindan, ac sona
instæpe pa bendas toslupon, 7 he onlysed wæs.
Betweoh pa þing þa eac se gesiþ, se de hine hæfde, ongon wun-
drian 7 hine frignan, for hwon hine mon gebindan ne meahte, 5
Ond hine ascode hwæder he da alysendlecan rúne cude, 7 þa stafas
mid him awritene hæfde, be swylcum men leas spel secgað 7
spreocað, þæt hine mon forpon gebindan ne meahte . Pa onds-
warede he þæt he noht swylcra cræfta ne cude. Ac ic hæbbe, cwæð
he, in minre mægðe minne broðor mæssepreost ; ond ic wat, þæt 10
he mec ofslegene talað 7 for mec gelomlice massan deð. 7 gif ic
nu in oðrum life wære, ponne wære min sawl þær þurh his
pingunge from þæm écum bendum 7 witum onlysed. Mid þy
he ða hwylce hugu tid mid pone gesiið hæfd wæs, þa ongeton hy,
pa hine geornlecor sceawodon, of his ondwlitan 7 on gebærum 15
7 eac swylce on his wordum, þæt he ne was of þearfendum folce ,
swa swa he sægde, ac pæt he was ædele strynde . Pa gecegde
se gesið hine deagollice to him ; frægn hine pa geornlice, hwonon he
wære ; ond him was gehatende, þæt he him noht lades ne yfeles
gedon wolde, gif he him þæt hluttorlice gecypan wolde, hwæt he 20
wære. pa dyde he swa : ondette him 7 sægde, þæt he wære
cyninges þegn. Pa ondswarede he him 7 cwæð : Purh syndrige
pine ondsware ic onget 7 oncneow, þat þu ne wære swa folclic mon
swa du sægdest. Ond ic pe nu secge, þæt þu eart wið mec deape
p. 592. scyldig, forpon ealle mine broðor 7 mine magas in þæm gefeohte 25
wæron ofslegene. Ond hwæðre ic pec ne wille ofslean, þy læs
ic min gehat 7 mine treowe forleose.
Pa he fullice getrumad was, þa bebohte he hine in Lundenne to
sumum Frysan. Pa wolde se hine bindan, ac he ne from him, ne
da he pyder læded was, meahte ænige pinga gebunden beon, peah 30
þe his feond hine onsette oder benda cyn ond eft oder : 7 oftost his
bendas toslupon 7 onlesde wæron from underntide, þonne mon
mæssan oftost singed. pa pa dæt þa geseah se de hine gebohte , þæt
he mid bendum ne meahte geheaðrod beon, forgef him pa lyfnesse,

1. 5. 2nd hine O. Ca. hi T. Not in B. 1.6. alysedlecan T. alysendlican

O. Ca. alyfedlican B.
 IV. 22 . 329

for the release of his soul . It was through this celebration that,
as I mentioned before, no one could bind him, but at once the
bonds gave way, and he was released . Meantime the gesith also,
who kept him, began to wonder and ask him, why no one could bind
5 him. And he enquired whether he knew the charm for loosing,

and had the words with him written out, about which men tell
idle tales, saying that this was the reason he could not be bound.
Then he answered that he knew nothing of such arts. 'But I have ,'

said he, ' in my own country, a brother who is a priest ; and I am

10 sure he accounts me slain and often says mass for me. And

if I were now in another life, then my soul there would be

released from eternal bonds and punishment by his intercession.'
Now, when he had been detained for some time with the gesith,
those who looked at him more narrowly, perceived from his face
15 and bearing and his words also, that he was not of the poorer
class, as he said, but of noble descent. Then the gesith called him
privately to him ; questioned him strictly as to his origin , and
promised to do him no harm or ill, if he would tell him plainly, what
he was . Then he did so : confessed and said, that he was a follower

20 of the king. Then the gesith answered and said : ' From certain of
your answers I felt and saw, that you were not such a common man,
as you asserted. And now I tell you, you deserve death at my
hands, for all my brothers and kindred fell in that battle. Still I
will not kill you, lest I break my promise and my faith.' When he
25 was fully recovered , he sold him in London to a Frisian. Then he
wanted to bind him , but he could not in any way be bound either
by him, or when he was being led there, though his enemy put fetters
on him, now of one, now of another kind : and most generally his
bonds gave way and were loosed after the third hour, when mass

30 is most generally sung. When the purchaser saw, that he could

not be confined with bonds, he gave him permission to ransom
 330 LIBER QUARTUS .

þæt he moste mid feo hine alysan, gif he meahte. 7 he him aðas
sealde, paæt he hine eft gesohte oope his feoh him onsende. pa
cwom he to Cent to Hlothere pæm cyninge, se was sweostor sunu
Æðeldryde pære cwene, bi pære bufan sægd was , fordon he geo
þære ilcan cwene þegn wæs . Bæd hine ða, þæt he him þat weorð 5
his alesnesse gesealde ; 7 he him getiðade, 7 his hlaforde for hine
onsende, swa swa he geheht.
7 he pa æfter pissum was hweorfende to his eðle ; 7 to his
breder becwom , ond him eal æfter endebyrdnesse sægde, ge hwylce
widerwordnesse ge eft hwylce frofre in þæm widerwordnissum hine 10
becwom. Ond he gecneow purh his geseagone, þætte pæm tidum
swiðust þa bende onlesde wæron, þæm þe for hine þa symbelnesse
mæssena mærsode wæron. Ge eac feola oderra gescrepa 7 gesynta,
Ja pe him taltriendum gelumpon, purh pa brodorlican þingunge 7
purh lác pære halwendan onsægdnesse he oncneow 7 ongeat heo- 15
fonlice him forgifen weosan. Ond monige men pa de pas ping
gehyrdon secgan from pæm forsprecenan were, wæron bærnde in
geleafan 7 in arfæstnisse willan to gebiddenne ge ælmessan to
sellenne ge Gode asægdnesse to beranne pas halgan láces, fore
generednisse heora freonda para de of weorulde geleordon. Forpon 20
heo ongeton, þæt seo halwende onsægdnis to ecre alysnesse swiðade
7 fromade ge lichoman ge sawle. Dis spel me sume para sægdon, þa
de hit from þæm seolfan were gehyrdon, in pæm hit geworden was.
Ond ic hit forpon hluttorlice 7 untweondlice gelyfde pæm cyriclecan
stære to gepeodenne 7 in to gesettenne. 25

XXIV .

Cap. 23. Was ymb syx hund wintra 7 hundeahtatig from pære Drihten-
lecan menniscnesse, pætte seo æfeste Cristes peowe Hild abbudisse
pæs mynstres, pe is cweden Streoneshealh, swa swa we beforan
sægdon, æfter monegum heofonlecum dædum, þe heo on eorðan dyde,
to onfonne pas heofonlecan lifes méde- ond heo of eorðan alæded 30
leorde by fifteogeþan dæge Kalendarum Decembrium, mid þy heo
hæfde syx 7 syxti wintra. Pæm wintrum todældum efenlice
1. 32. s.yxti (e ? erased before y.) T. syxtig (y in erasure) 0. syxtig Ca.
syxti B.
 IV. 22 , 23. 331

himself with money, if he could. And he made oath to return or

send his ransom . Then he went to Kent to king Hlothere, who

was sister's son of queen Etheldreda, mentioned above, as he for-

merly had been one of the queen's followers. And he begged him
5 to give him the value of his ransom ; and he granted it to him, and
sent it to his lord for him, according to promise. After this he
returned to his native country ; and coming to his brother told him
all in order, both his adversity and the comfort that came to him
in his adversity. And he perceived by his report, that the bonds
10 were loosed just about the time, that the solemnity of the mass
was celebrated for him. And also many other advantages and de-
liverances, which befell him in his peril, he saw and perceived had
been divinely vouchsafed to him by his brother's intercession, and
by the offering of the saving sacrifice. And many, who heard this
15 told by the aforesaid man, were inflamed in faith and pious de-
votion, to pray and give alms and offer to God the sacrifice of the

holy oblation, for the relief of their friends who had departed from
this world. For they perceived , that the saving sacrifice availed
for eternal redemption and profited both body and soul. I was
20 told this story by some, who heard it from the very man, in whose
case it took place. And for this reason, I certainly and un-
hesitatingly believed I should add and insert it in this ecclesiastical
history.

XXIV .

It was about six hundred and eighty years from the Lord's
25 incarnation, when the pious servant of Christ, Hild, abbess of the
monastery which is called Whitby, as already mentioned, after
many heavenly deeds performed on earth, in order to receive the

meed of heavenly life, was carried up from earth and departed on

the seventeenth of November, in her sixty- sixth year. If the years
 332 LIBER QUARTUS .

dæle, preo 7 pritig þæm ærestum heo æðelice gefylde in weoruldhade

p. 593. drohtiende ; ond efn fela þa æfterfylgendan in munuclife heo
æðelicor Drihtne gehalgode . Was heo eac swylce ædele in
woruldgebyrdum, þæt heo was pas cyninges Eadwines neafan
dohtor, se was Hereric haten. Mid þy cyninge he to bodunge 7 to 5
lare þæs eadgan gemynde Paulinus þæs ærestan biscopes Norpan-
hymbra Cristes geleafan 7 geryno onfeng, 7 pone unwemne geheold,
oð þæs he geearnode, pæet he to his gesihoe becwom.
Pa heo þa Hild woruldhad forlet 7 Gode anum geteode peowigan,
þa gewat heo in Eastengla mægðe, forpon heo was þæs cyninges 10
mæge: willade ponon, gif heo meahte, pæt heo wolde hire edel forlætan
7 eal, þæt heo for worulde hæfde, 7 wolde cuman in Gallia ríce 7 in
Caale pæm mynstre in elpeodignesse fore Drihtne lifigean, þæt heo
by eað meahte pæt ece edel in heofonum geearnigean. Forpon pe
in þæm ilcan mynstre hire sweostor Hereswið, seo was Aldwulfes 15
modor Eastengla cyninges, regollicum peodscipum underpeoded in
pa tid baad pone ecan sige. Pær bysene heo was inhyrgende in
foresetenesse elpeodgunge, 7 eal ger in þære foresprecenan mægðe
Eastengla hæfd was , oð þæt heo eft from Aidane pæm biscope was
ham gelaðad 7 gesponen. Pa onfeng heo anes heowscipes stowe 20
to norðdæle Wiire þære ea, 7 þær efenlice an ger munuclif dyde mid
feawum hire geferum. Efter pissum heo was geworden abbudisse
in þæm mynstre pe is geceged Heoroteae. Pæt mynster wæs
geworden 7 getimbred noht micle ær from Hegiu þære * æfestan
Cristes peowe, seo ærest wiifa is sægd in Norðanhymbra mægðe, 25
þæt heo munuchade 7 haligryfte onfenge purh halgunge Aidanes
pas biscopes. Ac heo nales æfter micelre tide, pæs þæ þæt mynster
getimbred wæs, gewat to pære ceastre, pe in Englisc is gehaten
Kwelcaceaster, 7 hire wiic asette, pæt heo Gode inlifde. pa feng
to þæs mynstres gerece Hild seo Cristes peowe, 7 heo þæt sona 30
mid regollice life gesette 7 geendebyrdade, swa swa heo æt gelærdum
wæpnedmonnum geleornian meahte. Fordon Aidan se biscop 7
monige odere æfeste weras 7 gode, þa de heo cuðan, for hire snytro
7 wiisdome 7 for lufan þæs godcundan þeowdomes heo gelomlice

1. 8. þæt 0. p. Ca. dæt B. pa. T. 1. 24. æfestan = religiosa. ærestan

T. O. Ca. B. Cp. 360. 15.
 IV. 23. 333

be divided into two equal parts, she spent the first thirty-three
nobly moving in the world ; and the same number subsequently
she still more nobly consecrated to the Lord in conventual life.
She was also nobly born in worldly origin, being daughter of a
5 nephew of king Eadwine, called Hereric. He, along with the
king, received the faith and sacraments of Christ, at the preaching
and teaching of Paulinus of blessed memory, who was first bishop
of Northumbria ; and he kept the faith undefiled , till he was found
deserving to appear before His face. Now when Hild left the world
10 and determined to serve God alone, she withdrew to East Anglia,
being of the king's kin : from this she desired, if possible, relinquish-
ing her home and all she had in the world , to pass into Gaul and
to live in exile for the Lord at the monastery of Chelles, that she
might more easily earn an eternal home in heaven. For at this
15 monastery her sister Hereswith, mother of Aldwulf, king of East
Anglia, lived under regular discipline, and was then awaiting the
eternal crown of victory. In imitation of her example she pur-
posed to go abroad , and was detained a whole year in the aforesaid
province of East Anglia, till she was invited and persuaded to
20 return home again by bishop Aidan. Then she received, to the
north of the river Wear, ground sufficient for one family, and there
similarly she lived one year, under conventual discipline with a few
associates . After this she became abbess at the monastery which is
called Hartlepool. This monastery was founded and erected, not
25 long before, by Hegiu the pious servant of Christ, who is said to
have been the first woman in Northumbria to become a nun and
take the veil, being admitted by bishop Aidan. But she, soon
.
after the monastery was erected, withdrew to the town which in
English is called Tadcaster, and built herself a dwelling where
30 she might live to God. Then Hild servant of Christ succeeded to
the government of the monastery, and she soon established and ar-
ranged it with regular life, as well as she could ascertain from
learned men . For bishop Aidan and many other pious and godly
men, who knew her, often went and visited her, because of her
35 prudence and wisdom and love for the divine service ; and they
 334 LIBER QUARTUS .

neosodon 7 sohton ; 7 heo georne lufodon 7 heo eornlice tydon 7

lærdon.
Mid by heo þa feola geara þissum mynstre in regollices lifes lare
swide geornful fore wæs, da gelomp, þæt heo onfeng mynster to tim-
brenne 7 to endebyrdienne in stowe, seo is geceged Strineshalg ; 75
heo þæt weorc, pe hire pa to gedeoded was, únaswundenlice gefylde.
Forpon pa seolfan, pe ær þæt mynster heoldon 7. rehton, heo mid
peodscipum regollices lifes insette 7 trymede ; 7 heo eac swylce þær
soðfæstnesse 7 arfæstnesse 7 clænnesse 7 oderra gastlicra mægena
gehæld ond swipost sibbe 7 Godes lufan geornlice lærde, pætte in 10
bisene pære frympelecan ciricean nænig þær welig was ne nænig
wædla ; ac eallum wæron eal gemæno, 7 noht agnes ængum gesegen
was. Was heo swa micelre snytro 7 wisdomes, pætte nales þæt án
p. 594 pætte pa mættran men ymb heora nydpearfnisse wæron, ac eac
swylce cyningas 7 ealdormen oft from hire gepeaht 7 wisdom sohton , 15
7 hine þær georne gemetton. Ond heo swa swide leornunge
godcundra gewreota 7 soðfæstnisse weorcum hire underpeodde dyde
to bigongenne, pætte per eadelice monige meahton beon gemette
pa þe to ciriclicum hade , pet is to wigbedes þegnunge, geþungne
wæron. 20
Pæt is to tacne, þat we gesawon æfter pon fiif biscopas, pa
de of þam ilcan mynstre cwomon 7 þær gelærde wæron : 7 þa
weron ealle micelre leornunge 7 halignesse weras. Pa wæron pus
hatne 7 nemde, Bosa, Ætla, Oftfor, Iohannes 7 Wilfrið. Bi þæm
ærestan we bufan cwædon, þæt he wære in Eoforwiicceastre to 25
biscope gehalgad . Be pæm æfteran is hrædlice to witanne, þæt he
was in Dorcetceastre to biscope gehalgod . Bi þæm neahstan twæm
her is æfter to cweðanne, þæt heora se æresta was at Heagostealdes
ea, ond se æftera was in Eoforwiicceastre to biscope gehalgad .
Bi þæm midlestan is nu to secgenne ; þa he in æghwæðerum 30
mynstre Hilde pære abbudissan geornlice his leornunge ætfealh 7
gehælde haligra gewreota, pa æt nyhstan wilnade he on his mode
pa fulfremedan þing. Cwom pa to Cent to pære eadgan gemynde

1. 4. fore O. Ca.Not in T. B. (but B has on dissum). 1. 19. pa pe 0.

u
da pe Ca. pa de B. pætte T. 1. 30. no T. nu O. Ca. B. 1. 31. atfealh
Ca. B. atfeahh T. œtfalh O.
 IV. 23. 335

loved her fervently and carefully taught and instructed her. Now
when she had for many years ruled over this monastery, with great
diligence in the teaching of regular discipline, it happened that she
undertook to construct and arrange a monastery, at the place which
5 is called Whitby ; and she carried out the work, which was then
assigned to her, without slothfulness. For she appointed, under the
discipline of a regular life, the same persons who had previously
held and ruled the monastery, and encouraged them ; and she also
taught there earnestly the maintenance of truth, religion, purity,
10 and other spiritual virtues, and above all peace and the love of God,
so that, after the example of the primitive church, no one there
was rich and no one poor ; but all had all things in common, and
no one regarded anything as his own. She was of such great
prudence and wisdom, that not only ordinary men came there about
15 their business, but even kings and princes often sought counsel and
wisdom from her, and there readily found it. And she set those
under her so fully to the study of the Scriptures and to works of
truth, that many could easily be found there who were suitable
for the ecclesiastical state, that is for the service of the altar. The
20 proof of this is, that we subsequently have seen five bishops , who
came from this monastery and had received instruction there : and
these were all men of great learning and holiness. Their names
are as follows : Bose, Etla, Oftfor, John and Wilfrid. We have

stated already about the first, that he was consecrated bishop of

25 York. About the second we may briefly intimate, that he was con-
secrated bishop of Dorchester on Thames. As to the last two, we
shall have to relate subsequently, how the former was consecrated
bishop of Hexham, and the latter bishop of York. About the
middle one we may now say, that when in both the monasteries of
30 the abbess Hild, he zealously devoted himself to his studies and to
the observance of holy Scripture, at last he desired in his mind the
more perfect way. Then he came to Kent to archbishop Theodore
 336 LIBER QUARTUS .

Theodore arcebiscope. Efter pon pe he þær sum fæc halgum

leornungum gefealh, pa wolde he eac swylce Róme gesecan, þæt
in þa tid was micles mægenes tald 7 gelefed . Pa he ponon eft
hwearf, pa gesohte he eft Breotone : ferde pa in Hwicca mæge..
per was pa Osric cyning ; 7 he þær Godes word 7 þæs halgan 5
geleafan bodade 7 lærde, 7 somod ætgædre lifes bysene on him
seolfum gegearwode eallum þæm pe hine gesegon 7 gehyrdon : 7 he
micle tide þær wunade. In þa ilcan tíd se biscop þære mægðe, se
wæs Bosel haten, was mid swa micle untrymnesse his lichoman
hefigad, þæt he pa biscoppegnunge purh hine þegnian ne meahte. 10
Fordon pa ealra heora dóme se foresprecena wer for hine in bis-
cophade was gecoren ; ond pa purh Edelredes hæse Mercna
cyninges þær eadgan gemynde Wilferð biscop hine to biscope
gehalgode, se in pa tíd pone biscophad þegnade Midelengla. Forpon
se ærcebiscop Theodor was pa forðfered , 7 nænig oder biscop þa 15
gena for hine gehalgad was. In pære ilcan mægðe hwene ær, þæt
is ær þæm foresprecenan Godes men Bosle, was of þære ilcan
abbudissan mynstre sum from wer 7 wel gelæred 7 scearpre
gleawnesse, [se] was to biscope gecoren , pas noma was Tatfrið. Ac ær
pon pe he gehadad beon mealite, pæt he was mid hrædlice deade 20
forgripen. Ono seo foresprecene Cristes peowe Hild abbudisse—
ealle, pa pe hy cupon, fore arfæstnisse tacne 7 Godes gife gewunedan
heo módor cégean 7 nemnan. 7 nales pt an pet heo in hire
mynstre pæm ondweardum lifes bysen gestode, ac eac swylce
monegum feor wuniendum, to pæm þe se gesælga hlisa hire georn- 25
fulnesse 7 hire magenes becwom, þæt him se godre ræce 7 hælo
intingan degnade.
Was pæt eac gedefen, pætte pet swefn gefylled wære, pætte
Breogoswið hire modor geseah on hire cildhade. Pa Hereric hire
P. 595. wer wracade under Cerdice Bretta cyninge, 7 þær was mid attre 30
acweald, pa geseah heo purh swefn, swa swa he semninga from hire
ahefen 7 alæded wære. Pa sohte heo hine mid ealre geornfulnesse
7 nænige swade his owern æteowdon. Pa heo hine da bihygdelice
7 geornlice solte, pa gemette heo semninga under hire hrægle

1. 10. ne O. Ca. B. Wanting in T. 1. 19. [se] has dropt out of T. O. Ca.

owing to preceding -nesse. B. has reconstructed the passage.
 IV. 23 . 337

of blessed memory. After he had there studied theology for some

time, he desired also to visit Rome, which at that time was ac-
counted and believed an act of great virtue. On his return he
once more visited Britain : and made his way to the province of
5 the Hwiccas. At that time Osric was king there ; and he there
preached and taught the word of God and his holy faith, and at
the same time exhibited in himself a pattern of life to all, who saw
and heard him and there he remained long. Just then the bishop
of the province, Bosel by name, was attacked with severe bodily
10 infirmity, and could no longer of himself discharge the episcopal
duties. Accordingly then by the general voice the aforesaid man
was selected for the bishop's office in his room ; and by the directions
of Æthelred, king of Mercia, bishop Wilfrid of blessed memory,
who at that time performed episcopal ministrations among the
15 Middle Angles , consecrated Oftfor as bishop. For archbishop
Theodore was then dead, and as yet no one had been consecrated
in his place. In this province shortly before, that is before the
aforesaid man of God Bosel, there was a man of energy, learning
and acuteness, from the monastery of the same abbess, who was
20 chosen as bishop, by name Tatfrith. But before he could be
ordained, he was suddenly carried off by death. Now the aforesaid
servant of Christ, the abbess Hild, by all who knew her, in token of
her piety and God's favour, was generally called by the name of
mother. And she not only was an example of life to those who
25 were present in her monastery, but also to many living at a
distance, to whom the felicitous report of her zeal and virtue
came, it served as an occasion for godly amendment and for salva-
tion. It was also proper, that the dream should be fulfilled which
her mother, Breogoswith, saw in her daughter's childhood. When
30 her husband, Hereric, was in exile under Cerdic, king of the Britons,
and was there taken off by poison, she saw in a dream, as though
he was suddenly lifted up and carried away from her. Then she
sought him with all care, and no trace of him appeared anywhere.
And while she carefully and earnestly sought for him, suddenly
35 she found under her robe a very precious golden necklace. Now
Z
338 LIBER QUARTUS .

gyldne sigele swide deorwyrde. Pa heo pa geornlice heo sceawode

7 beheold, pa was heo gesegen mid swide micelre beorhtnesse leohtes
scinan, þæt heo eal Breotene gemæro mid hire leohtes sciman gefylde.
Pæt swefn was soolice gefylled in hire deahter, bi þære we nu
sprecao. Forpon hire líf nales hire anre 7 hire underdeoddum 5
was leohtes bisen, ac swide monegum wide þæm þe woldon Gode
wel lifigean .
Ono mid by heo pa monig ger þyssum mynstre, þæt is æt Streones-
heale, in abbudissan þegnunge fore wæs, pa licede pæm arfæstan
foreseonde usse hæle hire pa halgan sawle eac swylce mid longre 10
untrymnesse lichoman ádemde 7 asodene beon, þæt æfter þæs
apostoles bisene hire mægen in untrumnesse lichoman gefremed 7
getrymed wære. Pa was heo gestonden mid hefigre untrymnesse
lichoman, 7 þurh syx singal ger þære ilcan hefignesse þære adle
unblinnendlice won. Ond in ealre pære tide heo næfre blon hire 15
sceppende ælmehtegum Gode poncunge don, ge eac pa bebodenan
heorde hire monian 7 læran, þæt heo ealle gemyndige wæron hire
bisene, pæt hy in þæm gesyndelecum þingum 7 in þære onfangnon
hælo lichoman geornlice Drihtne peowde 7 hyrde, 7 on pam
widerweardum þingum odde on lichoman untrymnessum þæt heo 20
symle getreowlice Drihtne poncunge dyde.
Pa was by seofoðan geare hire untrymnesse, þætte seo adl 7 þæt
sár hwyrfde in hyre innodas. 7 heo becwom to pæm ytemæstan
dæge : 7ymb honcred utan heo onfeng wegneste pære swiðe halgan
gemænsumnesse Cristes lichoman 7 his blode. Pa geheht heo þa 25
Godes peowas to hire, pa de in þæm ilcan mynstre wæron ; 7 heo
þa gyt hy monade 7 lærde, þæt hy betweoh hym heoldon 7 eallum
Godes monnum sibbe 7 lufan. Ond betweohn þa word hyre
trymenesse 7 laare heo blide dead geseah ; 7 gean soðre þæt ic
Drihtnes wordum spreco, þæt heo of deade leorde to life. 30
pa was in pære seolfan nihte, pætte se ælmihtega Drihten hire
forðfore in oðrum mynstre fyrr gesettum, þæt heo þy ylcan geare
ær getimbrede 7 is nemned Heacanos , mid sweotolre gesyhoe wæs

1. 10. swylce O. Ca. B. swylcre T. 1. 15. unblinnendlice B. unblin-

nedlice T. unablinnendlice Ca. nnablin.nendlice (erasure of vertical stroke)
0. 1. 19. geornlice to lichoman ( 13 words) wanting T. O. as text (but
 IV. 23 . 339

when she looked at this and regarded it earnestly, it seemed to

shine with great brightness of light, so that it filled all the borders
of Britain with the rays of its light. This dream was really fulfilled
in her daughter, of whom we are now speaking. For her life was an
5 example of light, not only to herself and those under her, but also
to many far and wide who wished to lead a good life before God.
Now when she had been many years in the office of abbess over
this monastery at Whitby, it pleased the gracious author of our
salvation, that her holy soul also should be proved and afflicted
10 with long-continued bodily infirmity, that after the example of the
apostle her virtue should be perfected and confirmed in infirmity
of body. Then she was attacked with severe bodily infirmity, and
for six years in succession struggled unceasingly with the severity
of this illness . And during all that time she never ceased to give
15 thanks to God Almighty her Creator, and also to admonish and
instruct the flock committed to her, to remember one and all her
example, that they, in the days of prosperity and while granted
bodily health, should zealously serve and obey the Lord, and in
time of adversity or bodily infirmity ever faithfully give thanks to
20 the Lord. Then, in the seventh year of her affliction, the disease
and pain attacked her internally. And she came to her last day :
and about the time of cockcrow she received the viaticum of the
most holy communion of Christ's body and blood . Then she
summoned to her the servants of God, who were in this monastery ;
25 and she once more warned and taught them to maintain peace and
love with one another and all men of God. And during these
words of exhortation and instruction she joyously saw death ap-
proach ; or, to speak more truly in the words of the Lord, she
passed from death to life. It came to pass on the same night, that
30 God Almighty vouchsafed to reveal her death in a clear vision, at
another monastery lying at a distance, which she had founded
previously in the same year, called Hackness. In this monastery

peowde with w on erasure of d ; lichaman) ; Ca. (but deowde ; lichoman

B. omits heo ; has peowedon 7 hyrdon ; oððe þy lichaman. 1. 22. þæst
(s partly erased) T. 70. Ca. B.
Z 2
 340 LIBER QUARTUS.

geea meded to onwreonne. Was in þæm seolfan mynstre sumu

haligu nunne, þære noma wæs Begu, seo was Drihtne gehalgad
in clænum mægðhade ma ponne pritig wintra ; 7 heo þær in
munuchade Drihtne peowade. Pa was heo restende in sweostra
slæperne, da gehyrde heo semninga in þære lyfte uppe cuðne swég 5
7 hleoðor heora clucgan, þær heo wunedon to gebedum gecegde 7
awehte beon, pon heora hwyle of worulde geleored wæs . Pa geseah
p. 596. heo openum eagum, þæs þe hire puhte, of pæs huses hrófe úfan micel
leoht cuman ; 7 eal þæt hus gefylde. Pa heo pa in þæt leoht
bihygdelice locade 7 hit georne beheold, pa geseah heo pære fore- 10
sprecenan Godes peowe sawle Hilde pære abbudissan in þæm seolfan
leohte, engla weorodum gelædendum, to heofonum úp borenne beon.
Mid by heo þa þy slæpe tobrægd, þa geseah heo odere sweostor
ymb heo restende. Da onget heo ge in þæm swefne ge on hire módes
gesyhoe hire ateawed weosan, pætte heo geseah. 7 heo sona arás 15
mid micle ege afyrhted 7 orn to pære fæmnan, pe da was mynstres
abbudisse - wæs Hilde gingre-pære noma wæs Freogið. 7 mid
wópe 7 mid tearum was swide geondgoten, ond longe sworettunge
was teonde 7 hire sægde ealra heora modur Hilde abbudissan pa of
worulde geleoran, 7 hyre geseondre mid micle leohte 7 mid engla 20
preatum to pæm ecean leohte heofona rices wuldres 7 to gemanan þara
uplicra ceastorwarena astigan. Da heo pa þæt gehyrde, pa weahte
heo ealle pa sweostor, 7 heht to cirican gangan ; 7 in gebedum 7
on sealmsonge for heora módor sawle georne þingodon . Pa heo þæt
pa geornlice dydon pa láfe pære neahte tide, pa cwomon swide ær in 25
dagunge sume broðor, þa de hyre forðfore sægdon, from þære stowe
pe heo forðfered wæs . Pa ondswaredon heo 7 cwædon , pæt heo pt
ilce ær wisten 7 ongeaton. 7 mid by heo pa purh endebyrdnesse pæm
broðrum arehton, hu heo pás ping 7 hwonne heo geleornodon, ond
heo him sægdon, in hwylce tiid heo of middangearde leorde, pa was 30
gemeted, þæt hyre geleornes was in þa ilcan tíd , þe hire purh pa
gesyho ateawed was. 7 mid fægre gepwærnisse para wisena wæs
godcundlice foresegen, þæt mid þy heo hyre uutgong gesegon of
þeossum lífe, pa da uppe ongeton hire ingong in þæt ece liif haligra

1. 22. gehyrdon T. gehyrde O. Ca. B. 1. 26. f...rom (traces of three erased

letters, illegible) T. from. O. Ca. fram B.
 IV. 23 . 341

there was a holy nun named Begu, consecrated to the Lord in pure
virginity for more than thirty years, and serving the Lord there
in monastic life . While sleeping in the sisters' dormitory, she
suddenly heard, high up in the air, the familiar sound and ring of
5 their bell, with which they were usually called to prayer and roused,
when any of their number departed from the world. Then, as it
seemed to her, she saw with open eyes a great light come from the
roof above and it filled all that house. As she looked attentively
at that light and regarded it earnestly, she saw the soul of the
10 aforesaid servant of God, the abbess Hild, borne up to heaven in
this light and escorted by hosts of angels. Now when she awoke
from sleep, she saw the other sisters about her asleep. Then she
perceived, that, what she saw, was shown her in the dream and in a
mental vision. And at once she arose, trembling with great fear,
15 and ran to the virgin, who was then abbess of the monastery ; she
was younger than Hild and named Freogith. And she was all
suffused with weeping and tears, drew long sighs, and told her
that the mother of them all, the abbess Hild, was then departing
from the world, and in her sight, amid a great light and bands of
20 angels, was ascending to the eternal light of glory in the kingdom
of heaven, and to fellowship with the heavenly citizens. On hear-
ing this she aroused all the sisters, bidding them go to church ; and
there in prayer and singing of psalms they earnestly entreated for
the soul of their mother. Now when they had earnestly done so
25 for the rest of the night, there came very early at dawn some
brethren, to announce her decease, from the place where she died.
Then they answered and said, that they had previously known and
understood this. And when they had explained to the brethren
in order, how and when they had learnt this, and told them the
30 hour of her departure from earth, it was found, that her departure
was at the very hour, at which it was shown to the nun by the
vision. And by a beautiful harmony of things it was divinely
provided, that while they witnessed her passage out of this life,
those above perceived her entrance into the eternal life of holy
 342 LIBER QUARTUS .

sawla. Pær seondon betweoh pæm mynstrum twæm preottyne mila

ametene.

XXV .

Cap. 24. In deosse abbudissan mynstre was sum broðor syndriglice mid
godcundre gife gemered 7 geweorðad . Forpon he gewunade
gerisenlice leod wyrcan, þa de to æfestnisse 7 to arfæstnisse belum- 5
pen, swa dætte, swa hwæt swa he of godcundum stafum þurh
boceras geleornode, þæt he æfter medmiclum fæce in scopgereorde
mid þa mæstan swetnisse 7 inbryrdnisse geglængde 7 in Englisc-
gereorde wel geworht forpbrohte. Ond for his leopsongum monigra
monna mod oft to worulde forhogdnisse 7 to geþeodnisse pas 10
heofonlican lifes onbærnde wæron. Ond eac swelce monige oðre
æfter him in Óngelpeode ongunnon áfeste leod wyrcan : ac nænig
hwæðre him þæt gelice don meahte. Forpon he nales from monnum
ne purh mon gelæred wæs, þæt he pone leodcraft leornade, ac
he was godcundlice gefultumed 7 purh Godes gife pone songcræft 15
onfeng. Ond he fordon næfre noht leasunge, ne idles leopes
p. 597. wyrcan meahte, ac efne pa án þa de to æfestnesse belumpon, 7 his
pa æfestan tungan gedeofanade singan.
Was he se mon in weoruldhade geseted oð þa tíde pe he was
gelyfdre ylde, 7 næfre nænig leod geleornade. Ond he forpon oft 20
in gebeorscipe, ponne þær was blisse intinga gedemed, þæt hep ealle
*scalde purh endebyrdnesse be hearpan singan, þonne he geseah
pa hearpan him nealecan, ponne aras he for forscome from þæm
symble 7 ham eode to his huse. Pa he þæt þa sumre tide dyde,
þæt he forlet pæt hus þæs gebeorscipes , 7 ut was gongende to neata 25
scipene, para heord him was pære neahte beboden. Pa he ða þær
in gelimplice tíde his leomu on reste gesette 7 onslepte, pa stod
him sum mon æt þurh swefn 7 hine halette 7 grette 7 hine be his
noman nemnde : Cedmon, sing me hwæthwugu. Pa ondswarede he
7 cwæð : Ne con ic noht singan ; 7 ic forþon of peossum gebeorscipe 30
úteode, 7 hider gewat, forpon ic naht singan ne cude. Eft he cwæð se

1. 5. leoð. (ƒ or r effaced) T. No variant in MSS. 1. 22. sealde T. sceolde,

Q. sceoldan Ca. sceoldon B.
 IV . 2 . 343
4

souls. At that place the distance between the two monasteries is

thirteen miles by measure.

XXV.

In the monastery of this abbess there was a brother specially

remarkable and distinguished by the divine grace. For he was

5 wont to compose suitable songs, tending to religion and piety,

so that whatever he had learnt through scholars of the divine
writings, he presently embellished in poetic compositions of the
greatest sweetness and fervour, well expressed in the English
language. And by his songs many men's minds were often fired
10 to disregard the world and attach themselves to the heavenly life.
And also many others after him in England began to compose pious
songs : none however could do that like him. For he had not been
taught of men or through man to acquire the art of song, but he
had divine aid and received the art of song through God's grace.
15 And for this reason he never could compose anything frivolous,
nor any idle poetry, but just that only which tended to piety, and
which it became his pious tongue to sing. The man had lived in
the world till the time that he was of advanced age, and never had

learnt any poetry. And as he was often at a beer drinking, when

20 it was arranged, to promote mirth, that they should all in turn
sing to the harp, whenever he saw the harp come near him, he
arose out of shame from the feast and went home to his house.

Having done so on one occasion , he left the house of entertainment,

and went out to the fold of the cattle, the charge of which had been
25 committed to him for that night. When in due time he stretched
his limbs on the bed there and fell asleep, there stood by him in a
dream a man, who saluted and greeted him, calling on him by name :
'Cedmon, sing me something.' Then he answered and said : ' I cannot
sing anything ; and therefore I came out from this entertainment
30 and retired here, as I know not how to sing.' Again he who spoke to
 344 LIBER QUARTUS .

de wið hine sprecende wæs : Hwæðre þu meaht singan . Pa cwæð

he : Hwæt sceal ic singan ? Cwæð he : Sing me frumsceaft. Pa
he ða þas andsware onfeng, pa ongon he sona singan in herenesse
Godes Scyppendes pa fers 7 pa word pe he næfre gehyrde, pære
endebyrdnesse pis is : 5

Nu sculon herigean heofonrices weard,

meotodes meahte 7 his modgepanc,
weorc wuldorfæder, swa he wundra gehwæs,
éce Drihten, ór onstealde.
he ærest sceop eordan bearnum 10
heofon to hrofe halig scyppend ;
pa middangeard monncynnes weard,
éce Drihten, æfter teode
firum foldan, frea ælmihtig.

pa aras he from þæm slæpe, 7 eal, þa þe he slepende song, fæste 15

in gemynde hæfde. 7 þæm wordum sona monig word in þæt ilce
gemet Gode wyrões songes togepeodde. Pa com he on morgenne
to pæm túngerefan, þe his ealdormon was : sægde him hwylce gife
he onfeng ; 7 he hine sona to þære abbudissan gelædde 7 hire þa
cyðde 7 sægde. Pa heht heo gesomnian ealle þa gelæredestan men 20
7 þa leorneras : 7 him ondweardum het secgan þæt swefn, 7 þæt
leoð singan, þæt ealra heora dome gecoren wære, hwæt oððe
hwonon þæt cumen wære. Pa was him eallum gesegen, swa swa
hit was, þæt him wære from Drihtne sylfum heofonlic gifu forgifen.
Pa rehton heo him 7 sægdon sum halig spell 7 godcundre lare word : 25
bebudon him pa, gif he meahte, pæet he in swinsunge leopsonges
þæt gehwyrfde. Pa he ða hæfde pa wisan onfongne, pa eode he ham
to his huse ; 7 cwom eft on morgenne, 7 þy betstan leoðe geglenged
him asóng 7 ageaf, þæt him beboden was.
p. 598. Da ongan seo abbudisse clyppan 7 lufigean þa Godes gife in 30
þæm men ; 7 heo hine pa monade 7 lærde þæt he wouldhad
ánforlete 7 munuchad onfenge : 7 he pet wel pafode. Ond heo
hine in þæt mynster onfeng mid his godum, 7 hine geþeodde to
gesomnunge para Godes peowa ; 7 heht hine læran þæt getæl

1 17. godes wordes T. gode wyrpes O. C. góde wýrðes Ca. gode wyrðes B.
 IV. 24. 345

him said : ' Yet you could sing.' Then said he : ' What shall I sing ' '
He said : ' Sing to me the beginning of all things.' On receiving this
answer, he at once began to sing, in praise of God the Creator, verses
and words which he had never heard, the order of which is as follows :
5 ' Now should we praise the guardian of the heavenly kingdom, the
power of the Creator and the counsel of his mind, the works of the
Father of glory, how he, the eternal Lord, originated every marvel .
He the holy Creator first created the heaven, as a roof for the
children of the earth ; then the eternal Lord, guardian of the
10 human race, the Almighty ruler, afterwards fashioned the world as
a soil for men .' Then he arose from his sleep, and he had firmly in

his memory all, that he sang while asleep . And to these words he
soon added on many others in the same style of song worthy of
God . Then he came in the morning to the steward of the manor,

15 who was his superior : and told him what gift he had received ;
and he at once brought him to the abbess and made the matter known
to her. Then she ordered all the best scholars and the students
to be assembled : and in their presence bade him relate the dream ,
and sing the song, that by the judgment of all it might be deter-
20 mined, what or whence this gift was. Then it seemed to all,
as indeed it was, that a heavenly grace had been vouchsafed him
by the Lord himself. Then they set forth and stated to him a holy
narrative and some word of divine doctrine, and directed him, if he
could, to turn it into the harmony of verse. Having undertaken
25 the task, he went home to his house ; and returning in the morning
recited and presented to them, what had been delivered to him, com-
posed in excellent verse. Then the abbess began to welcome and
find a pleasure in God's grace in the man ; and she admonished
and enjoined him to leave the world and become a monk : and he
30 readily assented. And she admitted him with his property into
the monastery, and attached him to the congregation of God's
servants ; and she directed, that he should be taught the whole round
346 LIBER QUARTUS.

þæs halgan stæres 7 spelles. Ond he eal, pa he in gehyrnesse

geleornian meahte, mid hine gemyndgade ; 7 swa swa clæne neten
eodorcende in þæt sweteste leod gehwerfde. 7 his song 7 his leoð
weron swa wynsumu to gehyranne, pætte seolfan pa his lareowas
æt his mude wreoton 7 leornodon. Song he ærest be middan- 5
geardes gesceape 7 bi fruman moncynnes 7 eal þæt stær Genesis,
þæt is seo æreste Moyses booc ; 7 eft bi útgonge Israhela folces of
Ægypta londe 7 bi ingonge þæs gehatlandes ; 7 bi oðrum monegum
spellum þæs halgan gewrites canones bóca ; ond bi Cristes mennisc-
nesse ; 7 bi his prowunge ; 7 bi his upastignesse in heofonas ; 10
7 bi þæs Halgan Gastes cyme, 7 para apostola lare : 7 eft bi
pæm dæge pas toweardan domes, 7 bi fyrhtu pas tintreglican
wiites , 7 bi swetnesse pas heofonlecan rices, he monig leoð
geworhte. Ond swelce eac oder monig be pæm godcundan
fremsumnessum 7 domum he geworhte. In eallum þæm he 15
geornlice gemde, þæt he men atuge from synna lufan 7 mándæda, 7
to lufan 7 to geornfulnesse awehte godra dæda. Forpon he was
se mon swipe æfest 7 regollecum peodscipum eaðmodlice under-
peoded. Ond wið þæm pa de in oðre wisan don woldon, he was
mid welme micelre ellenwodnisse onbærned. Ond he fordon fægre 20
ænde his lif betynde 7 geendade .
Forpon pa dære tide nealecte his gewitenesse 7 forðfore, þa
was he feowertynum dagum ær, þæt he was lichomlicre untrym-
nesse prycced 7 hefgad, hwæðre to pon gemetlice, þæt he calle
þa tid meahte ge sprecan ge gongan. Wæs þær in neaweste 25
untrumra monna hus, in þæm heora þeaw was, þæt heo þa untrum-
ran, 7 þa de æt forðfore wæron, inlædon sceoldon 7 him þær
ætsomne þegnian. Pa bæd he his þegn on æfenne pære neahte, pe
he of worulde gongende wæs, þæt he in þæm huse him stowe gegear-
wode, þæt he gerestan meahte. Pa wundrode se þegn, for hwon he 30
dæs bæde, forpon him puhte pæt his for for swa neah ne wære : dyde
hwæðre swa swa he cwæð 7 bibead. Ond mid þy he ða þær on
reste eode, 7 he gefeonde mode sumu þing mid him sprecende
ætgædere 7 gleowiende was, pe þær ær inne waæron, pa was ofer
'
1. 3. þæt T. inþæt 0. B. in7. Ca. C. 1. 31. ne wære B. Ca. O. (in O. n
is on erasure.) ne not in T.
 IV. 24. 847

of sacred history and narrative. And he retained in his memory,

whatever he learnt by hearing : and, like a clean animal, he rumi-
nated and converted all into the sweetest music. And his song
and his music were so delightful to hear, that even his teachers
5 wrote down the words from his lips and learnt them. He sang
first of the earth's creation and the beginning of man and all the
story of Genesis, which is the first book of Moses ; and afterwards
about the departure of the people of Israel from the land of Egypt
and their entry into the land of promise ; and about many other
10 narratives in the books of the canon of Scripture ; and about
Christ's incarnation ; and about his passion ; and about his ascension
into heaven ; and about the coming of the Holy Ghost, and the
teaching of the apostles : and again about the day of judgment to
come, and about the terror of hell torment, and about the sweet-
15 ness of the kingdom of heaven, he composed many a song. And he
also composed many others about the divine blessings and judg-
ments. In all these he earnestly strove to draw men from the
love of sin and transgression, and to rouse them to love and zeal
for good deeds. For the man was very pious and humbly submis-
20 sive to regular discipline. And towards those who would act
otherwise, he was inflamed with a zeal of great fervour. And he
accordingly concluded and ended his life by a fair close. For when
it grew near the time of his departure and decease, fourteen days
previously he was oppressed and afflicted with bodily infirmity, yet
25 to such a moderate extent, that he could all the time speak and
move about. There was there close at hand a house for the sick, into
which it was their custom to bring those who were more infirm, and
those who were at the point of death, and tend them there together.
Then he directed his attendant on the evening of the night, on
30 which he was to depart from the world, to prepare a place for him
in the house, that he might rest. Then the attendant wondered,
why he asked this, for it seemed to him his death was not so near :
however he did, as he said and directed. And when he went
to bed there, and cheerfully spoke and jested along with those in
 348 LIBER QUARTUS .

midde neaht þæt he frægn, hwæder heo ænig husl inne hæfdon . pa
ondswarodon heo 7 cwedon : Hwylc pearf is de husles ? Ne
pinre forpfore swa neah is, nu pu pus rotlice 7 pus glædlice to
us sprecende eart. Cwed he eft : Berad me husl to. Pa he
hit pa on honda hæfde, þa frægn he hwæper heo ealle smolt 5
mod 7 buton eallum incan blide to him hæfdon. Pa ondswaredon
hy ealle 7 cwædon, þæt heo nænigne incan to him wiston, ac heo
ealle him swide blidemode wæron : 7 heo wrixendlice hine bædon,
þæt he him eallum bliðe wære. Pa ondswarade he 7 cwæð :
p. 599. Mine broðor mine pa leofan, ic eom swide blidemod to eow 10
7 to eallum Godes monnum , Ond swa was hine getrymmende
mid by heofonlecan wegneste, 7 him odres lifes ingong gegear-
wode. Pa gyt he frægn, hu neah pære tide wære, pætte pa broðor
arisan scolden 7 Godes lof ræran 7 heora uhtsong singan. pa
ondswaredon heo : Nis hit feor to pon. Cwæð he : Teala : wuton 15
we wel pære tide bidan. 7 pa him gebed 7 hine gesegnode
mid Cristes rode tacne, ond his heafod onhylde to pam bolstre, 7
medmicel fæc onslepte ; 7 swa mid stilnesse his lif geendade.
Ond swa was geworden, þætte swa swa hluttre mode 7 bilwitre
7 smyltre wilsumnesse Drihtne peode, pæt he eac swylce swa 20
smylte deade middangeard was forlætende, 7 to his gesihðe
becwom. Ond seo tunge, pe swa monig halwende word in þæs
scyppendes lof gesette,-he da swelce eac pa ytmæstan word in
his herenisse, hine seolfne segniende 7 his gast in his honda
bebeodende, betynde. Eac swelce pet is gesegen, þæt he wære 25
gewis his seolfes forðfore, of pæm we nu secgan hyrdon.

XXVI.

Cap. 25. Pyssum tidum dæt mynster, þæt mon nemneð Æt Coludes burg,
pæes we beforan gemyndgodon, purh ungemænne synne fyre 7 lege
was fornumen. Ɖæt hwæðre æðelice ongetan meahton ealle pa þæt
cuðon, þætte þæt gelomp for wean 7 for yfelnesse para eardiendra 30
þær in pære byrig, ond þara swipust þe dær aldormen wæran. Ac
1. 17. onhylde O. Ca. B. oh- T. 1. 31. 7 inpara T. O. 7 in þæra Ca.
on parça (sic) B. The in arose from the on ( = ond), before which 7 was
inserted, and on then-changed into in.
 IV . 25 . 349

the house, then after midnight he asked them, whether they had
the Eucharist in the house. Then they answered and said : ' What
need have you of the Eucharist ? It is not so near your death,
seeing that you are speaking so cheerfully and brightly to us.' He
5 repeated : ' Bring me the Eucharist.' When he had it in his hand,
he asked whether they all felt peaceably and cheerfully disposed
towards him, without any rancour. Then all answered, and said
they had no rancorous feeling towards him, but all were most
friendly disposed to him : and they in turn prayed him to feel
10 kindly to them. Then he answered and said : ' Dear brethren,
I feel very friendly towards you and all God's servants.' And so
he fortified himself with the heavenly viaticum, and prepared his
entry into another life. Then once more he asked, how near it was
to the hour that the brothers should get up, and raise the song of
15 praise to God and chaunt lauds. Then they answered : ' It is not
far to that.' He said : ' Good : let us indeed await the hour .' And
he prayed and signed himself with the token of God's cross, and
laid down his head on the pillow and fell asleep for awhile ; and so
in quiet ended his life. And so it came to pass, that as with pure
20 and simple heart and with tranquil devotion he served the Lord, so
he also by a tranquil death left the earth, and appeared before
God's face. And the tongue, which composed so many saving words
in praise of the Creator, concluded its last words to his glory, as he
crossed himself and commended his spirit into his hands . We see
25 also that he was conscious of his own decease, from what we have
just now heard related .

XXVI.

At this time the monastery called Coldingham, already mentioned,

was destroyed by fire and flame, through the sin of carelessness.
However all, who knew the matter, could easily see, that this befell
30 owing to the wickedness and evil life of those who dwelt in that
town, and above all of those who were the chief persons there,
 350 LIBER QUARTUS.

him hwæðre won ne was seo monung þær godcundan ærfæstnesse,

þæt heo heora synne witnade 7 bette purh fæsten, þurh wópas,
þurh gebedo, 7 eorre from him acyrde þæs soðfæstan deman, in þa
onlicnesse Niniuitwearena.
Was in þæm ylcan mynstre sum wer of Scotta þeode, se was 5
Adamnanus haten. Lifde se mon his liif in micelre forhæfdnisse
7 in halgum gebedum Gode swiðe wilsumlice, swa Sæt he næfre
mete onfeng ne swæsendo peah, buton þy Drihtenlecan dæge 7 þy
fiftan wiicdæge, ond oft onwalge neahte purh wæccan in halgum
gebedum astod 7 áwunade. Seo pearlwisnis pas heardan lifes him 10
ærest of nede becwom for bote his synna ; ac forogongendre tide
þæt he pat ned in wunan gecyrde. Gelomp him in geoguðhade
his, þæt he sume maandæde gefremede. Da seo scyld pa to his
heortan hwearf, pa onscunede he heo hefiglice 7 him ondred,
þæt he for pære stronglice witnad beon sceolde from pæm pearl- 15
wisan deman. Eode pa to sumum mæssepreoste, from þæm he
gewende, þæt him hælu weg æteawed beon meahte : ondette him þa
his scylde, 7 bæd þæt he him gepeaht sealde, hu he meahte befleon
from þæm toweardan eorre. Pa he da his scylde gehyrde, pa cwæð
he : Micel wund behofað micles læcedomes : 7 forpon, swa swipe 20
swa ðu mægge, atfealh þu pinum fæstenum 7 sealmsongum 7
gebeodum, þætte pu seo forecumende Drihtnes onsyne in ondetnisse,
7 þu geearnie hine þe mildne gemetan. Ond he pa, pæne pe þæt
p. 600. unmæte sár nom 7 hefigode his scylde gewitnes, -7 he wilnode, þæt
he hrade alysed wære from þam inlicum bendum þara synna, þe he 25
hefigod was -cwæð he to pam mæssepreoste : Ic eom geongre yldo
7 hal in minum lichoman. Swa hwet swa du me onsettest 7
bebeodest to donne, þæt ic halsige in þæm Drihtnes dæge, al ic þæt
eapelice abere, peah pe pu mec hate ealle niht wæccende in
gebedum stondan, 7 peah þe ic sceole ealle wican fæstan, ic þæt 30
leoflice do. Cwæð he : Micel þæt is, þæt þu ealle wican buton
ondleofone lichoman awunige : ac twydæglic fæsten oope preo-
dæglic fæsten is genoh to healdenne. Do pis, cwæð he , oðþæt
ic eft æfter tide to de cyme 7 pe ponne fullicor æteawe, hwæt þu

1. 4. níníuít (accents pale : original ?) T. niniuít O. niniuén Ca. nineuit B.

1. 8. buton B. buto T. butan O. Ca. 1. 14. hi B. C. hi.. (two letters
 IV . 25 . 351

And yet there was no lack of warning from the divine goodness,
that they should chastise and correct their sins by fasting, tears
and prayer, and that they should turn from them the wrath of the
true Judge in the manner of the people of Nineveh. There was at
5 that monastery a man of the race of the Scots, called Adamnanus.
He led a life of great abstinence and was very fervent in holy
prayers to God, so that he never ate food nor partook of meals, except
on the Lord's day and the fifth day of the week, and often for
whole nights persevered and continued watching in holy prayer.
10 The severity of this hard life was first imposed upon him by
necessity, to atone for his sins ; but as time went on, he changed the
necessity into a habit. It happened in his youth, that he committed
some transgression. When the guilt came home to his heart, he
was utterly horror-struck at it, and feared, that he should be
15 severely punished for it by the strict Judge . Then he went to a
priest, by whom he supposed the way of salvation might be pointed
out to him ; he confessed his guilt, and begged him to advise, how
he might flee from the wrath to come. On hearing his guilt the
priest said : ' A severe wound needs severe treatment : therefore, as
20 much as you may, devote yourself to fasting, singing psalms and
prayers, that you by confession may anticipate the Lord's presence,
and deserve to enjoy his mildness.' And he, being then seized
with excessive sorrow and overpowered by the consciousness of guilt,
--and he desired that he might be quickly released from the internal
25 bonds of the sins, by which he was oppressed -said to the priest : ‘ I
am of youthful years and sound in my body. Whatever you set
me and command me to do, that I may be saved in the day of the
Lord, all that I will readily endure, though you bid me to continue
all night watching in prayer, and though I should fast the whole
30 week, I will do it gladly.' He said : ' It is much, that you should
continue the whole week without bodily sustenance : but a fast of
two days or of three days is enough to observe. Do this,' said he, ' till
I come to you again after a while, and then show you more fully

erased) O. heo pa T. Compare however p. 314, 32 to p. 316, 2 . 1. 29.

peape T. peah O. Ca. B.

352 LIBER QUARTUS .

don scyle, 7 hu lange þu on hreowe awunian scyle. pa ferde se

mæssepreost from him. Pa gelomp for sumum intingan, þæt he
semninga gewat in Hibernia Scotta ealond, ponon he ær cwom : ne
he eft ma to him hwearf æfter heora gecwide. Was he hwæðre
gemyndi his bebodes ond eac his gehates ; ond he in hreowe 5
tearum 7 in halgum wæccenum 7 in micelre forhæfdnesse Drihtne

peowade, swa dæt he næfre oftor gereorde ne swæsendo pah, ponne

þy Drihtenlecan dæge 7 þy fiftan wicdage, swa swa ic fore cwæð ;
oðrum dagum he swa fæstende awunade. Mid þy he ða gehyrde
pone mæssepreost gewitan in Hiibernia 7 þær foröferende beon, he 10
symle of pære tide þæt gemyndgade gemet pære forhæfdnesse heold
7 læste ; 7 þætte for intingan pas godcundan eges æne side for
his scylde onbryrded ongan, swa he eft for intingan þære godcundan
lufan lustfulliende þam ecum medum fæstlice forðlæste.
Mid þy he þæt þa longre tide forðheold 7 dyde, þa gelomp sume 15
dæge, pæt he was from pæm mynstre for sumum pinge fyr gongende ;
7 was an þara broðra his gefera 7 him mid eode. Pa heo pa
hæfdon heora siðfæt geferedne, pa hwurfon heo eft to ham. 7 mid
þy heo pa þæm mynstre nealecton, 7 heo gesegon pa getimbru
healice areht 7 ahæfen, þa geswearc se Godes mon semninga 7 ongan 20
hatlice 7 biterlice wepan, 7 pa unrotnesse his heortan mid his
andwlitan tacnunge ypte 7 cyode. pa þæt pa se his gefera geseah
7 ongeat, pa frægn he hine 7 ascode, hwæt him wære 7 forhwon he
swa gebærde. Pa cwæð he : Eal pas getimbru, þe du her gesyhst
7 sceawast, ge pa maran ge da mætran, neah is pæet hy eal fyr 25
nimeð 7 in ascan gehwyrfað. Pa se broðor þæt þa gehyrde, sona
þæs þe heo in þæt mynster eodon, þa cyðde he hit 7 sægde pære
meder pære gesomnunga þære abbudissan, seo was Ebbe haten.
Pa was heo be gewyrhte swide gedrefed bi swelcum witedome 7
forht geworden, geheht pa to hire done Godes monn 7 geornlice 30
hine frægn 7 ascade hwonan he ða wisan cúðe 7 ongete. Cwæð he :

1.6 . halgum T. on halgú O. Ca. on halegü B. 1. 11. met T. gemet

de
O. B. gemett Ca. 1. 16. gongen. (originally gonge ; small n inserted partly
below line and de above) T. gangende O , Ca. B. 1. 22. tac.nunge (erasure
 IV. 25.- 353

what you ought to do and how long you ought to continue in

penance.' Then the priest departed from him. Then it happened
for some reason, that he suddenly departed to Ireland, the island
of the Scots, whence he previously came : and returned no more to
5 him in fulfilment of their agreement. He, however, was mindful of
his precepts and of his own vow ; and he served the Lord with
tears of repentance, holy vigils and great abstinence, so that
he never partook of food or a meal oftener than on the Lord's day
and on the fifth day of the week, as I said before. On the other
10 days he observed the rule of fasting. Now when he heard that the
priest had gone to Ireland and died there, he ever from that time
observed and carried out the aforesaid mode of abstinence ; and
what he once began out of fervour, because of his sin, in view
of divine terror, he afterwards, in view of the divine love, firmly
15 carried out, because of his delight in the eternal reward. Now
when he had observed and done this for a long time, it happened
that he went one day on business to a distance from the monastery ;
and one of the brethren was his companion and went with him.
Now when they had completed the journey, they turned back home.
20 And when they drew near to the monastery and saw the buildings
rising and towering up on high, suddenly the man of God became
gloomy, and began to weep hot and bitter tears, and by the
expression of his face revealed and made known the sorrow of his
heart. Now when his companion saw and understood this,
25 he questioned him and asked what was the matter, and why he
behaved so. Then he said : ' All the buildings that you see here and

look upon, both the large and the small, are soon to be all seized by
fire and turned into ashes.' When the brother heard this, im-
mediately after their arrival at the monastery, he made it known
30 and reported it to the mother of the society, the abbess who was
called Æbbe. Then naturally she was much disturbed by such a
prophecy, and in her alarm she summoned to her that man of God,
and earnestly questioned him and asked how he had learnt and

of one) T. tacnunge B. Ca. tacnuncge 0. pa. (erasure of h) T. þa O.

da Ca. Not in B. 1. 26. nimed T. fornimeð O. Ca. fornymeð B.
Аа
 354 LIBER QUARTUS .

Ic was ungeara on neaht abisgad on weacenum 7 on sealmsonge 7

on gebedum ; þa geseah ic somninga me ætstondan sumne monnan
uncupes ondwleotan. Da was ic for his ondweardnisse swide
afyrhted, þa frefrede he mec 7 cwæð, þæt ic me ne ondrede. Ond
swa swa he cupre stefne was to me sprecende : Wel du dest, 5
p. 601. cwæð he, þæt du in disse tide neahtlicre stilnisse nalæs dec slæpe
forgeofan, ah ma woldes weacenum 7 gebedum ætfeolan. Cwæð
ic : ic wat þæt me dæs is micel dearf þat ic halwendum weacenum
ætfeole, 7 for minum gedwolum 7 synnum geornlice Dryhten
bensie. Cwæð he se de mid mec spræc : So du sagast, cwæð he , 10
æghwæder ge pe dæs is pearf ge mongum, þæt hio hiora synna mid
gódum weorcum alése, 7 ponne hio blinne from gewinne hwilwend-
licra þinga, dæt hio donne fore willunga deara écra góda þy freolslicor
winne. Ah dis hwædre fea ane doo. So ic secge, þæt ic nu eal
pis mynster ðurh endebyrdnisse geondferde 7 syndrigra hús 7 bedd 15
geseah : 7 nænigne of eallum butan þe ic gemette ymb his saule
hælo abisgodne beon ; ah alle ge wæpnedmenn ge wifmenn oððo
hefige slæpe syndon, ode to synnum wacedon. Ond da hus da de
in to gebiddenne 7 to leornienne geworhte wæron, da syndon nu in
hús gehwerfed oferæta 7 druncennesse 7 leasspellunge 7 oðerra 20
unalefedlecra scylda . 7 eac swelce da fæmnan, da de Gode gehalgode
wæron, forhogdre are heara ondetnisse, ond swa oft swa hio æmtan
habbað, þæt hio smaelo hrægel weofað 7 wyrcað, mid dæm hio oððo
hio siolfe frætwað in bryda onlicnesse, in frecenesse hiora stalles
odo utwæpnedmonna friondscipes him ceapiað. Fordon bi 25
gewyrhte þysse stowe 7 hire eardiendum hefig wræc of hiofenum
grimsiendum legum is gegearwad. Cwa hio sio abbudisse to him:
Forhwon ne woldes du sona hrade da deagolnisse me cyðan 7 secgan.
Đa ondswarode he 7 cwad : Ic ondred for pinre arwyrðnisse Ot
pu sceolde to swide gedrefed 7 afyrhted beon ; 7 hwædre das frofre 30
Ju hafast, pat hit on ðinum dagum dis wíte ofer das burg ne cymeð.
Da Vios gesieho da was gemared, da wæs hwelchugu fæc dæt
pa bigengan pære stowe, dat is feaum dagum, ongunnon him on-

1. 5. he O. Ca. B. hio T. 1. 8. ic B. he T. From cwad to atfeole

wanting in O. Ca. 1. 20. oferæta Ca. ofereta O. oferæt T. ofermettas B.
1. 25. utwæpnedmonna O. Ca. B. (-manna) hwætwæpnedmonna T. (probably
 IV. 25. 355

knew this circumstance . He said : Not long ago I was occupied at

night in vigils and psalm singing and prayer ; then I suddenly
saw standing by me a man of strange appearance. As I was very
much alarmed at his presence, he soothed me and told me not to be
5 afraid ; and then he spoke tome as it seemed in a familiar tone : " Thou
doest well," said he, "that at this hour of quiet at night, you will not
give yourself to sleep, but prefer rather to devote yourself to vigils
and prayers." I said : " I know that I have much need ofdevoting
myself to saving vigils, and earnestly entreating the Lord for my
10 errors and sins." Then said he who spoke to me : " You speak
the truth," said he, " and there is need both for you and for many to
atone for their sins by good works, and that when they cease from
toiling in temporal things, that they then the more freely labour
for the desire of eternal blessings. But yet only a few do so.
15 I tell you the truth, that I have now gone round all this monastery
in order and seen the dwellings and beds of all individually : and I
have found none of them all except yourself occupied with his soul's
salvation ; but all, both men and women, are either heavy with
sleep or were awake for sin. And the dwellings which were made
20 for prayer and study, are now turned into dwellings of gluttony and
drunkeness, idle talking and other unlawful transgressions. And
also the virgins, who were dedicated to God, regardless of the
respect due to their profession, whenever they have leisure, weave
and work fine cloth , with which they either adorn themselves like
25 brides, to the risk of their position, or purchase to themselves
the friendship of men without. Therefore deservedly is heavy
vengeance by furious flames from heaven prepared for this place
and its inhabitants." ' The abbess said to him : ' Why would you not
at once make known and report the secret to me ? ' Then he answered
30 and said: ' Out of respect for you, I feared that you might be too
utterly confounded and terrified ; and yet you have the comfort that
this punishment will not come upon this town in your day. Now
when this vision was noised abroad, then for some little time, that
is for a few days, the inhabitants of the place began to fear and to

huutut confused with huet = hwat, cp. Sweet, O. E. T. , Index pp. 480, 481 ,
603.)
A a 2
 356 LIBER QUARTUS.

drædan 7 hio seolfe clænsian, 7 mandæde forleton. Ond eft sona

æfter dære abbudissan for fore hio hwurfon to þam ærran unsefer-
nessum, 7 ec micle mánfulran fremedon. 7 mid by cwædon : Nu
is sib 7 orsorhnes : hi da instepe, da hie laesest wendon, mid þy
wiíte das foresprecenan wræces slægene wæron. All pas ding me 5
Jus gewurden se arwyrða min efenmæssepreost Eedgyls sægde, se
Ja in Jam mynstre eardade 7 drohtode, 7 eft in ussum mynstre
longe tide lifde 7 þær forðferde, æfter don monge dara bigengena
Conon gewitan for pære burge tolesnesse. Dis spel we fordon
setton in ure béc, pet we men monede, ðt hio gesege Dryhtnes 10
weorc, hu egesfullic he is on geðeahtingum ofer monna bearn, öy
læs we ænige tide ussum licumlicum unalefednessum sion peowiende,
7 læs Godes dom forhtige 7 we us ondræde, donne we scylen, 7 his
yrre semninga us eac dreage 7 usic odde hwilwendlicum yrmðum
rihtlice swence 7 wecce, ode to ecre forwyrde heardwendlice 15
gedeme.

XXVII.

p. 602 . Pa was ymb syx hund wintra 7 feower 7 hundeahtatig æfter

Cap. 26.
þære Drihtenlecan menniscnesse, þy geare, pætte Ecgfrið Norðan-
hymbra cyning sende weorod 7 fyrd in Hiibernia Scotta ealond.
Þær wæs Beorht latteow 7 heretoga, 7 heo þa unsceðendan þeode 20
7 symle Ongoleynne pa holdoston earmlice forhergodon, swa æt
cyricum ne mynstrum seo herehand sparode nene arode. Ond pa
seolfe landleodan, swa swide swa hi meahton, heo hy weredon 7 him
wiocompodon, 7 him on fultum cegdon pa godcundan aarfæstnesse,
ond singalum onbenum longe bædon, þæt heo heofonlice gewrecene 25
wæron. Ond peah pe wærgcweodole Godes ríce gesittan ne mægen,
hwæðre is gelyfed, þætte pa be gewyrhte wyrgde wæron for heora
arleasnesse, þæt heo hræðe purh Drihtnes wrace heora scylda wíte
prowedon.
Forpon pe soolice by nyhstan geare æfter deossum, mid þy se 30
ylca cyning gedyrstiglice here lædde to forhergianne Peohta mægðe

1.8... longe tide lifde (on erasure : before longe traces of ea ? perhaps return
to eardade) T. longre tide lifde O. Ca. (langre). lange tid lifde B. 1. 14.
odde O. Ca. ofpam T. Not in B.
 IV. 25, 26. 357

purify themselves, and they gave up their evil deeds. But soon
after the death of the abbess, they returned again to the former
foulness, and did what was still more wicked. And when they said :
' Now is peace and security ' ; then in a moment, when they least
5 thought of it, they were smitten with the penalty of the aforesaid
vengeance. That all took place thus, I was assured by my venerable
fellow priest Edgils, who at that time had his abode and lived in
that monastery. He afterwards dwelt a long time in our monas-
tery, and there died, after many of the occupants of the former had
10 departed thence owing to the ruin of the town. This story we have
inserted in our book, with a view to warn men to regard the work
of the Lord, how terrible he is in his counsels for the children
of men, lest at any time we become slaves to bodily licence, and
have less dread of God's judgment and less fear, than we should, and
15 his wrath suddenly overpower us and justly afflict and bring us low
with temporal miseries, or severely adjudge us to eternal per-
dition.

XXVII .

It was then about 684 years after our Lord's incarnation, when
Ecgfrith, king of Northumbria, sent an army and expedition into
20 Ireland, island of the Scots. Beorht was its leader and general,
and by it the innocent people, who were always most friendly to the
English race, were so miserably devastated, that the violence of war
spared and respected neither church nor monastery. And the
natives themselves, as well as they could, stood on their defence and
25 resisted the foe, and called to their aid the divine goodness, and
with unceasing imprecations long prayed, that they might be
avenged by Heaven. And though they that curse may not have a
place in the kingdom of God, yet we believe that the others were
deservedly accursed for their cruelty, so that they soon suffered
30 punishment for their sins through the vengeance of the Lord. For
indeed, the year after this, when the same king rashly led an army
to waste the province ofthe Picts-and though his friends, and above
 358 LIBER QUARTUS.

-7 him swiðe pet his freond beweredon 7 ealra swiðust þære

eadigan gemynde Cuðberht, se pa neowan to biscope gehalgad
wæs, þa gelædde he hwæðre here in Peohtas-pa licetton heo
fleam, 7 hine betyldon in nearo fæsten micel ungeferedra mora.
Ond he mid þy mæstan dæle his weorodes ofslegen was þy feower- 5
tegðan geare his yldo, by fiftegðan geare his rices, þy preotteopan
dæge Kalendarum Iuniarum. 7 swa swa ic ær cwæð, beweredon
his freond him, þæt he pæt gefeoht ne ongunne. Ac forpon pe he
ne wolde þy ærran geare gehyran pone arwyrðan fæder Ecgberht,
þæt he Sceottas hine noht sceopende ne afuhte, pa was him seald 10
purh wite pære synne, þæt he eft pa ne gehyrde, þa de hine wilnadon
from his forwyrde gecegean .
Ofpære tide ongan se hyht 7 mægen Ongolcynnes rices toflowan
7 gewanad beon. Forðon pe Peohtas heora æhte lond eft onfengon,
þæt Engle ær hæfdon ond Sceottas, þa de in Breotone wæron, swa ; 15
ond Bretta eac swelce micel dæl freodom onfengon. Þær betweoh
monige Ongelpeode, pa de oope mid sweorde ofslægene wæron oððe
peodome betæhte, oope of Peohta londe onweg flugon, ond eac
swylce se arwyrða Godes mon Trumwine, se de heora biscop was,
gewat mid his geferum, þa de wæron in þæm mynstre Æbbercurni, 20
þæt is geseted in Engla londe ac hwæðre neah þæm sæ, þe Engla
lond 7 Peohta tosceadap. 7 he pa se biscop his geferan, swa hwær
swa he meahte, purh mynster his freondum was befæstende ; ond
he him seolfum wunenesse 7 wíc geceas in pæm oft cwedenan
mynstre, þæt is geceged Streoneshealh. Ond he þær mid feawa 25
his geferena in heardnesse munuclifes nales him seolfum anum ac
swide monegum brýce monegra geara tide lifde. 7 he þær eac
p. 603. swelce for ferde, 7 in cirican Sce Petres pas apostoles æfter
gerisenre are his lifes 7 his hada bebyrged wæs. Wæs þæs ilcan
mynstres abbodesse in da tid seo cynelice fæmne Ælflæd ætgædere 30
mid Eanflæde hire meder, pære we beforan gemyngodan. Ah Ja
se biscop pider com, mycelne fultum gereces 7 somed hire lifes frofre
Gode seo wilsume fæmne in him gemette. Da feng Ealdfrið æfter
น
1. 2. cuðberht Ca. cudbrihtes B. cuðberhte (cudbercto) T. O. 1. 4. neara
T. nearo O. Ca. B. 1. 15. þæt on engle T. p te engle ær O. pte angle ær
Ca. we angle ár B. 1. 28. after to hada not in T. Text from O.
 IV. 26. 359

all Cuthberht of blessed memory, then lately consecrated bishop,

tried much to restrain him, yet still he did lead an army against
the Picts- then they simulated flight, and drew him on into a great
but narrow fastness among impassable moors. And he was slain
5 with the greater part of his force in the 40th year of his age and
the 15th of his reign, on the 20th of May. And, as I said before,
his friends tried to restrain him from commencing the war. But as
in the previous year he would not listen to the venerable father
Ecgberht, and abstain from attacking the Scots who did him no
10 harm, then in punishment for his sin a judgment was sent upon him,
that again he should be deaf to those, who would recall him from
destruction. From this time the prospects and power of the English
realm began to ebb and fail. For the Picts got their land back
into their own possession, which the English had held, and the Scots
15 similarly, who were in Britain ; and a large part of the Britons
also recovered their freedom. Then among many of the English, who

were either slain with the sword, or brought into slavery, or fled
away from the land of the Picts, also the venerable servant of the
Lord, Trumwine, who was their bishop, departed with his clergy,
20 who were in the monastery of Abercorn, which lies in English
territory, but is however near the sea , which separates the territory
ofthe English and the Picts. The bishop then committed his clergy
to his friends in various monasteries, wherever he could, choosing
an abode and dwelling for himself in the oft-mentioned monastery
25 called Whitby. And he there with a few of his clergy lived for
many years, to the advantage not only of himself, but of very many
besides, in all the strictness of a monastic life. And there too he

died, and was buried in the church of the apostle St. Peter with
the honour due to his life and station. At this time the royal
30 maiden Elfled was abbess of the monastery, along with her mother
Eanflæd, whom we have mentioned before. And when the bishop
came there, this virgin devoted to God found in him great help in
the government, as well as comfort for her life. Then Ealdfrith
 360 LIBER QUARTUS.

Ecgfride to ríce. Se man wæs se gelærdesta in gewreotum ; se

wæs sægd, þæt he his broðor wære Osweos sunu þæs cyninges. 7
he one toworpnan steal þæs rices, peah de hit wære binnan near-
wum gemærum, eadelice geedneowade.
Py geare paá, þœt is ymb syx hund wintra 7 fíf 7 hundehtatig 5
from ære Dryhtenlican menniscnesse, pæt Hlophere Cantwara
cyning is deadlice líf geendode 7 forðferde, sé æftera Ecbyrhte
his breder, se ehta winter ricsade ; pa feng he to ríce 7 þæt hæfde
XII winter. Was he gewundad in Subseaxna gefeohte, pa wið hine
Eadric Ecgbyrhtes sunu gesomnade ; ond pa betweoh don pe hine 10
man lacnade, he forðferde. 7 þa æfter him se ilca Eadric oder
healfgear pat ríce hæfde. Pa he da fordferde, pa dæt ríce pa sum
fæc tíde tweonde cyningas 7 fremde forluron 7 towurpun, opðæt
heora riht cyning Wihtred, þæt was Ecgbyrhtes sunu, was in rice
gestrongad. Ond he pa somod ætgædre mid æfestnesse ge mid 15
geornfulnesse his deode fram útlicre hergunge generede 7 alysde.

XXVIII.

Cap. 27. Ono by sylfan geare de Ecgferð cyning lifes ende onfeng, gedyde
he þæt man done halgan wer 7 done árwyrðan Cuþbryht to biscope 20
gehalgode ære cirican æt Lindesfarona æ . Se ær in medmyclum
ealonde, þæt is Farne nemned, ancorlíf lædde purh monig gear in
mycelre forhæfdnesse lichaman ond modes. Is et ealond from
Jære ilcan cyrican feor ut on gársecgge geseted, huhugu on nigen
milum. 7 he se halga Godes mon from pære ærestan yldo cniht- 25
hades simle beorn in gelise 7 in geornfulnesse awfæstes lifes : ac
þa he gewexen was, da wilnode he 7 onfeng munuchade.
7 ærest eode in Mailros dæt mynster, þæt is geseted on ofre
Tuidon streames. Ðæt mynster pa heold 7 rihte Eata biscop, se
was milde wer 7 monowære, 7 se æfter was gewarden biscop in 30
Hægstealdes æ 7 in Lindesfarona ∞, swa swa we beforan gemyn-
godon. pæs mynstres profost 7 regolweard was in ða tíd Boisel,
se was mycelra mægena mæssepreost 7 witedomes gastes. Disses

1. 13. towurpul T. towurpan O. .owurpan (one letter gone) C. towurpon

Ca. B. 1. 15. mid æfestnesse C. O. B. Ca. (nysse). ærestnesse (only) T.
1. 17. .no (blank for initial) T. ono O. ond C. Omit Ca. B.
 IV . 26 27. 361

succeeded Ecgfrith on the throne ; a man most learned in the Scrip-

tures ; who, it was said, was his brother and son of king Oswio . And
he nobly restored the ruined state of the realm, though it remained
within narrow limits. Then in this year, that is 685 years after
5 our Lord's incarnation, Hlothere, king of Kent, ended this mortal
life and deceased, being the successor to his brother Ecgberht, who
had reigned eight years. After him he had come to the throne and
occupied it twelve years. He was wounded in a battle with the South

Saxons, whom Eadric, son of Ecgberht, had drawn together against

10 him ; and he died while under medical treatment. Then Eadric
succeeded him and reigned for a year and a half. On his death, for
some time pretenders to the throne and foreign kings destroyed and
wasted the realm, till their rightful king, Wihtred, son of Ecgberht,
was firmly seated on the throne. And he at once by piety and by
15 energy rescued and delivered his people from devastation by
strangers.
XXVIII .

Now in the same year in which king Ecgfrith ended his life, he
caused the holy and venerable Cuthberht to be consecrated as bishop
of the church at Lindisfarne. He formerly had lived in a small island,
20 called Farne, as a hermit for many years, with great temperance
of body and mind. This island lies out at sea, about nine miles dis-
tant from the church. And the holy man of God, from his earliest
childhood, had been ever fervent in study and in zeal for a religious
life. But when he grew up, he desired and was admitted to monastic
25 orders. And first he went into the monastery of Melrose, which lies

on the banks of the river Tweed. This monastery was then swayed
and directed by bishop Eata, a man of mild and gentle character,
who subsequently became bishop at Hexham and Lindisfarne, as
already mentioned. The prior and director of the monastery was
30 then Boisel, a priest of great virtues, and having a spirit ofprophecy.
 362 LIBER QUARTUS.

discipulhada Cuðbyrht was eadmodlice underpeoded ; 7 wisdom

haligra gewrita 7 godra weorca bysene fram him nam.
Efter pon de he da to Dryhtne geleorde, pa was Cuðbyrht dæs
ilcan mynstres regolweard geworden ; 7 he monige æghweder
ge mid aldorlicnesse his lareowdomes ge mid bisene his gesawen- 5
licra dæda to regollicum life gesette ond intimbrede. 7 nalas dæt
p. 604. he dæm mynstre anum regollices lifes manunge 7 samod his
bysene gearwode, ac swelce eac dæt ymbsette folc feor 7 wide
from dæm life as dyslecan gewunan to lufan þara heofenlicra
* gifeana georne gemde to gehwyrfenne. Fordon de monige done 10
geleafan, pe hie hæfdon, mid unrihtum weorcum idledon, ond
swylce eac manige in da tíd pæs myclan woles 7 moncwildes
gymeleasedan dæm gerynum þæs halgan geleafan, mid þæm hie
gelærede wæron, 7 to dæm dwoligendum læcedomum deofulgylda
ofestton 7 scyndon ; swa swa hie pat sende wite from Gode 15
Sceppende purh heora galdor oppe lyfesne odde purh hwylce
hwugu deogolnesse deofolcræftes bewerian mehton. Ono æghwe-
derne gedwolan to gereccenne se Godes man wæs út gongende
of dæm mynstre gelomlice : hwilum was on horse sittende, ac
oftor on his fotum gangende ; fór to þæm ymbsettum tunum 7 20
Sæm dwoligendum sodfæstnesse weg bodode 7 lærde. Ɖæt sylfe
eac swylce Boisel his magister on his tíde gewunelice dyde.
Was in ða tíd Seaw Ongolcynnes folcum þæt, ponne mæssepreost
oðpe oder in tún com, dæt hie ealle to his bebode gesomnedon
Godes word to gehyrenne ; 7 fuslice gehyrdon, da de him gelærde 25
wæron, ond eac swylce neodlice mid dædum læstton, da de hie
ongeotan mehton. Donne was dam Godes menn Cuðbyrhte swa
mycel getydnes 7 gelærednes to sprecenne 7 swa mycel lufu
godcundre lare, de he læran ongon, ond swylc leoht engelices
ondwlitan him ofscan, Sætte nænig dara onweardra his heortan 30
degolnessa him helan dorste, ac ealle openlice heora dæda þurh
ondettnesse forðbæron . Forðon þe hi tealdon 7 him ðuhte, dæt
1. 5. lareowdomes O. C. Ca. B. -dome T. 1. 10. geofena T. geofona C.
gyfena O. Ca. B. 1. 16. lyfesne C. O. (but in O. ƒ is changed roughly to t ;
æbecn is written above). lifnes Ca. leasunge B. lefesende T. 1. 21. bodode
7 C. B. bodade 7 O. Ca. 7 (only) T. 1. 30. ondwlitan C. O. Ca. andwlitan
B. ondwlite T. 1. 31. purh ondetnesse C. O. Ca. (and-) . B. (and-).
 IV. 27. 363

Cuthberht humbly submitted to his training, and acquired from him

knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and an example of good works.
After he had departed to the Lord, Cuthberht became director of
the monastery ; and he, both by the authority of his teaching and by
5 the example of his outward conduct, trained and brought up many
to a life of discipline. And not only did he give to the monastery
precepts and at the same time a personal example for a life of
discipline, but he also zealously strove to convert the neighbouring
people, far and wide, from a life of perverse habits, to the love of
10 heavenly joys. For many profaned the faith, which they held,
by unrighteous acts, and also many, at the time of the great pestilence
and mortality, neglected the sacraments of the holy faith, in which
they were trained up, and hastened and flocked to the delusive
remedies of their idols ; as if they could avert the punishment sent
15 from God their creator, by their incantations or charms or some
secrets of devilish craft. Now the man of God often issued from
the monastery to correct both errors . At times he mounted on
horseback, oftener he went on foot. He proceeded to the hamlets
that lay around, preaching and teaching the way of truth to those
20 who were in error. This also his master, Boisel, had usually done in
his time. It was at this time customary among the English tribes,
that when a priest or anyone else came to a hamlet, they all
assembled at his summons to hear the word of God ; and they
readily listened to what they were taught, and also sedulously
25 carried out in their conduct, whatever they understood. Now this
man of God, Cuthberht, had such training and skill in speaking and
such love for the word of God, which he began to teach, and such
a light of angelic appearance shone in him, that not one of those,
who were present, dare conceal from him the secrets of his heart, but
30 all openly by confession disclosed their actions. For they con-
sidered and thought that they alone escaped his notice, whose

บ
openlice T. 1. 32. ðæt hi ða áne mid pe de he da ane heora degolnesse witan
ne gymde T. phine þa áne (a out of n ?) mid þy þe heora dygolnes witan nene
gymde B. phine pa ane mipene deagle waron C. pæt hine pa ane miðene
deahle waron O. † hĩ þa ane miðene d.ahle (e erased) waron Ca. (C. O. Ca,
have no more). Cp. 360. 5. þaá.
 364 LIBER QUARTUS.

hine ða áne * mipe, be he daa ne heora degolnesse witan ne gymde ;

ond hi ða geondettan synne mid medemum wæstmum soðre hreowe
gebetton, swa he bebead. 7 gewunode he swiðost da stowe geond-
feran 7 in dæm tunum godcunde lare bodian, þa de in heaum morum
7 in reðum feorr gesette wæron 7 oðrum on gryre wæron to neo- 5
sienne, 7 æghweder ge mid þearfendnesse ge mid heora ungelæred-
nesse dara lareowa fore hiadoradon : da he hwedere mid árfæste
gewinnemid mycelre geornfulnesse heofenlicre lare lustfullice beeode.
Ond of dæm mynstre úteode oft onwalge wucan, hwilum twa odde
Oreo ; swylce eac oft ealle monde pæt he ham ne hwearf, ac 10
wunode in dæm mórlandum 7 Öæt ungelærede folc somod ge mid
worde his lara ge mid weorce his mægena to pæm heofenlican
cleopode 7 lacode.
Ono mid by he da se árwyrda Godes deow monig gear in
Mægilros dæm mynstre drohtiende wæs, 7 þær mid miclum 15
tacnum gastlicra mægena scán 7 byryhte, da genam hine æt
nehstan his se arwyrða abbod Eata to Lindesfarena ea, dæt he
dær eac swilce dæm broðrum sealde regollices deodscipes gehæled ,
ge mid ealdorlicnesse his lare ge mid his sylfes dæde, ypte 7
cyode. Fordon Ja sylfan stowe pe se ilca árwyrða fæder Eata 20
mid abbudes ánwalde heold 7 rehte- wæs dær io on ealdum tídum
p. 605. ge biscop mid his geferum, ge eac abbod wunode mid munecum.
Hweðere hie to pas biscopes scire heowesclice belumpon.
Fordon se halga Godes man Iodon, se de ærest dære stowe biscop
wæs, big munuchade, he dider com mid munecum 7 munuclifes 25
drohtunge he in dæm mynstre gesette.

XXVIIII.
Cap. 28.
Donon da se halga Godes man Cuðbryht, wexendum geear-
ningum áfestre ingehygde, ond eac swylce to degolnesse 7 to
stillnesse becom ære godcundan sceawunge áncerlifes, swa we 30
ær beforan sægdon. Ac fordon þe ær monegum gearum be his

1. 7. fore C. O. Ca. Not in T. B. = (accessum). 1. 9. onwalge. C. O.

d
onwalghe Ca. on anwille T. hwilan B. 1. 15. drohtienoe T. -ende C. O.
Ca. B. 1. 16. byryhte T. Lyr.hte (y on erasure : after r erasure of i) O.
 IV. 27, 28. 365

secrets he did not then care to know ; and they amended the sins they
confessed with due fruits of true repentance, as he directed. And
he was most in the habit of travelling through those places and
preaching the word of God in those hamlets, which were situated
5 at a distance on elevated and rugged moors, which others felt a
horror ofvisiting, and which by their poverty and ignorance deterred
teachers ; these he however with pious toil, cheerfully tended in his
great zeal for divine teaching. And he often went out from the
monastery a whole week, at times even two or three ; also often for
10 a whole month he did not return home, but remained in the moor-
lands and summoned and invited to heavenly things that ignorant
people, by the words of his teaching and by his works of virtue.
Now when the venerable servant of God had been spending many
years in the monastery of Melrose, and there shone and was re-
15 splendent with many tokens of spiritual virtues, then at last his
venerable abbot Eata carried him off to Lindisfarne, that he
might there also introduce among the brethren the observance of
regular discipline, setting forth and exhibiting it by the authority of
his teaching and by his personal conduct. For in the same place
20 where this venerable father Eata ruled and directed with the power
ofabbot, there was there formerly in old times both a bishop with his
clergy and also an abbot dwelling with monks. However these fell to
the charge of the bishop as part of his household. For the holy man of
God, Aidan, who first was bishop of that place, being himselfa monk,
25 came there with monks and established the mode of monastic life in
the monastery.

XXIX.

After this the holy man of God, Cuthberht, as the merits of his
pious resolve increased, retired also to the secrecy and retirement
of divine contemplation in a hermit's life, as we have already stated.
30 And as many years ago we wrote fully about his life and virtues

byrhte Ca. beorhtode B. beorhte C. 1. 19. After sylfes a blank = six letters
in which lare is traceable) T. Nothing inserted before dade in other MSS .
1. 25. he C. O. Ca. ond he T. and he B. (? retain ond, and insert was before
big). 1. 27. Blank for initial T. B. D- O. Ca. p- C.
 366 LIBER QUARTUS.

life 7 mægenum we genyhtsumlice awriton, ge meterfersum ge

geradre spræce, dis án nu in ondweardnesse is genog to gemyn-
gienne, þæt da he at ealond secan wolde, Sæt he was dæm
broðrum cidende 7 Jus cwæð : Gif me seo godcunde geofu in
Sære stowe forgifen beon wile, þæt ic lifgan mote be minum 5
hondgewinne, ic dar lustlice wunige. Gif hit hwet elles bið, ic
hrædlice mid Godes willan eft to eow hweorfe. Was seo stow ge
wateres wædla ge eor wæstma ge treowa ; ah þær was werigra
gasta weorod 7 eardungstow 7 æghwylcere menniscre eardunge
ungescræpe. Ac pa to willan das Godes weres heo eardiendlic was 10
geworden ; ond sona for his cyme Ja wergan gastas Jonon onweg
gewiton. 7 pa mid þy de da feond onweg gewitone wæron, þa
gesohte he him nearo wíc 7 wununesse, ond þa mid dice 7 mid
eor wealle utan ymbsealde 7 gefæstnode ; 7 in dæm ða nedþear-
flican hús mid para brodera honda 7 fultome, dat is cyrican 7 15
gemæne eardunghús getimbrede. 7 da het da broðor in dæs ilcan
huses flore him sea adelfan. Was seo corde to æs heard 7 to
Jæs stanihte, pet dær nænig wiht wyllsprynges beon mihte on
gesewen. Da hi da broðor dat dydon to geleafan 7 to benum dæs
Godes deowes, da odre dæge wæs he wætres ful gemeted. Pæt 20
ilce wæter æt Xysne ondweardan dæg eallum dæm dider cumendum
his heofenlicu gifu genihtsumnesse degnað. Pa bæd se Godes man
þæt him man isern geloman mid hwæte Öyder brohte þæt land
mid to tawienne. Da det land a getawod wæs, 7 he on gerisue
tíd mid hwæte hit seow, pa ne com dær nænig grownes up ne 25
wæstm , ne furðum brordes oð sumeres tíd. pa neosedon hie eft
pa broðor 7 sohtan, swa heora deaw was , da heht he him beresæd
bringan, gif wen wære, þæt þæt wexan wolde ope dære eorðan
gecynd wære, oppe willa was dees uplican gifendes, dat æs
wæstmes eard þær wære upp eornende. Da him da det sæd 30
broht was ofer ealle tíde to sawenne, 7 ofer ealne hiht wæsm
to berenne he in dæm ilcan lande seow, pa georn Sær sona upp
genihtsumlic yrð 7 wæstm, 7 þa wilnedon gereordnesse ðam
p. 606. Godes were gegearwode his agnes hondgewinnes.
80
1. 17. se,orde T. sio eorpe C. Text O. Ca. B. 1. 23. Phi mon C. Ca. O.
(him). phim mann B. Not in T. 1. 34. gegearwode C. Ca. O. (-wade).
7 gearwode T. 7 gegearowode B.
 IV. 28. 367

both in verse and prose, it is now enough to record at present this

one fact, that when he was about to withdraw to the island, he pro-
tested to the brethren and said : ' If the divine grace will be vouch-
safed to me atthe place, that I may live by the labour of my hands,
5 cheerfully will I live there. If it be otherwise, with God's will I will
return to you quickly.' The place was destitute of water, produce
of the ground, and trees ; but there was there a gathering and
haunt of accursed spirits, and it was unfit for any human habitation.
But then in accordance with the desire of the man of God it became

10 habitable ; and soon because of his coming the accursed spirits

departed thence. And when the foe had withdrawn, he sought out
for himself a small and confined dwelling, and surrounded it and
strengthened it with a ditch and mound ; and within he erected
the necessary buildings, with the aid of the brethren's hands, that is,
15 an oratory and a common dwelling. And then he bade the brethren
dig a pit for him in the floor of the house. Now the earth was so
hard and stony, that no trace of a spring could be seen in it. But
when the brethren in faith and at the prayers of the servant of God
had done so, next day it was found full of water. This same water
20 at this present day supplies to all who come there the divine gift of
its abundance. Then the man of God ordered iron tools with wheat
to be brought to till the ground. And when the ground was tilled
and in due time he sowed it with wheat, there came up no growth
nor crop, nor even herbage till summer time. When the brothers

25 returned to visit him, as their wont was, he told them to bring him
barley seed, in case there might be hopes of its growing or suiting
the soil, or its being the will of the heavenly giver of all things, that
a crop of this produce might spring up there. After the seed was
brought to him, though it was quite past the season for sowing, and
30 there were no hopes of it bearing produce, as he sowed it in the
land, then there soon sprang up an abundant crop and produce, which
yielded to the man of God the desired supplies from the labour of
368 LIBER QUARTUS .

Mid þy he da monig gear þær in ancerlífe Dryhtne deowode, pa

gelamp, þæt man mycelne seono gesomnode be Alnes streame
in pære stowe, pe is cweden Et Twyfyrde, under andweardnesse
Ecgfreodes das cyninges. Dam seonode in ealdordome foresæt ære
eadigan gemynde Deodor ercebiscop ; 7 he dær was mid anmodre 5
gepafunge ealra dara weotena to biscope gecoren dære cyrican æt
Lindesfarena éa. 7 hi da manige ærendwrecan 7 gewreoto him
sendon, 7 hie hine hwere nænige dinga of his wicum 7 of his
stowe to him gelaðian ne mehton. Ɖa æt nehstan se foresprecena
cyning self, 7 se halga biscop Trumwine mid him 7 monige opre 10
æfeste weras 7 rice liðon on dæt ealond. 7 eac swylce mænige
para broðra of Lindesfarena éa efncomon to him 7 ealle heora
cneowa begdon, 7 tearas guton 7 hine ðurh done lifigendon Dryhten
halsedon 7 bædon, op þæt hie hine eac swylce teara fulne of
his dæm swetan degolnessum atugon 7 to dam seonoðe gelæddon. 15
Mid þy he ða þyder com, peah þe he swide widwinnende wære, mid
ánmode willan heora ealra he was oferswided 7 geneded to onfonne
pa degnunge biscophades. Was he swyðust mid þy worde ofer-
swiðed, dætte Bosel se Dryhtnes peow, pa he him þurh wítedomes
gast eal pa ping openade 7 sægde, þa de ofer hine cumende wæron, 20
pa he eac swylce forecwap, dat he toweardlice biscop beon sceolde.
Ne was a hwere sona his halgunge gedemed ; ac forðagane
dy wintra, de da toweard wæs, in dære seolfan Easterlican symbel-
nesse in Eoferwicceastre was gefylled in ondweardnesse Ecgferðes
þæs cyninges : 7 seofen biscopas to his halgunge efencomon, in 25
dæm dære eadigan gemynde Theodor biscop ealdordom hæfde. He
Ja done onfongnan biscophád to onhyrenisse para eadigra apostola
mid weorcum gastlicra mægena frætwode, 7 pat bebodene folc, pe he
Gode healdan sceolde, ægheper ge mid his singalum gebedum
scylde, ge mid his halwendum moningum 7 larum to dæm heofenli- 30
can cegde 7 laðode ; 7 þætte swiðost gewunað halige lareowas
gefultuman, swa hwat swa he mid his worde lærde, he ær mid
dædum gefylde. Was he ær eallum ðingum mid þy fýre godcundre

1. 7. hi O. Ca. B. he T. 1. 20. eal þa (þ out of r) T. eall˚0 . eall pa

Ca. ealle da B. 1. 22. forðagane Ca. forðaga.ne (erasure of n) O. -num
B. (dam). fordagena T.
 IV. 28. 369

his hands. After serving the Lord for many years there as a
hermit, it happened that a great synod was assembled by the river
Alne, at the place which is called Twyford, in the presence of king
Ecgfrith. Archbishop Theodore of blessed memory presided over
5 the synod as primate ; and Cuthberht there, with unanimous con-
sent of all its members, was chosen bishop of the church at
Lindisfarne. Then they sent to him many messengers and letters,
and yet were utterly unable to lure him out ofhis dwelling and home
to them. Then at last the aforesaid king himself, accompanied by
10 the holy bishop Trumwine and many other pious and rich men,
sailed to the island. And also many ofthe brethren from Lindisfarne
flocked to him, and all bent the knee and shed tears and entreated
and prayed him by the living God, till they drew him out of his
beloved retirement, with many tears on his part also, and brought
15 him to the synod. On coming there, though very reluctant, he was
overpowered by the unanimous desire of all and forced to undertake
the duties of the episcopate. He was chiefly prevailed upon by the
words, in which Boisel, the man of God, when by the spirit of
prophecy he revealed to him what should come upon him, even then
20 foretold, that he should at some future time be a bishop. His
consecration was however not at once decreed ; but when the
winter, which was then coming, had passed, exactly at the festival
of Easter, it was completed at York in the presence of king Ecg-
frith and seven bishops assembled for his consecration, among
25 whom bishop Theodore of blessed memory held the primacy. He
then, in imitation of the blessed apostles, adorned the episcopate,
which he had received, with works of spiritual virtue, and the flock,
committed to him to keep for God, he both shielded with his
continual prayers and called and incited to heavenly things by his
30 salutary warnings and teaching ; and, what in general is the greatest
aid to pious teachers, what he taught in word, he first fulfilled in
deed. Before all things he was warm and fervent with the fire of
Bb
 370 LIBER QUARTUS.

lufan hát 7 weallende, 7 in geðylde mægene gemetfæst, ond in

wilsumnesse haligra gebeda begneord 7 geornful ; 7 he was
eallum gespræce dam pe to him for intingan frofre comon ; 7
þæt sylfe he was lædende in stowe halges gebedes, gif he dam
untruman broðrum mid his trymenesse 7 lare fultum sealde. 5
Fordon he wiste 7 gemunde : se pe cwed, lufa du pinne Dryhten
God, se ilca cwæð, lufa ðu þinne done nehstan. Was he
mid clæsnunge forhæfdpesse weoro 7 mare ; 7 symle mid pære
gife onbryrdnesse was to dam heofenlican adened. Dæs wæs
to tácne, ponne he Gode onsægdnesse bær 7 mæssan sang, dæt he 10
his stefne on heánesse ne ahófe, ah forogotenum tearum of
inneweardre heortan Dryhtne his willan bebead,

XXX.

Da wes twa gear dæt he dæt biscopsetl swa sæt 7 heold. Þa

was he godcundlice manod, þat he eft his ealond 7 his wíc gecure 7
gewilnode ; forðon se ingang nealecte his dæaðdæges, oope má his 15
p. 607. lifes, fordon dæt án is solic líf to cwedenne ; swa swa he sylf
in ða ilcan tíd monegum monnum mid his dære gewunelican bilwit-
nesse diglum wordum openade 7 cydde, pa mon hwedere æfter fæce
sweotollice ongeotan mihte. Sumum monnum he donne þæt ilce
openlice onwreah 7 cydde, 20
Cap. 29. Was sum mæssepreost árwyrdes lifes, pas noma was Here-
byrht, se was geara 7 longe þæm Godes were in were geðeoded
gastlices freondscipes. Was se in ealonde pas mycclan meres, of
dæm de da fruman aweallað Deorwentan streames ; ond ancerlife lifde.
Was his gewuna, þæt he syndrigum gearum hine neosade 7 sohte, 25
7 from him monunge gehyrde ecre hæle. Da he gehyrde þæt se bis-
cop com to Lugubalia dære ceastre, da com he, swa his deaw was ,
þider to him 7 wilnode, dat he mid his halwendum trymenessum to
Sæm upplican lustum má 7 má onbærned wære. Da hie da betwih
him spræcon be haligra fædera lífe 7 him betwih bedeweg scencton 30
þæs heofenlican lifes, da cwæð se biscop betwih : Gemyne du brodor

1. 13. .a (square blank for D) T. Da Ca. pa O. B. 1. 17. gewunelic T.

-can (in full) O. Ca, B. 1. 32. in were O. in ware B. Not in T. in tre-
owde Ca.
 IV. 28, 29. 371

godly love, modest with the virtue of patience, attentive and zealous
in devotion to holy prayer ; and he was affable to all who came to
him for comfort ; and he regarded it in the light of holy prayer, if
by his encouragement and instruction he rendered aid to the feeble
5 brethren. For he knew and remembered, that he who said, ' Love
the Lord thy God,' also said, ' Love thy neighbour. ' He was esteemed
and famous for the purifying discipline of his asceticism, and was
ever intent on heavenly things with all the grace of fervour. As a
proof of this, whenever he offered the sacrifice to God and sang
10 mass, he never raised up his voice on high, but with streaming tears
out of his inmost heart commended his desires to the Lord.

XXX.

Then for two years he thus occupied and held the bishop's seat.
Then he was divinely warned to prefer and desire once more his
island and his dwelling there ; for his approach to death was at
15 hand, or rather to life, for this alone is to be called true life ; as he
himself, at that same time, revealed and made known to many men
with his usual simplicity, in obscure terms, which however could
soon be clearly understood. To some men he however openly dis-
closed and made known the same fact. There was a priest of
20 venerable life named Hereberht, of old and long associated with this
man of God in a union of spiritual friendship . He was on an island
in the large lake out ofwhichthe source of the river Derwent springs,
living as a hermit. It was his wont year by year to come and visit
him, and hear from him counsel tending to eternal salvation. On
25 hearing that the bishop had come to Carlisle, as his custom was,
he went to him there, desiring that by his salutary exhortations he
might be more and more inflamed with desire for things above.
Now as they talked with one another about the lives of holy fathers,

and each for the other poured out the cup of heavenly life, the bishop
30 said during the conversation : ' Remember, brother Hereberht, now to
B b 2
 372 LIBER QUARTUS .

Herebryht, pætte pu nu mec frigne 7 to me spræce, swah wat swa

Ju wille 7 dearfe hæbbe. Fordon de æfter pon de wit nu betwih
unc nu togangne beod, ne geseo wit unc ofer dat in disse weorulde
lichomlicum eagum . Fordon ic cuðlice wát, pat seo tíd minre to-
lysnesse 7 minre forðfore is swide neah. Pa he da das word gehyrde , 5
Ja feol he to his fotum 7 mid mycelre eomrunge his tearas geát : 7
sárlice weop 7 pus cwæd : Ic de halsige purh one lifigendan
Drihten, dæt du mec ne forlæte, ac pat pu sie gemyndig getreowan
gedoftan, ond bidde þa uplican arfæstnesse, ðæt þæm Gode, pe wit
somod on eordan deowedon-Sat wit eac somod moton to heofenum 10
*feran his gife þær to geseonne 7 to sceawigenne. Forðon þu wast
Sæt ic symle teolode to lifigenne to dines mudes bebode, 7 swa hwet
swa ic for unwisnesse 7 for tydernesse agylte, ic pat to dome dines
willan teolode hrade to gebetenne. Da aðenede se biscop hine in
cruce 7 hine gebæd, 7 sona was in gaste gelæred, þæt he was from 15
Dryhtne tigða þære bene, de he bad ; ond cwæð. Aris mín broðor
7 ne wep þu, ah gefeoh 7 geblissa : fordon seo uplice arfæstnes unc
forgeaf, dat wit bædon.
Das gehátes 7 æs witedomes soð se afterfylgenda becyme ðara
wisena geseðde 7 getrymede. Fordon da hie betweoh him togan- 20
gende wæron, da hie ofer dæt lichomlicum eagum ne gesawon ; 7
ane dæge 7 y ilcan, dat is dy Oreotteodan dæge Kalendarum
Aprelium, pat hie waron of lichoman útgongende ; 7 heora gastas
sona betwih mid eadigre gesihoe gedeodde wæron 7, midd þa
engellican degnunge ætgædere to dæm heofenlican rice gelædde . 25
Ac Herebyrht wæs ár mid singalre untrumnesse soden 7 ges-
wenced. Is det to gelyfenne, patte þæt wære mid forestihtunge
p. 608. dón þære godcundan árfæstnesse, pætte swa hwat swa he læs 7
wonan hæfde geearnunge from dæm eadegan Cuðbrehte, pætte dæt
gefylde 7 geclansode pot sár dære longan untrumnesse, pæt he swa 30
geefenlicad wære mid pa gife his dingeres : pat swa swa he in
ane tíd 7 in ða ilcan mid hine of lichoman gongende was, pœt he
donne ec swylce swa mid hine nalas in ungelicum selde pære ecan
eadignesse geearnode onfongen beon.
lica
1. 3. ðis:weordlicum T. þysse worolde,licum ( y on erasure) O. Öysse weor-
ulde lichomlicu С. disse worulde licumlicum B. 1. 11. beran T. Ca. B.
 IV . 29. 373

ask and tell me whatever you desire and need. For after we part
this time, we shall never see one another again in this world with
the eyes ofthe body. For I certainly know, that the time of my
release and departure is very nigh.' On hearing these words
5 Hereberht fell at his feet, and shedding tears with much lamentation ,
wept sore and said : ' I entreat thee by the living Lord not to leave
me, but to remember your true companion, and to pray the heavenly
goodness, that (it may please) the God, whom we served together on
earth, that we also may go to heaven together, there to see and
10 behold his grace. For you know that I ever strove to live accord-
ing to the precepts ofyour mouth, and wherever I failed for ignorance
and frailty, I at once tried to amend according to the judgment of
your will.' Then the bishop extended himself in the form of a cross
and prayed, and at once was informed in the spirit, that the Lord had
15 granted the request he preferred ; and he said : 'Arise, my brother, and
weep not, but rejoice and be glad : for the heavenly mercy has granted
our prayer.' The subsequent issue of events verified and confirmed
the truth of this promise and prophecy. For after parting they
never saw one another with the eyes of the body ; and on one and
20 the same day, that is to say on the 20th of March, they parted from
the body, and their souls soon were united with one another in bea-
tific vision, and by the ministry of angels were together led to the
heavenly kingdom. But Hereberht was first afflicted and distressed
with continual infirmity. We may believe, that this was done by
25 the dispensation of divine goodness, that if in aught he were inferior
and behindhand in merit, as compared with the blessed Cuthberht,
the pain of the long illness should make up and atone for that, that
thus he might be made equal by the grace of his intercessor : so that,
as he was parted from the body at one and the same time with him, he
30 might also merit to be received along with him in a similar place
in eternal bliss. The venerable father Cuthberht died on the island

be.ran (erasure of o) 0 . 1. 15. in (? surface peeled off) T. on O. Ca. B.

1. 31. ? öingere. All MSS. -eres.
 374 LIBER QUARTUS.

For ferde se árwyrða fæder Cudbyrht in Farne dæm ealonde ; 7

he swide georne was ða broðor biddende, þæt he dær eac swylce
bebyrged beon moste, þær he mycle tid for Dryhtne campode. Ond
hweðre æt nehstan þæt he was mid heora benum oferswiðed, þæt
he geðafode, pæt mon his líc lædde to Lindesfarena ea, ond þær in 5
cirican geseted wære. Da det geworden was, pa heold þære
cyrican biscophád an geár Wilferð se arwyrða biscop, oðþæt se
biscop gecoren wære, se pe fore Cudbyrhte gehalgod beon sceolde.
Pa was æfter pon, Sæt wæs Eadbyrht to biscope gehalgod. Was
se wer in wísdome godcundra gewreota 7 eac swylce somod in 10
hælde heofenlicra beboda ond swiðust in weorcum ælmesdæda
weorð 7 mære, swa Sæt he æghwelce geare æfter Moyses æ, nales
dæt aan federfotra neata ac swylce eac ealra wæstma 7 æppla
7 hrægla done teoðan dæl for Gode to almessum dearfum sealde.

XXXI.

Cap. 30. Dat wolde da openlicor æteawan seo godcunde arfæstnes, in hu 15

myclum wuldre se Dryhtnes wer Cuðbyrht æfter his deaðe lifde ;
+ þæs his líf ær dam deade mid healicum tacnum heofenlicra wundra
openade 7 æteawde. Ɖa wæs ymb endlefen geár þæs de he
bebyrged wæs, dætte God onsende in ðara broðra mod, þæť heo
woldan his bán geneoman 7 úp ofer eorðan adón. Tealdon hie 20
7 wendon pat his oder lichoma dy deawe deadra manna fornumen
wære 7 to duste geworden, 7 dat hie woldon his bán on níwe cyste
gedón 7 in dære ilcan stowe bufan eorðan gedefelicre arwyrðnesse
wel gesettan 7 gestaðelian.
Pa sægdon hie dæt 7 cyddon Eadbyrhte heora biscope pat him 25
det licede 7 leof wære, gif hit his willa wære, da geðafode he
þæt heora geðeahte, 7 het dat hie pat dydon dy dæge, pe his gemynd-
dæg wære 7 his forðfór. 7 hie swa dydon : ontyndon his byrgenne
7 ealne his lichoman gemetton onwalhne 7 gesundne, swa swa he
pa gena lifde, 7 he was begendlic in dæm gedeodnessum leoða, 30
t
1. 13. wasma T. wæstma C. O. Ca. B. 1. 15. .æt (blank for Đ) T. Not
:
in C. Ca. O. pa B. 1. 22. niwe (accent dubious) T. niwe Ca. niwe C. O. B.
1. 27. gemynd™ T. gemynddæg C. O. Ca. B.
:
 IV. 29, 30. 375

of Farne ; and he prayed the brethren very earnestly, that he might

too be buried there, where he had so long contended for the Lord.
And yet at last he was prevailed upon by their entreaties to con-
sent, that his body should be brought to Lindisfarne and laid in the
5 church there. When this was done, the venerable bishop Wilfrid
held the episcopate of the church for one year, till a bishop was
chosen to be consecrated in Cuthberht's place. After this Eadberht
was consecrated bishop. This man was esteemed and famous for

his knowledge of Holy Scripture as well as for his observance of

10 God's ordinances, and above all for works of almsgiving, so that
every year, according to the law of Moses, he gave for God's sake
the tithe of fourfooted beasts, as well as of all crops fruits and textile
fabrics, as alms to the poor.

XXXI.

Then the divine goodness desired to show more openly, in howgreat

15 glory the man of God, Cuthberht, lived after death ; whose life before

death was revealed and displayed by sublime tokens of heavenly

miracles. About eleven years after his burial, God put it into the
hearts of the brethren to take up his bones and place them above
ground. Expecting that the rest of his body, as is usual with the

20 dead , had been destroyed and turned to dust, they thought that
they would put his bones in a new coffin, and lay them carefully in
the same place above ground with due honour, and there keep them.

Then they repeated and made known to their bishop , Eadberht,

that this was their intention and desire, if it was his will ; and he

25 assented to their plan, directing them to do so on the day of his

death, which was kept in his memory. And so they did they

opened his tomb and found all his body whole and sound, as if still

alive, and the joints of his limbs were flexible, so that he was much
 376 LIBER QUARTUS .

þæt he was myccle gelicra slæpendum menn ponne deadum.

Swylce eac ealle ða hrægl, þa de he mid gegearwad was, nales dæt
an þæt hie ungewemmed wæron, ah swylce eac swa hwít 7 swa
neowe wunderlice ateawdon, swa he dy ilcan dæge mid gewered
wære. pa pat pa da brodor gesawon, pa wæron hie swide forhte 5
gewordne, 7 da efestton dem biscope to cydenne 7 secgenne da ding
p. 609. de hie dær gemetton. Se pa anlepe wunode in syndrigre stowe
from ære cyrican, seo was æghwonon mid sæs yðum utan
ymbgyrded . In disse stowe he simle on ða tíd ðæs feowertiglican
fæstennes ær Eastrum 7 eft dæt feowertig ær Cristes gebyrdtíde in 10
mycelre forhæfdnesse 7 in mycelre wilsumnesse gebeda 7 in teara
gegote gewunelice was. In ære stowe eac swylce se arwyrða
his foregenga Cuðbryht , ær don pe he Farne þæt ealand gesohte, sum
fæc in deagolnesse Dryhtne campode. Brohton hie yder eac
swylce dam biscope ðara hrægla dál , þe se halga lichoma mid 15
gegyrwed was. 7 he pære gife doncwyrölice onfeng, 7 pa wundor
lustlice gehyrde ond þa sylfan hrægl mid wunderlicre lufe cyssende
was, swa heo da gena pam lichoman þæs halgan fæder ymbseald
wæron ; 7 dus cwæð : Gegyrewad done lichoman mid neowum
hræglum fore dam de ge dær on noman, 7 swa in da cyste gesettað, 20
pe ge him gegearwodon. Fordæm ic pat cuðlice wát, pat seo stow
noht lange æmettig ne wunað, seo mid swa mycelre gife heofenlicre
gife gehalgod is. Ond se bid swide eadig se de him Drihten, se
is órd 7 syllend ealra eadignessa, forgifeð, þætte he in dære stowe
restan mote. Pa he da se biscop das word 7 monig þysses gemetes 25
mid manegum tearum 7 mid mycelre inbryrdnesse heortan 7 swylce
eac forhtigendre tungan gefylde, da dydon da brodor swa he het,
ond pone lichoman gegyredon mid neowum hrægle, 7 in da neowan
cyste gedydon, de hi to don geworhton, 7 bufan flore ære cirican
asetton. 30
Ne was pa elding, pætte Gode se leofa biscop Eadbryht was mid
grimre adle dread 7 gestanden; 7 seo dæghwamlice weox 7 hefigode,
n
1. 3. wærom T. ware C. wære , O. waron Ca. B. 1. 10. gebedtide T.
gebrydtide B. gebyrddæge C. O. Ca. 1. 12. gewunelice C. -na- O.
i
-no- Ca. swa his gewuna T. B. 1. 18. heo Ca. hi B. h, eo O. he T. C.
b b
ymdseald T. ym,seald O. ymbseald C. Ca. B. 1. 19. gegyrcwað
 IV. 30 . 377

more like one asleep than dead. Also all the robes, in which he
was attired, were not only undecayed, but miraculously appeared as
white and new, as if he had been wrapped in them that very day.
When the brethren saw this, they were frightened and hastened to
5 announce and report to the bishop what they had found there. He
was then living in solitude in a place apart from the church,
surrounded on every side by the waves of the sea. At this place
it was ever his wont, at the time of the forty days' fast before
Easter, and again for the forty days before Christ's nativity, to live in
10 great abstinence, fervent prayer and outpouring of tears. In this
place also his venerable predecessor, Cuthberht, before going to the
island of Farne, had for some time in retirement contended for the
Lord . They brought there also to the bishop some portion of the
garments, in which the holy body had been attired. And he
15 gratefully received the gift, and joyously listened to the wonders,
and with marvellous love kissed the robes, as if they still were
round the body of the holy father ; and thus spoke : ' Clothe the body
with new garments, instead of those which you took from it, and so
lay it in the coffin, which you have prepared for it. For I well
20 know the place will not long remain empty, which with so great gift
of heavenly grace has thus been hallowed. And most blessed is he,
he to whom the Lord, who is author and giver of all blessedness,
allows to rest in that place.' Now when the bishop had concluded
these words and many to this effect, with many tears and great
25 fervour of heart, and also with trembling tongue, then the brethren
did as he bade, and wrapping the body in a new robe, set it in the
new coffin made on purpose and laid it above on the floor of the
church. Then without delay bishop Eadberht, beloved of God, was
seized with an attack of severe illness ; and it daily increased and
(erasure over rc, stroke below r) T. gegerewað C. gegyrwað O. B.
gegearwigeap Ca. 1. 27. forhtigende: heortan T. forhtiendre tungan
C. O. forhtigendre tungan Ca. B. 1. 29. Jon C. O. pan Ca. dam B. dom
T. 1. 31. eadbr ... (no more read) T. eadbriht B. eadberht C. eadbyrht
O. Ca. 1. 32. dæghwaml.... (no more read) T. dæghwalice C. daghwanlice
O. Ca. B.
 378 LIBER QUARTUS.

pæet he nalas after miclum fæce he eac swylce to Dryhtne ferde,

þæt is ærran dæge Nonas Maias. Dæs lichoman pa broðor wæron
gesettende in ða byrgenne des gebletsadon fæder Cuðbryhtes 7
Ja cyste bufan gesetton, in da hie gestaðeledon pa ungebrosendlican
leomo þæs ilcan fæder. In ære stowe eac swylce oft beod gewor- 5
den heofenlicu mægen 7 hælo tacen untrumra in cyðnesse heora
begra geearnunga. Da sume we geara for gemynde awriton in
Sære bec Cuðberhtes lifes ; ac in dissum ussum stære we sceolon
án toætecan, þe us gelamp þat we neowan gehyrdon.

XXXII.

p. 610. Was in dæm ilcan mynstre sum brodor, æs noma was 10

Cap. 31.
Beadopegn, se was lange tid cumena árðegen para de þæt
mynster sohton. 7 cwæð, þæt he ða gena lifgende wære, pa he
pis gewrit sette. Hæfde he gewitnesse 7 cyonesse from eallum
dæm broðrum 7 from eallum þam cumendum, pe dæt mynster
sohton, þat he was mycelre arfæstnesse wer, 7 þære bebodenan 15
degnunge eadmodlice under eoded for intingan heofenlicre meorde.
Đa eode pes broðor sume dæge, þæt he wolde his reon 7 his
hwitlas, dam de he in cumena bure brucende was, in se wæscan 7
feormian. Da he da eft ham hwearf, þa weard he semninga on
middum þæm siðfæte mid hefigre aðle gehrinen 7 gestonden, swa 20
þæt he hreas 7 feoll on eorðan 7 long fæc for heald licgende wæs ;
7 þa æt nehstan hwón aras. pa he arisende was, pa gefelde he
his lichoman healfne dæl from þæm heafde oð þa fét mid þa aðle
geslægene beon, þe Grecas nemnao paralysis, 7 we cweðað lyftadl ;
7 he mid þy mæstan gewinne mid his crycce hine wredigende ham 25
becom . Weox seo adl sticcemælum, 7 sona on ære ilcan niht
hefigre gefremed was, swa dæt, da dæg com, þæt he unease purh
hine sylfne ariisan oppe gan mihte. Da was he mid pære adle
gewæced 7 geswenced, pa gepohte he on his mode nytte gepeahte,
þæt he wolde swylce gemete, swa he mihte, to cyrican cuman 7 to 30

1. 10. .æs (blank for W) T. Blank also in B. W- C. O. Ca. 1. 17. reon

(n above a crossed out n which is formed out of r, or w ?) T. reon B. reo-
reo
wan C. Ca. ? w.an O. 1. 23, 28. aðle (cross stroke imperfect and suspicious)
 IV . 30 , 31 . 879

grew worse, so that, after a short time, he also departed to the Lord,
that is on the sixth day of May. The brethren laid his body in the
tomb of the blessed father Cuthberht, and placed above it the coffin,
in which they had deposited the undecaying limbs of this father.
5 At that place also have often taken place heavenly marvels and
miracles of healing of the sick in token of the merits of both. Some
of these we formerly recorded in the book of Cuthberht's life ; but
we shall add one in this history of ours, which we chanced to hear
lately.

XXXII.

10 There was at this monastery a brother named Beadothegn,

who had been for a long time attendant on the guests who visited
the monastery. And the historian said that the man was still
alive, when he composed the account. He had witness and testimony
from all the brethren and all who came to visit the monastery, that
15 he was a man of great piety and devoted with much humility to the
service committed to him, for the sake of the heavenly reward.
Then the brother went one day to wash and cleanse in the sea his
rugs and blankets, which he used in the strangers' quarters . When
he turned home again, suddenly half way he was seized with an
20 attack of severe illness, so that he collapsed and sank on the ground,
and lay for a long time on his face, and at last hardly got up. As
he was getting up, he felt his body from the head to the foot half
smitten with the infirmity, which the Greeks call paralysis, and we
call palsy ; and with the greatest difficulty he got home, supporting
25 himselfon his stick. The infirmity gradually increased, and at once,
on that very night, became more severe, so that, when day came, he
could only with difficulty get up or walk by himself. When he
was affected and distressed with this infirmity, he conceived in his
mind a useful thought, that he would, in whatever way he could, go

T. In both places C. O. Ca. B. have adle. 1. 25. mastan (top curve of æ

wanting) T. -æ- C. O. Ca. B. 1. 30. wolde C. O. Ca, B. wold T.
 380 LIBER QUARTUS.

byrgenne þæs árwyrðan fæder Cuðbryhtes, 7 þær his cneow began

7 eadmodlice þa úplican arfæstnesse biddan, oð þæt he from ære
adle genered wære, gif him festre wære æt, oppe gif he mid pa
godcundan foreseonnesse leng mid da adle clænsad beon sceolde,
Sæt he þæt saar mihte gepyldiglice mid smolte mode aberan 75
aræfnan. pa dyde he, swa he on his mode gehogde, 7 his da
untruman leomo mid his crycce wreÖgende eode in cyrican ; 7 hine
was in gebed streccende æt lichoman pas Godes weres 7 mid
árfæstre ingehygde þurh his fultum was Dryhten biddende, pät
he him árfæst 7 milde wære. Ond pa betwih his gebede 7 benė 10
Sæt he hwón onslep. Da gefelde he, swa swa he seolfa æfter sægde,
swa swa mycel hond 7 brad his heafod gehrine in dæm dæle, þe
þæt sár 7 seo adl on wæs, 7 mid þære ilcan gehrinenesse ealne pone
dæl his lichoman, der he mid pære adle gehefigod was, on
styccemælum fleondum þæm sare 7 æfterfylgendre hælo geond- 15
goten was. Pa dis dus geworden wæs, sona dæs de he onwóc, da
arás he hal 7 gesund. Ond he for his hælo eft Dryhtne ponc
secgende was 7 pæm halgan were his fultomes gyfe ; 7 he dæt
eac swylce pæm broðrum cydde 7 sægde, hwæt ymb hine gedon
p. 611. was ; 7 hie in pæm ealle blissedon 7 gefegon. 7 he æfter ære 20
dreaunge de geclansodra to his degnunge eft hwerf, þe he ær wel 7
bighydiglice heold 7 bigeode.
Swylce eac da gegyrelan 7 ða hrægl, dam de Gode Cone gehal-
godan lichoman Cuðberhtes oõpe ær lifes ende oppe æfter forð-
feredne gyredon, da eac swylce from hælo gyfe ne adweledon, swa 25
swa in dære bec his lifes 7 his mægena gemét swa hwylc swa
hy rædeo 7 leornað.

XXXIII.

Cap. 32. Nis æt eac swylce to forswugienne, Jætte nu ær þrím gearum

purh his reliquias geworden wæs, 7 me nu neowan þurh done sylfan
brodor gecudode, in dæm pe hit geworden was. Was dis gedon 30
in dæm mynstre, pe big Docore dære éa getimbred is, 7 from dære
7
1. 2. eadmodmodlice T. eadmodlice Ca. eað- C. O. B. 1. 10. mi:de T.
2 i
mi,de O. milde C. Ca. B. 1. 14. l.choman T. licho- C. Ca. -am- O. B.
7 T. B. ond C. 7 on O. Ca. 1. 15. sare C. O. Ca. (-á-). was T. B.
 IV. 31 , 32. 381

to church and to the tomb of the venerable father Cuthberht, and

there bow the knee and humbly pray the heavenly goodness, till he
was cured of the illness , if that were more for his good, or if he
should be longer chastised by divine providence with this illness,
5 that he might patiently bear and endure the pain in a calm spirit.
Then he did, as he purposed in his mind, and supporting his feeble
limbs on a stick, proceeded to the church ; and stretching himself
out in prayer at the body of the man of God, with pious intent,
prayed the Lord through his help to be gracious and merciful to
10 him. And there during his prayers and supplications he fell asleep
for a little, Then he felt, as he himself said afterwards, as though
a great broad hand had touched his head, at the part where the
pain and illness were, and with the same touch passed over all that
part of his body, where he was affected with the attack, while the pain
15 gradually disappeared and healing followed. When this had taken
place, immediately on awaking he arose hale and sound. Then once
more he thanked the Lord for his cure and the saint for the favour
of his support ; and he made it also known to the brethren and said
what had been done to him ; and at this all rejoiced and were glad.
20 And he, all the more purified by this affliction, returned again to his
duties, which he had previously observed and attended to well and
carefully. Also the wrappings and robes, which clothed the body of
Cuthberht thus consecrated to God, either before his life's end or
afterwards when deceased, then also did not fail in the gift of healing,

25 as anyone who reads and studies will find in the book concerning
his life and virtues.

XXXIII.

We must not also pass over in silence a cure, which took place just
three years ago by means of his relics, and lately made known to me
by the same brother, in whose case it was performed. This took
30 place at the monastery built by the river Dacre and named from

? warce. 1. 23. gegyrelan C. O. Ca. ywelan T. gerynelican B. 1. 28.

Blank for initial N in T. N- C. O. Ca. B.
 382 LIBER QUARTUS.

éa noman onfeng, dam mynstre da in abbodes onwalde fore wæs

Swiðbyrht, se wæs æfest wer.
Was in dæm mynstre sum geong monn, dam unwlitig swylce 7
atolic his eagan breg wyrde 7 wemde. 7 se dæghwamlice was
weaxende, 7 æs eagan forwyrde tobeotode. Teoleden his læcas 7 5
Jone swylce mid sealfum 7 mid bepinge gedweenan woldon ; ac
hie ne mehton. Sume lærdon Sæt hine mon aweg acurfe ; sume
þæt beweredon for maran frecennesse. Mid by da se foresprecena
broðor langere tide dyllic ungescræpo woon, ne da tobeotiendan
frecernesse dam eagum mannes hond gehælan mihte ac á dæghwæm- 10
lice was wyrse 7 wyrse, da gelamp him semninga mid gife
pære godcundan arfæstnesse purh reliquias das halgan fæder
Cuðbryhtes gehæledne beon.
Fordon ða þa broðor his lichoman æfter manegum gearum his
bebyrgednesse ungewemmedne 7 ungebrosnodne gemetton, pa 15
genamon hi sumne del his feaxes him to reliquium, þæt hie mihton
heora biddendum freondum syllan, oppe æteawan in tacon Sæs
wundres. Dyssa reliquia dal in ða tíd mid him hefde sum
mæssepreost pæs ilcan mynstres, des noma wæs Drydred, se æfter
wæs des ilcan mynstres abbod. Da wæs he sume dæg in da cyrican 20
gongende 7 da cyste ontynde para reliquia, þæt he heora sumne
dæl his biddendum freonde sealde, pa gelomp þæt se ilca geonga,
se de on his eagan untrum wæs, pa in dære ilcan cyrican was ond-
weard. Mid by he da se mæssepreost done dæl , þe he wolde, his
freonde sealde, da sealde he pet oder pam geongan men ; heht þæt 25
he in heora stowe hie gesette 7 gedyde. Da he ða þæm feaxe onfeng
þæs halgan heafdes, da was he mid halwendre onbryrdnesse manod,
Sæt he togesette pam untruman brege ; 7 sum fæc done ungepwæran
swyle mid þyde 7 pwænde. Pa he dæt gedon hæfde, pa sette he
p. 612. pa reliquias in heora cyste, swa he haten was, ond gelefde þæt his 30
eage for by fexe pas Godes weres, pæm he hrinen wæs, hrade
gehæled wære. Ne hine owiht his geleafa wægde. Was da seo
æftere tid dæges, swa he sylf sægde, da he þæt dyde ; ond

1. 3. swylce eac T. swipe on C. swyle 7 0. Not in Ca. B. has 7 only. 1. 4.

hwyrfde 7 wende T. B. wyrfde 7 wemde C. wyr.de 7 wemde (erasure of one
before d) O. wyrde 7 wémde Ca. 1. II. him C. O. hit Ca. pat hine T.
 IV . 32. 383

the stream, which Swithberht, a man of piety, presided over with

the powers of an abbot. There was at that monastery a young man
suffering from a fearful and unsightly tumour, which was destroying
and disfiguring his eyelid, And it daily increased and threatened
5 the loss of the eye. His doctors tried and were anxious to soothe
the tumour with salves and fomentations ; but they could not . Some
advised that it should be cut away ; some opposed this for fear of
greater danger. And when the aforesaid brother had suffered for
a long time from the inconvenience of this, and man's hand failed
10 to cure the danger that threatened the eye, and it ever daily grew
worse and worse, it then happened to him suddenly, by the grace
of the divine goodness , that he was healed through the relics of the
holy father Cuthberht, For when the brethren many years after
his burial found his body uncorrupted and undecayed, they took a
15 portion of his hair for themselves as relics, to give to friends who
asked for it or to exhibit in token of the miracle. A priest of the
monastery, Thrydred by name, subsequently its abbot, had at that
time with him a portion of these relics. When he went one day
into the church and opened the box of the relics to give a portion
20 to a friend who asked for it, it happened that the same young man,
who was suffering from his eye, was then present in this church.
Now when the priest had given his friend the portion he desired, he
gave the rest to the young man, directing him to put it away and
restore it to its proper place. On receiving the hair from the sacred
25 head, he was warned by a salutary inspiration to apply it to the
affected eyelid ; and for some time he pressed and soothed the angry
tumour with it. Having done so he put the relics into their box
as directed, and had faith that his eye would soon be cured because
of the hair of the man of God, with which he had been touched.
30 Nor did his faith disappoint him. It was the second hour of the
day, as he himself said, when he did this ; and for that day he con-

phine B. 1. 14. da T. pa B. papa C. O. Ca. 1. 16. genamon hi

O. Ca. B. C. (hie) . genom he T. 1. 29. pyde C. dyde O. dyde T. bygde
Ca. hælde B. 1. 30. reliquias C. O. Ca. B. requias T.
 384 LIBER QUINTUS .

þa dyde forð þone dæg, æt he don ær Johte. Da hit was fore-

weard middag dæs seolfan dæges, þa semnunga gehran he his
eagan ; þa gemette he hit swa hál 7 swa gesund mid by brege swa
him næfre ænig swyle oppe unwlitegnes ne æteaude,

INCIPIT ECCLESIASTICAE HISTORIAE GENTIS

ANGLORUM LIBER QUINTUS *.

I.

p. 613. PA aefterfylgde dam Drihtnes were Cuberhte in bigonge dæs 5

Cap . I.
ancorlifes , da he dyde in Farne Sæm ealonde aer tiidum his
bisscophaades, se aarwyrða wer Aedelwald, se monigum gearum aer
in daem mynstre, de cweden is Inhrypum, da onfongnan Segnunge
mæssepreosthades æfter wyrðum dædum dæm hade gehaalgade. Ɖæs
godes monnes geearnung odoo his liif, hwelc were, cu licor ascine , 10
gif ic áan his wundor ásecgo, dæt me án ðara broðra sægde, fore
dæm 7 in dæm de hit gefremed wæs, dat was Cuðfrið se aarwyrða
Cristes deow 7 mæssepreost, se ec swelce after don dæm broðrum
Jære ilcan cirican Liidisfearona eae, in dære he afeded wæs, in on- 2
walde abbuddoomes fore wæs. 15
Cwedhe : Ic cwoom mid tuæm oðrum broðrum to Farne dæm
ealonde. Wolde ic specan mid pone arwyrðan fæder Aedelwald .
Mid by ic da wæs mid his gesprece wel geroeted 7 me bletsonge
bæd 7 we haam hwurfon, da we da wæron on midre dære sæ, Sa
was somninga hiofones smyltnes tosliten, dære de we ær lioðon uut ; 20
ond swæ micel winter ús onhreas 7 swæ roede storm cuóm, ðæt we
ne mid segle ne mid rownesse owiht fromgan meahton, ne we us
nohtes elles wendon naemne deades seolfes. Mid dy we da swide
longe wið dæm winde 7 wið dæm sáé holonga compadon 7 wunnun,
da æt nestan locadon we on bæcling, hwæder woen ware, Sæt we 25
ænige ðinga furðum æt ealond gesecan meahton, Sæt we ær ut of

1. 1. da T. pa C. O. Ca. B. 1. 3. getmette ho, (erasure of e) T. gemette

he C. O. Ca. gemette B. * The Latin heading in C. O. Ca. No heading
in T.; but elaborate illumination. B. has nothing to mark the division but
 V. 1 . 385

tinued to do, what he had previously intended. And when noon on

the same day had come, then suddenly he touched his eye ; and then
he found it with the lid as whole and sound, as if no swelling or
disfigurement had appeared there.

BOOK V.

I,

5 THE successor of Cuthberht, the man of God, in carrying on the

hermit's life, which he pursued in the island of Farne before thetime of
his episcopate, was the venerable Æthelwald, who many years before,
at the monastery which is called Ripon, sanctified the office of the
priesthood, which he had received, by deeds worthy ofthe position. The
10 merit of this good man and the nature of his life will appear more
evidently, if I relate one of his miracles reported to me by one ofthe
brethren, for whom and on whom it was performed. And this was
Cuthfrith, the venerable servant and priest of Christ, who also later
ruled with the powers of an abbot over the brethren of the church
15 at Lindisfarne, where he was brought up. He said :—' I came with
two other brethren to the island of Farne, desiring to speak to the
venerable father Ethelwald. Now when I was well refreshed with

his conversation, and had begged his blessing, and we were returning
home, as we were in the middle of the sea, then suddenly there was
20 an interruption of the calm weather, in which we had put out ; and
such a violent tempest fell upon us, and such a boisterous storm came
on, that we could not make any way sailing or rowing, and we ex-
pected nothing else for ourselves but actual death. Now when we
had for a very long time striven and struggled in vain against wind
25 and sea, then at last we looked back, to see whether there was any
hope of even regaining the island in any way, from which we had

a blank = 1 lines. 1. 9. dædum C. O. Ca. B.: not in T. 1. 12. cuðfrið T.

guþfrið C. gúðfríð 0. gúðfríð Ca. B. 1. 14. liid- T. lind- C. O. Ca. B.
CC
 386 LIBER QUINTUS .

gongende wæron. Caerde we usic dider we cærde, gemaetton we

usic æghwonon geliice storme foresette 7 foretynde 7 nænig hyht
haelo in us to lafe stondan. Da wæs æfter longum fæce dæt we usse
p. 614. gesihð feorr upp ahófon , da gesegon we in Farne dæm ealonde
Gode done leofan fæder Aedelwald of his deagolnissum utgongende, 5
þæt he wolde userne siðfæt sceawian 7 geseon hwæt us gelumpe ;
forpon he gehyrde þæt gebrec para storma 7 þæs weallendes sæs.
Mid þy he pa us eac sceawode 7 geseah in gewinne 7 in ormodnesse
gesette beon, da begde he his cneo to Fæder usses Dryhtnes
Hælendes Cristes , ond was gebiddende fore usse hælo, 7 for ussum 10
life. Ond mid by he da det gebed gefylde, he pa somod ætgædre ge
pone aðundnan sae gesmylte ge done storm gestilde, to pon dætte
purh all sio roeðnis dæs stormes was blinnende 7 gesyndge windas
Jurh done smyltestan sae usic at londe gebrohte. Mid dy we da
upp cuomon to londe 7 user scip ec swelce from dæm yðum up 15
abæron, da sona se ilca storm eft hwearf 7 cwóm, se de for ussum
intingan medmicel fæc gestilde, ond ealne pone dæg swide micel 7
strong wæs, pætte men sweotolice ongeaton meahton, þætte se
medmicla fyrst þære stilnesse, pe dær becwom, to benum þæs Godes
weres for intingan usse hælo heofonlice forgifen wæs. 20
Wunade pes ylca Godes wer in Farne pam ealonde twelf winter
7 þær forðferde ; ac in Lindesfarena ea bi þæra foresprecenra
biscopa liicum in Sce Petres cyrican pas apostoles bibyrged is.
Wæron pas ping gedón in Aldfriðes tidum þæs cyninges, se de æfter
his breder Ecgfride Norpanhymbra þeode ánes wonpe twentig 25
wintra in cynedome fore wæs.

II.

Cap. 2. In des cyninges rice forewordum forðferde Eata biscop, ond da

Iohannes se halga wer onfoeng biscophad daere ciricean æt Heagos-
tealdes eae. Bi dæm biscope gewuniad secgean monig wundor

gæstlicra mægna, da de hine hiowesclice cuðon , 7 eallra swipust se 30

arwyrða wer 7 se soðfæsta Berhthun, se was his diacon, 7 eft wæs

1. 22. þære T. pare (a out of œ) O. þære Ca. dara B. foresprecenra B.

-cena T. O -cenan Ca.
 V. I, 2. 387

previously put out. Wherever we turned, we found ourselves closed

in and cut off by the same storm, and no hope of safety left in our
own hands. When after a long time we raised up our eyes and looked
to a distance, we saw on the island of Farne Æthelwald, the father
5 beloved of God, issuing from his retirement to watch our passage
and see what happened to us ; for he heard the dashing of the storm
and of the seething sea. Now as he watched us also and saw that
we were in a positon of distress and desperation, he bowed his

knees to the Father of our Lord and Saviour Christ, and prayed for
10 our safety and our life. And when he had ended the prayer, he
then at the same time calmed the swollen sea and stilled the storm,
so that altogether the fury of the storm ceased and favouring breezes
carried us to the land over the calmest of seas. Now when we had

landed and had also drawn up our boat out of reach of the waves,
15 immediately this storm returned again, which had been still a short
while for our sake, and was so great and violent all that day, that
men could clearly see, that the short interval of calm, which then
came, had been divinely vouchsafed for our safety and in answer to
the prayers of the man of God.' This man of God dwelt twelve

20 years on the island of Farne and there died ; but he is buried in

Lindisfarne, beside the bodies of the aforementioned bishops in the
church of the apostle St. Peter. These things took place in the
time of king Aldfrith, who succeeded his brother Ecgfrith, and ruled

over the people of Northumbria as king for nineteen years.

II.

25 In the beginning of this king's reign bishop Eata died, and the holy
John succeeded to the bishopric of the church at Hexham. About

this bishop many marvels of spiritual power are related by those, who
knew him familiarly, especially by the venerable Berhthun, a truthful

man, who was his deacon and after wards abbot ofthe monastery, which
CC 2
 388 LIBER QUINTUS .

abbud æs mynstres, det is geceged In Dera Wuda. Duhte

us gerisne, dat we da wundur sumu in dysse baec gemyndgode.
Sindon sumu deagol wiic mid walle 7 mid barwe ymbsealde, noht
feorr from ære ciricean Heagostealdes éae, dat is , huhuego in
oðerre halfre mile faece ; flowed Tiine seo éa betwihn. Habbað 5
Ja wiic gebaedhus 7 ciricean Sce Michaheles æs heahengles,
in dæm se Godes wer oft mid féaum broðrum his geferum stille
wunude to biganne his leornunge 7 halig gebedu, ond swiðust in da
tiid das feowertiglican fæstenes ær Eastrum. Mid dy he ða sumre
tiide in foreword Eastorfæsten dider cuom to wunienne, da heht he 10
his geferan, Sæt hio sohton sumne earmne dearfan, se de wære
micelre untrumnisse 7 woedelnisse hefigad, dat hie meahton in
Sæm dagum mid him habban 7 mid him ælmesse doan. Fordon
his gewuna was, dat he symle swæ dyde. Da was in sumum tune
noht feorr sum ging dearfa, se was ge dumb ge hreof, se was dæm 15
biscope cuð, fordon he oft ær for hine cuóm 7 his ælmessan feng.
Se næfre ænig word gecweðan meahte : ah swæ micle hreofle 7
scyrf in his heafde hæfde, Sæt him næfre nænig feax in dæm
p. 615. uferan daele Sæs heafdes acenned beon meahte, ah in ymbhwyrfte
stodon ongrislico her. Da bebead se biścop deosne to him lædan, 7 20
in his cafortune heht him medmicel hús gewyrcan, Sæt he inwunian
meahte 7 his dæghwæmlice onleofne onfóan. Mid dy hit ða án
wiice des fæstnes gefylled wæs, da was dy æfterran Dryhtenlican
dæge, dæt he heht done dearfan ingongan. Da he ða inne wæs,
Ja heht he his tungan forðdóon of his muðe 7 him heawan : genom 25
hine da bi his cinne 7 mid tacne dære halgan rode hio gesegnade.
Đa he ða hio gesegnad hæfde, ða heht he tion eft in muồ , 7 heht
hine spreocan ; 7 dus cwæd: Cwed hwelc hwugu word ; cweð nu
gee. Da sona instæpe was se bend onlesed his tungan, 7 he cuæð
Sæt he haten wæs. Toætecte se biscop 7 hine heht steafa naman 30
cweodan. Cwed nu á. Cwed he á. Cwæð nu b. Cwæd he dæt.
Mid dy he ðurh syndrige noman deara stafa æfter dæm biscope cuæð,
pa helt he se biscop him syllabas 7 word forecweðan, 7 in eallum
he him gerisenlice ondsweorude. Da bebead he þæt him mon

1. 6. ciriciricean T. cyricean O. cyrican Ca. (7 ciricean not in B. ).

1. 14. he. (o erased) T. he O. Ca. B. 1. 15. feorr. (letter erased) T. feorr
 V. 2 . 389

is called Beverley. It seemed to us proper to record some of these

marvels in this book. There are some retired habitations surrounded
with arampart and forest, not far from the church of Hexham, that is,
about amile and a-half; the river Tyne flows between . These buildings
5 comprise an oratory and a church of St. Michael the archangel, at
which the man of God often stayed with a few brethren as his
companions in retirement, to pursue his studies and holy prayer,
especially at the season of the forty days' fast before Easter. On
coming to stay there once at the beginning ofthe Easter fast, he bade
10 his companions to look out for a poor man in a needy condition,
suffering at once from great infirmity and poverty, whom they might
keep with them during those days and make the object of their
almsgiving. For it was his wont ever to do so. There was in a hamlet
at no great distance a young man in needy circumstances, dumb and
15 leprous, who was well known to the bishop, as he had often previously
come before him and received alms. He never could speak a single
word : and had so much sore and scurf on his head, that no hair
could ever grow on the top of his head, but round about it there
stood rough locks. Then the bishop directed this man to be brought
20 to him, and ordered a small hut to be erected for him within the
enclosure, where he might dwell and receive his daily maintenance.
When for a week of the fast this was done, on the second Lord's day he
directed the poor man to come in. As soon as he was within, he
told him to put his tongue out ofhis mouth and show it to him : he
25 then took him by the chin and made over it the sign of the holy
cross. When he had thus made the sign of the cross over it, he told
him to draw it back into his mouth and to speak ; and the bishop
said, ' Speak some word ; say now Yea.' Then immediately, on the
spot, the band of his tongue was loosed , and he spoke what he was
30 told. The bishop further ordered him to say the names of the
letters. ' Say now A.' He said A. ' Say now B.' And he said it.
When he had gone through the various names of the letters after
the bishop, the bishop ordered syllables and words to be pronounced
to him, and in all he returned suitable answers. Then the bishop
方 mon
B. feor O. Ca. 1. 18. hafde O. Ca. B. Not in T. 1. 34: he him:lengran
T. phim mon lengran O. Ca. (hi). Not in B.
 390 LIBER QUINTUS .

lengran cwidas biforan cwæde. 7 he symle gedæftlice æfter cwæð :

7 ofer þæt ealle dy dæge ne ablan 7 þære æfterfylgendan nihte, da
hwile de he wacian meahte-swa swa ða sægdon da der onwearde
wæron-þæt he á hwæthwugu spræce 7 oðrum mannum æteaude
Ja deagolnisse his willan 7 his geðohta, þæt he næfre ærþon gedon 5
meahte ; on gelicnisse pas monnes, pe longe halt was 7 swa geboren
of his modor hrife, þæt hiene his eldran beran scoldan 7 he gan ne
meahte. Pa gehældan hiene da apostole Petrus 7 Iohannes, cwio seo
boc, pæt he up astode 7 ongunne hliapettan, 7 mid pæm apostolum
in æt temple code 7 áa was gongende 7 hleapende 7 Dryhten 10
herigende. Was he gefeonde, swa hit nænig wundor is, þære
denunge his fota, dara de he swa micelre tide benumen was.
Ɖa was he se bisscop eefengefeonde his hælo : 7 bebead his lace,
þæt he scolde ec swelce hælan 7 lecnian pa hreofle his heafdes. 7 he
swa dyde ; 7 was gefultumad mid das bisscopes blætsunge 7 gebe- 15
dum, þæt se gunga was geworden hale lichoman 7 fægre onseone 7
georowyrde in gespræce, 7 hæfde crispe loccas fægre, se de ær
was unwlitig, þearfa, 7 hreof 7 dumb. Ond he was blissiende be
Jære onfongnan gesynto his ; ond eac swylce se bisscop him forgeaf
þæt he moste in his geferscipe wunian, gif him dæt leofre wære , 20
ah he da ma geceas det he was eft hám hweorfende.

III.

Cap. 3. Sægde se ilca Berhthun oder wundor be dam forespræcenan

bisscope. Da se arwyrda wer Wilferð biscop æfter longum wræce
wæs eft onfongen on his biscuphad dære cirican Heagostaldes æ,
ond þæs ilca Iohannes, da Bosa bisscop for foered wæs, se was 25
micelre halignisse 7 eadmodnisse mon, for hiene geseted Eoforwic-
ceastre, pa cwom he sumre tide to sumum nunmynstre, þæt is
genemned Weatadun, þæm da Hereburh abbuddisse in aldordome
fore wæs.
p. 616. Mid i we ða þider cuoman, cwæð se Beorhthun, 7 mid micle 30
gefean ealra we onfongne wæron, sægde us seo abbuddisse, pæt sumu

1. 2. T. pa O. Ca. B. 1. 3. ða de, on- T. pa þær and- O. þaðær 7- Ca.

pe dær mid B. 1. 6. on O. Ca. B. 7 T. 1. 12. was 0. Ca. B. Not in T.
 V. 2, 3. 391

ordered longer sentences to be pronounced to him. And he always

repeated them properly and besides that, he never ceased all that
day and the following night, as long as he could keep awake- -as those
reported who were present there-ever uttering something and
5 disclosing to others the secrets of his will and of his thoughts, which
he never before could do ; just like the man, who had long been halt
and was so born from his mother's womb, that his parents must carry
him and he could not walk. When the apostles Peter and John healed
him, the book says that he stood up and began to leap, and went with
10 the apostles into the temple, and ever was walking and leaping and
praising God. He took a pleasure, and it is no wonder, in the use
of his feet, of which he had been so long deprived. Then the bishop,
who shared in the joy at his recovery, directed his doctor also to
attend to and cure the leprosy of his head. And he did so ;; and was

15 aided by the bishop's blessing and prayers, so that the youth became
sound in body, of fair appearance and fluent in speech, and had fine
curly locks, though he had been previously unsightly, needy, leprous
and dumb. And he exulted in the recovery of his health ; and the
bishop also offered him the choice of remaining in his household, if
20 he liked, but he preferred to return home.

III.

The same Berhthun related another marvel concerning the

aforesaid bishop. When the venerable bishop Wilfrid after long
exile was again admitted to his bishopric in the church at Hexham,
and the same John, after the death of bishop Bosa, a man of great
25 sanctity and humility, was put in his place at York, he came once
to a convent called Watton, over which the abbess Hereburh then held
authority. 'Oncoming there,' said Berhthun, and beingreceived with
much joy by all, the abbess told us that a virgin among the number

1. 14. hreofe T. hreofle B. hreofe O. hreofe (scrurf above in later hand)

Ca. 1. 24. on O. Ca. B. Not in T. 1. 31. ealra O. Ca. B. ealre T.
392 LIBER QUINTUS.

fæmne of dara nunnena rime, seo was hiere licumlic dohtor, mid
hefigre adle gestonden wære. Sægde pæt hiere niowan blod læten
wære in earme, 7 in dære blodlæswe þæt hio wære mid untrymnisse
gestonden ; ond seo sona wære to don swide weaxende 7 hefigende
þæt se earm was in micelne swile gecerred 7 to don swiðe aswollen, 5
þæt hiene monna nan mid twam handum ymbspannan ne meahte ;
7 þæt hio wære on bedde licgende, 7 hiere mon feores ne wende.
Bæd heo forðon sio abbuddisse done biscop, þæt he hine to don
geeaðmodde, þæt he ín to hiere geeode 7 heo geblætsode ; cwæð, þæt
heo gelefde þæt hiere sona wel wære æfter his blætsunge. Da 10
frægn he se bisscop hwonne hiere blodlæs † os ærest wære. Da he
Ja ongeat, þæt hit was on feowernihtne monan gedon, cwæð he :
Swide unwislice 7 ungelæredlice ge dedon, þæt ge scoldon on
feowernihtne monan blod lætan . Fordon ic gemon, þæt ære
eadigan gemynde Theodor ercebiscop cwæð, þæt ære tide blodlæs 15
*
teow wære swiðe frecenlic, ponne des monan leoht 7 sæs flod
in weaxnesse bið. Ah hwæt mæg ic nu ðære fæmnan don, gif hio
æt for fore is ? 7 hio hwædre geornlice hiene bæd 7 halsode for hiere
dohter, fordon hio hie swide lufode, 7 mynte heo for hiere to
abbuddissan gesettan. Pa æt nihstan geðafode se biscop, þæt he to 20
þæm untruman men geeode.
Pa he ineode to Cære fæmnan, pe dær læg, pa genom he me mid
hiene. Was mid micle sare getcgen, swa ic ær sæde, 7 se earm was
swa swide great 7 aswollen, to don þæt he nænge begnisse ín þæm
elmbogan hæfde. Da gestod he se biscop æt hiere 7 orationem 25
gecwæð ofer hiere 7 geblætsode 7 gesagnode 7 wæs utgongende.
Mid by we da gelimplicre tide æt beorde sæton 7 æt swæsendum,
pa com sum para hina, cleopode me 7 het utgan 7 cwæð: Cwænburh
bideo-wæs þæt þære fæmnan noma-þæt ðu hrade eft to hie eode.
Mid dy ic dæt dyde 7 was íngongende, þa gemette ic heo glade 30
ondwleotan 7 hale 7 gesunde. 7 mid dy ic da æt hiere gesæt ,
cwa heo : Wilt du , wit unc abidde ondrincan. Cwæð ic : Ic
wille, 7 me leof is, gif ðu mæge. Pa bær unc mon lið forð, 7

1. 8. hi.ne (letter erased) T. hine O. Ca. B. 1. 11. blod læs os T. blod-

las .. (erasure of we) O. blodlæswu Ca. blodlæs B. So just below blodlæseow
T. -las... (erasure of three) O. læswu Ca. -læs B. 1. 16. flodes weaxnesse

GALA
 V. 3. 393

of nuns, her own daughter according to the flesh, was suffering from
severe illness. She said she had lately been bled in the arm, and at the
operation had been seized with an attack ; and this soon grew and
became more severe, so that the arm was turned into a great tumour
5 and so swollen, that one could not span it with two hands ; and that
she was lying in bed and her life was despaired of. The abbess
therefore begged the bishop, that he would condescend to visit her and
give his blessing : she said, that she believed she would soon be well
after his blessing. Then the bishop asked when she was first bled .
10 When he heard that it was done on the fourth night of the moon,
he said, " You acted very unwisely and unskilfully in letting blood on
the fourth night of the moon. For I remember that bishop Theodore
of blessed memory said, that blood -letting at such a time was very
dangerous, when the moon's light and the tide of the sea are on the
15 increase. But what can I now do for the maiden, if she is on the point
of death ?" But still she earnestly entreated and besought him for
her daughter, for she loved her very much, and intended to appoint
her as abbess in her place. Then at last the bishop consented to
visit the sick person. On going in to the maiden, who lay there,
20 he took me with him. She was convulsed with great pain, as I said
before, and the arm was so very large and swollen, that there was no
power of bending in the elbow. Then the bishop stood by her, and
repeated a prayer over her, gave his blessing, made the sign of the
cross, and went out. Now when we in due time sat at table at our
25 meal, one of the household came, called me and told me to come out
and said : " Cwænburh expects you " -that was the maiden's name
-" to go back quickly to her." On doing so and going in, I found
her with cheerful face hale and sound. And when I sat down
beside her, she said : " Would you like us to ask for something to
30 drink ? " I said : " I would like, and I am glad if you can." Then

T. O. Ca. B. (O. Ca. B. have weaxnes). 1. 18. hio hwæðre ... geornlice
pa gow
(erasure of three) T. heo hwædere geornlice B. C. heo,hwæpere geo,nlice O.
heo pa geornlice Ca. 1. 27. beode
"" T. beode O. Ca. B.
 394 LIBER QUINTUS .

wid butu druncon. Đa ongon heo me sæcgan, 7 cwỒ : Sona pæs

de se biscop orationem ofer me arædde 7 me geblætsode 7 gesegnode
7 utgongende was, sona ic was wyrpende 7 me wel wæs. 7 Seah
de ic nu gena þa ærran mægen ne hæbbe, hwæðre eall ðæt sar 7
se ece ge of minum earme, þær he hattra 7 beornendra wæs, ge of 5
eallum minum lichoman eall onwæg alæded wæs, efne swa se biscop
Jone ece 7 þæt sar mid hiene ut bære. Ond þeah de se swile ðæs
earmes nu gena gesene sie, hwæðre þæt sar is eall of gewiten. Da
we Jonon ferdon, pa was sona se swile gesweðrad, 7 seo fæmne
hal 7 gesund 7 from deade genered. 7 hio æs Dryhtne Hælende 10
lof 7 wuldor sægde ætgædere mid pæm oðrum Godes peowum þe
Jær wæron.

IIII.

p. 617. Oder wundor noht ungelic pissum be Sæm foresprecenan biscope

Cap. 4.
sægde se ilca abbud 7 dus cwæð : Was sumes gesides tun, se wæs
Puh haten, noht feor ussum mynstre, þæt is, hugu on twegra mila 15
fæce. Pæs wif was huru feowertig daga mid grimre adle gestonden,
swa Sæt heo preom wicum fullum ne meahte uute cuman of dæm
huse de heo on læg.Da gelomp ín da ilcan tid, þæt se Godes wer
wæs dyder gelaðod circan to halgianne from dæm ilcan geside. pa
seo circe gehalgad wæs, 7 he mæssan gesungen hæfde , ða bæd se 20
gesið hiene, dæt he eode in his hus 7 dær mete pege. Wiðsoc se
biscop 7 cwæð þæt his mynster neah wære, þæt he scolde pyder
feran. Pa ætfealh se gesio geornlice his benum, gehet þæt he
wolde pearfum ælmessan sellan † 7 his fæsten aliesan, þæt hiene
geeadmedde pæt he in his hus eode 7 mete pigde. Bæd ic eac 25
ætgædre mid hiene, 7 eac swylce mec gehet wedlum ælmessan
sellan, þa unc getigðade 7 ín þes gesides hus íneode, 7 ðæt geblæt-
sade 7 swæsendo pege. Mid by wit et pa * lete 7 une elice
purhtugon, þæt he as geðafa bion wolde, pa eodon we into
swesendum. 30

1. 4. pa arran O. Ca. B. þærran T. 1. 7. od T. 7 0. Ca. B. 1. II.

cu
æet gæd T. ætgædere O. Ca. B. 1. 17. ,man T. cu.man (erasure) 0. cu-
man C. Ca. B. 1. 18. heo O. Ca. B. hio C. he T. 1. 20. gesungen Ca.
gesangen (the a is a closed u) C. gesangene (the final e pale and squeezed in)
 V. 3, 4. 395

they brought us out a cup, and we both drank. Then she began
to talk to me, and said : " Immediately after the bishop repeated
a prayer over me, blessed me, and made the sign of the cross and
went out, there was at once a change, and I was well. And though
5 I as yet have not my former strength, yet all the pain and ache was
taken away completely from my arm, where it was hotter and more
burning, and from the whole of my body, just as if the bishop carried
out with him the ache and the pain. And though the swelling of
the arm is still apparent, yet the pain is completely gone." At the
10 time of our departure the swelling had rapidly subsided, and the
maiden was whole and sound and saved from death. And she gave
praise and glory for this to the Lord our Saviour along with the
other servants of God who were there.'

IV.

The same abbot told me another marvel about the aforesaid

15 bishop. His story was this : "The residence of a certain gesith, named
Puh, was not far from our monastery, about the distance of two
miles. His wife had suffered for about forty days from a violent
illness, so that for three full weeks she could not leave the house in
which she lay. It happened at that time, that the man of God was
20 invited there by this gesith to consecrate a church. After the
church was consecrated, and he had sung mass, the gesith begged
him to go into his house and take refreshment there. The bishop
refused, saying that his monastery was near, and that he ought to
go there. Then the gesith became urgent in his entreaties, promising
25 that he would give alms to the poor and discharge due fasts, pro-
vided he would condescend to enter his house and take refreshment.
I also joined in his request, and also promised to give alms to the
needy, provided he consented and went into the house of the gesith,
blessed it, and partook of a meal there. When we carried our point,
30 after a long time and with difficulty, that he would agree to this,
we went in to the meal. Then the bishop sent to the woman, who
u
0. gesungon B. ge.ngen (traces of erased y : u above faint) T. 1. 21. After
wiosoc erasure and blank of four or five letters, T. No variant in MSS.
1. 28. leten T. letan C. leton O. létan Ca. Not in B.

‫רי‬
 396 LIBER QUINTUS .

Pa sende se biscop dam wife, de þær untrum læg sumne dæl

þæs haligwætres, de he to dere circan gehalgode purh ænne para
broðra, de mid mec Oyder coman , 7 bebead þæt he hiere sealde dæt
water to bergenne, 7 swa hwær swa hiere mæst þearf 7 sar 7 ece
wære, þæt hio mid þy wætre pwoge. Pa dat swa gedon was, da 5
sona instæpe aras dat wif hal 7 gesund : 7 nales dæt an þæt hio þære
longan untrymnisse beswicade, ah swylce eac da forlorenan mægen
somod fullice onfeng ; 7 íneode 7 dæm biscupe bær drincan 7 us
eallum þegnode, 7 scencte, oðþæt da gereorde gefylled wæs . Was
heo onhyrgende þa swægre Scs Petrus þæs apostoles, mid dy heo 10
was swenced mid hæto 7 mid bryne fæferadle, pæt hio to hrinenisse
þære Dryhtenlican honda somod onfæng hælo 7 mægen 7 áras 7 ðæm
Hælende þegnade .

V. ·
Cap. 5. Æft oðre tide was se biscop gelaðod sumes gesides circan to
halgianne, se was haten Addi. Mid þy he da abedenan þenunga 15
gefylled hæfde, þa bæd se gesið hiene, þæt he eode ín to anum his
geferena, se wæs mid pa grimmestan untrymnisse hefigad 7 Orycced,
swa æt he was loma 7 ealra his lioma þegnunga benumen 7
bescired, 7 monnum gesewen was þæt he at forðfore wære. Was
him eac purh gegearwad 7 geworht, ín dære he forðfered bebyrged 20
p. 618. beon scolde. Toæteacte eac swelce se gesid his benum, þæt he his
tearas geat 7 weop 7 geornlice bad 7 halsade, þæt he to dæm
untruman men ineode 7 him fore gebæde ; 7 sægde þæt him leof
wære 7 his lif niedbehæfdlic : 7 cwæð þæt he gelefde , gif he his
honda hiene on sette 7 hiene blætsian wolde, þæt him sona wel wäre. 25
Da eode se bisscop dyder ín to him 7 hiene neah forðfore geseah,
7 Ja men ealle unrote ða þe him ætwæron, 7 ða þruh him bigge-
sette, in dære he to bebyrgenne geseted beon scolde. Pa sang he
orationes ofer hiene 7 hiene geblætsade 7 gesægnade. 7 da ut he gan
wolde, da cwæð he pet gewunelice word þæra frefrendra : 30
Truma þec hræde 7 wel. pa was after pissum þa hio æt beode
sæton 7 æt swæsendum, da sende se untruma man to his
1. 1. þa C. O. Ca. ða B. þe T. 1. 2. anne ða þære T. ænde þæra (the
stroke through d is modern) C. ennepara 0. anne para Ca. anne dara B.
1. 20 in followed by a blank or erasure =:four letters T. No variant in MSS.
 V. 4, 5. 397

lay there ill, a portion of the holy water, which he had consecrated
for the church, by the hands of one of the brethren, who had come
there with me, directing him to give her the water to taste, and that
she should be washed with the water, wherever there was most need
5 and pain and ache. On this being done, the woman at once rose
whole and sound : and she was not only freed from her long illness,
but at the same time also fully recovered her lost strength : and she
went in and brought drink to the bishop and served us all, and
poured it out for us, till the meal was finished. She imitated the
10 mother-in-law of the apostle St. Peter, when she was afflicted with
the heat and burning of fever, who at the same time received heal-
ing and strength at the touch of the Lord's hand, and arose and
ministered to the Saviour.'

V.

Again on another occasion the bishop was invited to consecrate

15 the church of a gesith, who was called Addi. When he had com-
pleted the required ministrations, the gesith begged him to go in to
one of his attendants, who was oppressed and suffering from a very
violent disorder, so that he was lame and deprived and cut off from
all use of his limbs, and, as men thought, was at the point of death.
20 A coffin also had been made and got ready for him, in which when
dead he should be buried . The gesith also, along with his request,
shed tears and wept and besought him to visit the sick man and
pray for him, saying he was dear and his life necessary to him : he
declared that he believed , if the bishop put his hand on him and
25 would bless him, he would soon recover. Then the bishop went in
there to him, and saw him near death, and the men all in sorrow
who were present, and the coffin set by him, in which he should be
placed for his burial. Then he recited prayers over him and blessed
him and signed him with the cross. And when about to go out, he
30 spoke the usual words in which people offer comfort : ' May you soon
get well and strong.' After this, as they sat at table at their meal,

1. 30. pœt he T. 7 C. O. Ca. B. pære T. para C. þ.ara (e erased) O. ðara

Ca. para B. 1. 31. hræ T. rape C. hrape O. hrade Ca. B. 1. 32. man
mon T. But O. Ca. C. B. omit mon.
 398 LIBER QUINTUS .

hlaforde, bad pœt he him onsende wines ondrincan : cwæð þæt

hiene þyrste. Pa was he swide gefeonde pæt he drincan meahte :
sende him glæsfulne wines, 7 þæt se biscop geblætsade. Sona
swa he hit gedruncen hæfde, swa aras he instepe 7 pære ealdan
untrumnesse getrumad wæs, 7 hiene gegyrede mid his hrægle 7 ut 5
ponan eode. 7 he eode in to pam biscope 7 hiene grette 7 pa
ymbsittend, 7 cwæð þæt hine lyste mid him etan 7 drincan.
Hehton hiene sittan mid him to swesendum, 7 swide gefeonde
weron be his gesynto 7 hælo. Sæt he 7 swæsendo þeah 7 dronc 7
blissede mid him ; 7 monig gear æfter pissum lifde, 7 in ære 10
ilcan hælo awunode, pe he onfæng. Pis wundor se gemyndgeda
abud sægde æt hit ne wære him ondweardum pus geworden,
ah Sætte pa hit him sægden, da þe dær ondwearde wæron.

VI.
Cap. 6. Nis ðæet wundor to forswugianne, þæt Herebald se Cristes peow
sægde from him ge dæt eac swylce geworden beon in him selfum. 15
Was he da in his gefærscipe drohtigende, 7 eft was abbud in dæm
mynstre æt dæm gemyndum Tune streames. Cwed he : Dæs
biscopes lif, swa swide swa monnum riht is to eahtienne, þæt ic
ondweard gearwe cude, ðurh eall ic gemette biscobwyrde beon : ge
eac swylce hwelcre gearnunge he hæfd wære mid done inlican 20
gewitan, ge in mongum oðrum ge swiðust in me seolfum, ic was
ongeotende . Fordon pe he mæc, þæs de ic cwęde, from deades
pirscwalde was acegende, 7 mec to lifes wege mid his gebede 7
blætsunge gelædde.
Was ic in da ærestan tid minre geogudhadnisse in his geferscipe 25
drohtigende 7 him befæsted was, to don pæt ic scolde æghwæder ge
sang ge bec leornian ; ac da gena ic ne was min mod fulfremedlice
bewergende pæm geoguðlicum unalefednessum. Gelomp sume
dæge, da we ferende wæron mid hiene, dat we becoman on smeone
feld 7 rumne ; 7 was gescrope ærneweg. Pa ongunnan ða 30
1. 2. pyrste. C. Ca. B. O. (yr on erasure). byste T. drinca T. -can C. O.
Ca. B. 1. II. gemynd.geda (e erased) T. gemyngada C. gemyngeda O.
gemynegoda Ca. gemyngoda B. 1. 13. .ær (letter erased) T. por C. Ca.
B. pę O. 1. 19. biscobwyrde (cross stroke of uncertain) T. bisceope
 V. 5, 6. 399

the sick man sent to his lord, begging that he would send him wine
to drink, and said that he was thirsty. Then he was very glad that
he could drink, and sent him a glassful of wine, which the bishop
had blessed. As soon as he had drunk it, he got up at once and
5 was cured of the old infirmity, dressed himself in his clothes and
came out. And going in to the bishop , he saluted him and those
that sat with him, and said that he desired to eat and drink with
them. Then they bade him sit down with them to their meal and
rejoiced much at his recovery and health.He took his seat, partook
10 of the meal, drank and was merry with them ; and he lived many
years after this, continuing in the same health, which he then
retained . The aforesaid abbot said that this miracle did not take
place as described in his presence, but was reported to him by persons
there present.

VI.

15 We cannot pass over in silence the marvel, which Herebald, servant

of Christ, stated to have been also performed by him on himself.
He was then living among the bishop's clergy and afterwards was
abbot in the monastery at the mouth of the river Tyne. His story
is this : The bishop's life, as far as it is right for men to judge, I
20 have found in all points worthy of a bishop, and I speak from full
personal knowledge : but also in what esteem he was held by Him
that knows men's hearts, I learnt in the case of many others and
especially in my own. For he recalled me, so to speak, from the
threshold of death and by his prayer and blessing led me to the way
25 of life. In the earliest times of my youth I lived among his clergy
and was given over to him, that I might study books and music ; but
as yet I did not fully restrain my mind from youthful licences. It
happened one day, when we were travelling with him, that we came
to a smooth, spacious plain ; and it forned a suitable race-course.

wyrpe C. byscope wyrde 0. biscope wyrde Ca. pam bisceope wyroe B.

1. 21. gewitan O. Ca. B. gewiotan C. gewunan T. in and in me C. on and
on me O. Ca. in and on me B. in omitted ; and mine T. 1. 29. smeone
(n out of r) T. -one O. Ca. B. -pne C.
 400 LIBER QUINTUS .

geongan biddan pone bisscop, pa de mid hiene wæron 7 swiðust

p. 619. læde, þæt he him alefde pæt hio ærnan moste 7 gecunnian, hwelc
heora swiftost hors hæfde. Da wiosoc he se bisscop ærest 7 cwæð,
þæt dæt idel 7 unnyt wære, þæt hio badon 7 wilnedon. Ac ða æt
nihstan mid anmode willan monigra þæt he was oferswided. 5
Cwæð he : Doo swa gif ge willen : ond hwæðre þæt Herebald
allinga hiene from dæm geflite áhebbe. Pa abad ic geornlice 7
halsede, pætte me wære eac lefnes sald to ærnenne 7 to flitenne
mid him ; forðon ic getreowde minum horse wel, þæm betstan
þæt me bisscop salde. Ond peah de ic georne bæde, ne meahte 10
nænge þinga lefnesse abiddan. Mid oy ic da gelomlice hider 7
Syder mec hwerfde 7 se bisscop mec á beheold, þa geærndon hio
sume Orage, 7 eft hwurfon. 7 ic was mid gæglisce mode ofer-
swiðed, þæt ic me ne meahte bewergan, peah de mec se biscop
bewerede, ac ic me to dam plegan gemængde, 7 ongon somod 15
ærnan mid him.
Mid oy ic dæt dyde, pa geherde ic pone bisscop me on bæclinge
mid geomrunge cweoðan : Eala ; hwæt du me micel yfel 7 lað
dest mid pinre ærninge. 7 ic da word geherde, 7 nohte ðon ær
þære ærninge blon. Ne was a ælden ; mid by þæt hors swiðust 20
orn 7 * onælp hiene, wæs þæt hit sume sloh on þæm wæge mid
swiopran ræse oferhleop 7 oferstælde. Pa wear me slide 7 him of
afeol, 7 ic sona was aswolten, 7 min gewit 7 ealle mine styrenesse
forleas. Was in dære ilcan stowe sum stan dære eorðan gelic mid
dinre tyrf bewrigen, 7 nænig oder stan in eallum þam felde gemeted 25
beon meahte . Pa gelomp mid pa godcundan foreseonnesse pære
synne to witnunge minre unhersumnesse ; da ic hreowsende was,
da ic mid dy heafde 7 mid honda com on done stan dryfan. 7 se
Juma gebrocen was, 7 eac swylce seo gedeodnes pæs heafdes
tobrocen was 7 tolesed ; 7 swa swa ic cwæð, þæt ic was deadum 30
gelic 7 nan lim onstyrgan meahte. Da slogan heo geteld ofer me
eao
1. 8. wære T. wære eac C. O. Ca. B. 1. 10. bissop T. bisceop C. bys-
n
ceop O. biscop B. ō Ca. 1. 12. geardon T. geardon 0. geærndon
น
C. Ca. ærndon B. 1. 13. hw.rfon T. hwurfon C. O. Ca. B. 1. 14. mec
13
se biscop me T. Omit mec C. O. Ca. B. 1. 15. gemægde T. ge-
 V. 6. 401

Then the young men who were with the bishop , being chiefly laymen,
began to ask the bishop's permission to run races, and try which of
their horses was best. At first the bishop refused, and said their
prayer and desire was idle and useless. But at last he was pre-
5 vailed upon by the unanimous desire of so many. He said : " Do so
ifyou will : yet in any case let Herebald hold aloof from the contest."
Then I begged and entreated earnestly, that leave should be given
to me also to race and contend with them ; for I had much con-
fidence in my horse, a very excellent one given me by the bishop.
10 But though I begged earnestly, I could not in any way obtain leave.
Now as I turned often this way and that and the bishop always kept
his eye upon me, then they raced awhile and turned back. And I
was overpowered by wantonness of spirit, so that I could not restrain
myself, in spite of the bishop's prohibition, but mingled in the sport
15 and began to race along with them. While doing this, I heard the
bishop behind me say with a sigh : "Ah, what trouble and vexation
you cause me with your racing." And I heard the words and yet
did not any the sooner stop racing. Then without delay, while my
horse ran swiftest and grows excited, in a violent rush it sprang and
20 leaped over a slough on the road. Then I slipped and fell from it,
and at once I lay as dead, and lost my senses and all power of move-
ment. There was at that place a stone, uniform with the ground,
with a coating of thin turf, and no other stone could be found in the
whole plain. Then it happened through divine providence, in
25 punishment of my sin of disobedience, that, when I was falling, I
came driving with my head and hand on the stone. And the thumb
was broken, and the sutures of my skull were also fractured and
opened ; and, as I said, I was like a dead man and could not
stir a limb. Then they spread a tent over me, in which I lay. It

mengde C. O. Ca. B. 1. 20. mid dy T. mid by C. Ở. Ca. mưa bị B.

1. 21. on eall done T.on ealpane C. on all pene before a eras ., e on eras.
h
0. on eallpene Ca. on al pene B. 1. 22. ofer,leop T. oferhleop C. O.
Ca. B. weard C. O. Ca. B. weard T. 1. 28. com (stroke over m) T. com
C. O. Ca. B. These MSS. have the word after ic.
D d
 402 LIBER QUINTUS.

in dæm ic læg. Was hit huhugu seo seofode tid dæges, dæt is an
tid ofer midne dæg : from dære tide oð æfen ic stille læg 7 swa
dead wunode. Pa hit æfen was, da ácwicode ic hwon 7 mine
geferan mec ham bæran ; 7 ic swigende ealle da niht awunode, 7
blode spaw, fordon mine innodas in dæm fylle tolocene wæran. 5
7 se biscop hefiglice sargade be dæm fille 7 be minre forwyrde ;
forðon pe he mec mid syndrigre lufan lufode ; ne he wolde dære
nihte æfter his deawe mid his geferum wunian : ac he ana ín
gebedum stod, 7 da niht ealle wacade. Ic wænu þæt he wære
bensiende da uplican árfæstnisse minra gesynta. 7 sona in 10
ærmorgen eode ínn to me ; 7 song orationem ofer me 7 næmde
mec mine noman. Pa was ic sona swa ic of hefgum slæpe áweht
wære. Da fregn he mec, hwæder ic wiste hwa dat wære se de to
mec spræcende was. Da ontynde ic mine eagan, locode on hiene,
7 cwæð : Ic wat geare þæt du eart min se leofesta biscop. Cwæð 15
he: Dynceð þe ? mæge du lyfgan ? Cwæðic : Ic mæg þurh eower
gebeodu, gif Dryhten wile. Pa sette he his hond on min heafod 7
mæc sægnade 7 blædsade 7 hwearf eft to his gebede ; 7 æfter med-
miclum fæce niosode he min eft 7 cunnade. Da gemette he mec
sittende, 7 ic spræcan meahte. Pa ongan he mec acsian 7 frinau, 20
hwader ic wiste hwæder ic on riht butan íncan gefulwad wære.
p. 620. Was he mid ða godcundan inbrydnesse monad, swa dæt sona æfter
gecyded wæs. Ondswarode ic him 7 cwæð, þæt ic butan twion
wiste mid fulwihte bade in synna forlætnesse adwegen beon ; 7
þæs mæssepreostes noman him næmde, from dæm ic wiste pæt ic 25
gefulwad wæs. Cwæð he se biscop : Gif du from pissum mæsse-
preoste gefulwad wære, ponne ne eart du fullfremedlice no on riht
gefullwad. Fordon ic hiene cude, pa he to mæssepreoste gehalgad
wæs, 7 he næfre fram ungleawnesse 7 for his unscearpnisse da
denunge to cristienne ope to fullwienne on riht geleornian meahte. 30
Ond ic him forðon da denunge forbead, fordon he rihtlice gefyllan
ne meahte. Da he is cwæð, sona in da ilcan tid da cristnade he
mæc. Da was geworden, þæs de he on minre ondwlitan bleow, da

1. 3. dead C. O. Ca. B. dead T. 1. 10. bensiende O. Ca. beseonde T.

biddende C. B. 1. 16. cwad ic ic mag O. Ca. cwæð ic mag T. cw he ic
mæg C. da cwæð he ic mag B.
 V. 6. 403

was about the seventh hour of the day, that is one hour past midday :
from that hour till evening I lay still and remained as though dead.
And when it was evening, I revived a little, and my companions
carried me home ; and I remained speechless all the night and spat
5 blood, for my internal parts were wrenched in the fall. And the
bishop was grievously afflicted at my fall and my injuries ; for he
regarded me with especial affection ; and he would not that night
remain with his clergy as his wont was : but he continued alone in
prayer, and remained awake the whole night. I imagine that he
10 was praying the heavenly goodness for my recovery. And at once
at early morning he came in to me ; and he recited a prayer over me
and called me by my name. Then at once, as it were, I awoke from
heavy sleep. Then he asked me, whether I knew who it was who
was speaking to me. Then I opened my eyes, looked at him and
15 said : "I know well that you are my dearest bishop." He said to me :
" What do you think ? Can you survive it ? " I said : " I can through

your prayers, if the Lord will." Then he put his hand on my head,
signed me with the cross, blessed me and returned to his prayers ;
and after a short time he visited me again and made enquiries. Then
20 he found me sitting up, and I could talk. Then he began to ques-
tion and ask me, whether I knew if I was duly baptized without any
defect. He was admonished by divine inspiration, as was soon after

evidenced. I answered him and said, that I knew beyond a doubt

that I had been washed in the laver of baptism for the remission of
25 sins ; and I told him the name of the priest, by whom I knew I
had been baptized. Then said the bishop : " If you were baptized by
this priest, then you are not perfectly or duly baptized . For I knew
him when he was consecrated priest, and he from his stupidity and
dullness never could rightly learn the office of catechizing or baptiz-
30 ing. Therefore I forbade him to minister, as he could not perform
the service rightly." Having said this, at once at that very hour
he catechized me. When this was done, after he had breathed on
D d 2
 404 LIBER QUINTUS .

sona instepe gefelde ic mee batiende 7 werpende. Da heht he

læce to him 7 him bebead, pæt he pa tolesdan gediodnesse minre
heafudwunde gesette 7 awride. Ond sona pas de ic his blætsunge
hæfde, da getrumede ic mec 7 gestrongad was, swa pat ic on
morgen hleop on min hors 7 ferde mid hiene in odre stowe to 5
oðrum ham . 7 æfter medmiclum fæce, des de ic fullice gehæled
was, dat ic eac swylce mid da liffestan yde, þæt is mid fulwihte
bæde, rihtlice purhgoten 7 gefulwad was.
Wunode pes Godes wer in biscophade Oreo 7 xxx wintra, 7 swa
was astigende to dam heofonlican rice, 7 was bebyrged in Sca 10
Petrus portice in his mynstre, þæt is cweden In Deora wuda .
Forðon pa he for maran ældo done biscophad ðægnian ne meahte,
Ja gehadede mon in biscophade Wilfrid his mæssepreost in
Eoforwicceastre ; ond he gewat to dam forespræcenan mynstre, 7
Jær his lif in Gode mid wyrore drohtunge gefylde. 15

VII

Cap. 7. Pa was by priddan geare Aldfrides rices das cyninges, þæt

Ceadwala Wesseaxna cyning, mid dy de he his deode twa gear from-
lice in cynedome fore wæs, da he forlet dæt eorlice rice for Dryhtne
7 for dam ecan rice in heofonum 7 to Rome com, 7 him syndriglice
wilnade pet wuldor begitan, þæt he æt stowe para apostola mid ða 20
wallan fullwihte bades adwegen wære, in dam anum he geleornode
monna cynne ingong geopenian æs heofonlican lifes. Ond swylc
eac he was gehihtende, þæt he, sona þæs de hiene mon gefullwade,
his lichoman tolesed wære 7 clæne to dam ecan gefean ferde heofona
rices wuldres. Ond æghwæder dara, swa swa he on his mode 25
foresette, ðurh Dryhtnes fultum gefylled wæs. Fordon he yder
becom 7 fram Sirige þæm papan gefulwad was dy halgan dæge
pæs Easterlecan ræstedages ; 7 under crisman wæs sona adle stonden,
7 by twelftan dæge Kalendarum Maiarum, þæt he was fram
lichoman álesed 7 for ferde, 7 was gedeoded to dara eadigra rice 30
in heofonum. Swylc him eac in da tid fulwihtes se gemyndega

1. 3. hlætsunge T. blet- C. O. Ca. B. 1. 20. mi da T. mid þam O. mid

pā Ca. mid þæs B. (B. has willes fulwihtes baðe). 1. 29. twelftan O. Ca.
B. tweltan T.
 V. 6, 7. 405

my face, at once I felt myself growing better and recovering. Then

he summoned a doctor to him, and directed him to set the opened
sutures from the wound in my head and to bind them up. And as soon
as I had received his blessing, I recovered health and strength, so
5 that next morning I sprang upon my horse and travelled elsewhere
with him to another hamlet. And after a short time, on my full re-
covery, I was also duly bathed with the water of life, that is, the laver
of baptism, and was baptized .' This man of God remained a bishop
for thirty-three years, and then ascended to the kingdom of heaven,
10 and was buried in the chapel of St. Peter at his monastery called
Beverley. For when owing to advanced age he could no longer
administer the episcopate, his priest, Wilfrid, was ordained to the
episcopate at;York ; and John retired to the aforesaid monastery, and
there living worthily ended his days in the Lord.

VII .

15 Then in the third year of king Aldfrith's reign Ceadwalla, king

of Wessex, after reigning over his people vigorously for two years,
resigned his earthly kingdom for the Lord's sake and for the eternal
kingdom in heaven, and went to Rome, desiring to obtain for him-
self especially this glory, that he might be washed in the baptismal
20 font in the home of the apostles, whereby alone he had learnt that
entrance into the kingdom of heaven is opened to mankind. He also
hoped, that immediately on baptism he should be released from the
body, and pass pure to the eternal joys of the glory of the kingdom
of heaven. And both objects, as he proposed in his mind, were by
25 God's help fulfilled . For he arrived there and was baptized by pope
Sergius, on the holy day of the Easter sabbath ; and while still
wearing the chrisom robe he was immediately attacked with illness,
and on the 20th of April was released from the body and died,
and was associated with the kingdom of the blessed in heaven.
30 Also at the time of baptism the aforesaid pope gave him the name
 406 LIBER QUINTUS.

papa Petrus to naman scop, þat he pæm eadigestan aldre para apos-
p. 621. tola, to das pam halgestan lichoman he mid arfæstan lufan feorran
fram eorðan gemærum com, eac swylce his noman gemanan geðeoded
wære. Ond he was on his circan bebyrged : 7 se papa heht gewrit
on his byrgenne awritan, dat in dam æghwæder ge seo gemynd his 5
wilsumnisse ðurh ealle woruld fæste awunode, ge eac swylce da
men, de þæt gewrit ræddan oope geherde, se bysen his dæde to
æfestnesse geliese onbærnde.
pa Ceadweala to Rome gewat, da fæng æfter him Ine to Wes-
seaxna rice, se was eac of dære cynelican strynde. 7 mid by he 10
seofon 7 xxx wintra rice hæfde dære diode , pæt he eac swylce þæt rice
forleart 7 his gingrum bebead, 7 to þære eadigra apostola stowe
ferende was. Da was Gregorius papa haten in da tid . Wilnade he
in neawiste dara haligra stowe to tide eldiodgian on eorðan, þæt
he dy cuðlicor fram dam halgan geearnade in heofonum onfongen 15
beon. Pæt dyssum ylcum tidum monige of Ongelcynne æðele
ge unæðele, lædde bescorene, wæpned 7 wif geflitlice dedon.

VIII.

Cap. 8. Pa was by nehstan geare, æfter dam de Ceadwala æt Rome forð-

fered wæs, pætte ære eadgan gemynde peodor ercebiscop ald 7
dagena full forðfered wæs, þæt is pa he hæfde eahta 7 hundeah- 20
tatig wintra. Done seolfan riim wintra hiene hæbbende beon, he oft
ær his monnum foresægde, at he mid onwrignisse his swæfnes
ongete. Wunode he on biscophade tu 7 xx wintra, 7 was bebyrged on
Scaæ Petrus cirican, in dære alra dara biscopa lichoman Contwara
burge gesette seondon. Bi dam ætgædre mid þæm ilcum efenhletum 25 .
his hades rihtlice 7 soolice mæg cweðan, þæt heora lichoman in sibbe
bebyrgde siondon, 7 hiora noma leofað wide ferh in ecnesse. Ond
Sæt ic hrædlice cweode, þæt in da tid his biscophada swa micel
fromung ongon beon in Ongelcynnes cirican swa næfre ær don
beon meahte.

1. 7. is T. his O. Ca. B. 1. 14. stowe T. O. Ca. B. 1. 15. The second

a in geearnade out of ic (?) by erasure : before onfongen erasure of two letters,
the first 7, T. -ade O. -ode Ca. B. 1. 16. -cynnum T. -ne O. Ca. B.
1. 20. dagena Ca. dagena (first four on erasure, of which the a afterwards
 V. 7, 8. 407

of Peter, that he might also be associated , by sharing his name, with

the most blessed prince of the apostles, to whose most holy body he
had come from afar with pious love even from the ends of the earth.
And he was buried in his church : and the pope directed an in-
5 scription to be written on his tomb, that in it both the record of his
devotion might abide permanently for all time, and also that men,
on reading or hearing the inscription, might be inflamed by the ex-
ample of his conduct to the pursuit of piety. When Ceadwalla
departed to Rome, Ina succeeded him on the throne of Wessex,
10 being also of the royal family. And when he had reigned over the
people for thirty-seven years, he also resigned the throne, and giving
it over to younger men, proceeded to the home of the blessed apostles .
The pope at that time was called Gregory. He desired for a time
to be a pilgrim upon earth, in the neighbourhood of the saints'
15 abode that he might more certainly merit to be received by the
saints in heaven. At that time many English out of emulation
acted thus, gentle and simple, lay and tonsured, men and women.

VIII.

Then next year, after the death of Ceadwalla at Rome, archbishop

Theodore of blessed memory died, old and full of days, that is, when
20 he was eighty-eight years of age. He had often foretold to his people
that, as he had learnt by revelation in a dream, he should attain
to just this number of years. He had occupied the episcopate for
twenty-two years, and was buried in the church of St. Peter, in which
the bodies of all bishops of Canterbury are deposited. About him,
25 as well as about all those who held the same position, it may
rightly and truly be said, that their bodies are buried in peace, and
their names live for ever in eternity. And to speak briefly, at the
time of his episcopate, such progress began in the Church of England,
as never before had been possible. Berhtwold succeeded Theodore

was made from a by fresh erasure) 0. Not in C. daga B. eadiga T.

1. 23. Ist on on T. on B. Ca. in O. C. 1. 25. After gesette erasure of four T.
No variant in MSS.
 408 LIBER QUINTUS.

pa feng æfter Theodore Berhtwold to dam bisscophade, se

wæs abbud in dæm mynstre de Reaculfe is nemned. Was se
wer in wisdome gewrito wæl gelæred, ge eac somod in ciriclicum
diodscipum 7 in mynsterlicum healice intimbred, deah de he no sie
his foregengan to widmeotene. Was he gecoren in biscophade dy 5
ærestan dæge Iulius mondes ; wæran da Wihtred 7 Swefheard
cyningas on Cænt. Was he gehalgad dy æftran geare dy ðriddan
dæge Kalendarum Iuliarum-wæs se Dryhtenlica dæg-from God-
wine aldorbisscope Gallia rices. Ond he set on his setle on Cent
ærran dæge Kalendarum Septembrium dy Dryhtenlican dæge. Se 10
betwih monge bisscopas da he gehalgade, eac swilce, da Gefmund
p. 622. ære circan bisscop at Hrofeceastre forferde, 7 Tobiam for hiene
gehalgade ; se wer was on Ladenesc gereorde 7 in Grecis 7 in
Englisc micellice intimbred 7 well gelæred.

VIIII.

Cap. 9. Pære tide se arwyrpa Cristes deow 7 saceard Ecbriht se halga, 15

Jone de we ær beforan sægdon, þæt he in Ibernia þæm londe
in eldiodignisse lifde for dæm ecan edle in heofonum to betanne,
foresette he 7 dohte on his mode, pæt he wolde monigum brycsian ,
þæt is dat he wolde dat apostolice wiore onhyrgan, sumum dara
deoda Godes word 7 godspell læran 7 bodigan þæm de hit da get 20
ne geherdan. Đara cynna monig he wiste in Germanie wesan,
ponon Ongle 7 Seaxan cumene wæron, de nu Breotene eardiað.
Wæran Fresan, Rugine, Dæne, Huna, Aldseaxan, Boructuare.
Waron eac oder folc monig in dæm ilcum dælum, da gena æðenum
peawum þeogende, to dæm se forespræcana Cristes cæmpa +ymbli- 25
Jendre Breotene utan cuman wolde, gif wen wære þæt he dær hwelce
meahte diofle oðgripan 7 to Criste gecerran ; oope gif dæt beon ne
meahte, Ourh dat he wolde Rome gesecan, 7 da halgan stowe para
eadigra apostola 7 Cristes martyra geseon 7 him ær gebedigan.

1. 1. No break here in O. Ca. In C. the full line ends meahte ; and next
begins with a small capital (Þ ). T. has blank space ( = nine letters) after meahte,
and a small capital at beginning of next (p) . No break in B. 1. 2. myntre
C
T. mynstre C. O. Ca. B. 1. 9. -bissope T. biscope B. bisceope C. biscop
 V. 8, 9. 409

in the episcopate, who was abbot in the monastery called Reculver.

The man was well instructed in the knowledge of the Scriptures,
and at the same time also excellently trained in ecclesiastical and
monastic discipline, but still not to be compared with his predecessor.
5 He was chosen bishop on the first day of July, when Wihtred and
Swefheard were kings in Kent. He was consecrated in the follow-
ing year on the 29th of June, being the Lord's day, by Godwin the
metropolitan of Gaul. And he was enthroned in Kent on the last
day of August, which was the Lord's day. He consecrated among
10 many other bishops Tobias, in place of Gefmund who died as bishop
of the church at Rochester. Tobias had received a varied training
in Latin, Greek and English, and was a good scholar.

IX.

At this time Christ's venerable servant and priest, the holy

Ecgberht, of whom we have already said, that he lived as an exile
15 in the land of Ireland to make atonement for the sake of the
eternal home in heaven, now proposed and thought in his mind to
benefit many, being desirous to imitate the work of the apostles,
by teaching and preaching God's word and gospel to some of
the nations who had not yet heard it.He knew that there were
20 many of those tribes in Germany, from which had come the
Angles and Saxons, who now inhabit Britain. These were the
Frisians, the Rugini, the Danes, the Huns, the Old Saxons,
the Bructeri. There were also many other nations in those parts,
still addicted to heathen worship, to whom the aforesaid champion
25 of Christ desired to come by sailing round Britain, in hopes
that he there might rescue some from the devil, and bring them
over to Christ ; or if this might not be, he intended to visit
Rome by this way and see the holy places of the blessed apostles
and martyrs of Christ, and pray there. But he was prevented
O. ō Ca. 1. 15. arwyrda T. -yrpa O. C. -urpa Ca. -eorða B. 1. 24. de
gena æðnum T. þa gena hæpenum O. þa gita hæðnum C. pa gýt hæðenú Ca.
a
da gyt ... hæðenum (ða gyt after waron eac) B. 1. 25. -liðen.re T. -li-
મ
pendre C. O. Ca. -liðendra B. 1. 29. eadgra T. eadigra C. O. Ca. B.

BUIL
 410 LIBER QUINTUS .

Ac him ða upplican onwrigenesse 7 weorc somod wiðstodon, þæt no

hwæder dissa gefremedæ ne ðurhteah.
Đa gecas him geferan, da pe æghwæder ge on hiora dædum ge
on gelærednesse frome 7 scearpe wæron Godes word to bodienne 7
to lærenne, 7 ealle da ding gearwade da de scipliðendum nedpearflicu 5
gesewen wæron, pa com sume dæge on ærmorgen to him an dara
broðra, se was iu on Breotene Bosles discipul 7 degn Gode þæs
leofan sacerdes, mid dy he da se ilca Bósel was regolweard in dæm
mynstre in Mailros, under Eatan pem abbude, suæ sue we beforan
sægdon. Sægde him his gesihde, sio him on dere ilcan nihte 10
æteaude ; cuæð he : Mid þy we gefylled haefdon userne uhtsong 7
ure gebedo, 7 ic mine limo on beddstowe strehte 7 me liht slep oferorn,
þa æteaude me mín giu magister 7 festerfæder min se leofesta Bósel
7 mec frægn, hwæder ic hine ongeotan meahte. Gea, cwed ic, pu eart
min Bósel. Cuead he to pon : Ic com hider, þæt ic scealde Drihtnes 15
Helendes ærende Ecgbrihte bringan, dæt þu hwedere scealt him
sæcgan 7 gecypan. Sage him forsod, dat he ne inæg pone siðfæt
gefyllan, þe he gemynted hæfo ; forpon pe Godes willa is det
he fere to Columban mynstre to læranne. Was se Columba se
æresta laruw æs cristinan geleafan in þæm mórlondum, da de 20
siondan to norðdæle Peohta rices. 7heærest getimbrede7 gestadolede
þæt mynster, þe in Hi dem ealonde monigum folcum Pehta 7 Scotta
p. 623. longe aarwyrde awunede. Was pæt se ilca Columba, pe Scottas
siddan Columcille nemdon. Da Ecgbriht geherde da word pære
gesihde, da bebead he þæm breder dæt he nængum mæn ne sægde 25
pa gesihde : cwæð þæt hit eaðe mehte beon, dæt hit purh bio-
smrunge ęteawed wære. Hwere he pa wisan swigende sceawede
7 ondred ðæt hit soo wære ; ne he ohte dy mae blann from gear-
wunge pas siðfætes, pe he feran wolde peode to læranne. 7
æfter feaum dagum eft com se forsprecena broðor to him 7 him 30
segde, pætte dære ilcan nihte him Bósel þurh gesihðe ætæawde æfter
dan þe uhtsang was gefylled, 7 him cuede to : Forhwon segdes du
Ecgbrihte swa gemeleaslice 7 swa wlæclice pa ding, de ic bebead

1. 5. -liðend.um (imperfect erasure of e) T. -dum O. B. dū C. Ca.

1. 21. gestaðole T. -pelode C. -pelade O. -delade Ca. -pelede B. 1. 22.
hii C. hi O. híí Ca. hí B. Not in T. (hi and in are sometimes scarcely
 V. 9. 411

from achieving or carrying out either object by revelations and

practical obstacles interposed by heaven. When he had chosen
companions, who both in conduct and learning were energetic and
sagacious to teach and preach God's word, and when all things had
5 been prepared which seemed necessary for voyagers, there came to
him one day early in the morning one of the brethren, who
formerly in Britain had been a pupil and attendant of Boisel, the
priest well beloved of God, when prior of the monastery at Melrose
under abbot Eata, as already mentioned. He related to him his
10 vision, which had appeared to him that night, in these words :
' When we had finished matins and prayers and I had stretched my
limbs on the bed and a light sleep had come over me, then my
former master and fosterfather, my dearest Boisel, appeared to me
and asked me, whether I could recognisehim. " Yes," said I, "you are
15 my Boisel." Then he said : " I have come here to deliver the errand
of our Lord and Saviour to Ecgberht, which you however must
report and make known to him. Tell him of a truth, that
he may not carry out the journey which he proposed ; for God's
will is, that he should proceed to the monastery of St. Columb and
20 teach there." Columb was the first teacher of the faith of Christ in
the moorlands, which are in the north of the Pictish dominions.
And he first built and established the monastery at Iona, which
long remained an object of veneration to many tribes of the Picts
and Scots. This was the same Columb, whom the Scots afterwards
25 called Columcille. When Ecgberht heard the words of the vision,
he charged the brother to tell the vision to no man, saying that it
might easily have appeared to him through illusion . Yet, when he
considered the matter in silence, he feared it was true ; still he did
not any the more relax his preparations for the journey, on which
30 he proposed proceeding to instruct the nations. But after a few
days the aforesaid brother came to him once more, and reported to
him, that Boisel had appeared that same night to him, when
matins were over and had said : ' Why did you report so carelessly
and in such a lukewarm spirit, what I directed you to tell Ecgberht ?
to
distinguishable, when the tall I is used). 1. 29. . læranne T. to læranne
C. O. Ca. B.
 412 LIBER QUINTUS .

him to ecganne. Ah gong nu 7 saga him ; swa he welle swa he ne

wille, he sceal to Columban mynstre cuman , forðan þe hiora sylh

unrihte gongao; ah he da sceal to rihtre stige geteon.
pa he pas word geherde, pa bebead he eft pæm breder, þæt
he nænigum menn ma openade ne ne cydde. 7 peh de he gewiss 5
geworden wære purh da stewnesse pære gesihoe, nohte pon læs he
his fore gegearwede mid dæm gemyndgadum broðrum. Mid þy
heo da þæt scip gehlested hefdan mid pæm þingum, þe swa
miceles siðfetes need abædde, 7 monige dagas windes 7 gewidera
beodan, da was sumre neahte geworden swa grim storm 7 10
swa rede, pætte of micelum dæle pa ding to lose wurdan, þe in
Sæm scipe wæran, 7 þæt scip forleort betihn pa yða in siðian
licgende. Pa oncneow se Godes monn æt he faran ne moste,
7 cuæð : Ic wat pætte pas storm for me is cumen 7 sended wæs.
7 he hine ofteah pære fore 7 unrot ham ferde. .15
7 he hweðre, án his geferana, —was Wihtbriht haten, se wæs
middangeard forhycgende, 7 he was on wiisdome codcundre
láre mære, 7 monig gear he in Hibernia ellpeodig áncorliif
dede in micelre fullfremednesse -da ástag he in scip, 7 cóm in
Fresena land ; 7 twa gear singal þær þeode 7 Rædbedde hiora 20
cyninge hælo word 7 codcundre lare bodade 7 lærde. Ne he
hwæðre ænigne * wæstem swa miceles gewinnes mid þam ellreordi-
gum gemetan mehte. Da hwearf he eft to ære leofan stówe
his ellõeodinesse, 7 in ære gewunelican stillnesse Drihtne lifde.
7 forðon pe he dem utlican to geleafan brytian ne mehte, 25
he da his geferum ma of his mægna spedum 7 bisenum brytian
gemde.
X.

Cap. 10. Da det se Godes wer Ecgbrihte geseah, dæt he ne wæs forlæten,
peodum godcunde láre to bodienne, ah þæt he was haefd fore oðre
nyttenesse pære halgan cirican, bi dære he foremanad was mid 30
13
1. 2. hi,ra T. hiora C. heora O. Ca. B. 1. 7. gemy,dgadum T. ge-
myn.gadan (erasure of a small d?) O. gemyndgadan C. gemynegodan Ca.
gemyngodum B. 1. 9. ned T. neod C. nyd O. Ca. B. 1. 18. el,peodig T.
elpeodig B. allþeodig O. ellðeodig Ca. 1. 22. wæsten T. wæstm O. Ca.
 V. 9, 10 . 413

But go now and say to him ; whether he will or no, he is to go to

the monastery ofColumb, for their ploughs go not straight ; and he
shall direct them into the right course.' On hearing these words, he
again charged the brother not to disclose or make it known further
5 to anyone. And though assured by the appearance of the vision,
nevertheless he prepared for his journey with the aforesaid
brethren. When they had loaded the ship with the things , which
the needs of so long a journey required, and had waited many days
for wind and weather, there arose one night a storm so furious and
10 violent, that many things on board ship were lost, and the ship was
cast away and lay on her side in the waves. Then the man of
God perceived that he might not proceed, and said : ' I know that this
storm is come and was sent on my account.' And he withdrew
from the expedition and returned home dispirited. However one of
15 his companions-he was named Wihtberht, who had renounced the
world, and was celebrated for his knowledge of the word of God, and
had lived as an exile and hermit for many years in Ireland a life
of great perfection-embarked and arrived in Friesland ; and
for two years uninterruptedly preached and taught the word of
20 God and of salvation to the people and their king Rædbedd.
Yet he could not gain any fruit for such long toil among the barbar-
ians. Then he returned back to the well-loved place of his exile
and lived to the Lord in his wonted retirement. And as he might
not be of use to those without in the faith, he made it his care to be
25 all the more of use to his companions by the benefit and example
of his virtues.

X.

Now when the man of God, Ecgberht, saw that he was not per-
mitted to preach to the nations the word of God, but was kept for
other services to the holy church, about which he was forewarned by

westm B. 1. 25. utlican Ca. útlican B. u.tlican (erasure of one) 0 .

uplican T. ne O. Ca. B.: not in T. 1. 26. bisenm T. -um B. u 0. Ca.
he
bysenum C. 1. 29. ,was T. he was O. Ca. B. 1. 30. ciricican T. cyri-
cean O. Ca. cyrican B.
 414 LIBER QUINTUS .

godcundre onwrignesse, ne dætte Wihtbriht ówiht fremede, þeh de

he in da dælas become, da ongann he pa gena in dæt *.warc
godcundre láare saendan halige weoras 7 geornfulle tuelfe, para
p. 624. aldormon was Willbrórd micelre geearnunge mæssepreost. Mid
dy hio ða þider coman on land, da cerdan hio ærest to Pipine 5
Froncana cyninge 7 doncweorolice wæran from him onfongene.
Ond forðan he niwan geeode pa fyrran Fresan, 7 ponon Ræbed
done cyning ádraf, sende hio da pider, pæt hio scoldan þær
Godes word bodian 7 læran. 7 he ec swylce hio was gefultumi-
ende mid his cynelicre aldorlicnesse, dæt him mon noht hefiges ne 10
lades gedon dorste, 7 mid monigum fremsumnessum þa geweordade,
pa de Cristes geleafan onfon woldon. Donon was geworden
purh Drihtnes gife 7 fultum , þæt hio monige hrædlice from
deofolgeldum to Cristes geleafan gecerdan.

XI.

Deossa bisene wæran fylgende sume tuegen messepreostas of 15

Ongolcynne, pa in Hibernia þem ealonde micelre tíide for hiofana
riices lufan in elloeodinesse liifdan. Cuomon hio to Ealdseaxna
mægðe, gif wen wære þæt hi þær ænige purh heora lare Criste
begytan mihte. Wæran hie begn áne naman nemned, swa hio
ec swylce anre willsumnesse wæran. Was hiora æghweder 20
Heawald nemned. Was dis tosceaden hwedre, pætte for hiora
missenlice feaxes hiwe oder was cueden se · blaca Heawald,
oder se hwita Heawald. Was hiara oeghweder awfestlice gelæred ;
wæs se blaca Heawald hweðere mae in wisdom haligra gewrita
getyd. 25
Pa hio da in Ealdseaxe cuomon, pa eodon hio in sumes tungere-
fan giæstern, 7 hine bædon pætte hio onsende to dæm aldormen

1.2. wræc T. weo, c (eo on erasure) O. weorc Ca. B. 1. 3. weoras 0. Ca.

wetras T. weras B. 1. 4. aldormonna T. ealdorman (erasure of two) 0.
ealdorman C. ealdormann B. 1. 6. cyninige T. cyninge O. Ca. B. 1. IO.
aldorlicnesse B. eald- Ca. ealdorlicness 0. aldo,lricnesse T. 1. 15. New
chapter in O. Ca. : not in B. In T. Deossa (with capital). fylgende O. B.
fyligende Ca. : not in T. 1. 17. ri,ces T. rices O. Ca. rices B. li,fdan
T. lifdon O. lifedon Ca. lif, don B. 1. 18. gifto mihte not in T. Text
 V. 1 . 41
0 5

divine revelation, and that Wihtberht had accomplished nothing,

though he visited those countries, he still undertook to send forth,
for the work of the Word , twelve holy and earnest men, whose
chief was Wilbrord, a priest of high merit. When they landed in
5 the country, they turned first to Pippin king of the Franks,
and were gratefully welcomed by him. And as he had lately over-
run the further Frisian districts and driven thence their king
Rædbedd, he sent them there to preach and teach the word of God.
He also supported them with his royal authority, that they might
10 not receive any annoyance or injury, and conferred many favours
on those, who were willing to receive the faith of Christ. And so
by God's grace and help it came to pass, that they soon converted
many from idols to the faith of Christ.

XI.

Their example was followed by two priests of English descent,

15 who had long lived in exile in Ireland for love of the kingdom of
heaven. They came to the country of the Old Saxons, in hopes
that they might win some there to Christ by their teaching . They
were both called by one and the same name, as they were one also
in devotion . Both were called Heawald . There was however this

20 distinction, that owing to the different colour of their hair, the one
was called the black Heawald, the other the white. Both of them

had been piously educated ; however the black Heawald had received
more training in knowledge of Scripture. When they came to
the Old Saxons, they sought hospitality from a certain bailiff, and
25 begged him to forward them on to the chief, who was his superior ;

h
from O. (hi- i on erasure pur,). Ca. (hi ; purh). B. (hi ; þurh). 1. 20.
hora T. heora O. Ca. B. 1. 21. hwe,re T. hwæpere O. hwæðere Ca. B. 1.
22. hiwe B. Not in T. C. O. Ca. ; but while T. puts hiora after for, O. Ca.
put heora after feaxes. 1. 24. haligre T. haligra O. Ca. B. 1. 27.
te
giæst- (i ? out of a) T. gestærn O. Ca. healle B. bædod þæt, T. badonp
O. B. Ca.
 416 LIBER QUINTUS .

þe ofer hine was ; segdon þæt hio hefdon nyt ærende 7 nyttne
intigan sumne, pe hio him lædan scoldan. Fordon hio da ilcan
Ealdseaxan næfdan agene cyning ; ah monige aldormenn wæran
peode forsette. Ond ponne sio tiid gewinnes 7 gefeohtes,
cuomon donne hio mid tanum to dam ealdormannum, 7 swa 5
hwylene hiora swa him se tan ateawde, ponne gecuran hio done
him to heretogan 7 to lattowe, 7 done fylgdan 7 him herdon.
Donne Sæt fyht 7 þæt gewinn geenddad wæs, ponne weran hie
eft efnrice, wæran ealdormenn. Pa onfoeng hio se tungerefa
7 him was gehatende, dæt he hio wolde to his aldormen onsendan, 10
swa swa hio bædan ; 7 he hio pa hwylce hugu dagas mid hine
geæfde. Mid þy hio da da ellreordigan ongeotan dæt hio wæran
odere aefestnesse, fordon hio simle hiora salmas sungan 7 in
halgum gebedum Gode peoddon, dæghwemlice Gode asægdnesse
beran, 7 mæssan sungan-haefdan hio mid him gehalgude fatu, 7 15
gehalgadne tabul on wigbedes gewrixle -ða wæran þa hæðnan
betwih him þehtiende 7 sprecende : gif hio to dem ealdormen
bicuomen 7 mid hine sprecende wæran, dæt hio hine from hiora
godum acerden, 7 to ære niowan aæ þæs Cristes geleafan
gehwerfde ; swa sticcemælum all hiora mægde neded wære, pat 20
hio hiora ald bigong forleorte 7 þat niowe beode. Genaman da
semniga þa Godes menn 7 ofslogan ; pone hwitan Heawold hiọ
hrede mid sweorde ofslogan; pone blacan Heawald hio longe cuelm-
don 7 purh limo witnadon. Pa hio da ofslægene weran, þa wurpan
hio hiora lichaman úut in Riine pa eae. Da þæt da geherde se 25
ealdormon, hu hie gedon ymbe pa menn haefdan, da de gesion 7
p. 625. sæcgan waldon, pa was he swide eorre ; sende pa weord þider 7
heht one tunscipe ealne ofslean, 7 pone tun forbernan. Weran
prowiende pa forsprecenan Cristes peowas 7 messepreostas þy
fiftan dege Nonarum Octobrium. Ne hiora martirháda won 30
weran heofonlico wundor. Fordon pa hio ofslagne weran, 7
hiora lichaman from pem hæðnum, swa swa we ær cuædan,
in da ea worpene weran, da gelomp hit þæt da licoman ongen
go 8
1. 2. fo,ðon T. forðon O. Ca. B. 1. 15 mæ,san T. mæssan O. Ca. B. 1. 26.
ybe (i. e. ÿbe) T. ymb (y on erasure) O. ymb Ca. B. 1. 27. e,rre T. yrre
O. Ca. B.
 ས . IO . 417

they said they had an important errand and important business to

convey to him. For these Old Saxons had no proper king ; but
many chiefs were set over the people. And whenever it was time
of strife and war, they then came with lots to the chiefs, and which-
5 ever of them was marked out by the lot, they then chose as general
and leader, following and obeying him. And when the war
and strife were at an end, all again were equal in power, and
were chiefs. Then the bailiff entertained them and promised to
send them to his chief, as they requested ; and he kept them
10 there some days with him. When the barbarians perceived
that they were of another religion, for they always sung their
psalms and served God in holy prayer, daily offering sacrifice to
God and celebrating mass -they had with them consecrated vessels

and a consecrated table in place of an altar- then the heathen took

15 counsel with one another and said : if they came to the chief and
conversed with him, they would turn him away from their gods,
and convert him to the new religion of Christ's faith ; so gradually
all their country would be obliged to forsake their old worship and
adopt the new. Then suddenly they seized the men of God and

20 killed them ; slaying at once with the sword the white Heawald,

but slowly putting to death and torturing in every limb the black
Heawald. Now when they were slain, they threw their bodies out
into the river Rhine. Now when the chief heard, how they had
dealt with the men, who wished to see and converse with him,
25 he was very angry ; he sent troops there and told them to put all
of that town to death and burn the town. The aforesaid servants

of Christ and priests suffered on the 11th of October. Nor were

heavenly marvels wanting at their martyrdom. For when they
were slain and their bodies, as we said before, had been cast by the

30 heathen into the river, it happened that the bodies were carried
Ee
 418 LIBER QUINTUS .

pam ræse des for geotendan streames geborene weran þurh all
feowertig mila od da stowe, pe hiora cude menn 7 hiora geferan
on weran. Swylce ec se mæsta scima hiofonlices leohtes ufan
egwylcre nihte ofer pa stowe scan, per pæt gelomp pet pa lichoman
cuomon ; 7 þæt ec swylce da hæðnan geségon 7 beheoldon, þa 5
Je hio slogon . Ah da oder para martira in neahtlicere gesihðe
æteaude sumum hiora geferan, þæs nama was Tilmon. Wæs

þæt méere wer 7 for weorulde ec swylce aedelre gebyrde ; wæs

he ærest from cyninges þægn, 7 pa was eft munuc geworden.
Was he him secgende, þæt he meahte hiora lichoman in dere stowe 10
gemaetan, þær he gesawe pæt leoht of hiofonum on eorðan scínan.
Dæt ec swylce gefylled wes. Da fundan hio sona hiora lichoman
7 æfter gerisenre áare martira bebyrgede wæran ; 7 se deg hiora
prowunge ge hiora lichoman gemetnesse mid arwyrðre weorðunge
in dem stowum mærsade syndon . Mid da Pippin se cyning 15
Froncna þas ding geherde 7 geacsade, pa sende he weorod 7 heht
hiora lichoman to him gelædan, 7 hio mid 'micle wuldre 7
wyrðmyndum bebyrgan in cirican Colóne pæræ ceastre bii Ríne.
Is dat ec sæd pætte in dere stowe, per hio ofslegne weran, weolle
án welle, sio in pere illcan stowe od disne deg genihtsumu 20
weter + for flowed 7 geotet monnum to degnunge 7 to áre.

XII.

Cap. 11 . Sona þæm erestan tidum, þes da lareowas cuomon in Fresena

lond, 7 Willbrod from dem cyninge lefnesse onfeng þæt he dær
læran moste, pa wolde he hredlice to Rome cuman, pa wes
bisscop as apostolican sedles Sergius papa, þæt he wólde mid his 25
læfnesse 7 mid his blætsunge pet willsume weorc onginnan 7
gefyllan þem diodum godspel to læranne. Ond somod he willnade
from him onfon pera eadigra apastola reliquias 7 Cristes martira,
þæt mid by
þy he diofolgeld towurpe 7 cirican timbrede 7 rærde in
1. 1. pere sae T. þam ræse O. đã rése Ca. ræse B. 1. 7. geferan O. Ca.
geferena B. geferum T. 1. 9. eft O. Ca. B. heft T. 1. 10. secgende ..
p
(two erased : the first d) T. No variant in MSS. 1. 15. pi,pin T. pipin
B. pipen (i out of e, erasure of one) O. pippen Ca. 1. 17. lichomaman
(the first a out of o) T. lichoman Ca. -cham- O. B, 1. 21. flowa T.
 ས. I , I . 419
O I

against the current of the downward stream, through quite forty

miles, to the place in which their acquaintances and companions
were. Also a very great beam of heavenly light shone every night
above the place, where their bodies happened to come ; and this
5 also the heathen saw and beheld, who had slain them. But then
one of the martyrs appeared in a vision by night to one of their
companions, named Tilmon. He was a man of note, of noble birth
also in the world, at first an active follower of the king and after-
wards a monk. The vision told him, he might find their bodies at
10 the place, where he saw the light shine from heaven to earth. And
this also was fulfilled . Then at once their bodies were found and
buried with the honour due to martyrs ; and the day of their
passion and the day of the finding of their bodies are celebrated in
those places with suitable honour. When Pippin, king of the
15 Franks, heard and learnt of this, he sent a host and directed their
bodies to be brought to him, and to be buried with great glory and
distinction in the church of Cologne, the town on the Rhine. It
is also said that at the place, where they were slain, a spring rose
up, which up to this day flows and discharges abundance of water,
20 at that same place, for the service and benefit of man .

XII .

At once in the very first days, after the teachers came to,
Friesland, and Wilbrord obtained the king's leave to teach there,
he desired forthwith to visit Rome, where pope Sergius was at that
time bishop of the apostolic see, desiring with his permission and
25 blessing to begin and carry out the devout work of teaching.
the gospel to the nations. At the same time he wished to receive
from him relics of the blessed apostles and martyrs of Christ, that
when he overthrew idolatry and built and reared churches among

-flowed O. Ca. B. 1. 22. -ona (blank for initial) T. B. Sona O. Ca. 1. 24.
hrdlice, the last part of r is in the form ofthe first curve of e, the word is com--
pressed at end of line) T. þær hrædlice (þær struck through) O. hrædlice
i
Ca. B. 1. 29. circan T. cyricean O. cyrican Ca. B.
Ee 2
 420 LIBER QUINTUS.

pære diode pe he lærde, dat he der gearwe hefde haligra reliquias in

to settenne, 7 he gerisenlice meahte in dara haligra áare syndrige
stowe gehwylce haligra halgian, pe hiora reliquias þær in weran.
Swylce ec monige oðre intingan he sohte 7 willnade oððe per
leornian o de panon onfón. In dem eallum mid dy he willfegen 5
wes gefremed, he eft hwearf to codcundre láare.
Pære tiide pa brodor, da de in Fresum weran mid hine in
dere þegnunge des Godes wordes, gecuron hio of hiora ríime
p. 626. gemetfæstne monn in his peaum 7 monpuerne heortan Swiðberht,
þæt se him gehalgad were to bisscope. Sendon hine pa to Breotene 10
7 for hiora béne se aárwyrða bisscop Willferð hine gehalgade, se
wes in pa tiid of his ædele adrifen 7 in Mercna lande folgade, ond
fordon pe in da tiid Contweara nefdan bisscop . Wes Theodor
bisscop forðfered, 7 Berhwald his efterfylgend pa get ne cuom to
his bisscopsele, fordon he wes ofer sæ sended to hadienne. Da 15
Swiðberht hefde bisscophade onfongen, þa ferde he eft of Breotene
7 efter medmicelum fece he gewat to dere peode Boruchtuarorum, 7
monige hiora purh his lare to soðfestnesse wege gecerde. Ah da
aefter noht longre tiide sio ilce piod wes oferwunnen from Eald-
seaxum ; 7 da geleafsuman menn, þa de Godes worde onfengon, 20
weran wide todrifene. Ond se bisscop mid his geferum sumum sohte
Pipiin Froncna cyning ; 7 him ða geerendade Bliðryð his cuén, pet
he him wunesse stowe gesealde in sumum ealonde bi Riíne, þet is
on hiora gereorde geceged 7 nemned In Litore, in dem he
mynster getimbrede, þet nu gen oðð þis agon his erfeweardas. 7 25
he per sum fec in forhebbendum liife lifde 7 der his deagas
geendade.
Efter don pe hie pa sum gear codcunde láre lærdon in Fresena
riice, pa de mid hine cuomon, pa sende Pipin mid ealra hiora
gepafunge pone arwyrðan wer Willbrord to Róome to Sergie pem 30
papan, ond bad pæt he hine Fresna deode to ercebiscope gehalgade.

1. 1. reliquias O. Ca. B. religia T. 1. 2. h, T. he B. The passage is

wanting (in to reliquias) in O. Ca. 1. 3. st,we T. stowe B. 1. 6. cod.
cudre T. godcundre O. Ca. B. 1. 7. frēsumnesse T. frysum 0. Ca. B. (-e-)
8
1. 10. bi,scope T. biscope B. bysceope O, ₺ Ca. 1. 12. folg,de (d out of
 V. II . 421

the people whom he was teaching, he might have relics of the

saints ready to place in them, and that he might consecrate
suitable places to the honour of the saints, a separate place for each
saint, whose relics were contained there. There were many other
5 matters also, which he sought and desired either to learn there or
to receive thence. And when he succeeded in all points according
to his wish, he returned again to the teaching of the Word. At
that time the brethren, who were with him in Friesland engaged in
the ministry of God's word, chose out of their number a man,
10 modest in character, and of gentle disposition, named Swithberht,
that he might be consecrated as their bishop. They sent him then
to Britain, and he was consecrated at their request by the venerable
bishop Wilfrid, who was at that time an exile from his native
country and serving in the land of Mercia, for at that time there
15 was no bishop in Kent. Bishop Theodore had died, and his
successor Berhtwald, having been sent over the sea for ordination,
had not yet come to his episcopal seat. When Swithberht had
received the episcopate, he returned again from Britain, and after a
short time departed to the people of the Bructeri, and by his
20 teaching converted many of them to the way of truth . But then
after a short time this people was conquered by the Old Saxons ;
and the believers, who had received the word of God, were dispersed
far and wide. And the bishop, with some of his companions,
visited Pippin, king of the Franks ; and through the interposition
25 of the queen Blithryth, the king gave them a dwelling on an island
by the Rhine, which in their language is called and named In
Litore (Kaiserwerth), on which he built a monastery, which his
heirs still possess. And he lived there for some time an ascetic
life and there ended his days. After his companions had taught
30 the word of God for some years in Friesland, Pippin, with the
consent of all, sent the venerable Wilbrord to pope Sergius at
Rome, begging that he might be consecrated archbishop for the

begun e) T. folgode B. From ofhis to tiid not in O. Ca. 1. 21. geferefnum

eor
(refpartly erased) T. geferum O. B. Ca (- ū). 1. 24. ger,deT. gereorde
O. Ca. B. 1. 25. oðð (the first o out of original o) T. of O. Ca. B. 1. 29.
ealra B. ealre T. eallra O. Ca.
 422 LIBER QUINTUS .

7 he swa dyde swa he bad. Was he gehadod in circan pære

halgan fæmnan 7 martires Sce Cecilian þy dæge, de hire gemynddæg
wes ; 7 se papa hine nemde freonaman Clemens. 7 sona þæs pe he
geháadad was, pet is æfter feowertene dagum, þes de he in
Romeburh cuom, þet he hine eft sende to his bisscopsele. Salde 5
him 7 forgeaf Piipin bisscopseol in his pere meran byrig, sio alde
worde pere piode is nemned Wiltaburg ; Galleas nemnað Traiectum;
we cuedad Ettreocum. Bi ære se arwyrða bisscop ciirican
getimbrede 7 feorr 7 wide Godes word ymbe Cristes geleafan
bodade 7 lærde ; 7 monige wes cegende from hæðnesse gedwolan 10
hiora liifes. 7 he monig mynster 7 cirican in dæm londe
getimbrede ; ond æfter fæce monige oore bisscopas þér gesette 7
gehalgade of para broðra ríime, þa de mid hine oððe aæfter him
cuomon codcunde láre to bodienne ; para monige forðgeleordon in
Drihten. Ah he Willbrord, pe se papa Clemens nemde, longe 15
aeldo 7 árwyrðe he hefde ; six 7 Oritig wintra in bisscophade liifde,
ond efter monigfealdum gewinnum heofonlices comphades to
meordum þes uplican edleanes becuom to áare

XIII.

p. 627. Dassum tidum gemyndelic wundar 7 ealdum wundrum geliic in

Cap. 12.
Breotene was geworden . Fordon de to awehtnesse lifgendra monna of 20
saule deaðe sum mon wes sum faec dead 7 eft to life lichoman
aras 7 monig ding gemyndewyrde segde, pa he geseah, para sume
we her hredlice areccan 7 áasecgan 7 aawritan willað.
Uues sum hioscipes fæder 7 higina aldor in deodlonde Nordan-
hymbra, det is geceged In Cununingum ; líifde he aefestlice his 25
liif mid his heorde. Da weard he licumlicre untrumnesse gehrinen
7 gestonden ; 7 seo deghwemlice weox, oddet he to dem ytemestan
dege gelæded wes, 7 in forewearde neaht for ferde. Ah in dagunge
he eft acuicode 7 semninga up heh asæt ; ond ealle pa de æt his
lichoman woepende sæton mid unmæte ege geslægene weron 30
7 utflugon butan his wíif an, de hine swiðust lufade, sio án hinne

1. 2. matires T. martires B. martyres O. Ca. 1. 3. frenaman (e out of

o: o added below) T. freonaman O. Ca. B. 1. 7. is nemned O. Ca. B.
 V. 11 , 12. 423

Frisian people. And the pope did as the king asked. Wilbrord
was ordained in the church of the holy virgin and martyr St.
Cecilia, on the day of her commemoration ; and the pope surnamed
him Clement. Immediately after his ordination, that is, at the end
5 of fourteen days after he came to the city of Rome, the pope sent
him back to his see. Pippin gave and assigned to him a bishop's
seat in the famous town which is called Wiltaburg, an old appella-
tion among this people ; the Gauls call it Traiectum ; we call
it Utrecht. Close by, the venerable bishop built a church and
10 preached and taught the word of God, concerning faith in Christ,
far and wide ; and recalled many from the heathen error of their
life. And he built many monasteries and churches in that land , and
after a time consecrated many others as bishops there, from among
the number of the brethren, who came with him or after him
15 to preach the word of God ; many of whom departed in the Lord.
But Wilbrord, named by the pope Clement, enjoyed a long and
venerable old age. He lived thirty-six years as bishop, and after
manifold struggles in heavenly warfare obtained as possession the
meed of reward above.
XIII .
20 At this time a memorable miracle, like to the miracles of old,
occurred in Britain . For, in order to rouse the living from the
death of the soul, a man after being for some time dead rose again
to the life of the body and recounted many memorable things, which
he saw, some of which we will here briefly report, state and
25 transcribe. There was a householder at the head of a household,
in a district of Northumbria, which is called Cunningham (in
Scotland), living piously with all his house. He was attacked by
and suffered from a bodily distemper ; and it grew worse daily, till
he was brought to death's door and departed at the beginning of
30 the night. But at dawn he revived again and suddenly sat up ;
and all who sat weeping by his body were stricken with infinite
terror and fled out, save his wife only, who loved him best ; she alone
n
his nemded T. 1. 21. licohoman T. lichoman Ca. lichaman B. lichama, O.
1. 25. is O. Ca. B. his T. 1. 26. ghrinen (i. e. g.) T. ge- O. Ca. B. 1. 30.
etge T. ege O. Ca. B.
 424 LIBER QUINTUS .

aawunade, peh de hio swide forht were 7 beofiende. Da frefrede

he hio 7 cueð : Ne welle pu de ondredan, forðon þe ic soðlice from
deaðe aáras 7 eam eft forlæten mid monnum liifgan, nales hwere
þy liife þe ic ær liifde, ah swide ungelice of disse tíide me is to
lifigenne. Ond da sona áaras 7 eode to dære cirican pes tunes 7 od 5
lutterne dæg in gebede stod. Ond sona æfter pon calle his
æahte in preo todælde ; enne dæl he his wife sealde, oderne his
bearnum, pone priddan, pe him gelomp, he instepe pearrfum gedelde :
7 æfter medmiclum fæce all weoruldping forleorte 7 to Mailros
Jem mynstre cuoom, þet is of dem mestan dæle mid ymbebegnesse 10
Tuede streames betyned . 7 he per Godes piohade 7 scare onfeng,
7 in dygle aáncorstowe code, pe se abbud him foreseah; 7 per oð
done dæg his deades in swa micelum gedrehtnessum 7 forhefdnessum
modes 7 lichoman áheardade 7 awunade, pette menn mehtan
ongeotan, þæt he monig ding ge egslice ge willsumlice geseh, þe 15
oore meoðon, peh de sio tunge swigade, pet his liif wes spre-
cende.
Sægde he þys gemete ætte he geseah, 7 cued : Leohte gesihðe
7 onsione 7 berhte gegerelan wes, se de me lædde. Eodon wiit
suigiende, þes de me duhte 7 gesegn wes, ongen nordeast rodor, swa 20
sunnan upgong bið æt middum sumere. Mid y wit da hwiile
eodan, bicuomon wít to sumere dene, sio wæs micelre brædo 7
deopnese 7 ungeaendadre længe ; wes unc on a wynstran
healfe geseted. Oder dæl wæs wallendum lægum full suide
egesfullice, oder wes nohte pon læs unaarefndlice cele hægles 7 25
snawes. Wes gehweðer manna saula full, pa wrixendlice on
tua healfe gesegene weeran, swa swa mid unmætnesse miceles
stormes, worpene beon. Ponne hio pæt mægn þere unmetan
hætton áarefnan ne mehtan, ponne stældan heo eft earmlice in
p. 628. middel þæs unmætan ciles. 7 mid by heo dær nænige reste 30
gemetan mihtan, ponne stældon heo eft in middan þæs byrnendan
fyres 7 das unadwæscedan leges. Mid þy heo da þæs ungesælgan
wrixles feor 7 wide, swa geseon meahton, butan fyrstmearce ænigre

1. 3. forlæten Ca. forlæten B. forlætan (for on erasure) O. forlægen T. L. 4.

is O. Ca. B. his T. 1. 6. before dag de is effaced T. dæg dær O. Ca. B. 1. 10.
0
cuo,m T. com O. cóm Ca. B. 1. 16. spreoende (o or c ? ) T. sprecende O. Ca. B.
 V. 12 . 425

remained within, though much frightened and trembling. Then he

comforted her and said : ' Be not afraid, for truly I have risen from
death, and am permitted to live among men once more, yet not as
I lived before, but from this time on I must live very differently.'
5 And then at once he got up and went to the chapel in the village
and remained in prayer till broad daylight. And soon after that
he divided all his property into three shares ; one he gave to his
wife, a second to his children, the third, which fell to him, he
distributed on the spot to the poor : and after a short time
10 renounced all worldly things and came to the monastery of Melrose,
which is for the most part surrounded by a bend of the river
Tweed. And he there entered into God's service and received the
tonsure, and proceeded to a retired hermitage, provided for him by
the abbot ; and there, up to the day of his death, endured and
15 continued in such contrition and continence of mind and body, that
men could see, that he had witnessed much, both terrible and
desirable, that is hidden from others, as his life declared, though
his tongue were silent. He reported what he had seen on this wise,
and said Radiant in face and look, and in bright apparel, was he
20 who guided me. We proceeded in silence, as I thought and it
seemed, towards the north-east quarter of the heavens, where the
sun rises at midsummer. And during the time we were going,
we arrived at a valley of great breadth and depth, and of infinite
length, lying on our left. One part was very dreadful, being
25 full of boiling flames, the other was not less intolerable through
the chill of hail and snow. Both were full of men's souls, which
seemed to be cast to either side in turn, as though by the
overpowering violence of a great storm. When they could not
endure the force of the excessive heat, they sprang away in their
30 misery into the midst of the excessive cold . And when they
could find no rest there, they sprang back into the midst of
the burning fire and the unquenchable flame. And while they
were tortured with the innumerable crowd of dark spirits , without
an interval of any rest in this wretched change, far and wide
35 as could be seen, then I began to think and supposed it was hell,
1. 21. mid O. Ca. B. ond T. 1. 25. eg- O. Ca. B. gesfullice T. 1. 27. un-
m
mætnesse Ca. B. unmętnes O. unmetes T. 1. 29. ear,lice T. earmlice O. Ca. B.
426 LIBER QUINTUS .

ræste mid pa unriman mængo sweartra gasta preste wæron, þa

ongan ic pencan, 7 wende þæt hit hel wære, be dam tintregum
unaræfnendlicum ic oft sæcgan herde. Pa ondswarede he minum
geðohte se min latteow, se de me foreeode, 7 pus cwæð : Nis dis
seo hel, swa ou talest 7 wenest . 5

Mid by ic da was mid pisse ongryslican wæferseone swide

gefyrhted 7 gebreged, pa lædde he me styccemælum forð on
fyran lond. Pa geseah ic sæmninga beforan unc onginnan deo-
strian ða stowe 7 miclum þeostrum all gefylled. Mid dy wit da in
Ja peostro íneodon, 7 heo styccemælum swa micel 7 swa dicco 10
wæron, þæt ic noht geseon meahte, nemne þæt seo ansien scan
7 þa hrægl leoht wæron, se de mæc lædde. 7 mid dy wit da
for gongende wæron under dæm scuan pære deostran nihte, da
æteowdan sæmninga beforan unc monige heapas sweartra lega, da
wæron up astigende swa swa of miclum seade, 7 eft wæron fallende 15
7 gewitende in done ilcan seað. Mid oy ic da öyder gelæded wæs,
da ne wiste ic sæmninga hwær min latteow becom ; 7 he mec
forlet ín middum þæm þeostrum ond dære ongrislican gesihoe. 7
mid by pa ilcan heapas para fyra butan blinne hwilum upp astigon
in heanesse, hwilum niðer gewiton in da niolnesse des seades, 20
geseah ic 7 sceawade ; ealle da heanesse para úpastigendra lega
fulle wæron monna gasta, þa on onlicnesse upastigendra yselena mid
rece, hwilum in heanesse beod up worpene, hwilum eft togenum
Jara fyra dearsmum wæron eft aslidene in neolnesse 7 in grund.
Swelce eac unaræfnedlic fullness was mid pæs fyres prosme upp- 25
awallende, 7 ealle da stowe dara þiostra gefylde. Mid dy ic da
longe þær forht stod, 7 me was uncuð, hwæt ic dyde oöpe hwider
ic eode oope hwelc ende me come, da geherde ic sæmninga micelne
swæg me on bæcling unmates wopes 7 earmlices, swelce eac micel
gehled 7 ceahetunge swa swa ungelæredes folces 7 biosmriendes 30
gehæftum heora feondum. Pa he da se sweg me near was 7 to me
becom, pa geseah ic mænigo para wergra gasta .v. manna saula
grornende 7 heofende teon 7 lædan on midde pa peostra, 7 heo on

1. 1. þam anriman T. (i . e. closed u) þa un- O. Ca. þære úngerimedan

B. 1. 23. togenuO. atogenú Ca. togeanes B. togetnum T. 1. 30. bios-
me
riende T. beosmriendes folces C. bysmriendes Ọ. bysmrigendes B. bysnni-
 V. 12. 427

of which intolerable torments I had often heard stories. Then my

guide, who was going before me, answered my thought ; and thus
spoke : "This is not hell, as you conclude and imagine.” Now, when
I was very much frightened and terrified by this dreadful spectacle,
5 he led me gradually on to a district further on. Then suddenly I

saw the parts before us begin to darken and all filled with a
thick darkness. On our entering into this darkness it gradually

became so great and so dense, that I could not see anything, only the
appearance and robes of my guide were bright and shining. And as
10 we advanced under the shadow of the dark night, there suddenly
appeared before us many masses of black flames, rising up as out
of a great pit, and again falling back and retiring into the pit.
As I was being led there, suddenly my guide disappeared, I knew
not where, leaving me in the middle of the darkness and the fearful
15 vision. And while these masses of fire incessantly, now shot up on

high, now sank down again into the abyss of the pit, I looked and
saw, that all the points of the ascending flames were full of men's
spirits, which, like ashes ascending with smoke, were now cast up
on high, now again, as the fiery vapour contracted, slipped back
20 once more to the abyss at the bottom.Also an intolerable foulness

steamed up with the fiery vapour, and filled all the place of darkness.
When I had stood there for a long time in terror, and knew not
what to do, where to go, or what end was coming to me, I suddenly
heard behind me a loud sound of violent and piteous weeping, as
25 well as also loud cackling laughter, as if of a rude mob mocking

their captive foes . And when the sound came nearer me, I saw a
crowd of accursed spirits dragging and bringing into the midst of

the darkness five men's souls, lamenting and mourning, and they

gende (a stroke drawn under first n ; the second n rudely changed into r ; mi
above) Ca. 1. 32. werigra O. B. C. werga T. Not in Ca. 1. 33. Ist n
(i erased) T. on O. Ca. B.
 428 LIBER QUINTUS.

don swide blissedon 7 ceahheton. Para manna sum was, pas de ic

gewiton meahte, bescoren preost, sum węs lawde, sum wж8
wifmon. Tugon heo da wergan gastas 7 niðer mid geweotan in
midde ða niolnesse des byrnendan leges. Mid by heo da fir
gewiten wæron, 7 ic done wop para manna 7 þone hleahtor þara 5
diofla sweotolice geheran ne meahte, hwædre ic done sweg Ja gena
gemengedne in earum hæfde. Betwioh das ping da upp comon
sume dara þiostra gasta of dere niolnesse, 7 of dære witestowe, 7
mec utan ymbsaldon. Hæfdon heo fyrene eagan 7 full fyr of
heora muðe 7 of heora nasum wæron ut blawende ; ond fyrene 10
tangan him on handa hæfdon, 7 mæc nerwdon, 7 me tobeotedon,
þæt heo mid þam gegripan woldon, 7 in da forwyrd sendan. Ond
peah de heo mec swa bregdan 7 fyrhton, ne dorston heo mec
hwæðre ongehrinan .

p. 629. Mid dy ic da wæs æghwonan mid dam feondum ymbsald 7 mid 15

da blindnesse para deostra utan betyned, ða áhof ic mine eagan
upp 7 locade hider 7 geond, hwæder me ænig fultum toweard wære,
Sæt ic gehæled beon meahte. Pa æteowde me æfter pæm wege, þe
ic ær com on, betwioh da þeostra swa beorht scinende steorra. 7
Sæt leoht was weaxende mare 7 mare, 7 hrade to me was efstende ; 20
7 sona das de hit me nealehte , da wæron tostencte 7 onwæg flugon
ealle da awergdan gastas, da de me ær mid heora tangan tobeoto-
dan . Was dæt se min latteow, se de mec lædde . Pa cerde he da
sona on da swiðran hond, 7 mec ongon lædan suðeast on don
roðor, swa swa on wintre sunne upp gonged. Pa wære wit sona of 25
Jam þeostrum abrogdene, 7 he mec lædde in fægernesse smoltes
leohtes. Mid dy he mec da in openum leohte lædde, þa geseah ic
beforan unc pone mæstan weall, þæs længo on twa healfe ne his
heanesse ænig ende *gesen wæs. Pa ongan ic wundrian, for
hwon wit to pam walle eodan, mid dy ic on him nænige duru ne 30
eahpyrl ne uppastignesse onhwonan on ænge halfe geseon meahte.
Mid Oy wit da becoman to dam walle, pa sona instæpe, ne wat ic
eo
1. 7. betwi.h (erasure of e) T. . betw.h (erasure of i) O. betwih Ca. betwyh
d
B. 1. 16. blindnesse Ca. B. blidnesse (d out of n). T. blin, nesse O. 1. 23.
0
tobeot.dan (erasure of e ?) T. tobeotodon O. B. -dan Ca. 1. 29. gesewen O.
Ca. B. gewen T.
 .
V. 12. 429

exulted and laughed very much at that. One of these persons was,

as far as I could perceive, a tonsured priest, one was a layman, one

was a woman. The accursed spirits dragged them on and sank
down with them into the middle of the abyss of burning flame.
5 When they had sunk far, and I could not clearly distinguish the
cries of the men and the laughter of the devils, yet I still had in my
ears the mingled sound . Meantime there rose up some of the dark
spirits out of the abyss and place of torment, and encompassed me.
They had fiery eyes and blew foul fire out of mouth and nostrils ;
10 and they held in their hands fiery tongs, and they beset me, and
threatened to seize me with them and hurl me into destruction.

And though they thus terrified and frightened me, still they durst not
touch me. While I was encompassed on all sides by my foes, and
enclosed from without by the blind darkness, then I lifted up my

15 eyes and looked hither and thither, to see whether any help was
coming, that I might be saved. Then there appeared to me along
the road, on which I had before come, as it were a bright shining
star amid the darkness. And this light grew greater and greater,

and hastened quickly to me ; and when it came near me, all the

20 accursed spirits dispersed and fled away, which had previously

threatened me with their tongs. It was my guide who had
conducted me. Then he at once turned to the right, and began to

lead me south east, to the quarter where the sun rises in winter.
Then we were soon carried out of the darkness, and he led me into

25 fair serene light. After he had led me into the open light, I saw
before us a very great wall, of whose length on either hand and

height no end was visible. Then I began to wonder, why we were

advancing to the wall, as I could not see in it any door, nor any

ascent anywhere on either side. When we had come up to the

30 wall, then at once, I know not how it was so ordered, we found

 430 LIBER QUINTUS .

hwelcre endebyrdnesse, wæron wit on his heanesse on dam walle

ufonweardum. 7 pa geseah ic dar pone rumestan feld 7 pone
fægerestan, 7 se was eall swetnesse anre full growendra blost-
mena. Ond seo wundrigende swetnesse pas miclan swicces sona
ealle da fullnessa þæs fullan ofnes 7 þæs peostran, pe mec ær 5
Jurhseah, onwæg aflemde. Ond swa micel leoht 7 beorhtnes ealle
pa stowe geondscan , þæt he ealles dæges beorhtnisse ope dære
middaglican sunnan sciman was beorhtre gesewen. Wæron on
dissum felda unrime gesomnunge hwitra manna 7 fægra 7 monig
sedel gefeondra wæroda 7 blissigendra. Mid dy he mec da lædde 10
betwih midde da preatas para gesæligra woruda, þa ongan ic pencan
7 me huru puhte, þæt þær wære heofona rice, be dam ic oft sæcgan
herde. Pa ondswarode he minum geðohte 7 cwæð : Nis dis, cwæð
he, heofona rice, swa swa du talest 7 wenest .
Mid Oy wit ða wæron for gongende 7 oferferdon þas wunenesse 15
para eadigra gasta, þa geseah ic beforan unc micle maran gefe
leohtes 7 beorhtnesse ponne ic ær geseah, in dære ic eac swylce
pa swetestan stæfne geherde Godes lof singendra. Swylce eac of
Jære stowe swa micel swetnes wundorlices stances was onsended,
þæt sio swætnis, þe ic ær bregde 7 me micel puhte, in da witgemet- 20
nisse þæs æfteran leohtes 7 beorhtnesse was lytel 7 medmicel
gesæwen. Swylce eac swelce pat leoht 7 seo biorhtnes þæs
blostmiendan feldes was medmicel gesewen in dære stowe wynsum-
nesse. Mid by ic unc wende inngongende bion, pa somninga se min
latteow gestod 7 butan eldenne wæs eft his gong cerrende : 7 25
mec eft lædde dy selfan wæge, de wit ær coman
Mid dy wit da eft hwerfende becoman to dan bliðan wunenessum
p. 630. dara hwittra gasta 7 fægra, cwæð he to me : Wast du hwæt das
þing ealle seon, de pu sceawadest 7 gesawa ? Andswarode ic him :
Nese, cwæð ic, ne wat ic heo.Cwæð he : Seo stow þær seo denu 30
was de pu gesawe wallende lege 7 strongum celum egeslice beon,
pæet is seo stow, in ðære siondon to ádemanne 7 to clænsienne þæra
manna saula, þa de eldende wæran to andettenne 7 to betenne

1. 3. growendra O. Ca. B. -dre T. 1. 5. fulln T. Not in O. Ca. B.

1.6. ðurhseah C. puhte sweg T. purhswogh O. purhsweógh Ca. purhsweg
B. 1. 10. blissigendra B. blissendra O. Ca. blissigende T. 1. 25.
 ས . 12 . 431

ourselves above on the top of the wall. And then I saw there
a plain most spacious and most fair, and it was all full of one
sweetness of springing blossoms. And the wondrous sweetness of the
strong scent at once drove away all the foulness of the foul and
5 dark furnace, which had pervaded me. And a light and radiance
so strong streamed throughout the whole place, that it seemed
brighter than the brightness of the whole day or of the beams of the
midday sun. In this plain were countless gatherings of men, white
and fair, and many an assemblage of hosts rejoicing and exulting.
10 As he led me there amid the bands of those blessed hosts, I began
to consider, and I thought perhaps this was the kingdom of heaven ,
which I had often heard spoken of. Then he answered my thought
and said : "This is not," said he, "the kingdom of heaven, as you
conclude and suppose." As we were passing on, and had got beyond
15 the mansions of the blessed spirits, I saw before us a much more
gracious light and brightness than I had seen before, in which
I also heard voices most sweet of those that sang God's praise.
Also from that place there issued such sweetness of wondrous odour,
that the sweetness, which I had before experienced and had thought
20 so great, seemed but slight and moderate in comparison with the
succeeding light and brightness. Also the light and brightness of the
blossoming plain seemed but moderate in the delight of that place.
When I supposed we should have gone in, then suddenly my guide
halted and without delay retraced his steps and led me back by
25 the same road, on which we had come before. When on our way
back we came to the joyous mansions of the white and fair spirits,
he said to me : "Do you know what all these things are, which you
have seen and beheld ?" I answered him: "No," said I, " I know them
not." He said : " The place where the valley was, which you saw to
30 be terrible through boiling flame and violent cold, is the place
in which are to be tried and cleansed the souls of men, who delayed
efthis
in was gong .... cerrende ( erasure of four) T. eft was hi geond cyrrende (ond
.. manna
on erasure) O. Ca (his). B. (his gang) . 1. 32. þære saula T. monna saula
O. Ca. para manna saula B.
432 LIBER QUINTUS .

heora synna 7 mandæda, þa hio gefremedan : 7 hwæðre æt nehstan

in da seolfan tid heora deades to reowe geflugon, 7 swa of lichoman
eodon. pa hwæðre, forðon þe heo andetnesse 7 hreowe in þam
seolfan deaðe hæfdon, ealle in domes dæge to heofona rice becumað ;
7 monige eac swylce lifigendra manna bene 7 gebeda 7 ælmesse 7 5
fæsten 7 ealra swiðust massesong gefultumeð, þæt heo ær domes
dæge generede beoð. 7 wite ðu þæt se legfamblawenda seað 7 se
fula, pone du gesawe, þat was helle tintreges muð, in done swa
hwelc mon swa ænige side in befalled, næfre he ponan in ecnisse
genered bið. Sio blostmberende stow ponne, in ære þu æt 10
fægreste weorud in giogodhadnesse gesawe scinan 7 wynsumian,
þæt is seo stow, in dære beod onfangne soðfæstra saula, ða þe on
godum wiorcum of lichoman gongað, 7 hwæðre ne beod swa micelre
fullfremednesse, pæt hio sona sion in heofona rice gelædde. Ealle
Ja hwæðre in domes dæge to Cristes gesihoe 7 to gefean þæs heo- 15
fonlican rices íngongað. Fordon swa hwelc swa in eallum worde
7 wiorce 7 ín gedohte fullfremede beod, sona des de of lichoman
gongað, becumað to dam heofonlican rice. To dæs rices nioweste
belimpeð sio stow, þær du pone sweg des weðan songes mid y
swicce pære swetnisse geherdest, 7 pa beorhtnesse pas miclan 20
leohtes gesawa . Ac du ponne, fordon þu nu scealt eft to lichoman
hweorfan 7 eft betwih mannum lifgan, gif ðu ðine dæde 7 þeawas
7 pin word in rihtnesse 7 in bilewitnisse geornlice haldan wilt,
ponne onfehstu æfter deade pa wunenesse stowe betwih da blissi-
endan weorud para eadigra gasta, de du nu nehst gesawe 7 25
sceawadest. Ond eac wite du, þa ic sume tid fram de gewat, to
don ic dat dyde, þæt ic wolde geahsian 7 gewitan hwæt be de
beon scolde. Mid dy he da to me cwæð, þæt ic eft to lichoman
hweorfan scolde, pa was ic das swide wundrigende 7 onscuniende
7 me lað wæs. Fordon pe ic lustfullede pære stowe swetnesse 7:30
wlite, de ic dær geseah, 7 eac somod para gemænan 7 eadignesse
brucan, de ic on dære stowe sceawade. 7 ic hwæðre minne lateow

Z
1. 7. -bawenda T. But O. has se·li, fém.enda (erasure of b ?) Ca. se lig-
fæmbenda B. merely sefæmenda : C. had se ligferbærnda (?) 1. 16. wordum T.
n **
worde O. Ca. B. 1. 23. georlice T. geornlice O. Ca. B. 1. 25. eadig.a T.
 ས . 12 . 433

to confess and atone for the sin and wickedness, which they did :
and yet at last, in the very hour of death, fled to repentance, and
so passed away from the body. These however, because they
confessed and repented at the moment of death, attain at dooms-
5 day to the kingdom of heaven ; and many too are aided by the
supplications and prayers of living men, by their alms and fasting,
and above all by celebration of mass, so that they are rescued
before doomsday. And know that the pit which foamed up with
flame and was so foul, which you saw, was the mouth of hell's
10 torment, and whatever man at any time falls into it, is never rescued
from it throughout eternity. Then the place covered with blossoms,
in which you saw that fairest host shining with youth and taking
their delight, is the place in which are received the souls of the
just, who depart from the body while doing good works, and yet
15 are not so perfect as to be led at once into the kingdom of heaven .
Yet all these at doomsday attain to the vision of Christ and the
joy of the heavenly kingdom. For as many as are perfect, in every
word, deed and thought, immediately on issuing from the body
attain to the heavenly kingdom. To its neighbourhood belongs the
20 place, where you heard the sound of the pleasant song accompanying
the odour of sweetness, and saw the brightness of the great light.
But you however, as you are now to return to the body and live
again among men, if you will zealously maintain in righteousness
and innocency your conduct, your character, and your words, then
25 you will receive after death your place of habitation among the
exultant hosts of the blessed spirits, which you but now saw and
beheld last of all. And know also, that when I left you for a
22.
time, I did so to enquire and know what should be done about you."
When he said to me, that I should return again to the body, I
30 marvelled much and detested it, and the thought was hateful. For
I found pleasure in the sweetness and beauty of the place, which I
had seen there, and at the same time in the enjoyment of the
society and bliss of those I saw in the place. And yet I did not

น swide
eadigra O. Ca. B. n T. nu O. Ca. B. 1. 29. as • T. A swide O. Ca.
swyde B.
Ff
 434 LIBER QUINTUS .

ne dorste owiht biddan. Ah nu betwihn das ding, ne wat ic

hwelcre ændebyrdnisse, ic mec nu geseo betwih monnum lifi-
gan.
Đa Čing 7 eac o ero , Še se Dryhtnes wer geseah , nales eallum
monnum æhwer suongrum 7 heora liifes ungemendum sæcgan wolde ; 5
ah ðæm anum, ða de ope for ege tinterigo afyrhte wæron, oðþe
mid hyhte para ecra gefeana 7 eadignesse lustfulledon, þæm he
wolde mid árfæstnesse lufan da þing cydan 7 sæcgan. Was sum
munuc 7 mæssepreost in nehnesse his cetan eardigende, þæs noma
p. 631. wæs Hamgels, 7 pone had mid godum dædum efenlice heold ; se 10
eft in Ibernia þæm ealonde pære ytmestan eldo his lifes in ancor-
setle mid medmicle hlafe 7 cealdan wætre awredede. Pa gelomlice
wæs inngongende to dam ilcan were 7 purh his geornfulle fryge-
nisse fram him geherde hwilice ding de he geseah da he was
lichoman ongerwed . Purh pæs onwriginesse 7 gesegene eac swylce 15
da feoo de we her writon to usse cype becuoman. Sægde he eac
swylce his gesihoe Aldfride dæm cyninge, se was in halgum
gebedum se gelæredesta ; 7 he swa lustlice 7 swa geornfullice was
fram him gehered, pæt he in æt gemyndgade mynster mid his
bene inngedon was 7 inn munuchade bescoren. Ond ponne he se 20
cynng ín ða dælas das londes becom, þæt he gelomlice was to him
gongende pæt he wolde his word 7 his sægene geheran. In dæm
mynstre was in da tid æfestes lifes 7 gemetfæstes liifes abbud 7
mæssepreost delwald haten, se efter on eft æt biscopsetl
efenwyrðum dædum his hades Jære cirican æt Lindesfearona ea sæt 25
7 heold.
Onfæng he se Godes mon ín dæm ilcan mynstre dehle stowe
wunenesse, pæt he dær meahte freolslice in singalum gebedum his
sceppende heran 7 deowigan. Ond fordon seo seolfe stow on ofer dæs
streames was geseted, was his gewuna for dære miclan lufan his 30
lichoman clansunge, þæt he gelomlice inn done stream eode 7 ðær
ín sealmsonge 7 in gebedum stod 7 fæste áwunode hwilum oð

...gefeana 7
1. 7. ecra eadignesse T. ecra gyfena (no more : y on erasure of two : e on
..
erasure) 0. eccra gifena (no more) Ca. ecra gyfena (no more) B. 1. 9.
nehnesse (e before h out of i) 0. nehnesse Ca. neahnesse B. ehtnesse T.
 V. 12 . 435

dare to make any request of my guide. And now amid all this , I
know not how it was so ordered, I see myself now living among
men.' These things and others too, which the man of God saw, he
would not tell to all everywhere, if slothful and careless in their
5 life ; but only to those who either were afraid out of dread of
torment, or rejoiced in hope of eternal joy and bliss, would he make
known and relate these matters out of love of piety. There was a
monk and priest living in the neighbourhood of his hut, whose
name was Hamgels, and whose good deeds were on an equality with
10 his sacred rank ; he afterwards in Ireland, as a hermit, supported
the last years of his life with a little bread and cold water. At
that time he often visited the man, and by his earnest questions
learnt from him what he had seen, when he was divested of the
body. By his disclosures and statements also the few particulars
15 we have set down here came to our knowledge. He also related
his vision to king Aldfrith, who was excellently trained in holy
prayers. And he was heard by him with such pleasure and
earnestness, that at the king's request he was taken into the
aforesaid monastery, and received tonsure as a monk. And

20 whenever the king came into that part of the country, he repeatedly
visited him to hear his words and his story. In this monastery at
that time there was an abbot and priest of pious and modest life,
named Æthelwald, who afterwards filled and held the bishop's seat
of the church at Lindisfarne with a conduct worthy of his rank.
25 In this monastery the man of God received a retired dwelling-place,
that he might there freely obey and serve his Creator in continual
prayer. And because this place lay on the bank of the river, it
was his wont out of great love for bodily purification often to enter
the stream, and there to continue in psalm-singing and in prayer,
30 remaining unmoved, at times standing up to his waist, at times
on 8
1. 14. da B. pa O. Ca. de T. 1. 29. , of.r, (erasure of one) O. ofer T. Ca.
(preceded by erasure of t) B. (followed by ryne after streames). 1. 25. efen-
wyrdum T. -ðum B. de Ca. -ðu (ū out of e) 0.
Ff2
 436 LIBER QUINTUS .

midden sidan, hwilum od done sweoran ; 7 hiene in dæm streame

sæncte 7 defde, swa longe swæ he gesegen wæs þæt he áræfnan
meahte . 7 ponne he donan gongende was to londe, næfre he da his
wætan hræl 7 þa cealdan forlætan wolde, o pat hio eft of his seolfes
lichoman gewermedon 7 adrugedon . Mid y * pe in midwintres tide, 5
ymb hiene flowendum þæm sticcum halfbrocenra iisa, da he seolfa
oft gebræc 7 gescende, pæt he stowe hæfde in dæm streame to
standenne oope hiene to bisancenne , cwædon him men to, þa dæt
gesawon : Hwæt þat is wundor, brodor Dryhthelm-wæs det pæs
weres nama- þæt du swa micle re nesse celes ænge rehte aræfnan 10
meaht : ondswarode he bilwitlice, fordon pe he was bilwitre gleaw-
nisse 7 gemetfæstre gecynde mon, 7 cwæð : Caldran ic geseah. Ond
mid by heo cwædon : Pat is wundor, þæt du swa ræðe forhæfdnisse
7 swa hearde habban wilt : ondswarode he him : Heardran 7
hræ pran ic geseah. 7 he swa od pone dæg his gecenenisse of 15
middangearde mid ungeswencedlice luste heofonlicra goda pone
ealdan lichoman his betwihn dæghwæmlice fæsteno swæncte 7
temede ; 7 he monegum mannum ge in wordum ge on his lifes bisene
on hælo wæs.

XIIII.

p. 632. Ongeæng pissum spelle was sum mon in Mercna londe, þæs 20
Cap . 13.
gesihoe 7 word, nales his drohtung 7 his lif, monegum monna ne
eac him seolfum brycsade. Was in Cænredes tidum Mærcna cynges,
se æfter Ædelrede to rice fæng, sum wær inn læwdum hade ; wæs
cyninges peng. Ac swa swide swa he for ære utran geornfulnesse
weoruldlicra dæda þam cynge wæs liciende, swa swiðe he for dære 25
innlican gemeleasnesse Godes herenisse him seolfum mislicade.
Monede se cyning hiene gelomlice, þæt he ondette 7 bote 7 forlete
his synna 7 mandæda , ær don he mid ofercyme sæmninga deades
ealle tid hreowe 7 bote forlure. Ond peah de he gelomlice monad
wære, hwæðre he forhogode ða hælo word, da pe he hiene lærde, ond 30

1. 5. he T. O. Ca. B. 1. 6. flowendum in T. follows stowe. B. places it

as in text. O. Ca. have flowende in same order as B. 1. 10. micle O. Ca.
ge e
B. miclum T. 1. 15. cannisse T. gecignesse 0 . gecigednesse Ca. gere-
 V. 12 , 13. 437

up to his neck ; and he plunged his body and dived in the river, as
long as it seemed he could endure. And when he came out on land,
he never would lay aside his wet and cold garments, till they grew
warm and dry from his own body. When in mid-winter, as the
5 pieces of half-broken ice flowed about him, which he himself often
broke up and crushed, that he might have a place in the river to
stand, or to plunge himself in, men who saw it said to him : ' Well,
that is a marvel, brother Dryhthelm - this was the man's name-
that you can at all endure such great severity of cold : ' he replied
10 simply, for he was a man of simple sense and modest nature, and
said : 'I have seen colder.' And when they said : 'It is a wonder
that you choose such severe and hard asceticism : ' heanswered them :

'I have seen what is harder and severer.' And so he, up to the day
of his summons from earth, with unwearying desire for heavenly
15 blessings, amid daily fasts, exhausted and tamed the old body ;
and he, by his words and by the example of his life, was the means
of salvation to many.

XIV .

As a contrast to this story, there was a man in the land of

Mercia, whose vision and words, but not his conduct and life,
20 profited many, but not himself. In the time of Cenred, king of
Mercia, who succeeded Ethelred on the throne, there was a lay-
man, who served under the king. And in proportion as he was
acceptable to the king for his external zeal in worldly things, so he
was, because of his inward carelessness in obeying God, unaccept-
25 able to himself. The king often admonished him to confess and
reform and renounce his sin and wickedness, before he should
suddenly by the advent of death lose all time for repentance and
amendment. And though often admonished he disregarded the
words of salvation, with which he warned him, promising at a later

cenesse B. 1. 29. monad (d out of n) T. monad O. Ca. manod B. ge-

monad C.
 438 LIBER QUINTUS .

hiene het æfterfylgendre tide, ponne he eldra wære, his synna hreowe
7 ondetnesse don.
Pa betwih das ding was he gehrinen 7 gestonden sæmninga mid
untrumnesse : 7 sona in bæd gefeol, 7 grymme sar ongon prowian.
Pa was se cyng inngongende to him , forðon he hiene swide lufode, 5
trymede hiene 7 lærde, pæt he da get hreowe 7 ondetnesse dyde his
synna, ær don he swulte. Ondswarode he him 7 ðus cwæð, þæt he
Ja geta nolde his synna ondettan, ac eft, donne he eldra wære 7 of
Jære untrymnesse arisen wære, dy læs him ætwite 7 on edwit sette
his gedoftan, þæt he for ege æs deades da þing dyde, þe he er 10
gesund don nolde. Puhte him seolfum 7 him gesegen wæs, þæt
heardlice 7 stronglice spræce ; ah he was earmlice beswicen mid
deofles searwum , swa swa hit æfter gecyðed wæs . Mid by seo adl
swide weox 7 hefegade, eft se cyng íneode to him hiene to niosianne
7 to lærenue. pa cleopode he sona earmlicre stæfne : Hwat 15
woldest du oope to hwon come du hider ? forðon ne meaht ðu me
nu ofer disne dæg ænige helpe ne geoce gefremman. . Cwæð he se
* cyng : Ne wille du swa sprecan ; geseoh dæt du teola wite.
Cwæð he ; Ne wede ic : ah da wyrrestan ingewitnesse me ic geseo,
7 fore minum eagum hæbbe. Frægn se cyning hiene, hwæt Sæt 20
wære. Cwæð he Ær hwene du come, eode inn on pis hus to me
twegengeonge men fægre 7 beorhte, 7 gesæton æt me, oder æt minum
heafde, oder æt minum fotum. Pa teah heora oder ford fægre boc
7 swide medmicle 7 me sealde to rædanne. Da ic da boc sceawade,
þa mette ic dær awriten ealle da god da ic æfre gedyde. Ah da 25
wæron swide feawe 7 medmicle. Pa noman heo eft da boc æt me
7 me noht to cwædon.

p. 633. Pa com her sæmninga micel weorud werigra gasta, 7 wæron

swide ongrislicum heowe 7 ondwliotan, 7 dis hus utan ymbsætan ;
innan of mæstan dæle sittende gefyldon. Pa was heora sum 30
þeostran onseone 7 þæm oðrum egeslicran, se wæs setles eldest ; 7
me Juhte 7 gesegen wæs, þæt he heora aldor beon scolde. Pa teah
he ford boc ongryslicre gesihde 7 unmættre micelnisse 7 lytesne
h
1. 18. cynn T. cyning O. Ca. B. C. 1. 28. er T. her O. Ca. B. C.
1. 29. 7 on (on at end of line) T. In C. O. Ca. B. heowe 7 on are wanting.
1. 33. lyte.ne (t partly erased) T. lytestne O. Ca. Not in B. lytelne C.
 V. 13. 439

time, when older, to repent and confess his sins. Meantime he

was suddenly attacked and seized with illness : and at once threw
himself on his bed and began to suffer violent pain. Then the
king visited him, for he loved him much, comforted him and
5 warned him to repent and confess his sins before he died. He
answered him and said that he would not yet confess his sins, but
afterwards, when he was older and got up from his sick bed , lest
his companions should rebuke him and make it a reproach, that he
did out of fear of death, what he would not before when in health.
10 He thought, and it seemed to him, that he spoke boldly and bravely ;
but he was miserably deceived by the wiles of the devil, as it was
afterwards proved. When the illness increased much and grew
severe, the king again went to him to visit and to warn him. Then
at once he cried in a piteous voice : 'What would you have, or why
15 did you come here ? for after this day you cannot give me any help
or aid .' The king said : ' Do not speak so ; see that you are in your
senses.' He said : ' I am not mad ; but I see for myself and have

before my eyes the most dreadful consciousness.' The king asked

him what that was. He said : ' A little before you came, there came
20 in to me in this house two young men fair and bright, and sat
down by me, one at my head, the other at my feet. Then one of
them drew out a fair but very small book and gave it to me to
read. And when I looked on the book, I found written there all

the good that ever I did. But these acts were very few and slight.
25 Then they took back the book from me and said nothing to me.
Then came here suddenly a great host of accursed spirits, and were
of very dreadful shape and appearance. And they encompassed
this house without ; and the greater part sat down within and filled
it. One of them there was of dark appearance and more terrible
30 than the rest, who was chief of those that sat ; and it seemed and
appeared to me, that he was their head. Then he drew forth a
book of dreadful appearance and monstrous size, and almost intoler-
440 LIBER QUINTUS .

unabeorendlic byrdenne ; sealde da anum his geferena 7 heht me

beran to rædanne. Mid dy ic da pa boc rædde, da gemette ic on
hiere sweartum stafum 7 atolecum sweotole awritene eall da man
de ic æfre gefremede ; 7 nales det an pæet ic on weorce 7 on worde,
7 eac hwylce pæt ic on pæm medmestan gedrohte gesyngode, 5
ealle da wæron dær on awritene. 7 da cwæð se aldor para * wergra
gasta to dam fægran monnum 7 dam beorhtan de me at sæton :
To hwon sitton ge her ? Hwæt git cuðlice witon, þæt pis is ure
mon. Ondswaredon heo : Soo ge sæcgað ; ah onfoð hiene 7 ín
heapunge eowerre niderunge gelædað. Dy cwæde heo ínstæpe 10
from minre gesihde geweoton. Ond pa wæron arisende twegen
Jara atolra gasta ; hæfdon hondseax on heora hondum ; slogon
mec da, oder in heafod, oder in fet. 7 da wunda nu mid micle
sare tintrego togædre swicað ín da innode mines lichoman ; 7 sona
das de heo togædre cumad, ponne swelte ic : 7 da dioflu gearwe 15
bidað, hwonne heo mec gegrypen 7 to helle locum gelæde.
Đa he ða se earma nan pus mid órmodnisse spræcende wg, Ya
swealt he sona æfter on his synnum. Ond pa hreowe ða he to medmi-
celre tide mid forgifnisse wæstme forælde doan, þa he witum
underðeoded butan wæstme in ecnesse doỡ. Ond þæt he cwæð, 20
þæt he gesawe ungelice bec him berene bion purh da godan gastas
oope purh da galan, forðon þæt Jurh da uplican stihtunge Godes
ælmihtiges geworden wæs, þat we gemunden * þætte usse dæde 7
usse geðohtas, nales on piosne wind in idelnesse toflowenne, ah to
dome pæs hean deman ealle gehaldene beon, 7 us eft in ende 25
æteowde beon, oðpe ðurh da freondlican ænglas ope ðurh da
feondas . Pæt he cwæð, þæt hie ærest da fægran boc 7 ða
hwitan englas for brohton, 7 æfter pon deofol pa swear-
tan, 7 hi pa englas swide medmicle ond pas unmætan, þæt
is to ongeotene, pæt he in Jære ærestan ældo his lifes 30
hwelchwugu god dede, da he hwæðre in midfeorum life ealle durh

pæm
1. 1. geferena C. O. Ca. B. geferum T. 1. 5. on . T. onþam O. onþã Ca.
on dam B. inpæm C. 1. 6. werga T. werigra O. Ca (wé) . B. C. 1. 13.

mic.l. (erasure of e before and œ after 1) T. micle O. Ca. C. miclum B.

g
1. 18. on O. Ca. B. Not in T. 1. 19. foælde T. forylde O. Ca. yldinge B.
 V. 13. 441

able burden ; this he gave to one of his companions and bid him
bring it to me to read. Then as I read the book, I found in it,
written clearly in black and terrible letters, all the sins that I ever
committed ; and not only all my transgressions in deed and in word,
5 but even in my slightest thought, were every one written there.
Then said the head of the accursed spirits to the fair and bright
men who sat by me : " Why do you sit here ? Surely you know well
that this is our man ? " They answered : " You speak the truth ; but
take him and carry him away to fill up the measure of your dam-
10 nation." With these words they at once vanished from my sight.
Then rose up two of the dreadful spirits, having daggers in their
hands ; and they smote me, one in the head and the other in the
feet. And the wounds now with great pain and torment are pene-
trating together into the inner parts of my body, and as soon as
15 they unite I shall die ; and the devils are waiting, ready for the time
to seize me and carry me to hell prison.' When the wretched man
had spoken thus in despair, he died soon after in his sins. And the
repentance, which he had delayed to practise for a short time
with fruits of forgiveness, he now carries out in eternity without
20 fruit and subject to punishment. And whereas he said that he saw
books of unequal size brought to him by the good spirits or the
evil, this was done by the divine dispensation of God Almighty,
that we might remember that our deeds and thoughts do not flow
away idly into the wind, but are all reserved for the judgment of
25 the supreme judge, and are shown to us afterwards at the end,
either by the friendly angels or by our enemies. Whereas he said
that the angels brought forth first the fair and white book, and after
that devils the black book, and the angels a very small and the
others a monstrous one, by this we are to understand that he did
30 some good in the first years of his life, which in middle age he

1. 23. þat we T. O. Ca. B. 1. 24. disne T. pisne Ca. B. þysne O. 1. 25 .

beon O. Ca. B. beod T. 1. 28. The words for brohton to englas are not in T.
As in text O. (forðbrohte) ; and Ca. (-brohton). In B. the passage afterforð-
brohton runs : 7 after pon pa deofol sweartan englas brohton swiðe únmæte
bóc p is etc.
 442 LIBER QUINTUS .

his unrihte dæde adeostrade 7 fordilegade. Pær he da wid pon da

gedwolan his cneohthade gereccan gemde in giguðhade 7 da purh
gode dæde from Godes eagum ahwerfan, þonne meahte he ðara
rime gedeoded bion, be dam se sealmscop cwæd : Beati quorum
remisse sunt, et cetera. Pa beoð eadge þe heora wonnesse forlætne 5
p. 634. beoð 7 þara þe synna bewrigene beoð. pis spell ic leornade fram
Pehthelme Sæm arwyrðan biscope, ond ic hit for pære hælo, de
hit leornade oope geherde, hluttorlice awrat 7 sægde.

XV.

Cap. 14. Ic * seolfa cuðe sumne brodar, done ic wolde dat ic næfre cude,
Jæs noman ic eac swylce genemnan mæg, gif ðæt owiht brycia. 10
Was he geseted in æðelum mynstre, ah he hwæðre unæðelice his
lif lifde. Was he lomlice fram dam broðrum þread 7 dæm
ealdormonnum þære stowe ; 7 hie hiene monedon 7 lærdon þæt he
his life gecerde to clænsnunge his synna. 7 deah de he geheran
ne wolde, hwæðre he geðyldelice was from him eallum aræfned for 15
nedþearfe his utran weorca ; wæs he syndryglice in smiðcræfte wæl
gelæred. Diode he swiðe druncennisse 7 mongum oðrum unalefed-
nessum dæs slæcran lifes ; ond he ma gewunade in his smiðþan
dæges 7 nihtas sittan 7 licgan, ponne he wolde on cirican syngan 7
gebiddan 7 mid dæm oðrum broðrum lifes word 7 godcunde lare 20
geheran. Ponne him gelomp pat sume men gewuniao cweðan :
Se de ne wile cirican duru wilsumlice geeadmoded ingongan, se
sceal nede in helle duru unwillsumlice geniperad gelæded beon.
Pa was se mon geslegen 7 gestonden hefigre adle ; 7 seo weox 7
hefigade, odoæt he was to pam ytemestan dæge gelæded. Pa cygde 25
he 7 het pa bropor him to. 7 he swide gnorniende 7 geniðredum
gelic ongan him secgan, þæt he gesawe helle opene 7 Satanan þone
ealdan feond moncynnes besencedne on pam grundum helle tin-
treges. 7 cwæð, þat he þær eac gesawe Caiphan pone ealdorman
8e
1. 4. Nam. T. Ban se O. đã se Ca. Nam se B. 1. 5. be Ca. pa pe B.
da T. pa O. 1. 6. T. O. B. put be after synna. Not in Ca. B. has
þe hi. 1. 9. leofa T. sylfa O. Ca. B. sumne O. Ca. B. sume T. 1. 13.
7 hie B. 7 hi O. 7 bi Ca. hie 7 T. 1. 21. O. Ca. B. pæt he T.
 V. 13 , 14. 443

obscured and blotted out completely by his unrighteous deeds. If

he then on the contrary had been careful to correct the errors of
his boyhood in youth and divert them from the sight of God by
good deeds, then he might have been added to the number of those
5 of whom the psalmist says : ' Beati quorum remissae sunt, et cetera,'
Blessed are they whose transgressions are pardoned and whose sins
are covered. I heard this story from the venerable bishop Peht-
helm, and I have written it down and related it plainly for the
saving of those, who should read or hear it.

XV.

10 I myself know a brother whom I should be glad never to have

known, whose name too I can mention, if it be any advantage.
He was placed in a noble monastery, but yet he passed his life
ignobly. He was often rebuked by the brethren and the chief men
of the place, who admonished and warned him to change his life
15 and purge away his sins. And though he refused to listen, still he
was tolerated by all with patience, from need of his practical work,
as he was specially well-trained in the craft of a smith. He was
very much devoted to drunkenness and many other licences of
a loose life ; and it was more his habit to sit or lie day and night
20 in his smithy, than to join in song and prayer at church, and listen
to the word of life and heavenly teaching among the other brethren.
Then it befell him, as some are wont to say : ' He that will not volun-
tarily and humbly enter the church door, shall of necessity against
his will be led as one of the damned in at hell's door.' Then was
25 the man stricken and afflicted with severe illness ; and it increased
and grew worse, till he was brought to the last day. Then he called
and summoned the brethren in to him. And he very sorrowfully,
and like to one of the damned, began to tell them that he saw
hell open, and Satan, the old enemy of mankind, sunk in the depths
30 of hell's torment. And he said that he saw also there Caiaphas,

?pætte. 1. 23. unwillsümlice T. ends here. Text from 0. 1. 24. geslegen

ed
7 geslegen (7 g. struck through) 0. geslegen Ca. B. 1. 25. gelæd (letter
to
erased) 0. gelæded Ca. B. 1. 26. hi, O. hi to Ca. him to B. 1. 28.
tintreges (first e out of a) O. tintreges Ca. -gan B.
 444 LIBER QUINTUS .

para sacerda mid þam oprum, þa þe Drihten Crist ofslogon, bi

him wrecendum ligum gesealdne beon. In para neaweste, cwæð
he, wa me earmum, ic geseo me stowe gegearwade beon ecre
forlorenesse. Pa pa bropor pis gehyrdon, pa ongunnun hi hine
geornlice trymman 7 læran, þæt he pa gena on lichaman geseted his 5
synna hreowe 7 andetnesse dyde. Andswarode he mid ormod-
nesse : Nis me nu, cwæð he, tiid min lif to onwendanne, mid þy ic sylfa
geseo minne dom gedemedne beon. Pa he pa pus spræc, pa he butan
hælo wegnyste of worulde gewat : 7 his lichama was bebyriged on
pam ytemestan stowum þæs mynstres. 7 nænig mon dorste for 10
hine ne sealmas ne mæssan singan ne furþum for hine gebiddan. Eala
mid hu micle gesceade God todælde betwyh leoht 7 þystro. Se
æresta martyr se eadiga Stephanus, þa he was deað þrowiende
for soðfæstnesse, geseah he heofonas opene, geseah he Godes
wuldur 7 pone Hælend standende Godes on på swiðran. 7 15

pider þe he sylfa toweard was æfter deape, pider he his eagan

sende ær his deade, þat he þy blipelicor prowade. 7 wið don þes
p. 635. smið þæs bystran modes 7 dæde, pa he his deape nealæcte, geseah
helle tintrego opene, geseah he deofles niprunge 7 his æfter-
fylgendra. Geseah he eac swylce his sylfes ungesælige stowe 7 20
carcern betwyh swylce, pat he by earmlicor georwenedre hælo her
nu forwurde ; ac lifigendum mannum, þe pas ping ongeton, he forlet
hælo intingan mid his forlorenesse. Was pis niwan geworden on
Beornica mægpe, 7 feor 7 wide gemæred ; 7 he monige forð acigde
butan yldincge pot hi heora mandada hreowe dydon, pœt ic 25
eac swylce wisce forð swa on leornunge ura stafa.

1. 1. p.ara (erasure of one) O. para Ca. B. 1. 2. bi him wrecendum

ligum (first i out of e ; re on erasure ; last i on erasure) O. bi hi wrecendu
me
ligū Ca. be him wrecendum legum B. 1. 3. geseo, 0. geseo me Ca. B.
1. 6. dyde to ormodnesse (omitted originally and inserted above line) 0. In
Ca. (-nysse). B. (inserts pa after dyde). 1. 10. mon to singan between
lines. ne seal ; ne mæs ; ne furfum on three spaces of erasure O. In Ca. ne
is inserted after mon and not after hine ; also sæalmas ; furðon. In B. mann
w
ne ; hine sealmas ; furðon. 1. 16. toweard , ęs O. toweard was Ca. B.
 V. 14. 445

the chief of the priests, with the others who slew the Lord
Christ, given over with him to the avenging flames. ' And
in their neighbourhood,' said he, ' woe is me, unhappy man, I see
a place of eternal perdition prepared for me.' When the brethren
5 heard this they began earnestly to encourage and warn him to
repent and confess his sins, while still remaining in the body. He
answered in despair : ' There is not now,' said he, ' time for me to
change my life, now that I myself see my doom to be pronounced.
Having thus spoken he departed from the world without the
10 viaticum ; and his body was buried at the farthest end of the
monastery. And no man durst sing psalms or mass for him, nor
even pray for him. Lo, with what distinction God has divided the

light from the darkness ! The first martyr the blessed Stephen,
when suffering death for the truth, saw the heavens open, saw
15 God's glory and the Saviour standing on God's right hand. And
where he himself was to come after death, there he directed his
eyes before death, that he might suffer the more cheerfully. But
on the contrary, this smith of dark spirit and dark deeds, when he
came near death, saw hell's torment open, saw the damnation of
20 the devil and his followers. He saw also the place of his own un-
happiness and his prison among such, so that he should perish the
more miserably, even in this life despairing of salvation ; but by
his perdition he left for the living, who heard of it, a motive for
salvation. This lately took place in the province of Bernicia, and
25 was celebrated far and wide ; and he stirred up many to repent
their sins without delay, the thing which I also desire from this
time on likewise from the reading of our account.

1. 17. he by blipelicor († he by blip struck through, elicor left) O. Phe di

blipelicor Ca. phe þe bliðelicor (first i on erasure) B. pe, O. dés Ca. pe se
(s on erasure) B. 1. 18. 7 dæde (æ on erasure) 0. 7 dæde Ca. andetnesse
B. 1. 21. .carcern (erasure of one) 0. carcern Ca. racetan B. 1. 22.
ni
forwyrde (the lower part of y erased) O. wurde Ca. B. 1. 25. yldincgé >
dy
(ge on erasure) O. yldingep hi Ca. yldinge (only) B. don O. dydon Ca.
don B. 1. 26. swa C. sie O. sy Ca. B.
 446 LIBER QUINTUS .

XVI.

Cap. 18. Da wæs æfter seofon hund wintra 7 fif wintrum æfter pære
Dryhtenlican menniscnesse pot Ealdfrið Norpanhymbra cyningforð-
ferde ymb twentig wintra his rices, butan an ne was pa gena gefylled.
Feng to his rice Osred his sunu ; wæs eahtawintre cniht, 7 þæt
rice he hæfde endleofan winter. On þysses cyninges rice forweardum 5
forðferde Hædde Westseaxna bysceop 7 to þam heofoulican life
ferde. Was he god se wer 7 rihtwis ; 7 þæt bysceoplice lif ge lare ma
beeode on lufan gastlicra mægena ponne he on leornunge gelæred
wære. Be pam bysceope oft gewunelice sæde Pehthelm se arwyrða
bysceop, se mid Ealdhelme his æfterfylgende micle tid pa gena munuc 10
7 diacon wæs , þat on pære stowe, pe se bysceop forðfered was, fore
geearnunge his halignesse monig wundurhælo gefremed wæron.
Ond þære mægðe men gewunelice pa moldan namon for adlum
7 untrumnessum 7 on wæter sendon ; 7 mid byrinesse oððe
strægdnesse pæs wæteres monigum untrumum ge monnum ge 15
neatum to hælo gelomp . 7 for þære gelomlican onwegalædnesse
þære halgan moldan þat þær was micel seað geworden. Pa he pa
forðfered wæs, þa was se bysceopdom pare mægðe on twa bisceop-
scire todæled . Oper was seald Daniele, pa he gen to dæge receð,
oðer Ealdhelme, þære he feower ger fromlice fore was. Weron hi 20
begen on ciriclicum wisum ge on wisdome haligra gewrita geniht-
sumlice gelæred. Pat is to tacne, þæt Ealdhelm, mid þy he þa gena
wæs mæssepreost 7 abbud þæs mynstres pe hi nemnao Maldulfes
burgh, awrat he apele boc his peode mid sinopes bebode wið
p. 636. Brytta gedwolan, pa hi rihte Eastran ne weorpedon on heora tide, ge 25
eac oper monig, pa pe hi pære cyriclican clænnesse 7 sibbe widerword
n
1. 3. a,ne O. án ne Ca. an ... næs B. 1. 4. -wintre (e on erasure) 0.
-tre B. -tra Ca. 1.6 . hædde (first d on erasure) O. hædde Ca. B. 1. 10. eald.-
on
elme (h not fully erased) 0. eadhelme Ca. aldelme B. 1. 12. ; þære
(erasure of 7) 0. on pære Ca. 7 ðære B. 1. 13. adlum (ad on erasure) 0.
adlum Ca. B. 1. 15. untrumum (mum on erasure) 0. untrumum Ca. B.
1. 16. gelomlican B. -cum O. Ca. 1. 18. from -dom to scire between lines O.
-dóm dære mægðe on twa bscíre Ca. -dóm þære mægðe on twa bisscopscíra B.
1. 19. ober (e by erasure out of a) O. oder Ca. ober B. 1. 20. eald.elme
 V. 18. 447

XVI.

Then after 705 years subsequent to our Lord's incarnation,

Alhfrith, king of Northumbria, died after a reign of twenty
years, one of which however was not complete. His son Osred
succeeded to the throne, being an eight-year-old child, and he filled
5 the throne for eleven years. In the beginning of this king's reign
Hædde, bishop of Wessex, died and departed to the heavenly life.
He was a good and just man ; and carried on the life and teaching
of a bishop, aided by his love of spiritual virtues, more than by the
training he had received from study. As to this bishop it was
10 generally repeated by the venerable bishop Pehthelm, who, along
with his successor Aldhelm, was for a long time still monk and
deacon, that at the place, where the bishop died, many miracles
were wrought, owing to the merits of his sanctity. And the
men of the province commonly took the dust, as a cure for disease and
15 disorders, and put it into water ; and when the water was tasted
or sprinkled, it brought health to many who were ill, both men
and animals. And owing to the frequent removal of the holy dust
a great pit was formed there. After his death the episcopate of
the province was divided into two sees. One was given to Daniel,
20 which he still directs, the other to Aldhelm, over which he presided
with energy for four years. Both were abundantly instructed in
ecclesiastical matters and in knowledge of the holy Scripture.
The proof is that Aldhelm, while still priest and abbot of the
monastery called Malmesbury, wrote, by order of a synod of his
25 people, an excellent book against the error of the Britons, as they
did not celebrate the correct Easter in its season, and did much
besides opposed to the purity and peace of the church . And by
the reading of these books he drew over and brought to the correct
0
(h erased) O. ealdelme Ca. aldelme B. fewer O. feower Ca. fewer B.
1. 22. eald.elm (erasure of h) O. ealdelm Ca. aldelm B. 1. 23. mynstres
n
Ca. B. myntres O. 1. 24. si,opes (8 on erasure ; i out of e) O. sinoðæs
об ↑
Ca. seon,es B. 1. 25. east,an O. eastran Ca. eastron B. 1. 26. wider-
w,ard (a out of o) 0. widerweard Ca. widerword B
 448 LIBER QUINTUS.

dydon. 7 he monige para Brytta þe Westsexum underðeodde

weron to rihtre weorpunge pære Dryhtenlican Eastrana mid pa
leornunge þyssa boca geteah 7 gelædde. Wrat he eác heah bóc
7 weorðlice de uirginitate, 7 þa on bysene Sedulius twifealde weorce
meterfersum asang 7 *geradre spræce gesette. Wrat he eac swylce 5
moni oper gewrito. Was he se wer æghwonan se gelæredesta;
was he ge on wordum hluttor 7 scinende ge eac on gelærednesse
gewrito ge freora ge cyriclicra to wundrienne. pa he pa
forðferde, pa onfeng fore hine pone bysceophad Forðhere, se gén
oỡ to dæge, cwad se writere , lifigende is. Was se mon eac on 10
halgum gewritum wel gelæred. Pyssum monnum pone bysceophad
peniendum was on seonope geseted 7 gedemed, pat Suoseaxna
mægðsceolde habban agenne bysceop 7 bysceopsetl on heora leodum.
Belumpun hi ær to Wintanceastre bysceopscire, pære pe Daniel se
bysceop fore was . Pa was him to bysceope ærest gehalgad Eadbyrht, 15
se was abbud þæs mynstres pære eadigan gemynde Willfrides bys-
ceopes, pat is nemned Selesea. Pa se forferde, pa feng to
þære bysceoppenunge Eolla : 7 he þa æfter únmanegum gearum of
þyssum leohte alæded was. 7 se bysceophad þær syððan fela gear
blon. 20
XVII.

Cap. 19. Was by feorðan geare Osredes rices pat Cenred, se Myrcna
rice æpelice sume tide fore wæs, 7 micle æþelicor pot anweald
pæs rices forlet. Forpon he com to Rome, 7 þær scire onfeng 7
munuc was geworden on Constantines tidum þæs papan ; 7 æt þara
apostola stowe on gebedum 7 on fæstenum 7 on ælmesdædum 25
awunade of done ytemestan dæg. Pa feng æfter him to Myrcna
rice Ceollred Epelredes sunu, se ær þam Cynrede pat ylce rice
hæfde. Com eac swylce mid hine to Rome Sigeheres sunu East-
a
1. 1. by,tta 0. brytta Ca. B. 1. 2. eastran, O. eastrana Ca. eastrena
B. 1. 3. geteah to uirginitate not in O. Ca. C. Text B. 1. 4. twifealde (i on
erasure) O. twi- Ca. twy- B. 1. 5. gelær, dre (the second r on erasure) O.
gelæredre Ca. árædde 7 B. [gerædre] Smith from C. ? cp. p. 366. 2. 1.6. ægh-
an
won, O. aghwanon Ca. B. 1. 7. wordum (o on erasure) O. wordum
13
Ca. B. 1. 12. fenigendum B. peniende O. Ca. 1. 13. age,ne O. agenne
 V. 18, 19. 449

observance of the Dominical Easter many of the Britons who were

subject to Wessex . He wrote also a noble and excellent book De
Virginitate, and this, following the example of Sedulius, in a double
form, composing it in metre and also drawing it up in prose. He
5 composed also many other writings. He was in every way a man
of perfect scholarship ; he was clear and brilliant in style, as he was
admirable for the scholarship of his writings, both profane and
ecclesiastical. On his death Forthhere succeeded him in the
episcopate, who, says the writer, is still alive at this day. This
10 man also was well instructed in the Holy Scriptures . While these
men were discharging episcopal duties, it was determined and
decreed in a synod , that the province of the South Saxons should
have a bishop of their own, and an episcopal seat among their
people. They had formerly belonged to the diocese of Winchester,
15 which bishop Daniel ruled over. Then Eadberht was first conse-
crated as their bishop, who was abbot of the monastery of bishop
Wilfrid, of blessed memory, which is called Selsey. On his death
Eolla succeeded to the episcopal office, and after a few years was
carried away from this world. And the bishopric was vacant for
20 many years after.
XVII .

In the fourth year of the reign of Osred , Cenred, who for some
time nobly ruled over the realm of Mercia, much more nobly re-
signed the authority over his kingdom. For he went to Rome and
there received the tonsure, and became a monk in the time of pope
25 Constantine ; and continued in the home of the apostles, praying
and fasting and giving alms, up to his last day. He was succeeded
on the throne of Mercia by Ceollred, son of Æthelred , who had
occupied the throne before Cenred. Cenred was accompanied to
Rome by a son of Sigeheri, king of the East Saxons, already men-

Ca. ænne B. 7 bb ( =bysceop) O. in margin. 7 abb Ca. 7 bisceop B.

1. 18. únmanegū В. moni.gum (erasure of n) O. monigum Ca. 1. 21. myr-
æt
cna (y on erasure) O. myrcna Ca. Not in B. 1. 24. 7. (erasure of one)
de nu
O. 7 at Ca. B. 1. 27. cyn.re, (erasure of one) O. cenrede Ca. B. 1. 28. su,
0. sunu Ca. B.
& g
 450 LIBER QUINTUS.

seaxna cyninges, þæs we beforan gemyngedon, þæs nama wæs Offa.

Was he on iugupe mon willsumlicre yldo 7 fægernesse, 7 ealre his
peode leof heora rice to habbanne 7 to healdenne. Was he gelicre
willsumnesse modes Cenrede pam cyninge : forlet he his wif 7 land
7 magas 7 epel for Cristes lufan 7 for his godspelle, þat he on 5
þyssum life hundteontigfealdlice mede onfenge 7 on þære toweardan
weorolde ecce lif. 7 he, sona þæs þe he to Rome com to pam halgum
stowum, scyre onfeng, 7 on munuchade his lif wæs endiende, 7 to
gesyhpe para eadigra apostola on heofonum becom, pa he lange
mid his mode sohte 7 willnade. 10
pa þy ylcan gere, pe pas cyningas Breotone forletan, se heah
bysceop 7 se halga Willfrið æfter fif 7 feowertigum wintra þæs
onfongenan bysceophades pone ytemestan dæg tynde 7 forðferde on
þære mægpe, seo is gecyged Inundalum. 7 his lichama was on
cyste gedon 7 was gelæded nord ofer gemære on his mynster, 15
p. 637. þe is cweden Onhripum, 7 æfter gerisenre are swa mycelum
bysceope on Sce Petres cyricean þæs apostoles was bebyriged.
Be þysses bysceopes lifes stealle foreweardum we sculon feaum
wordum gemyngian, þa þe be him gedon wæron. Mid by he was
godre gleaunesse cniht 7 he þa yldo mid peawum oferstigende, 20
7 he swa gemetfæstlice 7 swa ymbsceawiendlice hine sylfne on
eallum þingum beheold , þæt he be gewyrhtum fram his ealdor-
mannum was lufad 7 arweorðad, swa swa an of him sylfum. Þa
he geweaxen was 7 hæfde feowertyne winter, pa he mynsterlif þam
woruldlife forbær 7 gelufade. Pæs
Pas pe he pat pa his fæder sæde, 25
forpon his moder ær for ferde, he pa lustlice his willan 7 his heofon-
licum lustum geþafade 7 gefultumade 7 hine het 7 lærde, þæt he
þam halwendan ongynnessum georne gefeole. Pa com he hrape
to Lindesfarena ea, 7 hine sylfne þær on peowdom gesealde para
muneca. 7 he geornlice pa ongan leornian 7 don pa þe he 30

1. 3. habbanne (first a out of æ) O. habbanne Ca. hæbbenne B. gelicre B.

gerislicre O. Ca. 1. 4. cen.rede (erasure of one) 0. cenrede Ca. B. 1. 5.
ol
for. (erasure of e) O. for Ca. B. 1. 7. weor,de O. worulde Ca. B.
1. 8. mun,c- 0. munuc- Ca. múnuc- B. 1. 14. inundalu (i on erasure) 0.
inundalu Ca. -lum B. 1. 17. bysceope. (erasure of one) 0. ₺ Ca. biscope
B. All MSS. have on (ón B.). 1. 18. pysses (y on erasure of two) 0.
 V. 19. 451

tioned, whose name was Offa. He was in his youth, amiable from
his years and beauty, and all his people desired that he should
succeed and fill the throne. But he had the same devoutness of
spirit as king Cenred : he forsook wife, and land, and kindred, and
5 country, for love of Christ and for his gospel, that he might in this
life receive reward a hundred-fold, and in the world to come life
everlasting. As soon as he came to the holy places at Rome, he
received the tonsure, and ended his life as a monk, and attained to
the vision of the blessed apostles in heaven, which he had long
10 sought and desired in his mind. In the same year in which the
kings left Britain, the great bishop, holy Wilfrid, forty-five years
after he received the episcopate, closed his last days and died in
the district, which is called Oundle. And his body was put in
a coffin and carried north over the border, to his monastery which
15 is called Ripon, and with the honour due to so great a bishop
was buried in the church of the apostle St. Peter. With regard to
the early circumstances of this bishop's life, we shall mention in
a few words what befell him. As he was a boy of good abilities
and of a character beyond his years , and maintained a modest and
20 circumspect behaviour in all points, he was deservedly loved by his
superiors, and respected as if one of themselves. As he grew up,
at the age of fourteen, he preferred and loved monastic life to a life
in the world. On declaring this to his father, for his mother had
died previously, he readily assented to and supported his desire
25 and his heavenward aspirations, directing and warning him ear-
nestly to pursue the path of salvation. Then without delay he
went to Lindisfarne, and placed himself in service there with the
monks. And he began zealously to study and to carry out what
7
pisses Ca. pyses B. 1. 20. g,eauness O. gleaunesse Ca. gleawnesse B.
1. 22. gewyrhtu (y on erasure) 0. gewyrhtū Ca. -tum B. 1. 24. ge-
20088 ย
weaxen " 0. geweaxen was Ca. B. feowert.ne winte, (erasure of i) 0 .
XIIII wint Ca. feowertyne winter B. 1. 28. gefeole (ole on erasure) 0.
j
gefeole Ca. befulge B. 1. 30. geo,nlice O. geornlice Ca. B.
G g 2
452 LIBER QUINTUS.

ongeat patte belumpun to pære mynsterlican clansunge 7 arfæst-

nesse ; 7 forpon pe he was scearpre gleaunesse, he hrædlice his
sealmas geleornade 7 eac fela opra boca. Ne was he hwæpere pa
gena bescoren, ac hwæþere he pam, pa þe on scire maran wæron,
on þam mægenum eaðmodnesse 7 hyrsumnesse nohte pon læssa ne 5
gneora wæs. Forþon he ge fram þam witum ge fram his efeneal-
dum mid rihtre lufan lufad was. Mid þy he pa sum ger on þam
mynstre Gode peowode, pa onget he se giunga sticcemælum gleawes
modes, þat þæt ne was fullfremed weg gastlicra mægena, þe him
fram Scottum sæd 7 seald was. Pohte pa 7 foresette on his mode 10
þat he wolde cuman to Rome 7 þær geseon, hwylce cyriclice peawas
odde mynsterpeawas at pam apostolican setle healdene wæron.
Mid by he pa pam broprum þæt sæde, pa heredon hi his gemynd
7 his foresetenesse 7 hine sponon 7 lærdon, þat he pa fore
purhtuge, pe he on his mode gelufad hæfde. 7 he hrape com to 15
Eanflæde pære cwene, forpon he was hire cuð 7 mid hire gepeahte
7 fultume on pat foresprecene mynster gedon 7 gepeoded wæs .
Sægde hire pa his lust 7 willan, þat his lufu wære, þat he pa
stowe neosode 7 gesohte para eadigra apostola. Was heo seo cwen
sona lustfulliende pære godan foresetenesse 7 willan þæs iungan. 20
Sende him pa to Cent to Ercenbyrhte pam cyninge, se was
hyre eames sunu ; bæd pot he hine arwurdlice to Rome onsende.
Pære tide þær on Cent heold Honorius pone arcebysceophad,
se was an of discipulum þæs eadigan papan Scē Gregorii. Wæs
se wer on cyrclicum wisum healice ontimbred 7 gelæred . Mid þy 25
he pa se iunga sum fæc þær wuniende was mid hine, he pa cwices
modes geornlice leornade þa þing, þe he þær geseah 7 sceawode.
Com pider eac swylce on pa sylfan tid oper iung man : wæs his
nama Bysceop , 7 his freo nama Benedictus ; was he of æpelre strynde
Angellpeode : pæs we beforan gemyngodon. Wolde he eac swylce 30
Rome gesecean. Pysses monnes geferscype se cyning þa Willfrið

1. 2. scea, pre O. scearpre Ca. scearpere B. 1. 5. 7 hyrsūmness (7 hyr

on erasure) 0. 7 hyrsuñesse Ca. 7 hyrsumnesse B. ne gneðra (g on erasure)
wo
0. ne gnedra B. Not in Ca. 1. 8. peo,de (erasure of d) O. peowode Ca.
Z
B. 1. 10. sea,d O. seald Ca. B. 1. 15. hrape com (all but h on erasure)
 V. 19. 453

he knew to belong to monastic purity and religion ; and as he was

possessed of an acute understanding, he quickly learnt his psalms
and many other books. However he was not yet tonsured, but
still, in the virtues of humility and obedience, he was not lower or
5 inferior to those who were his superiors in the tonsure. For this
reason he was sincerely beloved by the elders as well as by those
of his own age. After serving God for some years in the monastery,
being a youth of sagacity, he gradually perceived that this was not
the perfect way of spiritual virtues, which was set forth and laid
10 down for him by the Scots. Then he thought and purposed in his
mind to visit Rome, and see there what ecclesiastical or monastic
usages were observed at the apostolic seat. On repeating this to
the brethren, they praised his thought and purpose, urging him and
warning him to carry out the journey, which he desired in his heart.
15 And he quickly went to queen Eanflaed, for he was known to her,
and had been brought in and attached to the aforesaid monastery
by her advice and aid. Then he told her his desire and wish, that
he longed to go and visit the home of the blessed apostles. The
queen at once rejoiced in the good intent and desire of the youth.
20 She sent him then to king Erconberht in Kent, who was her
uncle's son, begging that he would forward him honourably to
Rome. At that time Honorius was archbishop in Kent, being

one of the disciples of the blessed pope St. Gregory, a man

excellently instructed and trained in ecclesiastical matters. When
25 the youth had been staying some time with him, with quick in-
telligence he studied earnestly all he saw and observed. At the same
time also came there another young man, named Biscop and sur-
named Benedict, of a noble English family, whom we have already
mentioned. He also desired to visit Rome. Then the king attached
no
O. hrade cóm Ca. B. 1. 17. foresprece, O. foresprecene Ca. B. 1. 19.
on
gesohte (s on erasure) 0. gesonte Ca. B. 1. 23. þær, O. dær on Ca. da in
of C
B. 1. 24. an, O. án ofCa. B. 1. 25. cyr,licum O. cyriclicum Ca. B.
1. 26. mid..hine (erasure of two) O. mid hine Ca. mid him B.
 454 LIBER QUINTUS.

gepeodde 7 him bebead, þat he hine to Rome gelædde. Mid þy hí

pa to Lugdunum coman, þa was Willfrið þær gehæfd fram Dalfino
þære ceastre bysceope : Eenedictus pone ongunnenan siðfæt fram-
lice to Rome geferde. Pa ongan se bysceop lustfullian þæs iungan
snytro 7 his wislicra worda 7 his anwlitan fægernesse 7 glædnesse 5
his dæda 7 gestæðpinesse his geþohta. 7 he him forðon eall þa
p. 638. þingc genihtsumlice geaf 7 sealde, pe he pearfe hæfde mid his ge-
ferum, swa lange swa hi mid him wæron : 7 him eac swylce
gebead, pat he him wolde syllan to healdanne 7 to reccanne
mycelne dæl Gallia rices, 7 him wolde his brodor dohtor fæmnan 10
to wife gesyllan, 7 hine symble on bearnlufan habban wolde. pa
pancode he him geornlice pære ærfæstnesse, pe he him forgifen
hæfde, mid þy he allpeodig was : 7 him andswarode, þæt he oðer lif
ma cure 7 lufade ponne pot woruldlif, 7 he forpon his epelturf
forlet 7 to Rome feran ongunne. Pa he pa se bysceop þæt gehyrde, 15
pa sende he hine mid la teowe to Rome 7 hine pider wel ges-
cyrpte : 7 hine het, ponne he eft to his edle hweorfan wolde, þæt he
to him come pot he hine well ham gescyrpte. Pa com he to Rome,
7 þær in gebedum 7 on smeaunge cyriclicra wisena, swa swa he on
his mode foresette, mid dæghwamlicre geornfullnesse peowiende 20
wæs, becom he to freondscipe pas halgan weres 7 þæs gelære-
destan Bonefatius archidiacones, se was eac swylce wita
7 geþeahtere pas apostolican papan. Pæs lareowdome he of
endebyrdnesse geleornade feower Cristes bec 7 getæl rihtra Eastrena
7 monig opre, þa þe belumpon to cyrclicum þeodscypum, þe he on 25
his eple leornian ne mihte. 7 se ylca magister him æghwæþer ge
bec sealde ge lare. 7 mid þy he þa fela monpa þær gesæligum
gelesum geornlice abysegad wæs, pa hwearf heeft on Gallia rice
to Dalfino pam bysceope his freonde, 7 preo winter was mid him
wuniende. 7 he was to preoste besceoren fram him, 7 on swa 30

1. 2. lug.dunu (erasure of one) 0. lugdunu Ca. lugdunum B. 1. 3.

e se
bysceop, O. biscope B. b Ca. 1. 5. fægernes , O. fægernesse Ca. B. 1. 6.
gestaopinesse (sta on erasure) 0. gestæddinesse Ca. gestæððignesse B.
g
1. 7. pin,c 0. oing Ca. B. 1. 9. gebead (a out of o) 0. gebead Ca. B.
e
1. 10. brop,r O. broðor Ca. B. 1. 13. h, allpeodig was (the a of æ added on
erasure later, was on erasure) O. he alpeodig was Ca. he da elpeodig was B.
 V. 19. 455

Wilfrid to this man's retinue and charged him to bring him to

Rome. On their arrival at Lyons, Wilfrid was detained by Dal-
finus, bishop of the town : Benedict pushed on vigorously to Rome,
on the journey he had undertaken. Then the bishop began to take
5 pleasure in the sagacity and wise words of the youth, and the fair-
ness of his person, and the cheerfulness of his behaviour, and the
gravity of his mind. Accordingly he gave and supplied to him in
abundance all that he and his companions needed, as long as they
continued with him ; and also offered to give him a large portion
10 of the realm of Gaul to hold and rule, and to bestow a maiden, who
was his brother's daughter, on him in marriage, and to treat him
always with the love due to a son. Then he thanked him earnestly
for the kindness he had shown him, being a foreigner : but he
answered that he rather chose and desired another life than a life
15 in the world, and for that reason had left his native soil and under-
taken a journey to Rome. When the bishop heard this, he dis-
patched him with a guide to Rome, and supplied him well for the
journey and he bade him, on his return home to pay him a visit,
that he might supply him well for the home journey. On his
20 coming to Rome, and there with daily zeal devoting himself to
prayer and the study of ecclesiastical matters, as he had proposed
in his mind, he acquired the friendship of the holy and most learned
Boniface, the archdeacon, who was also councillor and adviser of the
apostolic pope. Under his instruction he studied in order the
25 four Gospels, and the computation of the correct Easter-tide, and
many other points pertaining to church discipline, which he could
not learn in his own country. And this same master gave him
both books and teaching. And when he had zealously occupied
himself for many months there in successful study, he returned
30 again to Gaul to his friend bishop Dalfinus and remained with him
for three years . And from him he received priestly tonsure, and
on 86
1. 19. he, his O. he on his Ca. he in his B. 1. 20. geornfullnes , O. georn-
C d
fulnesse Ca. -full- B. 1. 21. be, om he to freon, scipe O. becóm he to
freondscipe Ca. becóm he tó freondscype B. 1. 22. swylc. (e erased) 0.
swylce Ca. B. 1. 24. rihtra (i on erasure) O. rihtra Ca. B. 1. 28.
gele.sum (erasure of one) 0. gelesum Ca. læswum B.
 456 LIBER QUINTUS .

micelre lufan hæfd wæs, pæt he pohte hine him to yrfewearde

gedon. Ac pot hwæpere swa wesan ne mihte, fordon se bysceop
was forgripen mid wallhreowe deade, 7 Willfrið wæs má ge-
healden Ángelpeode to bysceope. Sende Balthild seo cwen mycel
weorod, 7 het pone bysceop ofslean. Pa he pa to pære stowe 5
læded wæs, þær him mon sceolde heafud ofslean, þa fyligde hine
Wilfrid his preost 7 his hondpeng. 7 he willnade ætgædere mid
him sweltan, peah þe se bysceop him þat swide bewerede. Ac
þæs pe pa cwelleras hine pa elpeodigne ongeaton, 7 pat he of
Engle cumen wæs, aredon him þa 7 ne woldon hine cwellan mid 10
by bysscope, peah pe pat his willa wære.
7 he pa eft on Breotone com 7 hine gepeodde on freondscype
Ealhfrides pas cyninges. Se cyning geleornade pæt he symble
rihte regolas Godes cyricean fyligde 7 lufade. 7 forpon pe he
hine Wilfrid rihtgefremedne 7 wisne onfunde 7 gemette, geaf he 15
him sona 7 sealde tyn hiwisca landes on pære stowe, pe cweden is
Stanford. 7 æfter medmiclum fæce sealde him mynster pritiges
hiwisca on stowe, seo is gecyged Inhripum. Pa stowe he ær
sealde mynster on to timbrienne þam monnum, þa þe to Scotta
lare fyligdon. Ac forþon pe hi æfter fæce, pa him † wiisc seald 20
was, ma woldon of pære stowe gewitan, þonne hi woldan rihte
Eastran healdan, 7 eac opre regollice deawas onfon æfter gewunan
þære Romaniscan cyricean 7 pare apostolican, 7 forpon he pa
stowe pam sealde, pone pe he geseah beteran peodscypum 7
þeawum gelæredne. On pa tid to hæse pas foresprecenan cyninges 25
p. 639. was Willfrið to mæssepreoste gehalgad on pam ylcan mynstre
fram Ægelbyrhte Westseaxna bysceope, pas we beforan gemynge-
don. Willnade he se cyning þæt se wer swa micelre gelærednesse
7 æfestnesse him syndrilice untodælede geférscype mæssepreost 7
lareow wære. Pone he eft nalæs æfter miclum fæce sende on 30

n
1. 5. pone Ca. B. þonne O. 1. 9. elpeodig,e 0. ælpeodigne Ca. eld- B.
1.13. cyni,g O. cyning Ca. B. 1. 14. rihte (i out ofe by erasure) O. rihte
Ca. B. 1. 15. onfunde 7 gemette B. onfeng 7 geme , te O. Ca. (-tte). 1, 17. med-
miclum Ca. B. miclum O. 1. 18. seo,s 0. seo is Ca. seo ys B. 1. 19.
tī.brienne (erasure of one) O. timbrianne Ca. timbrigenne B. 1. 20.
 Vง
. . 19 . 45
7

was treated with such affection, that the bishop intended to make
him his heir. But yet this might not be, for the bishop was carried
off by a cruel death, and Wilfrid was reserved instead to be bishop
to the English. Queen Balthild sent a large force and ordered the
5 bishop to be slain. And when he was led to the place, where his
head should be struck off, he was followed by Wilfrid as his priest and
attendant. And Wilfrid desired to die along with him, though the
bishop strongly opposed it. But on the executioners hearing that
he was a foreigner and from England, they spared him and would
10 not put him to death with the bishop, though he desired it. So
Wilfrid returned to Britain and attached himself in friendship to
Ealfrith. Now this king had learnt ever to follow and prefer the
orthodox rules of God's Church. And when he found Wilfrid both
orthodox and wise, he gave and made over to him at once ten hides
15 of land, at the place which is called Stamford Bridge. And a short
time after, he assigned him a monastery with thirty hides, at the
place which is called Ripon. This place he had previously given
to men, who followed the teaching of the Scots, for the erection of
a monastery. But as they after a time, on the choice being given
20 them, preferred rather to retire from the place, than observe the
right Easter-tide, and accept also canonical usages in accordance
with rites of the Roman and apostolic church, for this reason he
gave the place to him, whom he saw to be instructed in better
discipline and usage. About this time, at the bidding ofthe aforesaid
25 king, Wilfrid was consecrated as priest, at the same monastery by
Ægelberht, bishop of Wessex, whom we have already mentioned.
It was the king's wish that a man of such learning and piety should
specially be his priest and teacher, with undivided attendance.
And after a short time he sent him to Gaul with the counsel

fylg.don (erasure of one) O. fyligdon Ca. fylgdon B. hi .. (erasure of two)

0. hi Ca. B wiisc Smith from C (?). hi wic (on erasure) 0. hi wic Ca.
him weox 7 B. 1. 21. rihte (i on erasure) O. rihte Ca. B. 1. 24. po.ne
13
(erasure of one) O. pone Ca. Not in B. 1. 25. gelæred,e O. gelæredne
Ca. B.
458 LIBER QUINTUS.

Gallia rice mid gepohte 7 gepafunge Oswioes his fæder ; bæd

þæt hine mon him to byscope gehalgade, mid by he pa hæfile
pritig wintra.
Was se ylca Ægelbyrht on pa tid Parisiace pære ceastre bysceop.
Mid pone wæron cumende opre endlufon bysceopas-he węs 5
twelfta- to his halgunge ; 7 hi swide arwyrolice pa penunge
gefyldon. Mid by he pa gena was begeondan sæ wuniende ,
het Oswio se cynincg gehalgian to bysceope on Eoforwicceastre
Ceaddan pone halgan wer, swa swa we beforan gemyngedon. 7
he preo winter healice pa cyricean was reccende 7 styrende ; æfter 10
pon he gewat to his mynsterscire, pot is on Læstinga ea. Da feng
Willfrið to bysceopscire eallra Norpanhymbra mægpe : 7 he æfter
þon on Ecgfrides rice pas cyninges was adrifen of his bysceopscire,
7 oðre bysceopas fore him gehalgade, para we beforan gemyngedon.
Pa was he to Rome ferende 7 beforan þam apostolican papan his 15
intingan was reccende. Sona þæs pe he on scyp eode 7 astagh,
bleow westwind : 7 he was adrifen þat he com up on Frysana
land. 7 he arwyrolice was onfangen fram þam ællreordum 7 fram
Ealdgylse heora cyninge. Bodade he him sona 7 lærde Cristes
geleafan 7 monig þusendo heora mid soðfæstnesse worde was ontim- 20
brende, 7 hi fram unsyfernessum heora synna aðwoh mid fullwihte
bæpe. 7 þæt æfter fæce Willbrord se arwyrða Cristes bysceop on
micelre willsumnesse gefylde, he ærest ongan pet weorc Cristes
godspell læran. 7 he þær þone winter mid by niwan folce pe he
gestrynde, gesælilice 7 wel wunade ; 7 swa his siðfæt trymede 7 to 25
Rome com. 7 þæs pe his intinga was geondsohte beforan Agathone
þam papan 7 manegum byscopum, 7 ealra heora dome he unscyldig
7 butan leahtrum was clæne gemeted para pinga, þe hine mon fore-
wregde 7 onstælde ; 7 þat he wære his bisceophade wel wyrde.

1. 5. pone B. pon. we (erasure of one) O. don we Ca. endlufon (endlu on

erasure : fon beyond in margin) 0. XI. Ca. endlufon B. 1. 9. pone
we
Ca. Jone B. ponne O. swa, O. swa we Ca. B. 1. 10. styrende (y on
erasure) O. styrende Ca. B. 1. 18. allreordum (the a in a is a later addition)
O. allreordū Ca. elreordigum B. 1. 19. heora cyninge is written twice
and the first struck out O. No variant in other MSS. 1. 21. unsyfernessum
(1st n on erasure) O. unsyfernessū Ca. únsyfernesse B. aồwoh Ca. apwoh
B. apogh O. 1. 22. se to ærest between lines in O. (gefylled), se arwurða
 V. 19. 459

and consent of his father Oswio, begging that he might be conse-

crated as his bishop, Wilfrid being then thirty years old. This
same Ægelberht was at that time bishop of Paris. Along with
him came eleven other bishops —he was the twelfth- to Wilfrid's
5 consecration ; and they performed the service with great pomp.
While he still delayed beyond the sea, king Oswio directed the
holy Chad to be consecrated bishop at York, as already mentioned ;
and for three years Chad nobly ruled and directed the church ;
after which he retired to the charge of his monastery, which is at
10 Lastingham. Then Wilfrid took over the episcopal charge of the
province of all Northumbria : but later, during the reign of
Ecgfrith he was driven from his diocese, and other bishops conse-
crated in his place, whom we mentioned before. Then he was about
to proceed to Rome and plead his cause before the apostolic pope.
15 Immediately on his going on board and embarking the west wind
blew ; and he was driven out of his course and landed in Friesland.
And he was received with honour by the barbarians and their king
Ealdgils. Immediately he began to preach and teach them the
faith of Christ, and instructed many thousands of them in the
20 word of truth, and washed them in baptism from the foulness of
their sins. And what after a time Wilbrord, the venerable bishop
of Christ, completed with great devotion , he first began, that is, the
work of teaching Christ's gospel. And he spent the winter there
well and happily with the new people whom he had won over ; and
25 then arranged his journey and came to Rome. And when his cause
was enquired into before pope Agatho and a number of bishops, in
the judgment of all he was found to be innocent and pure, without
offence in those matters which were brought forward and alleged
against him ; and also that he was fully worthy of the episcopate.

Cristes peow 7 b on micelre willsumnesse gefylde etc. Ca. se arwyrða Cristes

bisscop micelre willsumnesse gefylde etc. B. 1. 23. ongan weorc (on
ni
erasure) O. Ca = 0 . þær done ongann p weorc B. 1. 24. ,wan O. niwan
li
Ca. B. 1. 25. gesali,ce O. gesalilice Ca. gesaliglice B. 1. 27. 7
manegum B. Not in O. Ca. dome. (erasure of one) 0. No variant,
but O. B. insert he which is not in Ca. 1. 28. pinga (a on erasure) O.
dinga Ca. pinga B.
 460 LIBER QUINTUS.

On pa sylfan tid se ylca papa pa Agatthón gesomnade sinoð on Rome

byrig fif 7 hund twelftig byssceopa wið ðam gedwolmannum, þa de
bodedon 7 lærdon ænne willan 7 ane wyrcnesse beon on Dryhtne
Hælende. Da het he se papa eac Willfrid bysceop to pam sinope
5
lapian ; 7 him mon tähte setl betwyh oðre bysceopas, 7 het secgan
his geleafan 7 somod pæs ealandes 7 pære peode, de he of com.
Mid by he was rihtgelyfed on geleafan mid his geferum gemeted,
pa licade is betwih opre dæde pæs ylcan sinopes pat hi on
heora sino gewrit ongepeoddon, 7 pus writon betwyh him :
Wilfrið Gode se leofa bysceop Eoforwicceastre pat apostolice setl 10
be his intingan was gesecende, 7 fram þære apostolican mihte be
cupum 7 uncupum þingum was onlysed : 7 mid oprum fif 7 hund
twelftigum his éfenbysceopum on sinope on domsetle sittende wæs :
p. 640. 7 for eallum norðdæle Breotone 7 Hibernia pam ealande, þa fram
15
Angelloeodum 7 Brytta 7 Scotta 7 Pehta wæron begongne, soðne
geleafan 7 rihtgelyfedne was andettende, 7 mid his handgewrite
getrymede.
Æfter þyssum he hwearf eft to Breotone, 7 Sudseaxna mægðe
fram deofolgylda þeawum to Cristes geleafan gecyrde ; 7 eac swylce
Godes wordes þegnas sende on Wyht þat ealond . 7 þy æftran 20
geare Ealdfriðes rices þæs cyninges, se after Ecgfride to rice feng,
his bysceopsettle onfeng : 7 hine Ealdfrio se cyning togelapade.
Efter fif gearum eft he was oncunnen fram þam ylcan cyninge 7
monigum bysceopum ; 7 eft of his bysceopscire adrifen wæs, 7
to Rome com ; 7 him was lyfnes seald þæt he him moste scyldan 25
7 besecgan on andweardnesse his gesacona. Wæron þær monige
bysceopas sittende mid Iohannem pone apostolican papan, 7 eallra
heora dome was cyped, þat his wregend 7 his gesacan on miclum
dæle licettunge 7 lease wið hine syredon 7 onsægdon . 7 ða heht
se foresprecena papa ærendgewrit writan to Æpelrede 7 to Ealdfriðe 30
Ongelcyningum, 7 þær on bead pat hi æninga gedyden, pat Willfrið
wære onfongen on his bysceopscire : forpon pe he hire unrihtlice
tthon
1. 1. aga , 0. agatthon Ca. agatho B. 1. 2. fif 7 hund twelftig
0B
between lines O. No variant in MSS . 1. 8. d.de (erasure of y ?) O. dæde
•
Ca. B. 1. 14. no,ðdæle O. norðdæle Ca. B. 1. 15. begongne C. begange

12
 V. 19. 461

Then just at this time pope Agatho assembled at Rome a synod of

125 bishops to oppose the heretics, who preached and taught that
there was one will and one operation in our Lord and Saviour.
Then the pope directed bishop Wilfrid also to be invited to the
5 synod ; and they assigned him a seat among other bishops, and bid
him declare his belief, as well as that of the island and the people
from which he came. And when he and his companions were found
orthodox in belief, among other acts of this synod, it was determined
to add to the synodical documents and insert among them as follows :
10 6 Wilfrid the well-beloved of God, bishop at York, visited the apo-
stolic seat to plead his cause, and was absolved by the apostolic
power in regard to things certain and uncertain ; and with 125
of his fellow bishops, took his seat at the synod on the seat of
judgment : and on behalf of all the north part of Britain and the
15 island of Ireland, occupied by the nations of the English and
Britons, and Scots, and Picts, confessed the true and orthodox faith
and confirmed it with his signature.' After this he returned again
to Britain and converted the province of the South Saxons from
the worship of idols to the faith of Christ ; and also sent ministers
20 of God's word to the Isle of Wight. And in the second year of
the reign of king Ealdfrith, Ecgfrith's successor on the throne, he
returned to his see on the invitation of king Ealdfrith. Five years
later he was again accused by the same king and many bishops ;
was again driven from his diocese, and visited Rome ; and obtained
25 leave to defend and plead his cause in the presence of his adver-
saries. Many bishops were sitting there along with the apostolic
pope John, and in the judgment of all it was declared that his
accusers and adversaries had in great part got up and brought
against him false and calumnious charges. Then the aforesaid
30 pope directed a letter to be written to Ethelred and Ealdfrith
kings of the English, and in this directed that they should
certainly cause Wilfrid to be received into his diocese : for he
d
B. bigangende O. Ca. 1. 16. andettende Ca. B. andetten,ne O. 1. 17.
ย 9
getr.mede (erasure of one) 0. getrymede Ca. B. 1. 26. bese,can O. besecgan
Ca. B. gesacona (first a on erasure of two) 0. gesacena Ca. B. 1. 28.7 ..
his (erasure of he) O. 7 he his Ca. phys B.
462 LIBER QUINTUS .

benumen wære. Mid þy he pa wæs eft hweorfende to Breotone, 7

he becom on dælas Gallia rices, þa wæs he gehrinen 7 gestonden
semninga mid untrymnesse. 7 seo to pon swide weox 7 hefegade,
þæt he at nyhstan ne gan ne on horse ridan mihte ; ac on his
þegna handum þat he bære boren was, 7 swa gelæded was on Mid- 5
dan Gallia ceastre. 7 he þær læg III dagas 7 III niht swa swa
déad mon, nemne dynre edunge ánre ætywde þat he lífes wæs. Mid
þy he swa butan mete 7 drynce 7 butan stæfne 7 gehyrnesse IIII
dagas 7 nihte fulle awunode, pa æt nyhstan on dagunge þæs fiftan
dæges, swa he of hefigum slæpe onbrude , 7 was arisende 7 úp asæt, 10
7 his eagan ontynde 7 geseah ymb hine preatas singendra broðra
somod 7 wependra. 7 he sume hwile sæt 7 sworette. Frægn
da 7 acsade, hwær Acca mæssepreost wære. Cygde hine mon
sona ; 7 he into him eode 7 geseah, pat him bet wæs 7 he
sprecan mihte ; 7 he his cneow bigde, 7 Gode panc sægde mid eallum 15
pam broðrum þe þær inne wæron æt him. 7 mid þy hi ða sum fæc
somod sæton 7 sumu þing forhte sprecan ongunnon be þam upplican
domum Godes ælmihtiges, da hét se biscop da odre broðru sumu
hwíle utgán, 7 was dus sprecende to Accan pam preoste : Me
ætywde, cwaỡ he, hwéne ær ondrysnlico gesihð, þa ic de wylle 20
secgan 7 cyoan ; 7 pe hate, pat du hi gehele 7 gehealde, od dat ic
wite hwat God wylle, hwæt be me gewurde. Com me tó 7
ætstód sum swide beorht mon 7 scínende on hwítum gegyre-
lan : cwæð þæt he wære Michael se heah engel : 7 forðon
ic eom sended, þat ic de fram deade generede 7 alysde. 25
Forgeaf de Drihten lif þurh gebedo 7 tearas dinra discipula 7
dinra broðra 7 þurh pingunge his pære eadigan meder dære
unmælan fæmnan Sca Mariam. Fordon ic de secge þat þu nu
bist hrædlice fram þysse untrumnesse gehæled . Ac westu gearo ;
fordon æfter feower gearum ic eft hwyrfe 7 pe neosige. pu 30
becymest to pinum eðle ; 7 pone mæstan dæl dinra æhta þu
onfehst, pa de on be genemde waron, 7 on smyltre sibbe din
líf geendast.
pon
1. 3. to ., (erasure of one) O. to don Ca. to dam B. 1. 4. O ends at æt
nyhstan (ne is probably covered over). Text follows Ca, 1. 7. pynre C.
 V. 19. 463

had been unfairly deprived of it. When he set out on his return
to Britain, on arriving in the districts of Gaul he was suddenly
seized and attacked with illness. And this increased so much and
became so severe, that at last he could neither walk nor ride, but
5 was carried in a litter by the hands of his attendants, and so was
brought to Meaux, a town in Gaul. And he there lay four days
and four nights like one dead, only showing that he was alive by
a feeble breathing. When he had thus continued full four days
and nights without meat or drink, speaking or hearing, at last on
10 the dawn of the fifth day he awoke, as if out of heavy sleep,
raised himself and sat up, and opening his eyes saw about him
companies of brethren chanting and weeping. And he sat for some
time and sighed. Then he asked and enquired where Acca the
priest was. He was at once called ; and he went in to him and
15 saw that he was better and could speak ; and the priest bent his
knee and thanked God with all the brethren who were in there by
him. When they had sat together for some time and began timidly
to talk a little about the divine decrees of God Almighty, then the
bishop bade the other brethren to go out for a while, and thus spoke
20 to the priest Acca. There appeared to me,' said he, ' a short time
ago a dreadful vision, which I will relate and make known to you ;
and I bid you to conceal and keep it back, till I know what it is
God's will to do with me. There came and stood by me a man
very bright and shining in white raiment : he said that he was
25 Michael the archangel : " and I am sent for this , that I should rescue
and deliver you from death. The Lord has given you life through
the prayers and tears of your disciples and your brethren, and the
intercession of his blessed mother the immaculate virgin St. Mary.
Therefore I tell you that you will now be soon cured of this dis-
30 order. But be ready ; for after four years I will return again and
visit you. You will reach your country, and recover the greatest
part of your property, that was taken from you, and will end your
life in peace and tranquillity." Well then the bishop quickly re-
he
sinre Ca. From swa swa to awunode not in B. 1. 12. 7 sume Ca. 7 he
7 acsade
sume B. 1. 13. da " Ca. da 7 acsode B.
 464 LIBER QUINTUS.

p. 641. Hwat he se biscop hine da hrade getrumade, 7 ealle his

geferan to pon gefégon 7 Gode poncunge dydon ; 7 þy ongun-
nenan siðfate to Breotone cóm. 7 he sealde pa ærendgewrito,
be he brohte fram þam apostolican papan, ærest Brihtwalde pam
arcebiscope to rædanne, 7 eft Æpelrede, se wæs ær cyning ; was 5
Ja Beardsætena abbud. 7 hi begen him lustlice 7 ánmodlice
fultumedon be pæs papan hæse ; 7 Apelred sona to him gelaðede
Cenred pone cyning, þam he Myrcna ríce sealde. 7 he hine bed 7 het,
þat he inlice pam biscope freond wære : 7 he swa was. Ac
Ealdfrið Norðanhymbra cyning hine forhogode onfón : ne he 10
langre tide ofer þat lifigende was. Da was geworden, sona
das pe Osred his sunu to rice feng, pat sinod was gesomnod
be Nide streame. 7 æfter hwylcehugu geflite æghwæderes dæles ,
pa æt nyhstan, him eallum fultumiendum, was Wilfrið onfangen
in biscophád his cyricean. 7 he swa III géar, þæt is oỡ done 15
dæg his for fóre, he his lif lædde on smyltre sibbe, 7 gefeonde
pa heofoulican rico gestah 7 gesohte. Ferde he ford on his mynstre,
pe he hæfde on Undalana mægðe under gerece Cuðbaldes pas ab-
budes ; 7 mid denunge his broðra was gelæded on his þæt ærre
mynster, þæt is gecyged Onhripum, 7 was arwurðlice geseted 7 20
bebyriged on Sce Petres cyricean pas apostoles be pam wigbede
suðan, swa swa we ær beforan sægdon 7 gemyngedon.

XVIII.

Cap. 20. Dy nyhstan geare æfter for fore pas foresprecenan fæder,
þæt is by fiftan geare Osredes rices pas cyninges se arwurða
wer Adrianus abbud for ferde, se was æfenwyrcend on Godes 25
worde ære eadigan gemynde Theodorus arcebiscopes ; 7 on his
mynstre on cyricean þære eadigan fæmnan Scă Marian bebyriged
wæs ymb án 7 feowertig wintra, das pe he fram Uitaliano pam
papan hider mid Ɖeodor biscop sended wæs. Dæs abbudes
lare ætgædere 7 Deodores pæs biscopes betwih oore cyonesse 30
sagað, þæt Albinus des abbudes discipul, se to his mynstres
gerece æfter him feng, þat he was swa swyde on gelesum haligra
na
1. 18. undala Ca. undalana B. 1. 26. theodrus Ca. theodore B.
 V. 19, 20. 465

covered, and all his companions rejoiced at this and gave thanks to
God ; and continuing the journey he arrived in Britain. And he
delivered the letter which he brought from the apostolic pope, first
to archbishop Berhtwald to read and afterwards to Ethelred ,
5 formerly king, but then abbot at Bardney. And they both readily
and with one consent supported him as the pope directed ; and
Æthelred at once invited to him king Cenred, to whom he had
made over the kingdom of Mercia. And he prayed and charged
him to be a sincere friend to the bishop : and he was so. But
10 Ealdfrith king of Northumbria scorned to receive him : but he did
not live long after this. Then immediately on the accession of his
son Osfrith, a synod was assembled by the river Nidd. And after
some conflict on both sides, at last, with unanimous support, Wilfrid
was admitted to the episcopate of his church. And so for four
15 years, that is till the day of his death, he spent his life in peace
and quiet, and with joy ascended and entered into the kingdom of
heaven. He died at his monastery, which he had in the district
of Oundle, under the government of abbot Cuthbald ; and by the
care of the brethren was conveyed to his former monastery, called
20 Ripon, and was laid with honour and buried in the church of the
apostle St. Peter, to the south of the altar, as we have already said
and recorded.

XVIII .

Next year after the death of the aforesaid father, that is in the
fifth year of the reign of king Osred, died the venerable abbot
25 Adrian, who was fellow worker in God's word with archbishop
Theodore of blessed memory ; and he was buried at his monastery
in the church of the blessed virgin St. Mary, forty-one years after

he was sent here with bishop Theodore by pope Vitalianus.

Among other testimonies to the teaching of the abbot, as well as
30 of bishop Theodore , it is said of Albinus the abbot's disciple ,
who succeeded him in the rule of the monastery, that he was so
Hh

4
 466 LIBER QUINTUS .

gewrita gelæred, pat he Grecisc gereord of miclum dæle cude, 7

Leden him was swa cuo 7 swa gemimor swa swa Englisc, pœt
him gecyndelic was.
Đa onfeng for Wilfride biscophád ære cyricean æt Heago-
stealdes ea Acca his mæssepreost. Was he se wer se fromesta 5
7 for Gode 7 for mannum micellic. 7 he his cyricean getimbrade,
seo on are Scă Andree pas apostoles gehalgad is, monigfealde wlite
7 wundorlicum weorcum gebrædde 7 gemonigfylde. 7 he micle
geornfulnesse dyde, þat he æghwanon mæst reliquia begéate para
eadigra apostola 7 martyra, 7 on heora weorðunge wibedas sette 7 10
porticas worhte 7 todælde on þæt sylfe binnan þære ylcan cyricean
p. 642. weallum. Swylce eac spell heora Orowunge ætgædere mid oðrum
cyriclicum bocum mid micelre geornfulnesse gesomnade, 7 dider
micel bócgestréon 7 ædele begéat. Swylce he eac husulfatu 7
leohtfatu 7 monig oder þysses gemetes, pa de to Godes huses 15
frætwednesse belimpað, he geornfullice gegearwode. Eac swylce
he sumne æðelne cyricsangere begéat, se wæs Mafa haten, se wæs
on Cent on sangcræft gelæred fram æfterfyligendum þara discipula
þæs eadigan papan Scē Gregorii ; 7 he pone XII winter mid him
hæfde. 7 he gehwæder ge pa cyricsangas lærde, pe hi ær ne 20
cuðan, ge eac, pa de hi íu cuðan 7 mid langre gymelessnesse
ealdian ongunnon, pa eft mid his lare on one ærran steall ge-
edniwode wæron. Was he éac sylfa Acca biscop se getydesta
sangere ; swylce eac he was on halgum gewritum se gelæredesta,
7 on andetnesse pas rihtan geleafan se clænesta ; 7 he was in 25
reogolum cyriclicre gesetnesse se behydegæsta þa to healdenne. 7
he pas ne blon, oddet he fram Gode mede onfeng his arfæstre
wilsumnesse. Wees he ærest fram his cnihtháde on geférscipe
þæs halgan Bosan 7 Gode pæs leofan Eoforwicceastre biscopes
aféded 7 gelæred. Efter pon he cóm to Wilfriðe biscope mid 30
hyhte beteran foresetnesse, 7 eall his yldo 7 líf on his penunge
gefylde of his for fore. Mid pone he eac swilce to Rome was
cumende 7 monig nytlico ding, de he on his eðle ne mihte,

1. 23. getydesta B. getrywesta Ca. 1. 26. cyriclicre B. -cra Ca.

1. 27. arfestnesse Ca. árfestre B.

1
 V. 20. 467

deeply learned in the study of holy scripture, that he in great part

knew the Greek language, and that Latin was as familiar and
fluent to him as English, which was his native tongue. Then in
place of Wilfrid his priest Acca succeeded to the episcopate of the
5 church at Hexham. He was a most energetic man and great in
the sight of God and man. And he built his church, which is
consecrated in honour of the apostle St. Andrew, with rich
ornament, enlarging and giving variety to it by admirable
workmanship. And he showed much zeal in acquiring from
10 every quarter, a great quantity of relics of the blessed apostles
and martyrs, and he set up altars in their honour and built
chapels, distributing them for this purpose within the walls of
that church. He also collected the history of their passions along
with other ecclesiastical books very zealously, bringing together
15 there a large and noble collection of books. He also was diligent
in procuring sacramental vessels and lamps and much besides of
this kind pertaining to the ornament of God's house. He also got
an excellent church singer called Mafa, who had been taught
singing in Kent by the successors of the disciples of the blessed
20 pope Gregory ; and he kept him with him twelve years. And he
not only taught them some church music, previously unknown to
them, but also by his teaching restored to its previous condition
the music which they had formerly known, but which was
already becoming obsolete owing to long neglect. Bishop Acca
25 himself was also an excellently trained musician ; he was also
deeply learned in holy scripture, and unexceptionable in confession
of the right faith ; and he was most careful in observing the rules
of ecclesiastical law. And in this he never slackened, till he
received from God the reward of his pious devotion. In his
30 boyhood he was first educated and trained among the clergy of the
bishop of York, the holy Bosa, well beloved of God. Subsequently
he came to bishop Wilfrid, with aspirations after higher objects,
and till the bishop's death passed all his years and life in his
service. With him too he visited Rome, and there saw and learnt
35 many useful points of ecclesiastical ordinance, which he could not
Hh 2
 468 LIBER QUINTUS .

cyriclicra gesetnessa þær he geseah 7 geleornode, 7 da wel heold

læste of his lifes ende.

XIX .

Cap. 21. Dyssum tidum Naitan Peohta cyning, de pone norðdæl Breotone
eardia , was he monad mid gelómlicre smeawunge 7 leornunge
cyriclicra gewrita pot he gedwolan wiðsóc 7 pone ne geðafode, se 5
o pat on his peode hæfed was, be gehylde rihtra Eastrana.
7 he hine 7 his deode gelædde to mærsianne 7 to weordianne
pa rihtgesettan tide pære Drihtenlican æriste. 7 þat he pat
mihte mid by maran ealdorlicnesse purhteon 7 gefremman, sohte
he him fultum of Angolpeode, pe he geare ongeat 7 wiste, þœt hi 10
Ja æfestnesse geleornad 7 onfongen hæfdon to bysene þære halgan
Romaniscan cyrican 7 dære apostolican . Sende he ærendracan to
pam arwurðan were Ceolfride, se was abbud das mynstres para
eadigra apostola Petrus 7 Paulus, pat is at Wire mudan 7 be
Tínan þære ea, on dære stowe de is gecyged On Gyrwum. Pam 15
abbuddome he Ceolfrid wuldorlice fore wæs æfter Benedicte, be pam
we beforan sægdon. Bæd he se cyning pone abbud, þæt he him
sende trymmendlice stafas 7 gewrito, mid pam he dy mihtlicor
wiðscufan mihte, pa de gedyrstigedon þæt hi Eastran heoldan 7
wurdedon butan heora rihtre tide. Swylce he eac befrægn 7 acsade 20
*
be geméte 7 rihte Godes peowa scéare, pe preostas 7 Godes
peowas getacnode beon sceoldon. Bæd he se cyning eac hine pat
p. 643. he him onsende sumne heahcræftigan stangeworces, pat he mihte
æfter Romana peawe cyricean timbrian : 7 was gehatende þæt he
pa wolde on áre æs eadigan ealdres para apostola gehalgian Scē 25
Petres. 7 eac gehét, þat he sylfa wolde mid ealre his deode pone
peaw symble onhyrian 7 healdan dære Romaniscan cyricean 7 þære
apostolican, swa ford swa we fyrmest geleornian magon. Đæs
cyninges arfæstnesse willum 7 benum was gefultumiende se arwurða
abbud Ceolfrið: Sende him cræftige wyrhtan stænene cyricean to 30
timbrianne : sende him eac stafas 7 gewrit be gehealde rihtra

1. 7. gelædde B. gelærde Ca. 1. 8. tide 7 Ca. tíde B. 1. 9. purhteon

C. B. drohtian Ca. 1. 21. geméte rihte godes þeow sceare Ca. gemete 7
rihte godes peowas (omits sceare) B. godes de da sceare C.
 V. 20, 21. 469

in his native country, and these he carefully kept and carried out
to the end of his life.
XIX .

At this time Naitan king of the Picts, who occupy the north of
Britain, was admonished by frequent meditation and study of
5 ecclesiastical writings, to renounce and forbid the error, which up
to that time was maintained among his people, with regard to the
observance of the correct Easter. And he brought over himself
and his people to celebrate and honour the orthodox time of the
Lord's resurrection. And that he might carry this out and settle
10 it with more authority, he sought support from England, where he
well saw and knew the people had learnt and received their
religion after the pattern of the holy and apostolic Roman church.
He sent envoys to the venerable Ceolfrith, abbot of the monastery
of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, which is at Wearmouth and
15 by the river Tyne, in the place called Jarrow. Ceolfrith ruled in
the office of abbot with great fame, as successor to Benedict, of
whom we have already spoken. The king begged the abbot to
send him hortatory letters and writings, to refute more effectually
those, who dared to observe and celebrate Easter otherwise than at
20 the right time. He also enquired as to the mode and method of
the tonsure, which should mark God's servants and priests . The
king also prayed him to send an architect for stone work, to build a
church according to the usage of Rome : and he promised that he
would consecrate it in honour of St. Peter the blessed chief of the

25 apostles. He also promised that he himself and all his people

would ever follow and maintain the usage of the Roman church,
in as far as we can best ascertain it.' The venerable abbot Ceol-

frith lent his support to the pious desires and prayers of the king.
He sent him skilled workmen to build a stone church , sending also
30 letters and writings with regard to the observance of the right
 470 LIBER QUINTUS .

Eastrana 7 be Godes peowa scéare, eac oðrum rihtum Godes

cyricean.
Mid y pot gewrit da was reded beforan pam cyninge 7
monigum gelæredum werum 7 him geornlice was reht on his
agen gereorde fram þam, de hit ongitan mihton, is þæt sæd, þæt he 5
wære be his trymnesse 7 lare swyde gefeonde 7 wære arisende of
his setle of middum his ealdormannum 7 his wítum ; 7 his cneow
bigde on eorðan 7 Gode pancunge dyde, þat he geearnode swylce
gife onfón of Angolpeode. 7 pus cwæð : Cudlice ic þat er wiste 7
ongeat, pot dis was riht weorðung sodra Eastrana. Ac swa swide 10
ic nu pot riht ongite disse tide to healdanne, þæt me is eallinga
lytel 7 medmicel gesewen, þat ic ær dyssum cude 7 ongeat.
Fordon ic ponne nu eow openlice andette 7 cyde, pe her and-
wearde sittað, þat ic das tide Eastrena ecelice healdan wille mid ealre
minre deode, pe ic nu rihte ongite 7 ocnáwe ; 7 ealle preostas 7 15
Godes deowas, pa de on minum rice syndon, da scéare onfón sculon,
Je we gehyrað fulle beon ealre rihtwisnesse. 7 he ða butan yldinge
mid his cynelicre ealdorlicnesse gefremede þat he cwæð ; 7 sona sende
geond eall his ríce, 7 het wrítan 7 leornian 7 healdan þurh ealle
Peohta mægð þa nigontýnlican hringas rihtra Eastrana. 7 het 20
fordilgian ðurh ealle da gedwolhringas feower 7 hundeahtatig
geara. Đa wæron scorene ealle munecas 7 sacerdas on one beh
Sce Petres scéare. 7 hi swa swa niwe discipulhada þæs eadegestan
ealdres para apostola Scē Petres underðeodde beon 7 mid his
115

mundbyrde gescylde 7 eall seo deod geriht gefeah 7 blissade. 25

XX.

Cap. 22. Ne was pa æfter miclum fæce þæt eac swylce da munecas Scotta
cynnes, þa de Híí þæt ealond eardedon 7 beeodan mid þam mynstrum
pe him underdeodde wæron to reogollicum þeawe rihtra Eastrena 7
scyre purh Drihtnes gyfe gelædde wæron. Was ymb seofon
hund wintra 7 syxtene fram Drihtnes menniscnesse, þy geare Osred 30

1. 1. peowa sceare Ca. peow sceare B. da sceare C. 1. 13. eow B : not

in Ca. 1. 15. pe Ca. pe B. 1. 21. gedwolhringas B. gedwolan hringas
Ca.
 V. 21 , 22. 471

Easter and with regard to the tonsure of God's servants, as well as

other ordinances of God's church. Now when this letter was read
before the king and many learned men, and was carefully inter-
preted to him in his own tongue, by those who could understand it,
5 it is said that he rejoiced greatly at its exhortations and teaching
and rose from his seat among his chief men and councillors ; and
bending his knee to the earth he thanked God, that he had been
found worthy to receive such a gift from England. And he spoke
thus : ' I knew well and understood before, that this was the right
10 celebration of the true Easter. But so fully do I now understand
the method of observing this time, that whatever I knew and
understood previously seems to me utterly poor and petty.
Therefore I now openly confess and declare to you, who here sit in
my presence, that I will observe for ever with all my people this
15 time of Easter, which I now rightly perceive and understand ; and
all priests and servants of God, who are in my kingdom shall
receive the tonsure, which we hear to be full of all reasonableness.'
And he there without delay by his royal authority carried out
what he said ; and at once sent throughout his realm, and gave
20 directions to copy out and study and observe throughout all the
province of the Picts, the cycles of nineteen years belonging to the
correct Easter. And he ordered to be utterly obliterated the
erroneous cycles of eighty-four years. Then all monks and priests
received the tonsure according to the form of St. Peter's crown.
25 And they, and all the people being reformed, rejoiced and took
pleasure in being as it were subject to fresh discipline, under St.
Peter the most blessed prince of the apostles and protected by his
patronage.

XX.

It was not long till also the monks of Scottish descent, who
30 inhabited and occupied the island of Iona, along with the monas-
teries subject to them, were led by the grace of the Lord to the
canonical usage of the correct Easter and tonsure. It was about
716 years from our Lord's incarnation , in the year in which king
 472 LIBER QUINTUS .

cyning was ofslegen 7 Cynred æfter him da steore onfeng Norðan-

hymbra rices, da com on Híí þæt ealond of Hibernia Gode se leofa
p. 644. fæder 7 sacerd 7 mid ealle are to nemnenne Ecgbyrht se halga, dæs
we beforan gelomlice gemyngedon. 7 he arwurdlice 7 mid micle
gefean fram him onfangen wæs , forðon he was se swetesta lareow 7 se 5
wynsumesta 7 dara þinga , de he oðre lærde to donne, he sylfa wæs
se wilsumesta fylgend 7 læstend : 7 he lustlice fram him eallum
gehyred wæs. 7 he onwende mid his arfæstum trymenessum 7
geornfulnesseone ealdan þeaw 7 gesetnysse heora ealdra, be
þam mæg þæt apostolice word cweden beon, þæt hi hæfdon Godes 10
ellnunge ac nalæs æfter wisdome. 7 he hi dy apostolican
þeawe monade 7 lærde, pat hi da weorðunge ære mæstan
symbelnesse, swa Swa we cwadon, heoldan 7 dydon under
bycnunge þæs ecan biges. Was pot mid wunderlicre stihtunge
þære godcundan arfęstnesse swa geworden, þæt , forðan seo þeod 15
Fone * wisdom, de heo cuðe, þære godcundan cyððe lustlice butan
æfeste Angelfolcum cyode 7 gemænsumede, hi da swylce æfter fæce
purh Angelpeode, on þam þingum þe hí won hæfdon, to fulfremedum
gemete rihtes lifes becóm. Swa swa Brittas widdon, þe næfre
woldon pa cyddo þæs cristenan geleafan, þe hi hæfdon, Angelcynne 20
openian 7 cyðan, ono pa gelyfendum eft Angelfolcum 7 purh eall
well ontimbredum 7 gelæredum on reogole rihtes geleafan, hi nu
gýt heora ealdan gewunon healdað, 7 fram rihtum stigum healtiað ;
7 heora heafod ywað butan beage Sce Petres sceare ; 7 Cristes
symbelnesse trihte Eastran butan geðeodnesse ealra Godes cyricena 25
healdað 7 weorpiad. Da onfengon Híísetena munecas purh
Ecgberhtes láre rihtgelyfede peawas on to lifgenne, under

Dunchade pæm abbode æfter hundeahtatigum wintra þæs þe

hie sendon Aidan pone bisceop Ongelpeode to lareowe. Wunade se
Godes wer Ecgbreht twelf winter in pam ealonde, þat he sumre 30
neowre gefe lihtendre pære cir clican gepeodnesse and sibbe
gehalgade.
1. 3. nemnenne B. nimanne Ca. 1. 7. fylgend B. C. fyllend Ca. 1. 16.
wisdome Ca. The passage arfestnesse to godcundan is wanting in B. 1. 23.
 V. 22 . 473

Osred was slain and Cynred, as his successor, took over the govern-
ment of the kingdom of Northumbria, when there came to the isle
of Iona, from Ireland, the father and priest, beloved of God and to
be named with all honour, the holy Ecgberht already mentioned
5 often before. And he was received by them with respect and much
joy, as he was the sweetest and most delightful of teachers , and
the most devoted follower and observer himself of all that he
taught others to do : and all heard him gladly. And by his pious
exhortations and his zeal he changed the old usage and ordinance
10 of their elders, of whom the apostolical words may be repeated,
that they had zeal for God but not according to wisdom .' And he,
according to the apostolical custom, admonished and instructed
them to observe and carry out the celebration of the chief solem-
nity, as we said, under the type of an endless circlet. It was so
15 ordered by a wondrous dispensation of the divine goodness, that, as
the people cheerfully and without jealousy made known and
imparted to the nations of the English the wisdom of the divine
knowledge which they possessed, so then they after a time through
the English should attain to the perfect measure of a right life, in
20 those matters in which they were deficient. Just as the Britons,
on the contrary, who never would reveal and make known to the
English race the knowledge of the christian faith which they had,
nay now again when the English tribes believe and are in all
points well instructed and trained in the rule of right faith, they
25 still as now, maintain their old habits and halt from the right
path ; and display their heads without the crown of St. Peter's
tonsure ; and observe and solemnize the due festival of Christ's
Easter not in community with all the churches of God. Then the
monks inhabiting Iona through the teaching of Ecgberht received
30 the orthodox usage to live by, under abbot Dunchad , eighty years
after they had sent bishop Aidan as teacher to the English.
Ecgberht the man of God remained twelve years in the island,
which he consecrated by a new irradiance of grace in ecclesiastical

stigum B. sigum Ca. 1. 24. beage B. ege Ca. 1. 25. rihte Ca. -tre B.
1. 27. Text follows C. which begins 32ª at gelyfede.
 474 LIBER QUINTUS.

Ond æfter seofon hund wintra 7 nigon 7 twentigum æfter pære

Drihtenlican menniscnesse þy geare, pa mærsad wæs 7 weorpad se
Drihtenlica Eastordag, þat was by eahtopan dæge Kalendarum
Maiarum, mid þy he pa ilcan Drihtenlican æreste mid symbelnesse
mæssesonga mærsade 7 weorpade, þy ilcan dæge he forferde to 5
Drihtne. Ond gefean þære hean symbelnesse, pone he mid pæm
broðrum ongon, pahe to annessegife gehwyrfde, he mid Drihtne7 þam
halgum apostolum ond mid oðrum heofones ceasterwarum gefylde ;
oppe þæt gen sobre is pat seolfe he ne blinnep mærsian 7 weorþian
a butan ende. Was pet wunderlico stihtung pære godcundan 10
foreseonesse, pætte se arwyrða wer nales þæt an þæt he in Eastran
for ferde ofpissum middangearde to Gode Fæder, ac eác swylce mid
by patte by dæge Eastran mærsode wæron, pe hie næfre ær
gewunedon in pæm stowum weorpade beon . Ondpa gefegonpa bropor
beongesetenesse pærecupan 7 þære rihtgelefdon Eastortide. Ond hie 15
blissedon pa mundbyrde þæs farendan fæder to Drihtne, purh pone
hie gerihte wæron. Ond he blissade in pon, þat he oð þæt in lichoman
gehealden was, oð þæt he geseah pa his geherend pone Eastordæg
ońfon, ond mid hine in weorpunge habban, pone hie simle ær þon
warenedon to anfonne. Ond swa gewis be hiora gerehtnesse se 20
arwyrpa fæder blissade, pot he gesawe Drihtnes dæg, 7 he hine
geseah 7 gefeonde was.
XXI.

p. 645. pa wæs ymb seofon hund wintra 7 fíf 7 twentig æfter pære
Cap. 23. Drihtenlican menniscnesse, pot was pat seofope gear Ósrices Norp-
anhymbra cyninges, se æfter Cenrede to rice feng, þa Wihtred 25
Ecgbrihtes sunu Cantwarena cyninges forðfered was by nigepan
dæge Kalendarum Maiarum ; ond þæm rice, pe he hæfde feower
7 þritig wintra ond þæt fifte healf, his sunu þry yrfeweardas forlet
Æpelbryht 7 Eadbryht 7 Apelric. After pæm þy nyhstan
geare Tobias Hrofeceastre bisceop forpferde. Was se wer micellice 30
gelæred ; wæs he discipul pære eadgan gemynde Theodores
ercebisceopes ond Adrianus pæs abbodes. Ond he forpon, swa swa
cweden is, mid pa getydnesse ge ciriclicra gewrita ge eac gemænelicra,
þat he eác swilce swa Grecisc geleornade mid Lædene, pat him da swa
1. 17. 08 B. Ca. on C. 1. 30. ceastre Ca. -ter C. Not in B. ?
 V. 22 , 23. 475

unity and peace. And 729 years after our Lord's incarnation, in
the year in which the Dominical Easter was celebrated and solem-
nized, on the 24th of April, as he celebrated and solemnized the
Lord's rising with the festival of mass, on that very day he de-
5 parted to the Lord. And he with the Lord and the holy apostles
and the other inhabitants of heaven finished the rejoicings of that
high festival, which he had begun with the brethren, whom he
converted to the grace of unity ; or it is still more true, that he
ceases not to celebrate and solemnize it ever without end. It was
10 a wonderful dispensation of divine providence, that the venerable
man not only departed from this earth to God the Father on
Easter day, but also when Easter was being celebrated on a day,
which never before had been usual for the solemnity at that place.
So then the brethren exulted in the knowledge of the certain and
15 orthodox Eastertide. And they were rejoiced by the patronage of
the father now departed to the Lord, by whom they had been
reformed. And he rejoiced in this, that he was kept in the body,
till he saw these hearers receive the Easter day and hold it in
honour with him, which they had ever before refused to receive.
20 And so the venerable father, being certain of their reformation,
' rejoiced to see the Lord's day, and he saw it and was glad.'

XXI

It was then about 725 years after our Lord's incarnation, being
the seventh year of the reign of Osric, king of Northumbria and
successor of Cenred, when Wihtred, son of Ecgberht king of Kent
25 died on the 23rd of April ; and he left three heirs to the kingdom ,
which he had held for thirty-four and a-half years, namely his sons
Æthelbert, Eadberht and Ethelric. Next year after this died
Tobias bishop of Rochester. He was profoundly learned , and a
disciple of archbishop Theodore of blessed memory and the abbot
30 Adrian. And he therefore, as it is said, along with instruction in
ecclesiastical and profane writings, also studied Greek and Latin
so deeply, that they were as familiar to him as his own tongue,
 476 LIBER QUINTUS .

cuð wæron swa his agene reorde, þe he in acenned wæs. Was he

bebyrged in Sce Paules portice pas apostoles, se is in Sce Andreas
ciricean, þær he seolfa byrgenstowe geworhte. After pæm feng
Aldwulf to pære bisceoppenunge, fone Berhtwald ercebisceop gehal-
gode.
Efter pissum wæs ymbe seofan hund wintra 7 nigon and twentig
æfter pære Drihtenlican menniscnesse ; æteowdon twegen steorran
ymb þa sunnan utan, þa syndon on bocum cometa nemde ; 7 hy
mycle fyrhto onstyredon Fæm monnum þe hie sceawodon 7 gesawon.
Oðer hiora foreeode pa sunnan oń morgen, ponne hio up- 10
gangende wæs, ofer on æfenne æfterfyligde, ponne hio on setl eode,
swa swa hie witegan were grimmes wæles uppeornendre sunnan
samed 7 setlgongendre, þæt hi gehwæþere tide ge on dæg ge on niht
micel yfel monnum toweard tácnedon. Stod se leoma him of, swilce
fyrenpecele, ongean norðdæle middangeardes. Eteowdon hie pa 15
steorran in Ianuarius monde 7 twa wucan awunedon. Pære tide
sona æfter se hefigesta wol Sarcina þeode Gallia rice mid sarlice wale
ond earmlice fornaman 7 forhergodon ; 7 hie sona æfter medmiclum
fæce in pære ilcan mægpe wyrpe wite onfengon 7 prowedon hiora
getreowleasnesse. Py ilcan geare swilce se halga Godes wer Ecgbreht , 20
swa swa we beforan gemyngedon, by seolfan Eastordæge forpferde
to Drihtne ; 7 sona ofer pa Eastortide, pat is septima Idus Maias,
Osric Norpanhymbra cyning of life gewat, æfter þon þe he pat rice
p. 646. .XI. gear hæfde 7 styrde. Ond he wolde 7 gedemed hæfde þætte Ceol-
wulf æfter him cyning wære 7 his rices æfterfylgend. Was he Cen- 25
redes bropor þæs cyninges, se ær him rice hæfde. Pæs cyninges rice ge
foreweard ge for gong swa monegum 7 swa miclum styrenessum
wiperweardra dinga yþiad 7 gemengde syndon, þætte þæt mon nu
geta gewitan ne mæg, hwæt be pissum mon writan scyle, oðde
hwilcre ende syndrigo þing hæbbende seondon. 30

XXII.

Wæs þa ymb seofan hund wintra ond XXXI. æfter pære

Drihtenlican menniscnesse patte Beorhtwald ercebisceop longre
1. 1. agene Ca. agen B. agenre C. 1. 30. se..... (rest illegible) synd Ca.
synt B.
 V. 23. 477

wherein he was born. He was buried in the chapel of the apostle

St. Paul, which is in the church of St. Andrew, where he himself

had erected a tomb. After him Aldwulf received the office of
bishop, being consecrated by archbishop Berhtwald. After this,
5 in the 729th year from our Lord's incarnation, there appeared two
stars about the sun, which in books are called comets ; and they
caused much alarm to the persons who saw and beheld them. The
one of them preceded the sun in the morning, when rising, the
other followed the sun in the evening, when setting, as if they
10 were prophets of dire disaster at sunrise as well as sunset,
betokening the coming of much ill to men at both times both by
day and by night. A beam stood out from them, like a torch of

fire, towards the north of the earth. These stars appeared in the
month of January and remained two weeks. At that season, soon
15 after, that most grievous pest, the Saracens, wasted and destroyed
the realm of Gaul with grievous and miserable carnage ; but they
soon after received and suffered the due punishment for their
perfidy in that same province. The same year also the holy man
of God Ecgberht, as already mentioned, departed to the Lord on
20 Easter day itself : and soon after Easter, that is, on the ninth of
May, Osric king of Northumbria departed this life, after holding
and governing the kingdom for eleven years. He desired, and had
decreed , that Ceolwulf should be king after him and his successor
on the throne. He was brother of king Cenred, who had reigned
25 before Osric. The early part of this king's reign and its progress
are troubled and confused with so many violent commotions and
adversities, that it cannot yet be determined, what should be said
of it, or what issue various things are to have.

XXII.

About 731 years from our Lord's incarnation archbishop

30 Berhtwald was carried off by old age, and died on the 9th
478 LIBER QUINTUS .

eldo fornumen forpfered was by fiftan dæge Iduum Ianuarium.

Sæt he pat bisceopsetlseofon 7 pritig wintra 7.VI. monað 7 feowertyne
dagas. For pæm þy ilcan geare was ercebisceop geworden Tatwine,
se was of Myrcna mægpe. Was he ær mæssepreost in pæm mynstre,
þe is geceged Breodun. Was he gehalgod in Cantwarena byrig from 5
þæm arwyrpan werum Daniele Wintanceastre bisceope ond Ingwalde
Lundenburge bisceope ond Aldwine Liccetfelda bisceope ond Aldulfe
Hrofesceastre biscope by teopan dæge Iunius monpes ; wæs
Sunnandæg. Was se wer mære in æfæstnesse 7 in snytro 7 in
wisdome ond swylce eác in halgum gewritum æpellice intimbred 7 10
gelæred.
Seondon nu 7 in ondweardnesse Cantwarena ciricena bisceopas
Tatwine 7 Aldwulf ; ond Ingeweald Eastseaxna bisceop ; Eastengla
bisceopas siondon Aldberht 7 Heapolac ; Westseaxna bisceopas
siondon Daniel 7 For here ; Mercna bisceop is Aldwine. Ond 15
þæm folcum pa pe eardiad be westan Sæferne is Wealhstod bisceop .
Wilfrið is Huicna bisceop. Is Cyneberht Lindesfearona bisceop. Sio
biscopscir Wihte pas ealondes belimpep to Daniele Wintanceastre
mægð was wuniende fela geara butan bisceope
biscope. Suoseaxna mago
7 him bisceoppenunge secad to Westseaxna bisceope. ond ealle 20
pas mægbe 7 eác oore suomægde op gemære Humbre streames mid
heora cyningum eác swilce Epelbolde Mercna cyninge in hyrsumnesse
underpeodde seondon. Ond ponne Norpanhymbra mægpe þæm Ceol-
wulf se cyning in cynedome ofer is, feower bisceopas nu biscopscire
habbað, Wilfrið bisceop in pære ciricean Eoforwicceastre, Æpelwald 25
in Lindesfearona eá, Acca in Heagostealdes eá, Pehthelm in pære
stowe, pe is geceged At Hwitan Ærne. Seo stow neowan
gemonigfealdedum geleafsumum folcum in setle bisceopstoles was
toæteced, ond was pære stowe se æresta bisceop. Swilce eác Pehta
cyn in pas tid hafað sibbe 7 were mid Ongelpeod, ond eac 30
pære rihtgelyfedan sibbe 7 sopfæstnesse mid ealre Godes ciricean
gifeð dælnimende beon. Scottas, pa þe Breotone eardiað, wæron
poncfulle heora gemærum ; 7 hi ne setunge ne gestrodo wið
1. 7. liccet- Ca. licet- B. wiccet- C. 1. 14. 1st biscopas B. b Ca.
bisceop C. 1. 18... londes (two gone) C. ealondes Cá. iglandes B.
w
1. 23. ceolwulfe C. ceowulf Ca. ceól,ulf B 1. 24. nu Ca. B. in C.
 V. 23. 479

of January. He had occupied the episcopal seat for thirty- seven

years six months and fourteen days. In the same year Tatwiui
was made archbishop in his room : he came from the province
of Mercia, and had formerly been priest at the monastery which
5 is called Bredon. He was consecrated in Canterbury by the
venerable prelates Daniel bishop of Winchester, Ingwald bishop
of London, Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, and Aldulf bishop of
Rochester, on the 10th of June, being a Sunday. This man
was noted for his piety, sagacity and wisdom, and was also
10 excellently instructed and trained in the holy scriptures. At
present the bishops of the churches in Kent are Tatwini and
Aldwulf; Ingwald is bishop of the East Saxons ; the bishops of
the East Angles are Aldberht and Heatholac ; the bishops of the
West Saxons are Daniel and Forthhere ; Aldwini is bishop of
15 Mercia. And Wealhstod is bishop of the tribes which dwell
west of the Severn ; Wilfrid is bishop of the Hwiccas. Cyneberht
is bishop of Lindsey. The episcopal charge of the Isle of
Wight falls to Daniel bishop of Winchester. The province of
the South Saxons remained for many years without a bishop,
20 obtaining episcopal ministrations from a bishop of Wessex. And
all these provinces and also other southern provinces, as far as
the boundary of the river Humber, with their kings also, are
subject in obedience to Ethelbald, king of Mercia. And in the
province of Northumbria, over which king Ceolwulf reigns, four
25 bishops now have sees, bishop Wilfrid in the church of York,
Ethelwald at Lindisfarne, Acca at Hexham, Pehthelm at the
place which is called Whiterne. This place lately owing to the mul-
tiplication of believers was added on as the seat of a bishop's see,
and he was the first bishop of the place. The race of the Picts
30 also at this time are at peace and have a treaty with the English,
and also rejoice in sharing the orthodox peace and truth with all
God's churches. The Scots, who dwell in Britain, content with
their boundaries, contrive neither plots nor rapine against the

1. 32. gifed (the g is imperfectly formed : over i something like an accent) C,

frið B. Not in Ca.
 480 LIBER QUINTUS .

Ongelpeode serwað. Bryttas ponne, peah pe hie óf miclum dæle

mid inlice hete ond fenge Ongelpeode ond pone steall ealre
p. 647. rihtgelyfedre Godes ciricean, ge in gehælde unrihtra Eastrana ge in
ungecostum þeawum afehten, hwæpere him is gemid godcunde mægene
ge mid mennisce wipstonden, pat hi no hwæperum hira willnunge 5
habban ne purhteon magon. Ond peah de hie synd óf miclum dæle
heora seolfes ónwealdes, hwæpere of miclum dæle hy syndon Ongel-
cynnes peowdome betæhte 7 underpeodde. Pissa tida sibbe 7
smoltnesse nu monige in Norpanhymbra þeode ge æþele ge unæþele
hi seolfe 7 hirabearn ma gyrnað inmynster ond on Godes peowdomhad 10
to sellenne, ponne hie syn begongende weoroldlicne comphad.
Sio wise hwelcne ende hæbbende sie, sio æfterre eldo gesið 7
sceawað.
Pis is nu in ondweardnesse gestal ealre Breotone ymb tu hund
wintra 7 fíf 7 hundeahtatig Óngelcynnes cymes in Breotone ealond. 15
And ymb seofon hund wintra 7 XXXI þære Drihtenlican mennis-
cnesse in þæs Drihtnes pæm ecean rice gefeoð eal eorpe ;
7 efenblissiendre Breotone in his geleafan 7 monig ealond blissiað
7 ondettað gemynde his halignesse.

Pas ping by stære Ongelpiode cirican on Brytene, swa swa 20

geo ofmanna gewritum odde of ealdra gesegene ode of minre sylfre
cypere ic gewitan mihte, mid Dryhtnes fultume gedyde ic Beda
Cristes piow 7 mæssepreost pæs minstres para eadigra apostola
Petrus 7 Paulus, pat is at Wiramupon 7 on Gyrwum. Was ic
acenned on sundurlonde pæs ylcan mynstres. Mid by ic was 25
seofanwintre, pa was ic mid gimene minra maga seald to
fedanne 7 to lærenne þam arwyrþan abbude Benedicte 7 Ceolferpe
æfter pon. 7 siopan ealle tid mines lifes on þæs ilcan mynstres
eardunge ic was donde ; 7 ealle geornesse ic sealde to leornienne
7 to smeagenne halige gewritu. 7 betwih gehild regollices 30

1. 4. is Ca. B. iss C. 1. 8. tida B. tide C. Ca. (Ca. has dysse). 1. 9.

nu Ca. nú B. hu C. unæ .... (no more legible) C. unaoele Ca. únæðele
B. 1. 10. .. Godes . had (letters gone or illegible) C.; on godes
peowdomhád Ca. to godes peowdóme B. 1. II. weoroldlicre C: world-
tu
licne Ca. B. 1. 14. ymb, C. ymb tu Ca. ymb twa B. 1. 15. -nd and
 V. 23. CONCLUSION . 481

English. Moreover the Britons, though in great part they oppose

with inward hate and hostility the English and the institutions
of the whole Catholic church of God, in the observance of the
wrong Easter and in reprobate usages, yet are prevented by divine
5 and human power, from being able to maintain or carry out their
desires in either point. And though they are in a large measure
independent, yet they are in a large measure too given over and
subject to the dominion of the English. Owing to the peace and
tranquillity of these times, many in Northumbria, both gentle and
10 simple, are more desirous to give up themselves and their children
to monastic life and God's service, than they are to pursue worldly
warfare. What end this matter will have, the next generation
will see and witness. This is now at the present time the con-
dition of all Britain 285 years after the coming of the English into
15 the island of Britain. And now 731 years after our Lord's incar-
nation the whole earth is rejoicing in the eternal kingdom of the
Lord ; and while Britain shares the joy in his faith, many islands
also rejoice and acknowledge the memory of his holiness.
These things concerning the history of the church of England in
20 Britain, as far as I could formerly learn it from the writings of men
of old, or from the tradition of elder men, or from my own knowledge,
with the help of the Lord, I Bede have written, who am servant of
Christ and priest in the monastery of the blessed apostles Peter
and Paul, that is at Wearmouth and in Jarrow. I was born on
25 land, which is private property of this monastery. When I was seven
years old, by the care of my kindred I was given over to be brought
up and trained by the venerable abbot Benedict and afterwards by
Ceolfrith. And I spent the whole time of my life afterwards in
the precincts of the monastery ; and I gave all zeal to study and
30 meditate on Holy Scripture. And while observing regular dis-

(illegible) C. Ca. has and ; B. has 7. 1. 16. driht..l... (rest illegible) Ca.
Text Ca. B. 1. 17. gef (no more legible) C. gefeóð Ca. B. 1. 27. a,wyrpan
tid
C. arwurðan Ca. arweorpam B. 1. 28. ealle, C. ealle tid Ca. ealle
tid B. 1. 28. leorniende C. nianne Ca. -niganne B.
Ii
 482 LIBER QUINTUS .

peodscipes 7 pa dæghwamlican gimene to singanne on cyrcan

me symble swete 7 wynsum wæs, dat ic oppe leornode oppe
lærde ode write. 7 pa þy niganteopan gere mines lifes, þæt
ic diaconhade onfeng, 7 þy dritigoðan mæssepreosthade, 7 ægh-
wæderne purh penunge pas arwyrpan bisceopes Iohannes purh 5
hæse 7 bebod Ceolferpes abbudes. Of pære tide pæs pe ic
mæssepreosthade onfeng od nigan 7 fiftig wintra minre yldo ic
pas bec for minre nidpearfe 7 minra freonda of geweorcum
arwyrðra fædera wrat 7 sette, ge eac swilce to mægwlite andgites
7 gastlicre gerecenesse ic toætecte. 10
Erest on fruman Genesis of Isaces gebyrd 7 aworpenesse
Ismahelis ic sette feower bec.
Be pam Tabernaculo 7 his fatum 7 sacerdlicum hræglum þryo
bec.
On pone ærestan dæl Samuelis, pat is od Sawles deað þæs 15
cyninges, feower bec.
Be þæs Temples getymbro 7 þære becnendlican race twa béc.
Eft on cyninga béc xxx questionem .
p. 648. In Prouerbiorum Salomonis .III. béc.

20
In Cantica Canticorum six béc. 20
In Esdram 7 Neemiam pryo béc .
In Canticum Abbacuc ane boc.
On boc pæs eadegan fæder Tobius becnendlicre race be Criste 7
circan ane bốc.
In godspelle Marce feower bec. 25

In godspelle Luce six béc.

Ofer godspel Omeliarum twa béc.
In apostol, swa hwile swa in geweorcum Sce Agustines gemete,
eal purh endebyrdnesse ic awrat.
In Actus Apostolorum twa béc. 30
In septem Epistolas Canonicas syndrie béc.
In Apocalipsin Sce Iohannes preo béc.
ic
1. 3. P, C. pic Ca. B. 1. 6. þe Ca. de B. te C. 1.7... feng (rest covered)
d
C. onfeng Ca. B. 1. 15. oo Ca. B. Not in C. 1. 23. on Ca. B. on, C.
1. 27. twa bec (twa on erasure) C. tua béc Ca. trá béc B. 1. 28. apost
 V. C . 483
ONC
LUS
N IO
cipline, with the daily charge of singing in church, it was ever
sweet and delightful to me to study, teach or write. And then in
the nineteenth year of my life, I took deacon's orders and became
a priest at thirty, in both cases by the ministrations of the vener-
5 able bishop John, at the bidding and direction of abbot Ceolfrith.
From the time that I entered the priesthood till the 59th year
of my life, for my own needs and those of · my friends I have
written and composed these books out of the works of the
venerable fathers, and I have also added thereto, conformably
10 to the sense and spiritual interpretation.
First on the beginning of Genesis up to the birth of Isaac and
rejection of Ishmael I composed four books.
About the tabernacle and its vessels and priestly robes three
books.
15 On the first part of Samuel, that is up to the death of king
Saul, four books.
On the building of the temple and its figurative interpretation
two books.
Again on the books of the Kings thirty questions.
20 On the proverbs of Solomon three books.
On the Song of Songs six books.
On Ezra and Nehemiah three books.
On the Song of Habakkuk one book.
On the book of the blessed father Tobias of figurative interpre-
25 tation as to Christ and his church one book.
On the gospel of Mark four books.
On the gospel of Luke six books .
Of homilies on the gospel two books .
On the apostle, whatever I have found in the works of St. Au-
30 gustine, I have written all out in order.
On the Acts of the Apostles two books .
On the seven canonical Epistles sundry books.
On the Revelation of St. John three books.

(rest gone) C. apostol Ca. B. 1. 28. • mete (rest gone) C. gemete B.

. gemette Ca. 1. 32. ioh .. nes (rest gone) C. iohannes Ca. B.
I i2
484 LIBER QUINTUS.

Be þam syx yldum worulde ane boc.

Be wunenessum Israhela bearna ane boc.

Be pam pe Esaias cwæð: et claudentur ibi in carcerem & post

multos dies uisitabuntur.
5
Bi ryhte bissexte ane boc.
Bi efenneahte æfter Anatolius race ane.
Bi haligra spellum.
Sci Felices confessor lifes bóc 7 prowunge.
Paulinus boc of metergeweorce in rade spræce ic gehwirfde.
Lifes boc 7 prowunge Sce Anastase martyr, sio was yfle of 10
Grecesce on Læden gehwyrfed 7 gyt wyrs from sumum ungetyd-
um geryhted, swa swa ic mihte, ic to ondgyte geryhte.
Pæs halgan fæder lif 7 muneces somed 7 bisceopes Sce Cupbertes
ærest eroico metere 7 æfter fæce geradeword ic awrat.
Para abbuda stær 7 spel pisses mynstres, on pam ic gefeo piowian 15
pære uplican arfæstnesse, Benedictes 7 Ceolferdes 7 Hwætberhtes,
on twam bocum ic awrat.

Dat cyriclice stær usses ealondes 7 þiode ic on fif bec gesette.

Martyralogium be symbeldægum haligra martyra, on þære ealle
pa pe ic gemetan mihte, nales pot an hwilce dæge ac eac swilce 20
hwilce cyne compes, oppe under hwilcum deman hie middangeard
oferswidden, ic geornlice awrat.
Ymenbec misenlice metre.
Boc epigrammatum eroico metre.
Be gecynde wisana 7 be tydum sindrie bec. 25
Eft be tidum ane micele boc.

Boc de orthographia mid stafræwe endebyrdnesse tosceadene.

Boc de metrica arte, 7 opere to pisse * gepydde be scematibus 7
tropes boc.

1. 3. be pam pe Ca. be dam B...pam pe (2 illegible) C. (em in carcerem

gone in C.) 1. 6. efenmeahte (mea corrected into ni with dot over i) C.
efennihte Ca. emnihte B. (the i in anatolius is gone in C.). race ane Ca.
racan (only) C. gerece áne bóc B. 1. 8. felices confessoru Ca. B.
 V. CONCLUSION . 485

On the six ages of the world one book.

On the ' mansiones ' of the children of Israel one book.
About the words of Isaiah : ' et claudentur ibi in carcerem et
post multos dies uisitabuntur.'
5 About the proper Leap-year one book.
About the Equinox, in accordance with the explanation of
Anatolius one.
On the histories of Saints .
A book of the life and passion of the confessor St. Felix.
10 The book of Paulinus, I turned out of verse into prose.
The book of the life and passion of St. Anastatius martyr, which
was ill translated out of Greek into Latin and still worse revised by
some illiterate person, I corrected by the sense, as well as I could.
The life of the holy father St. Cuthbert, who was both monk and
15 bishop, I first composed in heroic metre and after a time in prose.
The history and account of the abbots of this monastery, in
which I rejoice to serve the divine goodness, that is Benedict,
Ceolfrith and Hwætberht, I composed in two books.
The ecclesiastical history of our island and people I composed
20 in five books.
A Martyrology concerning the festivals of the holy martyrs, in
which all that I could find, not only on what day, but also in what
form of strife and under what judge they prevailed over the world,
I carefully wrote.
25 Books of hymns in varied metre.
A book of epigrams in heroic metre.
On the nature of things and on times sundry books.
Again on times one large book.
A book on orthography arranged in alphabetical order.
30 A book on metre, to which is appended another book on figures
and tropes.

(-fessor). In C. es and or are gone. 1. 9. e in ge (geweorce) gone C.

d
1. 18. ealondes. (erasure of one) C. No variant in Ca. B. 1. 22. -swið, en
1.1 //
C. -swyddon Ca. B. awrat geornlice (i.e. reverse order) C. geornlice
awrat Ca. B. 1. 28. gedydde C. gepeodde B. gepeode Ca.
 486 LIBER QUINTUS .

Be gesetenessum 7 gemetum spræccynna, þam þæt halige gewrit

se canan awriten is.

p. 649 . Ond nu ic pe bidde, dugupa Hælend, þat þu me milde forgife

swetlice drincan pa word pines wisdomes, dæt pu eac fremsumlice
forgife, þæt ic æt nihstan to de þam willan ealles wisdomes becuman 5
mote 7 symle ætywan beforan þinum ansyne.
Eac ponne ic eaðmodlice bidde pætte to eallum þe pis ylce star to
becyme ures cynnes to rædenne oppe to gehyrenne, þæt hie for
minum untrymnessum ge modes ge lichoman gelomlice 7 geornlice
þingien mid þære uplican arfæstnesse Godes ælmihtiges, 7 on gehw- 10
ilcum hiora mægþum þas mede hiora edleanes me agefe, þæt ic þe
be syndrigum mægþum odde þam heorum stowum, þa þe ic gemyn-
dewyrde 7 pam bigengum poncwyrpe gelyfde, geornlice ic tilode to
awritenne, þat ic mid eallum þone wæstm arfæestre þingunge
15
gemette.

(GENEALOGY OF WEST SAXON KINGS . )

III.

Đa wæs agangen fram Cristes accennednysse cccc 7 XCIII wintra,

pa Cerdic 7 Cyneric his sunu coman upp æt Cerdices oran mid fif
scipum. 7 se Cerdic was Elesing, Elesa, Gewising, Gewis
Wiging, Wiging Freawining, Freawine Freopo-garing, Freoðo-
gar Bronding, Brond Bældæging, Bældæg Wodening. Pes 20
ymbe syx gear, þæs þe hi upp coman, geeodan Westseaxna rice. Pat
wæron ða ærestan cyningas þe Westseaxena land on Wealum geeo-
dan. 7 he hæfde pat rice sixtyne gear 7 da gefor he ; 7 pa feng
his sunu Cyneric to pam rice, 7 hit heold XXVII wintra. Đa
he forpferde, pa feng Ceaulin his sunu to, 7 heold seofon winter. 25
pa he gefór, þa feng Ceol to pam rice 7 heold syx gear. þa he
gefor, da feng Ceolwulf to his broðor ; 7 he ricxade seofontyne gear.
Heora cynn gæð to Cerdice. Da feng Cynegyls Ceolwulfes broder

1. 3. for . .fe (rest gone) C. forgife Ca. forgeafe B. 1. 4. swetlice C.

(but the first e may be a). Ca. has é ; B. has e. ou eac Ca. pu eac B. , gone
in C. 1. 5. þam willan ea- gone in C. (B has wylle) . 1. 6. atywan to
 V. CONCLUSION . 487

Upon the forms and modes of speech, in which the canon of holy
scripture is composed.
And now I pray thee, our good Saviour, that you will mercifully
grant me to drink in sweetly the words of thy wisdom, that you
5 will also graciously grant that I may at last come to thee, the fount
of all wisdom and appear for ever before thy face. Now also I
humbly pray of all to whom this history of our race may come,
either as readers or hearers, that they oft and earnestly pray to the
divine goodness of God Almighty for my infirmities of mind and
10 body, and grant me in each of their provinces this meed of reward,
that I who have zealously endeavoured to write about the separate
provinces and the more famous places, what I believed to be
memorable or acceptable to their inhabitants, may obtain among
all the fruit of pious intercession.

eac not in C. Text from Ca. (B. has ætýwan ; þinre ; .ac with capital E
omitted). 1. 12. þa (i. e. pā) C. þam Ca. B.
 488 WEST SAXON GENEALOGY.

suna to rice, 7 hæfde an 7 þrittig wintra. 7 he onfeng ærest

fulluhte Westseaxna cyninga. Da feng Kenwalh to rice 7 heold
hit prittig winter. Se Cenwalh was Cynegelses sunu ; 7 pa heold
Seaxburg his cwen an gear pat rice after him. Da feng Escwine
to rice ; þæs cyn gæð to Ceardice ; 7 he heold twa gear. Pa feng 5
Centwine to Westseaxna rice, Cynegelsing, 7 ricsade nigon gear.
pa feng Ceadwala to pam rice ; das cynn gæd to Cerdice ; 7 he
heold III gear. Da feng Ine to pam rice ; þæs cyn gæð
to Cerdice ; 7 he heold twa 7 prittig winter. Da feng Æpelheard to
rice 7 heold feowertyne winter. Da feng Cuored to ; þæs cynn gæð to 10
Cerdice ; 7 he heold syxtyne winter. pa feng Sigebyrht to ; þæs
cyn gæð to Cerdice ; 7 he heold an gear. Da feng Cynewulf to
rice, pas cyn gæð to Cerdice ; 7 he heold an 7 drittig geara. Pa
feng Beorhtric to rice, 7 he heold sixtene gear. Da feng Ecbyrht
to pam rice 7 heold seofon 7 prittig geara 7 seofen monað : 7 þa 15
feng Edelwulf his sunu to, 7 heold nigontode healf gear ; 7 se
Æðelwulf was Ecbyrhting, Ecbyrht Ealhmunding ; Ealhmund
Eabing ; Eaba Iopping ; Ioppa Ingilding ; Ingild Cenreding : 7
Ine Cenreding : 7 Cuðburh Cenreding ; 7 Cwenburh Cenreding :
Cenred Ceolwalding ; Ceolwald Cudwulfing ; Cudwulf Wining ; 20
Cu wine Celming ; Celm Cynricing ; Cyneric Creoding ; Creodda
Cerdicing. Pa feng Æpelbald his sunu to rice, 7 heold fif gear.
Pa feng Ædelbyrht to his broðor, 7 heold .v. gear. pa feng
Adered his brodor to rice, 7 heold .v. gear. Da feng Ælfred hyra
broder to rice ; 7 þa was agangen his ylde preo 7 twentig wintra, 25
7 preo hund 7 six 7 hundnygantig wintra þæs pe his cyn ærest
t Westseaxna land on Wealum geeodon.

1. 15. s,ofen Ca. This genealogy comes after the Praefatio in Ca, without
heading, and numbered III. It is not contained in B.