The history of the Church of Englande. Compiled by Venerable Bede, Englishman. Translated out of Latin in to English by Thomas Stapleton student in diuinite

What thinges he mentioned in the same booke touchinge the place of the natiuitie, passion and resurrection of Christe.

The. 17. Chapter.

OF the place of Christes natiuity he reporteth in this sorte: Bethleem a city of Dauid, situated in a narrow and streyt mounte, compassed with vallies of euery side, is a myle in lenght, from the weast to the East, very base and plaine without any toures or turrets.* 1.1 The walles are buil∣ded flatt without any battelments. In the east corner there is as it were a denne not laboured of mā but framed of nature. The vtter most parte of it, is saied to be the place of Christes nati∣uity, the innermost the maunger, where he lay. This denne couered somwhat farre inwarde with goodly precious marble, hath ouer the place where our Lorde was borne, a great church of the blessed virgin Mary builded vppon it. Of the place of his passion and resurrection he wrote after this sorte. As ye enter into the citie of Ierusalem on the North side, to come to the holy places, ye must by ordre of streetes first go to the church of Constantine which is called Martyrium, that is to saye, the Martirdome, or place where the witnesse of our redemption was founde. This church the Emperour Constantine builded very gorgeously, because our sauiour Christes crosse was foū∣de in that place by his mother Helena: Going frō thence on the weast side you shall see* 1.2 a church builded in Golgotha where that rocke is to be sene, which bore Christes crosse and his blessed Body fast nailed to the same, and beareth now also a mighty crosse of siluer with a greate brasen whele hanging ouer it ful of lamps and torches. Within the cōpasse and place where Christes crosse stode, was a vaute cut out of the rocke: In the which vppon an aulter there made, masse is wonte to be

saide for honorable men that dieth,* 1.3 the dead corps standing with oute, in the strete. At the weast side of the same church, was also a rownde chappel of Christes resurrection, enuiron∣ned with thre walles, and borne vp with xij pillers, hauing be∣twixte euery walle, a fayre brode waye: which hathe with in his compasse and circuite thre aulters in three places of the midle walle, south, northe, and weast. This chappell hath eight doores, and places of entreaunce, directly ouer the three walles: of the which iiij. stande northeest. and iiij. weast. In the midle of this chappell ••as laied the rounde tumbe of our sauiour Christ cut oute of the rocke,* 1.4 to the toppe of which a man standing within, may reach with his hande. It openeth on the east side,* 1.5 and hathe that greate stone that was layed vppon, which vntil this day sheweth the print, and signe of the yron tooles with which it was hewed and cut. With in, euen to the very toppe all is couered with marble. The toppe it selfe al gilted with golde, beareth a greate golden crosse, vpon it. In the northe parte of that monument,* 1.6 Christes sepulchre was cut oute of the same rocke, and made seuen foote longe, and thre handfull higher then the pauiment. The coming in is on the south side: where continually day and night twelue ampes burne, foure with in the sepulchre, and eight aboue in the right side. The stone which was put vppon the brimme of the sepulchre, is nowe clouen. The lesse parte notwithstanding standeth at the doore of the same sepulchre as an aulter foure-square. The greater parte standeth for an other aulter in the sa∣me churche in the manner of a quadrangle, couered with faire white clothe. The colour of the sayd sepulchre semeth to be white and read decently mixed together.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The place of Chri∣stes nati∣uite.
• * 1.2

  Of this church erected by Helena mother of Con∣stantin, Paulinus Nolensis maketh mention. Epist. 11. ad Seuerum.
• * 1.3

  The de∣uotion of the Chri∣stians in Ierusalem aboue a thousand yeres past.
• * 1.4

  Et erit sepulchrum eius glori∣sum.
• * 1.5

  And the place of his buriall shall be glorious sayth the prophet.
• * 1.6

  Esaie. Cap. 11.