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

How the South saxons receaued Eadbert and Collan for their bys∣shopps, the weast Saxons Daniel and Aldethelme for theirs: and of cer∣taine writinges sett foorth by the same Aldethelme.

The. 19. Chap.

THe yere of the incarnation off Christe 705.* 1.1 Alfride kinge of Northumberlande dyed, the xx. yere of his rai∣gne not yet fully expired. After hym sucdeded Osrede his sonne, a child but eyght yeres olde, and raigned xj. yeares. In the beginning of his raygne Hedde bysshop of the weast Sa∣xons departed from this mortall life to immortal ioye: For vn∣doubtedly he was a iuste man, one that lyued vpryghtlye in all pointes leke a good bishoppe, and preached sincerely le∣ke a trewe pastour, and that more of the loue of vertue natu∣rally

graffyd in him, then of any instructours by often rea∣dinge taught him. Furthermore, the reuerend father and wor∣thy prelate Pechtehlme, (of whom we must speake hereafter in place where he shall be mentioned) who being but yet a deacon and younge monke, liued familiarly a longe time with his suc∣cessour Aldethelme, was wounte to tell vs that in the place whe∣re the said Hedde died, for reward of his holy life many great miracles and cures were don: and that men of the same prouin∣ce vsed commonly to carry away dust from thence and min∣gle it with water for such as were deseased and sicke: that also the drinking and sprinckling of the same did cure many sicke men and beastes also. By which occasion for often carying a∣way of the sacred dust a great deepe pitt was made there. After his death, that bisshopprick was diuided into ij. dioceses. The one was geuen to Daniell, which he keapeth at this present: the other to Aldethelme, where he ruled the people very painefully for iiij. yeares. They were borhe lerned men skilfull in holy scripture and all ecclesiastical doctrine. Aldethelme, when he was priest, and yet but Abbot of the monastery of* 1.2 Mailsbury wrote by the commaundement of the whole Synode of his countrye a booke against the errour of the Britons, for not ke∣ping the fest of Easter in his dewe time, and doing many thin∣ges besides, contrary to the trewe obseruation and vnite of the church. By reading of the same book he reduced many Brytōs subiect at that time to the Weastsaxons, to the catholike solem∣nisation of the feast of Easter. He wrote also a notable booke of virginitie, bothe in longe verse and prose, with doble paines, folowing the example of Sedulius. He set forth also many o∣ther workes. For he was notably well lerned, very fine and elo∣quent in his talke, and for knowledge as well in liberall scien∣ces, as in diuinite to be had in admiration. After his death For∣there was made bishop in his place a man also much conuersant in holy scripture. These ij. hauing the gouuernaunce and who∣le

rule of that diocese,* 1.3 it was determined by a decree in the Sy∣node, that the prouince of South Saxons, which to that pre∣sent day appertained to the diocesse of Winchester, where Da∣niel was bisshoppe, should haue a see and bishopp of their owne seuerally.* 1.4 Whereuppon Eadberte Abbot in the monasterie off that blessed bishoppe VVilfride was made and consecrated first bisshopp of that diocese. After his death, Ceolla toke the bisshop∣pricke vppon him: Who not past iij. or iiij. yeares past departing this life, the see to this day is vacant.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An. 705.
• * 1.2

  In the borders of VVils∣here.
• * 1.3

  The dio∣ceses of Sussex and Hāp∣shere diui∣ded.
• * 1.4

  Celse foū¦ded by Eadbert the first bishop of Celse in Sussex by Chiche∣ster.