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

THE LIFE OF S. BEDE: WRITEN BY TRITHEMIVS.

BEde a monke and priest of the monastery of S. Peter and Paul, of S. Benets order in England, a man in ho∣ly scripture much conuersant and very well lerned. In other good lerning of great knowleadg. As in philosophie, Astronomie, Algorisme and Poetry. Skilful of the greke toung: of an excellent witt. His tounge and stile not curious, but plea∣saunt and semely. He wrote many volumes in the which his witt and lerning is tried. This man at the age of seuen yeares, was by his frendes committed to Benedictus, and after to Ce∣olfridus the Abbbat of the forsaied monastery, at Murmouth, to be brought vp and instructed. From the which age continu∣ing all daies of his life in that monastery, he bestowed all dili∣gence in the study of holy scripture. And obseruing with all the rule of his order, singing daily gods seruice in the church, in the rest he delighted allwaies, to lerne, to teache, or to write. In the nintenth yere of his age he was ordred deacon. In the xxx. yere he was made priest. Bothe which orders he receiued at the handes of the holy Bishop Iohn of Beuerlake, by the cōmaun∣dment of Ceolfrid his Abbat. Frō which time of his pristhood, vntel the ende of his life he wrote the workes here folowing.

In Genesim vsque ad I saac.

lib. 4.

In Exodum.

lib. 1.

De tabernaculo & vasiseius.

lib. 3.

In Numeros.

lib. 1.

In Leuiticum.

lib. 1.

In Regum. 30. quest.

lib. 1.

In Deuteronomium.

lib. 1.

In Iudicum.

lib. 1.

De aedificatione templi.

lib. 2.

In principium Regum.

lib. 3.

In I••suae.

lib. 1.

In Prouerbia Salomonis.

lib. 3.

In Paralipomenon.

lib. 2.

In Ecclesiastem.

lib. 1.

In Cantica Canticorum.

lib. 6.

In Esdram & Neemi••m.

lib. 3.

In Tobiam.

lib. 1.

In Ezaiam prophetam.

lib. 2.

In Ezechielem.

lib. 1.

In Hieremiam.

lib. 2.

In Danielem.

lib. 1.

In xij. prophetas minores.

lib. 12.

In epistolas Pauli.

lib. 14.

In epistolas Canonicas.

lib. 7.

In Euangelium Marci.

lib. 4.

In Apocalypsim.

lib. 3.

In actus Apostolorum.

lib. 2.

In Euangelium Lucae.

lib. 6.

Gesta Anglorum.

lib. 5.

Flores B. Gregorij in Cātica.

lib. 2.

Homilias euangeliorum.

lib. 2.

Chronicam sui coenobij.

lib. 2.

G••sta diuersorum sanctorū.

lib. 1.

De tēporibus & natura rerū.

lib. 1.

Martyrologium.

lib. 1.

De passione Sancti Felicis.

lib. 1.

Aliud minus volumen.

lib. 2.

De Locis sanctis.

lib. 1.

Vitam S. Alberti episcopi.

lib. 2.

Scintillarū ex sentētijs patrū.

lib. 1.

Epigrammata hero.

lib. 1.

Himnorum diuerso carmine.

lib. 1.

Distinctiones in Hieremiam.

lib. 1.

Lectiones noui Testam.

lib. 1.

Lectiones in vetus Testam.

lib. 1.

De Christo & Ecclesia.

lib. 2.

Distinctiones in Iob.

lib. 1.

Epistolarum ad diuersos.

lib. 1.

De cantico Abacuc.

lib. 1.

De orthographia.

lib. 1.

De arte metrica.

lib. 1.

De schematibus.

lib. 1.

He wrote also many other thinges, which are not come to my knowleadge. This mans workes were of such authorite, euen while he yet liued, and wrote allwaies newe, that they were openly read in Churches, by the appointment of the bys∣shops of England. And bicause that, his homelies then read in the church, bearing the name of the Author, as the maner is, were intituled The homelies of the venerable priest Bede, not being able to call him with a more honourable name while he yet ly∣ued, the same title hath remained euen to this daye. Whereby he is rather called Venerable Bede then S. Bede. For it was not lawfull to call any a Saint yet liuing. Some do faine other cau∣ses why he should be surnamed Venerable. As that being blind, he preached to stones, and of an epitaphe writen by an Angel. But these men are deceiued. For neither Bede was blinde, nei∣ther

it is knowen that any such epitaphe was writen vpon his sepulchre. And truly, were it not to auoide prolixite, I coulde easely confute these folies. He departed this worlde vnder Leo the Emperour. In the yere of our Lorde 732. In the yere of his age 72. the last daie of Maie. Indictione. 15.

Notes

• At VVei mouth at the riuer VVere whiche runneth by Dyr∣tham.