Ecclesiastical History of the English People: with Bede's Letter to Egbert and Cuthbert's Letter on the Death of Bede

by Bede, Leo Sherley-Price (Translator)

Written in AD 731, Bede's work opens with a background sketch of Roman Britain's geography and history. It goes on to tell of the kings and bishops, monks and nuns who helped to develop Anglo-Saxon government and religion during the crucial formative years of the English people. Leo Sherley-Price's translation brings us an accurate and readable version, in modern English, of a unique historical document. This edition now includes Bede's Letter to Egbert concerning pastoral care in early Anglo-Saxon England, at the heart of which lay Bede's denunciation of the false monasteries; and The Death of Bede, an admirable eye-witness account by Cuthbert, monk and later Abbot of Jarrow, both translated by D. H. Farmer.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Church History, Classics

404 pages, ebook

Published June 26, 2003

About the author

born perhaps 673

Saxon theologian Bede, also Baeda or Beda, known as "the Venerable Bede," wrote Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation , a major work and an important ancient source, in 731 in Latin and introduced the method from the birth of Jesus of dating events.

People referred to Saint Bede, a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth and at its companion of Saint Paul in modern Jarrow in the kingdom, for more than a millennium before canonization. Most fame of this well author and scholar gained him the title as "the father.”

In 1899, Leo XIII, pope, made Bede a doctor of the Church, a position of significance; only this native of Great Britain achieved this designation; from Italy, Saint Anselm of Canterbury originated.
Bede, a skilled linguist, moreover translated the Greek of the early Church Fathers, and his contributions made them significantly much more accessible to his fellow Christians. Monastery of Bede accessed a superb library, which included Eusebius and Orosius.

Reviews

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most startling features of this book was the importance of Easter and tonsure. This is a perfect example of how the burning issue of the day seems so foreign to people of other eras.

I was also struck at how clearly ideas that later define colonialism are present such as "civilizing" people and giving presents of land (complete with serfs) as gifts.

This is a difficult book to rate - as a window into another time, 5 stars. As a history book by today's standards, maybe 3. As something to study in preparation for a journey to England or to learn of people to research further, 5 stars. As a book I "enjoyed", maybe 3 stars.

I suspect this book grows on you as you read it more.

[Billy Backhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable and nourishing read for many unexpected reasons:
1. God's amazing providence in providing gospel workers for this obscure and remote country over such an immensely long period of time.
2. How blessed we are with modern study tools. Bede praises at great length a book about the layout of ancient Jerusalem, which added immensely to contemporary study of the old and new testaments, which was compiled second hand on the basis of memories from decades earlier. By contrast, my baptism NIV has 9 maps in it!
3. Miracle stories - some with a note of irony in them. Infected wounds can apparently have the poison drawn out of them by water into which a page of an Irish book has been stirred...
4. Very excellent names for future Golden Retrievers. Stay tuned!

[Anna Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first medieval texts I’ve read cover to cover, and honestly the prose was straightforward and easy to understand. It was actually pretty funny at some points, and also—there was a king Anna of East Anglia. Chew on that, peasants. Also, shoutout to my medieval history teacher for assigning Cornell notes on the whole book. I am a more patient person on account of the 50 pages of handwritten outlines.

[David Sweet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting dive into medieval history from a primary source. Would recommend to those interested in English history, ecclesiastical history, or Catholics. Favorite biography was of Abbess Hilde.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FAMOUS HISTORY OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND

Bede (672-735) was an English monk and historian. (He is called 'Venerable' because he had been proposed for sainthood.)

Of Kent, he wrote, "While the king was pleased at their faith and conversion, it is said that he would not compel anyone to accept Christianity; for he had learned from his instructors and guides to salvation that the service of Christ must be accepted freely and not under compulsion." (Pg. 77)

He observes, "There is no obstacle to the Baptism either of a woman who has been delivered, or of a newborn babe, even if it has been administered to her in the very hour of her delivery, or to the child at the hour of its birth, provided that there be danger of death. For as the grace of this sacred mystery is to be offered with great deliberation to the living and the conscious, so it is to be administered without delay to the dying; for if we wait to offer them this mystery of redemption, it may be too late to find the one to be redeemed." (Pg. 83)

Concerning the tonsure of monks, he quotes an abbot, "of all the tonsures to be found either in the Church or among the races of mankind, I consider none more worthy of being imitated and adopted than that worn on the head of the disciple (Peter)... But we are not shaven in the form of a crown solely because Peter was shorn in this way, but because Peter was shorn in this way in memory of our Lord's Passion..." (Pg. 317-318)

More controversial is Bede's rather uncritical acceptance of numerous purported miracles that were reported to him: e.g., "the flames leaped over the house where the saint lay disabled and helpless" [pg. 68]; "The house burned down, and only the beam from which the earth hung remained ... they found that the man had taken the earth from the place where (the Christian king) Oswald's blood had been shed" [pg. 159]; "He took out the flask of oil, and poured some of it over the sea, which immediately ceased its raging" [pg. 168]; "To this day, the horse-litter in which (Bishop Earconwald) travelled when ill ... continues to cure many folk troubled by fever and other complaints" [pg. 216]; "At the touch of these robes devils were expelled from the bodies of those whom they possessed" [pg. 238]; "there seemed no hope whatever of finding a spring... through the faith and prayers of God's servant it was found full of water the next day" [pg. 258]; "The garments that had clothed Cuthbert's hallowed body both before and after his death continued to possess healing virtues" [pg. 264]; "the youth took the hairs of holy Cuthbert's head ... and applied them to his eyelid... he suddenly felt his eye and found both it and the lid sound" [pg. 265]; "with the assistance of the bishop's blessing and prayers his skin healed, and a vigorous growth of hair appeared" [pg. 269], etc.

Whether one accepts everything herein literally, this book is still an essential resource for this period of Christian history.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in 731 A.D., a period in which writings were intended for recording and not to entertain the reader. Bede records events from 60 B.C. when Julius Caesar had some victories in Britain to 731 A.D., the year Bede wrote his book. Bede also shares his personal reflections on what he has heard or experienced personally the kings and clergymen during this time period. He is detailed in his dates, places and historical facts, making this a valuable work for English and church historians. This translation is very readable, as was Bede for his day.

I would read a few pages in this book, and then put it down for a day or two – or even a week – depending on my schedule. It is not a page-turner – but it is interesting in the picture it gives of England before it united under one king. I also found compelling the way the island was evangelized – and the different church customs that were practiced under diverse kings and clergy, especially between the English and Irish. The big issues before unification of the church were the proper day to celebrate Easter and the tonsure of monks and priests. Many times it was the king who decided which preference on these two issues his people would follow.

Bede himself was a devout man, a scholar who cared about making the gospel available to all people. He advocated that the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles creed be translated into the language of the people as he felt this would enhance a believer’s foundation in the faith. I was particularly impressed by a letter that he, a mere monk, wrote to his bishop, Bishop Egbert. Bede saw corruption creeping into the church, as well as the absence of Godly men in some monasteries, and he boldly expressed his hopes and criticisms in this letter.

I was touched by the eye witness account of his death by Cuthbert, a fellow monk and later an abbot of Jarrow. Bede welcomed his death singing praises of glory to God with outstretched hands.

This book will not be for everyone. The names of all the kings and bishops are unfamiliar, and the geography was divided by its kingdoms during this period. Fortunately, there are maps from the time of Bede as well as genealogy charts of the kings in the appendix.

What I discovered in this book is a picture of how the church went out into “Samaria, Judea, and all the corners of the world” – when it came to this one corner across the English Channel.

[Yibbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a very old book with bits of history about the early English kings, it's interesting in spots, boring much of the time, and confusing frequently. I'm glad I read it, but heartbroken to see how deeply mired in superstitions and traditions they already were.
I did learn random bits and bob. Did you know that they were separating over the day they celebrated Easter? They even pulled secular authorities into their squabbles about it. It was sad. I can think of a few Bible verses that would have smoothed the way considerably had they not been so attached to popish authority. I also learned just how wildly superstitious they were. He claimed miraculous powers for all sorts of things from bones to wood splinters and lights. It was so weird.
Unless, you really like old superstitions and old, old names. It might be worth reading, but I can't say it was worth it.

[Brit Chhangur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-read for year 7.

[Dave Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just an incredible record of the Early Church in the UK, Awesome record for the time and a great eye opener that signs and wonders never ceased with the Apostles.

[Carlos Ohler]

A classic example of hagiography. Bede's stories are certainly fantastical, but entertaining nevertheless.

[Anne Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The go-to resource on the topic

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for a class at Pacific Theological Seminary. Bede is very interesting.