Messrs. Mayor and Lumby's edition of Books III and IV, Dr. Bright's "Early English Church History," and Dr. Hunt's "History of the English Church from its foundation to the Norman Conquest." Many of the articles in the "Dictionary of Christian Biography" and the "Dictionary of Christian Antiquities," Dr. Mason's "Mission of St. Augustine," Dr. Rhys's "Celtic Britain," and a number of other books, mentioned in the notes, have been consulted.

For help received in different ways I wish to express my gratitude to various correspondents and friends. I am particularly indebted to Mr. Edward Bell, who has kindly revised my proofs and made many valuable suggestions. For information on certain points I have to thank the Rev. Charles Plummer, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Professor Lindsay of St. Andrews University, Miss Wordsworth, Principal, and Miss Lodge, Vice-Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford; and in a very special sense I wish to ackowledge my obligations to Miss Paterson, Assistant Librarian at the University Library, St. Andrews, whose unfailing kindness in verifying references, and supplying me with books, has greatly lightened my labours.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

PREFACE. To the most glorious king Ceolwulf. Bede, the
servant of Christ and Priest

BOOK I

I

CHAP. I. Of the Situation of Britain and Ireland, and of their
ancient inhabitants

5

9

CHAP. II. How Caius Julius Caesar was the first Roman that
came into Britain
CHAP. III. How Claudius, the second of the Romans who
came into Britain, brought the islands Orcades into sub-
jection to the Roman empire; and Vespasian, sent by him,
reduced the Isle of Wight under the dominion of the
Romans

II

12

CHAP. IV. How Lucius, king of Britain, writing to Pope
Eleutherus, desired to be made a Christian
CHAP. V. How the Emperor Severus divided from the rest
by a rampart that part of Britain which had been re-
covered

12

CHAP. VI. Of the reign of Diocletian, and how he persecuted
the Christians

13

14

CHAP. VII. The Passion of St. Alban and his companions,
who at that time shed their blood for our Lord
CHAP. VIII. How, when the persecution ceased, the Church
in Britain enjoyed peace till the time of the Arian heresy
CHAP. IX. How during the reign of Gratian, Maximus, being
created Emperor in Britain, returned into Gaul with a
mighty army

19

20

CHAP. X. How, in the reign of Arcadius, Pelagius, a Briton,
insolently impugned the Grace of God

PAGE

20

22

CHAP. XI. How, during the reign of Honorius, Gratian and
Constantine were created tyrants in Britain; and soon
after the former was slain in Britain, and the latter in
Gaul.
CHAP. XII. How the Britons, being ravaged by the Scots
and Picts, sought succour from the Romans, who coming
a second time, built a wall across the island; but when
this was broken down at once by the aforesaid enemies,
they were reduced to greater distress than before.
CHAP. XIII. How in the reign of Theodosius the younger, in
whose time Palladius was sent to the Scots that believed
in Christ, the Britons begging assistance of Aetius, the
consul, could not obtain it. [446 A.D.]
CHAP. XIV. How the Britons, compelled by the great famine,
drove the barbarians out of their territories; and soon
after there ensued, along with abundance of corn, decay
of morals, pestilence, and the downfall of the nation
CHAP. XV. How the Angles, being invited into Britain, at
first drove off the enemy; but not long after, making a
league with them, turned their weapons against their
allies.

CHAP. XVI. How the Britons obtained their first victory
over the Angles, under the command of Ambrosius, a
Roman

31

CHAP. XVII. How Germanus the Bishop, sailing into Britain
with Lupus, first quelled the tempest of the sea, and
afterwards that of the Pelagians, by Divine power. [429
A.D.] .
CHAP. XVIII. How the same holy man gave sight to the
blind daughter of a tribune, and then coming to St.
Alban, there received of his relics, and left other relics
of the blessed Apostles and other martyrs. [429 A.D.]
CHAP. XIX. How the same holy man, being detained there
by sickness, by his prayers quenched a fire that had
broken out among the houses, and was himself cured of
his infirmity by a vision. [429 A.D.].

CHAP. XX. How the same Bishops brought help from Heaven
to the Britons in a battle, and then returned home. [430
A.D.].

CHAP. XXI. How, when the Pelagian heresy began to spring
up afresh, Germanus, returning to Britain with Severus,
first restored bodily strength to a lame youth, then
spiritual health to the people of God, having condemned
or converted the heretics. [447 A.D.]
CHAP. XXII. How the Britons, being for a time at rest from
foreign invasions, wore themselves out by civil wars,
and at the same time gave themselves up to more heinous
crimes

PAGE

39

41

42

44

CHAP. XXIII. How the holy Pope Gregory sent Augustine,
with other monks, to preach to the English nation, and
encouraged them by a letter of exhortation, not to desist
from their labour. [596 A.D.]
CHAP. XXIV. How he wrote to the bishop of Arles to enter-
tain them. [596 A.D.]
CHAP. XXV. How Augustine, coming into Britain, first
preached in the Isle of Thanet to the King of Kent, and
having obtained licence from him, went into Kent, in
order to preach therein. [597 A.D.] .
CHAP. XXVI. How St. Augustine in Kent followed the doc-
trine and manner of life of the primitive Church, and
settled his episcopal see in the royal city. [597 A.D.]
CHAP. XXVII. How St. Augustine, being made a bishop,
sent to acquaint Pope Gregory with what had been done
in Britain, and asked and received replies, of which he
stood in need. [597-601 A.D.]
CHAP. XXVIII. How Pope Gregory wrote to the bishop of
Arles to help Augustine in the work of God. [601 A.D.].
CHAP. XXIX. How the same Pope sent to Augustine the Pall
and a letter, along with several ministers of the word.
[601 A.D.]
CHAP. XXX. A copy of the letter which Pope Gregory sent
to the Abbot Mellitus, then going into Britain. [601 A.D.]
CHAP. XXXI. How Pope Gregory, by letter, exhorted
Augustine not to glory in his miracles. [6or A.D.] .
CHAP. XXXII. How Pope Gregory sent letters and gifts to
King Ethelbert. [601 A.D.]

CHAP. XXXIII. How Augustine repaired the church of our
Saviour, and built the monastery of the blessed Peter
the Apostle; and concerning Peter the first abbot of the

same.

45

47

49

63

64

66

68

69

72

CHAP. XXXIV. How Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians,
having vanquished the nations of the Scots, expelled
them from the territories of the English. [603 A.D.]

BOOK II

CHAP. I. Of the death of the blessed Pope Gregory. [604 A.D.]
CHAP. II. How Augustine admonished the bishops of the
Britons on behalf of Catholic peace, and to that end
wrought a heavenly miracle in their presence; and of the
vengeance that pursued them for their contempt. [Circ.
603 A.D.]
CHAP. III. How St. Augustine made Mellitus and Justus
bishops; and of his death. [604 A.D.]
CHAP. IV. How Laurentius and his bishops admonished the
Scots to observe the unity of the Holy Church, particu-
larly in the keeping of Easter; and how Mellitus went to
Rome

CHAP. V. How, after the death of the kings Ethelbert and

Sabert, their successors restored idolatry; for which
reason, both Mellitus and Justus departed out of Britain.
[616 A.D.] .
CHAP. VI. How Laurentius, being reproved by the Apostle
Peter, converted King Eadbald to Christ; and how the
king soon recalled Mellitus and Justus to preach the
Word. [617-618 A.D.]

PAGE

73

75

83

89

91

93

97

98

CHAP. VII. How Bishop Mellitus by prayer quenched a fire
in his city. [619 A.D.]

CHAP. VIII. How Pope Boniface sent the Pall and a letter to
Justus, successor to Mellitus. [624 A.D.].
CHAP. IX. Of the reign of King Edwin, and how Paulinus,
coming to preach the Gospel, first converted his daughter
and others to the mysteries of the faith of Christ. [625-
626 A.D.]

CHAP. X. How Pope Boniface, by letter, exhorted the same
king to embrace the faith. [Circ. 625 A.D.]

CHAP. XI. How Pope Boniface advised the king's consort to
use her best endeavours for his salvation. [Circ. 625 A.D.] 109
CHAP. XII. How Edwin was persuaded to believe by a vision
which he had once seen when he was in exile. [Circ. 616
A.D.] .

112