Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England
A Revised Translation
With Introduction, Life, and Notes
By
A. M. Sellar
Late Vice-Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
London
George Bell and Sons
1907
Contents
Editor's Preface Introduction Life Of Bede Errata
Preface
Book I
Chap. I. Of the Situation of Britain and Ireland, and of their ancient inhabitants.
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 subjection to the Ro-
man empire; and Vespasian, sent by him, reduced the Isle of Wight under the dominion of the Romans. 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 recovered.
Chap. VI. Of the reign of Diocletian, and how he persecuted the Christians.
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. Chap. X. How, in the reign of Arcadius, Pelagius, a Briton, insolently impugned the Grace of God.
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 en-
sued, 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.
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 some 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.]
1
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.
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 entertain 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 doctrine 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. [601 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.
Chap. XXXIV. How Ethelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, having vanquished the nations of the Scots, expelled them from the ter-
ritories 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, particularly in 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.]
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.]
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.]