1583 Edition | Book 2 | Page 150 
Close(d. 651) [ODNB]
Irish monk of Iona; missionary to Northumbria and bishop of Lindisfarne
Requested by King Oswald of Northumbria; worked with him and Oswine
He preached in Northumbria, with King Oswald translating into English. 1570, pp. 150, 163; 1576, pp. 112, 123; 1583, pp. 111, 122.
Áedán was given a valuable horse by King Oswine of Deira so that he would not always have to travel on foot. He met a poor beggar one day and gave him the horse with its trappings. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
Áedán allowed only milk and water to be drunk at Lindisfarne. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 129; 1583, p. 127.
Ádán, Finán and his successor Colmán held to the Irish method of calculating the date of Easter. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 124; 1583, p. 122.
Close(fl. 664) [ODNB]
Abbess of Barking
Sister of Earconwald, abbot of Chertsey and bishop of London
Æthelburh is confused with the later queen of the same name, wife of King Ine of the West Saxons. 1570, p. 169; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Close(d. 740) [ODNB]
King of the West Saxons (726 - 40)
King Ine abdicated and turned over his kingdom to Æthelheard, his nephew. 1570, p. 169; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Close(c. 673/4 - 735) [ODNB]
Benedictine monk at Wearmouth and Jarrow; historian and theologian
Wrote on the use of language, computation, chronology, biblical commentaries, hagiography and biography
Author of Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
Bede entered the monastery at Wearmouth under Abbot Benedict Biscop when he was seven years old. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 124; 1583, p. 122.
Bede was made deacon at nineteen years of age, and priest when he was twenty. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Pope Sergius I sent a letter to Ceolfrith, abbot of Wearmouth, praising Bede's learning and asking that he be sent to Rome. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Bede gave his Anglorum Historia to King Ceolwulf of Northumbria to be approved and amended. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Bede wrote that in his time Easter was celebrated in Britain following the eastern practice. 1570, p. 145; 1576, p. 107; 1583, p. 106.
Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney, in their examination for heresy, said that Bede had translated the gospel of St John into English. 1563, p. 465; 1570, p. 1137; 1576, p. 974; 1583, p. 1000.
Bede died during the reign of Æthelbald of Mercia. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
Close(c. 628 - 689) [ODNB]
Scholar; in the household of King Oswiu of Northumbria as thegn; travelled to Rome and lived on the continent; brought books back to England to found a monastic library
Abbot of Wearmouth (674 - 89)
Benedict Biscop brought books for monasteries and was the first to introduce glazing into the realm. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 124; 1583, p. 122.
Bede spent his early years under Abbot Benedict Biscop. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 124; 1583, p. 122.
Close(r. 716 - 18) [ODNB sub Osred I]
Son of Cuthwine
King of Northumbria (716 - 18)
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 150, 167; 1576, pp. 112, 126; 1583, pp. 111, 125.
Close(642 - 716) [ODNB]
Monk; close to Wilfrid and Benedict Biscop; prior of Wearmouth 674
Abbot of Wearmouth and Jarrow (685 - 716); resigned and left for Rome in 716; died at Langres on the way
Coelfrith wrote to King Naiton of the Picts, advising him on the Roman practice of Easter and priests' tonsure. As a result of the letter, a proclamation was made and all priests and monks had their heads shaved according to the English custom. 1570, pp. 168-69; 1576, pp. 127-28; 1583, p. 126.
Coelfrith recounts in his letter how Adomnán, abbot of Iona, made an ambassadorial visit to King Aldfrith of Northumbria. Adomnán used the Irish style of tonsure, but became convinced by Abbot Ceolfrith of the superiority of the English style. On his return, he reformed many churches to conform with English practice, but was unable to persuade the monks to alter their tonsure. 1570, p. 169; 1576, p. 127; 1583, p. 126.
[Back to Top]Pope Sergius I sent a letter to Ceolfrith, praising Bede's learning and asking that he be sent to Rome. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Close(d. 764) [ODNB]
Brother of Cenred of Northumbria
King of Northumbria (729 - 737); abdicated in favour of his cousin Eadberht; became a monk of Lindisfarne
Bede gave his Anglorum Historia to Ceolwulf to be approved and amended. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
When Ceolwulf retired to Lindisfarne, the monks were allowed to drink wine or ale, having previously been allowed only milk and water. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Close(d. 768) [ODNB]
Cousin of Ceolwulf of Northumbria
King of Northumbria (737 - 58); abdicated in favour of his son Oswulf; became a monk
He was brother to Ecgberht, archbishop of York. 1570, p. 171; 1576, p. 129; 1583, p. 128.
Offa of Mercia won victories over Eadberht of Northumbria and Æthelred of the East Angles. 1570, p. 173, 1576, p. 130, 1583, p. 129.
Eadberht abdicated and became a monk. 1570, p. 175, 1576, p. 132, 1583, p. 131.
Close(d. 693) [ODNB]
Abbot of Chertsey (c. 664 - 693); founded Barking Abbey
Bishop of the East Saxons (675/6 - 93)
Although Earconwald's legs would no longer allow him to walk or ride a horse, he rode in a litter to be able to preach throughout his diocese. 1570, p. 151; 1576, p. 113; 1583, p. 112.
Close(d. 766) [ODNB]
of royal descent; brother of Eadberht, king of Northumbria; canon lawyer
Archbishop of York (735 - 66); first metropolitan at York; founded school there
Ecgberht brought the pallium back to York. This had been absent since Paulinus had fled. He built a library at York 1570, pp. 170-71; 1576, p. 129; 1583, pp. 127-28.
Ecgberht's writing was one of the sources used by William the Conqueror to compile a book of canons and ordinances to govern the clergy. 1570, p. 1302; 1576, p. 1114; 1583, p. 1139.
Close(d. 739) [ODNB]
Priest of London; informant for Bede on the history of Kent; searched Roman registers
Archbishop of Canterbury (735 - 39)
Nothhelm became archbishop in the same year that Bede died. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 129; 1583, p. 127.
Close(d. 729) [ODNB]
King of Northumbria (718 - 29)
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 150, 167; 1576, pp. 112, 126; 1583, pp. 111, 125.
Close(d. 701) [Kelly]
Pope (687 - 701); baptized King Cædwalla of Wessex
According to William of Malmesbury, Sergius was suspected of fathering a child. Aldhelm, abbot of Malmesbury, miraculously made the nine-day-old child speak, clearing Sergius. 1570, p. 168; 1576, p. 126; 1583, p. 125.
Sergius sent a letter to Ceolfrith, abbot of Wearmouth, praising Bede's learning and asking that he be sent to Rome. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
boured him to leaue the world, and could not bring about her purpose: vpon a season when the king and she had rested them in a faire pallace richly behanged, MarginaliaAn. 724. & were vpon the morow thence departed: she by her commaundement caused the pallace to be replenished with all kinde of filth & dong, and hogs and vile beasts therin to be layd, as wel in the chambers as other houses of office. MarginaliaEthelburge the Queene perswadeth her husbād to be a monke. And in theyr owne chamber where they did lye, there was a Sow laid with her yong pigs. And when she knew that this palace was thus deformed, being a certain space out of the town, she besought the king to visite the said pallace. And when she had brought him therunto, she said to him: I pray you my Lord behold now this house, where are now the rich tappets and clothes of gold & silke, and other rich apparel, that we left here this other day? MarginaliaThe crafty head of a woman. And where be the delicacies & pleasant seruitors, and costly dishes, that you and I lately were serued with? Be not all these passed & gone? My Lord (saith she) in like maner shall we vanish away, as sodainly as you see these worldly things bene passed. And our bodies which now be delicately kept, shal fal and turne into the filth of the earth. Wherefore haue in mynde my wordes that before tyme to you I haue often shewed & told, and busie you to purchase that palace that euer shal endure in ioy without transmutation.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaKing Iue resigning hys kingdome, went to Rome and became a Monke. By meane of these wordes and other, the Queene turned so the kings mynd, that shortly after he resigned the gouernance of his kingdom vnto Ethelardus his nephew: & for the loue of Christ tooke vpon him the habite of a poore man. And setting apart all the pompe & pride of this wicked world, associated himself in the felowship of poore men, and trauailed to Rome with great deuotion, when he had bene king of Westsaxons, as before is sayd 37. yeares. After whose departing, the foresaid Ethelburga his wife, went vnto Barking, 7. miles from London, where in the Nunry of Barking before of Erkenwald founded, she continued & ended the rest of her life, MarginaliaEthelburga the Queene made Nūe of Barking. when she had bene Abbes of the place a certaine time. The said Malmesbery in his story also testifieth, that this Iue was the first king that granted a peny of euery fire house through his dominion to be paid vnto the Court of Rome, MarginaliaPeter pence first graunted and payd to Rome. which afterward was called Romescot, or Peter pence, & long after was paid in many places of England.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe lawes made by King Iue to his people. This Iue, like as for his time, he was worthy and valiaunt in his actes: so was he the first of the Saxon kings (that I read of) which set forth any lawes to his country: the rehersall of which lawes, to the number of 80. and odde, were not vnprofitable here to be inserted together with other lawes of the Westsaxon kings after him, before the tyme of William Conquerour: in case it were not for the length & prolixitie of this present volume. And thus much concerning the raigne of king Iue, king of Westsaxons by the way. Now to repaire againe to the course of Northūberland kings something intermitted.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaCelulphus King of Northumberland. Bede. Next vnto the foresaid Osricus, folowed Celulfus, whom he had adopted, brother to Kēred aboue specified. This Celulfus as he was himselfe learned, so were in his tyme diuers learned mē then florishing in England, among whō was Beda, who vnto the same king Celulfus offred his story intituled Anglorum Historia, not onely to be ratified by his authoritie, but also to be amended, as Malmesburiensis writeth by his knowledge and learnyng.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAn. 729. And for as much as I haue here entred into the mention of Bede, a man of worthy and venerable memory, because of the certifiyng of the truth of that man: and for that I see all writers (as touching his life) do not agree, some saying that he was no Englishman borne: I thought so much to report of him, MarginaliaThe life of Bede, briefly described. as I finde by his owne words testified of himselfe in the latter end of his ecclesiastical history of England, offred to the said Celulfus aboue mentioned the wordes of whom be these.
[Back to Top]Thus much by the helpe of God, I Bede the seruant of Christ, and Priest of the Monastery of Peter and Paule at Wire, haue compiled and digested concerning the Britain history. And so the same Bede proceding further in his narration, declareth that he being borne in the territorie of the sayd Monastery, beyng of the age of vij. yeares, was committed of his parents and friends, to the tuition and education of Benedict MarginaliaThis Benedict maister to Bede, was the first that brought in the vse of glasse windowes into England. Also the sayd Benet brought from Rome with him Iohn the Archaunter, who first taught in England to sing in the quire after the maner of Rome. (of whom aboue relation is made) and of Celfride Abbots of the foresaid Monastery. In the which place or Monastery he continuyng, from that tyme forth, all his lyfe long, gaue hymselfe and all his whole study to the meditating of holy scripture. Whatsoeuer tyme or laisure he had frō his daily seruice in the church, that he spent either in learning, or in teaching, or writing somthing. About xix. yeares of his age, he was made Deacon, the xxx. yeare of his age he was made priest. From the which time to the age of 59. yeares, he occupied himself in interpretingthe workes of the auncient fathers for his owne vse, and the necessitie of others: and in writing of treatises, which came in all to the number of 37. volumes, which he digested into 78. bookes. MarginaliaThe number of the workes and bookes written by Bede.
[Back to Top]Some say that he went to Rome, either there to defend his bookes to be consonant to catholike doctrine: either els if they should be found faulty, to amend & correct the same, as he should thereto be commaunded. Albeit the reporter of this his life dare not certainly affirme that euer he was at Rome: but that he was inuited and called thether to come: both it is manifest in stories, and also this Epistle of Pope Sergius doth suficiently prooue, declaring moreouer in what price and estimation Bede was accepted, as wel in the court of Rome, as in other places besides. The Epistle of Sergius sent to Celfride, thus proceedeth, in tenor and forme as followeth in Latin.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAn Epistle of Pope Sergius. SErgius Episcopus seruus seruorū Dei, Celfrido religioso Abbati. Sal. Quibus modis ac verbis clementiam Dei nostri, atq; inenarrabilem prouidentiam possumus effari, & dignas gratiarum actiones pro immensis eius circa nos beneficijs persoluere: qui in tenebris & in vmbra mortis positos ad lumen scientiæ perducit? Et infra Benedictionis gratiam: quam nobis per præsentem portatorem tua deuota misit religio, libenti & hilari animo sicuti ab ea directa est nos suscepisse, cognosce. Oportunis igitur ac dignis amplectandæ tuæ sollicitudinis petitionibus, arctissima deuotione satisfacientes: hortamur Deo dilectam religiositatis tuæ bonitatem, vt quia exortis quibusdam Ecclesiasticarum causarum capitulis, non sine examinatione longius innotescendis, opus nobis sunt ad conferendum artes literaturæ, sicut decet Deo deuotum auxiliatorem sanctæ matris vuiuersalis Ecclesiæ obedientem deuotionem huic nostræ exhortationi non desistas accommodare: sed absque vlla immoratione religiosum Dei famulum Bedam, venerabilem Monasterij tui Præsbyterum, ad limina Apostolorū principum dominorum meorum Petri & Pauli amatorum tuorum ac protectorum, ad nostræ mediocritatis conspectnm non moreris dirigere: Quem, satisfaciente domino sanctis tuis precibus, non diffidas prospere ad te redire (peracta præmissorum capitulorum cum auxilio Dei desiderata solennitate.) Erit enim vt confidimus etiam cunctis tibi creditis profuturum, quicquid Ecclesiæ generali claruerit per eius præstantiam impartitum &c.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe famous learning of Bede. So notable and famous was the learning of this foresayd Bede, that the Church of Rome (as by this letter appeareth) both stood in need of his helpe, and also requireth the same, about the discussing of certaine causes and controuersies appertaining to learning. Moreouer the whole Latin church at that time, gaue him the maisterie in iudgement and knowledge of the holy Scripture. In all his explanations his chiefest scope and purpose did euer driue, to instruct and informe his Reader simplely and without all curiousnes of stile, in the sincere loue of god, & of his neighbour. MarginaliaBede commended for integritie of lyfe. As touching the holynes and integritie of his life, it is not to be doubted: for how could it be, that he should attend to any vicious idlenes, or had any laisure to the same, who in reading & digesting so many volumes, consumed all his whole cogitations in writing vpon the scriptures: for so he testifieth of himselfe in the 3. booke vpon Samuel, saying in these wordes. If my treatises and expositions, saith he, bring with them no other vtilitie to the Readers therof: yet to myselfe they conduce not a little in this, that while all my study and cogitatiō was set vpon them, in the meane while of the slipperie inticements and vayne cogitations of this world I had little mynd. Thus in this trauail of study he continued til the age of 62. yeres. At length drawyng to his latter end, beyng sicke vij. wekes togither besides other occupiyngs of his mynde, and other studies which he did not intermit: he translated also the gospell of S. Iohn into English. MarginaliaAnno. 735. S. Iohns. Gospell translated into English by Bede. At length with great comfort of spirite departed this lyfe, pronouncyng many comfortable sayings to them that stood about him, vpon the Ascension day, the same yeare when Nothelinus was instituted Archbishop of Caunterbury. And thus much concernyng the story of Bede.
[Back to Top]This Celulfus king of Northumberland afore mentioned, after he had raigned viij. yeares was made a Monke in the Abbey of Farne, otherwise called Lindefar, or holy Iland: MarginaliaCelulfus of a King made a Monke. where by his meanes licence was geuen to the monkes of that house to drinke wyne or ale, which before by the institution of Aidanus aboue mentioned, dronke nothing but milke and water. After whom succeded Egbert his cosin, brother to Egbert (the same tyme beyng bishop of Yorke) which brought againe thether the palle that hys
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