rint, nonnulla mihi ex parte prodiderunt. Denique, hortatu præcipue ipsius Albini, ut hoc opus aggredi auderem, provocatus sum. Sed et Daniel, reverendissimus Occidentalium Saxonum episcopus, qui nunc usque superest, nonnulla mihi de historia ecclesiastica provinciæ ipsius, simul et proxima illi Australium Saxonum, nec non et Vectæ insulæ, literis mandata declaravit. Qualiter vero per ministerium Cedd et Ceaddæ, religiosorum Christi sacerdotum, vel provincia Merciorum ad fidem Christi, quam non noverat, pervenerit, vel provincia Orientalium Saxonum fidem, quam olim exsufflaverat, recuperaverit, qualis etiam ipsorum patrum vita vel obitus exstiterit, diligenter a fratribus monasterii, quod ab ipsis conditum Lestingau cognominatur, agnovimus. Porro in provincia Orientalium Anglorum quæ fuerint gesta ecclesiastica, partim ex scriptis vel traditione priorum, partim reverendissimi abbatis Esii relatione, comperimus. At vero in provincia Lindissi, quæ sint gesta erga fidem Christi, quæve successio sacerdotalis exstiterit, vel literis reverendissimi antistitis Cuneberti, vel aliorum fidelium virorum viva voce, didicimus. Quæ autem in Northanhumbrorum provincia, ex quo tempore fidem Christi perceperunt usque ad præsens, per diversas regiones in ecclesia sint acta, non uno quolibet auctore, sed fideli innumerorum testium, qui hæc scire vel meminisse poterant, assertione cognovi, exceptis his quæ per me ipsum nosse poteram. Inter quæ notandum, quod ea quæ de sanctissimo patre et antistite Cuthberto vel in hoc volumine vel in libello gestorum ipsius conscripsi, partim ex eis quæ de illo prius a fratribus ecclesiæ Lindisfarnensis scripta reperi, assumsi, simpliciter fidem historiæ, quam legebam, accommodans; partim vero ea, quæ certissima fidelium virorum attestatione per me ipse cognoscere potui, solerter adjicere curavi. Lectoremque suppliciter obsecro ut, si qua in his quæ scripsimus aliter quam se veritas faith of Christ. In short, I was chiefly encouraged to undertake this work by the persuasions of the same Albinus. In like manner, Daniel, the most reverend Bishop of the West Saxons, who is still living, communicated to me in writing some things relating to the Ecclesiastical History of that province, and the next adjoining to it of the South Saxons, as also of the Isle of Wight. But how, by the pious ministry of Cedd and Ceadda, the province of the Mercians was brought to the faith of Christ, which they knew not before, and how that of the East Saxons recovered the same, after having expelled it, and how those fathers lived and died, we learned from the brethren of the monastery, which was built by them, and is called Læstingau. What ecclesiastical transactions took place in the province of the East Angles, was partly made known to us from the writings and tradition of our ancestors, and partly by relation of the most reverend Abbot Esius. What was done towards promoting the faith, and what was the sacerdotal succession in the province of Lindsey, we had either from the letters of the most reverend prelate Cunebert, or by Bishop word of mouth from other persons of good credit. But what was done in the Church throughout the province of the Northumbrians, from the time when they received the faith of Christ till this present, I received not from any particular author, but by the faithful testimony of innumerable witnesses, who might know or remember the same; besides what I had of my own knowledge. Wherein it is to be observed, that what I have written concerning our most holy father, and Bishop Cuthbert, st. Cuthbert. either in this volume, or in my treatise on his life and actions, I partly took, and faithfully copied from what I found written of him by the brethren of the Church of Lindisfarne; but at the same time took care to add such things as I could myself have knowledge of by the faithful testimony of such as knew him. And I humbly entreat the reader, that if he shall in this that we have

Cunebert.

habet posita repererit, non hoc nobis imputet, qui, quæ vera lex historiæ est, simpliciter ea quæ, fama vulgante, collegimus, ad instructionem posteritatis literis mandare studuimus.

Præterea omnes ad quos hæc eadem historia pervenire poterit nostræ nationis legentes sive audientes suppliciter precor, ut pro meis infirmitatibus et mentis et corporis apud Supernam clementiam sæpius intervenire meminerint; et in suis quique provinciis hanc mihi suæ remunerationis vicem rependant, ut, qui de singulis provinciis sive locis sublimioribus, quæ memoratu digna atque incolis grata credideram, diligenter annotare curavi, apud omnes fructum piæ intercessionis inveniam.

CAP. I. DE SITU BRITANNIE VEL HIBERNIE, ET PRISCIS

EARUM INCOLIS.

RITANNIA, oceani insula, cui quondam Albion nomen fuit, inter septentrionem et occidentem locata est, Germaniæ, Galliæ, Hispaniæ, maximis Europæ partibus, multo intervallo adversa; quæ per millia passuum octingenta in Boream longa, latitudinis habet millia ducenta, exceptis duntaxat prolixioribus diversorum promontoriorum tractibus, quibus efficitur ut circuitus ejus quadragies octies septuaginta quinque millia compleat. Habet a meridie Galliam Belgicam, cujus proximum litus transmeantibus aperit civitas quæ dicitur Rutubi Portus, a gente Anglorum nunc corrupte Reptacestir vocata, interposito mari a Gessoriaco Morinorum gentis litore proximo, trajectu millium quinquaginta, sive, ut quidam scripsere, stadiorum quadringentorum quinquaginta. A tergo autem, unde oceano infinito patet, Orcadas insulas habet. Opima frugibus atque arboribus insula, et alendis apta pecoribus ac jumentis; vineas written find any thing not delivered according to the truth, he will not impute the same to me, who, as the true rule of history requires, have laboured sincerely to commit to writing such things as I could gather from common report, for the instruction of posterity.

Moreover I beseech all men who shall hear or read this history of our nation, that for my manifold infirmities both of mind and body, they will offer up frequent supplications to the throne of Grace. And I further pray, that in recompense for the labour wherewith I have recorded in the several countries and cities those events which were most worthy of note, and most grateful to the ears of their inhabitants, I may for my reward have the benefit of their pious prayers.

CHAP. I.-OF THE SITUATION OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND,

AND OF THEIR ANCIENT INHABITANTS.

B

RITAIN, an island in the ocean, Britain.
formerly called Albion, is situated
between the north and west, facing,
though at a considerable distance,
the coasts of Germany, France, and
Spain, which form the greatest part
of Europe. It extends 800 miles

in length towards the north, and is 200 miles in breadth,
except where several promontories extend further in
breadth, by which its compass is made to be 3675 miles.
To the south, as you pass along the nearest shore of the Its situation.
Belgic Gaul, the first place in Britain which opens to
the eye, is the city of Rutubi Portus, by the English
corrupted into Reptacestir. The distance from hence
across the sea to Gessoriacum, the nearest shore of the
Morini, is 50 miles, or as some writers say, 450 furlongs.
On the back of the island, where it opens upon the
boundless ocean, it has the islands called Orcades.
Britain excels for grain and trees, and is well adapted

etiam quibusdam in locis germinans; sed et avium ferax terra marique generis diversi. Fluviis quoque multum piscosis ac fontibus præclara copiosis, et quidem præcipue issicio abundat et anguilla. Capiuntur autem sæpissime et vituli marini et delphines, necnon et balænæ; exceptis variorum generibus conchyliorum, in quibus sunt et musculæ, quibus inclusam sæpe margaritam omnis quidem coloris optimam inveniunt, id est, et rubicundi, et purpurei, et hyacinthini, et prasini, sed maxime candidi. Sunt et cochleæ satis superque abundantes, quibus tinctura coccinei coloris conficitur, cujus rubor pulcherrimus nullo unquam solis ardore, nulla valet pluviarum injuria pallescere; sed quo vetustior est eo solet esse venustior. Habet fontes salinarum, habet et fontes calidos, et ex eis fluvios balnearum calidarum, omni ætati et sexui per distincta loca juxta suum cuique modum accommodos. Aqua enim, ut sanctus Basilius dicit, fervidam qualitatem recipit, quum per certa quædam metalla transcurrit, et fit non solum calida sed et ardens. Quæ etiam venis metallorum, æris, ferri, et plumbi, et argenti, fecunda, gignit et lapidem gagatem plurimum optimumque; est autem nigrogemmeus et ardens igni admotus, incensus serpentes fugat, attritu calefactus applicita detinet æque ut succinum. Erat et civitatibus quondam viginti et octo nobilissimis insignita præter castella innumera, quæ et ipsa muris, turribus, portis, ac seris erant instructa firmissimis. Et quia prope sub ipso septentrionali vertice mundi jacet, lucidas æstate noctes habet, ita ut medio sæpe tempore noctis in quæstionem veniat intuentibus, utrum crepusculum adhuc permaneat vespertinum, an jam advenerit matutinum, utpote nocturno sole non longe sub terris ad orientem boreales per plagas redeunte; unde etiam plurimæ longitudinis habet dies æstate, sicut et noctes contra in bruma, sole nimirum tunc Libycas in partes secedente, id est, horarum decem et octo. Plurimæ item brevitatis noctes æstate et dies habet in bruma, hoc est,