INTRODUCTION

writings of the four great Latin fathers, Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, and Gregory, though these by no means cover the full extent of his reading. Of the ancient classical authors, we find echoes of Vergil and less frequently of Ovid and Horace, but these he may have found quoted in other works, for Bede would not have thought time profitably spent in a prolonged study of pagan writers Maitland, Dark Ages, No. XI. Besides his theological writings, Bede wrote upon orthography, metre, and figures of speech for the benefit of his scholars. He also wrote upon natural phenomena, a work which summarized the natural philosophy of the Roman Empire, and chronological treatises on Times and the counting of Times. His historical works comprise the Ecclesiastical History, the History of the Abbots, and the Letter to Bishop Egbert, as well as lives of St. Cuthbert in verse and prose.

In these volumes, we are concerned with Bede's historical writings. Critics are agreed in praising his learning and industry, his love of simplicity and truth. In all that he relates, he is careful to give his authority. "I would not that my children should read a lie," was one of his last utterances. He quotes documents if they are available, and whether for ordinary or extraordinary events he gives, where he can, first-hand evidence, and if that is not forthcoming, or if he has nothing to rely upon save common report, he frankly says so. It is noticeable that of the many marvels which Bede records he does not give one on his own knowledge, and his lives of the first five abbots of his own monastery contain no notice of a single miracle.