INTRODUCTION. this volume. § 1. THE volume now published contains such Contents of of the works written by the Venerable Beda as relate to English history, together with an Appendix of documents too intimately connected with the literary labours of that author to be omitted in a collection like the present. The contents are as follows: § 2. The Metrical Life of St. Cuthbert, which is referred to by Beda himself both in the list of his writings affixed to his Historia Ecclesiastica, and in the prose life of the same individual, which he wrote at a subsequent period. No doubt can, therefore, be entertained as to its authenticity. Shortly after its composition, and before it had come into general circulation, a certain presbyter named John, in whose welfare the author appears to have felt considerable interest, being about to visit Rome,' Beda inscribed the poem to his friend; partly, as he himself tells us, in token of his good wishes, and partly that the traveller might derive profit and consolation from the company of the Saint. The preface, short as it is, gives a lively and agreeable picture of the mind of its author, and has all the characteristics of a private letter. § 3. The text here given is founded upon the following MSS. H. The Harleian MS. 526, a manuscript of the ninth century, written without much elegance, Probably upon some of those | pope which had now become so ecclesiastical missions to the frequent. The metrical life of St. The prose life. but furnishing a text which has in general been adopted. Many of the words are accompanied by a gloss, of which advantage has in a few instances been taken. This copy was used by Smith in his edition; having been lent to him by John Anstis, Garter King at Arms, by whom it was afterwards given to Harley, earl of Oxford. H2. The Harleian MS. 1117, fol. 45, a manuscript somewhat inferior in antiquity and accuracy to the former. At the end are some curious lines stating that the volume had been written by the command of a certain abbot named Wigbeorht, and probably presented by him to the church over which he presided; see the present volume, p. 43. C. The Cottonian MS. Vitellius, A. xix. fol. 89, b, a manuscript of the tenth century, elegantly written. 2 3 Besides these manuscripts, the previous editions of Canisius, from a MS. belonging to the library of St. Gallen, collated with another belonging to Velser; of Mabillon, from a MS. formerly belonging to De Thou; and of Smith, from H. and two copies in the Bodleian Library, (N. E. B, 1, 20 and K. D, 175) have been collated.* § 4. The prose life of St. Cuthbert, the later but much more valuable of the two legends, is ascribed to Beda upon the same authority as its predecessor. It is dedicated to Eadfrith, bishop of Holy Island, and the monks there resident; a fact which of itself would have been a sufficient security for the accuracy of the narrative. The Historian, apparently determined to remove all doubt as to the truth of the facts which he records, has detailed the successive examinations to which his materials were subjected. Having formed his narrative from the information of those who had the best means of knowing the truth of what they stated, the unpublished work was submitted as well to the inspection of one who had attended Cuthbert during his last illness, as of others equally well informed respecting the deceased Saint, and corrections were made according to their suggestions. A fair copy of the Legend was then sent to Lindisfarne, and during two days underwent a rigid scrutiny by the oldest and most judicious brethren of that monastery. When it had obtained their final sanction, and had been augmented by the insertion of certain additions for which they were the vouchers, the work was declared to be worthy of circulation, and was accordingly handed over to the transcribers. § 5. After so much precaution employed by men who had such favourable opportunities of knowing the truth, we may be assured that we are here put in possession of an authentic narrative of the principal facts in the life of St. Cuthbert. Our faith 5 It is unnecessary in this place to express any opinion respecting the miracles which are said to have been performed by St. Cuthbert. Admitting them to be spurious, their falsity does not shake our faith in the truth of Beda's general narrative. See Southey's Vindicia Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, pp. 122, 131, 8vo. Lond. 1836. The Lives of the Abbots of in its historical veracity is augmented by noticing a fact, of which Beda has not informed us, namely, that it is founded upon, and in many parts transcribed from, an earlier life of the same Saint, of which a further notice will presently be given. §6. We are not able to decide with any accuracy when this Legend of Beda's was written; but as it is dedicated to Eadfrid, it cannot be referred to a date later than A. D. 721, when that individual died. The text here printed is founded upon the following manuscripts. The Harleian MS. 1117, fol. 2, already described (§ 3). The Cottonian MS. Vitellius, A. xix, already described (§ 3). Other copies are preserved in the Bodleian Library, N. E. B. i, 20, Laud F. 56, Digby 59, Bodl. N. E. F. iii. 9, Fairfax, 6, f. 13; and others are in existence. The edition of Smith, which has here been principally followed, was based upon five manuscripts. The variations of all these copies are few and unimportant. § 7. The Lives of the Abbots of Wearmouth and Wearmouth. Jarrow follow. This interesting narrative was first printed by Sir James Ware, 8vo. Dublin, 1664, and reprinted by Henry Wharton, 4to. Lond. 1693, both editors using a single Cottonian MS. Smith complained of the extreme incorrectness of this text, and corrected it by a copy at Durham, one at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and another belonging to Merton College, Oxford. Tanner points out copies existing in the Fairfax MS. vi. fol. 174, 6 See this Preface, § 11. and in the Digby MS. 112, both in the Bodleian Library. The present text follows that of Smith, collated with the valuable MS. Harl. and the Durham MS. B. 11. 35. § 8. The Chronicon' of Beda, or his treatise, 'De sex hujus seculi ætatibus,' being a general summary of history from the creation of the world to the year 729, necessarily contains a considerable portion of matter in no way connected with English history. It has been thought expedient, therefore, in the present instance, to depart from the authority of Smith, who has printed the whole of the six ages, and to limit this edition to the sixth age commencing with the Christian æra, prefixing, however, the general summary of the contents of the passages so omitted. The text adopted by Smith was formed upon four manuscripts, one in the Bodleian, (F. 3, 5, N. E.) one belonging to Magdalen College, Oxford; a third in the Royal Library, then at Westminster, but now in the British Museum; and a fourth in St. John's College, Cambridge. An examination of his text with the Royal MSS. 13 A. xi, fol. 89, and 12 D. iv, fol. 79, both written in the twelfth century, shows its general accuracy, and warrants its adoption in the present volume. to Ecgberct. § 9. The Epistle to Ecgberct, abounding with The Epistle curious notices illustrating the state of monachism in England as it existed in the time of Beda, is here reprinted from the text of Smith, the present Editor not having had the opportunity of collating any manuscript copy. dix. § 10. The Appendix contains documents which The Appeneither having been referred to by Beda, or as illustrating his Historical writings, seem to demand a |