Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English People" was completed in 731 and still ranks among the most popular of history books. By the end of the eighth century copies of it were to be found in many parts of England and on the Continent, some of these being still extant. If it were not for Bede's history we should know little about the Anglo-Saxon invasion and the beginnings of Christianity in England, and such familiar names as Edwin and Oswald, Cuthbert and Chad, Hilda and Caedmon would be almost forgotten. The present edition makes use for the first time of the mid-eighth century manuscript now in Leningrad, provides a survey of the extant manuscripts, and a new translation; it also attempts to bring up to date Plummer's invaluable edition published seventy years ago.
Author(s): Bede, Beda Venerabilis, Bertram Colgrave, Roger A. B. Mynors (eds., transl.)
Series: Oxford Medieval Texts
Edition: 1st
Publisher: The Clarendon Press
Year: 1969
Language: English, Latin
Pages: LXXVI+620
City: Oxford
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY xi
ABBREVIATIONS xv
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION (by B. C.)
I. Bede and the History xvii
II. Bede's Life xix
III. Bede's Monasticism xxiii
IV. Bede's Library xxv
V. Northumbria and the West xxvii
VI. The "History": its models and sources xxx
VII. The Miracles xxxiv
VIII. Bede's Style xxxvi
TEXTUAL INTRODUCTION (by R. A. B. M.)
I. The state of our text xxxix
II. Our authorities for the text xlii
III. The text in England xlvi
IV. The text in France lxi
V. The text in Germany lxv
VI. Copies containing the "Continuation" lxvii
VII. The text in Italy lxix
VIII. The printed editions lxx
Appendix of Obituary verses lxxiii
Index of Manuscripts lxxv
THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE 1
CUTHBERT'S LETTER ON THE DEATH OF BEDE 579
INDEX OF QUOTATIONS 589
GENERAL INDEX 595
