The Enchiridion

Bede: History of the English Church & People. Author's account of his Life and Writings, appended to the final chapter of the History (tr. by Leo Sherley-Price, in The Penguin Classics, 1955) (C)

In the translation referred to above, Chapter 24 is headed:

Bede's chapter begins:

To assist the memory, I have thought it helpful to make a concise summary of events already dealt with at greater length.

There follows a list of 51 dates and events from 60 B.C. to 731 A.D.

The chapter then continues -

With God's help I, Bede, the servant of Christ and priest of the monastery of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul at Wearmouth and Jarrow, have assembled these facts about the history of the Church in Britain, and of the Church of the English in particular, so far as I have been able to ascertain them from ancient documents, from the traditions of our forebears, and from my own personal knowledge.

I was born on the lands of this monastery, and on reaching seven years of age, my family entrusted me first to the most reverend Abbot Benedict, and later to Abbot Ceolfrid for my education. I have spent all the remainder of my life in this monastery, and devoted myself entirely to the study of the scriptures. And while I have observed the regular discipline and sung the choir offices daily in church, my chief delight has always been in study, teaching, and writing.

I was ordained deacon at the age of nineteen, and priest at the age of thirty, receiving both these orders at the hands of the most reverend Bishop John at the direction of Abbot Ceolfrid. From the time of my receiving the priesthood until my fifty-ninth year, I have worked, both for my own benefit and that of my brethren, to compile short extracts from the works of the venerable Fathers on holy scripture, and to comment on their meaning and interpretation. These books include:

The Beginning of Genesis, up to the birth of Isaac and Ishmael's rejection: four Books.

The Tabernacle: its vessels and priestly vestments: four Books.

The First Part of Samuel, up to the death of Saul: three Books.

On the Building of the Temple: an allegorical interpretation like the others: four Books.

Thirty Questions on the Book of Kings.

On the Proverbs of Solomon: three Books.

On the Song of Songs: seven Books.

On Isaiah, Daniel, the Twelve Prophets, and part of Jeremiah, with chapter headings taken from blessed Jerome's Treatise.

On Ezra and Nehemiah: three Books.

On the Song of Habakkuk: one Book.

On the Book of the blessed father Tobias: an allegorical interpretation on Christ and the Church: one Book.

Chapters of Readings on the Pentateuch of Moses, Joshua, and Judges.

On the Books of Kings and Chronicles.

On the Book of the blessed father Job.

On Proverbs, Ecclesiates, and the Song of Songs.

On the Prophets Isaiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

On the Gospel of Mark: four Books.

On the Gospel of Luke: six Books.

Homilies on the Gospel: two Books.

On the Apostle: in which I have carefully transcribed in order whatever I have found in the works of Saint Augustine.

On the Acts of the Apostles: two Books.

On the Seven Catholic Epistles: one Book on each.

On the Apocalypse of Saint John: three Books.

 

Also, Chapters of Readings from all the New Testament except the Gospel.

Also, a book of Letters to various persons, including one on the six ages of the world; on the dwellings of the children of Israel; on Isaiah's saying, `And they shall be shut up in prison, and after many days they shall be visited'; on the reason for the bis-sextile year; and on Anatolius' explanation of the equinox.

Also, The Histories of the Saints. I have translated Paulinus' metrical work on the Life and Sufferings of the confessor Saint Felix into prose. And I have corrected, to the best of my ability, the sense of a book on The Life and Sufferings of Saint Anastasius, which had been badly translated from the Greek, and worse amended by some unskilful person. I have also written the Life of our father, the holy monk and Bishop Cuthbert, firstly in heroic verse, and later in prose.

I have written in two books The History of the Abbots Benedict, Ceolfrid, and Huetbert, rulers of this monastery in which I delight to serve the Divine Goodness.

The Church History of our island and people: in five Books.

The Martyrology of the feast-days of the holy martyrs: in which I have carefully tried to record everything I could learn not only of the date, but also by what kind of combat and under what judge they overcame the world.

A Book of Hymns in various metres or rhythms.

A Book of Epigrams in heroic, or elegiac, verse.

On the Nature of Things, and On Times: a book on each.

A Book on Orthography, arranged in alphabetical order.

A Book on The Art of Poetry, with a small work appended On Tropes and Figures; that is, the figures and manners of speech found in holy scripture.

I pray you, noble Jesu, that as You have graciously

granted me joyfully to imbibe the words of Your knowledge,

so You will also of Your bounty grant me

to come at length to Yourself, the Fount of all wisdom,

and to dwell in Your presence

for ever.

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(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 27/12/03)