PREFACE

The reception accorded to our Select Translations from Old English Poetry has encouraged us to believe that a companion volume from Old English prose might be welcome.

SELECTIONS FROM BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE
The chief source of our knowledge of the life of Bede is his own account of himself at the colse of his Ecclesiastical History: 'I, Bede, the servant of God, and priest of the monastery of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, which is at Wearmouth and Jarrow, being born in the territory of that same monastery, was given at seven years of age to be educated by the most reverend Abbot Benedict, and afterwards by Ceolfrith....