Bede: Life Of Cuthbert
Bede: Life of Cuthbert
The prologue of the holy priest Bede to the
Life of Saint Cuthbert
To my holy and most blessed lord and father, Bishop Eadfrid, and to the whole congregation of monks serving God at Lindisfarne, Bede, your faithful servant, sends greeting. It is on your orders that I am writing this customary preface – to let the reader know that the task of writing the book itself was undertaken in brotherly compliance with your wishes. I should also like to inform him, at this point, about what he might otherwise remain ignorant of, and to remind yourselves that I have written nothing about the saint without first subjecting the facts to the most thorough scrutiny and have passed on nothing to be transcribed for general reading that has not been obtained by rigorous examination of trustworthy witnesses. Indeed, before ever beginning to write, I carried out a thorough investigation of the whole of the saint’s glorious life, with the help of those who had actually known him. I occasionally mention some of their names in the body of the book so that you can see for yourselves exactly what the sources are.
While the book was still in note form, it was often looked over and revised by our very reverend brother, the priest Herefrith, whenever he came here, and by others who had lived a long time with the man of God, and who were, therefore, more conversant with the details of his life. On their advice I made several amendments. I have tried to avoid all ambiguity or hair-splitting and to write a clear investigation of the truth in simple terms. I have already taken care to let you yourselves examine what I have written, so that what was false could be amended, what was true, confirmed.
When, with the help of the Lord, the book was finished, and had been read for two days before the elders and teachers of your community, and its every detail had been considered, they then approved all I had written, declaring it fit to be read and transcribed by all whose holy zeal moved them to do so. The discussions you held among yourselves have brought to light many other facts, just as important as those I record here and well worth writing down, except that it hardly seems right to make insertions and add to a carefully planned and completed work. Furthermore, since I have been quick to carry out the task you thought fit to impose on me, may I suggest you crown your kindness by not being slow to reward me by your prayers. When, in reading my book, your hearts are raised to a more burning desire for the Kingdom of Heaven, by the memory of our holy father, do not forget to intercede with the divine mercy on behalf of one so small, so that I may be found worthy on earth to long for and hereafter in perfect bliss to see ‘the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living’. And, when I am dead, pray for my soul and say mass for me as though I were one of your own household, and be so good as to inscribe my name on the roll with your own.
You, my lord bishop, will recall having already promised me this; in witness whereof you ordered our holy brother, Godfrith, the sacristan, to put my name in the register of your congregation even now. You may be aware, holy father, that I have already produced, at the request of some of the brothers here, a life of this same father of ours, in heroic verse, somewhat shorter than this prose life but following the same pattern. You may, if you wish, have a copy. In the preface to the verse life I promised that I would later write a fuller account of the life and miracles, a promise which, as far as God permits, I am now striving to fulfil. On behalf of our congregation, beloved brethren and masters, I pray that the Almighty Lord may keep you secure in bliss.
Amen