and it was even submitted for criticism, prior to publication, to the monks of Lindisfarne. (c) The
life of Felix of Nola, Confessor, a prose version of the life already written by Paulinus of Nola. (d)
Martyrology. It is drawn from old Roman sources, and shows at once the learning and the simplicity
of its author.
VII. Ecclesiastical History of England.^1066 This is Bede’s great work. Begun at the request
of King Ceolwulf, it was his occupation for many years, and was only finished a short time before
his death. It consists of five books and tells in a simple, clear style the history of England from the
earliest times down to 731. The first twenty-two chapters of the first book are compiled from Orosius
and Gildas, but from the mission of Augustin in the 23d chapter (a.d. 596) it rests upon original
investigation. Bede took great pains to ensure accuracy, and he gives the names of all persons who
were helpful to him. The History is thus the chief and in many respects the only source for the
church history of England down to the eighth century. In it as in his other books Bede relates a
great many strange things; but he is careful to give his authorities for each statement. It is quite
evident, however, that he believed in these "miracles," many of which are susceptible of rational
explanation. It is from this modest, simple, conscientious History that multitudes have learned to
love the Venerable Bede.
§ 157. Paul the Deacon.
I. Paulus Winfridus Diaconus: Opera omnia in Migne, Tom. XCV., col. 413–1710. Editions of
Paul’s separate works: Historia Langobardorum in: Monumenta Germanicae historica. Scriptores
rerum langobardorum et italicarum. Saec. VI.-IX. edd. L. Bethmann et G. Waitz, Hannover,
1878, pp. 45–187. Historia romano in: Monum. Germ. Hist. auctor. antiquissimor. Tom. II. ed.
H. Droysen, Berlin, 1879. Gesta episcoporum Mettensium in: Mon. Germ. Hist. Script. Tom.
II. ed. Pertz, pp. 260–270. Homiliae in: Martène et Durand, Veterum scriptorum collectio, Paris,
1733, Tom. IX. Carmina (both his and Peter’s) in: Poetae latini aevi Carolini, ed. E. Dümmler,
Berlin, 1880, I. 1. pp 27–86. Translations: Die Langobardengeschichte, übertsetzt Von Karl
von Spruner, Hamburg, 1838; Paulus Diaconus und die übrigen Geschichtschreiber der
Langobarden, übersetzt von Otto Abel, Berlin, 1849.
II. Felix Dahn: Paulus Diaconus. I. Abtheilung, Leipzig, 1876. Each of the above mentioned editions
contains an elaborate introduction in which the life and works of Paul are discussed, e.g. Waitz
ed. Hist. pp. 12–45. For further investigations see Bethmann: Paulus Diaconus’ Leben und
Schriften, and Die Geschichtschreibung der Langobarden, both in Pertz’s "Archiv der Gesellsch.
für ältere deutsche Geschichtskunde." Bd. X. Hannover, 1851; Bauch: Ueber die historia romana
des Paulus Diaconus, eine Quellenuntersuchung, Göttingen, 1873; R. Jacobi: Die Quellen der
Langobardengeschichte des Paulus Diaconus, Halle, 1877; and Mommsen: Die Quellen der
Langobardengeschichte des Paulus Diaconus in: Neues Archiv der Gesellsch. für ältere
Geschichtskunde, Bd. V. pp. 51 sqq. Du Pin, VI. 115–116. Ceillier, XII. l141–148. Ebert, II.
36–56.
Paul the Deacon (Paulus Diaconus), the historian of the Lombards, was the son of Warnefrid
and Theudelinda. Hence he is frequently called Paul Warnefrid. He was descended from a noble
(^1066) Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum. Tom. XCV., col. 21-290.