< Vt īdem Eduīnī cum suā gente fidēlis sit factus, et ubi Paulīnus baptīzāverit >

[1] Igitur accēpit rēx Eduīnī cum cūnctīs gentis suae nōbilibus ac plēbe perplūrimā fidem et lavācrum sānctae regenerātiōnis annō rēgnī suī undecimō, quī est annus dominicae incarnātiōnis DCXXVII, ab adventū vērō Anglōrum in Brittāniam annus circiter CLXXX. [2] Baptīzātus est autem Eburācī diē sānctō paschae prīdiē īduum Aprīlium, in ecclēsiā Petrī apostolī, quam ibīdem ipse dē lignō, cum catēchizārētur atque ad percipiendum baptisma inbuerētur, citātō opere cōnstrūxit. [3] In quā etiam cīvitāte ipsī doctōrī atque antistitī suō Paulīnō sēdem episcopātūs dōnāvit. [4] Mox autem ut baptisma cōnsecūtus est, cūrāvit docente eōdem Paulīnō maiōrem ipsō in locō et augustiōrem dē lapide fabricāre basilicam, in cuius mediō ipsum quod prius fēcerat ōrātōrium inclūderētur. [5] Praeparātīs ergō fundāmentīs in gȳrō priōris ōrātōriī per quadrum coepit aedificāre basilicam. [6] Sed priusquam altitūdō parietis esset cōnsummāta, rēx ipse impiā nece occīsus opus idem successōrī suō Osualdō perficiendum relīquit. [7] Paulīnus autem ex eō tempore sex annīs continuīs, id est ad fīnem usque imperiī rēgis illīus, verbum Deī adnuente ac favente ipsō in eā prōvinciā praedicābat; crēdēbantque et baptīzābantur quotquot erant praeōrdinātī ad vītam aeternam, in quibus erant Osfrid et Eadfrid fīliī rēgis Eduīnī, quī ambō eī exulī nātī sunt dē Quoenburgā fīliā Cearlī rēgis Merciōrum.

[8] Baptīzātī sunt tempore sequente et aliī līberī eius dē Aedilbergā rēgīnā prōgenitī, Aedilhun et Aedilthryd fīlia, et alter fīlius Vuscfrea, quōrum prīmī albātī adhūc raptī sunt dē hāc vītā, et Eburācī in ecclēsiā sepultī. [9] Baptīzātus et Yffī fīlius Osfridī, sed et aliī nōbilēs ac rēgiī virī nōn paucī. [10] Tantus autem fertur tunc fuisse fervor fideī ac dēsīderium lavācrī salūtāris gentī Nordanhymbrōrum, ut quōdam tempore Paulīnus veniēns cum rēge et rēgīnā in vīllam rēgiam, quae vocātur ad Gefrin, XXXVI diēbus ibīdem cum eīs catēchizandī et baptīzandī officiō dēditus morārētur; quibus diēbus cūnctīs ā māne usque ad vesperam nīl aliud ageret quam cōnfluentem eō dē cūnctīs vīculīs ac locīs plēbem Chrīstī verbō salūtis īnstruere, atque īnstrūctam in fluviō Glēnī, quī proximus erat, lavācrō remissiōnis abluere. [11] Haec vīlla tempore sequentium rēgum dēserta, et alia prō illā est facta in locō quī vocātur Maelmin.

[12] Haec quidem in prōvinciā Berniciōrum; sed et in prōvinciā Deirōrum, ubi saepius manēre cum rēge solēbat, baptīzābat in fluviō Sualua, quī vīcum Cataractam praeterfluit. [13] Nōndum enim ōrātōria vel baptistēria in ipsō exōrdiō nāscentis ibi ecclēsiae poterant aedificārī. [14] Attamen in Campodōnō, ubi tunc etiam vīlla rēgia erat, fēcit basilicam, quam postmodum pāgānī, ā quibus Eduīnī rēx occīsus est, cum tōtā eādem vīllā succendērunt; prō quā rēgēs posteriōrēs fēcēre sibi vīllam in regiōne quae vocātur Loidis. [15] Ēvāsit autem ignem altāre, quia lapideum erat et servātur adhūc in monastēriō reverentissimī abbātis et presbyterī Thryduulfī, quod est in silvā Elmēte.

KING EDWIN'S BAPTISM AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BASILICA AT YORK

(1) Eduīnī: nominative

lavācrum sānctae regenerātiōnis: “the washing of holy rebirth,” i.e., baptism

(2) Eburācī: locative (AG 427.3), “at York”

prīdiē īduum Aprīlium: April 12

in ecclēsiā Petrī apolstolī: the exact location of this church is unknown, though it was probably not on the site of the current York Minster, the medieval cathedral that succeeded it.

ad percipiendum baptisma inbuerētur: inbuere + ad = “to introduce to,” so: “while he was being trained to receive baptism” (DMLBS, imbuere 4). In other words, Edwin was a catechumen. percipio = “receive (a sacrament),” DMLBS, percipere 2.

citātō opere: “with hurried work,” i.e., hastily

(3) antistitī: “bishop”

(4) baptisma consecūtus est: baptisma is a Greek neuter noun (baptisma, baptismatis); here, the case is accusative, the object of consecūtus est.

cūrāvit: “he undertook,” with the complementary infinitive fabricāre (“he undertook to build”); the object of fabricāre is maiōrem et augustiōrem basilicam. The word order and hyperbaton emphasize basilicam. The use of wood resulted in frequent fires (see Plummer ii.101–102).

ōrātōrium: an oratory, or chapel

(5) in gȳrō priōris ōrātōriī: in Christian Latin in gȳrō + genitive means “around” (a susbtitute for circum + accusative); so “around the former chapel.”

per quadrum: “in a square.” The new basilica was built in a square around the earlier chapel.

(6) successōrī suō Osvaldō perficiendum: dative of agent with the gerundive (AG 374) expressing purpose (“to be completed”)

(7) sex annīs continuīs: ablative used to express extent of time (“for six straight years”)

adnuente ac favente ipsō: ablative absolute, referring to Edwin (“with his consent and encouragement”)

quotquot erant praeōrdinātī ad vītam aeternam: “as many as were predestined to eternal life”: a direct quotation from Acts 13:48 (Vulgate)

eī exulī: “to him while he was in exile”

dē Quoenburgā filiā Cearlī rēgis Merciōrum: “from Cwenburh, daughter of Ceorl, king of the Mercians.” Cwenburh was Edwin’s first wife, the mother of Osfrith and Eadfrith.

PAULINUS BAPTIZES MANY OF EDWIN'S SUBJECTS

(8) tempore sequente: “later”

quōrum prīmī albātī adhūc: “the first (two) of whom [died] while still in white baptismal gowns.” Colgrave-Mynors notes: “The newly-baptized wore a white garment called the chrisom. Accompanied by their sponsors and carrying lighted tapers, they visited the church each day for a week and put off the garment on the octave [eighth day] of their baptism. If they died within the octave they were buried in the chrisom” (p. 188, n. 1).

(9) sed et: “and also”

(10) gentī Nordanhymbrōrum: gentī is a dative of possession; the basic syntax is: tantus fervor fertur fuisse gentī Nordanhymbrōrum, ut…

vīllam rēgiam: royal palace

Adgefrin: Yeavering

XXXVI diēbus: ablative used to express extent of time (“for 36 days”)

catēchizandī ... dēditus: “devoted to the task of catechizing and baptizing”

nīl aliud …, quam: “nothing but”

cōnfluentem eō ... plēbem: “people flocking there,” i.e., to Paulinus at Yeavering.

Chrīstī verbō salūtis īnstruere: the ablative verbō follows īnstruere, “to furnish with,” or “to instruct in”: the infinitive īnstruere (like the infinitive abluere below) follows aliud …, quam: “other than to instruct” (or, “other than instruct”)

īnstructam ... abluere: “once it [i.e., the plēbem] it had been instructed, to wash it….”

(11) vīlla: “royal residence” (DMLBS, vīlla 1)

dēserta: dēserta est

prō illā: “in its place”

Maelmin: the unexcavated site of Maelmin lies outside of Millfield, Northumberland.

THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN DEIRA

(12) Haec: “these things took place”

in provinciā Berniciōrum: “in Bernicia”: Bernicia was the northern half of Edwin’s kingdom (Northumbria)

in provinciā Deirōrum: “in Deira”: Deira was the southern half of the kingdom

solēbat: the subject is Paulinus

in fluviō Svalva: the River Swale

vīcum Cataractam: the village of Catterick (in North Yorkshire)

(13) in ipsō exōrdiō nāscentis ibi ecclēsiae: “in the very beginning of the birth of the church in that place”

(14) Attamen: at tamen, “but nevertheless”

in Campodōnō: the exact location of Campodonum, originally a Roman town, is unknown. Wallace-Hadrill places it near Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

fēcit: the subject seems to be Paulinus.

cum tōtā eādem vīllā: “along with the same entire (royal) residence,” i.e., with all the buildings around the basilica itself.

prō quā: “in place of which”

fēcēre sibi: fēcēre = fēcērunt, “made for themselves”

Loidis: Leeds

(15) altāre: neuter nominative, “altar”

in silvā Elmēte: Elmet roughly corresponds to the West Riding of Yorkshire.

NOTE: Lemmatization of Anglo-Saxon Names
—: declined forms unattested
[ ]: nominative forms unattested (back-formed for purposes of lemmatization)
*: form unattested but hypothesized based on existing patterns

Aeduini –ī m.: Edwin, King of the Northumbrians, 616-633

perplūrimus –a –um: very numerous, most

lavācrum –ī n.: bath; vessel for water; basin; the action of washing, bathing; purification, spiritual cleansing

sanciō sancīre sānxī sānctus: to consecrate

regenerātiō –ōnis f.: rebirth

dominicus –ī m.: Sunday

incarnātiō –ōnis f.: incarnation

adventus adventūs m.: arrival

Anglī –ōrum m.: the Angles, a Germanic tribe; the English

Britannia –ae f.: Britain

circiter: near

baptīzo –āre –āvī –ātum: to baptize

Eburācum or Eborācum –ī n.: York

pascha –ae f.: Passover

prīdiē: day before

īdūs īduum (pl. f.): the Ides

Aprīlis –e: of or pertaining to April

ecclēsia –ae f.: church

Petrus –ī m.: St Peter, the Apostle

apostolus –ī m.: apostle

ibīdem: in the same place

līgnum lignī n.: firewood

catēchizō –āre –āvī –ātum: to catechize

percipiō percipere percēpī perceptus: to take in

baptisma –atis n.: baptism

imbuō or inbuō –ere –uī –ūtus: to wet, moisten

citātus –a –um: swiftly driven or swiftly running

cōnstruō –ere –strūxī –strūctus: to pile together

doctor doctōris m.: teacher

antistēs –itis m.: bishop

Paulīnus –ī m.: Paulinus, Bishop of York, 625-633; bishop of Rochester, 633-644

episcopātus –ūs m.: bishopric

baptisma –atis n.: baptism

Paulīnus –ī m.: Paulinus, Bishop of York, 625-633; bishop of Rochester, 633-644

augustus –a –um: holy

fabricō fabricāre fabricāvī fabricātus: to construct

basilica –ae f.: a portico, basilica

medium medi(ī) n.: middle

ōrātōrium –ī n.: oratory

inclūdō inclūdere inclūsī inclūsus: to enclose

praeparō –parāre: to prepare, make preparations

fundāmentum –ī n.: foundation

gȳrus –ī m.: circle

ōrātōrium –ī n.: oratory

quadrum –ī n.: square

aedificō aedificāre aedificāvī aedificātus: to build, erect, establish

basilica –ae f.: a portico, basilica

altitūdō altitudinis f.: height

pariēs parietis m.: wall

cōnsummō –are –avi –atum: to complete

impius –a –um: disloyal

nex necis f.: killing, murder

successor –oris m.: a follower, successor

Osuald –ī m.: Oswald, King of the Northumbrians, 634-642

perficiō perficere perfēcī perfectus: to complete, accomplish

Paulīnus –ī m.: Paulinus, Bishop of York, 625-633; bishop of Rochester, 633-644

sex; sextus –a –um: 6; 6th

continuus –a –um: connected

adnuō –ere –nuī (ūtus –rare): to nod to; with dat.

faveō favēre fāvī fautūrus: to favor

praedicō –āre –āvī –ātum: to preach

baptīzo –āre –āvī –ātum: to baptize

quotquot: indecl. adj., whatever number, as many as

praeōrdinō –āre –āvī –ātum: to preordain

Osfrid –ī m.: Osfrith, Son of Edwin 2 of Northumbria, d.633

Eadfrid –ī* m.: Eadfrith, Son of Edwin 2 of Northumbria, killed 634x642

Aeduini –ī m.: Edwin, King of the Northumbrians, 616-633

ambō ambae ambō: both

exul/exsul exsulī m.: exile

nātus –a –um: born

Quoenburga –ae* f.: Cwenburg, First wife of Edwin 2 of Northumbria

[Cearl] –ī m.: Ceorl, King of the Mercians

Merciī –ōrum m.: the Mercians, the people of the march, or midlands

baptīzo –āre –āvī –ātum: to baptize

Aedilberga –ae f.: Æthelburg, Daughter of Æthelberht 3 I of Kent; queen of the Northumbrians

rēgīna rēgīnae f.: queen

prōgignō –ere –genuī –genitus: to beget; bear

Aedilhun — m.: Æthelhun, Son of Edwin 2 of Northumbria

Aedilthryd –ae f.: Æthelthryth, Daughter of King Edwin 2 of Northumbria, d. after 627

Uuscfrea — m. (accusative: Uuscfrean): Uscfrea, Son of King Edwin 2 of Northumbria

albātus –a –um: clothed in white

Eburācum or Eborācum –ī n.: York

ecclēsia –ae f.: church

sepeliō sepelīre sepeliī/sepelīvī sepultum: to bury

baptīzo –āre –āvī –ātum: to baptize

Yffi — m.: Yffi, Grandson of Edwin 2, d. c.633

Osfrid –ī m.: Osfrith, Son of Edwin 2 of Northumbria, d.633

fervor –ōris m.: fury

dēsīderium dēsīderi(ī) n.: desire

lavācrum –ī n.: bath; vessel for water; basin; the action of washing, bathing; purification, spiritual cleansing

salūtāris –e: healthful, wholesome

Nordanhymbri –ōrum m.: the Northumbrians, people living north of the Humber estuary

quōdammodo: in a certain way

Paulīnus –ī m.: Paulinus, Bishop of York, 625-633; bishop of Rochester, 633-644

rēgīna rēgīnae f.: queen

vīlla vīllae f.: estate

Ad Gefrin: Yeavering (Northumberland)

ibīdem: in the same place

catēchizō –āre –āvī –ātum: to catechize

baptīzo –āre –āvī –ātum: to baptize

dēdō dēdere dēdidī dēditus: to give up, surrender

māne n. : morning

vespera –ae f.: the evening

cōnfluō –fluere –flūxī –—: to flow together, run together

vīculus –ī m.: small settlement, hamlet, village

Christus –ī m.: Christ

īnstruō īnstruere īnstrūxī īnstrūctus: to build upon; furnish; arrange

īnstruō īnstruere īnstrūxī īnstrūctus: to build upon; furnish; arrange

fluvius fluvi(ī) m.: river

Gleni m.: the river Glen (Northumberland)

proximus proximī m.: neighbor

lavācrum –ī n.: bath; vessel for water; basin; the action of washing, bathing; purification, spiritual cleansing

remissiō remissiōnis f.: letting go release relaxation

abluō –ere –luī –lūtus: to wash away

vīlla vīllae f.: estate

dēsertus –a –um: desolate; abandoned

Maelmin : Milfield (Northumberland)

Bernicī –ōrum: the Bernici

Deirī –ōrum: the Deiri

baptīzo –āre –āvī –ātum: to baptize

fluvius fluvi(ī) m.: river

Sualua: the river Swale (Yorkshire)

vīcus vīcī m.: village

Cataracta –ae f.: Catterick (North Yorkshire)

praeterfluō –fluere: to flow past

ōrātōrium –ī n.: oratory

baptistērium –ī n.: baptistery

exōrdium –iī n.: beginning; origin

ecclēsia –ae f.: church

aedificō aedificāre aedificāvī aedificātus: to build, erect, establish

attamen: nevertheless

Campodonum –ī n. : Campodonum (?modern Outlane, West Yorkshire)

vīlla vīllae f.: estate

basilica –ae f.: a portico, basilica

postmodum: afterwards

pāgānus –a –um: pagan

Aeduini –ī m.: Edwin, King of the Northumbrians, 616-633

vīlla vīllae f.: estate

succendō –ere –cendī –cēnsus: to set on fire from beneath; (fig.)

posterior posterius: later

vīlla vīllae f.: estate

Loidis: Leeds (West Yorkshire)

ēvādō ēvādere ēvāsī ēvāsus: to go out, evade

altāre –is n.: altar

lapideus –a –um: of stone

monastērium –ī n.: a monastery

re-vereor –verērī –veritus sum: to stand in awe of, revere

abbās –ātis m.: an abbot

presbyter –erī m.: a priest

[Thrythuulf] Thrythuulfī: Thrythwulf, Abbot, early 7thC

Elmet –e: Elmet, a Brittonic kingdom of the fifth to seventh centuries

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Suggested Citation

Rob Hardy. Bede: Historia Ecclesiastica Selections. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-947822-20-7. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/bede-historia-ecclesiastica/book-2/chapter-2-14