Page 31 - ModernParadiseFLIPBOOKcomplete

31

The next historian is Bede, author of The Ecclesiastical History of the English People

(Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum) written around 731. Bede is acknowledged as
the best of the early historians; he used many sources, including Gildas, but is a far
superior writer:

“Britain, formerly known as Albion, is an island in the ocean, lying towards the north
west at a considerable distance from the coasts of Germany, Gaul and Spain, which
together form the greater part of Europe. On the opposite side of Britain, which lies
open to the boundless ocean, lie the islands of the Orcades.

“Britain is rich in grain and timber; it has good pasturage for cattle and draught
animals, and vines are cultivated in various localities. It is well known for its plentiful
springs and rivers, abounding in fish. Salmon and eels are especially plentiful, while
seals, dolphins and sometimes whales are caught. Whelks are abundant, and a
beautiful scarlet dye is extracted from them which remains unfaded by sunshine or
rain.

“The country has salt springs and hot springs. And the water flowing from them
provide hot baths, in which people bathe separately according to age and sex. As St
Basil says, ‘Water receives heat when it flows across certain metal, and become very
hot, and even scalding.’ The land has many veins of many metals, including copper,
iron, lead and silver. There is also much jet of fine quality, a black jewel which can be
set on fire.

“Since Britain lies far north towards the pole, the nights are short in summer and at
midnight it is hard to tell whether the evening twilight still lingers or whether dawn in
approaching.

“At the present time there are in Britain, in harmony with the five books of the divine
law, five languages and four nations – English, British, Scots and Picts. Ireland is far

more favoured than Britain by latitude and by its mild and healthy climate. No snake
can exist there. The island abounds in milk and honey.”

This is a revealing passage. Bede portrays Britain very much as a remote, northern
land, but also a promised one; its geographical blessings are many. We also see
Bede’s interest not only in the Bible but also in the natural world and in science.

The next historian is Nennius, author of the Historia Brittonum written around 830.
His geographical survey is brief and adds little that is new; he lists the same

promontories, castles, cities and rivers. As well as Orkney, he adds two islands, one in