Newspaper Article

A Christian-rock band from Houston,

Texas, takes its name from a medieval
poet described by the Venerable Bede
in his Ecclesiastical History of the English
People.

Caedmon’s Call Releases CD

by Cecile S. Holmes—Houston Chronicle, March 14, 1997
nce there was a man “We are a spiritual band. I
O named Caedmon who
had no talent for singing. He
don’t know if you would call
it religious music,” said lead
ran away when he had to singer and rhythm acoustic
sing. One day as he was run- guitarist Cliff Young.
ning, he heard God telling “We are a band full of
him to sing. He refused, but Christians. We are three-
God insisted. dimensional people who live
So Caedmon opened his three-dimensional lives. We in our 20s, but we have lis-
mouth and sang verses he had write about getting up in the teners who are college-age
never heard before. Singers morning and going to sleep,” and people in their late 30s.
and songwriters followed he said. “We write songs Our [generation] is a real
Caedmon, but none could from Scripture as well as casual generation. . . .”
match his songs because they songs about deep spiritual The casual approach to
came through God’s grace. struggles we might have. performing feels right to
Caedmon’s Call, an And we’ll write a song about band members. Their con-
up-and-coming band of a bus driver. We cover a lot certs aren’t designed to be
young Houston Christians of ground. . . .” splashy, light-sound-and-
who will release a new CD Band members hope smoke displays of fabulous
next week, found its name in [their] concerts will have the technology. It’s more like lis-
this old story. Recorded in comfortable, casual feel tening to a friend pick out
“Caedmon’s Hymn,” it is an they’ve tried to cultivate in chords on a guitar in the
Old English poem dating to the past several years. As garage after school. Or stop-
the seventh century. Young said: “Our music ping by a coffeehouse where
Before forming a band, the definitely reaches our gener- the singer’s searching lyrics
members of Caedmon’s Call ation, although I’m not lure you into listening.
were simply friends sharing sure it should be called
their spiritual journeys. They Generation X. All of us are
made music together: for
fun, for self-expression,
to share their lives. Only Analyzing Media
later did they feel called 1. What do you think Cliff Young means when he says, “We are three-
to write and record dimensional people who live three-dimensional lives”?
music professionally.
2. Do you think Caedmon’s Call is a good name for the band? Explain why or
why not.
 Before You Read
from The Ecclesiastical History of the English People

Meet the Fortunately for us, Bede

was a talented storyteller. His
Venerable Bede
histories are far more than
About the same time that a scop mere chronicles of events; they
may have been singing in a noisy present meticulously
mead hall about the heroic deeds researched stories of conquests,
of Beowulf, a monk named Bede saints, missionaries, and
was studying and writing in the monasteries. To write his great
quiet library of a monastery. works, Bede did research in the
Whereas the gifted scop re- library of the monastery, sent
mained forever nameless, the letters all over the world, and
monk’s name became known spoke with artists and scholars
throughout the world. from afar who visited the
When Bede was a boy of seven, he went to monastery. Bede reveals in his histories how people
study and live in a monastery at Wearmouth, actually lived, providing most of what we know
England. About two years later, Bede moved to a about life in Britain between the years 46 and 731.
monastery in Jarrow, just a short distance away. Although Bede never left Jarrow, his reputation
There he remained for the rest of his life, devoting spread widely. About a century after his death, he
himself to religion and study. was given the title “Venerable” to honor his wis-
A man of great scholarship, Bede had far- dom and piety. In 1899 he was declared a saint of
ranging interests that included religion, poetry, the Catholic Church.
grammar, music, art, mathematics, and science. In
fact, his passion for calculating time and dates led
him to use a method of dating still in use today. “ Bede makes every effort to be accurate. He
admits wonders only after he has investigated
This method starts from the birth of Jesus in the
them and found them well authenticated. His
year A.D. 1 (A.D. stands for the Latin Anno
Domini, “in the year of our Lord”). Bede’s use of standards of verification are not ours, of course.
this form of dating in his histories helped to popu- If today a victim of snakebite were to drink
larize it. (Some scholars later estimated Jesus’ birth down some scrapings of Irish books and get well,
to have been six to seven years earlier than Bede we should not conclude that the scrapings had
believed.)
Bede wrote in Latin, the language of learning and
worked the cure.
” —Kemp Malone
religion, rather than in Old English, the language of
the people. With almost forty volumes bearing his
name, Bede is the first important writer of prose in
“ The image of Bede as a detached and saintly
scholar does less than justice to the complexity
England and is considered the father of English his-
tory. Bede’s masterpiece, The Ecclesiastical History of
of his personality and of his work.
”
—Judith McClure and Roger Collins
the English People, documents the influence of the
church on the development of English civilization. Bede was born in 672 or 673 and died in 735.

96
UNIT 1
 Before You Read

Reading Focus
What kinds of momentous changes might people make in their lives? What can
cause them to make such changes?
Share Ideas In a small group of classmates, discuss your ideas about how and
why people might change their lives in dramatic ways. In your discussion, offer
examples from your own experience and from the experiences of people you know.
Setting a Purpose In the following selection from Bede’s history, read to
learn about the miraculous changes in two men’s lives.

Building Background
The Time and Place write. They kept records, drew up documents, and wrote
The first selection from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History takes letters for others.
place during the early 600s. In it, Edwin, who has recently
conquered his enemies to become king of Northumbria in
northern England, is discussing Christianity with Paulinus, his
wife’s religious counselor.
The second selection takes place in the late 600s in Whitby,
England. It tells of the miraculous talent of Caedmon, the
first poet to use the Old English language and verse forms to
explore religious themes. Unable to read or write, Caedmon
composed his poems orally and recited them to monastery
scribes, who wrote them down to preserve them.

Did You Know?

The Germanic tribes that took over the territory of the
Roman Empire also adopted its religion, weaving Christianity
into their own myths, as the author of Beowulf did. However,
interest in the new religion faded in the chaotic and brutal
society of the tribal kingdoms. As the seventh century
began, the pope, concerned about the decline of interest in
Christianity, sent out a cavalry of missionaries to do religious
battle. In time, the missionaries brought order to the society,
building monasteries that became centers not only of reli-
gion but also of learning and civilized society. Monks were Illuminated Manuscript Page. Kungl. Bernadotte-Biblioteket
among the few people of the time who could read and (The Royal Collection).

Vocbulary Preview
expound (iks pound
) v. to set forth in detail; aspire (əs p¯r
) v. to strive for; p. 101
explain; p. 99 frivolous (friv
ə ləs) adj. not serious;
diligently (dil
ə jent lē) adv. persistently; p. 100 silly; p. 101

THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
97

 A Scribe Writing, 12th century. Latin (Durham). Illumination from Bede’s Life and Miracles of St. Cuthbert.
British Library, London.

98
UNIT 1
 T h e Ve n e r a b l e B e d e
Tr a n s l a t e d b y B e r t r a m C o l g r a v e


KING EDWIN HESITATED TO ACCEPT THE WORD OF GOD which

Paulinus preached but, as we have said, used to sit alone for hours at a time,
earnestly debating within himself what he ought to do and what religion he
should follow. One day Paulinus came to him and, placing his right hand
on the king’s head, asked him if he recognized this sign.

The king began to tremble and would have that, if they agreed with him, they might all be
thrown himself at the bishop’s feet but consecrated together in the waters of life.
Paulinus raised him up and said in a voice that Paulinus agreed, and the king did as he had
seemed familiar, “First you have escaped with said. A meeting of his council was held, and
God’s help from the hands of the foes you each one was asked in turn what he thought of
feared; secondly you have acquired by His gift this doctrine1 hitherto unknown to them and
the kingdom you desired; now, in the third this new worship of God which was being pro-
place, remember your own promise; do not claimed.
delay in fulfilling it but receive the faith and Coifi, the chief of the priests, answered at
keep the commandments of Him who rescued once, “Notice carefully, King, this doctrine
you from your earthly foes and raised you to which is now being expounded to us. I frankly
the honor of an earthly kingdom. If from admit that, for my part, I have found that the
henceforth you are willing to follow His will religion which we have hitherto held has no
which is made known to you through me, He virtue nor profit in it. None of your followers
will also rescue you from the everlasting tor- has devoted himself more earnestly than I
ments of the wicked and make you a partaker have to the worship of our gods, but neverthe-
with Him of His eternal kingdom in heaven.” less there are many who receive greater bene-
When the king had heard his words, he fits and greater honor from you than I do and
answered that he was both willing and bound are more successful in all their undertakings. If
to accept the faith which Paulinus taught. He
said, however, that he would confer about this 1. A doctrine is a body of principles taught or advocated, as of a
with his loyal chief men and his counsellors so religion or a government.

Vocabulary
expound (iks pound
) v. to set forth in detail; explain

THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
99

the gods had any power, they
would have helped me more
readily, seeing that I have always
served them with greater zeal.2
So it follows that if, on examina-
tion, these new doctrines which
have now been explained to us
are found to be better and more
effectual, let us accept them at
once without any delay.”
Another of the king’s chief
men agreed with this advice and
with these wise words and then
added, “This is how the present
life of man on earth, King,
appears to me in comparison
with that time which is unknown
to us. You are sitting feasting
with your eldermen and thanes3
in winter time; the fire is burning
on the hearth in the middle of
the hall and all inside is warm,
while outside the wintry storms
of rain and snow are raging; and a
sparrow flies swiftly through the
hall. It enters in at one door and
quickly flies out through the
other. For the few moments it is
inside, the storm and wintry tem-
pest cannot touch it, but after the briefest Coifi added that he would like to listen
moment of calm, it flits from your sight, out of still more carefully to what Paulinus himself
the wintry storm and into it again. So this life had to say about God. The king ordered
of man appears but for a moment; what follows Paulinus to speak, and when he had said his
or indeed what went before, we know not at all. say, Coifi exclaimed, “For a long time now I
If this new doctrine brings us more certain have realized that our religion is worthless;
information, it seems right that we should for the more diligently I sought the truth in
accept it.” Other elders and counsellors of the our cult, the less I found it. Now I confess
king continued in the same manner, being openly that the truth shines out clearly in
divinely prompted to do so. this teaching which can bestow on us the gift
of life, salvation, and eternal happiness.
2. Zeal means “enthusiastic devotion.”
Therefore, I advise your Majesty that we
3. Eldermen are advisers; thanes are nobles. should promptly abandon and commit to the

Vocabulary
diligently (dil
ə jent lē) adv. persistently

100
UNIT 1
 T h e Ve n e r a b l e B e d e 
flames the temples and the altars which
we have held sacred without reaping any
benefit.” Why need I say more? The king 6
publicly accepted the gospel which Paulinus
preached, renounced idolatry, and confessed
his faith in Christ. When he asked the high Tr a n s l a t e d b y L e o S h e r l e y - P r i c e
priest of their religion which of them should
be the first to profane4 the altars and the In this monastery of Whitby there lived a
shrines of the idols, together with their brother7 whom God’s grace made remarkable.
precincts, Coifi answered, “I will; for through So skilful was he in composing religious and
the wisdom the true God has given me no devotional songs, that he could quickly turn
one can more suitably destroy those things whatever passages of Scripture were explained
which I once foolishly worshipped, and so set to him into delightful and moving poetry in his
an example to all.” And at once, casting own English tongue. These verses of his stirred
aside his vain superstitions, he asked the king the hearts of many folk to despise the world
to provide him with arms and a stallion; and and aspire to heavenly things. Others after him
mounting it, he set out to destroy the idols. tried to compose religious poems in English,
Now a high priest of their religion was not but none could compare with him, for he
allowed to carry arms or to ride except on a received this gift of poetry as a gift from God
mare. So, girded with a sword, he took a and did not acquire it through any human
spear in his hand, and mounting the king’s teacher. For this reason he could never com-
stallion, he set off to where the idols were. pose any frivolous or profane8 verses, but only
The common people who saw him thought such as had a religious theme fell fittingly
he was mad. But as soon as he approached from his devout lips. And although he fol-
the shrine, without any hesitation he pro- lowed a secular9 occupation until well ad-
faned it by casting the spear which he held
vanced in years, he had never learned any-
into it; and greatly rejoicing in the knowl-
thing about poetry: indeed, whenever all
edge of the worship of the true God, he
those present at a feast took it in turns to sing
ordered his companions to destroy and set
and entertain the company, he would get up
fire to the shrine and all the enclosures. The
place where the idols once stood is still from table and go home directly he saw the
shown, not far from York, to the east, over harp approaching him.
the river Derwent. Today it is called On one such occasion he had left the
Goodmanham, the place where the high house in which the entertainment was being
priest, through the inspiration of the true held and went out to the stable, where it was
God, profaned and destroyed the altars his duty to look after the beasts that night.
which he himself had consecrated.5
6. Caedmon (kad
mən)
7. A brother is a member of a religious community who is not a
priest or a monk.
4. Profane means “to treat with disrespect; to desecrate.” 8. Here, profane means “worldly.”
5. Consecrated means “set apart as sacred.” 9. Secular means “not religious.”

Vocabulary
aspire (əs p¯r
) v. to strive for
frivolous (friv
ə ləs) adj. not serious; silly

THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
101

He lay down there at the appointed time and of them agreed that Caedmon’s gift had been
fell asleep, and in a dream he saw a man given him by our Lord, and when they had
standing beside him who called him by name. explained to him a passage of scriptural his-
“Caedmon,” he said, “sing me a song.” “I tory or doctrine, they asked him to render13 it
don’t know how to sing,” he replied. “It is into verse if he could. He promised to do this,
because I cannot sing that I left the feast and and returned next morning with excellent
came here.” The man who addressed him verses as they had ordered him. The abbess
then said: “But you shall sing to me.” “What was delighted that God had given such grace
should I sing about?” he replied. “Sing about to the man, and advised him to abandon sec-
the Creation of all things,” the other ular life and adopt the monastic state. And
answered. And Caedmon immediately began when she had admitted him into the
to sing verses in praise of God the Creator Community as a brother, she ordered him to
that he had never heard before, and their be instructed in the events of sacred history.14
theme ran thus: “Let us praise the Maker of So Caedmon stored up in his memory all that
the kingdom of heaven, the power and pur- he learned, and after meditating on it, turned
pose of our Creator, and the acts of the Father it into such melodious verse that his delightful
of glory. Let us sing how the eternal God, the renderings turned his instructors into his audi-
Author of all marvels, first created the heav- ence. He sang of the creation of the world, the
ens for the sons of men as a roof to cover origin of the human race, and the whole story
them, and how their almighty Protector gave of Genesis. He sang of Israel’s departure from
them the earth for their dwelling place.” This Egypt, their entry into the land of promise, and
is the general sense, but not the actual words many other events of scriptural history. He
that Caedmon sang in his dream; for however sang of the Lord’s Incarnation, Passion,
excellent the verses, it is impossible to trans- Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven, the
late them from one language into another10 coming of the Holy Spirit, and the teaching of
without losing much of their beauty and dig- the Apostles. He also made many poems on
nity. When Caedmon awoke, he remembered the terrors of the Last Judgement, the horrible
everything that he had sung in his dream, and pains of Hell, and the joys of the kingdom of
soon added more verses in the same style to heaven. In addition to these, he composed
the glory of God. several others on the blessings and judge-
Early in the morning he went to his supe- ments of God, by which he sought to turn his
rior the reeve,11 and told him about this gift hearers from delight in wickedness, and to
that he had received. The reeve took him inspire them to love and do good. For
before the abbess,12 who ordered him to give Caedmon was a deeply religious man, who
an account of his dream and repeat the verses humbly submitted to regular discipline, and
in the presence of many learned men, so that firmly resisted all who tried to do evil, thus
they might decide their quality and origin. All winning a happy death.

10. Caedmon’s poetry was translated from one language into 13. Render means “to express in another form.”
another—from Old English to Latin. 14. [The abbess . . . history.] The abbess is delighted with
11. A reeve is the manager of a manor or farm. Caedmon’s gift and advises him to join the monastery and
12. An abbess is the head of a convent or monastery. learn the narratives of the Bible.


102
UNIT 1
 Active Reading and Critical Thinking

Responding to Literature
Personal Response Literary Criticism
After reading the selections, what questions would you like Author Kevin Crossley-Holland praises “Caedmon” as a
to ask Bede? Why? “delightful example . . . of [Bede’s] lucid and unaffected prose
style.” Do you agree that Bede’s style is clear and simple? Write
Analyzing Literature a paragraph explaining what does—or does not—make it so.
Then share your ideas in a class discussion.
Recall and Interpret
1. What argument convinces Edwin to convert to Christianity?
What does this reveal about Edwin’s personality?
2. Summarize the analogy, or comparison (see page R1), Literary ELEMENTS
that persuades the king to convert. What do the sparrow
and the storm symbolize? History
3. Why does Coifi volunteer to be the first person to pro- A history is a factual account of real events that occurred in
fane the shrine? Why might the “common people” pay the past. Typically, a history is in the form of a narrative, is
attention to Coifi’s actions? arranged chronologically, and seeks to provide an objective
4. What is Caedmon’s life like before his dream? How does description of what happened.
it change after the dream? 1. In your opinion, does the selection from The
5. Describe how Caedmon had to verify the quality and Ecclesiastical History fit the definition of a typical history?
origin of his poetry. What does this reveal about the Explain why or why not.
times in which Caedmon lived? 2. What, do you think, is the primary purpose of Bede’s
Ecclesiastical History? What other purposes might
Evaluate and Connect
Bede have had for writing the history?
6. Compare the changes you discussed during the Reading
Focus on page 96 with the change Edwin made in his 3. Although historians try to be objective, they are never-
life. Did the discussion help you understand Edwin’s theless influenced by the times in which they live as
reasons for change? Explain. well as personal biases and prejudices. What biases,
7. Which argument for conversion did you find the most prejudices, or other “blind spots” might have colored
interesting? The most sincere? Explain. Bede’s work?
8. Analyze the poem that came to Caedmon in his dream. • See Literary Terms Handbook, p. R8.
To what is heaven compared?
9. What techniques does Bede use to make history
come alive?
10. Theme Connections Why was a humble poet so
revered during his time? Do you think a poet could be
as important today? Explain.

Extending Your Response

Personal Writing Listening and Speaking
Time for a Change In your journal, write about a time Bede’s Theater With three other students, read aloud the
when you decided to make a change in your life. Describe selection about the conversion of Edwin. Each student should
why you decided to make this change and how it affected choose one of these “parts”: Paulinus, Coifi, the unnamed
your life. Then reflect upon how you might view changes in counselor, and the narrator. After rehearsing your parts, do a
your life as a positive sign of growth. dramatic reading of the selection for the class.
Save your work for your portfolio.

THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD AND THE MIDDLE AGES
103