HumanitiesWeb.org - Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book III (Chapter XXVI) by Venerable Bede
Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Book III Chapter XXVI
by Venerable Bede
COLMAN, BEING WORSTED, RETURNED HOME; TUDA SUCCEEDED HIM IN THE BISHOPRIC; THE STATE OF
THE CHURCH UNDER THOSE TEACHERS. [A.D. 664.]
THE disputation being ended, and the Company broken up, Agilbert returned home. Colman,
perceiving that his doctrine was rejected, and his sect despised, took with him such as
would not comply with the Catholic Easter and the tonsure (for there was much controversy
about that also), and went back into Scotland, to consult with his people what was to be
done in this case. Cedd, forsaking the practices of the Scots, returned to his bishopric,
having submitted to the Catholic observance of Easter. This disputation happened in the
year of our Lord's incarnation 664, which was the twenty-second year of the reign of King
Oswy, and the thirtieth of the episcopacy of the Scots among the English; for Aidan was
bishop seventeen years, Finan ten, and Colman three.
When Colman was gone back into his own country, God's servant, Tuda, was made bishop of
the Northumbrians in his place, having been instructed and ordained bishop among the
Southern Scots, having also the ecclesiastical tonsure of his crown, according to the
custom of that province, and observing the Catholic time of Easter. He was a good and
religious man, but governed his church a very short time; he came out of Scotland whilst
Colman was yet bishop, and, both by word and example, diligently taught all persons those
things that appertain to the faith and truth. But Eata, who was abbot of the monastery of
Melrose, a most reverend and meek man, was appointed abbot over the brethren that stayed
in the church of Lindisfarne when the Scots went away; they say, Colman, upon his
departure, requested and obtained this of King Oswy, because Eata was one of Aidan's
twelve boys of the English nation, whom he received when first made bishop there, to be
instructed in Christ; for the king much loved Bishop Colman on account of his singular
discretion. This is the same Eata, who not long after, was made bishop of the same church
of Lindisfarne. Colman carried home with him part of the bones of the most reverend Father
Aidan, and left part of them in the church where he had presided, ordering them to be
interred in the sacristy.
The place which he governed shows how frugal he and his predecessors were, for there
were very few houses besides the church found at their departure; indeed, no more than
were barely sufficient for their daily residence; they had also no money, but cattle; for
if they received any money from rich persons, they immediately gave it to the poor; there
being no need to gather money, or provide houses for the entertainment of the great men of
the world; for such never resorted to the church, except to pray and hear the word of God.
The king himself, when opportunity offered, came only with five or six servants, and
having performed his devotions in the church, departed. But if they happened to take a
repast there, they were satisfied with only the plain and daily food of the brethren, and
required no more; for the whole care of those teachers was to serve God, not the world-to
feed the soul, and not the belly.
For this reason the religious habit was at that time in great veneration; so that
wheresoever any clergyman or monk happened to come, he was joyfully received by all
persons, as God's servant; and if they chanced to meet him upon the way, they ran to him,
and bowing, were glad to be signed with his hand, or blessed with his mouth. Great
attention was also paid to their exhortations; and on Sundays they flocked eagerly to the
church, or the monasteries, not to feed their bodies, but to hear the word of God; and if
any priest happened to come into a village, the inhabitants flocked together to hear from
him the word of life; for the priests and clergymen went into the village on no other
account than to preach, baptize, visit the sick, and, in few words, to take care of souls;
and they were so free from worldly avarice that none of them received lands and
possessions for building monasteries, unless they were compelled to do so by the temporal
authorities; which custom was for some time after observed in all the churches of the
Northumbrians. But enough has now been said on this subject.
