Introduction
Bede, a monk at the monastery of St Paul in Jarrow, did as much as any prince to make England. Two centuries before the Kingdom came into being, his History of the English Church and People had begun to create the common English faith, culture and purpose that a united nation would need. His death in 735 was witnessed by a monk called Cuthbert, who wrote to his friend Cuthwine about it.
And when morning dawned — that is, Wednesday — he instructed us to write with all speed on the work which we had begun, and we did so until the third hour.* But from the third hour we walked in procession with the relics of the saints, as the custom of that day demanded.* One of us remained with him, who said to him: “There is still one chapter wanting to the book you have dictated; it seems hard however to be asking more questions of you.”
But he replied: “No, it is easy. Take your pen, and make ready, and write with haste.” And he did so. At the ninth hour,* he said to me “I have a few articles of value in my casket — pepper, napkins, and incense.* Run quickly and call the priests of our monastery to me, that I may distribute among them such little gifts as God has bestowed on me.” And I did so with trepidation.
He addressed one and all there present, admonishing them and entreating them earnestly to say prayers and masses for him — which they freely promised.
* The Third Hour, counting from six o’clock in the morning, is 9am.
* In the Roman tradition, the three days before the Feast of the Ascension of Christ were Rogation Days, going back to a fervent prayer for help during strong earthquakes that struck the city of Vienne in 452. The Council of Clovesho (location unknown) in 747 officially recognised them as an already established English tradition. The English Church used the Greater Litany on these days, which were popularly called Cross Days because crosses and saints’ banners were processed around the parish, an observance known as ‘beating the bounds’, during which the marchers would visit the tall standing-stone crosses dotted about the countryside.
* The Ninth Hour, counting from six o’clock in the morning, is 3pm. It was the hour at which Jesus Christ died on the cross.
* Pepper was a scarce and valuable spice, obtained through far-away Mediterranean markets and ultimately leading back to India. Indeed, it has been said that the British Empire began because of a spat over the price of pepper. See Seeds of Empire. Incense was another precious commodity, also trafficked from the Mediterranean and in particular from the Imperial capital at Constantinople.
Précis
Abbot Cuthbert told Brother Cuthwine that Bede spent most of his last day lying on his bed, dictating a book. While the other monks were away on a Rogation Day cross-procession, Bede asked Cuthbert to fetch a casket of small but costly treasures, and after everyone had returned these were shared out among them, with a request for their prayers. (60 / 60 words)
Abbot Cuthbert told Brother Cuthwine that Bede spent most of his last day lying on his bed, dictating a book. While the other monks were away on a Rogation Day cross-procession, Bede asked Cuthbert to fetch a casket of small but costly treasures, and after everyone had returned these were shared out among them, with a request for their prayers.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, besides, just, not, otherwise, until, whereas.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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