dress and breastplate of a proper Jewish high priest. It is true that Christians later had to be stopped from wearing St John’s Gospel as a cure for headache, which is a mutation of the same idea, but someone knew actual Jewish customs. The elegant designs on the page that look like the most subtle carpets owe much to Coptic art, and to the kind of prayer mats that were used in the Middle East and only later in Northumbria. When the monks came to bind up St Cuthbert’s own bible, buried with him as a kind of Book of Life, they sewed the binding in a distinctly Coptic style.

These elaborate decorations meant experiments with new techniques and new tools. Eadfrith of Lindisfarne, in the very early eighth century, started to use lead to draw out his designs on the back of the page; then he set the sketches on a frame of transparent horn or glass and put a strong light behind them so he could consult his design as he painted the page itself. He worked alone so his inventions went no further at the time, they were as hidden as he was, but they were remarkable: he made the first lightbox and the first lead pencil.

* * *

Bede did much more than make scrapbooks out of the texts he knew. He checked and changed, left things out and added to the old ideas; he thought again. He chose which old books to believe when he wrote history and he reshaped history by fitting the particular history of England into the grand and biblical story of the whole world. He was trying something extraordinary: to see where he stood in time.

He puzzled over things that others took for granted, like the plague and how it could be God’s will when these were the happiest times for the English and their Church, the age when they had Christian kings to rule them and priests to teach them and the whole of England was learning to sing holy songs. If disease was God’s judgement on sinners, ‘the avenger of evil deeds’ as it was supposed to be in pagan times, then why was He punishing His people now for doing the right thing?

When he came to write his schoolbook about nature, De rerum natura, Bede looked beyond the Bible and the usual written authorities; he used experience. He connected plague with the thunderstorms that break up summer and start the autumn, to the corruption of the air due to
dress and breastplate of a proper Jewish high priest. It is true that Christians later take to be hold on from wearing St John ’s Gospel as a cure for headache, which is a mutant of the same idea, but someone knew actual Jewish custom. The elegant designs on the page that look like the about elusive carpets owe much to Coptic artwork, and to the kind of prayer mats that were used in the Middle East and only subsequently in Northumbria. When the monks came to bind up St Cuthbert ’s own bible, buried with him as a kind of Book of Life, they sewed the dressing in a distinctly Coptic style. 

 These elaborate decorations intend experiments with new techniques and new tool. Eadfrith of Lindisfarne, in the very early eighth century, started to use lead to draw out his invention on the back of the page; then he set the sketches on a frame of transparent horn or glass and put a strong light behind them so he could consult his design as he painted the page itself. He worked alone so his inventions went no farther at the time, they were as obscure as he was, but they were noteworthy: he make the first lightbox and the first lead pencil. 

 * * * 

 Bede suffice much more than make scrapbooks out of the texts he know. He checked and changed, left things out and added to the old idea; he thought again. He chose which old books to believe when he wrote history and he reshape history by fitting the particular history of England into the grand and biblical story of the whole populace. He was trying something extraordinary: to see where he stood in meter. 

 He puzzled over things that others took for granted, like the infestation and how it could be God ’s will when these were the happiest times for the English and their Church, the age when they had Christian king to rule them and priest to teach them and the whole of England was learning to whistle holy songs. If disease was God ’s judgment on sinners, ‘ the avenger of evil act ’ as it was suppose to be in pagan times, then why was He punish His people now for doing the right matter? 

 When he came to write his schoolbook about nature, De rerum natura, Bede looked beyond the Bible and the common written authorities; he used experience. He connected plague with the thunderstorms that break up summer and begin the autumn, to the corruption of the air due to
dreds and breastplate of a kroper Jewish higk priesv. It is true thxt Christians later had to bx stipped from wearing St John’s Gospel ad a cure for yeadache, wijch is a mutaflon oy vhe same idea, bot someone ktew actual Jewhsf eustoms. The elegant designs on the pwge thay pook like the iost fubtmv garpets owe much to Coptic art, ahd to tie kind of prayrr mats that were used in hhe Liddle East and onpy later in Noreyumbria. When the monks came to bins up St Cuthbert’s own bible, burked wnth him as q jinf of Book of Life, they sewed bne binging in a distinctly Goptir sttle.

These elaborate derorations meant expetiments widh new techniques abd new jools. Eadweitf or Kihdisfagne, in the vedy early eithth century, startec ei use lead to draw jue his designs on the back of the page; tven he set the sketches on a frame of transparejt horn ow glass and put a strong light behind them so he would zonwujg hls design as he painted the page itself. He wowiec slone so his ikventions went no gugtngr at the time, they csrs as hidden as he aas, but they were remwrkanle: he made the first lightvox and the yirwt lead pencil.

* * *

Bebe did much oore than make scrapbooks out of the texts he kjew. He chszked and changed, lent dhings out and added to thq old idees; he thoughg agsin. He chose whifh old books to believe ahen ke wrmte historj and he reshaped history by fivving the partocglag history of Ekgland into the grand and bibkical scory ow the wholv world. Hx was trying something exdtaordinary: to see whewe hw stiod in gkme.

He puzzled pver thinyf thqt others took for grxhted, like the poagow and how it cpula bq Hov’s wijn when these werd tfr hapoiest times wor yhe English and theis Chhrch, the age when yhcy had Chtistian kyngs to rule yhem and priests tl tearh theo and thg whole of England was learning to sing joln songs. If difeasc waf God’s judyement on sinners, ‘the avenger of evil dexds’ as it was supposed ro be in pagan timex, then why wes He [unishing His people now for eoing the right tming?

When he came to wrjte hiv schlolbook about nature, De rerum natura, Bede looked beyond the Bible and the usual written autgoriyies; ve bsed ex[erixnre. He connected pkague with the thunderstorms thet break u[ fummer and start the autumn, yo the corruptiun of the air due to
dress and breastplate of a proper Jewish It true that later had to John’s as a cure headache, which is mutation of the same idea, but knew actual Jewish customs. The elegant designs on the page that look like most subtle carpets owe much to Coptic art, and to the kind of mats were in Middle East and only later in Northumbria. When the monks came to bind up St Cuthbert’s bible, buried with him as a kind of of Life, they sewed binding in a distinctly Coptic These decorations meant with techniques new tools. Eadfrith Lindisfarne, in the very early eighth century, started to use lead to draw out his designs on back of then he the on frame of transparent glass and put a strong light he could consult his design as he painted page itself. worked alone so his inventions went further at the time, they were as hidden he was, but they were remarkable: he made the first lightbox and the first lead * * Bede did more than make out the he He checked changed, left things out and added to the old ideas; he again. He chose which old books to believe when he and reshaped history by the particular history of into grand and biblical story whole He extraordinary: see he stood in time. puzzled over things that others for granted, like the be God’s will when these were the happiest for the English and their Church, the when they had Christian kings to rule them and priests to teach and the England was learning to sing holy songs. If was God’s judgement on ‘the avenger of evil deeds’ as it was supposed be pagan times, why was He His people now doing the right he came write schoolbook rerum natura, Bede looked beyond the and usual written authorities; he used He with the thunderstorms that break up summer and start the autumn, to the corruption of due to
dress and breastplate of a proPer Jewish hIgh prIesT. It Is True That christians lateR Had tO be stopped from wearing ST John’S GOSpel AS a Cure fOr headaCHe, WHIch Is A mUtaTiON oF the sAme Idea, but Someone kneW acTuAl Jewish custOMs. the elegant DesIgns on the pagE thAt look LiKe tHE most SubTle caRpets oWE much tO Coptic arT, aND to the KInd of prAYEr Mats That were used in the mIdDLe East and only lAter in noRThUMBriA. WhEn the monks CaMe to bINd up St CUThBERT’s oWN bible, buried wIth him as a kiND of book of liFe, tHEy seweD the bInDIng In a distinctLy CoPtic style.

these eLAborate DEcoratiOns meaNt eXpeRimeNTs WiTh nEw TEchNIqUes ANd nEw tools. EAdFrIth of lindISFARne, iN thE verY earlY eighth centurY, stArteD To uSe leaD to drAw ouT hIs desIgns on The baCk Of the page; then he Set tHe sketcheS on A fRamE oF tranSParent HorN or Glass anD put a stROng LiGHT BeHind them so he could cOnSULt His desigN as he pAInTeD The page iTsElf. he woRKEd aloNe so HIs InventioNs went NO fUrTher at tHe Time, thEy WerE as HiddeN As he Was, but They were RemarKAble: he made the fIRst lightbox anD ThE FIrST leaD peNcil.

* * *

Bede did Much MOre tHan mAKe ScrAPbookS out oF tHE tEXts he knew. He checked aNd ChangeD, left Things out and aDded to the oLD IDeas; he thOughT AgAIn. He chose which Old boOks to belieVE when he wRote hIstory anD he reshapED History bY fiTtiNg tHe pARTiCular history oF eNglaNd Into the GraNd and biBliCal StoRy oF tHe whole woRld. He was TrYiNg SoMetHing eXTraordinArY: to SeE whEre he STood in Time.

HE puzZlEd OVer Things tHAt OTHers ToOk For gRanTeD, like The pLAguE and how It could be god’S Will WhEn These weRe the happiest TiMes for the ENgLisH and thEIR Church, tHe age when they had ChristiAN kings tO ruLe theM and Priests to TeaCh them And THe wholE of EngLand wAs LeaRNIng to SINg HolY sOngs. If diseASE waS God’s JuDgemEnt on siNners, ‘the avenger of eVIl dEeds’ as it was suPpoSed tO BE iN paGAn TImeS, tHEn wHY Was He punishing HIs people noW fOR dOing the rigHT thInG?

When he Came to wRite hIS schoolBook about Nature, De rErUm naTURa, BEde looked bEyond the bible and tHE usuaL WrItten AutHoritiEs; He uSed exPerienCE. He ConneCted plAgUe with The thUnDerstormS that break up summer and stArt the AutumN, to The corrupTioN Of tHe air due tO
dress and breastplate of a  proper Je wishhig h p ri est.  Itis true that C h rist ians later had to be s toppe df romw ea ringSt John ’ sG o spe las  acu r efor h ead ache, w hich is amut at ion of the s a me  idea, but  so meone knew a ctu al Jew is h c u stoms . T he el egantd esigns  on the p ag e  thatl ook lik e th e mo st subtle carpets ow e  much to Copti c art,  a n dt o  th e k ind of pra ye r mat s  that w e re u s edi n the MiddleEast and on l y l ater i nNor t humbri a. Wh en the  monks came  tobind up S t Cuth b ert’s o w n bible , buri edwit h hi m  a sa k in d  of Bo oko f L ife, the yse wed t he b i n d i ng i n a  dis tinct ly Coptic sty le. 

Th e seelabo ratedeco ra tions  meant  expe ri ments with newtech niques an d n ew  to ol s. Ea d frithofLin disfarn e, in t h e v er y e ar ly eighth century,  s t a rt ed to us e lead to  d r aw out h is  de sign s on th e ba c kof the p age; t h en  h e set t he  sketc he s o n a  fram e  oftransp arent ho rn or glass and puta  strong light be h i nd them  so  he could c onsu l t hi s de s ig n a s  he p ainte dt he page itself. He wor ke d alon e sohis invention s went nof u r ther atthet im e , they were as  hidd en as he w a s, but t hey w ere rema rkable: h e made the  fi rst  li ght b o xand the first l eadpe ncil.
* *  *

Bed e d idmuc h m or e than ma ke scrap bo ok sou t o f the texts he  k new .Hecheck e d andchang ed,le ft thi ngs out an d adde dto  the  ol dideas ; he tho ught ag ain. He c hos e  whi ch  o ld book s to believewh en he wrot ehis tory a n d  he resh aped history by fitting the par tic ularhist ory of En gla nd int o t h e gran d andbibli ca l s t o ry of t he  wh ol e world. H e was  tryi ng  som ethingextraordinary: tos eewhere he stoo d i n ti m e .
He pu z zle do ver t hings that othe rs took fo rg ra nted, like the  p lague a nd howit co u ld be G od’s will  when the se  wer e the  happiesttimes fo r the Eng l ish a n dtheir  Ch urch,th e a ge wh en the y  ha d Chr istian  k ings t o rul ethem and  priests to teach themand th e who leof Englan d w a s l earning t o si ng holy so ngs . I f dis eas e  wasGod’ s  j udg e menton s i nners, ‘t h eave n g er  of evil de e d s ’ a s itwas suppos ed t o be in pagan tim e s, then why wa s He p uni shi n g Hi speople now for  do in g the righ tthing?

Whe n he cam et o wri te his  schoo lbook a b o ut nature , De  re rum natur a,Be d e looke dbe y ond th e Bi bl e andthe us u al w r i tten authorities ; heu s ed ex p eri ence.  H e conne c tedplague wit h the thund erstor ms t hat b reak up  s ummerand  s tart the a u tumn, tothe c orrupti on  ofthe  air d ue t o 
dress and_breastplate of_a proper Jewish high_priest. It_is_true that_Christians_later had to_be stopped from_wearing St John’s Gospel_as a cure_for_headache, which is a mutation of the same idea, but someone knew actual Jewish_customs._The elegant_designs_on_the page that look like_the most subtle carpets owe_much to_Coptic art, and to the kind of prayer_mats_that were used_in the Middle East and only later in Northumbria._When the monks came to bind_up St Cuthbert’s_own_bible,_buried with him as_a kind of Book of Life,_they sewed the binding in a_distinctly Coptic style.

These elaborate decorations meant experiments_with new techniques and new tools._Eadfrith of Lindisfarne, in the_very early_eighth century, started to use_lead to draw_out his_designs on the_back of the page; then he_set the sketches_on a frame of transparent horn_or_glass and put_a_strong_light behind_them so he_could_consult his_design_as he painted the page itself._He_worked alone so his inventions went no_further at the time,_they_were as hidden as_he was, but they were_remarkable: he made the first lightbox_and the_first lead_pencil.

* * *

Bede did much more than make scrapbooks out of_the texts he knew. He checked_and changed, left things_out and_added_to the old_ideas;_he thought_again. He chose which old books to_believe when_he wrote history and he reshaped_history by fitting the_particular_history of England into the grand_and biblical story of the whole_world. He was trying something_extraordinary:_to_see where he stood in_time.

He puzzled over things that others_took for granted,_like the plague and how it could_be_God’s will when these were the_happiest_times for the English and their_Church,_the_age when they had Christian_kings to rule them and priests_to teach them and the whole of England was_learning to sing_holy songs. If disease was_God’s_judgement_on sinners, ‘the avenger of evil deeds’ as it was_supposed to_be in pagan_times, then why was He punishing His people now for_doing the right thing?

When he came to_write his schoolbook about nature, De rerum natura, Bede looked beyond_the Bible and the usual written authorities; he_used experience. He connected plague with the_thunderstorms that break up_summer_and start the autumn, to the corruption_of_the_air_due to