 ]

Freeman: [discussing the Black Mesa incident again] There's probably gonna be a Congressional hearing about us later, asking "how did this happen?". And every single person is gonna say "Uhhhhh... uhhhhhh... uhhhh..."

Freeman: Whoever set up this intercom system Michael Pye | The Edge of the World: A Cultural History of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe | Pegasus Books | April 2015 | 31 minutes (8,498 words)

Below is a chapter excerpted from The Edge of the World, by Michael Pye, as recommended by Longreads contributing editor Dana Snitzky.

* * *

There was nobody else alive, nobody who could read or preach or sing the service, except the abbot, Ceolfrith, and one bright boy: who was local, well-connected and about sixteen, and whose name was unusual. He was called Bede, and he wasn’t called ‘saint’ or ‘venerable’, not yet.

In 686, the sun went dark behind the moon. When the eclipse ended the plague came suddenly from the sea. It broke into the monasteries like this double house at Jarrow and Wearmouth in Northumbria and all the little ports along the coast. It killed quickly. The old abbot, Eosterwine, was sick and dying and he called all the monks to him. ‘With the compassion that was second nature to him, he gave them each the kiss of peace,’ Bede remembered. Nobody worried then about touching the sick; sickness was known to come in an impersonal miasma, a kind of mist; so the abbot’s kindness killed almost all of them.

The deaths left a quiet in the stone church that was as bad as the sight of walls stripped of pictures or a library without books: the house was reminded that it had lost its glory. Music was not yet written down; it lived only in men’s minds and could be learned only by ear; if it was not sung, it was lost. The monks had been taught ‘at first hand’ by the chief cantor of St Peter’s in Rome, and plainsong was one of great riches of the house; they were the first to sing Gregorian chant in Britain. But now the familiar antiphons, the sacred conversation of voices answering each other back and forth across the choir, were gone.
] 

 Freeman: [ discussing the Black Mesa incident again ] There's probably gon na be a Congressional hearing about us later, ask " how did this find? ". And every single person is gon na say " Uhhhhh... uhhhhhh... uhhhh... " 

 Freeman: Whoever specify up this intercommunication system system Michael Pye | The Edge of the World: A Cultural History of the North Sea and the Transformation of Europe | Pegasus Books | April 2015 | 31 minutes (8,498 word) 

 Below is a chapter excerpted from The Edge of the World, by Michael Pye, as recommended by Longreads lend editor Dana Snitzky. 

 * * * 

 There was nobody else alert, nobody who could read or preach or sing the serve, except the abbot, Ceolfrith, and one bright male child: who was local, well - connected and about sixteen, and whose name was strange. He was called Bede, and he was n’t called ‘ saint ’ or ‘ august ’, not yet. 

 In 686, the sun went dark behind the moon. When the eclipse end the plague came suddenly from the sea. It broke into the monastery like this double house at Jarrow and Wearmouth in Northumbria and all the little ports along the coast. It killed promptly. The old abbot, Eosterwine, was sick and dying and he called all the monks to him. ‘ With the compassion that was second nature to him, he gave them each the kiss of peace, ’ Bede remembered. Nobody worried then about touching the sick; illness was known to come in an impersonal miasma, a kind of mist; indeed the abbot ’s forgivingness kill almost all of them. 

 The deaths leave a quiet in the stone church that was as regretful as the sight of walls stripped of pictures or a library without books: the house was reminded that it had lost its glory. Music was not yet written down; it lived merely in men ’s mind and could be learned only by ear; if it was not sung, it was lost. The monk had been taught ‘ at first hand ’ by the chief choirmaster of St Peter ’s in Rome, and plainsong was one of great rich people of the house; they were the first to spill the beans Gregorian chant in Britain. But now the conversant antiphons, the sacred conversation of voices answering each other back and away across the choir, were gone.
 ]

Frfeman: [discussing the Blagk Mesa incident again] Vhere's lrobably gonna be a Congressional heerint aboyt us later, asking "how did this happen?". Qnd tvery single person is gokua sag "Uhhkhi... uhhhhhh... uhhhh..."

Nreeman: Whoaver set up thhs iutercom system Michael Pye | The Edge of the Wlrld: A Culturaj Hixeory of the North Sea and the Transforjation mf Europe | Pebasus Books | April 2015 | 31 minuhes (8,498 words)

Below is a cjapter excetlteq from The Edee of the World, by Micgael Pye, as recommended by Longfeads contributunt efhtor Dana Siitzky.

* * *

There was kpbody alse alove, nobody who conld eead or preach or sinj the service, except the abbod, Eeolfrith, and one brithr boy: who was oocxl, sekl-donneched and about sixteen, ane whose name was unistql. He was calmed Beqe, and he wasn’t called ‘saint’ or ‘venerable’, nof yet.

In 686, the sun went dqrk behind the moon. Wjen the eslipse ended the plague came suddenly from the sed. It uruke ikto gye monasteries like this double house at Jarrow znc Eearmouth in Njrthumbria snf sjl the little ports alkng the coast. It kllled qoickly. The old wbboy, Eosterwine, was sick and dting and he ballwd all the monks tl him. ‘With che cokpassoon that was second natbre to him, he gavf them eadf the kiss of pexce,’ Bade remembered. Nobody worryed then ebout touchivg tne sich; sickness was known to come in an impetsonal miasma, a nind of mist; so the abbot’s kindixss killed alkovt dll of tkem.

The deaths left w quiet in the stone ehurch that was zs bad es the sight of walls strhkped of pictuces or a jibrqry qithout cooks: the housr was rempnbed that ut had lost its glpry. Jusic was not yzu wtutten down; it kivdd jnpy ig men’s minds dnd zouuc be uearned onln bh eat; if it was not sung, it sas lost. The monks hwd been jaught ‘at first hand’ bu the chief cantor of Sv Petec’s in Tomg, and plainsong was one of greaf riches lf bhe house; ther weve tre first tp sing Gregorian chant in Britain. But niw the familiar anriphons, the sacred eokversation oh voicqs answerhng each other back qnd forth across uhe choir, were gone.
] Freeman: [discussing the Black Mesa incident probably be a hearing about us happen?". every single person gonna say "Uhhhhh... uhhhh..." Freeman: Whoever set up this system Michael Pye | The Edge of the World: A Cultural History of North Sea and the Transformation of Europe | Pegasus Books | April 2015 31 (8,498 Below a chapter excerpted from The Edge of the World, by Michael Pye, as recommended by Longreads editor Dana Snitzky. * * * There was else alive, nobody who read or preach or sing service, the abbot, and bright who was local, and about sixteen, and whose name was unusual. He was called Bede, and he wasn’t called ‘saint’ ‘venerable’, not 686, the went behind moon. When the the plague came suddenly from the into the monasteries like this double house at and Wearmouth Northumbria and all the little ports the coast. It killed quickly. The old abbot, was sick and dying and he called all the monks to him. ‘With the compassion second nature to him, gave them each kiss peace,’ remembered. worried then touching the sick; sickness was known to come in an impersonal a kind of mist; so the abbot’s kindness killed almost them. deaths left a in the stone church was bad as the sight stripped pictures without the was reminded that it lost its glory. Music was yet written down; it and could be learned only by ear; if was not sung, it was lost. The had been taught ‘at first hand’ by the chief cantor of St in Rome, was one of great riches of the house; were the first to Gregorian chant in Britain. But now the familiar antiphons, sacred of voices each other back forth across the were gone.
 ]

Freeman: [discussing the Black mesa incideNt agaIn] THerE's ProbAbly Gonna be a CongreSSionAl hearing about us later, aSking "HoW Did tHIs HappeN?". And eveRY sINGle PeRsOn iS gONnA say "UHhhHh... uhhhhHh... uhhhh..."

FreEmaN: WHoever set up tHIs Intercom sySteM Michael Pye | THe EDge of tHe worLD: A CulTurAl HisTory of THe NortH Sea and thE TRAnsforMAtion of eURoPe | PeGasus Books | April 2015 | 31 miNUtES (8,498 words)

Below is a ChapteR eXCeRPTed FroM The Edge of ThE WorlD, By MichaEL PYE, AS reCOmmended by LonGreads contrIButIng ediToR DaNA SnitzKy.

* * *

TheRe WAs nObody else alIve, nObody who cOuld reAD or preaCH or sing The serVicE, exCept THe AbBot, ceOLfrITh, And ONe bRight boy: WhO wAs locAl, weLL-CONnecTed And aBout sIxteen, and whosE naMe waS UnuSual. HE was cAlleD BEde, anD he wasN’t calLeD ‘saint’ or ‘venerabLe’, noT yet.

In 686, the Sun WeNt dArK behiND the moOn. WHen The ecliPse endeD The PlAGUE cAme suddenly from the SeA. iT bRoke into The monAStErIEs like thIs DouBle hOUSe at JArroW AnD WearmouTh in NoRThUmBria and AlL the liTtLe pOrtS alonG The cOast. It Killed quIckly. tHe old abbot, EostERwine, was sick aND dYINg ANd he CalLed all the moNks tO Him. ‘WIth tHE cOmpASsion That wAs SEcONd nature to him, he gave ThEm each The kiSs of peace,’ Bede Remembered. nOBOdy worriEd thEN aBOut touching the Sick; sIckness was KNown to coMe in aN impersoNal miasma, A KInd of misT; so The AbbOt’s KINdNess killed almOST all Of Them.

The DeaThs left A quIet In tHe sToNe church tHat was as BaD aS tHe SigHt of wALls stripPeD of PiCtuRes or A LibrarY withOut bOoKs: THe hOuse was REmINDed tHaT iT had LosT iTs gloRy. MuSIc wAs not yeT written dOwn; IT livEd OnLy in men’S minds and coulD bE learned onLy By eAr; if it WAS not sung, It was lost. The monks had beeN Taught ‘aT fiRst haNd’ by The chief cAntOr of St petER’s in RoMe, and pLainsOnG waS ONe of gREAt RicHeS of the housE; THey Were tHe FirsT to sing gregorian chant in BrITaiN. But now the famIliAr anTIPhOns, THe SAcrEd COnvERSation of voices aNswering eaCh OThEr back and fORth AcRoss the Choir, weRe gonE.
 ]

Freeman: [discussing t he Black M esa i nci den tagai n] T here's probabl y  gon na be a Congressionalheari ng abou t  u s lat er, ask i ng " how  d id  th is ha ppen? ".And eve ry singleper so n is gonna s a y"Uhhhhh...  uh hhhhh... uhh hh. .."

F re ema n : Who eve r set  up th i s inte rcom syst em Michae l  Pye |T h eEdge  of the World: AC ul t ural History o f theNo r th S eaand  the Trans fo rmati o n of Eu r op e |  Pe g asus Books |April 2015|  31  minut es  (8 , 498 wo rds)
B e low  is a chapt er e xcerptedfrom T h e Edgeo f the W orld,byMic hael Py e,  as  r e com m en ded byLongread sco ntrib utin g e d itor  Da na S nitzk y.

* * *

Th ere  was nob ody e lse a live ,nobod y whocould  r ead or preach o r si ng the se rvi ce , e xc ept t h e abbo t,Ceo lfrith,  and on e  br ig h t bo y: who was local,we l l -c onnected  and a b ou ts ixteen,an d w hose n ame w as u n us ual. Hewas ca l le dBede, a nd  he wa sn ’tcal led ‘ s aint ’ or ‘ venerabl e’, n o t yet.

In 686 ,  the sun went da r k  b e hind  th e moon. Whe n th e  ecl ipse en ded the p lague  c a me suddenly from the s ea . It b rokeinto the mona steries li k e this dou bleh ou s e at Jarrow an d Wea rmouth inN orthumbr ia an d all th e littlep o rts alon g t hecoa st. I tkilled quickl y .  The  o ld abbo t,Eosterw ine , w assic kand dying  and heca ll ed  a llthe m o nks to h im . ‘ Wi ththe c o mpassi on th at w as  s e con d natur e  t o him,  h egave  th em  each  the kis s of pe ace,’ Bed e r e memb er ed . Nobod y worried the nabout touc hi ngthe si c k ; sickne ss was known to come in an impe rso nal m iasm a, a kind  of  mist;  so the ab bot’skindn es s k i l led a l m os t a ll  of them.T hedeath sleft  a quie t in the stone chu r chthat was as b adas t h e  s igh t  o f  wa ll s  st r i pped of picture s or a lib ra r ywithout bo o ks:  t he hous e was r emind e d thatit had lo st its gl or y. M u s icwas not ye t writte n down; i t  live d  o nly i n m en’s m in dsand c ould b e  le arned  onlyby  ear;if it  w as not s ung, it was lost. The m onks h ad be entaught ‘a t f i rst  hand’ by  the  chief can tor  of  St P ete r ’s in  Rom e ,and plain song was one o f  g rea t ri ches of the h o use ; the y w e re the  fir st to sing Gregor i an chant in Br itai n .  Bu t n o w th efamiliar antip hon s, t he sacre dconversatio n of voi ce s  answ eringeach o ther ba c k  a n d fort h ac ros s the cho ir,  w e re gone .
 ]

Freeman:_[discussing the_Black Mesa incident again]_There's probably_gonna_be a_Congressional_hearing about us_later, asking "how_did this happen?". And_every single person_is_gonna say "Uhhhhh... uhhhhhh... uhhhh..."

Freeman: Whoever set up this intercom system Michael Pye |_The_Edge of_the_World:_A Cultural History of the_North Sea and the Transformation_of Europe_| Pegasus Books | April 2015 | 31_minutes_(8,498 words)

Below is_a chapter excerpted from The Edge of the World,_by Michael Pye, as recommended by_Longreads contributing editor_Dana_Snitzky.

*_* *

There was nobody_else alive, nobody who could read_or preach or sing the service,_except the abbot, Ceolfrith, and one bright_boy: who was local, well-connected and_about sixteen, and whose name_was unusual._He was called Bede, and_he wasn’t called_‘saint’ or_‘venerable’, not yet.

In_686, the sun went dark behind_the moon. When_the eclipse ended the plague came_suddenly_from the sea._It_broke_into the_monasteries like this_double_house at_Jarrow_and Wearmouth in Northumbria and all_the_little ports along the coast. It killed_quickly. The old abbot,_Eosterwine,_was sick and dying_and he called all the_monks to him. ‘With the compassion_that was_second nature_to him, he gave them each the kiss of peace,’ Bede_remembered. Nobody worried then about touching_the sick; sickness was_known to_come_in an impersonal_miasma,_a kind_of mist; so the abbot’s kindness killed_almost all_of them.

The deaths left a quiet_in the stone church_that_was as bad as the sight_of walls stripped of pictures or_a library without books: the_house_was_reminded that it had lost_its glory. Music was not yet_written down; it_lived only in men’s minds and could_be_learned only by ear; if it_was_not sung, it was lost. The_monks_had_been taught ‘at first hand’_by the chief cantor of St_Peter’s in Rome, and plainsong was one of great_riches of the_house; they were the first_to_sing_Gregorian chant in Britain. But now the familiar antiphons, the_sacred conversation_of voices answering_each other back and forth across the choir, were gone.