Bede's Death Song

Bede died on Thursday, 26 May 735 (Ascension Day) on the floor of his cell, singing Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit and was buried at Jarrow.

At three o'clock, according to Cuthbert, he asked for a box of his to be brought, and distributed among the priests of the monastery "a few treasures" of his: "some pepper, and napkins, and some incense".

[2][6][7] Recorded in both Northumbrian and West Saxon, as edited in the Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records series (with ‖ representing a medial caesura) the poem reads:[8][9] Fore thaem neidfaerae ‖ naenig uuiurthit thoncsnotturra, ‖ than him tharf sie to ymbhycggannae ‖ aer his hiniongae huaet his gastae ‖ godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaege ‖ doemid uueorthae.

For þam nedfere ‖ næni wyrþeþ þances snotera, ‖ þonne him þearf sy to gehicgenne ‖ ær his heonengange hwæt his gaste ‖ godes oþþe yfeles æfter deaþe heonon ‖ demed weorþe.

[11] Afore thor need-fare ‖ yen is nivvor mair wise in thowt ‖ than he owt think what he can ‖ on his way to gan what tiv his ghaist ‖ o good or ill maist after his deeth day ‖ doom then may say.