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BED 



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lied... 



the prostitution of those talents in the cause of a bigot- 

 ted superstition, which, had they been directed to the 

 support of law and justice, would have proved a 

 blessing, instead of a fire-brand to his country. See 

 Hume's Hist, of England, vol. i. p. 410 448, 8vo. ; 

 Lyttelton's Flat. <>/' Henry II. vol. ii. p. 231, &c. 

 Svo. ; Henry's Hist, of Great Britain, vol. v. p. 310, 

 &c. Svo. (p) 



BED, a place raised above the level of the floor 

 of an apartment, on which the body is stretched out 

 for rest and sleep. 



In ancient times the beds consisted of a heap of 

 herbs and leaves, with the skins of beasts for a cover- 

 ing ; and even in the time of Pliny, the soldiers when 

 encamped made use of that rude couch. In process 

 of time, however, the Romans constructed their beds 

 in a more luxurious manner. The fine wool of Mi- 

 letus, ebony, cedar, and citron wood, were all em- 

 ployed in the construction of this piece of furniture. 

 Sometimes they were even made of ivory and massive 

 silver, having their coverings of purple enriched with 

 gold. 



Beds, at first employed for the purpose of recruit- 

 ing the body by rest and sleep, were afterwards 

 4ised for other purposes. The luxurious Asiatics 

 stretched themselves upon beds when they devoured 

 their meals, and the Creeks afterwards imitated this 

 indolent practice. The ancients made use of beds 

 when they were engaged in their prayers, and in this 

 .singular custom they were imitated by the first Chris- 

 tians. The ancient poets too, often recited their 

 compositions from their beds, and even their philoso- 

 phers placed themselves in that attitude of repose, 

 when they gave lessons to their disciples. See Ho- 

 Jner's Iliad, lib. xxiv. v. 644. Pliny, lib. viii. cap. 

 18; lib. xvi. cap. 36; lib. xxiii. cap. 11. Stat, 

 11 Hen. VII. cap. 19. Suetonius, In Fit. Aug. 

 cum. Not. Casaubon. Scheffer de Torquibus. 



An account of beds of particular constructions will 

 be found in the Machines Approuvees, torn. iii. p. 67. 

 Phil. Trans. 17S2, p. 256. Mem. Acad. Par. 1742. 

 Hist. p. 155. Id. 17*5. Hist. p. 81. Id. 174-6. Hist. 

 120. Id. 1771. Hist. 68. Id. 1772. Hist. Machines 

 .Ipprouvces, torn. vii. p. 121. Id. torn. vii. p. 321. 

 Repertory of Arts, ii. 104. (j) 



BEDA, or Bede, usually called the Venerable 

 Bcde, was born at Weremouth, in Northumberland, 

 in the year 672 ; and, at the age of seven years, was 

 BCdt to the monastery of St Peter, whose abbot and 

 founder, Benedict Biscop, was one of the most learn- 

 ed men and greatest travellers of that age. Here he 

 enjoyed the use of an excellent library, and the assist- 

 ance of the ablest instructors. Abbot Benedict him- 

 self, Ceolfrid his succesor, and St John of Beverley, 

 were all his preceptors ; by the last of whom he was 

 ordained deacon, at 19 years of age, and priest at 30. 

 He seems, however, to have removed to another mo- 

 nastery, founded also by Benedict, at Tarrow, near 

 the mouth of the river Tyne, where he spent the re- 

 mainder of his life in devout exercises and literary 

 pursuits. By his astonishing application and com- 

 prehensive talents, he made himself master of every 

 branch of literature, which it was possible to acquire 

 in the period in which he lived, and in the circum- 



stances in which he was placed. He was held in 

 high estimation by the most eminent prelates of that 

 age, and particularly by Egbert, bishop of York, a 

 man of the most extensive learning. His fame was 

 so great, that it rapidly spread through every coun- 

 try in Europe ; and he was even invited by Pope 

 Sergius to Rome, that he might be consulted by that 

 pontiff upon many subjects of importance. Bede, 

 however, still continued his monastic course of life, 

 diligently employing himself in the acquisition and 

 communication of useful knowledge. He composed 

 an astonishing number of treatises, many of which 

 have never been published ; and wrote upon so great 

 a variety of subjects, that his works, it has been af- 

 firmed, contain all the knowledge which was then to 

 be found in the world, and every point of antiquity, 

 at least, which ie now worthy to be read. The 

 greatest of his writings, was the ecclesiastical history 

 of England, which he completed in the 59th year of 

 his age, and which is still a performance of the high- 

 est authority. His writings were so much esteemed, 

 that evan during his own life, a council held in Eng- 

 land, and afterwards approved by the catholic church, 

 appointed his homilies to be publicly read in the 

 churches. He was the first who translated some 

 parts of the Bible, especially the gospel of John, into 

 the language of this country, which was then Saxon; 

 and it was the anxious occupation of his last moments 

 to finish that portion of the sacred book. All his 

 other works were composed in the Latin language, 

 in a style remarkable for its perspicuity and ease, but 

 frequently deficient in purity and elegance. He 

 could not be exempt from the influence of that cre- 

 dulity, which was the character of the age in which 

 he lived ; but if allowances be made for the peculia- 

 rities of his times, and the disadvantages with which 

 he had to struggle, he must be acknowledged to 

 have been the most laborious and ingenious person 

 that this country ever produced. He is justly cele- 

 brated for his exemplary piety, astonishing learning, 

 incredible application, and extreme humility. He 

 is called by Camden, " the singular light of our 

 island, whom we may more easily admire than suffi- 

 ciently praise." He was named by his contempo- 

 raries the Wise Saxon ; and has been entitled by pos- 

 terity, the Venerable Bede : and indeed, " as long," 

 says an eminent historian, " as great modesty, piety, 

 and learning, united in one character, are the objects 

 of veneration, the memory of Bede must be revered." 

 He laboured, during the concluding period of his 

 life, under a very infirm state of health, which had 

 been induced by his unremitting application, and 

 which he bore with devout resignation. Having ex- 

 hausted his last remains of strength in dictating a 

 translation from sacred scripture, he breathed a pious 

 exclamation, and expired in his cell at Tarrow, in the 

 vear 735. His body was interred in his own monas- 

 tery, where he died, but was afterwards removed to 

 Durham, and placed in the same coffin with that of 

 St Cuthbert. The first edition of his works was 

 published at Paris, in 1 544, in three volumes folio ; 

 and the latest at Cambridge in 1 722, with notes and 

 dissertations by Dr Smith, prebendary of Durham. 

 An account of his printed pieces may be found in 



Bed a. 



