They had a considerable share both in the religious and literate institution of the Northumbrians.

Another island, of still less importance, in the mouth of the Tees [Tweed ?], and called Lindisfarne, was about this time sanctified by the austerities of an hermit called Cuthbert.

It soon became also a very celebrated monastery.
It was, from a dread of the ravages of pirates, removed first to the adjacent part of the continent, and on the same account finally to Durham.

The heads of this monastery omitted nothing which could contribute to the glory of their founder and to the dignity of their house, which became, in a very short time, by their assiduous endeavors, the most considerable school perhaps in Europe.
The great and justest boast of this monastery is the Venerable Beda, who was educated and spent his whole life there.

An account of his writings is an account of the English learning in that age, taken in its most advantageous view.