Baring-Gould’s sources: Venerated in the diocese of Genoa. Authority: — A life written by a monk of Gavello, about the Year 1350.] jHARLEMAGNE, in order to improve the condition of the Church in his dominions, established schools in which he placed youths under excellent masters, to be trained for the priesthood. Among these was Bede, a boy from Sleswik, who by his proficiency in his studies, and by his virtues, became a favourite with the great emperor and his nobles. He was offered a bishopric, but refused it, and retired into the monastery of Gavello, between the rivers Pantaro and the Po, with a friend named Venerius. A white dove was wont to hover at his window, and when admitted, to flutter about him in his cell. “Drive the bird away,” said Venerius, “lest the bird spoil our books.” “ Nay, leave it alone,” said Bede, “God hath sent the bird to give us pleasure.”

Bede [English monk and historian (d. 735)] died at Gavello, and was there buried. But his body was translated to S. Benignus at Genoa, in 1233. By a curious blunder, this Bede is confounded with the Venerable Bede of Jarrow, who died 735. Papebroech, who Macarius of A ntioch.

was at S. Benigno in 1662, says, “I was courteously received, and venerated there this sacred body, but the credulity of the monks displeased me, for they asserted that it was the body of the Venerable Bede, the ecclesiastical writer.” The writer of the life in the 14th century made a similar mistake, for he headed it the life of S. Bede, Priest, Confessor, and Doctor, and calls him “The Venerable,” though there is nothing in his life which could possibly give colour to this mistake.