◆(2) Caedmon: The earliest English poet. According to Bede, he was an elderly herdsman who received the power of song in a vision. died c. 680 ◆(3)Bede(6732-735) Anglo-Saxon theologian and historian whose major work, Ecclesiastical History of the english Nation(731), written in Latin, remains an important source of ancient English history. He introduced the method of dating events from the birth of christ 2021/2/232021/2/23 7  (2) Caedmon:  The earliest English poet. According to Bede, he was an elderly herdsman who received the power of song in a vision. died c. 680  (3) Bede (673?-735)  Anglo-Saxon theologian and historian whose major work, Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation (731), written in Latin, remains an important source of ancient English history. He introduced the method of dating events from the birth of Christ