Abstract
This paper analyses the terms vera lex historae/verax historicus in the Historia Ecclestiastica gentis Anglorum Bedae Venerabilis. It discusses the opinion of translator Jaromír Kincl, who considers Bede Venerable basically a historian of modern type, carrying out historical criticism of his sources.
In the Historia Ecclestiastica the vera lex historiae is definitely not the "true law of history" but only a principle saying that the author can leave all responsibility for the factual to his sources. Bede means that verax historicus has to give moral lessons and write instructive factual narrative in accordance to Christian (Roman) orthodoxy.
Bede''s cautious selectivity of miracles is caused by looking for recognized parallels in authorised texts(Dialogorum libri IV of Pope Gregory the Great). In order to find suitable didactic examples Bede does not hesitate to use his sources and authorities (Vita s.
Columbae, Vita Wilfredi) and to adapt these or even create new analogies.