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for the salvation of the heathen, the obstacles that stood in their way must have been manifold and great.

But Divine Providence was preparing the way for the christianizing of the Pagan-English, by means of persons from a distant land; persons whose motives did not, indeed, purely respect the salvation of sinners: in their breasts zeal was mingled with worldly ambition, and religion debased with superstition.

We shall here give the account of the circumstances · which led to that mission, as narrated by Bede, the his torian of that period.

Sometime before Gregory the Great was raised to the papal chair, as he was passing one day through the streets of Rome, he espied some beautiful youths exposed to sale by a slave-merchant. Being struck with their appearance, he made enquiry as to the country from whence they were brought; and was informed that they came from the isle of Britain. Finding, upon further inquiry, that their people were heathens, he exclaimed, after fetching a deep sigh, What a pity that men of so fair a complexion should be subject to the prince of darkness! He then inquired, what was the name given to the people of their country? the reply was, that they were called ANGLI. Upon which Gregory observed that they were rightly called ANGLI, for they were beautiful as ANGELS (Angeli); and, therefore, it was fit that they should become the companions of the angels in heaven. He inquired further, what they called the province from which they were brought? He was told that its name was Deira (a part of the Northum brian kingdom): to which he answered, that it was called so because they were to be delivered (De irá Dei) from the wrath of God, and called to enjoy the mercy of Christ. He also inquired, what the name of the king was: and being told that it was Ella; then,

said he, it is fit that Halleluia should be sung in that land.

Gregory immediately went to the pope, and begged permission to go to England to convert the people to Christianity; his request was granted: but being in high favour with the people of Rome, the pope, to appease them, was obliged to recall Gregory, though he had proceeded three days on his journey. Gregory, being afterwards elevated to the pontificate, sent Augustine upon that important errand, about the year 597.

The preceding account, as narrated by Bede, and to be found in the Saxon homily of Ælfric, on the birthday of Gregory,* contains some things which appear to have been devised by the successors of Augustine, to enhance the character of his mission by representing Britain in general to be in a heathen state. As it respects the particular wish of Gregory that the gospel should be preached to the Angles of Northumbria, it comes in rather aukwardly; for the first missionaries do not appear to have aimed at the conversion, either of the inhabitants of Deira, or Bernicia. Augustine, himself, never visited that province: and Bede only gives the account of the captive youths as a tradition which prevailed in his time.

The history of the coming over of Augustine and his colleagues states, that when Gregory had been now four years in the pontifical chair, he fixed upon Augustine, and several other monks, to undertake a mission to the Anglo-Saxons of Britain. But the persons thus designated, after setting out on their journey, became greatly discouraged in contemplating the nature of their undertaking. Considering that they were about to encounter the fierce manners of a barbarous and heathen

* See Dr. A. Clarke's Missionary Address, London, 1816; p. 17, &c.

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people, with whose language they were utterly unac quainted, and to whose manners they were entire strangers, they judged it prudent to proceed no farther. They deputed Augustine to return back to Rome, and represent to Pope Gregory the vast difficulty of what they had engaged in; and to request that they might be permitted to relinquish a design that appeared so arduous, and so pregnant with danger. But Gregory, instead of attending to the remonstrance of the monks, told their deputy that it were far better not to enter upon a good undertaking, than afterwards to abandon it. He encouraged these missionaries with setting before them the great reward that awaited them, if they persevered faithfully in what they had undertaken: exhorting them to confide in the Divine assistance, through which they should be enabled to accomplish the object they had in view.

Augustine being thus roused by the earnest remonstrance, and encouraged by the affectionate address of the pontiff, returned to his company, and inspired them with fresh courage, so that they agreed to proceed towards the scene of their future labours. Being assisted by their brethren in France, they were conveyed over the channel to Kent, and landed in the isle of Thanet. The associates of Augustine, over whom he was constituted abbot, were about forty persons. They had among them interpreters of the nation of the Franks, whose language, therefore, must have borne a resemblance to that of the Saxons in England. By means of these, Augustine dispatched a message to Ethelbert, who was then king of the East Angles, and the most potent monarch in Britain. It was announced to the king that he and his brethren were come over from Rome; and the object of their journey was to impart to him and his people the most important and joyful tidings; so that if

they complied with what he had to lay before them, they would be entitled to everlasting felicity.

The king, in reply, sent orders that these missionaries should abide in the isle of Thanet, and be there supplied with every thing necessary to their support, until they heard of his further pleasure respecting them. Ethelbert was no stranger to Christianity; for his queen Bertha, daughter of Childeric, king of the Franks, was a Christian, and had for her chaplain a bishop of the name of Luidhard; for this princess gave her hand to the king of the East Angles upon the stipulation of her having liberty to retain the exercise of her own religion. It does not appear what endeavours were made by Luidhard to introduce Christianity among the English; but it is probable that he gained some converts, and had some influence with the king, as he had a church in which he celebrated Divine service.

At the expiration of a few days after the king had been waited upon, he came in person to the island; and, taking a seat in the open air, he called for Augustine and his companions, in order to hear what they had to advance. Augustine is described as heading the procession, bearing a silver cross for a banner, and the image of our Lord painted on a frame; while the company chanted certain prayers, as a solemn act of devotion. They then were permitted to open their commission, and to address the king and his attendants on the nature of the Christian religion; and when the discourse was finished, that prince replied to the following effect: "These are fine words and promises which you offer; but because they are new and uncertain, I cannot give my consent to them, and forsake those customs which I and the English nation have so long observed. But inasmuch as you are strangers come from far, and, (as much as I can discern), desire to communicate to us

what you yourselves believe to be true and conducive to our benefit, you shall not be molested, but have suitable provision made for your subsistence: nor do we prohibit you from gaining as many proselytes as you can to your religion." The king kept his word; and assigned the missionaries a residence in the royal city of Dorovernum, or Canterbury.

Divine worship was now celebrated by Augustine according to the forms and ceremonies of devotion which, at that time, were observed in the Catholic church. The missionaries, says Bede, preached the word, lived in great abstemiousness, receiving nothing but the mere necessaries of life; and prepared themselves to encounter difficulties, and to lay down their lives, if requisite, for the truth which they preached. They made several converts, who made public profession of Christianity. There was an old church near the city, which had formerly been used by the old British Christians; and there the new converts assembled to celebrate the Christian ordinances. The king, perhaps partly induced by his queen, and partly by seeing the readiness of his subjects, embraced Christianity.

This happy event gave them full liberty to propagate Christianity; and enabled them to repair the old churches, and erect new ones. And now the king was become a Christian, multitudes flocked to be baptized of their own free accord: for although the king, says the historian, took such an interest in the conversion of his subjects, he laid no compulsion on any of them; for he was taught that the service of Christ was to be a voluntary exercise, and not a matter of constraint. The king also delayed no longer to bestow upon Augustine and his friends every mark of honour suited to their several functions; and made the city of Canterbury a metropolitan see.

Such is the account which the venerable Bede gives

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