speaking of, he must have been extremely old: but it is possible, through mistake, that the name of the founder may have been given to him who presided at that time.

There has been some dispute among our learned antiquaries, as to the time of Augustine's death; which, according to Bede, is said to have taken place previously to the slaughter of the monks: but the passage, as it stands in the Latin copies of that writer, is maintained to be an interpolation by Archbishop Parker, Bishop Goodwin, and Dr. Hammond, men of the first eminence. I shall here transcribe what Bishop Goodwin has said:

"Well I know that divers affirm Austin died the year 603; whereas this war was made two years after that time. And Beda, as we now have him, seemeth to confirm the same. For talking of the foresaid slaughter, and how it was foretold by Augustine, he addeth, Quamvis ipso (Augustino) jam multo ante tempore ad celestia regna translato; as though long before that war Augustine had died. Howbeit it appeareth manifestly, that those words are fraudulently thrust in. For the old Saxon copies, whereof divers are to be seen, have no such thing. Again it appeareth that Augustine was alive, and confirmed a charter made to King Ethelbert, in the year 605; which was two years after the war. And divers do witness that he died after that; some, the year 611, and others, namely, Matthew Westminster, the year 608; whereas most of our histories affirm that the said war was made with the Britons, the year 603.”*

Dr. Hammond, in writing expressly on the subject of the intercourse between Augustine and the abbot of Bangor, has fully cleared up this subject; and shewn to satisfaction that Augustine was not dead at the time of

* Goodwin on the conversion of Britain, prefixed to his "Successions of the Bishops."

the battle of Bangor.* Some old writers have even asserted that he was present at the battle; but, be that as it may, the whole circumstances of the history shew that Ethelbert, excited by him, urged the Northumbrian Ethelfrith to bring an army against the Britons of Wales; and from so powerful an enemy, and a fierce heathen, no compassion could be expected.

As to the good done in converting the English, we shall find presently that others were engaged in this work, and were more laborious than Augustine and his companions.

Augustine died at Canterbury, and was buried at the entrance of the church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, with the following inscription on his tomb:

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"Hic requiescit Dominus Augustinus, Dorovernensis Archiepiscopus primus; qui olim a beato Gregorio Romanæ urbis pontifice "directus, et a Deo operatione miraculorum suffultus, Æthelbertum regem ac gentem illius ab idolorum cultu ad Christi fidem perduxit: "et completis in pace diebus officii sui, defunctus est, septimo "Kalendas Junias, eodem rege regnante."

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The Welsh princes, roused at the devastation committed by Ethelfrith, combined their forces, and routed him with great slaughter, so that he did not long remain without chastisement for his ambition and cruelty.

sor.

Augustine was succeeded by Laurentius, whom he had designated, while he was yet living, as his succesThis holy man used milder methods than Augustine; but, while he was proceeding in his labours, King Ethelbert died; and his people relapsed again into their old heathen state, Edbald, his son and successor, being a vile and wicked prince. Mellitus and Justus

* See the Bishop of St. David's second letter to the clergy of his diocese.

were banished; and the bishop, himself, was going to quit the kingdom, only that, being admonished in a vision, he resolved to stay with his flock. The young prince, hearing of this, began to shew a better disposition; he recalled Mellitus and Justus, and became a friend and promoter of the Christian religion. Laurentius succeeded to the primacy, A. D. 611; and, worn out with vexation, he lived not to enjoy the consolation arising from the change which was taking place in the king's disposition; for that very year he died. He was succeeded by Mellitus, A. D. 621.

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VOL. II.

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CHAPTER XII.

Further proceedings of the disciples of Augustine, in Kent. The Cambrian churches. Paulinus preaches to the Northumbrians; and is made bishop of York. King Edwin embraces Christianity.

THE accommodating system which Pope Gregory recommended for promoting the Christian Faith among the English Saxons was attended with tolerable success ; especially while it received protection from the court. But when Augustine himself was dead; and when, in a few years after that event, King Ethelbert ceased to live and reign, it appeared that the true religion either had not taken very deep root among the new converts, or else that it had not generally spread even among the inhabitants of Kent and Essex; for Augustine made no attempts to promote Christianity in the northern districts of the country. Mellitus, being sanctioned by Seberht, who reigned over the East Saxons or people of Essex, and was nephew to Ethelbert, preached without molestation, and made converts. King Ethelbert, to whom his nephew was subject, was willing to honour Mellitus as the new bishop of London; and, therefore, erected him a church dedicated to St. Paul, designed to be the seat of the episcopacy for him and his successors. We have observed before, that London had been proposed by Pope Gregory for the metropolitan seat: but whether by the choice of Augustine, or of Ethelbert,

Canterbury, the royal residence, was to receive that honour. This choice has been singularly confirmed in all subsequent ages; and while the capital contains the metropolitan church, the name of Canterbury is attached to the primacy.

As Paganism revived in Kent, at the death of the king; so the people of Essex also returned to idolatry. Mellitus was obliged to give up his charge; and he, along with Justus, who was bishop of Rochester, left Britain. Laurentius, who succeeded Augustine, as arch bishop, we have just before noticed was about to take his departure, when he was prevented by Eadbert, the king, becoming more favourably disposed to the cause of Christianity; in consequence of which Mellitus and Justus were recalled.

At the death of Laurentius, Mellitus was called to the primacy, and held that honourable station for five years; when he left the world, and was succeeded by Justus, in the year 624.

The people of Essex and Middlesex, having relapsed into idolatry, continued obstinate in their hostility to the Christian cause. The remonstrance of the king of Kent could not prevail with the young princes of the East Saxons; and even after the fall of the two princes in a battle, in which they had been defeated by the West Saxons, their fierce subjects still determined to oppose the readmission of Christianity; and persevered inveterate in their resolution for many years, of which we shall take occasion to speak hereafter.

It was not until after the year 624, that Christianity was introduced into the northern counties by means of Paulinus, who was ordained bishop of York, in the year 626. But before we proceed with the history of his proceedings, we shall take a survey of the state of affairs among the Cambrian Britons.