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5.19. Ceolric reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, the Saxons and Britains incounter, E|thelbert king of kent subdueth the English|saxons, he is maried to the French kings daughter vpon cautions of religion, the king imbraceth the gospell, Augustine the moonke and others were sent into this Ile to preach the christian faith, the occasion that moued Gregorie the great to send him, buieng and selling of boies, the Englishmen called Angli commended, Ethelbert cau|seth Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, they preach to the king and his traine, he granteth them a conue|nient seat and competent reliefe in Canturburie, the maner of their going thither and their behauiour there, the king and his people receiue the christian faith, and are baptised. The xix. Chapter.

EEBO page image 99

Ceolric reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, the Saxons and Britains incounter, E|thelbert king of kent subdueth the English|saxons, he is maried to the French kings daughter vpon cautions of religion, the king imbraceth the gospell, Augustine the moonke and others were sent into this Ile to preach the christian faith, the occasion that moued Gregorie the great to send him, buieng and selling of boies, the Englishmen called Angli commended, Ethelbert cau|seth Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, they preach to the king and his traine, he granteth them a conue|nient seat and competent reliefe in Canturburie, the maner of their going thither and their behauiour there, the king and his people receiue the christian faith, and are baptised. The xix. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _NOw after Cheuling,Celric. his nephue Celricus or Ceol|ric that was sonne vnto Cut|wine, the sonne of the fore|said Cheuling, reigned as king ouer the Westsaxons fiue yeares & fiue moneths. In like manner the same yeare died Ella or Alla king of Northumberland, af|ter whome succéeded Ethelricus the sonne of Ida, and reigned but fiue yeares, being a man well growne in yeares before he came to be king. About thrée yeeres after this, the Saxons & Britains fought a battell at Wodenesbourne, where the Britans be|ing ranged in good order, the Saxons set vpon them boldlie indéed, but disorderedlie, so that the victorie remained with the Britains. The Saxons the more valiant they had shewed themselues in battell, be|fore that time, so much the more slow and vntoward|lie did they shew themselues now in running awaie to saue themselues, so that an huge number of them were slaine. Also about the same time died Crida king of Mercia 594,594 after whome his sonne Wib|bas or Wipha succeeded. And after the deceasse of Ethelric, one Edelbertor Edelfride surnamed the wild, succeeded in gouernement of the Northum|bers. But to returne to our purpose.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Ethelbert king of Kent, not discouraged with the euill chance which happened in the beginning, but rather occasioned thereby to learne more experience in feats of warre,Beda. Will. Malmes. prooued so perfect a maister there|in, that in processe of time he subdued by force of armes all those English Saxons which lay betwixt the bounds of his countrie, and the riuer of Hum|ber. Also to haue friendship in forraine parts, he procured a wife for himselfe of the French nation, named the ladie Bertha, being king Cheriberts daughter of France; but with condition, that he should permit hir to continue and vse the rites and lawes of christian faith and religion, and to haue a bishop whose name was Luidhard, appointed to come and remaine with hir here in this land for hir better instruction in the lawes of the Lord. So that they two with other of the French nation that came ouer with them remaining in the court, and vsing to serue God in praiers and otherwise, according to the custome of the christian religion, began vndoub|tedlie to giue light to the kings mind as yet dark|ned with the clouds of paganisme, so as the bright beames of the celestiall cléerenes of vnderstanding remooued the thicke mists of his vnbeléefe in tract of time, and prepared his heart to the receiuing of the gospell, which after by heauenlie prouidence was preached to him, by occasion, and in maner as followeth.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the yeare of our Lord 596, which was about the 14 yeare of the reigne of the emperour Mauri|cius, and after the comming of the English Saxons into this land,Beda. Matth. West. saith 596. about an 47 yeares almost complet, the bishop of Rome, Gregorie the first of that name, and surnamed Magnus,47 saith the same author. sent Augustinus a moonke, with certeine other learned men into this Ile to preach the christian faith vnto the English Saxons, which nation as yet had not receiued the gospell. And here we hold it necessarie to shew how it is re|corded by diuers writers, that the first occasion whereby Gregorie was mooued thus to send Augu|stine into this land, rose by this meanes.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 It chanced (whilest the same Gregorie was as yet but archdeacon of the sée of Rome)Beda. Will. Malmes. certeine yoong boies were brought thither to bee sold out of Northumberland, according to the accustomable vse of that countrie, in somuch that as we haue in our time séene (saith W. Mal.) the people of that pro|uince haue not yet doubted to sell awaie their néere kinsfolke for a small price. When those children which at that time were brought from thence to Rome, had by reason of their excellent beauties and comelie shape of lims and bodie, turned the eies in maner of all the citizens to the beholding of them, it fortu|ned that Gregorie also came amongst other to be|hold them, and when he considered and well viewed their faire skins,Vita Gregorii. magni. their swéet visages, and beautifull bushes of their bright and yeallow heares, he de|manded out of what region or land they came, vn|to whome answere was made, that they were brought out of Britaine, the inhabitants of which countrie were of the like beautifull aspect. Then he asked whether the men of that countrie were christi|ans, or as yet intangled with blind heathenish er|rors? Wherevnto it was answered, that they were not christened, but followed the religion of the Gen|tiles. Whereat Gregorie fetching a déepe sigh, said: Ah, alas that the author of darkenesse dooth as yet possesse men of so brightsome countenances, and that with the grace of such faire shining visages, they beare about minds void of inward grace.

Compare 1577 edition: 1

Moreouer he demanded by what name the people were called, whereto answere was made, that they were called Angli, that is to say Englishmen. Right woorthilie (saith he) for they haue angels faces, and such as ought to be made fellow heires with angels in heauen. Then asked he the name of the prouince from whence they were brought, and it was told him they were of Deira. It is well (said he) they are to be deliuered De ira dei, that is to say, from the ire and wrath of God, and called to the mercie of Christ our Lord? What name (said he) hath the king of that pro|uince, Wherevnto answere was made that he was called Alla, wherevpon alluding to that name, he said, Alleluia ought to be soong in those parts to the praise and honor of God the creator.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Herevpon comming to Benedict the first of that name (as then bishop of Rome)Pelagius the second Will. Malmes. he required him that some learned men might be sent into England to preach the gospell vnto the Englishmen, offering himselfe to be one of the number. But though Be|nedict was contented to grant his request, yet the Romans had him in such estimation,Pelagius. that they would not consent that he should depart [...] farre from the citie, so that by them he was at that time staied of that his godlie purpose. Howbeit when he came to be bishop, he thought to person [...] if though not by himselfe, yet by other: and so Augustine and his fellowes were sent by him about it (as before is said.) By the way, as they were passing in their iour [...], such a sudden feare entred into their hearts,M. Fox. that (as some write) they returned all. O|thers write, that Augustine was sent backe to Gre|gorie, to sue that they might be released of that voi|age EEBO page image 100 so dangerous and vncerteine amongst such a barbarous people, whose language they neither knew, nor whose rudenesse they were able to resist. Then Gregorie with pithie perswasions confir|ming and comforting him, sent him againe with letters vnto the bishop of Arles, willing him to helpe and aid the said Austine and his companie in all what so euer his néede required. Also other let|ters he directed by the foresaid Austine vnto his fel|lowes, exhorting them to go forward boldlie in the Lords woorke, as by the tenor of the said epistle here following may appeare.

5.19.1. Gregorie the seruant of Gods ser|uants, to the seruants of our Lord.

Gregorie the seruant of Gods ser|uants, to the seruants of our Lord.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _FOr as much as it is better not to take good things in hand, than after they be begun, to thinke to reuolt backe from the same a|gaine, therefore now you may not nor cannot (dere children) but with all fer|uent studie and labour must needs go forward in that good businesse, which thorough the helpe of God you haue well begun. Neither let the wearisomnesse of your iournie, nor the slanderous toongs of men appall you, but that with all instance and feruencie ye proceed and accomplish the thing which the Lord hath or|deined you to take in hand, knowing that your great trauell shall be recompensed with reward of greater glorie hereafter to come. Therefore as we send here Austine to you againe, whome also we haue ordeined to be your gouernour, so doo you humblie obey him in all things, knowing that it shall be profitable for your soules what soeuer at his admonition ye shall doo. Almightie God with his grace defend you, and grant me to see in the eternall coun|trie the fruit of your labours, though heere I cannot labour in the same fellowship with you togither. The Lord God keepe you safe most deere and welbeloued children. Dated the tenth before the kalends of August, in the reigne of our souereigne lord Mauricius most vertuous emperor, the fourtenth of his empire.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Thus emboldned and comforted through the good woords and wholesome exhortation of Gregorie, they set forward againe, and spéeding foorth their iournie, first arriued at the Ile of Thanet in Kent in the mo|neth of Iulie, being in number about fortie persons, of the which diuerse were interpretors, whome they brought with them out of France. These they sent vnto king Ethelbert, signifieng the occasion of their comming, who hearing the messengers within a few daies after, went into that Ile, and there abroad out of anie house sat downe, and caused Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, for he would not come vnder anie roofe with them, sore doubting to be bewitched by them, being persuaded that they were practised in nigromancie. But they comming to him, not by the power of the diuell (as they said) but by the might and power of almightie God, bearing in steed of a banner a crosse of siluer, and an image of our Lord and Sauiour painted in a table,The seuen|fold letanies of S. Grego|rie were not yet deuised. and there|to singing the letanies, made intercession vnto the Lord for the euerlasting preseruation of themselues, and of all them for whome and to whome they came.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Now when they being set downe by commande|ment of the king, had preached the woord of life to him, and to all those that came thither with him, he made them this answer, that their woords and promises were good: but for as much as the same were new & vncerteine to him that had béen brought vp in the contrarie doctrine, he could not rashlie as|sent to their admonitions, & leaue that beléefe which he and the English nation had so long a time obser|ued and kept: but (said he) because ye haue trauelled farre, to the intent to make vs partakers of those things which ye beléeue to be most true and perfect, we will thus much graunt vnto you, that ye shall be receiued into this countrie, and haue harbrough, with all things sufficient found vnto you for your maintenance and sustentation: neither will we hin|der you, but that ye may by preaching associat and ioine as manie of our subiects as you can vnto your law and beléefe. They had therefore assigned vnto them a place to lodge in within the citie of Cantur|burie, which was the head citie of all his dominion. It is said that as they approched the citie according to their maner, they had a crosse borne before them, with an image of our Lord Iesus Christ, and they followed, singing this letanie, Deprecamur te Domine in omni misericordia tua, vt auferatur furor tuus & ira tua à ciuitate ista & de domo sancta tua, quoniam peccauimus: Alleluia. That is to say, We beseech thee ò Lord in all thy mercie that thy furie and wrath may be ta|ken from this citie, and from thy holie house, for we haue sinned. Praise be to thee ô Lord. After they were receiued into Canturburie,Beda. Matth. West. they began to fol|low the trade of life which the apostles vsed in the primitiue church, that is to say, exercising them|selues in continuall praier, watching, and prea|ching to as manie as they could, despising all world|lie things, as not belonging to them, receiuing one|lie of them (whome they taught) things necessarie for the sustenance of their life, & liuing in all points according to the doctrine which they set forth, hauing their minds readie to suffer in patience all aduer|sities what so euer, yea and death it selfe, for the confirming of that which they now preached.The christian faith receiued of the English men. Here|vpon, manie of the English people beléeued and were baptised, hauing in great reuerence the sim|plicitie of those men, and the swéetenesse of their heauenlie doctrine. There was a church néeree to the citie on the east part thereof dedicated to the honor of saint Martine, and builded of old time whilest the Romans as yet inhabited Britaine, in the which the quéene, being (as we haue said) a christian, v|sed to make hir praiers. To this church Austine and his fellowes at their first comming accustomed to resort, and there to sing, to praie, to saie masse, to preach and to baptise, till at length the king being conuerted, granted them licence to preach in euerie place, and to build and restore churches where they thought good. After that the king being persuaded by their doctrine, good examples giuing, and diuers miracles shewed, was once baptised, the people in great numbers began to giue eare vnto the prea|ching of the gospell, and renouncing their heathenish beléefe, became christians,Lib. 7. cap. 26. in so much that as Gre|gorie remembreth, there were baptised ten thou|sand persons in one day, being the feast of the nati|uitie of our Sauiour 597, and the first indiction.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶Some write how this should chance toward the latter end of Augustines daies,Polychron. after he was ad|mitted to preach the gospell amongst them that in|habited about Yorke (as some write) which affirme, that the said number of ten thousand was baptised in the riuer of Suale, which (as W. Harison saith) cannot be verified, because of the indiction and death of Gregorie. But to procéed.

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