[Sidenote: _Beda. lib._ 1. _cap._ 26. and 27.]
King Ethelbert reioised at the conuersion of his people, howbeit
he would not force anie man to be baptised, but onelie shewed by his
behauiour, that he fauored those that beléeued more than other, as
fellow citizens with him of the heauenlie kingdome: for he learned of
them that had instructed him in the faith, that the obedience due to
Christ ought not to be inforced, but to come of good will. Moreouer he
prouided for Augustine and his fellowes a conuenient place for their
habitation within the citie of Canturburie, and further gaue them
[Sidenote: Augustine ordeined archbishop of the English nation.]
necessarie reuenewes in possession for their maintenance. After that
the faith of Christ was thus receiued of the English men, Augustine
went into France, and there of the archbishop of Arles named Etherius
was ordeined archbishop of the English nation, according to the order
prescribed by Gregorie before the departure of the said Augustine from
Rome.
[Sidenote: Laurence a priest.]
After his returne into Britaine, he sent Laurence a priest, and
Péeter a moonke vnto Rome, to giue knowledge vnto Gregorie the bishop,
how the Englishmen had receiued the faith, and that he was ordeined
archbishop of the land, according to that he had commanded, if the
woorke prospered vnder his hand as it had doone. He also required to
haue Gregories aduice touching certéine ordinances to be made and
obserued in the new church of England. Wherevpon Gregorie, sending
backe the messengers, wrote an answere vnto all his demands. And first
touching the conuersation of archbishops with the clergie, and in
what sort the church goods ought to be imploied, he declared that the
[Sidenote: The reuenewes of the church to be diuided into 4. parts.]
ancient custome of the apostolike see was to giue commandement
vnto bishops ordeined, that the profits and reuenewes of their
benefices ought to be diuided into foure parts, whereof the first
should be appointed to the bishop and his familie for the maintenance
of hospitalitie: the second should be assigned to the clergie: the
third giuen to the poore: and the fourth imploied vpon repairing of
temples.
[Sidenote: Liturgie.]
And whereas in the church of Rome one custome in saieng masse
[Sidenote: Church seruice.]
or the liturgie was obserued, and another custome in France;
concerning such church seruice, Gregorie aduised Austine that if he
found anie thing either in the church of Rome, either in the church of
France, or in anie other church which might most please the almightie
God, he should diligentlie choose it out, and instruct the church of
England (now being new) according to that forme which he should gather
foorth of the said churches: for the things are not loued for the
[Sidenote: Such as did steale.]
places sake, but the places for the things sake. Also for punishing of
such as had stolen things out of churches, so néere as might be, the
offender should be chastised in charitie, so as he might know his
fault, and (if it were possible) restore the thing taken away.
[Sidenote: Mariages.]
And touching degrées in mariage, Englishmen might take to their
wiues, women that touched them in the third and fourth degrée without
reprehension, and if any vnlawfull mariages were found amongst the
Englishmen, as if the sonne had maried the fathers wife, or the
brother the brothers wife, they ought to be warned in anie wise to
absteine, and vnderstand it to be a gréeuous sinne: yet should they
not for that thing be depriued of the communion of the bodie and bloud
of our Lord, least those things might séeme to be punished in them
wherein they had offended (before their conuersion to the christian
[Sidenote: Discipline of the church.]
faith) by ignorance; for at this season the church (saith he)
correcteth some things of a feruent earnestnesse, suffreth some
things of a gentle mildnes, and dissembleth some things of a prudent
consideration, and so beareth and winketh at the same, that oftentimes
the euill which she abhorreth by such bearing and dissembling, is
restrained and reformed.
[Sidenote: Ordeining of bishops.]
Moreouer touching the ordeining of bishops, he would they should
be so placed, that the distance of place might not be a let, but that
when a bishop should be consecrated, there might be thrée or foure
present. Also touching the bishops of France, he willed Augustine in
no wise to intermeddle with them, otherwise than by exhortation
and good admonition to be giuen, but not to presume anie thing by
authoritie, sith the archbishop of Arles had receiued the pall in
times past, whose authoritie he might not diminish, least he should
séeme to put his sickle into another mans haruest. But as for the
bishops of Britaine, he committed them vnto him, that the vnlearned
might be taught, the weake with wholesome persuasions
[Sidenote: Women with child.]
strengthened, and the froward by authoritie reformed. Moreouer, that a
woman with child might be baptised, and she that was deliuered after
33 daies of a manchild, and after 46 daies of a womanchild, should be
purified, but yet might she enter the church before, if she would.
[Sidenote: Matters in question about trifles.]
The residue of Augustines demands consisted in these points, to wit:
1 Within what space a child should be christened after it was borne,
for doubt to be preuented by death?
2 Within what time a man might companie with his wife after she was
brought to bed?
3 Whether a woman, hauing hir floures, might enter the church, or
receiue the communion?
4 Whether a man hauing had companie with his wife, might enter the
church, or receiue the communion before he was washed with water?
5 Whether after pollusion by night in dreames, a man might receiue
the communion: or if he were a priest, whether he might say masse?
To these questions Gregorie maketh answere at full in the booke and
place before cited, which for bréefenesse we passe ouer. He sent also
at that time with the messengers aforesaid, at their returne into
England, diuers learned men to helpe Augustine in the haruest of
[Sidenote: Assistance to Augustine. The pall.]
the Lord. The names of the chiefest were these, Melitus, Iustus,
Paulinus, and Ruffinianus. He sent allso the pall, which is the
ornament of an archbishop, with vessels and apparell which should be
vsed in churches by the archbishop and other ministers. He sent also
with the pall other letters to Augustine, to let him vnderstand what
number of bishops he would haue him to ordeine within this land.
Also after that Melitus, and the other before mentioned persons were
departed from Rome, he sent a letter vnto the same Melitus, being yet
on his way toward Britaine, touching further matter concerning the
[Sidenote: Bearing with them that had newlie receiued the faith,
whereof superstition grew and increased.]
churches of England, wherein he confesseth that manie things are
permitted to be vsed of the people latelie brought from the errors
of gentilitie, in keeping feasts on the dedication daies, which haue
resemblance with the old superstitious rites of the Pagan religion.
For to hard and obstinate minds (saith he) it is not possible to cut
away all things at once, for he that coueteth to the highest place,
goeth vp by steps and not by leaps.
[Sidenote: Miracles.]
At the same time Gregorie did send letters vnto Augustine touching
the miracles, which by report he vnderstood were shewed by the same
Augustine, counselling him in no wise to glorie in the same, but
rather in reioising to feare, and consider that God gaue him the gift
to worke such signes for the wealth of them to whom he was sent to
preach the gospell: he aduised him therefore to beware of vaine-glorie
and presumption, for the disciples of the truth (saith he) haue no
ioy, but onlie that which is common with all men, of which there is no
end, for not euerie one that is elect worketh miracles, but euerie of
the elect haue their names written in heauen. These letters, with the
other which Gregorie sent at this time vnto Augustine, were dated the
tenth day of the kalends of Iulie, in the yéere of our Lord 602, which
was the 19 yeere of the emperour Mauricius. Moreouer he sent most
[Sidenote: 602.]
courteous letters by these messengers to king Ethelbert, in the
which he greatlie commended him, in that he had receiued the christian
faith, and exhorted him to continue in that most holie state of life,
whereby he might worthilie looke for reward at the hands of almightie
God.
* * * * *
_What reparations and foundations Augustine finished for clergimen to
the supportation of the church, the building of Paules in London and
saint Peters in Westminster vncerteine, a prouinciall councell called
by Augustine, he restoreth a blind man to his sight, the Britains are
hardlie weaned from their old custome of beliefe, an heremits opinion
of Augustine, he requireth three things to be obserued of the
Britains, he ordeineth bishops at London and Rochester; Sabert
reigneth ouer the Eastsaxons, Augustine dieth and is buried._