[Sidenote: CELRIC.]
Now after Cheuling, his nephue Celricus or Ceolric that was sonne vnto
Cutwine, the sonne of the foresaid Cheuling, reigned as king ouer the
Westsaxons fiue yeares & fiue moneths. In like manner the same yeare
died Ella or Alla king of Northumberland, after 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 Britains being 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, before that time, so much the more slow and
vntowardlie did they shew themselues now in running awaie to saue
themselues, so that an huge number of them were slaine. Also about the
[Sidenote: 594.]
same time died Crida king of Mercia 594, after whome his sonne Wibbas
or Wipha succeeded. And after the deceasse of Ethelric, one Edelbert
or Edelfride surnamed the wild, succéeded in gouernement of the
Northumbers. But to returne to our purpose.
Ethelbert king of Kent, not discouraged with the euill chance which
happened in the beginning, but rather occasioned thereby to learne
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
more experience in feats of warre, prooued so perfect a maister
therein, 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 Humber. 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 vndoubtedlie to giue
light to the kings mind as yet darkned 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
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 596.]
[Sidenote: 47 saith the same author.]
followeth. In the yeare of our Lord 596, which was about the 14 yeare
of the reigne of the emperour Mauricius, and after the comming of the
English Saxons into this land, about an 147 yeares almost complet, the
bishop of Rome, Gregorie the first of that name, and surnamed Magnus,
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 recorded by diuer writers, that the first
occasion whereby Gregorie was mooued thus to send Augustine into this
land, rose by this meanes.
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
It chanced (whilest the same Gregorie was as yet but archdeacon of the
see of Rome) 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 prouince 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
[Sidenote: _Vita Gregorii._]
[Sidenote: _magni._]
of all the citizens to the beholding of them, it fortuned that
Gregorie also came amongst other to behold them, and when he
considered and well viewed their faire skins, their swéet visages, and
beautifull bushes of their bright and yeallow heares, he demanded out
of what region or land they came? Vnto 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 christians, or as yet intangled with blind
heathenish errors? Wherevnto it was answered, that they were not
christened, but followed the religion of the Gentiles. 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.
"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 prouince? 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."
[Sidenote: Pelagius the second.]
[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._]
Herevpon comming to Benedict the first of that name (as then bishop of
Rome) 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 Benedict was contented to grant his request,
[Sidenote: Pelagius.]
yet the Romans had him in such estimation, that they would not consent
that he should depart so 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 performe it 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 iournie,
such a sudden feare entred into their hearts, that (as some write)
[Sidenote: M. Fox.]
they returned all. Others write, that Augustine was sent backe to
Gregorie, to sue that they might be released of that voiage 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 confirming 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 letters he directed by the
foresaid Austine vnto his fellowes, exhorting them to go forward
boldlie in the Lords woorke, as by the tenor of the said epistle here
following may appeare.
"_Gregorie the seruant of Gods servants, to the
seruants of our Lord._
"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 againe,
therefore now you may not nor cannot (dere children) but with all
feruent 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 ordeined 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 countrie 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."
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
moneth 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 stéed of a banner
[Sidenote: The seuenfold letanies of S. Gregorie were
not yet deuised.]
a crosse of siluer, and an image of our Lord and Sauiour painted in a
table, and thereto 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.
Now when they being set downe by commandement 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 assent to their admonitions, & leaue that beléefe which he and
the English nation had so long a time obserued 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 hinder 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
Canturburie, 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 Ô Lord in all thy mercie that thy furie and wrath may
be taken from this citie, and from thy holie house, for we haue
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
sinned. Praise be to thee Ô Lord.--After they were receiued into
Canturburie, they began to follow the trade of life which the apostles
vsed in the primitiue church, that is to say, exercising themselues in
continuall praier, watching, and preaching to as manie as they could,
despising all worldlie things, as not belonging to them, receiuing
onelie 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 aduersities what so euer, yea and death it selfe, for the
[Sidenote: The christian faith receiued of the Englishmen.]
confirming of that which they now preached. Herevpon, manie of the
English people beléeued and were baptised, hauing in great reuerence
the simplicitie of those men, and the swéetenesse of their heauenlie
doctrine. There was a church néere 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, vsed 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 preaching of the gospell, and renouncing their
[Sidenote: _Lib._ 7. _cap._ 26.]
heathenish beléefe, became christians, in so much that as Gregorie
remembreth, there were baptised ten thousand persons in one day, being
the feast of the natiuitie of our Sauiour 597, and the first
indiction.
[Sidenote: _Polychron._]
¶ Some write how this should chance toward the latter end of
Augustines daies, after he was admitted to preach the gospell amongst
them that inhabited 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.
* * * * *
_Religion is not to be inforced but perswaded and preached, Augustine
is made archbishop of England, Gregorie informeth Augustine of
certeine ordinances to be made and obserued in the new English church,
as the reuenewes of the church to be diuided into foure parts, of
liturgie, of mariage, of ecclesiasticall discipline and ordeining of
bishops: trifling questions objected by Augustine to Gregorie, fellow
helpers are sent ouer to assist. Augustine in his ministerie, he
receiueth his pall, reformation must be doone by little and little,
not to glorie in miracles, the effect of Gregories letters to K.
Ethelbert after his conuersion to christianitie._