HE was one of those who accompanied St. Austin into this island, about
the year 597, and was his immediate successor in the see of Canterbury,
in 608, in which he sat eleven years. When Eadbald, son and successor to
the holy king Ethelbert, not only refused to follow his father's example
in embracing the faith, but gave into idolatry, and incestuously took to
his bed his father's widow, Laurence having labored hard for his
conversion to no purpose, and despairing of reclaiming him, thought of
nothing but retiring into France, as some others had already done. But
he was severely scourged by St. Peter, in a dream, on the eve of his
intended departure, with reproaches for designing to forsake that flock
for which Christ had laid down his life. This did not only prevent his
going, but had such an effect upon the king, when he was shown the marks
of the stripes he had received on this occasion, that he became a
thorough convert, doing whatever was required of him, both for his own
sanctification, and the propagation of Christianity in his dominions.
St. Laurence did not long survive this happy change, dying in the year
619. He is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology. See Bede, Hist. b. 2, c.
4, 6, 7.[1] Malmesb. l. 1, Pontif. Angl.
Footnotes:
1. From these words of Bede, b. 1, c. 27, Austin sent to Rome Laurence
the priest, and Peter the monk, some modern historians infer that
St. Laurence was no monk, but a secular priest; though this proof is
wreak. See Collier, Dict. Suppl. Henschenius, p. 290. and Le Quien,
Oriens Christ. t. 1, p. 421.
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