their fears. They proceeded vigorously on their tius the priest, whom hie sent to Rome with that journey; and, after paying a visit to the bishop of intelligence, together with several queries, concernArles, to whose hospitality they were recommended which Augustine wished for Gregory's instructions. by Gregory, reached the isle of Thanet, which They were nine in number; and while some of them formed part of the kingdom of Kent, in the month | may excite the surprise of Christians, and the conof August, A.D. 596.

tempt of infidels like Hume, they involved matters Happily for the success of this mission, Ethel- || deeply affecting Augustine's mission. They are bert was Bretwalda, or emperor, of Britain, and also very valuable to ourselves, inasmuch as we had recently espoused a Christian lady, named || learn from Gregory's replies, that at that time Bertha, daughter of Charibert, king of France, who | churches were independent of one another; that had made it one of the conditions of the marriage, || the clergy were allowed to marry; that it was then, that she should enjoy the profession of her faith, || as it has ever been, considered incest to be united and be allowed to bring with her into Britain a to a deceased wife's sister; that bishops still reFrench bishop named Luidhard. No one, there mained in Britain ; and that the baptism of infants fore, could be better disposed to receive the Roman I was customary. Together with replies to these missionaries than Ethelbert. No sooner did they, I gueries, the bishop of Rome also sent additional by an interpreter, inform him of their arrival, and | labourers into Britain, the chief of whom were the object of their mission, than he gave them leave |Mellitus, Justus, and Paulinus, to whom he into remain in the isle of Thanet, where every thing Il trusted a great nuniber of ecclesiastical vestments, necessary to their support and convenience was vessels, ornaments, and relics, besides a manuscript provided them. In a few days Ethelbert himself copy of the Bible and Psalms, and a commentary proceeded to the island, and summoned Augustine on the New Testament. The pall was also sent to and his companions before him. The holy band Augustine, with instructions that he was never to approached the king, --who sat in the open air to wear it except when celebrating the holy commuprevent the influence of any magical art, which it || nion. The origin, use, and form of this ancient was supposed they might exercise in a building, vest are hidden in great obscurity. Some suppose bearing a cross of silver for a banner, and a painted || that it was of civil, others of' ecclesiastical origin; image of the Saviour, and chanting a solemn litany, || while not a few are of opinion, that the consent in which they implored the Divine blessing upon Il both of the emperor and patriarch was necessary the Saxons and themselves.

before it could be granted to western metropolitans,

to whom only it was assigned. According to Roman “For ever hallowed be this morning fair, Blest be the unconscious shore on which ye tread,

ritualists, it was originally intended, by the meanAnd blest the silver cross, which ye, instead

ness of its texture, being chiefly composed of Of martial banner, in procession bear:

lamb's-wool, to remind the bishop of the grace of The cross preceding Him who floats in air,

humility, though it finally became a badge of The pictur'd Saviour. By Augustine led, They come, and onward travel without dread,

Rome's supremacy. Its form, even, is a matter of Chanting in barbarous ears a tuneful prayer,

some dispute. Mr. Palmer says that it was oriSung for themselves, and those whom they would free. ginally only a stole, or long scarf, wound round · Rich conquest waits them."

WORDSWORTI.

the neck, with the ends hanging down before and

behind.' The pall still forms part of the arms of Augustine was at this interview unsuccessful in the sees of Canterbury, Dublin, and Armagh. convincing Ethelbert of the truth of the doctrine It was in January, A.D. 601, that Gregory forhe brought; but he was dismissed with many ex- | warded this vesture to Augustine. About six pressions of the king's good will, who also per months afterwards he addressed a letter to Ethelmitted the missionaries to reside in the city of bert, congratulatory of his conversion, in which Canterbury, with license to propagate their mis | he earnestly exhorted him carefully to preserve sion undisturbed, and to use for public worship the the grace which he had received from the Divine church of St. Martin, wliich had been assigned to || goodness, to promote the conversion of his subQueen Bertha. While residing there, their holy Ijects, to suppress idolatry, and to be himself an and self-denying lives made so deep an impression | example of piety to all around. His episcopal upon the citizens, that eventually both Ethelbert and admonition was not lost upon the pious Bretwalda many of his most distinguished subjects were bap- || of the Anglo-Saxons. He granted the royal city tised into the faith of Christ. Meanwhile, Augus of Canterbury as a see to Augustine, who having tine,-in those days the notion of planting a church recovered a church which had been built there in without a bishop being unknown,-had proceeded to || the time of the Romans, had it repaired, and conthe archbishop of Arles, and bishop of Lyons, by || secrated to the honour of the Saviour, after the whom he was consecrated bishop of Canterbury; || name of Christ's Church, now known as Canterbury an event which he notified to Gregory by Lauren- || Antiquities of the English Ritual, ii. p. 317.

Cathedral. In the same city he also built a mon. Anglo-Saxons. However desirable this uniforastery and residence for himself and his succes- | inity of practice and unity of purpose might be in sors.

the abstract, still as it was required in acknowYou will have remarked, that I have as yet only ledgment of Gregory's supremacy, the bishops of incidentally mentioned the British bishops, so you Britain refused their assent. Yet not wishing to may perhaps have fallen into a not uncommon act rashly, they agreed to re-consider the matter, error, and imagine that at this time there were and give Augustine and his companions another none such in existence, and that the whole of Bri meeting. On this occasion they were more distain had, after the invasion of the Saxons, relapsed Il gusted than before by the haughty bearing of the into idolatry. This, however, is not the fact. The Roman missionary; lie did not even rise to receive savage heathenism of the Saxons did much to || the British bishops, who arrived last at the place uproot that precious seed, which, as I have shewn of meeting. This conduct was considered as an in a former Letter, had taken deep root among indication of Augustine's contempt for them; and our British forefathers. Nevertheless, a body the bishops declined agreeing to any of the terms of Christians had escaped to Wales and Scot- | proposed. In reference to the Roman patriarch's land, where they still preserved the pure faith of | assumed authority in having nominated AugusChrist. The very fact of Augustine having in- || tine metropolitan of Britain, they replied, through quired of Gregory how he was to act towards the

Dinoth, abbot of Bangor, their spokesman, in the British bishops, shews that there were such per following words: “We are bound to serve the sons in existence. Of these have been preserved

Church of God, and the bishop of Rome, and every the names of Dulbricius, Teliau, Qudoceus, bishops

godly Christian, as far as helping them in offices of Llandaff; St. David, bishop of Caerleon, who was

of love and charity: this service we are ready to consecrated in the year 519, in the presence of the

pay; but more than this, we do not know to be due famous King Arthur, together with Morgan, bishop to him or any other. We have a primate of our of Caerbuddai, or Silchester; Julian of Winchester,

own, who is to oversee us under God, and to keep and Edelfrith of Caer al cluyd. St. Sampson, arch

us in the way of spiritual life.” One need not rebishop of York, had previously fled to Armorica, a

mark upon the importance of this answer as an ircolony of Britons, and called after them Bretagne.

refragable proof of the independence of the British St. Columba also lived in his monastery of Icomb

Church of the see of Rome at this time. It also kill in Scotland. With the British bishops, there

quashes Augustine's claim to be considered the fore, it was Augustine's duty to have sought an early

apostle of the English. For there was a priinterview; and we can scarcely justify his acting at

mate and his suffragans when the Roman monk all in this mission without having first obtained

arrived in Britain, to whom, on every principle of their consent and co-operation. Yet it was not till

Catholic unity, he himself owed allegiance, and some years after his arrival that he visited Wales,

without whose consent he had no right to comfor the purpose of carrying out in that district Gre

mence his labours, as it might have been inferred gory's instructions relating to the native bishops.

that the native prelates had good reasons for withThis celebrated conference took place near the

holding, if they did so, and the matter admits of

|| doubt,---the knowledge of divine truth from their monastery of Bangor Iscoed in North Wales, at a place afterwards called St. Augustine's Oak.

cruel and idolatrous oppressors. Probably they Here it was that seven British bishops, the de

looked upon the bloody Saxons as of that number

before whom their Lord had forbidden them to cast scendants of those who had been ordained by apos

the pearls of his gospel. The mercy of God, howtles, or apostolic men, gave the meeting to the Roman missionary, who assumed a tone of supe

ever, “out of evil still educeth good ;" and thus

uncatholic, in many respects, as Augustine's conriority which the native prelates were not disposed

duct was, his mission was of incalculable advantage, to allow. He proposed, that if they would agree

and his name is deservedly retained in our calendar with the Romish Church in the time of celebrating

(May 26) as “first archbishop of Canterbury," and Easter (the Church in Britain having adopted the

a Christian saint right dear to the memory of every eastern method), and if they would acknowledge

| English Churchman. the bishop of Rome's superiority, he would acknowledge them as fellow-bishops, and permit

In the year 604, Augustine consecrated his comthem to join with him in the conversion of the

Il panions Mellitus and Justus bishops; one for the

conversion of the kingdom of Essex, the other as 1 Who can reflect without sorrow, not unmingled with

bishop of Rochester. Christianity was easily inshame, at the contemplated destruction of one of the sees ! troduced into Essex, as Sebert, nephew of E:helof North Wales ? Surely a Christian government should

bert, was the king. The metropolis of Essex was pause before it shocks the feelings of those who reverence

London, recently created a bishopric, which still these scenes of British piety, to say nothing of the sin of sacrilege involved in such a measure,

retained something of the wealth and importance which it bad acquired under the Romans. Its ex- | Edwin, who in the year 625 became lord of tent was then confoed to what is now called “the | Britain, had dominion over the whole of England city;" and it was surrounded by a wall supposed to north of the Humber, besides the islands of Man have been built about the time of Constantius. In || and Mona, and part of the lowlands of Scotland. the district designated Thorney, or the Isle of He had married Ethelburga, a daughter of good Thorps, on account of its barrenness, Sebert built King Esbelbert; and it was to this marriage that the Church of St. Peter (Westminster Abbey), in Northumbria was indebted for the blessing of which the remains of the founder are said to re Christianity. When Edwin solicited the hand of pose. He also built St. Paul's Cathedral upon the his sister, Eadbald, before alluded to, forbade the ruins of a temple dedicated to Diana, from which gift, on the ground that it was unlawful to marry a London (Llan Dian, or Temple of Diana) probably Christian virgin to a pagan husband, lest the faith received its name. Soon after, having transmitted and mysteries of the heavenly King should be prohis episcopal functions to his companions, Augus- faned by such a connexion. It was not, theretine was called to his reward, a.D. 604. He was fore, until Edwin had promised that Ethelburga buried at Canterbury, near the Church of St. Peter should, as her mother Bertha had done, enjoy the and St. Paul, afterwards called St. Augustine's in unrestrained exercise of her religion, and for that honour of its founder. But when the church was purpose be accompanied by any number of clergy completed and consecrated, his remains were de- | thought to be necessary, that his offer of marriage posited within the porch, none except martyrs was acceded to. Paulinus was consecrated bishop being in those days considered worthy of sepul- || by Archbishop Justus, and sent in charge of the ture within the church itself. Laurentius suc- | Christian virgin to Edwin's court, where he finally ceeded him in the see of Canterbury.

introduced the faith of Christ (A.D. 627). In his Good King Ethelbert survived his spiritual fa- first attempts to convert the Northumbrian king ther about ten years. He had reigned more than || he was unsuccessful, and might probably have conbalf a century, during which he had done much tinued so, bad not a circumstance occurred which for the Church of Christ. But no sooner did Ead- || put Edwin's mind in a posture well suited to seribald, his son, succeed him a man who had refused | ous impressions. About the year after the arrival to be instructed in the principles of Christianity of Paulinus, a messenger came from the king of during the lifetime of his father, and altogether all the West Saxons; and while presenting a paper to notoriously wicked man-than idolatry was re- || Edwin, he drew from his bosom a poisoned dagger, stored. Sebert also died about the same time, and which he intended to have sheathed in the king's was also succeeded by three pagan sons. Hence bosom. One of his attendants, however, observing Mellitus and Justus were driven from the country; || the assassin's object, instantly interposed himself and Laurentius was just on the eve of escaping, || between him and the king, and received the fatal when he was prevented by what was considered a wound himself. Another courtier was also killed in miraculous interposition, the relation of which so the struggle of securing the assassin. Edwin himself, impressed Eadbald, that he immediately renounced too, was wounded; for so determined had been the

dols and embraced Christianity. The circum- || blow, that the point of the weapon passed through stance was this : the night previous to his intended the body of him who first received it and reached departure, Laurentius passed the night in the the king. This was an event well calculated to church of Canterbury. At midnight St. Peter is make a deep impression upon Edwin's court. So said to have appeared ; and after expostulating with affected was his wife Ethelburga, that premature him on his intention to forsake the flock of Christ || labour was the consequence; and on the very same committed to his charge, gave him a severe scourg-day (Easter-day, A.D. 626), she gave birth to a ing for his cowardice. It was the sight of the scars | daughter. Both the mother and her infant having inflicted on this occasion that overawed the idola- | survived the great pain and peril of child-birth, the trous and incestuous Eadbald. At bis conversion, || king, overjoyed at their preservation, immediately Justus and Mellitus were recalled from France, the l on receiving the intelligence returned thanks, in latter of whom succeeded Laurentius in the see of || the presence of Paulinus, to the gods for it. The Canterbury, who died A.D. 619, and the former, I good bishop informed him, that it was not to his Mellitus himself, A.D. 624. Ead bald died A.D. 640, || deities that thanks were due, but to that supreme and was succeeded by his son Earconbert, who was God to whom he himself had earnestly prayed the first Saxon prince that forbade the toleration of for the queen's deliverance. Edwin was deeply idolatrous worship among his subjects. He also impressed ; and promised, if he were successful commanded a strict observance of the fast of Lent. || against the king of the West Saxons, who had thus Such was the first introduction of Christianity into | attempted his life, to embrace the Christian faith. the southern part of England. Let us now briefly || Meanwhile the young infant was baptised by the trace its progress in the northern principalities. name of Eanfled, with twelve of her attendants, on

Whitsunday following. These were the first fruits || was Godmundingham, a receptacle for gods (Goodof the labours of Paulinus.

manham), in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Though Edwin was victorious over the West || Edwin very gladly followed the advice of his Saxons, he did not redeem his pledge of embracing | council, and immediately became a catechumen of the Christian faith so soon as he might have done. Paulinus. It was while in that relation, that he Not that the subject was dismissed from his thoughts: built the church of St. Peter's at York (York indeed, the affectionate remonstrance that he re- || Minster), of wood, in which he was baptised on ceived in a letter from pope Boniface, as well as Easter-day following (A.D. 627), the anniversary the earnest entreaties of his queen, to whom the || of his escape from assassination. After his bapbishop of Rome also wrote on the subject, prevented tism, Edwin commenced the erection of a larger this; and he frequently reflected very seriously upon | church of stone, on the same site, in which was the vow made by him when in trouble. It was in || to be enclosed the former oratory of wood. York one of these contemplative moods that Paulinus I was also assigned as the see of Paulinus, who thus approached him, and displayed a cross, at the sight || became the first archbishop of that province. A of which he had promised some years ago, when || church having an altar of stone was also built exiled from his kingdom, to submit to the counsel about this time in Yorkshire, on the site where of him who presented that sacred symbol. Little || Leeds now stands. Henceforward the progress of supposing that Paulinus was the very person to Christianity was rapid in Northumbria ; and on one whom he had then made this promise, he was awe- | occasion Paulinus was engaged during thirty-six stricken at the coincidence, and immediately sum- || days in catechising and baptising the crowds who moned an assembly of his council, that he might || Hocked to him for the blessing of spiritual regeneconsult with them on the propriety of establish-|| ration. They were baptised by immersion in the ing Christianity in his dominions. His ministers | river Glen. The governor of Lincoln was one of readily acceded to his proposition; and one of them || his converts, in whose city, Bede tells us, Paulinus illustrated the desirableness of submitting to the || built a church of stone of beautiful workmansh teaching of Paulinus, by a kind of apologue, which | Edwin also persuaded Eorpwald to introduce is thus translated from Bede by Wordsworth. In Christianity into East Anglia, and the work was addressing Edwin, he exclaimed:

consummated by Sigebert his successor. Felix, “Man's life is like a sparrow, mighty king,

an Italian bishop, who was sent by the bishop of That, stealing in, while by the fire you sit

Rome for the purpose, carried out the intentions of Housed with rejoicing friends, is seen to flit

the Saxon king (A.D. 631); and in none of the Safe from the storm, in comfort tarrying.

kingdoms of the heptarchy did Christianity flourish Here did it enter-there, on hasty wing Flies out, and passes on from cold to cold;

more vigorously, or produce richer fruits. The But whence it came we know not, nor behold

first English school for the instruction of children Whither it goes. E'en such that transient thing

is said to have been founded here. The human soul; not utterly unknown

But the reign of Edwin was drawing to a close. While in the body lodged, her warm abode; But from what world she came, what woe or weal

Being engaged in warfare with Cadwall, king of On her departure waits, no tongue hath shewn: the Britons, who, backed by Penda, king of the This mystery if the stranger can reveal,

Mercians, had rebelled against Edwin, he was His be a welcome cordially bestowed !”

slain in the battle of Hethfield, now HatfieldBut the most remarkable fact connected with || Chase, Yorkshire, in the year 633. He was fortythis conference is the conduct of Coifi, the chief seven years old when he fell, and had exercised priest of the pagans. He not only admitted the with great wisdom and justice a larger share of entire vanity of the idols he served, but was the dominion than any of the Saxon princes for about first to advise the destruction of their altars: eighteen years. His head was brought to York, and when it was asked, who would undertake the || and eventually interred in a porch of the church of demolition which the high-priest had proposed, St. Peter. After his death the Christians of North" I myself," answered Coifi; " for who can more | umbria suffered every species of barbarous cruelty properly than myself destroy those things which I || from the British conqueror. Paulinus fled with worshipped through ignorance, for an example to queen Ethelburga to her brother, the king of Kent, all others, through the wisdom which has been by whom they were honourably received. He was given me by the true God ?" Having therefore l) afterwards appointed to the bishopric of Rochester; girded himself with a sword, he took a spear in his | but he did not hold that see many years before he hand, and mounted one of the king's horses, and was called to his rest. hastened to the idol temple. On approaching it, he | Edwin was succeeded by Eanfred, eldest son of hurled his javelin against the edifice, and com- || Edwin's predecessor Ethelfrid, in the govern nent manded his attendants to set it on fire. The place of that part of Northumbria called the kingdom of where this singular qutbreak of zeal was displayed, the Bernicians; while Osric, Edwin's nephew, be.

came king of the Deiri. Though both Christians | came in, and informed the king that a great multiwhen they assumed their kingly power, they soon || tude of needy persons from all parts were sitting in relapsed into paganism, and were shortly afterwards the street, begging alms of the king. On hearing slain by the British chief Cadwalla. Oswald, Ean- | this, Edwin instantly ordered the meat before him fred's brother, was their successor ; and having to be carried to the poor, and the silver dish to be slain the ferocious chieftain in battle, became lord || cut in pieces and divided among them.” This of Britain. After this victory--gained it is said, || pious king fell a sacrifice to the ferocity of Penda in answer to the prayer which the devout Oswald already mentioned, by whom he was slain on the offered to God on the battle-field before the con | 5th of August, A.D. 643, in the thirty-eighth year of flict commenced, -he set about restoring the faith his age, and the ninth of bis reign. It should not which his immediate predecessors had renounced. | be forgotten that Oswald was connected with the inAnd through him it was the successors of the an troduction of Christianity into the kingdom (Wescient British bishops were called to enlighten the sex) of his father-in-law, to whom he stood sponland of their forefathers. When Edwin had suc- || sor, when he was baptised by Birinus, a Roman ceeded to the throne of Oswald's father, Oswald | missionary sent from Genoa for the purpose of had filed with his brothers into Scotland, where he || aiding the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons. Birihad received the sacrament of baptism at the hand nus was created bishop of Dorchester, near Oxford, of those British prelates, who had also themselves in the year 635. From this see it was that, a few taken refuge in Scotland from the fury of the 1 years afterwards, the bishopric of Winchester arose, Saxons. To these, therefore, it was natural that || where the memory of the introduction of Chris.. he should look for assistance in the work of spiri- tianity into those districts is preserved by the retual reformation that he had in view. Accordingly Il presentation of the royal baptism on an old fünt in he sent to the monastery of St. Columba, already || Winchester Cathedral. alluded to, desiring that a bishop might come to the Bishop Aidan did not long survive his royal English nation, which he governed. His request | master. He was visiting at one of the king's was immediately complied with; but the choice (Oswin's, Oswald's successor in the province of was in the first instance an unfortunate one, and the Deiri) palaces, where he had a church and chambishop sent soon returned to the British monastery. ber, from which he went preaching to the counWhen the cause of his failure was investigated, try round about. When he began to be ill, his Aidan, one of the company, suggested that he attendants erected a tent for him close to the wall must have been deficient in prudence and forbear at the west end of the church ; and he expired leanance. “I am of opinion, brother," he said, “ that ing against a post that was on the outside to you were more severe to your unlearned hearers strengthen the wall. His remains were conveyed than you ought to have been, and did not at first, to the isle of Lindisfarne, and interred in the conformably to the apostolic rule, give them the churchyard, where they remained until a larger milk of more easy doctrine, till, being by degrees church was erected to St. Peter, when they were nourished by the word of God, they should be ca- || removed to the north of the altar. He died in pable of greater perfection, and be able to practise || the seventeenth year of his episcopacy. Bede has God's sublimer precepts." There appeared to the | given a very interesting sketch of his character, council so much sound sense in this declaration, which shews us how bishops in those days lived as well as being a very reasonable solution of the || among their people. failure of the mission, that all with one consent de- || “It was,” says the Saxon historian, “the highest clared that the speaker was worthy of being made a | commendation of bis doctrine with all men, that he bishop and sent to undertake the mission himself. taught no otherwise than he and his followers had He was consecrated accordingly, and sent to king | lived; for he neither sought por loved any thing of Oswald, who appointed him bishop of Lindisfarne, this world, but delighted in distributing among the near Bamborough, bis own residence, in the year poor whatever was given him by the rich men of the 635. The king and bishop laboured together very world. He was accustomed to travel, both in towaearnestly and effectually in the good work in which and country on foot, never on horseback, unless they were engaged. Of good king Oswald, whose compelled by some urgent necessity; and wheresoname is still associated with several of our churches, || ever on his way he saw any rich or poor, be invited many instances of piety and charity are preserved, them, if infidels, to embrace the mystery of the of which the following is not the least interesting : faith; or, if they were believers, to strengthen them " When he was once sitting at dinner,” says Bede, ll in the faith, and to stir them up by words and " on the holy day of Easter, with his bishop, and a || actions to alms and good works. His course of life dish of silver full of dainties was before him, and || was so different from the slothfulness of our times," they were just ready to bless them, the servant | says Bede,--and may we not add, our own also ? whom he appointed to relieve the poor suddenly "that all who bore him company, whether clergy