ons brought the Nation of the English to receive the Truth, not only by the preaching of Words, but alfo by showing of Heavenly Signs. The Holy Pope Gregory, among other Things, caus'd Mafles to be celebrated in the Churches of the Blesled Apostles, Peter and Paul over their Bodies. And in the Celebration of Mafses he added three Words full of the greatest Perfection. And dispose our Days in thy Peace, and preserve us from eternal Damnation, and rank us in the Number of thy Elect, through CHRIST, our Lord.

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He govern'd the Church in the Days of the Emperors, Mauritius and Focas; but passing out of this Life in the second Year of the fame Focas, he went to the true Life that is in Heaven. His Body was bury'd in the Church of St. Peter the Apostle, before the Sacrifty, on the fourth Day of the Ides of March; to rife one Day in the fame Body in Glory with the reft of the Holy Pastors of the Church. On his Tomb was written this Epitaph.

Suscipe terra tuo corpus de corpore Sumptum,
Reddere quod valeas vivificante Deo.
Spiritus aftra petit, lethi nil jura nocebunt,
Cui vitæ alterius mors magis ipfa via eft.
Pontificis fummi hoc clauduntur membra Sepulchro,
Qui innumeris femper vivit ubique bonis.
Efuriem dapibus fuperavit, frigora veste,
Atque animas monitis texit ab hofte facris.
Implebatque actu, quicquid fermone docebat,
Effet ut exemplum, mystica verba loquens.
Ad Chriftum Anglès convertit pietate magiftra,
Acquirens fidei agmina gente nova.

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Efuriem pauperum

Hie

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Hic labor, boc studium, hac tibi cura, hoc paftor agebas Ut Domino offerres plurima lucra gregis. * Epifco-Hisque Dei * Conful factus, lætare triumphis, Nam mercedem operum jam fine fine tenes.

pus.

In English, thus :

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Earth take that Body which at first you gave,
Till God again shall raise it from the Grave.
His Soul amidst the Stars finds heavenly Day,
In vain the Gates of Night can make effay
On him whose Death but leads to Life the way.
To this dark Tomb this Prelate, tho' decreed,
Lives in all Places by his pious Deed.
Before his bounteous Board pale Hunger fled,
To warm the Poor he fleecy Garments spread,
And to fecure their Souls from Satan's Power,
He taught by sacred Precepts every Hour.
Nor only taught; but first the Example led,
Liv'd o'er his Rules, and acted what he
To English Saxons Christian Truth he taught,
And a believing Flock to Heaven he brought.
This was thy Work and Study, this thy Care,
Offerings to thy Redeemer to prepare.
For these to heavenly Honours rais'd on high,
Where thy Reward of Labours ne'er shall dye.

faid.

Nor is the Account of St. Gregory, continu'd down to us by the Tradition of our Ancestors, to be pass'd by in Silence, in relation to what put him in mind of taking such Care of the Salvation of our Nation. It is reported, that Merchants lately arriving, when on a certain Day, many Things were to be fold in the Market-Place, Abundance of People resorted thither to buy, and Gregory himself with the reft, where, among other Things, Boys were fet set to Sale, their Bodies white, their Countenances. beautiful, and their Hair very fine. Having view'd them, he ask'd, as is said, from what Country or Nation they were brought; and was told, that from the Island of Britain; whose Inhabitants were of such a Prefence. He again enquir'd, whether those Islanders were Christians, or still involved in the Errors of Paganism;, and was inform'd that they were Pagans. Then fetching deep Sighs from the bottom of his Heart, Alas! what Pity, faid he, that the Author of Darkness is possess'd of Men of fuch fair Countenances; and that being remarkable for fuch graceful Aspects, their Minds should be void of inward Grace: He therefore again ask'd, what was the Name of that Nation; and was answer'd, that they were call'd, Angles. Right, said he, for they have an Angelical Face, and it becomes such to be Coheirs with the Angels in Heaven. What is the Name, proceeded he, of the Province from which they are brought. It was reply'd, that the Natives of that Province were call'd, Deiri. Truly, Deiri, Latin, De said he, withdrawn from Wrath, and call'd to ira eruti. the Mercy of CHRIST. How is the King of that Province call'd? They told him his Name was Elle, and he alluding to the Name, said, Hallelujah, the Praise of God the Creator, must be Sung in those Parts. Then repairing to the a Bishop of the Roman and Apoftolical See, (for he was not himself then made Pope,) he intreated him to send some Ministers of the Word into Britain to the Nation of the English, by whom it might be converted to CHRIST

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declaring himself ready to undertake that Work, by the Affsistance of God, if the Apoftolical Pope should think fit to have it so done. The which not being then able to perform, because, tho' the Pope was willing to grant his Request, yet the Citizens of Rome could not be brought to confent, that so noble, so renowned, and fo learned a Man should depart the City; as foon as he was himself made Pope, he perfected the long defir'd Work, sending other Preachers, but himself by his Prayers and Exhortations assisting the Preaching, that it might be fruitful. This, as we have receiv'd it from the Ancients, we have thought fit to infert into our Ecclefiaftical History.

CHAP. II.

How Augustin admonish'd the Bishops of the Britons, for Catholick Peace and Unity, and to that Effect wrought an heavenly Miracle in their Prefence, and the Vengeance that pursu'd them for their Contempt.

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N the mean Time Augustin, with the Affistance of King Ethelbert, drew together to confer with him the Bishops, or Doctors of the next Province of the Britons, at a Place

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which is to this Day call'd, a Augustin's Ac. that is, Augustin's Oak, on the Borders of * Wiccii and West-Saxons; and began by Bro-* Worce therly Admonitions to perfuade them, that pershire. preserving Catholick Unity with him, they should undertake the common Labour of Preaching the Gofpel to the Gentils. For they did not keep Easter-Sunday at the proper Time, but from the fourteenth to the twentieth Day; the which Computation is contain'd in a Revolution of eighty four Years. Befides, they did feveral other Things which were against the Unity of the Church. They, after a long Difputation, not complying with the Intreaties, Exhortations, or Rebukes of Augustin and his Companions ; but preferring their Traditions before all the Churches in the World, which in CHRIST agree among themselves, the Holy Father Auguftin put an End to this troublesome and tedious Contention, faying, Let us beg of God, who causes those who are of one Mind to live in his Father's House, that he will vouchsafe by his Heavenly Tokens, to declare to us, which Tradition is to be follow'd; by which means we are to hasten to the Entrance of his Kingdom. Let some infirm Perfon be brought, and let the Faith and Practice of those by whose Prayers he shall be heal'd, be look'd upon as acceptable to God, and to be follow'd by all. The adverse Party unwillingly confenting, a blind Man

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