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

He govern'd the Church in the Days of the Emperors, Mauritius and Focas; but paffing out of this Life in the fecond 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 Apoftle, 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 Paftors of the Church. On his Tomb was written this Epitaph.

Sufcipe terra tuo corpus de corpore fumptum,
Reddere quod valeas vivificante Deo.
Spiritus aftra petit, lethi nil jura nocebunt,
Cui vita alterius mors magis ipfa via eft.
Pontificis fummi hoc clauduntur membra fepulchro,
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, myftica verba loquens. Ad Chriftum Anglès convertit pietate magiftra, Acquirens fidei agmina gente nova.

Efuriem

pauperum

*

Hic labor,boc ftudium, hac tibi cura, hoc paftor agebas Ut Domino offerres plurima lucra gregis. Epifco- Hifque Dei Conful factus, latare triumphis, Nam mercedem operum jam fine fine tenés. In English, thus:

pus.

Earth take that Body which at firft you gave,
Till God again fhall raise it from the Grave.
His Soul amidst the Stars finds heavenly Day,
In vain the Gates of Night can make effay
On him whofe 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 facred Precepts every Hour.
Nor only taught; but firft the Example led,
Liv'd o'er his Rules, and acted what he said.
To English Saxons Chriftian 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 thefe to heavenly Honours rais'd on high,
Where thy Reward of Labours ne'er fhall dye.

Nor is the Account of St. Gregory, continu'd down to us by the Tradition of our Ancestors, to be pafs'd by in Silence, in relation to what put him in mind of taking fuch 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 reforted thither to buy, and Gregory himself with the reft, where, among other Things, Boys were

fet

fet 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, whofe Inhabitants were of fuch a Prefence. He again enquir'd, whether those Islanders were Chriftians, or ftill involv'd in the Errors of Paganifm;, 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 poffefs'd of Men of fuch fair Countenances; and that being remarkable for fuch graceful Afpects, their Minds fhould be void of inward Grace: He therefore again ask'd, what was the Name of that Nation; and was anfwer'd, that they were call'd, Angles. Right, faid he, for they have an Angelical Face, and it becomes fuch 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 faid 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, faid, Hallelujah, the Praife of God the Creator, must be fung in thofe 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 fend fome Minifters of the Word into Britain to the Nation of the English; by whom it might be converted to CHRISTS I

dow

declaring himself ready to undertake that Work, by the Affiftance of God, if the Apoftolical. Pope fhould think fit to have it fo done. The which not being then able to perform, becaufe, tho' the Pope was willing to grant his Requeft, yet the Citizens of Rome could not be brought to confent, that fo noble, fo renowned, and fo learned a Man fhould depart the City; as foon as he was himself made Pope, he perfeeted the long defir'd Work, fending other Preachers, but himself by his Prayers and Exhortations affifting 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 Hiftory.

СНАР. ІІ.

How Auguftin 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 purfu'd them for their Contempt.

I

N the mean Time Auguftin, with the Affiftance of King Ethelbert, drew together to confer with him the Bifhops, or Doctors of the next Province of the Britons, at a Place

which is to this Day call'd, a Auguftin's Ac. that is, Auguftin's Oak, on the Borders of *Wiccii and Weft-Saxons; and began by Bro- Worce therly Admonitions to perfuade them, that ferire. preferving Catholick Unity with him, they Thould undertake the common Labour of Preaching the Gofpel to the Gentils. For they did not keep Eafter-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 Auguftin and his Companions; but preferring their Traditions before all the Churches in the World, which in CHRIST agree among themfelves, the Holy Father Auguftin put an End to this troublefome and tedious Contention, faying, Let us beg of God, who caufes those who are of one Mind to live in his Father's Houfe, 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 haften to the Entrance of his Kingdom. Let fome infirm Perfon be brought, and let the Faith and Practice of those by whofe Prayers he fhall be heal'd. be look'd upon as acceptable to God, and to be follow'd by all. The adverfe Party unwillingly confenting, a blind I 2 Man

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