Hand, immediately Soundnefs follow'd the Medicinal Touch, the wither'd Nerves were reftor'd, and the Youth, was, in the Presence of all the People, deliver'd whole to his Father. The Multitude was amaz'd at the Miracle, and the inculcated Faith was confirm'd in their Minds; then were they in a Sermon warn'd and exhorted to make amends for their Errors. By the Judgment of all, the Spreaders of the Herefy, who had been expell'd the Inland, were brought before the Priefts, to be convey'd up into the Inland, that the Conntry might be absoly'd, and they corrected. Thus the Faith in thofe Parts continu'd long after untainted. All things being fettled, the bleffed Prelates return'd as profperously as they came. But German after this went to Ravenna to intercede for, the Nation of Britany in France, where being very honourably receiv'd by Valentinian and his Mother Placidia, he departed to CHRIST; whofe Body was, in regard of his Virtue, convey'd to his own City with a fplendid Attendance. Not long after Valentinian was murder'd by the Followers of Etius, whom he had put to Death, in the fixth Year of the Empire of Marcianus, with whom alfo ended. the Western Kingdom.

"

CHAP.

The Britons being for a Time deliver'd from foreign Invafions, wafted themselves by Civil Wars, and then gave themselves up to more heinous Crimes.

N the mean Time in Britain there was fome refpite from Foreign, but not from Civil War. There ftill remain'd the Ruins of Cities deftroy'd by the Enemy, and abandon'd, the Natives who had efcap'd the Enemy, fought against each other. However, the Kings, Priefts, private Men, and the Nobility ftill remembring the fate Calamities and Slaughters, in fome Meafure kept within Bounds; but thofe dying, and another Gene ration fucceeding, which knew nothing of thofe Times, and was only acquainted with the prefent peaceable State, all the Bonds of Sincerity and Juftice were fo entirely broken, that there was not any, I will not fay, remains, but not fo much as the Remembrance thereof left among a few, and thofe very few. Among other moft wicked Actions, not to be express'd, which their own Hiftoriana Gildas in a mourn

ful

ful manner takes notice of, they added this, that they never preach'd the Faith to the Nation of the Saxons, or English, who inhabited Britain together with them; however the divine Goodnefs did not forfake its People, whom it foreknew, but fent to the aforefaid Nations, much more worthy Preachers, to bring it to the Faith.

CHAP. XXIII.

How the Holy Pope Gregory fending Auguftin, with other Monks, to preach to the English Nation, encourag'd them by his Exhortatory Epiftle, not to ceafe from their Labour.

N the Year from the Incarnation of our Lord, 582. Maurice, the 54th fron: Augu ftus, taking the Empire upon him, held it twenty one Years. In the 10th Year of his Reign, Gregory, a Man renowned for Learning and Behaviour, was promoted to the Bishoprick of the Roman and Apoftolical See, and prefided thirteen Years, fix Months, and ten Days. He being moved by Divine Infpiration, in the 14th Year of the fame Emperor, and about the 150 after the coming of the English into Britain, fent the Servant of God, Auguftin, and with him several other Monks, fearing the Lord, to preach the Word of God to the English Nation. They having, in Obedience to

the

the Pope's Commands, undertaken that Work, and gone fome Part of their Way, being feiz'd with a flothful Fear, began to think of returning home, rather than to proceed to a barbarous, fierce and unbelieving Nation, to whofe very Language they were Strangers; and this they unanimously agreed was the fafest Course. In fhort, they fent back Auguftin, whom he had appointed to be Confecrated Bishop, in cafe they were receiv'd by the English, that he might by humble Intreaty obtain of the Holy Gregory, that they should not be compell'd to undertake fo dangerous, fo toilfome, and fo uncertain a Journey. He fending them an Exhortatory Epiftle, perfuaded them to proceed in the Work of the Divine Word, relying on the Heavenly Affiftance. The Purport of which Letter was as follows.

Gregory, the Servant of the Servants of God,

to the Servants of our Lord. Forafmuch as it had been better not to begin a good Work, than to think of defifting from that which has been begun, it behoves you (moft, beloved Sons,) to fulfil the good Work, which by the Help of our Lord, you have undertaken. Let not therefore the Toil of the Journey, nor the Tongues of Evil Speaking Men deter you; but with all poffible Earneftnefs and Fervor perform that which you have undertaken by God's Directi on; being affur'd, that much Labour is follow'd by a Reward of Eternal Glory. When Auguftin, your chief, returns, whom we alfo conftitute your Ablat, humbly obey him in all things; as knowing, that whatsoever you shall do by his Direction, will, in all respects, be available to your Souls. Al

Almighty God protect you with his Grace, and grant that I may in the Heavenly Country See the Fruits of your Labour. In as much as, tho' I can not labour with you, I shall partake in the Joy of the Reward, because I am willing to labour. God keep you in fafety, most beloved Sons. Dated the

Ioth of the Kalends of Auguft, in the 14th Year of the Empire of our most pious Auguft Lord Mauritius Tiberius, the 13th Year after the Confulship of our faid Lord. The 14th Indiction.

CHAP. XXIV.

How be writ to the Bishop of Arles to entertain them.

THE

HE venerable Pope alfo fent them a Letter for Etherius, Archbishop of Arles, for him to give favourable Entertainment to Auguftin in his Way to Britain, the which Letter was in these Words.

TE

○ the Most Reverend and Holy Brother, Etherius, Fellow Bishop, Gregory, the Servant of the Servants of God. Altho' Religious Men ftand in need of no Recommendation with Priefts that have the Charity which is pleafing to God; yet, in regard that a proper Opportunity is offer'd to write, we have thought fit to fend you our Letter, to inform you, that we have directed thither, for the good of Souls, the Fearer of thefe Prefents, Augukin, the Servant of God, of whofe