rejoicing, and worthily commending the same, he, in his exposition on holy Job, says: 1 Behold, a tongue of Britain, which only knew how to utter barbarous language, has long since begun to resound the Hebrew Alleluia. Behold, the once swelling ocean now serves prostrate at the feet of the saints; and its barbarous motions, which earthly princes could not subdue with the sword, are now, through the fear of God, bound by the mouths of priests with words only; and he that when an infidel stood not in awe of fighting troops, now, a believer, fears the tongues of the humble. For by reason that the virtue of the divine knowledge is infused into it by the heavenly words it has hearkened to, and by conspicuous miracles, it is curbed by the dread of the same Godhead, so that it fears to act wickedly, and bends all its desires to arrive at the grace of eternity.' In which words St. Gregory declares this also, that St. Augustine and his companions brought the English to receive the truth not only by the preaching of words, but also by the showing of heavenly signs. The holy Pope Gregory, among other things, caused masses to be celebrated in the churches of the apostles Peter and Paul, over their bodies. And in the celebration of masses, he added three phrases,2 full of great perfection: 'Dispose our days in thy peace, snatch us from eternal damnation, and rank us in the number of thy elect.' He governed the church in the days of the Emperors Mauritius and Phocas, but passing out of this life in the second year of the same Phocas, he departed to the true life which is in heaven. His body was buried in the church of St. Peter the apostle, before the sacristy, on 1 Bk. 27, chap. 11. 2 On Gregory's liturgical reforms see the Dict. Chr. Biog. 2. 788-790; Dict. Chr. Antiqq. s.v. Sacramentary (see Plummer's notes on this passage, and on 1. 27, p. 47). the 12th day of March,1 to rise one day in the same body in glory with the other pastors of Holy Church. On his tomb was written this epitaph: Earth, take that body which at first you gave, 4 Nor is the account of St. Gregory which has been handed down to us by the tradition of our ancestors to be passed by in silence, in relation to his motives for taking such interest in the salvation of our nation. It is reported that some merchants, having just arrived at Rome on a certain day, exposed many things for sale in 1 A.D. 604. 2 This line, like much of the epitaph, might be more exactly rendered than it has been by Giles. One feels the old Roman spirit in the line: Hisque Dei consul factus lætare triumphis. We may translate the last two lines: God's consul now, rejoice in triumph won; 8 Between 585 and 588 A.D. the market-place, and abundance of people resorted thither to buy. Gregory himself went with the rest, and, among other things, some boys were set to sale,1 their bodies white, their countenances comely, and their hair of remarkable beauty. Having viewed them, he asked, as is said, from what country or nation they were brought, and was told, from the island of Britain, whose inhabitants were of such personal appearance. He again inquired whether those islanders were Christians, or still involved in the errors of heathendom; and was informed that they were heathens. Then fetching a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart, Alas! what a pity,' said he, 'that the author of darkness should possess men of such fair countenances, and that, being remarkable for such grace of exterior, their minds should be void of inward grace!' He therefore again asked what was the name of that nation, and was answered that they were called Angles. Right,' said he, for they have an angelic face, and it becomes such to be coheirs with the angels in heaven. What is the name,' proceeded he, 6 fera of the province from which they are brought?' It was 2.) replied that the natives of that province were called Deiri. Truly are they De ira,' said he, 'snatched from wrath, and called to the mercy of Christ. -How is the king of that province called?' They told him his name was Ælli; 3.) and he, playing on the name, said, 'Alleluia, the praise of God the Creator ought to be sung in those parts.' Then repairing to the bishop of the Roman and apostolic see for he was not yet himself made pope he entreated him to send some ministers of the word into Britain to the nation of the English, by whom it might 1 In a letter to a certain Candidus, which has been assigned to September, 595, Gregory directs him to purchase English boys, of about seventeen or eighteen years of age, for training up in monasteries. 2 See Wordsworth, Eccl. Sonnets 13. be converted to Christ; declaring himself ready to undertake that work, by the assistance of God, if the apostolic pope should think fit to have it so done. Which not being then able to perform - because, though the pope was willing to grant his request, yet the citizens of Rome could not be brought to consent that he should depart so far from the city as soon as he was himself made pope, he carried out the long-desired work, sending indeed others as preachers, but himself by his prayers and exhortations assisting the preaching, that it might be successful. This account, as we have received it from the ancients, we have thought fit to insert in our Ecclesiastical History. 11. KING EDWIN OF NORTHUMBRIA EMBRACES CHRISTIANITY (A.D. 627) Bk. 2, chap. 13 The king, hearing these words, answered that he was both willing and bound to receive the faith which he taught, but that he would confer about it with his principal friends and counselors,1 to the end that if they also were of his opinion, they might all together be hallowed in Christ, the Fountain of life. Paulinus consenting, the king did as he said; for, holding a council with the wise men, he asked of every one in particular what he thought of the new doctrine and worship of the Deity that was preached. To whom the chief of his own priests, Coifi, immediately answered: O king, consider what this is which is now preached to us; for I verily declare to you what I have learned for certain, that the religion which we have hitherto held has no virtue or utility in it. For none of your people has applied himself more diligently 1 OE. witan, from which witenagemōt. to the worship of our gods than I; and yet there are many who receive greater favors from you, and obtain greater dignities than I, and are more prosperous in all their undertakings. Now if our gods were good for anything, they would rather assist me, who have been more careful to serve them. It remains, therefore, that if upon examination you find those new doctrines, which are now preached to us, better and more efficacious, we immediately receive them without delay.' Another of the king's chief men, assenting to his prudent Figure words and exhortations, straightway added:1 O king, the of passer present life of man on earth seems to me, in comparison with the time of which we are ignorant, as if you were sitting at a feast with your chief men and thanes in the winter time, and a fire were kindled in the midst and the hall warmed, while everywhere outside there were raging whirlwinds of wintry rain and snow; and as if then there came a stray2 sparrow, and swiftly flew through the house, entering at one door and passing out through another. As long as he is inside, he is not buffeted by the winter's storm; but in the twinkling of an eye the lull for him is over, and he speeds from winter back to winter again, and is gone from your sight. So this life of man appeareth for a little time; but what cometh after, or what went before, we know not. If therefore this new doctrine contains something more certain, it seems justly to deserve to be followed.' The other elders and king's counselors spoke, by divine inspiration, to the same effect. But Coifi added that he wished more attentively to hear Paulinus discourse concerning the God whom he 1 Cf. Wordsworth, Eccl. Sonnets 16. 2 This seems to be suggested by unus ex passerum. For the figure cf Hos. 9. 11. 3 Jas. 4. 14. |