ing always immoveable in itself, and disposing the different elements by its word, and the human race to come to the knowledge of the truth by the death of his only begotten Son, by whose blood the four quarters of the world are redeemed, so now by his servant doth it dispel the darkness in the regions of the west. Whilst therefore the blessed pope Gregory sat on the episcopal seat, and sowed the seeds of the gospel of Christ, there stood by him some men of unknown tongue and very comely to look on. The holy man admiring the beauty of their countenances, asked of them with earnestness from what country they came. The young men with downcast looks replied, that they were Angles. " Are you Christians," said the holy man, "or heathens ?" "Certainly not Christians," said they, " for no one has yet opened our ears." Then the holy man, lifting up his eyes, replied, " What man, when there are stones at hand, lays a foundation with reeds ?" They answer, "No man of prudence." "You have well said," answered he ; and he straightway took them into a room, where he instructed them in the divine oracles, and afterwards washed them with the baptism of Christ : and further he arranged with them, that he would go with them into their country. When the Romana heard of this they opposed his words, and were unwilling to allow their pastor to go so far from home. The blessed pope Gregory, therefore, seeing that the people were opposed to him, sent with the men aforesaid one of his disciples, who was well instructed in the divine oracles, by name Augustine, and with him a multitude of brethren. When these men arrived, the English received the faith and erected temples, and our Saviour Jesus Christ exhibited innumerable miracles to his faithful followers through the prayers of the bishop, St. Augustine ; at whose tomb, even to the present day, no small number of miracles are wrought, with the assistance of our Lord. CHAP. II.—Of king Ethdbert, and of hit baptitm. [A.D. 597.] WHE N the man aforesaid arrived, Ethelbert bore rule over Kent, and receiving the faith, submitted to be baptized with all his house. He was the first king among the English who received the word of Christ. Lastly Ethelbert was the son