Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/39

 have the greater Authority, that the most learned Author of the Antiquities of the British'' Churches so plainly allows it, tho' he assigns a politick Reason for it. His Words are, "That the Pope did not oblige him (Augustine) to follow the Example of the Roman Church; chiefly, I suppofe, because the Queen being a Christian before, and using the Gallican Liturgy, in the publick Service; and her Bishop being of the Gallican Church, it wou'd have given great Offence to them, to have had it taken away; as likewise, to all the British Churches which had been accustom'd to it."''

So that it is allowed, by this learned Prelate, that Gregory had some Concern for a good Correspondence with the Britains'', and was willing that they shou'd have no Offence given them, if they wou'd have taken none. And we are not encouraged to think he had any Intentions to flatter Gregory, and his Missioners, much less to disparage the British Bishops.'' Orig. Britan. c.iv. p. 217.

Those, who wou'd maintain an Opinion contrary to this Assertion, insist upon those Demands of St. Augustine, which he made to the British Bishops, and Clergy, as drawing them into a Submission to the Church of Rome''. But from what has been said already, it may rather be supposed with better Reason, and Charity: that those Proposals were intended for greater Uniformity, and to promote Catholick Cominunion. The three Demands were these,'' 1. That Easter should be observed at its proper Season. 2. That they shou'd