Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/43

  Converts, to whom St. Augustine had preached the Gospel six Years before, having entered Britain'' in the Year 597. Nor is there any thing in the Epistles of St. Gregory to Theoderic and Theodebert, and to Brunichilda, to favour this good Opinion of the Britains, much less to confirm it. St. Gregory declared, that one Occasion of his sending his Missioners, at that time, (for he had intended it before) was becaufe he understood that the English had an Inclination to become Christian; but the Clergy, in the Neighbourhood, neglected their Conversion.''

This Accusation, as has been before observed, may as well affect the British as the Gallican'' Clergy. It is enquired how the Saxons should come by their good Disposition and Inclination to Christianity, but from the Information they had from the Britains, and their Example. To which it may be answer'd, and I hope with some Probability, that they might be encouraged in this Desire, by the Example and good Offices of Queen Berhta, who had afterwards so great an Influence in the Conversion of the King himself: And this is what seems to be acknowledged, even by Gregory himself, in his Epistle to that Queen. Be pleas'd to take one Sentence of it; We return thanks to Almighty God, who hath gracioully vouchsafed to reserve the Conversion of the English People for your Reward. And, to the Enquiry above mention'd, another may not improperly be opposed. If the Britains were so forward in the Conversion of the Saxons,''