Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/77

  of a Pious Lady; Berhta the first Christian Queen of England: as the Conversion of the whole Roman Empire before had been by Helena Mother of Constantine'' the Great, by most affirm'd to have been a Native of this Island. That as the Southern Parts of England were first converted by Berhta’s Endeavours, who engaged her Husband King Ethelbert to receive the Faith: fo the Northern Parts beyond Humber, received the same blessed Influence, by the means of her Daughter Edelburga: who was highly instrumental in the Conversion of her glorious Consort, King Edwin the first Monarch of the English, and the greatest of all the Saxon Princes of those times. I might give many more Instances of this kind, Chlodesuinda Daughter of King Chlotharius persuaded her Husband, Alboinus, King of the Lombards, to become Christian. And Hermenegildus, by the sollicitation of his Wife Ingundis, Daughter of Sigibert, and Sister to King Childebert, of an Arrian, became Orthodox. It were endless to repeat all the Instances of illustrious Women, that might be enumerated, as contributing to the Advancement of Religion, in their several Ages. But we may content our selves with late, and domestick, Examples, of two of the greatest Monarchs that the World has known: for Wisdom and Piety, and constant Success in their Affairs, QUEEN ELIZABETH, and ANNE QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN. And I think it some farther Apology''