and had growen, and continued stil foure hundred yéeres and more, before his com∣minge.
But it is thought of many, that he corrupted the Religion, that he founde
planted here before, with muche filthe of superstition: & therefore Galfridus saith,
that the Bishoppes, and learned men, of this Ilelande, woulde none neither of
him, nor of the Pope, that sente him.
And that it may the better appeare, what a one this Augustine was, and what
opinion the faithful people of this Realme had of him, I wil rehearse a shorte sto∣rie,
that is written by Beda in that behalfe. The Bishoppes of this Countrie, saithe
Beda, before they woulde goe to the Councel, where as Augustine shoulde be President, f••rste
went vnto a holy wise man, that liued an Anchors life, and des••red his Counsel, wheth••r that
at Augustines preachinge, they shoulde leaue the traditions, that they had so longe vsed, ••r ••o.
He answeared, If he be a man of God, followe him. But how shal we know, saide they, whe∣ther
he be a man of God, or no? He answeared againe, If he be gentle, ••nd lowly of h••rte, it
is likely yenough that he carrieth the Yoke of the Lorde, and offreth vnto you to carrie the
same. But if he be disdaineful, and proude, then it is certaine, he is not of God: Neither ought
you to regarde what he saithe. Then saide the Bishoppes againe: But how may we knowe
whether he be disdaineful, and proude or no? Prouide ye, saithe this holy man, that he may be
in the Counsel sittinge before you come. Then, if he arise vp from his Chaire at your cominge,
and salute you, Knowe ye, that he is the man of God, and therefore herken to h••m. But if he
disdaine you, and wil not once moue his place, specially seeinge you are the moe in number▪ then
set you as litle by him, and disdaine him to. And as this holy man had tolde them, so did
they. When they came into the Councel House, Augustine sate stil, and woulde not moue.
Whereupon they refused him, and woulde not heare him, as a man disdaineful and proude of
harte, and therefore no man of God. Vpon whiche refusal, Ethelb••rtus the Kinge raised his
power, and slewe great numbers of the Britaines, and a thousande, and two hundred godly
Religio••s men, euen as they were at their praiers. Hitherto Beda. Wherefore, the
authoritie of this Augustines dooinges, must néedes séeme the lesse, yea although it
were al true, that M. Hardinge reporteth of him. And further, I trust, it wil be
prooued, that the thinges that M. Hardinge allegeth, stande without the compasse
of sixe hundred yéeres: and therefore, not withstandinge they were true, yet can∣not
greatly further his purpose. This Augustine vpon his arriual into England,
had a place allotted him in Kent. There he and his companie songe, and prai••d,
and saide Masse, (this Masse was a Communion, as shal appeare) and preached,
and Baptized. In what language, it is not noted by Beda. But be it in Latine.
Hereof M. Hardinge formeth vp this argument.
Augustine, and his companie praied togeather in Latine, for that they were strangers, newly
sente in out of Italy, and vnderstoode not the Englishe tongue:
Ergo, the Englishe people had the Latine Seruice.
M. Hardinge shoulde not thus mocke the worlde. He knoweth wel, a Childe
woulde not make suche reasons. For Augustine was no Parishe Prieste, ne ser∣ued
no Cure, but onely had a place seuerally appointed to him selfe. Neither did
any Englishe man resorte to his Seruice, onlesse it were to sée the strangenesse of
his dooinges. He might as wel reason thus:
The Iewes this day in Venice haue their Seruice in the Hebrewe tongue:
Ergo, the people of Italy haue their Seruice in the Hebrewe.
Hitherto, I trowe, this matter is but simply prooued.