O'er the deep silence of her peaceful grave,
The leafless cypresses now wildly wave,

While through their boughs, the sighing breezes spread,
On the chill air, a requiem for the dead.

But when Spring smiles again o'er earthly bowers,
And balm is breathing from the perfumed flowers,
We'll twine a fairy wreath of choicest bloom,
To grace that hapless maiden's simple tomb,
While one sweet bud shall consecrate the spot,
Gem of the heart-the blue "Forget-me-not."

ST. AUGUSTINE'S MISSION.

M. E.

BY W. LAW GANE.

Author of a "Memoir of the Life of Don Pedro,"
History of France," &c.

"The Childs own

Ar the dawn of History, the inhabitants of our Island were uncivilized and barbarous, but not, there is reason to believe, to the extent generally supposed, for almost all the accounts which we have of the early Britons, emanate from those, who were at once their enemies and their conquerers: as the former, enmity would influence their narratives, and, as the latter, contempt. That they lived in ill-constructed huts, that their clothing and their weapons were rude, that their knowledge was very limited, and that they pursued the wandering life of hunters and fishers, all this we may believe, but when we are told that they permitted their priests (the Druids) to sacrifice whole multitudes of human victims, we at once doubt, that any set of men could have been so wicked as to perpetrate such enormities, or any other, so slavish and debased as to allow them to be effected. This, and other similar anecdotes, we derive from the Romans, who invaded Britain under Julius Cæsar about the year 55 before Christ, and after a long and severe struggle, succeeded in making themselves masters of the principal portions of our Island. These, they held for nearly five centuries. Their possession, during the greater part of this period, was disputed only by the Scots and Picts, who dwelt in the northern parts of the Island, since called Scotland, and to restrain these tribes, the stupendous wall of Severus (so called from its being erected principally in the reign of the Roman emperor of that

name) was built, extending from the river Tyne to the frith of Solway, some remains of which exist to the present day.

At the commencement of the fifth century, the power of Rome was assailed by various nations less civilized than the people of the great mistress of the world, and their immense numbers easily prevailed over the weakness of the Romans, whom long dominion and boundless power had corrupted and enervated. The provinces distant from the capital first fell a prey to the invading hordes, but the imperial city itself was soon threatened, and at this juncture the Roman troops were withdrawn from Britain to guard the soil of Italy, and the Britons were left to be their own masters.

The old enemies of the Britons, the Picts and Scots, deeming this a favourable opportunity for renewing their incursions, overran the northern parts of the country, committing the most terrible excesses. The Britons, living securely under the dominion of the Romans, while they had in some measure adopted the civilization and the arts of their conquerors, had become feeble and unwarlike, and were unable to resist the rude northern invaders: being reduced to a frightful state of distress, they applied to Rome for aid, writing thus:-"The groans of the Britons. Driven by our barbarous enemy to the sea, and thence back upon the barbarians, we have only left us the choice of a grave: either to be killed by the one, or to be drowned by the other." The Romans were, however, unable to protect even themselves, and the wretched Britons were compelled to look elsewhere for assistance.

At this juncture, a small band of Saxon pirates (the Saxons were a very warlike people, inhabiting the coast of Europe from the Rhine to the Baltic,) under the guidance of Hengist and Horsa, two brothers, chanced to be ranging along the shores of Britain in quest of adventures. Vortigern, the chief or king of the south-eastern parts of the Island, is said to have become enamoured of Rowena, the beautiful daughter of Hengist, who accompanied her father in his expedition, and upon whom, as the price of his daughters hand, Vortigern bestowed the county of Kent. From this time the Saxons became the allies of the Britons, and their united forces defeated the Picts and Scots in several battles, and finally compelled them to retreat into their own country. The Saxons at home, elated by the success of their countrymen in Britain, came over in great numbers, and having no other enemy to fight with, they turned their arms against the Britons, and after a severe struggle, became the masters of those whom they had originally been invited to assist

and defend. In this struggle, the famous exploits of Prince Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, were performed. They defeated the enemy in twelve pitched battles, and preserved the independence of a remnant of the British, who established themselves among the mountains of Wales and in Cornwall.

At the period of the irruption of the Saxons, Christianity had spread very extensively in Britain, and the mysterious worship of the Druids, a few ages before the only religion of the country, was almost banished from the land. The objects of the idolatry of the Druids, were trees, stones, the elements, and the heavenly bodies; they performed their mysteries in woods and groves, carefully concealing their knowledge and their rites from the uninitiated; they were regarded with the utmost veneration, and were at once the priests and the governors of the people.

By whom Christianity was first introduced into Britain, is ́uncertain, though there is good reason for supposing that it was effected by St. Paul. The Islands which lie in the ocean beyond Spain, being mentioned by historians of the period among the places when the Apostle of the Gentiles laboured. After the conquests of the Saxons, the decline of the christian religion was sudden and rapid, paganism prevailing wherever these conquerors penetrated, and christianity was only preserved from extinction in Britain by the small portion of the British who maintained their independence. This state of things continued for more than a century, when the attention of St. Gregory, a monk of Rome, and afterwards pope, was drawn to the condition of Britain, by observing some beautiful British children in the market-place of that city, exposed for sale as slaves.

Immediately after Gregory's succession to the popedom, it was determined to send a mission into Britain, and St. Augustine was selected to execute the task. This was in the year 597. Strange stories prevailed at this time in Italy, and the whole south of Europe, of the Britons and their country; so little intercourse existed between different nations, that the most improbable tales were believed, and Britain was regarded as a country of savages, where dragons and furies, and men as dangerous as either, were found in abundance. The saint and his companions, were alarmed at the prospect of the dangers they might have to encounter, and after commencing their journey, suddenly stopped, and implored of the pope to be excused from the contemplated mission. This was not granted; the prayers of the church were promised for their safety, and they proceeded to the execution of their task. Arrived on the

coast of Gaul, opposite to Britain, the missionaries embarked, accompanied by several interpreters of the Gaulish or French nation, and, to the number of forty persons, landed safely beneath the white cliffs of the Isle of Thanet.

On landing in Britain, St. Augustine discovered that he had been unnecessarily alarmed; for though the Saxons were fierce and cruel, they, like most nations that worship a plurality of gods, were not remarkable for bigotry, and received the saint, if not with kindness, at least with toleration. The first object of Augustine, was to secure the favour of Ethelbert, who ruled that part of the Island in which the missionaries had landed, and to acquire this, he despatched a communication to the monarch, signifying, that he was come from Rome, and had brought a most happy message, which undoubtedly assured to all who took advantage of it, everlasting joys in heaven, and a kingdom that would never end, with the living and true God.

Ethelbert heard with surprise, that several men in a foreign garb, and practising many strange ceremonies, desired admittance to his presence. Berta, his wife, a French princess who had been educated in the Christian religion, supported the application of the missionaries, and with tears implored that their prayers might be granted: "Listen but to these holy men," said Berta, "and those vain idols, the stones and blocks which your own people have fashioned, will be no longer reverenced: you will cease to fear the storm, and will no more deem that the lightnings and the thunder proceed from invisible demons. Learn to put your trust in the God whose mysteries they teach, for in his His hands are the storms, the thunder is His voice, and the lightnings His breath, and Ethelbert then will soon learn to laugh at the threats of Odin's rage, for Odin has even less of power than his blind votaries, and how feeble are they in their utmost strength."

Ethelbert listened with attention to all that was advanced, and yielding to the persuasions of Berta, consented to grant St. Augustine and his companions an interview. This was

appointed to take place in the Isle of Thanet. The king came, but would not enter into any house with the strangers, believing, according to a superstitious Druidical notion, that if they entertained magical arts, they would be able to practise them upon him within the walls of a building. They accordingly met in a field, but, in the words of an old historian, "The missionaries came, abounding, not with diabolical but divine virtue; carrying for their banner a silver cross, and the image of our Lord the Saviour, painted on a board; and singing litanies, made humble prayer

66

for their own and for the eternal salvation of them, for whom, and to whom, they were come." The king commanded Augustine to preach before him, which he did, and at the conclusion of the discourse, he answered, like a wise man, Your words indeed, and your promises are very fair: but as they are new and uncertain, I cannot give my assent to them, and forsake what I, with the whole English nation, have followed for so long a time, without due consideration. But since you are come so long a journey, out of a desire, as I seem to perceive, to impart to us such things as you believe to be true, and most beneficial, we will not give you any molestation: on the contrary, we will entertain you favourably, and take care to furnish you with what shall be necessary for your sustenance: nor do we forbid you to gain over as many as you can by preaching to your religion."

After this interview, a residence was assigned to the missionaries in Canterbury, the capital of Ethelbert's kingdom. As they drew near the city, they carried in procession the holy cross, and the image of their great king, singing in concert this supplication : "We beseech thee, O Lord! in all thy mercy, to turn away thy wrath and indignation from this city, and from thy holy house, because we have sinned. Alleluia." They were followed by an immense concourse of people, attracted by this unusual ceremony, who, however, offered them no molestation, and were content with escorting them quietly to their dwelling.

Almost immediately on entering the city they commenced their labours, Ethelbert having confirmed to them his permission to preach, nor was it long ere they attracted many converts to the new faith. Augustine impressed on the minds of the people the inestimable blessings which would result from their adoption of the Christian religion, and depicted to them in forcible colours, not only the wickedness, but the absurdity of worshiping stones, and putting their faith in bits of wood and metal. These arguments must necessarily produce an impression on people at all capable of reflection; and moreover, accustomed to allow unbridled licence to their passions, the Saxons were struck with admiration at the quiet and austere lives of the saint and his companions, for they were eminent in the practice of abstinence and the apostolic virtues. The Saxons soon perceived the advantages of a change, and numbers speedily abandoned their inanimate gods and their former faith.

Others causes conspired to spread the christian religion: the missionaries joined to divine ardour in the prosecution of their