CHAPTER XII

.

CONVERSION OF ETHELBERT.

Commencement of the civil war amongst the Saxons--Struggle between Ethelbert, king of Kent, and Ceawlin, king of Wessex, for the title of Bretwalda--Description of the slave-market of Rome --Monk Gregory's admiration of the British captives--Gregory becomes pontiff, and despatches Augustin with fifty monks to convert the inhabitants of Britain--Picturesque description of the landing of the Christian missionaries in the Isle of Thanet --Intercession of Bertha--Ethelbert's interview with Augustin and his followers--The missionaries take up their residence in Canterbury--Conversion of Ethelbert--Augustin is made Archbishop, by Pope Gregory--The rich presents sent to Britain by the Pope--Character of the Roman pontiff--His wise policy in not abolishing at once all outward forms of heathen worship --Eadbald ascends the throne of Kent--Marries his stepmother, and is denounced by the priests--He renounces the Christian faith--The monks are driven out of Essex--Eadbald again acknowledges the true faith, and the persecuted priests find shelter in the kingdom of Kent p. 99

##