43

HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

c H A I', art of insinuation and address to reconcile herI- husband to her religious principles. Her popularityin the court, and her influence over Ethelbert,had so well paved the way for the reception ofthe Christian doctrine , that Gregory , sirnamedthe Great, then Roman pontiff, began to enter-tain. hopes of effecting a project which hehimself, before he mounted the papal throne,had once embraced , of converting the BritifliSaxons. i

It happened , that this prelate , being at thattime in a private station , had observed in themarket-place of Rome some Saxon youth ex-posed to sale, whom the Roman merchants, intheir trading voyages to Britain , had bought oftheir mercenary parents. Struck with the beautyof their fair complexions and blooming counte-nances , Gregory asked to what country theybelonged; and being told they were Angles, hereplied, that they ought more properly to bedenominated anqels-. It was a pity that the Princeof Darkness should enjoy so fair a prey , and thatso beautiful a frontispiece should cover a minddestitute of internal grace and righteousness. En-quiring farther concerning the name of theirprovince, he was informed, that it was Demi, adistrict of Northumberland : Deiri! replied he ,that is good! They are called to the mercy of Godfrom his anger , De ira. But what is the name ofthe king of that province ? He was told it was Ællaor Alia : Aileluiah , cried he : We must endeavour ,that the praises of God be fung in their country.