44

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

T.

some interpreters from**among the Franks, whostill spoke the same language with the Saxons ”,and recommended them to the good offices ofqueen Brunehaut, who had at this time usurpedthe sovereign power in France. This princess ,though stained with every vice of treachery andcruelty, either possessed or pretended great zealfor the cause; and Gregory acknowledged, thatto her friendly assistance was, in a great measure,owing the success of that undertaking

Augustine, on his arival in Kent in the year597 ", found the danger much less than he hadapprehended. Ethelhert, already well-disposedtowards the Christian faith, assigned him a habit-,ation in the isse of Thanet ; and soon afteradmitted him to a conference. Apprehensive ,however, lest spells or enchantments might beemployed against him by priests, who brought anunknown worship from a distant country, he hadthe precaution to receive them in the open air,where , he believed, the force of their magicwould be more easily dissipated". Here Augustine,by means of his interpreters, delivered to him thetenets of the Christian faith , and promised himeternal joys above , and a kingdom in heavenwithout end, if he would be persuaded to receive

" Bede, lib. I. cap. 23.

*° Greg. Epist:. lib. 9. epist. 56, Spell. Cone. p. 82.

" Higden, Polychron. lib. 5. Chron. Sax. p. 2Z-

' Bede, lib. 1. cap. 25. H. Hunting, lib. 3. Bronrpton,p. 729. Parkei*, Antiq. Brit. Eccl. p. 6i.