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ryiib ^epehre peo- which are reckoned to be
fcji'ci'S ]?e i^epbon be about Forty, that journied
Irpe^ojiiej' h^i*e o^ ]>xx: with him by Gregorys com-
hi becomon ^ejrunbpul- mand, proceeded on their
lice ro J)if um i^lanbe :• Journey until they arrived
On J)am bajum pixoOc profperoufly in this Ifland.
jepelbypihc cyning on In thofe days reigned King
Eanrpapabypig, "^ hijr JEthelbyriht in the City of
pice p2er aprpehr; ppam Canterbury^ whofe Kingdom
micclan ea fcumbpe 0^6 was ftretched from the great
3ru^ r^ •• Sguf rinuf River Hurrjher to the South
hcepbe genummen pe- Sea. Augujiine had taken
alhpr.o5ap on pjiancena 1 Interpreters in the King-
pice jpa rpa Eipejopiuf dom of the Franks^ as Gr^-
Reception of his Miffioners. From that King's Court they pafson to
C&fa.Yodunum Turonum^ now Tours^ to vific the Tomb of St. Martin*
Whether or no they turned out of their Road to Medhlamm Santo-
num, Sa'inBes^ or XainUes^ to wait upon Falladtus the Bifhop, to
whom the Pope had written, it is not eafy to determine : He being
much in favour with the Kings of the Frat^t^s^ 'tis poflible they might
meet with him at Court, and there prefent him with their Letters.
- Thefe Interpreters were Presbyters : Which (hews us how care-
ful St. Gregory was, that nothing (hould be done irregular or indecent,
even in the Infancy of a Church. The preaching of the Gofpel being
a pecuHar Office of the Miniftry, he permits not the Laity to aifume
any fhare in the facred Employment, enjoining, that the very Inter-
preters they made ufe of (hould be Men in Orders, and honour'd with
the Prie(tly Dignity, as well to avoid all Pretences from a contrary
Precedent of the Laity's medling in facred things, as alfo to encreafe
the number of the Labourers, in Preaching and Baptizing, ^c. in cafe
the Harveft ffaould prove great. That Su Gregory order'd Augujiine td
do this, appears from an Epiflle of his to Tbeoderic and Thcodeberti
Kings of the Franks* For having recommended Auguftin and hM
Companions to them^ he adds ; Quibus etiam injtwximuSy ut dliquos
Juum e viclno dsbsanP Fresbytms dncere^ cum quibus mum pofflnt mentes
agiif
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