Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/29

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The PREFACE.
xi

well be said by Gregory of himself in regard to us; [1] If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you, for the Seal of my Apostleship are ye in the Lord. But the Zeal of this Holy Man, for the Conversion of this Nation, after he had seen the English Northern Boys at Rome, was so extraordinary, as were scarce to be believed, did not so great a Cloud of Historians hear witness to it. For besides his Desire of undertaking so long a Journey for our Conversion, and his Care, when prevented himself, of sending so many, and so worthy Missioners, with such powerful Recommendations to the several Princes, and Prelates whom he appointed them to visit in their Expedition, for their Encouragement, as may he seen by the Epistles which have been for that reason added in the Appendix. [2] His affection was exceedingly remarkable in his buying up English Slaves,

  1. I Ep. Corinth ix. v. 2.
  2. See Gregory’s Epistle to Candidus. Lib. VI. Epist. vii. Indict. xiv. wherein St. Gregory gives him plain direftion for the purchasing such Boys. We would have you with the Mony which you shall receive, to provide Garments for the Poor, or purchase some English Youths, about seventeen or eighteen Years of Age, that being placed in Monasteries they may serve God. And again, in the same Epistle, Or as we have said before, some young Men, that they may profit in the Service of Almighty God. But because they are Pagans, which are to be met with there, I wou'd have a Priest to be sent with them, lest any Sickness happen by the way; in which case, if he shall see any of them in Danger of Death, he may baptise them. So that the Story of the Northern English Boys, ought not perhaps to be made so great a Jest, as one of our famous Historians wou'd make of It, who speaking of it, expresses himself thus. But let us return to that Fable from which we have digress'd. If Gregory intended to send Augustine to the Deeri, and Ella their King,