Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/141

The Monks and the Conversion of the Germans 1 05 and that the keys of heaven were given to him by our Lord?" They both answered, "We do." Then the king concluded, "And I also say unto you, that he is the doorkeeper, whom I will not contradict, but will, as far as I know and am able, in all things obey his decrees, lest when I come to the gates of the kingdom of heaven there should be none to open them, he being my adversary who is proved to have the keys." The king having said this, all present, both great and small, gave their assent and, renouncing the more imperfect insti- tution, resolved to conform to that which they found to be better. V. BONIFACE AND THE CONVERSION OF GERMANY The following documents make clear the close relations between Boniface and the papacy. Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to the devout priest Boniface : Knowing that thou hast from childhood been devoted to sacred letters, and that thou hast labored to reveal to un- believing people the mystery of faith, ... we decree in the name of the indivisible Trinity, through the unshaken authority of Peter, chief of the apostles, whose doctrine it is our charge to teach, and whose holy see is in our keeping, that, since thou seemest to glow with the salvation-bringing fire which our Lord came to send upon the earth, thou shalt hasten to whatsoever tribes are lingering in the error of unbelief, and shalt institute the rites of the kingdom of God. . . . And we desire thee to establish the discipline of the sacraments, according to the observance of our holy apostolic see. Gregory, pope, to our well-beloved bishops established in Bavaria and Alemannia : ... It is fitting that ye recognize our brother and fellow- bishop, Boniface, as our representative, and that ye receive him with due honor in the name of Christ. And ye shall maintain the ministry of the Church with the Catholic faith 43. Boniface commis- sioned by Pope Greg- ory II to preach the gospel to the heathen tribes (719) , (condensed). 44. Gregory II appoints Boniface the presiding bishop in Germany (722).