There was by east well-nigh the city a church built in honor of St. Martin long ago, while the Romans yet dwelt in Britain [in which church the Queen (was) wont to pray, of whom we said before that she was a Christian].  In this church at first the holy teachers began to meet and sing and pray, and do mass-song, and teach men and baptize, until the King was converted to the faith, and they obtained more leave to teach everywhere, and to build and repair churches.

Then came it about through the grace of God that the King likewise among others began to delight in the cleanest life of holy [men] and their sweetest promises, and they also gave confirmation that those were true by the showing of many wonders; and he then, being glad, was baptized.  Then began many daily to hasten and flock together to hear God’s word, and to forsake the manner of heathenism, and joined themselves, through belief, to the oneness of Christ’s holy Church.  Of their belief and conversion [it] is said that the King was so evenly glad that he, however, forced none to the Christian manner [of worship], but that those who turned to belief and to baptism he more inwardly loved, as they were fellow-citizens of the heavenly kingdom.  For he had learnt from his teachers and from the authors of his health that Christ’s service should be of good will, not of compulsion.  And he then, the King, gave and granted to his teachers a place and settlement suitable to their condition, in his chief city, and thereto gave their needful supplies in various possessions.

During these things the holy man Augustine fared over sea, and came to the city Arles, and by AEtherius, archbishop of the said city, according to the behest and commandment of the blessed father St. Gregory, was hallowed archbishop of the English people, and returned and fared into Britain, and soon sent messengers to Rome, that was Laurence a mass-priest and Peter a monk, that they should say and make known to the blessed St. Gregory that the English nation had received Christ’s belief, and that he had been consecrated as bishop.  He likewise requested his advice about many causes and questions which were seen by him [to be] needful; and he soon sent suitable answers of them.

Asked by St. Augustine, bishop of the church of Canterbury:  First, of bishops, how they shall behave and live with their fellows.  Next, on the gifts of the faithful which they bring to holy tables and to God’s churches—­how many doles of them shall be?

Answered by Pope St. Gregory:  Holy writ makes it known, quoth he, which I have no doubt thou knowest, and sunderly the blessed Paul’s epistle, which he wrote to Timothy, in which he earnestly trained and taught him how he should behave and do in God’s house.  For it is the manner of the apostolic seat, when they hallow bishops, that they give them commandments, and that of all the livelihood which comes in to them there shall be four doles.  One, in the first place, to the bishop and his family for