This aforesaid Gregory sent Austen the Monk with certain other into England to convert and turn the english nation unto the Romish Religion.1 Which Austen, when through his hypocrisy & counterfeit holiness he had won many unto his purpose, and had obtained of king Adelbright to be Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of all England, went into Wales, where he found many godly & learned bishops and preachers of God's word, which sincerely and purely taught the doctrine of the holy Scripture, and rightly administered the blessed sacraments according to Christs institution:2 whom this aforesaid Austen the Monk laboured also to the uttermost of his power to allure from the sincerity & simplicity of christs religion, unto the Romish and popish superstition, boasting himself to be a Legate of the most holy father the Pope, sent from Rome: again, made & ordained the chief bishop & primate of all england, ⟨image 44⟩and therefore he willed them to obey him and his doctrine, and to receive the most holy father of Rome, and his catholic Religion. But the Godly and learned Fathers boldly answered, that they were already true Christians, and according to christs doctrine they governed their Churches: therefore they would neither obey him, nor submit themselves to the authority of that strange Romish Bishop, nor yet receive his superstitious ceremonies, but continue, as heretofore they had done, in the simplicity of Christs religion. By this means this Monk Austen was compelled to depart, his expectation not satisfied. Notwithstanding this monstrous Monk afterward found the means (such is the charity of the bloody papists) greatly to annoy these Godly and learned fathers, because they would not obey his wicked & devilish request. For he complained to King Adelbright, 3that the Britons called otherwise Welshmen, would neither obey him nor any man, but only the Archbishop of Carlion. Which thing when the King heard, he was greatly ⟨p. 15⟩moved, and threatened to destroy them all, writing to Elfride king of Northumberland that he should come to him with all the power that he might make, and that he would meet him at Leicester & from thence they would go into Wales and there destroy the Archbishop of Carlion and all those that had refused to obey Austen and his doctrine.
This aforesaid Gregory sent Austen ye Monke wt certaine other into Englād to conuert and turne the english natiō vnto the Romish Religiō.1 Which Austen, when thorow his hipocrisy & coū terfait holines he had won many vnto his purpose, and had obtained of king Adelbright to be Archbishop of Cāterbury and primate of al England, wēt into Wales, where hee founde manye godly & lerned byshops and preachers of Goddes worde, which sincerely and purelye taught the doctrine of the holy Scripture, and rightlye administred the blessed sacraments according to Christes institution:2 whom thys aforesaid Austen the Monk labored also to the vttermost of his power to allure frō the sinceritie & simplicity of christs religion, vnto the Romish and popish superstitiō, bosting himself to be a Legate of the most holy father the Pope, sēt frō Rome: again, made & ordayned the chief bishop & primate of al englād, ⟨image 44⟩and therefore he wylled them to obey him and his doctrine, and to receaue ye most holy father of Rome, and his catholike Religion. But the Godly and learned Fathers boldely aunswered, that they were alredy true Christiās, and according to christs doctrine they gouerned theire Churches: therefore they would neither obey him, nor submit themselues to the aucthoritie of yt straunge Romishe Bishop, nor yet receiue his supersticious ceremonies, but continue, as heretofore they had done, in the simplicitie of Christes religion. By this meanes this Monke Austen was compelled to depart, his expectation not satisfied. Notwithstanding this monstrous Monk afterward foūd the meanes (such is the charitie of the bloudy papists) greatly to annoy these Godly and lerned fathers, bicause they would not obey his wicked & deuilishe request. For he complained to Kinge Adelbright, 3that the Britaines called otherwise Welshmen, woulde neither obey him nor anye man, but onely the Archbishop of Carlion. Which thinge when the King heard, he was greatly ⟨p. 15⟩moued, and threatned to destroy them al, writing to Elfride king of Northū berland that he should come to him wt al the power that he might make, and that he would meete him at Leiciter & frō thence they would go into Wales and there destroye the Archebishop of Carlion and all those that had refused to obey Austen and his doctrine.
- 1Austen the Monk, corruptoure of the Christen faith in England.Austen the Monk, corruptoure of the Christē fayth in England.
- 2Note this This decree was not evil.Note thys This decre was not euil.
- 3Austen a bloody Monk.Austen a bloudy Monke.
