ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. LECTURE XXX. LECT State of the British Isles, in reference to religion and morals, from the Invasion of the Saxons, A.D. 448, to the times of Alfred, A.D. 800-Retrospect of Druidism, and its extermination— State of Britain under the Romans-They abandon the country, and give place to the Saxons-Character of the latter; their customs, manners, and idolatrous rites-Gradually lose their hostility to Christianity-Circumstances which prompted Gregory, the Roman Pontiff, to attempt the conversion of the SaxonsArrival of Augustin and forty missionaries in Kent-Conversion and baptism of King Ethelred and his subjects-Singular advice of the Pope to Augustin-Death of the latter, and general prevalence of Christianity during the seventh century-Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury-Increase of monasteries-Superstitious rites-Pilgrimage-Sale of relics, &c.-Reflections. IN a former Lecture I endeavoured to furnish some account of the state of this country, in reference to religion and morals, at the time it was first invaded by the Romans, under the command of Julius Cæsar, about half a century before the birth of Christ, and ere the light of revelation had yet beamed upon it. Of our forefathers it may be truly said, that they were then "sitting in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death." A horrible superstition, known by the name of Druidism, was universally recognised; and it enslaved and debased the minds of the people, familiarizing them to human sacrifices, with the view of appeasing their incensed deities, whom they represented to be cruel as Moloch.* Whatever may have been the temporary evils and inconveniences inflicted on our countrymen by an invading army-and these, we may readily imagine, could not be few or trivial-we certainly owe a debt of gratitude to the Romans, for their exertions in putting down, even by penal statutes, a species of superstition which outraged all the principles of humanity, and represented the Creator of the universe, whose character is LOVE, as a being who delighted in human suffering.+ But the extermination of Druidism was not the only good which the British isles derived from their connexion with the Romans. It paved the way, under the holy providence of God, for the introduction of Christianity; and that at a time ere it had become corrupted from its native simplicity by the artifices of priests, and the craftiness of men who sought to make a gain of godliness. We cannot, indeed, but greatly lament that we have so little authentic information on this very interesting topic; but the substance of what can be collected in relation to it, I * I am aware that some late writers have undertaken to soften down the harsh features of Druidism, and give an entire new face to this appalling system. According to their representation of the matter, the fundamental objects and principles of this religion were, "the search after truth, and a rigid adherence to justice and peace. They believed in the existence of ONE SUPREME BEING, of whom they reasoned, that he could not be material, and that what was not matter must be God. The soul was considered as a lapsed intelligence, under a total privation of knowledge or happiness, by its falling to the lowest point of existence," &c. &c., with much to the same effect. This new theory seems to have been first propounded by Dr. Mavor, in his History of England, Vol. I. p. 9, &c.; but he does not condescend to give us the least intimation from what source he drew his information; and his name will weigh but little in point of authority, when placed in the scale against those of Hume, Henry, Mackintosh, and the authors of the Ancient Universal History, to say nothing of Julius Cæsar, Diodorus Siculus, Pomponius Mela, Strabo, and Pliny, all of whom agree in the representation of Druidism which I have given in the former volume of this Work. Yet the late Dr. William Richards, of Lynn, in a "Sketch of Druidism," contained in his Welch Nonconformists' Memorial, fondly adopts the views of Mavor, and censures all preceding writers on this subject, for giving an unfair representation of this superstition. + Vol. I.-Lect. xxiii. STATE OF BRITAIN UNDER THE ROMANS. 3 have already detailed,* not in the inflated and meretricious guise of the monkish historians of the middle ages, but in such chaste and sober attire as Truth would not disdain to acknowledge. The Romans having subjugated the country by the valour of their invincible arms, maintained possession of it for five hundred years-that is to say, from about fifty years before the birth of Christ, till the middle of the fifth century; at which time the empire, invaded at all points by immense hordes of barbarians, Goths and Vandals, sunk under its own unwieldly bulk, and crumbled into ruins. During the interval, the Christian religion had become deplorably corrupted in doctrine, discipline, and worship; of the truth of which abundant evidence has already been adduced in these Lectures. But perhaps the most convincing proof of the fact, is to be found in its being converted into an ally of the civil government, under the auspices of Constantine the Great, in express violation of the declaration of its divine Founder, and its now being made to rest upon an arm of flesh for its support, in place of the invisible energy, and overruling providence of its great Author. That the churches of Christ in this country participated in the common degeneracy, during the period in which the Romans remained masters of it, needs no evidence beyond what has been already adduced. It is a lamentable and signal proof of the awful depravity of our species, that the choicest of Heaven's gifts to our guilty world have not escaped corruption. It is so with the glorious Gospel of our salvation, and the laws and institutions of the kingdom of the Redeemer, which are founded upon it. As these came out of the hands of Christ and his apostles, they were divinely adapted to promote and secure two great objects; namely, the glory of the blessed God, and the happiness of his creatures. But it was soon found that, in their pure and simple state, they made no provision for gratifying the pride of man, but the contrary: they ministered no fuel to the lordly ambition of priests and prelates, but protested against all such usurpation over the minds and bodies of men, in the most pointed terms, stigmatizing it as antichristian; and though they incul Vol. I.-Lect. xxiv. 66 powers cated upon all men a dutiful submission to civil magistrates, as ordained of God," for the well-being of society, to pray for them, and pay them tribute, to honour the king as supreme, &c., yet they gave the latter no authority to interfere in the concerns of religion, or interpose between God and the conscience; but enjoined on the followers of Christ, to "render unto Cæsar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are his." To suppose that the Majesty of Heaven should view with indifference the conduct of emperors, kings, and clergymen, in corrupting the religion of his beloved Son, moulding it into an engine of State, to subserve their own base purposes of pride, ambition, and the lust of avarice, would be to offer him an affront; it would be to suppose him altogether such an one as ourselves, if not worse. No sooner had Constantine and his clergy consummated their schemes of secularizing the kingdom of Christ, which was done during the fourth century, than they began to be visited with manifest tokens of the Divine displeasure, as has been formerly stated.* Immense tribes of barbarians, from the north of Europe, migrated towards the south, overran Italy, and, by fire and sword, carried general devastation through those fine and fertile regions, overthrew the imperial government, and ultimately possessed themselves of the country. Nor did the British isles, which had partaken of the crime, escape the scourge, as we shall presently see. It was not until about the middle of the fifth century, that Britain fell wholly under the yoke of the Saxons; but it is evident from history, that these northern tribes had been infesting the country, and making partial inroads upon the peaceable inhabitants, for more than half a century before that time; and that the latter had been urgent with the Roman government to furnish the means of defence against these hostile invaders. But their own necessities, oppressed as they then were by the Gothic tribes, that were seeking to possess themselves of their luxuriant provinces, rendered it impossible to grant the people of this country the succours which they required. On the contrary, it appears that, See Vol. I.-Lect. xxii. STATE OF BRITAIN UNDER THE ROMANS. 5 from an early part of the fourth century, Rome had been drawing the best blood of these islands to assist her nearer home. Maximus, one of the Roman generals who was stationed in this country, about the middle of the fourth century, collected a numerous body of British youth, with which he passed over into Gaul; but Maximus lost his life at Aquileia, and the British soldiers did not long survive their leader. This happened in the year 388; but the Saxons continued their hostilities, devastating the country for many years; and such was the wretchedness of the people of England, that, according to Gildas, they sent ambassadors to Rome, with "rent garments, and ashes on their heads, to implore further aid.” Such was the state of Britain at the end of the fourth century; but the Romans were unable to come to its relief: and a few years afterwards, the consternation of the inhabitants became extreme, on hearing that a most formidable irruption of the barbarians had again burst over the mountains, deluged the western world, and threatened to invade this island. Apprehensive of their further progress, and to exert an energy adequate to the crisis, the soldiers in Britain created an emperor for themselves. Marcus was their first choice; but finding his councils or his conduct insufficient for the exigency, they put him to death, and chose another. Within four months he also was murdered; and, induced by the flattering name, the British soldiery then selected one Constantine from the ranks, and decorated him with the imperial garments. The latter proved a successful general, and not unworthy of his new dignity. He crossed the Channel, at the head of his troops, stayed a short time at Boulogne, conciliated to his interests the soldiers scattered upon the continent, and defeated the terrible barbarians. This produced a momentary calm; but in the year 409 hostilities were again renewed by the barbarians, who now poured out all their fury on Britain and Gaul. The cities of England were invaded, and to whatever quarter the people looked for help, the application was vain. In this extremity the Britons displayed a magnanimous character: they called to recollection the ancient independence of the island, and their brave ancestors, who still live ennobled in |