The Monks an of the Germans 99 eternal salvation both of themselves and of those to whom they came. When Augustine had sat down, pursuant to the king's com- mands, and preached to him and his attendants there present the word of life, the king answered thus : " Your words and promises are very fair, but they are new to us and of uncer- tain import, and I cannot approve of them so far as to forsake that which I have so long followed with the whole English nation. But because you are come from far into my kingdom, and, as I conceive, are desirous to impart to us those things which you believe to be true and most bene- ficial, we will not molest you, but give you favorable enter- tainment and take care to supply you with the necessary sustenance ; nor do we forbid you to preach and gain as many as you can to your religion." Accordingly, he permitted them to reside in the city of Canterbury, which was the metropolis of all his dominions, and pursuant of his promise, besides allowing them suste- nance, did not refuse them the liberty to preach. . . . As soon as they entered the dwelling place assigned them, they began to imitate the course of life practiced in the primi- tive church : applying themselves to frequent prayer, watch- ing, and fasting ; preaching the word of life to as many as they could ; despising all worldly things, as not belonging to them ; receiving only their necessary food from those they taught ; living themselves in all respects conformably to what they prescribed to others, and being always disposed to suffer any adversity, and even to die for that truth which they preached. In short, several believed and were bap- tized, admiring the simplicity of their innocent life and the sweetness of their heavenly doctrine. There was on the east side of the city a church dedicated to St. Martin, built whilst the Romans were still in the island, wherein the queen, who, as has been said before, was a Christian, used to pray. In this they first began to meet, to sing, to pray, to say mass, to preach, and to baptize, till the king, being converted to the faith, allowed them to preach openly and to build or repair churches in all places. Augustine founds a monastery at Canterbury. Augustine preaches to the king.
