"Moreover, we desire you to consider that the end of this present
world is near, that the kingdom of the Saints, which will never end, is
coming, as we learn from the words of our Almighty Lord, written in the
sacred scriptures. Now, we have been taught to expect many extraordinary
presages of this great event, viz. changes of the air, terrible signs
from heaven, tempests in those seasons of the year when they do not
usually happen, wars, famines, plagues, and earthquakes in several
places. All these things will not, indeed take place in our days but, if
you should experience some of them in your country, let not your mind be
disturbed, for all those signs of the end of the world approaching are
sent to admonish us to be careful to save our souls, to watch for the
hour of death, and prepare ourselves by good works for the coming of the
Judge.
"These things have we written to you, illustrious Son, in a few
words, purposing to write more copiously hereafter, in proportion as we
shall find occasion to congratulate with you on the propagation of the
Christian faith in your dominions. We have also sent you a few small
presents, which yet will not seem small to you, when you accept of them
as from the blessing of St Peter the Apostle.
May Almighty God perfect that grace which he has begun in you, and,
after prolonging your life for many happy years in this world, admit you
to the blessed society of his saints, in his heavenly kingdom. The
blessing of God be with you, dear Son. Given this twenty second day of
June, the nineteenth year of the reign of our sovereign lord the most
pious emperor Mauritius Tiberius, the eighteenth since his consulship;
the fourth indiction."
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum:
The History of the Primitive Church of England.
Book One, Chapter Thirty-Three
Translated by Rev. William Hurst, 1814.
Chapter XXXIII
St. Austin repairs St. Saviour's Church, and builds the Monastery of St.
Peter. Of the first Abbot of the name of Peter whom he appointed to
govern the said Monastery.
After St. Austin had established his Episcopal See in the royal city of
Canterbury, as we have before related, he, by the authority and assistance
of the king, recovered a church which had been erected there by some of
the ancient Romans, who were Christians, and dedicated it to the holy name
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He also appointed a residence for
himself and all his successors in the same place: besides which, he built
a monastery, not far from the city, on the east side of it. Adjoining to
which, by his advice, king Ethelbert erected the church of the holy
Apostles Peter and Paul, and endowed it with various gifts, designing it
to be a place of interment for himself and St. Austin, as well as of all
the archbishops of Canterbury and kings of Kent: which church, however,
was not consecrated by St. Austin, but by his successor St. Laurence.
The first abbot of this monastery was a priest by the name of Peter, who,
going on a message to Gaul, was shipwrecked and drowned in the bay of
Ampleat. His body being afterwards found, by the inhabitants of the town
of the same name, on the sea coast, was at first buried in an obscure
place: but Almighty God, to show how great was the merit of this his
servant, caused a light to appear every night over his grave, till the
neighbours, considering that this might have been sent as a demonstration
of his sanctity, made diligent enquiry concerning the person who lay
buried there, and of what country he had been, and then conveyed away his
body, and interred it in a church at Boulogne, with all the honour due to
so great a man.
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum:
