Chapter XII: Conversion of Ethelbert

Commencement of the civil war amongst the Saxons--Struggle
between Ethelbert, king of Kent, and Ceawlin, king of Wessex, for
the title of Bretwalda--Description of the slave-market of Rome
--Monk Gregory's admiration of the British captives--Gregory
becomes pontiff, and despatches Augustin with fifty monks to
convert the inhabitants of Britain--Picturesque description of
the landing of the Christian missionaries in the Isle of Thanet
--Intercession of Bertha--Ethelbert's interview with Augustin
and his followers--The missionaries take up their residence
in Canterbury--Conversion of Ethelbert--Augustin is made
Archbishop, by Pope Gregory--The rich presents sent to Britain
by the Pope--Character of the Roman pontiff--His wise policy
in not abolishing at once all outward forms of heathen worship
--Eadbald ascends the throne of Kent--Marries his stepmother,
and is denounced by the priests--He renounces the Christian
faith--The monks are driven out of Essex--Eadbald again
acknowledges the true faith, and the persecuted priests find
shelter in the kingdom of Kent p. 99