"To the Most Reverend and Most Holy Bishop Augustine – Gregory, Servant of the Servants of God.

Although there is no doubt that those who work for Almighty God will receive unspeakable recompense in the heavenly kingdom, it is necessary to give them what they deserve in order to encourage them to perform their spiritual work more zealously. Since, by the bounty of God and by your own labor, the new church of the Angles has been brought to the grace of God Almighty, we permit you to wear the pallium at the service of mass in the temple. You may consecrate twelve bishops in different places, so that they may be under your command; but the bishop of the city of London in the future must always be consecrated by his own synod and receive the pallium from the holy apostolic see, which I now govern by the grace of God. In the city of Eborac we wish to appoint as bishop one whom you yourself decide to appoint; if this city, together with its environs, is destined to receive the Word of the Lord, then its bishop may also appoint twelve bishops and receive an honorary title, for we intend also to grant him the pallium, if by God's will we live. We desire, brother, that he should obey your will, and after your death that he himself should govern the bishops subject to him, without obeying the authority of the bishop of London. However, the difference in honor between the bishops of the cities of London and Eborak must be preserved, since the first one is recognized as the eldest. Let them act in harmony, consulting with one another and zealously doing the work of Christ, and let them judge justly and pass judgment without contradiction [270].

But you, brother, receive under your command those bishops whom you yourself consecrate, as well as those whom the bishop of Eborak will consecrate, and all the bishops of Britain who obey the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let them see from your words and deeds what true faith and righteous life are, and may they be able to perform their service with faith and righteousness and be vouchsafed the Kingdom of Heaven when it will please the Lord. God bless you, most reverend brother.

Given on the tenth day before the Kalends of July, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our sovereign, the most pious Augustus Maurice Tiberius, and in the eighteenth year after the consulship of the same lord, in the fourth indiction."

XXX. Copy of a letter sent to Abbot Mellit on his way to Britain

When the envoys departed, Blessed Father Gregory sent them a letter after them, once again showing his ardent interest in the salvation of our people. Here is what he wrote:

"To the most beloved son, Abbot Mellitus, Gregory, the servant of the servants of God.

Since the departure of you and your companions, we have been anxious, for we have no knowledge of the progress of your journey. Nevertheless, when God Almighty brings you to our most reverend brother, Bishop Augustine, inform him of my decision, which I have made after much deliberation concerning the people of the Angles. I decided that the temples of the idols of this people should not be destroyed. Having destroyed the idols that are in them, take holy water, and sprinkle these temples, and erect altars in them, and place holy relics. For if the churches are built firmly, it is very important to replace the service of idols in them with service to the True God. When these people see that their sanctuaries are not destroyed, they will banish error from their hearts and will be more willing to come to familiar places to recognize the True God and pray to Him. It is also possible to substitute a festival for their custom of sacrificing bulls to demons [274]. Thus, on the day of the consecration of the gifts or on the feasts of the holy martyrs, whose relics are placed in the church, they should be allowed to erect huts of branches around the church and celebrate there. Do not let them sacrifice animals to the devil, but let them eat them themselves, thanking the Creator of all creatures for His generous gifts. Thus, through external joys, it will be easier for them to come to internal joys; After all, it is impossible to deprive their stubborn minds of everything in an instant. A person intending to climb to the top climbs the ledges instead of jumping over them. In the same way, the Lord, having revealed Himself to the Israelites in Egypt, commanded them to serve Him with the same sacrifices that they had previously offered to the devil, and commanded them to sacrifice animals to Him. With different feelings they laid aside part of the sacrifice and left the rest, and although they pawned the same animals, they sacrificed them to the True God, and not to idols, and, therefore, it was already a different sacrifice. This is what you must convey to our brother, so that he may judge in his position how best to do it. God bless you, my beloved son.

Given on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of August, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our sovereign, the most pious Augustus Maurice Tiberius, and in the eighteenth year after the consulship of the same sovereign, in the fourth indiction [275]."

XXXI. How Augustine was encouraged in his letter not to be proud of the miracles he had performed

At the same time he learned that Augustine was working miracles, and he sent him a letter about it, warning him not to be proud of the many miracles he had performed.

"I have learned, most beloved brother, that Almighty God, out of love for you, has wrought great miracles through you for the people, who are now numbered among the elect by His will. Therefore, it is necessary that you accept this heavenly gift not only with joy, but also with trepidation. Rejoice, since the souls of the Angles are moved by external miracles to inner grace, but also tremble, since these signs can cause presumptuousness in the weak-minded, whereby honor bestowed from without through pride can lead to an internal fall. It should be remembered that the disciples, returning full of joy from their preaching, said to their heavenly Teacher: "Lord! and the demons obey us at Thy name" [276]. And they received the answer: "Do not rejoice at this, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" [277]. Thus, rejoicing in the miracles they had wrought, they turned their souls to personal and transient joys, but they were brought back from personal joys to universal joys, and from transient to eternal joys by His words: "Rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Therefore, not all the elect work miracles, but their names are still written in heaven; wherefore faithful disciples ought not to rejoice in anything but good works done together with all the elect, and this joy is eternal. Therefore, my brother, in the midst of all the outward miracles that you do by the power of the Lord, watch yourself attentively and do not tire of repeating to yourself how great is God's mercy to the people, for whose conversion you have been endowed with the power to work miracles. And remember that whenever you sin against your Creator in word or deed, you must keep it in mind, so that the memory of your sin does not allow pride to grow in your heart. And whatever other power you may be vouchsafed to perform miracles, keep in mind that this gift is not to you, but to those for whose salvation you have been rewarded with it" [278].

XXXII. How letters and gifts were sent to King Edilbert

At the same time, Blessed Pope Gregory sent a letter to King Edilbert, together with numerous gifts. Giving the king transient honors, he at the same time rejoiced that Edilbert had been enlightened by his labors and diligence with heavenly grace. Here is a list from this letter: