Roman Britain to early Christianity: foundations laid amid empire and invasion.
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Chapter 1
The situation of Britain and Ireland: their earliest inhabitants
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Chapter 2
On Gaius Julius Caesar, the first Roman to reach Britain
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Chapter 3
Claudius, the second Roman to reach Britain, annexes the Isles of Orkney to the Roman Empire: under his direction Vespasian subdues the Isle of Wight
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Chapter 4
Lucius, a British king, writes to Pope Eleutherus and asks to be made a Christian
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Chapter 5
Severus divides Roman Britain from the rest by an earthwork
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Chapter 6
The reign of Diocletian: his persecution of the Christian Church
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Chapter 7
The martyrdom of Saint Alban and his companions, who shed their life-blood for Christ at this time
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Chapter 8
The Church in Britain enjoys peace from the end of this persecution until the time of the Arian heresy
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Chapter 9
During the reign of Gratian, Maximus is created Emperor in Britain, and returns to Gaul with a large army
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Chapter 10
During the reign of Arcadius, the Briton Pelagius presumptuously belittles the grace of God
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Chapter 11
During the reign of Honorius, Gratian and Constantine set up as despots in Britain: the former is killed shortly afterwards in Britain, and the latter in Gaul
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Chapter 12
The Britons, harassed by the Irish and Picts, seek help from the Romans, who come and build a second wall across the island. Notwithstanding, these enemies again break in and reduce the Britons to worse straits
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Chapter 13
During the reign of Theodosius the Younger, Palladius is sent to the Christians among the Irish. The Britons make an unsuccessful appeal to the Consul Aëtius [a.d. 446]
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Chapter 14
The Britons, made desperate by famine, drive the Barbarians out of their land. There soon follows an abundance of com, luxury, plague, and doom on the nation
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Chapter 15
The Angles are invited to Britain. At first they repel the enemy, but soon come to terms with them, and turn their weapons against their own allies
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Chapter 16
Under the leadership of Ambrosius, a Roman, the Britons win their first victory against the Angles [c. a.d. 493]
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Chapter 17
Bishop Germanus sails to Britain with Lupus: with God’s help he quells two storms, one of the sea, the other of the Pelagians [a.d. 429]
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Chapter 18
Germanus gives sight to the blind daughter of a tribune. He takes some relics from the tomb of Saint Alban, and deposits relics of the Apostles and other Martyrs
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Chapter 19
Germanus is detained by illness. He puts out a fire among houses by his prayer, and is healed of his sickness by a vision
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Chapter 20
The two bishops obtain God’s help in battle, and return home
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Chapter 21
The Pelagian heresy revives, and Germanus returns to Britain with Severus. He heals a lame youth, and after denouncing or converting the heretics, restores the British Church to the Catholic Faith [c. a.d. 438]
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Chapter 22
The Britons enjoy a respite from foreign invasions, but exhaust themselves in civil wars and plunge into worse crimes [c. 440–590]
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Chapter 23
The holy Pope Gregory sends Augustine and other monks to preach to the English nation, and encourages them in a letter to persevere in their mission [a.d. 596]
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Chapter 24
Pope Gregory writes commending them to the Bishop of Aries
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Chapter 25
Augustine reaches Britain, and first preaches in the Isle of Thanet before King Ethelbert, who grants permission to preach in Kent [a.d. 597]
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Chapter 26
The life and doctrine of the primitive Church are followed in Kent: Augustine establishes his episcopal see in the king’s city
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Chapter 27
Augustine is consecrated bishop: he sends to inform Pope Gregory what has been achieved, and receives replies to his questions
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Chapter 28
Pope Gregory writes to the Bishop of Arles, asking him to help Augustine in his work for God [a.d. 601]
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Chapter 29
Gregory sends Augustine the pallium, a letter, and several clergy [a.d.> 601]
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Chapter 30
A copy of the letter sent by Pope Gregory to Abbot Mellitus on his departure for Britain [a.d. 601]
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Chapter 31
Pope Gregory writes to Augustine, warning him not to boast of his achievements [a.d. 601]
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Chapter 32
Pope Gregory sends letters and gifts to King Ethelbert [a.d. 601]
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Chapter 33
Augustine repairs the Church of Our Saviour and builds a monastery of Saint Peter the Apostle. A note on Peter, its first Abbot [a.d. 602]
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Chapter 34
Ethelfrid, King of the Northumbrians, defeats the Irish and drives them out of England [a.d. 603]