Roman Britain to early Christianity: foundations laid amid empire and invasion.
Chapter 1 The situation of Britain and Ireland: their earliest inhabitants
Chapter 2 On Gaius Julius Caesar, the first Roman to reach Britain
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
Chapter 4 Lucius, a British king, writes to Pope Eleutherus and asks to be made a Christian
Chapter 5 Severus divides Roman Britain from the rest by an earthwork
Chapter 6 The reign of Diocletian: his persecution of the Christian Church
Chapter 7 The martyrdom of Saint Alban and his companions, who shed their life-blood for Christ at this time
Chapter 8 The Church in Britain enjoys peace from the end of this persecution until the time of the Arian heresy
Chapter 9 During the reign of Gratian, Maximus is created Emperor in Britain, and returns to Gaul with a large army
Chapter 10 During the reign of Arcadius, the Briton Pelagius presumptuously belittles the grace of God
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
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
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]
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
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
Chapter 16 Under the leadership of Ambrosius, a Roman, the Britons win their first victory against the Angles [c. a.d. 493]
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]
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
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
Chapter 20 The two bishops obtain God’s help in battle, and return home
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]
Chapter 22 The Britons enjoy a respite from foreign invasions, but exhaust themselves in civil wars and plunge into worse crimes [c. 440–590]
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]
Chapter 24 Pope Gregory writes commending them to the Bishop of Aries
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]
Chapter 26 The life and doctrine of the primitive Church are followed in Kent: Augustine establishes his episcopal see in the king’s city
Chapter 27 Augustine is consecrated bishop: he sends to inform Pope Gregory what has been achieved, and receives replies to his questions
Chapter 28 Pope Gregory writes to the Bishop of Arles, asking him to help Augustine in his work for God [a.d. 601]
Chapter 29 Gregory sends Augustine the pallium, a letter, and several clergy [a.d.> 601]
Chapter 30 A copy of the letter sent by Pope Gregory to Abbot Mellitus on his departure for Britain [a.d. 601]
Chapter 31 Pope Gregory writes to Augustine, warning him not to boast of his achievements [a.d. 601]
Chapter 32 Pope Gregory sends letters and gifts to King Ethelbert [a.d. 601]
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]
Chapter 34 Ethelfrid, King of the Northumbrians, defeats the Irish and drives them out of England [a.d. 603]