Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

30 r MELLITUS IN LONDON.
marriage with his father's widow, his stepmother.
In the meantime the position of Mellitus in the
capital of Essex, our London, was no easy one.
Saberct, their king, had become a Christian, but he
had followed Ethelbert to the tomb, leaving three
sons, who, unruly pagans themselves, wanted to taste
the bread of Christians, because it looked white and
appetising. Curiosity took them to Mellitus' church
during the celebration of Mass.1
"Why will you not give us the white bread you
gave to our father Saba, and still continue giving to
the people in the church '' were their angry words
to Mellitus.
" If you will be washed in the saving water with
which your father was washed," was his reply, "you
also may become participators of the sacred bread
which he ate : but if you despise the fountain of life,
you are by no means fit to partake of the bread of
life."
"We will not go into that font," they said, "because
we know we need it not, but we want to be refreshed
with that bread." Mellitus persisted in his
refusal and these king's sons in their demand, till at
last in their anger they ordered the uncomplying
bishop out of their kingdom because he would not
ive them the " small thing" which they desired.
In the lifetime of Saberct, Bishop Mellitus laid the
corner-stone of London's two great cathedrals, dedi-
,cated to those chief apostles whom St. Chrysostom
1" Celebratisin ecclesia missarum solemniis" are Bede's words.