Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

CHAPTEE
IV.
NOONDAY
(700-800).
THE time which immediately followed the conversion
of the Saxon kingdoms was remarkable for almost
fulfilling Pope St. Gregory's words: "You shall he
no more Anyli but Angeli". The people were fervent,
the pastors were saints. Kings, when not pursuing
personal animosities, were consumed Avith zeal for
the glory of God's house. In the heptarchy itself
the predominance of power was in the North, where
the King of Northumbria, especially when the sceptres
of Deira and Bernicia were united in one, was
I
a greater man than the King of Kent. Northumbria
and Mercia divided pre-eminence between them until
the reign of Egbert, in 800, who broke up the heptarchy,
and founded the glory of the West Saxons.
Mercia distinguished itself in holiness as well as
prowess The son of the terrible Penda married
St. Ermenburga, and was father to three saints,
Milburga, Mildreda, and Milgitha. The fragrance
of holiness was wafted all over the land, but perhaps
it was specially noticeable in the more northern sees.
If the Kentish and Mercian princesses sought out
the mortification of Jesus "in their mortal bodies, the
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