Truth Triumphant - Benjamin G. Wilkinson

Kent), and Mellitus at London, though the pope
had expressly ordered him to settle bishops
wherever there should be occasion. ... This is clear
evidence, that the progress ascribed to him was not
so considerable as Gregory imagines. ... It is
therefore surprisingly strange that the conversion
of the English should be ascribed to Augustine,
rather than to Aidan, to Finan, to Colman, to Cedd,
to Diuma, and the other Scotch monks, who
undoubtedly labored much more abundantly than
he. But here lies the case. These last had not their
orders from Rome, and therefore must not be
allowed any share in the glory of this work.[25]
The historian Henry Soames writes upon the
same theme:
Only two counties, therefore, north of the
Thames ... were ever under Roman
superintendence during their transition from
paganism to Christianity, and these two were
largely indebted to domestic [Scottish] zeal for
their conversion. Every other county, from London
to Edinburgh, has the full gratification of pointing
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