from time to time, of whatever might be necessary for the completion of his design.

He was honourably received, on his way through Lombardy, by King Luitprand; and passed onwards till he arrived in Bavaria and Thuringia, where he began his labours. Those countries were not altogether pagan, but the true religion had become nearly extinct, owing to a careless and dissolute clergy, and the false teachers who had usurped their place. Hearing of the death of Radbod, Boniface rejoiced that a door was opened for the faith into Friseland, and he hastened thither, to join S. Willebrord. They were assisted by the protection of Charles Martel, Prince of France, and Maire du Palais, as he was called, who, by the death of the king, had become master of Friseland. S. Boniface laboured for three years in this country, in company with S. Willebrord, and made many converts to the faith, overturning the idol temples, and building churches. He wrote an account of his success to Edburga, an abbess in Kent, and begged her to send him a book of the Acts of the martyrs. In return, she sent him a present of money for his churches, and a rich covering for an altar, and entreated his prayers for the soul of a deceased relation.

S. Willebrord wished to consecrate his companion as his coadjutor and successor, but his great humility made him shrink from the honour. The fear of being compelled to receive it was probably the reason of his asking leave to go into the eastern part of Germany, to carry the Gospel still further among its rude people. S. Willebrord consented, and gave

him his benediction.

He went into Hessia and

Saxony, and converted many thousands. On his journey he came to a convent of nuns at Falz, near Treves; for even into that savage region the holy religious had penetrated. He was hospitably entertained by Adela the abbess, and after saying mass, which he did almost daily, he sat down to a refection with the community. During the repast, Gregory, a youth about fifteen years of age, nephew of the abbess, read aloud a lesson from Holy Scripture. He had only lately returned from school and from court, to visit his relation. The priest said to him,

You read well, my son, do you understand what you He replied that he did, and began again to read. Boniface stopped him, and asked him to express the meaning in his own words. The youth feared to do so before such a company, and the missioner himself explained to them what they had heard. His discourse so touched the heart of Gregory, that he begged leave from the abbess to be allowed to follow his instructor, which she permitted, though with some difficulty, as Boniface was quite a stranger to her. He became a holy abbat at Utrecht, and made a blessed end in 776.

As S. Boniface and his disciples travelled through Thuringia, they found the country so poor, and so wasted by war, that they were often obliged to labour with their hands for their support. They had also frequently to conceal themselves from pagans. Still they persevered, gaining new converts as they went on. In 723 Boniface sent some of his company to Rome to report to Pope Gregory the progress which he had made, and to ask his advice in many points of discipline and government. Gregory bade him come

himself to Rome; and he arrived there in the same year, attended by many of his disciples. The pope took him apart, and examined him upon the doctrines of the Faith, and made him write a confession of his belief. On the feast of S. Andrew he consecrated him bishop, after binding him by a solemn oath to preserve the Faith inviolate, and to yield obedience to the Roman see. A copy of this engagement Boniface wrote with his own hand, and laid it upon the tomb of S. Peter. Gregory gave him a book of canons for his guidance, and furnished him with letters to Prince Charles Martel; to the bishops, clergy, and laity; to the clergy who were to be under his care; and to the pagans. Charles Martel gave him a safe conduct through France, till he arrived in Hessia. He resumed his labours by confirming many persons who had been already baptized. He cut down a great tree, called the oak of Jupiter, which the pagans had long regarded with superstitious reverence, and used the wood in building an oratory in honour of S. Peter. Daniel bishop of Winchester, hearing of his consecration, sent him a letter, containing many valuable rules for his conduct in missionary countries; and a few years later he made him a present of some books, and encouraged him to continue steadfast, reminding him of the example of the saints. Boniface seems to have kept up a frequent correspondence with his friends in England.

On his arrival in Thuringia, he invited the princes and nobles of that country to return to the Faith. For it had been introduced by Theodric, son of Clovis II., when he conquered the province; but since the de

cline of the French power, the people had fallen under the dominion of the pagan Saxons. Heresy, also, and the scandalous lives of some who taught the true faith, had corrupted the few who still professed it. S. Boniface set himself in earnest to restore the ancient discipline, and at length succeeded, notwithstanding many great difficulties and hardships. He rebuilt many churches, and founded a monastery, in honour of the archangel S. Michael, at Ordorf. He wrote frequently to Rome, during the three years which followed his consecration, for advice in many cases of difficulty. The fame of his mission drew many servants of Christ from Britain, who crossed over into Hessia and Thuringia, to assist in the holy cause. Many religious women, as well as monks, went from England, to establish convents in those countries.

In 731 Gregory III. was elected to fill the see of Rome, which had become vacant by the death of his predecessor. S. Boniface sent deputies to assure him of his obedience, and to give him a history of the mission. The pope sent him the pallium, and the title of archbishop, and gave him authority to consecrate bishops where they were needed. He desired him to provide two or three other bishops to assist at those consecrations. Boniface, being thus encouraged, built two churches, one at Frislar in honour of SS. Peter and Paul, and another at Hamenburg in honour of S. Michael. To each of them a monastery was attached.

He made a third journey to Rome in 738, and was received by Gregory and his clergy with great honour. He remained in Italy nearly a year, and

persuaded many English priests who were then at Rome to accompany him back to Germany. His first act on his return was to divide Bavaria into dioceses, and to consecrate bishops over them. These arrangements Gregory III. confirmed. In 741 Charles Martel died, and was buried in the abbey of S. Denys, near Paris. His two sons, Carloman and Pepin, succeeded to his power. Carloman inherited Lorraine and the German possessions; while his brother obtained for his share Burgundy and Provence. Pope Gregory III. died in the same year, and was succeeded by Zachary, a Greek by birth. Boniface did not fail to tender his allegiance, and reported the erection of several new bishoprics in Germany. He found a willing assistant in the young prince Carloman, who sent an earnest request to Rome that a council of the German Church might be assembled. Zachary gave his permission; and added many minute directions regarding the best means of restraining some clerks and laics who then disturbed the peace of the infant Church. "As for the rest,” he said to the unwearied missioner, courage. Work the work to which God has called you. A great reward awaits you; and sinners as we are, we do not cease to pray God that he will finish in you what He has begun."

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In 742 the first council of the German Church assembled. Its place of meeting is not known. Boniface presided as primate and legate of the Roman see, and there were present six bishops and their priests. They enacted several canons, chiefly relating to discipline, which were confirmed by the pope. By the first of these, as Collier remarks,