5; though without accusing
either of misrepresentation, I would advise the reader to search (if
he has the opportunity), the original authorities for himself, it is
a delicate matter for a Roman or an English churchman to handle with
impartiality.
[258] His Saxon name was Winfrid, or Wynfrith, but he is generally
called Boniface, Archbishop of Mentz.
[259] The mere act of baptizing constitutes "_conversion_" in
Jesuitical phraseology; and thousands were so converted in a few
days by the followers of Ignatius. A similar process was used in
working out the miracles of the Saxon missionary. He was rather too
conciliating and too anxious for a "converting miracle," to be over
particular; but it was all for the good of the church papal, to whom
he was a devoted servant; the church papal therefore could not see
the fault.
[260] Ep. iii. p. 7, Ed. 4to.--_Moguntiae_, 1629.
[261] Ep. iv. p. 8.
[262] Ep. xiii.
[263] Ep. vii. p. 11.
[264] Ep. xiv. See also Ep. xxviii. p. 40.
[265] Ep. viii. p. 12.
[266] Ep. lxxxv. p. 119.
[267] Ep. ix. p. 13.
[268] Ep. xxii. p. 36.
[269] Ep. xcix. p. 135.
[270] Ep. cxi. p. 153.
[271] The accusation is not a groundless one. Foxe, in his _Acts and
Monuments_, warmly upbraids him; and Aikins in his _Biog. Dict._,
has acted in a similar manner. But the best guides are his
letters--they display his faults and his virtues too.
[272] This was in the year 731. _Goodwin_ says he "sate 36 years,
and died an. 767." He says, "This man by his owne wisedome, and the
authority of his brother, amended greatly the state of his church
and see. He procured the archiepiscopall pall to be restored to his
churche againe, and erected a famous library at York, which he
stored plentifully with an infinite number of excellent bookes." p.
441.
[273] De Pontificibus et Sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracensis.
[274] Alcuini Oper., tom. i. vol. 1, p. 57, translated in Sharpe's
William of Malmsbury, p. 73.
[275] Opera, tom. i. p. 305.
[276] In a letter to Gisla, sister to the emperor, he writes "Totius
forsitan evangelii Johannis expositionem direxissem vobis, si me non
occupasset Domini Regis praeceptum in emendatione Veteri Novique
Testamenti."--_Opera_, tom. i. vol. 7, p. 591.
[277] Alcuini, ap. Gale, tom. iii. p. 730.
[278] Alcuini, Ope
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