When Gregory (S40) became Pope he fulfilled his resolution, and sent
Augustine with a band of forty monks to Britain. In 597 they landed
on the very spot where the first Saxon war band had set foot on
English soil nearly one hundred and fifty years before. Like Caesar
and his legions, Augustine and his monks brought with them the power
of Rome. But this time that power did not come armed with the sword
to force men to submit or die, but inspired with a persuasive voice to
cheer them with new hope.

41. Augustine converts the King of Kent and his People (597).

The English at that time were wholly pagan, and had, in all
probability, destroyed every vesetige of the faith for which the
British martyrs gave their lives (S25). But the King of Kent had
married a French princess who was a devout Christian. Through the
Queen's influence, the King was induced to receive Augustine. He was
afraid, however, of some magical practice, so he insisted that their
meeting should take place in the open air and on the island of
Thanet. (See map facing p. 32.)

The historian Bede tells us that the monks, holding a tall silver
cross and a picture of Christ in their hands, advanced and saluted the
King. Augustine delivered his message, was well received, and invited
to Canterbury, the capital of Kent. There the King became a convert
to his preaching, and before the year had passed ten thousand of his
subjects had received baptism; for to gain the King was to gain his
tribe as well.

43. Augustine builds the First Monastery.