preuailed here amongst the Britains, by meanes of such vnsound
preachers as in that troublesome season did set forth false doctrine
amongst the people, without all maner of reprehension.

[Sidenote: _Beda_.]
Certeine yéeres before the comming of the Saxons, that heresie
began to spread within this land verie much, by the lewd industrie of
one Leporius Agricola, the sonne of Seuerus Sulpitius (as Bale saith)
a bishop of that lore. But Pelagius the author of this heresie was
borne in Wales, and held opinion that a man might obteine saluation by
his owne frée will and merit, and without assistance of grace, as he
that was borne without originall sinne, &c.

This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this
troublesome time of warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie
minded men amongst the Britains, who not meaning to receiue it,
[Sidenote: _Beda_.]
nor yet able well to confute the craftie and wicked persuasions vsed
by the professors thereof, thought good to send ouer into Gallia,
requiring of the bishops there, that some godlie and profound learned
men might be sent ouer from thence into this land, to defend the cause
of the true doctrine against the naughtie teachers of so blasphemous
an error. Whervpon the bishops of Gallia sore lamenting the miserable
state of the Britains, and desirous to relieue their present néed,
speciallie in that case of religion, called a synod, and therein
[Sidenote: A synod called in Gallia.]
taking counsell to consider who were most méet to be sent, it was
[Sidenote: Germanus and Lupus.]
decéed by all their consents in the end, that one Germane the
bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus bishop of Trois should passe ouer