Laurentius (2)

Laurentius a noted prelate of the early English Church (Anglo-Saxon period), flourished in the first half of the 7th century (A.D. 605) as successor of St. Augustine — suggested for the archbishopric by Augustine himself. Under the reign of Eadbald, the successor of Ethelbert, when England was in danger of a return to heathenish practices by Eadbald's marriage of his own mother-in-law, Laurentius shrewdly managed affairs for the benefit of Christianity; he induced the king to renounce his incestuous marriage, and to embrace the Christian faith. See Churton, Hist. Early in Engl. Church, page 41 sq.; Mosheim, Eccles. Hist. book 2. cent. 7, part 1, chapter 1, § 2, and note (5).