Stelle Si enim gens Anglorum, sicut per is...; ( Epistolae (Bonifatius et Lullus) (700 - 754), Epist. 73 (p. 151)) [902]

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ID 902
Text Epistolae (Bonifatius et Lullus) (700 - 754) Boniface Lull
Quotation Si enim gens Anglorum, sicut per istas provincias devulgatum est et nobis in Francia et in Italia inproperatur et ab ipsis paganis inproperium est, spretis legalibus conubiis adulterando et luxoriando ad instar Sodomitane gentis foedam vitam vixerit, de tali commixtione meretricum aestimandum est degeneres populos et ignobiles et furentes libidine fore procreandos et ad extremum universam plebem ad deteriora et ignobiliora vergentem et novissime nec in bello saeculari fortem nec in fide stabilem et nec honorabilem hominibus nec Deo amabilem esse venturam. Sicut aliis gentibus Hispaniae et Prouinciae et Burgundionum populis contigit; quae sic a Deo recedentes fornicatae sunt, donec iudex omnipotens talium criminum ultrices poenas per ignorantiam legis Dei et per Sarracenos venire et saevere permisit.
Translation If the English people, as is reported here and as is charged against us in France and Italy and even by the heathen themselves, are scorning lawful marriage and living in wanton adultery like the people of Sodom, then we must expect that a degenerate and degraded people with unbridled desires will be produced. At last — the whole race will become debased and finally will be neither strong in war nor steadfast in faith, neither honored among men nor pleasing in the sight of God. So it has been with the peoples of Spain and Provence and Burgundy. They turned thus away from God and lived in harlotry until the Almighty Judge let the penalties for such crimes fall upon them through ignorance of the law of God and the coming of the Sarracens. (Trans. Emerton, p. 128)
Summary Boniface advises King Æthelbald of Mercia.
Quotation source Epist. 73 (p. 151)
Temporal Coverage 746 - 747
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