A story circulated, probably part fact and part fiction, that Gregory, before he assumed the papal office, happened upon three young English boys for sale in the Roman marketplace. Gregory was immediately attracted to them. “Alas! Alas!” he exclaimed, “that such bright faces should be the slaves of an inward darkness. So beautiful they are and yet their minds are sick and without God’s grace.” He asked the slave owner what nation they came from. “They are Angles,” answered the man. “Yes, indeed,” Gregory went on, “they have the appearance of angels and they should be co-heirs of the angels in Heaven. What province do they come from?” “From Deira,” said the slave owner, mentioning the ancient name for what is now Northumberland. “From Deira? Then indeed they should be saved from God’s anger [dei ira] and called to the mercy of Christ. Who is their King?” “Aella.” “Then,” said Gregory, “must Alleluia be sung in Aella’s land.” Gregory attempted to go to England himself as a missionary monk but was hindered by God and the pope. But once on the papal throne himself, he sent the Benedictine Augustine and forty monks to replant the gospel on English soil. The success of that mission in Kent, as we have seen, provides a direct link for all Anglo-American Christianity with the early church.