So the Princess Ethelberga came to be Queen of Northumbria, and with her she brought Paulinus, “a man beloved of God,” as priest.  He came to help her to keep faithful among a heathen people, and in the hope, too, that he might be able to turn the pagan king and his folk to the true faith.

And in this hope he was not disappointed.  By degrees King Edwin began to think much about the Christian faith.  He gave up worshipping idols, and although he did not at once become Christian, “he often sat alone with silent lips, while in his inmost heart he argued much with himself, considering what was best to do and what religion he should hold to.”  At last the King decided to call a council of his wise men, and to ask each one what he thought of this new teaching.  And when they were all gathered Coifi, the chief priest, spoke.

“‘O King,’ he said, ’consider what this is which is now preached to us; for I verily declare to you, that the religion which we have hitherto professed has, as far as I can learn, no virtue in it.  For none of your people has applied himself more diligently to the worship of our gods than I. And yet there are many who receive greater favors from you, and are more preferred than I, and are more prosperous in their undertakings.  Now if the gods were good for anything, they would rather forward me, who have been more careful to serve them.  It remains, therefore, that if upon examination you find those new doctrines, which are now preached to us, better and more efficacious, we immediately receive them without delay.’

“Another of the King’s chief men, approving of his words and exhortations, presently added:  ’The present life of man, O King, seems to me, in comparison of that time which is unknown to us, like to the swift flight of a sparrow through the room wherein you sit at supper in winter, with your commanders and ministers, and a good fire in the midst, while the storms of rain and snow prevail abroad.  The sparrow, I say, flying in at one door and immediately out at another, whilst he is within is safe from the wintry storm; but after a short space of fair weather, he immediately vanishes out of your sight into the dark winter from whence he had emerged.  So this life of man appears for a short space, but of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly ignorant.  If, therefore, this new doctrine contains something more certain, it seems justly to deserve to be followed.’”

Others of the King’s wise men and counselors spoke, and they all spoke to the same end.  Coifi then said that he would hear yet more of what Paulinus had to tell.  So Paulinus rose from his place and told the people more of the story of Christ.  And after listening attentively for some time Coifi again cried out, “’I advise, O King, that we instantly abjure and set fire to those temples and altars which we have consecrated without reaping any benefit from them.’