St.Wilfrid

The life and death of Bishop Wilfrid

from Bede's 'Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation'

"... the great bishop, Wilfrid, ended his days [709] in the province called Undalum [Oundle, Northamptonshire], after he had been bishop forty-five years. His body, being laid in a coffin, was carried to his monastery, which is called Inhrypum [Ripon, North Yorkshire], and buried in the church of the blessed Apostle Peter, with the honour due to so great a prelate. Concerning whose manner of life, let us now turn back, and briefly make mention of the things which were done. Being a boy of a good disposition, and virtuous beyond his years, he conducted himself so modestly and discreetly in all points, that he was deservedly beloved, respected, and cherished by his elders as one of themselves. At fourteen years of age he chose rather the monastic than the secular life; which, when he had signified to his father, for his mother was dead, he readily consented to his godly wishes and desires, and advised him to persist in that wholesome purpose. Wherefore he came to the isle of Lindisfarne, and there giving himself to the service of the monks, he strove diligently to learn and to practise those things which belong to monastic purity and piety; and being of a ready wit, he speedily learned the psalms and some other books, having not yet received the tonsure, but being in no small measure marked by those virtues of humility and obedience which are more important than the tonsure; for which reason he was justly loved by his elders and his equals. Having served God some years in that monastery, and being a youth of a good understanding, he perceived that the way of virtue delivered by the Scots was in no wise perfect, and he resolved to go to Rome, to see what ecclesiastical or monastic rites were in use at the Apostolic see. When he told the brethren, they commended his design, and advised him to carry out that which he purposed. He forthwith went to Queen Eanfled [Eanflæd, wife of King Oswiu], for he was known to her, and it was by her counsel and support that he had been admitted into the aforesaid monastery, and he told her of his desire to visit the threshold of the blessed Apostles. She, being pleased with the youth's good purpose, sent him into Kent, to King Earconbert [Eorcenberht], who was her uncle's son, requesting that he would send him to Rome in an honourable manner. At that time, one of the disciples of the blessed Pope Gregory, a man very highly instructed in ecclesiastical learning, was archbishop there. When he had tarried there for a space, and, being a youth of an active spirit, was diligently applying himself to learn those things which came under his notice, another youth, called Biscop, surnamed Benedict [St.Benedict Biscop], of the English nobility, arrived there, being likewise desirous to go to Rome ...

The king gave him Wilfrid for a companion, and bade Wilfrid conduct him to Rome. When they came to Lyons, Wilfrid was detained there by Dalfinus, the bishop of that city; but Benedict hastened on to Rome. For the bishop was delighted with the youth's prudent discourse, the grace of his comely countenance, his eager activity, and the consistency and maturity of his thoughts; for which reason he plentifully supplied him and his companions with all necessaries, as long as they stayed with him; and further offered, if he would have it, to commit to him the government of no small part of Gaul, to give him a maiden daughter of his own brother to wife, and to regard him always as his adopted son. But Wilfrid thanked him for the loving-kindness which he was pleased to show to a stranger, and answered, that he had resolved upon another course of life, and for that reason had left his country and set out for Rome.

Hereupon the bishop sent him to Rome, furnishing him with a guide and supplying plenty of all things requisite for his journey, earnestly requesting that he would come that way, when he returned into his own country. Wilfrid arriving at Rome, and daily giving himself with all earnestness to prayer and the study of ecclesiastical matters, as he had purposed in his mind, gained the friendship of the most holy and learned Boniface, the archdeacon, who was also counsellor to the Apostolic Pope, by whose instruction he learned, in their order the four Gospels, and the true computation of Easter; and many other things appertaining to ecclesiastical discipline, which he could not learn in his own country, he acquired from the teaching of that same master. When he had spent some months there, in successful study, he returned into Gaul, to Dalfinus; and having stayed with him three years, received from him the tonsure, and Dalfinus esteemed him so highly in love that he had thoughts of making him his heir; but this was prevented by the bishop's cruel death, and Wilfrid was reserved to be a bishop of his own, that is, the English, nation. For Queen Baldhild sent soldiers with orders to put the bishop to death; whom Wilfrid, as his clerk, attended to the place where he was to be beheaded, being very desirous, though the bishop strongly opposed it, to die with him; but the executioners, understanding that he was a stranger, and of the English nation, spared him, and would not put him to death with his bishop.

Returning to Britain, he won the friendship of King Alchfrid [Alhfrith of Deira], who had learnt to follow always and love the catholic rules of the Church; and therefore finding him to be a Catholic, he gave him presently land of ten families at the place called Stanford; and not long after, the monastery, with land of thirty families, at the place called Inhrypum; which place he had formerly given to those that followed the doctrine of the Scots, to build a monastery there. But, forasmuch as they afterwards, being given the choice, had rather quit the place than adopt the Catholic Easter and other canonical rites, according to the custom of the Roman Apostolic Church, he gave the same to him whom he found to be instructed in better discipline and better customs....

Since the departure of the Romans, the Church in Britain had become isolated from developments on the mainland of Europe. As a result, there were doctrinal differences between the indigenous, so called, 'Celtic Church' and the Roman Catholic Church which had been introduced into Britain by St.Augustine (597). The two doctrines coexisted in the Northumbrian court. Oswiu following the teachings of the 'Celtic Church', as practised by the monks of Lindisfarne (who had arrived from Iona, by the invitation of Oswiu's predecessor, and brother, Oswald), whilst Eanflæd and Alhfrith favoured the Catholic Church. At the Synod of Whitby (663/4), Wilfrid was spokesman of the Catholic faction. Oswiu was persuaded that the Catholic doctrine was the correct one, and those clergymen of the 'Celtic Church' who would not adopt Catholicism departed to the Scots.

.... At the same time, by the said king's command, he was ordained priest in the same monastery, by Agilbert, bishop of the Gewissæ [i.e. of Wessex] ... the king being desirous that a man of so much learning and piety should attend him constantly as his special priest and teacher; and not long after, when the Scottish sect had been exposed and banished, as was said above, he [Alhfrith], with the advice and consent of his father Oswy [Oswiu], sent him [Wilfrid] into Gaul, to be consecrated as his bishop, when he was about thirty years of age, the same Agilbert being then bishop of the city of Paris. Eleven other bishops met at the consecration of the new bishop, and that function was most honourably performed. Whilst he yet tarried beyond the sea, the holy man, Ceadda [St.Chad], was consecrated bishop of York by command of King Oswy ... and having nobly ruled that church three years, he retired to take charge of his monastery of Læstingæu [Lastingham, North Yorkshire], and Wilfrid was made bishop of all the province of the Northumbrians [669]....

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Deusdedit, having died (664), Ceadda was ordained by Wini, bishop of the West-Saxons, and two British (i.e. 'Celtic Church') bishops, because, according to Bede "... at that time there was no other bishop in all Britain canonically ordained, except Wini." Eddius Stephanus, in his biography of Wilfrid, says that: "Wilfrid knew nothing of the whole affair. When he did return, it was easy to see who was in the wrong, but Wilfrid withdrew to his old post as abbot, to a humble life at Ripon for the next few years, remaining there all the time except for frequent invitations from King Wulfhere to carry out episcopal duties in Mercia... After three years had gone by, Archbishop Theodore (Archbishop of Canterbury 668-690) came from Kent to the king of Bernicia and Deira [i.e. Oswiu] bringing with him from Rome the decrees of the Apostolic See. As soon as he set foot in the kingdom he was told how canon law had been flouted, one bishop, like a thief, grabbing another's diocese. He did not take this lightly. Chad [Ceadda] was deposed. Being an extremely meek man and a true servant of God, he realized he had acted wrongly in being consecrated by those Quartodecimans to someone else's see, humbly confessed his fault, accepted the judgement of the bishops, and did penance. It was with Chad's consent then that Theodore installed Wilfrid in York." Ceadda subsequently received a Catholic ordination and was appointed bishop of the Mercians. He died at Lichfield in 672.

.... Afterwards, in the reign of Egfrid [Ecgfrith], he [Wilfrid] was expelled from his bishopric, and others were consecrated bishops in his stead [678] ..."

Eddius Stephanus asserts that: "Iurminburgh, Ecgfrith's wife, greatly envied Bishop Wilfrid... she corrupted the king's heart with poisonous tales about Wilfrid... She used all her eloquence to describe to Ecgfrith all St.Wilfrid's temporal glories, listing his possessions, the number of his monasteries, the vastness of the buildings, his countless followers arrayed and armed like a king's retinue. Her darts pierced the king's heart and took effect; from then on the pair used their cunning to secure the condemnation of this holy head of the church and to snatch all the gifts left to God by former kings... They secured Archbishop Theodore to further criminal folly, winning him over with bribes, for money will blind even the wisest. Theodore came to them and heard them explain that they intended to humiliate Wilfrid. Without the least excuse he agreed to condemn him although he was completely blameless. While our bishop was absent, Theodore found three men from somewhere or other, not Wilfrid's subjects, and in flagrant contempt of law and precedent proceeded to consecrate them bishops over Wilfrid's own territory."

"Designing to go to Rome, to plead his cause before the Apostolic Pope, he took ship, and was driven by a west wind into Frisland, and honourably received by that barbarous people and their King Aldgils, to whom he preached Christ, and he instructed many thousands of them in the Word of truth, washing them from the defilement of their sins in the Saviour's font. Thus he began there the work of the Gospel which was afterwards finished with great devotion by the most reverend bishop of Christ, Wilbrord. Having spent the winter there successfully among this new people of God, he set out again on his way to Rome, where his cause being tried before Pope Agatho and many bishops, he was by the judgement of them all acquitted of all blame, and declared worthy of his bishopric.

At the same time, the said Pope Agatho assembling a synod at Rome, of one hundred and twenty-five bishops, against those who asserted that there was only one will and operation in our Lord and Saviour, ordered Wilfrid also to be summoned, and, sitting among the bishops, to declare his own faith and the faith of the province or island whence he came; and he and his people being found orthodox in their faith, it was thought fit to record the same among the acts of that synod, which was done in this manner: "Wilfrid, the beloved of God, bishop of the city of York, appealing to the Apostolic see, and being by that authority acquitted of every thing, whether specified against him or not, and being appointed to sit in judgement with one hundred and twenty-five other bishops in the synod, made confession of the true and catholic faith, and confirmed the same with his subscription in the name of all the northern part of Britain and Ireland, and the islands inhabited by the nations of the English and Britons, as also by the Scots and Picts."

After this, returning into Britain [680] ....

Wilfrid presented the Pope's judgement to Ecgfrith, but, as Eddius Stephanus reports "No sooner had the letters been opened and read out than - the very thought makes us tremble - the king flew into a rage and urged on by his flattering minions, defied the judgement of St.Peter ... not content with this he swore by his soul's health that Wilfrid should be despoiled of all but his clothes and put in solitary confinement, that his subjects be scattered far and wide and no friend be allowed to come near him. The queen, moreover, took away his reliquary full of relics of the saints and - I can hardly bear to tell it - wore it as a necklace ..." While Wilfrid was imprisoned "... the king sent to offer him what was part of his own diocese and other very lavish gifts provided he acquiesced in the king's commands and ordinances and denied that the statutes sent by Rome were genuine. To this he humbly replied, showing his trust in the authority of the Holy See, that he would rather lose his head than assent to such a proposal." In due course, it happened that the queen fell ill. Ecgfrith was advised to either reinstate or, at least, release Wilfrid. Wilfrid was freed, and the queen recovered. However: "His release from prison and exile from his own province brought him no peace, for Ecgfrith stirred up unremitting persecution against him in every country on both sides of the Channel, as far as his power and influence extended. There was but one place free, an area of Sussex which dense forests and rocky coast had saved from conquest by other kingdoms. Up to this time [681] it had remained persistently heathen, and thither God, when all human aid failed, directed our good bishop's steps. He sought out King Aethilwalh [Æthelwalh] and told him the whole story of his hardships and exile. Aethilwalh made a pact with him at once, swearing such friendship as neither threat nor sword of any of Wilfrid's enemies nor any amount of bribes should ever frighten or tempt him into breaking."

.... he converted the province of the South Saxons from their idolatrous worship to the faith of Christ. He also sent ministers of the Word to the Isle of Wight; and in the second year of Aldfrid [Aldfrith], who reigned after Egfrid, was restored to his see and bishopric by that king's invitation....

Eddius Stephanus says that, by this time (686-7), Archbishop Theodore was "well advanced in years and nearly always in bad health", and "was troubled with pangs of conscience". Accordingly, Theodore apologised to Wilfrid, and "... sent word to Aldfrith begging him, for the fear of God and out of respect for the Holy See's commands, to be reconciled to Wilfrid by peace treaty." And so it was that Aldfrith "... respectfully called Wilfrid back from exile, in obedience to Theodore. First of all he granted him the monastery at Hexham with all the possessions belonging to it and after a while, carrying out the command of Pope Agatho and the synod, he restored to him the see of York and the abbacy of Ripon together with their revenues, having driven out the usurping bishops."

.... Nevertheless, five years after, being again accused, he was deprived of his bishopric by the same king and certain bishops....

Eddius Stephanus: "For a while all would be peace between the wise king Aldfrith and our holy bishop, and a happier state of affairs could hardly be imagined. Then spite would boil up again and the situation would be reversed. And so they continued for years, in and out of friendship with each other, till finally their quarrels came to a head and the king banished Wilfrid from Northumbria." Wilfrid "... betook himself to his friend the king of Mercia. Aethilred [Æthelred ] welcomed him with great honour out of reverence for the Apostolic See, so Wilfrid dwelt on there under his and God's protection and was held in high respect by the people of the diocese." Eddius says that a synod was held (in Austerfield, near Bawtry) "... at which Archbishop Berhtwald [Archbishop of Canterbury 693-731] and nearly all the bishops were present." It was "... openly declared that it was their wish to strip Wilfrid of all he possessed so that he would not be able to call the smallest cottage his own in either Northumbria or Mercia." There was a general outcry at the severity of this decision, and so, as a compromise, it was suggested that Wilfrid "... would be allowed to keep the monastery at Ripon which he himself had built and dedicated to St.Peter, with all its lands and possessions, and the privileges granted to the abbot and community would devolve on him. But the grant was made only on condition that he signed a solemn promise to the effect that he would stay there quietly and never leave the monastery bounds without royal consent, nor exercise his episcopal office in any way at all, and finally that he would voluntarily lay down his rank." Needless to say, this was not acceptable to Wilfrid. He and his ally, King Æthelred , decided that, once more, the matter should be put to the pope.

.... Coming to Rome [c.703], he was allowed to make his defence in the presence of his accusers, before a number of bishops and the Apostolic Pope John. It was shown by the judgement of them all, that his accusers had in part laid false accusations to his charge; and the aforesaid Pope wrote to the kings of the English, Ethelred [Æthelred] and Aldfrid, to cause him to be restored to his bishopric, because he had been unjustly condemned.

His acquittal was much forwarded by the reading of the acts of the synod of Pope Agatho, of blessed memory, which had been formerly held, when Wilfrid was in Rome and sat in council among the bishops, as has been said before. For the acts of that synod being, as the case required, read, by order of the Apostolic Pope, before the nobility and a great number of the people for some days, they came to the place where it was written, "Wilfrid, the beloved of God, bishop of the city of York, appealing to the Apostolic see, and being by that authority acquitted of everything, whether specified against him or not," and the rest as above stated. This being read, the hearers were amazed, and the reader ceasing, they began to ask of one another, who that Bishop Wilfrid was. Then Boniface, the Pope's counsellor, and many others, who had seen him there in the days of Pope Agatho, said that he was the same bishop that lately came to Rome, to be tried by the Apostolic see, being accused by his people, and "who, said they, having long since come here upon the like accusation, the cause and contention of both parties being heard and examined, was proved by Pope Agatho, of blessed memory, to have been wrongfully expelled from his bishopric, and was held in such honour by him, that he commanded him to sit in the council of bishops which he had assembled, as a man, of untainted faith and an upright mind." This being heard, the Pope and all the rest said, that a man of so great authority, who had held the office of a bishop for nearly forty years, ought by no means to be condemned, but being altogether cleared of the faults laid to his charge, should return home with honour.

When he came to Gaul, on his way back to Britain, on a sudden he fell sick, and the sickness increasing, he was so weighed down by it, that he could not ride, but was carried in his bed by the hands of his servants. Being thus come to the city of Mældum [Meaux], in Gaul, he lay four days and nights, as if he had been dead, and only by his faint breathing showed that he had any life in him. Having continued thus four days, without meat or drink, without speech or hearing, at length, on the fifth day, at daybreak, as it were awakening out of a deep sleep, he raised himself and sat up, and opening his eyes, saw round about him a company of brethren singing psalms and weeping. Sighing gently, he asked where Acca, the priest, was. This man, straightway being called, came in, and seeing him somewhat recovered and able to speak, knelt down, and gave thanks to God, with all the brethren there present. When they had sat awhile and begun to discourse, with great awe, of the judgements of heaven, the bishop bade the rest go out for a time, and spoke to the priest, Acca, after this manner:

"A dread vision has even now appeared to me, which I would have you hear and keep secret, till I know what God will please to do with me. There stood by me a certain one, glorious in white raiment, and he told me that he was Michael, the Archangel, and said, "I am sent to call you back from death: for the Lord has granted you life, through the prayers and tears of your disciples and brethren, and the intercession of His Blessed Mother Mary, of perpetual virginity; wherefore I tell you, that you shall now recover from this sickness; but be ready, for I will return and visit you at the end of four years. And when you come into your country, you shall recover the greater part of the possessions that have been taken from you, and shall end your days in peace and quiet." The bishop accordingly recovered, whereat all men rejoiced and gave thanks to God, and setting forward on his journey, he arrived in Britain.

Having read the letters which he brought from the Apostolic Pope, Bertwald [Berhtwald], the archbishop, and sometime king, but then abbot [i.e. Æthelred of Mercia], readily took his part; for the said Ethelred, calling to him Coenred [Cenred], whom he had made king in his own stead, begged him to be friends with Wilfrid, in which request he prevailed; nevertheless Aldfrid, king of the Northumbrians, disdained to receive him....

Aldfrith became seriously ill, and, according to Eddius Stephanus: "He at once came to his senses, realized that he had been stricken down by the power of the apostles for his defiance of Rome, and repented. "If only Wilfrid could be persuaded to come to me now," he lamented, "I would quickly make amends." There and then he vowed to God and St.Peter that if he were spared to rise from his bed he would carry out the pope's commands, let Wilfrid have his way and put everything in order. "But if by God's will I should die, I bid my successor, who ever he may be, to come to terms with Wilfrid for the good of his soul and my own." This verbatim account was given us by trustworthy witnesses ..."

.... But he [Aldfrith] died soon after [December 14th 704], and so it came to pass that, during the reign of his son Osred, when a synod was assembled before long by the river Nidd, after some contention on both sides, at length, by the consent of all, he [Wilfrid] was restored to the government of his own church; and thus he lived in peace four years, till the day of his death....

Eddius Stephanus: "He got back the two best monasteries, Ripon and Hexham, with all their revenues."

.... He died in his monastery, which he had in the province of Undalum [Oundle], under the government of the Abbot Cuthbald; and by the ministry of the brethren, he was carried to his first monastery which is called Inhrypum [Ripon], and buried in the church of the blessed Apostle Peter, hard by the altar on the south side ..."