Library › Eddius Stephanus › Life of St Wilfrid
Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
28. How Dagobert and Perctarit, Two Kings, Received Him
After our bishop the beloved of God had spent the winter among the Frisians winning much people for the Lord, when spring came, with God’s help he continued the journey he had undertaken with his companions to the Apostolic See. He came to the King of the Franks called Dagobert who received him with great kindness and with all honour for the service which Wilfrid had once rendered him. For this King Dagobert when he was a young man had been driven into exile and ruin by his enemies who were then reigning, and sailing away, came to Ireland by God’s help. In the course of years his friends and kinsmen heard from some travellers that he was alive and flourishing in the prime of manhood. So they sent messengers to the blessed Bishop Wilfrid asking him to invite Dagobert across from Scotland and Ireland and to send him out to them as king: this our holy bishop did and, receiving him as he came from Ireland, he sent him forth to his own country in great state, well supplied with weapons and supported by the strength of his companions. Now the king mindful of these kindnesses strongly urged him to undertake the chief bishopric in his own kingdom which belonged to the city of Strassburg. But when Wilfrid refused he sent him to the Apostolic See with gifts and rich presents making his bishop, Deodatus, the guide.
As the holy bishops proceeded on their journey under the guidance of God, they came to Perctarit, King of Campania, a humble and peaceful man who feared the words of God. He received the pilgrims kindly according to the bidding of the Lord and then addressed our holy bishop with these words: “Some enemies of yours have sent me messengers from Britain, offering me their salutations and promising me very great rewards if I would lay hands on you who are a bishop fleeing secretly, as they declared, and would hold you back as you make your way to the Apostolic See. I refused to do so wicked a thing and answered them thus: ‘I was once an exile in the days of my youth, driven from my fatherland, dwelling with a certain pagan King of the Huns who entered into a covenant with me before the idol that was his god, to the effect that he would never betray me nor hand me over to my enemies. After some time some messengers came to the heathen king with word from my enemies, promising under oath to give him a bushel full of gold solidi if he would hand me over to be slain. He would not come to an agreement with them, “For,” said he, “doubtless the gods would cut off my life if I were to commit this crime and break the pledge made before them.” How much more shall I, who know the true God, refuse to give my soul over to destruction for the wealth of the whole world!’” Then in truth the king with thanksgiving sent our holy bishop and his companions to the Apostolic See which they had so long desired to behold, giving him honourable treatment and providing him with guides; in such ways the Lord glorified him by His protecting care throughout his journey.