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Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
“‘To the most excellent lords, Aethilred, King of the Mercians, and Aldfrith, King of …
“‘To the most excellent lords, Aethilred, King of the Mercians, and Aldfrith, King of Deira and Bernicia, from Pope John. We rejoice in the increase of true religion among you by the help of the grace of God. We recognize the zeal of your faith, which you received through the preaching of the chief of the Apostles, when God illumined your hearts, and which you efficaciously hold; may your further growth make our joy the greater! But this matter which we have heard grieves our hearts and has saddened our fellow-clergy and all the Church, namely the inextricable dissension of certain men, which matter ought to be put right by the help of God, so that we may be proved in the presence of God, the Judge of all men, to be, not despisers of the pontifical decrees, but, as sons of obedience, their guardians. For some time ago, when Agatho our predecessor of Apostolic memory was Pope, Bishop Wilfrid came with an appeal to the Apostolic See. His adversaries were present, having come hither from Theodore of hallowed memory, Archbishop of the holy Church of the Kentish people, who was sent from this Apostolic See, and from the abbess Hild, of pious memory, in order to accuse him. Bishops also, from various provinces, were assembled here, with the above-mentioned holy prelate, and they duly enquired into what was said by the various parties and made their decree and sentence. And the holy bishops, his successors and our predecessors, have confirmed the same opinion. Nor is the Bishop Theodore of hallowed memory, who was sent forth from this Apostolic See, known to have contravened this, nor did he send any accusation afterwards to this Apostolic See; rather, as is clear from his words, he complied with the papal decrees. And so, with the help of God, we must see that dissension does not continue in one place while in others there is complete unanimity among priests and people. So much for the past. For the present also we have taken measures to make known to your renowned and Christian selves that those who came hither from the same island of Britain have brought accusations against Bishop Wilfrid; he followed with his brethren and turned upon his accusers the charges they made. We caused the debate between the parties to be conducted for some days before the assembly of reverend bishops and priests who were present here; before whom all the writings whether old or recent, which the parties brought forward, or which could be found here, and the verbal statements made by either party, were closely enquired into and brought to our knowledge. However the principal persons were not present from whom all the dissension arose; but it is necessary that these should come together and confer in order that all this contention may be brought to an end. And to this end we bid Berhtwald, the Bishop of the holy Church of the Kentish people, whom we have confirmed archbishop there by the authority of the chief of the Apostles, and who is our most reverend brother, to hold a synod with Bishop Wilfrid, and when the council has been regularly constituted, to cause Bishops Bosa and John to come into the synod, to hear what both sides have to say, and to consider what the parties in turn are able to prove to him. And if in his opinion it is possible to come to a regular conclusion before the synod, it will be satisfactory both for ourselves and for the parties at strife. But if it happens otherwise, let him give them a formal warning in the synod together with private admonitions and let him deal with each point; and let them present themselves together at this Apostolic See, that the matter may be thrashed out in a fuller council, and that a decision may be reached on a point which thus far it has not been possible to settle, and that by the grace of the Holy Spirit those who came in discord may return in peace. But if any one of these delays to come, or (what is to be execrated) does not deign to come, let him know that he will incur deprivation and that he will be repelled from this place, and, further, will not be received by any of the clergy or the faithful here. For he who is disobedient to his Head shall not be numbered amongst His servants and disciples. So may your most Christian and royal Highnesses, for fear of God and for reverence of the Christian faith and the peace which our Lord Jesus Christ gave to His disciples, lend your aid and assistance, so that these matters we have investigated by the help of God, may come to good effect; so that for such religious labours as these, you may be granted a reward in heaven, while in this world also you may reign unharmed under the protection of Christ and enjoy the blessed fellowship of His eternal kingdom. So remember, my dear sons, what the most blessed Agatho and the other dignitaries of the Roman church after him, in agreement with us, ordained by Apostolic authority about this matter. For whoever he may be, and of whatever rank, who despises us with bold temerity, he shall not be unpunished by God, nor, being found guilty by Heaven, shall he escape without loss. May the heavenly grace keep your Eminences unharmed!’”