Open [38.2 MB]

Extending Operations Over All England
succeeded, as Bede tells us, by one who had been trained
in Ireland. This was the Frank, Agilbert, who figured
at Whitby in the Paschal controversy. The son of
Cynegils, Cojnwalch, had refused Christianity at the
hands of Birinus and was banished to East Anglia where
he got the faith in due time. Bede says: "But when
Cornwalch was to his kingdom
there came into that
province out of Ireland a certain bishop called Agilbert,
by nation a Frank, who had lived a long time in Ireland
for the purpose of reading the scriptures. This bishop
came of his own accord to serve this king and to preach
to him the word of life. The king, observing his erudi-
tion and industry, desired him to accept an episcopal see
and stay there as his bishop. Agilbert complied with the
prince's request and presided over those people many
years. At length the king, who understood none but the
language of the Saxons, grown weary of the bishop's
barbarous tongue, brought to the province another bishop
of his own nation, whose name was Wini, who had been
ordained in France." 1
Bede's use of the word "barbar-
ous" here is significant and somewhat amusing. We are
to assume that he is using it in the sense of "foreign," as
on other occasions, or is reproducing the standpoint of
some other Latin writer. Even the Prankish speech must
at that time have shown greater development than the
dialect of the West Saxons, which Agilbert, tho many
years in the country, had disdained to learn.
3.
IRISH CHANNELS OF ENTRY INTO BRITAIN
While Aidan and his associates were laboring in
Northumbria and Mercia, Fursa and. his disciples were
laying their foundations in East Anglia and Dicuil was
i Hist. Eccl. HI, VII.
243