Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

50 ST. WILFEID'S
Peter's rights began the vicissitudes of his life. Tuda
died of a pestilence very shortly after the Whitby
Conference. Thus the lamest Anglo-Saxon see, that
of Lindisfarne, which, in the practical non-existence
of York, comprised all North umbria, again became
vacant. Wilfrid was naturally pointed out as Tuda's
successor, but his nomination was a further confirmation
of his victory at Whitby. He had to pay a
heavy price for it all the rest of his life. Many of
those who had yielded «/ intellectuallv i/ to the Roman
question, still belonged to the Celtic party in sympathy.
Hilda seems to have been among the number.1
The bishop-elect, out of his great loyalty to
the Apostolic See, preferred to receive his episcopal
consecration in Gaul from the hands of his old friend,
Agilbert, now a bishop. Wilfrid's long absence in
Gaul favoured the machinations of his enemies.
They circumvented Oswy, who regretted Wilfrid's
election, and so far forgot himself as to " allow Chad
to be intruded. On his return Wilfrid found Chad
in possession of his see, and retired to the monastery
which he had established at Ripon, through the
generosity of Prince Alchfrid. He bore patiently
this first act of gross injustice, and bore it for three
years, 666-669, for it was only rectified by Arch-
bishop Theodore when he came to Northumbria.
By the authority of the Apostolic See Theodore reestablished
Wilfrid in his diocese, and Chad became
Bishop of Lichfield in Mercia, 670.2
1 Moines d Occident, iv. p. 186. * Hist. Eccles., lib. iv. cap. iii.