Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

FOR ST. PETER.
follow St. Benedict's rule. It was in the endeavour
to recover its revenues that he once more encountered
the royal enmity. Again men clamoured
loudly at his ambition and love of money, and it
ended by Aldfrid's demanding the possession of
Eipon. Wilfrid refused to comply, but he under-
stood that his life was not safe, and once more fled
the kingdom. He took refuge in Mercia, and spent
nine years in this new exile, strong in the encouragement
he received from Pope Sergius. Brithwald,
the successor of Theodore, summoned a council at
Kestrerield in 703 at the instigation of Aldfrid.
i If rid was invited to attend, and to make known
his grievances. He went, but found no justice.
The bishops were king's men, w^ho wished to bind
"Wilfrid by oath to their judgments in his regard,
whatever they might be. He would pledge himself
to nothing beforehand, except to obedience to the
canons and to the Apostolic See. His persistence
lingered them so much that they pronounced him
despoiled of all his possessions in Northumbria and
Mercia. As a final concession, they offered him his
own monastery at Bipon, provided he would remain
there until the end of his life, and renounce the
exercise of his episcopal charge. Once more Wilfrid's
ardent spirit was thoroughly roused, and since he
could not get justice from his own king or metro-
politan, he appealed to a " higher tribunal ".
" I appeal, with all confidence, to the Apostolic
See. Let the man who wishes to depose me accom-