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5° YORK.
that embarrassment, and do more ample justice to
his theme. Leave was granted, and WHfrid became
the chief spokesman on the Roman side. He began
by telling them of the world-wide observance of the
Roman usage,—that, as he himself could testify, it
prevailed not at Rome alone, but throughout Italy and
Gaul, yea, in the far distant lands of Africa, Asia,
Egypt, and Greece. It was, in a word, the usage of
every clime and of every nation which had embraced
the faith of Christ. None rejected it save only those
perverse individuals who, in common with the Picts
and Britons, were foolishly and vainly opposing themselves
to the otherwise universal consent of the
Christian world.
Colman repudiated the charge of folly by suggesting
that it was an unworthy accusation against those
who were simply following the example of the Apostle
who had reclined his head upon the Lord's breast.
Wilfrid replied by giving a summar}' of the whole
question, entering into
the various reasons why their
peculiarity of reckoning should not be admitted, and
concluded by asking whether Columba, great and
holy though he were, ought to hold a higher place in
their estimation, and his rule be accepted with a
deeper veneration than that which was due to the
chief of the Apostles, him to whom the Lord had
said, " Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of
the kingdom of heaven."
Wilfrid ceased. Oswy was deeply moved by this
appeal. He turned to Colman with the question,