york00orns

YORK. 53
CHAPTER V.
Besides the triumph of the Roman party, the synod
of Whitby produced another result, the re-establishmcnt
of the bishopric of York. A witan, or general
assembly of the chief men of the kingdom, was
gathered together to elect a bishop, and at the
instance, probably, of Alchfrid, their choice fell upon
Wilfrid. He yielded a somewhat reluctant assent,
but utterly refused to receive consecration at the
hands of any of the Scotic bishops, and requested
permission to go to France for that purpose. Leave
was accorded, and he was consecrated at Compiegne
by Bishop Agilbert and twelve other prelates, probably
about the beginning of the year 665. The
ceremonial was one of singular magnificence. For
some reason or another he remained in France until
the spring of 666. His misfortunes now began. A
\iolent storm wrecked him on the coast of Sussex,
and he narrowly escaped with his life from the attack
of the
barbarous inhabitants, who rushed down after
their manner to seize upon and plunder the stranded
vessel.
When he returned to York he found a grievous
mortification awaiting him. The Scotic party was
not extinct, and amongst those who had accepted the
decision of the Whitby synod there were some who
perchance thought that his rule might be stern and