york00orns

YORK. 69
CHAPTER
VI.
[a.d. 681.] We must now return to Wilfrid. As
already mentioned, he sought an asylum in INIercia,
when banished from the dominions of the Northumbrian
king. This was in the early part of 681. But
he was soon compelled to leave. Ethelred, the
Mercian king, had married the sister of Ecgfrid, and
Wilfrid was hastily expelled from his dominions.
Nor was he more fortunate in the next haven of
refuge to which he betook himself He went into
Wessex, but the animosity of Ermenburga pursued
him thither. Her sister was the wife of Kentwin, the
ruler of the West Saxons, and the influence of
Ecgfrid's queen was exerted to drive him from thisasylum
also. He now went into Sussex. Ethelwalch,
the king of that small and insignificant state, had
become a Christian. His queen was of the same
faith. Ethelwalch received him honourably, and
assured him of safety and protection. Christianity
had hitherto made no progress in Sussex. Its king
seemed to have failed to impress his subjects with
his own faith. All, apparently, that he had done
was to bring half a dozen Scotic or Irish monks, with
a priest named Dicul at their head, into his dominions.
They founded a small monastery at Bosham, near
Chichester, but made no way amongst the dull and
stolid inhabitants. Wilfrid now came amongst them.