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looked forward towards a future prosecution of what
he deemed his rightful claims. He sought recognition
of them from Pope Sergius, who confirmed the
decree of his predecessor.
At the beginning of the eighth century so strong a
feeling appears to ha\ e sprung up from one cause or
another as to Wilfrid's rights, that Aldfrid determined
upon summoning a synod of the whole Church. It
met in 702, at a place called Ouestrefelda, which
may most probably be identified with Austerfield,
near Bawtry. Archbishop Bertwald, the successor of
Theodore, who died in 690, was present. AVilfrid
was invited, and obeyed the summons. His chief
opponents were the bishops of the Northumbrian
kingdom. Much altercation took place, but it soon
resolved itself into the question whether he would
abide by the decrees and statutes laid down by
Theodore ; in other words, whether he would recognise
the partition of his diocese as arranged by that
prelate. Wilfrid objected against this the decrees of
Agatho, Benedict, and Sergius. An effort was made
to induce him to abide by the decision of Bertwald,
who presided over the council. After some hesitation
he assented, provided it were in accordance with
the decrees of the Apostolic see.
This stirred up fierce
dissension. It was then proposed that he should " have
his monastery of St. Peter at Ripon, with all that pertained
to it,—but on this condition, that he should
not, without the king's leave, go begond the precincts
of his monastery, nor perform any episcopal act."
This attempt to make him a consenting party to his
own deprivation kindled in him a yet fiercer flame of