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8o<br />

YORK.<br />

Wilfrid, or to alter any arrangement in deference to<br />

" alleged writings from the apostolic see."<br />

Aldfrid died at Driffield on the 14th December,<br />

705, regretting, it was said, on his death bed, the<br />

adverse part he had taken as regarded Wilfrid, and<br />

enjoining his successor Eadwulf to accept the pope's<br />

decree. Eadwulf exercised his sovereignty but a few<br />

weeks, long enough, however, to treat Wilfrid with<br />

great contumely. He was succeeded by Osred, a son<br />

of Aldfrid, a boy of eight years of age, whose advisers<br />

.summoned another council, held on the banks of the<br />

Nidd, near Knaresburgh, to settle, if possible, the<br />

cause of Wilfrid. It was attended by Archbishoj)<br />

Bertwald, the Bishops Bosa, Jolin, and Eadfrid, with<br />

other ecclesiastics, and the abbess Elfleda.<br />

Bertwald<br />

read the papal letters; and entered at great length<br />

into the matter. Elfleda spoke strongly of Aldfrid's<br />

dying wishes. After much conference and the expression<br />

of some repugnance on the part of the three<br />

Northumbrian bishops, a compromise was arrived at.<br />

The conclusion fell far short of Wilfrid's full claims.<br />

The chair of York was not to be his. His monasteries<br />

and territories in Northumbria and Merciawere<br />

restored, and he was to have the see of Hexham and<br />

his monastery at Ripon. The council ended by a<br />

celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and a mutual<br />

interchange of the kiss of peace. Its termination<br />

could not be said to be a triumph for the Apostolic<br />

see, whose decrees were ceitainly, in effect, unacknowledged.<br />

Bosa's death took place very shortly after<br />

this council, when John succeeded to the see of<br />

York.

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