* 1.1XIV. CHAP.
1.2.3 Saint Wilfrid again expelled his Dio∣cese.
4 5. &c. He retires among the Mercians: where he succeeds to Sexulf in admini∣string the See of Leicester: and ordains Bishops.
7 8. Bosil Bishop of Worcester dying: Ostfor succeeds.
* 1.21▪ SAint Wilfrid had now five years enioyd with quietnes, and with great piety ad∣ministred his Province of the Northumbers, when this calm was disturbed with new ••torms. S. Beda dispatches this Tragedy in a ••ew words, saying, After five years he was accused once more, and by the said King Alfrid and very many Bishops expelled from his See, not mentioning the heads of his accusation.
2. But William of Malmsbury insinuats that the ground of their charge against him was the same with the former, to witt, that he had united the Iurisdiction and revenews of two Bishopricks, which S. Theodore had formerly separated, namely York and Hagul∣stad. Adding, that considering the vast ex∣••ent of the Province, it was fitt to erect a third at Rippon.
3. The freindship, saith he, between King Al∣frid and S. Wilfrid stood a good while unshaken,* 1.3 till about five years after his return the poyson∣nous counsells harboured in the breasts of certain malignant persons at last broke forth. By these mens suggestions King Alfrids mind being pre∣vented, withdrew some of the possessions belonging to the Monastery of Rippon, having a design to con∣stitute a new Bishoprick there: For he alledged that these Decrees of the late Arch-bishop Theodore which he made, not in the beginning or end of the Controversy, but in the time intervening, were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 continue in force.
4. S. Wilfrid resenting this iniustice and vio∣lence, left the Province of the Northumbers, and retired to his freind Ethelred King of the Mer∣cians, with whom he continued a long time. After whose departure King Alfrid restored the See of York to Bosa, who formerly had the possession of it: and Iohn, sirnamed of Bever∣ley, he constituted Bishop of Hagulstad (or Hexham,) who this same year at the request of the Abbot Ceolfrid promoted to the Order of Deacon S. Beda now entred into the twen∣tieth year of his age.* 1.4
5. Before S. Wilfrid entred into the King∣dom of the Mercians, Putta, who ten years before had been ordained Bishop of Hereford, dying, there succeeded him in the same See, Tirtellus this year, according to the Calender published by Sir Henry Savill. So that not any Church being vacant in that Kingdom, S. Wilfrid lived a private retired life, but in high esteem and favour with King Ethelred, who had a great desire to fixe him in the go∣vernment and Episcopall administration of some Province there.
6. Which good design of his was effected the year following,* 1.5 by the death of Sexulf, Bishop of Lichfeild, who in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight, as hath been de∣clared, was constituted Bishop of that Dio∣cese upon the deposition of Winfrid. This Sex∣ulf was a very holy man, and highly ho∣noured and beloved through his whole Pro∣vince, in so much as after his death he was numbred among the Saints.
7. To him by Kings Ethelreds appoint∣ment succeeded S. Wilfrid. Notwithstanding some Writers affirm that after the death of Sexulf, his Diocese was divided into two Sees, the one at Lichfeild and the other at Leicester: and that S. Wilfrid was constituted Bishop of Leicester, and that Headda Bishop of Winchester adioyned the other to his Diocese. However these matters were ordered, certain it is that S Wilfrid exercised the Office not only of a Bi∣shop, but a Metropolitan also, ordaining Bi∣shops there. Thus this very year in the Dio∣cese of Worcester (Wicciorum) Bosi•• who twelve years before was there consecrated Bishop, being now broken with age and labours, at the request of King Ethelred, S Wilfrid or∣dained Bishop there a man of eminent piety and worth named Ostfor.
8. Concerning this Ostfor,* 1.6 S. Beda gives this account: Ostfor, saith he, after that in both the Monasteries of the Holy Abbesse Hilda he had employd his time diligently in the study of the Divine Scriptures, at length aspiring to grea∣ter perfection, he went into Kent to the Arch-bi∣shop Theodore of blessed memory: where having spent some time in sacred Lections, he resolved to goe further, as far as to Rome: for in that age it was an argument of great vertue and piety to under∣take that iourney. In processe of time returning from thence into Brittany, he diverted into the Province of the Wiccians (or Worcestershire) the Governour whereof was a person called Osri••. There he remained a long time, preaching the Word of God, and in his conversation affording an example of all vertues and piety to those that saw or heard him. At this time the Bishop of tha•• Province, named Boselus, was so oppressed with in¦firmity of body, that he could not himself discharge his Episcopall Office. Therefore by the iudgment and consent of all, the foresaid holy man Ostfor was elected Bishop in his place, and by comman of King Edilred, Wilfrid of happy memory, wh•• then administred Episcopall iurisdiction amon••