A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

Councils held in England about the matter of Wilfrid.

FEW Men have been more molested and cross'd in their Life than Wilfrid, Abbot of Rippon, and afterwards Bishop of York. He was a Native of Northumberland, born towards the year * 1.1 634. He left his Country to go to Rome, where he was instructed in the discipline of that Church. Thence he returned to Lyons, and there he received the Tonsure from Delphin, Bishop of that City, who was murder'd soon after by Ebroin's order. After his death, Wilfrid was called home by Alfrid, eldest Son of Oswi, King of Northumberland, who gave him the Mona∣stery of Rippon, founded by him in the Bishoprick of York. He was ordain'd Priest by Hagilbert, Bishop of Dorcester. He was present at the Conference, held at Streneshall before the King, about the difference between the Church of Rome, and the ancient British and Irish Churches, about Easter-day; and there he maintain'd the usage of the Roman Church against Colman, an Irish Man. Afterward, he was nominated to the Arch-bishoprick of York and passed over into France to get himself ordain'd, there being then but one Bishop in England. He was conse∣crated by Angilbert, Bishop of Paris, and Eleven Bishops assisted at that Ceremony. During his absence, they that stood for the usage of the Irish Churches perswaded King Oswi to put into the Church of York, Ceadde, Abbot of Listinguen, who was consecrated by one English and two British Bishops. S. Wilfrid, after his return, did immediately retire into his Monastery, and af∣ter that, he was called out into Mercia, where the King gave him Lichfield, to erect a Bishoprick or a Monastery there. After the death of Adeodatus, Bishop of Canterbury, he perform'd for some time the Episcopal Functions in that Church, till Theodorus obtained that See. This Man re-esta∣blished S. Wilfrid in the Arch-bishoprick of York, and deprived Ceadde, who did very patiently bear that expulsion. Wilfrid enjoyed that Arch-bishoprick peaceably, during King Oswi's Reign; but he was turned out of it in the beginning of Egfrid's Reign, towards the year 670. being deposed by Theodorus himself. He presently withdrew into Friesland, and thence went to Rome. He was very well entertain'd by Pope Agatho, who restored him to his Dignity in a Coun∣cil of Bishops, and that Sentence was confirm'd by the Popes Benedict and Sergius. Being fortified with this Authority, he came back again into England, where he met with bad Entertainment, and was imprisoned by the order of Queen Ermenburge, Egfrid's Wife. Being got out, he went to preach the Gospel to the South-Saxons, and baptized, as its believed. Edelwach [or Ethelwolfe] their King. Theodorus seeing, That he had suffered himself to be surprized by S. Wilfrid's Enemies, reconciled himself with him, and prevailed with King Alfrid to consent to

his re-establishment; he return'd to York in 686. but five years after, he was expelled again, for refusing to receive some Constitutions, made by Theodorus, Arch-bishop of Canterbury. He returned to his Bishoprick of Lichfield, which he found vacant. Some years after, he was in∣vited by Brithwald, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, to be present at a Synod, within two Leagues of Rippon, in hope of an agreement. They urged him to withdraw into his Abby of Rippon, and to quit his Bishoprick. He did not only refuse to do it, but he had recourse to the Holy See. Therefore, he went to Rome again, and purged himself before Pope John in a Synod, in the pre∣sence of the Deputies of both Parties, and was declared innocent. With this sentence he return∣ed into England, but Alfrid would not permit it to be executed. Sexulfus, who succeeded him, continued in the same resolution; but being turn'd out, two Months after, and Ofred having suc∣ceeded him, Brithwald, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, went into Northumberland, and there held a Synod in 705. near the River Nid, at which the King also and the Officers and the great ones of the Country were present. They read the Pope's Letters, and after some difficulties, raised by the Bishops of the Country, they were reconciled, and that long Contest was thus happily ended. Wilfrid yielded up his Episcopal See of York to John of Beverly, and he was restored to the pos∣session of the Church of Haguestad, and of the Abby of Rippon. He died in 709.

These Matters of Fact are certain, being affirmed by Eddi, S. Wilfrid's Disciple and Author of his Life, by John VII's Letters, and the relation of Bede's and William of Malmsbury.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Councils of England.