CHAPTER 54: [Letter of Pope John]
CHAPTER 54
[Letter of Pope John]
‘POPE JOHN to their most noble majesties, Aethilred, king of Mercia and Aldfrith, king of Deira. We fully recognize your zeal for the faith which you received when God illumined your hearts through the preaching of the Prince of the Apostles and which you firmly hold; and we rejoice in the great increase of religion among you – may greater growth increase our joy! But the news of this tangle of dissension saddens not only ourselves but also our fellow-clergy and indeed the whole Church. The matter must now be completely disentangled, with God’s help, so that you yourselves, in the presence of the Lord and Judge of all, may stand out not as despisers but as the upholders of the pontifical decrees and as our obedient sons. Some time ago, during the pontificate of Pope Agatho of blessed memory, Bishop Wilfrid came in person with an appeal to the Apostolic see. His adversaries, representatives of the holy Abbess Hilda and of Theodore of hallowed memory, archbishop of the kentish nation by mandate of this same see, were present too. An assembly was then convened of bishops of various provinces who held a formal inquiry into the arguments of either side and decided accordingly. And this decision our holy predecessors have confirmed. Bishop Theodore is not known to have contravened this nor to have made any further accusation; on the contrary, it is quite clear from his own words that he complied. Consequently we must have recourse to God’s aid to see that dissension does not continue to smoulder in one part of the Church, while in every other province clergy and people are in perfect harmony. So much for the past. Regarding the present, we have taken measures to inform your renowned majesties that a delegation recently came to us from your own island of Britain to bring accusations against Bishop Wilfrid. He himself arrived shortly afterwards and rebutted the charges by turning them back upon the accusers themselves. We had the parties debate the matter for some days before an assembly of reverend priests and prelates. Every document, old or new, adduced by either side, all their verbal statements, together with any relevant matter we could find in our archives – all this has been most carefully sifted and the findings made known to us. However, the principal protagonists in the dispute, those who started it all, were not here; but it will be necessary for them to meet and confer before the affair can be concluded once and for all. Therefore we hereby order our most reverend brother Berhtwald, whom we ourselves on the authority of the Prince of the Apostles have confirmed in office as Archbishop of the Kentish Church, to convoke a synod with Bishop Wilfrid and that, when this council has been properly constituted, he call Bishops Bosa and John to give evidence. He must hear each side and carefully weigh their claims, noting what can really be proved. If, in his opinion, the matter can be properly settled by the synod, then both ourselves and the rival factions will be satisfied. But if it turns out otherwise, he must give them formal warning in synod and admonish them privately and go over every single point at issue. They must come to Rome together and have the quarrel thrashed out in a fuller council so that a final decision may be reached on what has up to now eluded settlement. Then, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, those who have come in discord may perhaps be able to return in peace. Whoever puts off the journey or (and this we execrate) will not deign to come is to be informed that he is thereby removed from office. He must be expelled and the clergy and people of the district forbidden to receive him, for he who sets himself up against his Master is not to be counted among His ministers and disciples. Therefore, for the fear of God and out of reverence for the Christian faith and for that peace which Our Lord Jesus Christ gave to His followers, may your Royal and Christian Highnesses lend your assistance, so that these matters which with Christ’s help we have so closely examined may now be happily concluded. Do so and your labours in the cause of religion will be rewarded by a peaceful reign under Christ’s protection in this world and the blessed fellowship of His Eternal Kingdom in the next. Recall to mind, beloved sons, what Agatho and the bishops of the Roman Church after him have laid down on apostolic authority in this very question. For he who with rash temerity despises our commands, however high his rank may be, will not go unpunished by God and, being found guilty by Heaven, how can he escape without loss? God’s grace keep your Highnesses forever safe.’