CHAPTER 58: King Aldfrith despises him and meets his doom
CHAPTER 58
King Aldfrith despises him and meets his doom
SHORTLY afterwards, on Aethilred’s advice, Wilfrid sent a delegation to King Aldfrith of Northumbria. This task he entrusted to two men whom he knew well, Badwini, a priest and abbot, and Alfrith. They spoke as follows:
‘Our holy bishop sends friendly greetings and begs permission to come in person to present the greetings of the Holy See together with its authoritative answer to his appeal.’
The king’s immediate reply was not at all harsh. He merely arranged the date for a future meeting at which, he promised, they would receive an answer. Badwini and Alfrith duly presented themselves on the appointed day and asked what he had decided. He said what his counsellors had persuaded him to say.
‘My friends, I respect you – so highly indeed that you have only to ask for whatever you want and you shall have it. But pester me no more with this business of your master Wilfrid. My kingly predecessors, the archbishop, and their counsellors arrived at a certain decision in which I myself, Archbishop Berhtwald and almost the entire body of British bishops later concurred. It still stands. As long as I live, no documents you may bring forward as emanating from the Holy See will make me change.’
But he later repented and did change his mind – completely.