CHAPTER 60: [Synod of Nidd, 706]
CHAPTER 60
[Synod of Nidd, 706]
IN the first year of Osred’s reign Berhtwald, Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of nearly the whole of Britain, came up from the south to invite the king of the northern regions together with all his bishops, abbots, and chief men of rank in the kingdom to settle Wilfrid’s case in synod by the east bank of the Nidd.1 Abbess Aelffled, the best of advisers and a constant source of strength to the whole province, was with them. Archbishop Berhtwald and Wilfrid both arrived on the same day. The whole company took their seats and Berhtwald opened the proceedings.
‘Let us ask Our Lord Jesus Christ,’ he began, ‘to grant us peace and concord through His Holy Spirit. I have with me documents sent by the Holy See to my unworthy self and Bishop Wilfrid has others that he brought from Rome. We humbly ask your reverences’ leave to read them out.’
Permission was granted and each volume was read out from beginning to end. After the reading there was complete silence. Then Berhtfrith, a nobleman, second in rank only to the king, addressed the archbishop:
‘Those of us who could not manage to follow the reading would be grateful if you would explain just what the Holy See means.’
The archbishop replied:
‘The papal pronouncements are couched in obscure and roundabout terms but one single lesson emerges from both. Briefly it is this: The Holy See, by the power of loosing and binding first given to St Peter, and on its own authority, had decided that in my unworthy presence and before the whole synod, you prelates of the churches of this province must, as you value your salvation, put aside all long-standing enmity and be reconciled to Wilfrid once and for all. The Apostolic See leaves two ways open to you, one of which you must choose: either to live in full and perfect harmony with Wilfrid and give him back all his former jurisdiction – the extent of which will be determined by myself and certain prudent advisers – or, if you are unwilling to take the better course, then you must all go to Rome and have your quarrels thrashed out before a higher court. Whosoever rejects both courses (God forbid that anyone should!), whether he be king or commoner, is to be excommunicated from the Body and Blood of Christ. Should any bishop or priest act like this (which would be even fouler – in fact I shudder to think of it) he is to be degraded from holy orders. That is the gist of the letters.’
But the bishops did not give way.
‘Who can alter,’ they claimed, ‘the decrees passed by King Ecgfrith and Archbishop Theodore whom the pope sent out here to us, decisions which we, the bishops of nearly the whole of Britain, later confirmed with King Aldfrith in your Grace’s own most excellent presence at Austerfield?’
Then the holy Abbess Aelffled rose and spoke these inspired words:
‘Let me tell you, truly and in Christ’s name, what King Aldfrith’s last will and testament, the one he made on his deathbed, really was. He made a vow to God and St Peter in the following terms: “If I live I promise to fulfil all those judgements of the Apostolic See in regard to Wilfrid which formerly I had refused even to hear. If I die bid my son and heir, for the good of my soul, do the same.” ’
When she had finished, Berhtfrith spoke.
‘The king and his earls will that the command of the Holy See and King Aldfrith’s instructions be obeyed to the last detail. For when we were besieged at Bamburgh, surrounded by enemies on all sides and forced to take refuge in a narrow rocky cleft, we held a discussion on this very subject and vowed that if God granted our royal boy his father’s kingdom, we would carry out the apostolic injunctions concerning Bishop Wilfrid. No sooner had we made this vow than the enemy completely changed their minds. They came rushing up to make friends with us. The gates were opened, we came out into the open air, hostilities were over and the kingdom ours.’
At this the bishops went to one side and began talking among themselves. The archbishop gave them his advice and Abbess Aelffled gave them hers. The parley ended with the decision, in which they were joined by king and counsellors, to make an unconditional peace pact with Wilfrid. And they kept it till their lives’ end. He got back the two best monasteries, Ripon and Hexham, with all their revenues. Then all the bishops embraced each other and joined together in the Breaking of Bread. They thanked God for all these wonderful blessings and set off home. And Christ’s peace went with them.