CHAPTER 64: [Future of his monasteries]
CHAPTER 64
[Future of his monasteries]
THE meeting over, Wilfrid had a bell rung to assemble the whole community.
‘Our well-beloved brother Caelin,’ he began, ‘has for a long time now been our leader in the observance of the Rule. He has worked extremely hard in God’s service and now wants to go back to his former way of life in the wild parts of the country to serve God only by giving himself up to solitary contemplation. I will deny his wish no longer.
‘Our abbots Tibba and Ebba are here from King Coelred of Mercia to ask me to go and confer with him and they have persuaded me to agree to this for the sake of the monasteries we have in that kingdom. Coelred has promised to make me his director and to follow my judgement in regulating the whole course of his life.
‘I urge you to keep the rule faithfully till, if God wills it, I return. Should he will otherwise and my many infirmities overtake me, then I bid you to accept as abbot whomever my witnesses here – Abbots Tibba and Ebba, the priest Tatberht and Hathufrith and Master Alnhfrith – shall come and declare to you. The obedience you promised to God and myself and which you have hitherto rendered, you shall give to him.’
They knelt down weeping, heads bowed to the ground, and promised to fulfil all his commands; and as they prostrated themselves in prayer our holy bishop gave his blessing and commended them to God. The community never saw him again.