CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 3
NOT long after a merchant vessel arrived and so he was able to have his wish. At this time Egbert, king of Kent, had sent a man named Wighard1 from Britain as bishop-elect to be consecrated in Rome. wighard had been trained in Kent in every branch of church tradition by the Roman disciples of Pope Gregory. egbert was eager to have him consecrated in Rome as his bishop, reckoning that, if he had a bishop of his own race and language, he and his people would be able to enter all the more deeply into the teachings and mysteries of their faith, since they would receive them at the hands of someone of their own kin and blood and hear them not through an interpreter but in their own native tongue. Wighard arrived in Rome, but before he could be consecrated he and all his companions fell victims to the plague. The pope, not wanting this godly embassy of the faithful to fail in its effect because of the death of the delegates, took counsel and chose one of his own associates to go back to Britain as archbishop. He chose Theodore, a man endowed with both secular and ecclesiastical learning and at home in both languages, that is in Latin and Greek.2 As his colleague and counsellor the pope appointed Abbot Hadrian, Theodore’s equal in energy and prudence;3 and, perceiving Benedict’s worth, wisdom, diligence and devotion, he put the newly consecrated bishop and his companions in his charge. He ordered him to give up the pilgrimage, on which he had embarked for the honour of Christ, for the nobler purpose of escorting back to Egbert the teacher of truth he had so keenly desired and whom Benedict might serve in a double capacity as guide on the journey home and interpreter when teaching. Benedict did as he was bidden. They returned to Kent where they were very favourably received. Theodore was enthroned as archbishop and Benedict took charge of the monastery of St Peter,1 of which Hadrian was later to be abbot.