CHAPTER 28: Wilfrid is welcomed by kings Dagobert and Perctarit [679]
CHAPTER 28
Wilfrid is welcomed by kings Dagobert and Perctarit [679]
OUR beloved bishop (and God’s) spent the winter with the Frisians and gained many souls for Christ. At the first sign of spring he and his companions continued on their journey to the Holy See. They came to Dagobert, king of the Franks, and were most graciously received. This courtesy was a return for former favours from Wilfrid. Dagobert had been banished in his youth by enemies who were then on the throne. He sailed away, his fortune ruined, and came, by God’s help, to Ireland. Years later his friends and relatives learnt from travellers that he was alive, flourishing and in the prime of manhood, and sent to Wilfrid to ask him to invite Dagobert across from Scotland or Ireland and then to send him over to them as their king. This our holy bishop did; he made him welcome on his arrival from Ireland, provided him with arms and sent him back in great state with a troop of his companions to support him. The king did not forget such kindness. He now begged Wilfrid to accept the chief bishopric of the realm, Strasbourg; and when Wilfrid declined, he sent him on his way with lavish presents and with his own bishop, Deodatus, to guide him.1 They journeyed on under God’s guidance till they came to Perctarit, king of Campania, a gentle humble man, and one who held God’s word in awe.2 He received them graciously, as God bade, and gave Wilfrid this news: ‘Your enemies sent messengers to me from Britain with greetings and the promise of a great reward if I would lay hands upon you as a bishop in secret flight (for so they describe you) and keep you from reaching the Apostolic See. I refused to take part in such a scandalous plot. This was the answer I gave them: “As a youth I was exiled from my own country and found refuge with a king of the Huns, a pagan. Before the idol he called his God he made a pact with me never to hand me over or betray me to my enemies. Some time afterwards messengers came from my enemies promising on oath a full bushel of gold solidi if he would hand me over to be slain. He refused, declaring that his gods would cut short his life if he broke his promise to them by this foul deed. How much more then must I, who know the true God, refuse to send my soul to perdition rather than gain even the whole world?” ’
In thanksgiving for his own safekeeping Perctarit treated Wilfrid with great honour and sent him off with guides towards his long desired goal, Rome.