CHAPTER 30: The text of the petition
CHAPTER 30
The text of the petition
‘I WILFRID, a humble and unworthy English bishop, with God going before to guide me, have directed my steps to this the apostolic citadel, as though to a fortress and a tower of strength, because I am confident that in that place from which the rules of the sacred canons emanate and are diffused throughout all the churches of the world to be handed down through the preaching of the bishops and received with a lively faith – there, I repeat, am I sure to be given a just judgement, unimportant though I am. I do not doubt that your Holiness has taken note both of what I stated in my letters and what I have claimed here and now in your presence; and, furthermore, I alleged when I was presented to your Holiness on arrival, that certain invaders had had the presumption to go entirely against the declared ruling of the canons and, at a synod consisting of the most holy Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury and other bishops, had, like thieves, attempted to assail the see which I, by God’s mercy, had ruled for ten years and more. They succeeded in robbing me, planting themselves in my place and being consecrated as bishops. There is not just the one usurper, there are three of them. Their consecrations were, naturally, uncanonical. Because of the respect due to the archbishop I pass over the question how so venerable a man could have brought himself to consecrate, without any bishop’s consent, and in face of my respectful opposition, three bishops to the see of York while I was still alive. I would rather not labour the point, for I hardly dare accuse the envoy of the Apostolic See. Should it be made clear, however, that I have been cast out of my see in contempt of the law by my enemies’ spite without ever being convicted of any crime, without being guilty on any count whatsoever, let alone those for which the law reserves its severities, and should it be further proved (as I can assure you it can) that, once thrown out, I neither stirred up quarrels and sedition nor set myself to oppose my enemies but at once sought help from the Holy See, having simply protested to my fellow bishops before departure – if all this is proved and yet your Holiness and the council of bishops decide that though blameless I am still to be considered deposed, then I shall embrace your decision with humble devotion. But if I am to be restored to my diocese, I shall follow and venerate that decision with all my strength, provided you issue a decree sanctioning the ejection of the usurpers. If, on the other hand, you should think fit to appoint other bishops to my diocese, then let them be such as I can serve God with in unity, peace, and concord, so that each of us may recognize the established laws of the Church and take care to guard the flock committed to him. If it pleases the archbishop and my fellow bishops to increase the number of bishops, then let men be chosen from our own clergy, candidates whom the bishops in synod can agree upon. Do not let the Church suffer damage from strangers and outsiders; anything irregular and imprudent does nothing but give rise to quarrel after quarrel, such as can never be unravelled, appeased, nor ended. I trust that I show absolute obedience to and full compliance with the laws of the Church – to whose justice I have hastened with full confidence, having put all other matters aside in order to do so.’