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Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
48. How He Returned to King Aethilred
After these discussions the fruitless council was dissolved by both parties, each one returning to his own home. And so, under the protection of God, His servant was freed from the hands of his enemies and returned uninjured to the faithful King Aethilred. Our holy bishop made his way into the presence of King Aethilred and declared to him the whole story of the attack upon him and the harsh charges made by the bishops contrary to the king’s injunction. Then he asked the king also what sort of decrees he had made concerning the possession of the lands and the privileges which he had granted him. The king answered, “I will not raise up further trouble by destroying the livelihood of the monks which has been dedicated to the church of the Blessed Apostle Peter; but, so long as I have life, I will preserve it under the same conditions under which I have hitherto preserved it by the favour of God, until I have first sent my own messengers, or else letters of my own, with you to Rome to enquire about these pressing matters, so that I may find salvation in seeking to do the right.” When he had made this answer, they rejoiced together and then parted, each one returning to his own place.