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Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
57. How He Returned Across the Sea
Then our holy bishop, when he had washed his face and hands, and all were rejoicing with wondrous joy and were thankfully confessing that his life had been granted him by God, took a little food, and like Jonathan he was revived and his eyes were enlightened; and a few days afterwards, when he was healed of this same infirmity, they set out and came to the sea: they crossed its full extent by ship and, by the help of God, they found a safe harbour in the land of Kent. There the messengers of our holy bishop, when they had found Archbishop Berhtwald, had converse with him. He promised to mitigate the severity of the former decrees of the synod, for he was compelled by the Apostolic authority and terrified by the writings which the messengers had brought; and thus with trembling he was reconciled to our holy bishop, and, as events proved, this was no simulation of peace. And so they were found joyfully making their way towards the city of London from the east, attended by a great crowd of their abbots and laden with gifts.
Then finally our holy bishop came to King Aethilred who had once reigned over the kingdom of Mercia and was always a most faithful friend of his. The king actually wept through excess of joy; they kissed and embraced each other, and Wilfrid was as usual most honourably received by his friend. Then he gave the words of salutation that had been sent from the Apostolic See and humbly showed the king the decrees which had been made concerning him, signed with bulls and seals. As soon as the writings from the Apostolic See were opened and read, the king bowed himself to the ground and obediently made a promise in these words: “As for the writings of this Apostolic authority I will never in my life disobey one single jot or tittle in them nor will I consent to those who disobey them; but I will do my best to get them fulfilled.” And what he had promised he carried out. And for this, eternal reward will be bestowed upon him for his good, by the gift of God. For he at once summoned Coenred whom he had appointed king in his place, and begged him, in the name of the Lord, and out of love for him, to obey the precepts of the Apostolic See. This he willingly promised to do.