A discourse of the religion anciently professed

Of the height that the opposition betwixt the Roman party and that of the British and Scottish grew unto; and the abatement thereof in time: and how the Doctors of the Scottish and Irish side have been ever accounted most eminent men in the Catholic Church, notwithstanding their dis-union from the Bishop of Rome.

Of the height that the opposition betwixt the Romane party and that of the Brittish and Scottish grew unto; and the abatement thereof in time: and how the Doctors of the Scottish and Irish side have beene ever accounted most eminent men in the Catholike Church, notwithstanding their dis-union from the Bishop of Rome.

IN Colman's room Wilfrid was chosen Archbishop of York: who had learned at Rome from Archdeacon Boniface,^a the course of Easter, which the schismatics of Britain and Ireland did not know (so go the words of Stephen, the ancient writer of his life:) and afterward did brag, ^bthat he was the first which did teach the true Easter in Northumberland (having cast out the Scots) which did ordain the Ecclesiastical songs to be parted on sides, and which did command S. Benets rule to be observed by Monks. But when he was named to the Archbishopric, ^che refused it at the first (as William of Malmesbury relateth) lest he should receive his consecration from the Scottish Bishops, or from such as the Scots had ordained, whose communion the Apostolic See had rejected. The speech which he used to this purpose, unto the Kings that had chosen him, is thus laid down by Stephen the writer of his ⟨p. 106⟩life. ^dO my honourable Lords the Kings; it is necessary for us by all means providently to consider, how with your election I may (by the help of God) come to the degree of a Bishop, without the accusation of catholic men. For there be many Bishops here in Britain, none of whom it is my part to accuse, ordained within these fourteen years by the Britons and Scots, whom neither the See Apostolic hath received into her communion, nor yet such as consent with the schismatics. And therefore in my humility I request of you, that you would send me with your warrant beyond the Sea, into the country of France, where many Catholic Bishops are to be had; that without any controversy of the Apostolic See I may be counted meet, though unworthy, to receive the degree of a Bishop.