A.D. 663.] CLOTAIRE 1Π. 97 tioned above, a friend of Alfrid, and at his request ordained the aforesaid Wilfrid priest in his monastery ; where, spending his life in holy conversation, he sedulously fulfilled himself the precepts which he delivered to his disciples. Bishop Agelbert left king Kinewalc and the kingdom of England, and received a bishopric in France : he was succeeded by Wina. In the year of grace 662, Vitalian sat in the Eoman chair twelve years and six months ; after which the see was void for two months and thirteen days. Clotaire reigns in France. In the year of grace 663, Clotaire reigned in France four years. At the same time there was a great disputation in England between the English and the Scots respecting the observance of Easter ; for there assembled at Streneshal, king Oswy and his son Alfrid, Colrnan a Scot, bishop of Lindisfarne, with his clergy from Scotland, Cedda another bishop, with the abbess Hilda, who favoured the Scottish party. On the other side was Wilfrid the presbyter with his monks and clergy, who kept Easter differently from the Scots. When they were all assembled, king Oswy showed that it is the duty of those who serve one God, to observe the same rule of life ; and as they all expected the same kingdom in heaven, so they ought not to differ in the celebration of the heavenly sacraments ; but rather to inquire which was the truer tradition, that the same might be faithfully followed by all. Colman then said, " The Easter which I keep I received from my elders, who sent me hither as bishop ; all our fathers, men beloved of God, are known to have kept it after the same manner ; and that no one may despise it, it is the same which the blessed evangelist John is recorded to have observed in all the churches over which he presided." Having said thus much, and more to the like effect, the king commanded Wilfrid the presbyter to speak, who accordingly thus began ;— " The Easter which we keep is observed in common by Romans, Italians, French, Greeks, and the universal church wherever scattered throughout the world, except the Picts, the Scots, and the Britons, who with foolish zeal oppose the whole world ; for whereas the Lord said to Peter the prince of the apostles, VOL. I. H