CHOICE OF THEODORE

tongues, in manners and conversation virtuous and for age venerable, being, that is, then sixty-six years old. Him Hadrian presented to the pope, and obtained that he was ordained bishop: yet with these conditions first made, that Hadrian should himself conduct him into Britain, because having twice before travelled into the parts of France for divers matters, he had therefore more experience in accomplishing this journey, and was sufficiently provided with men of his own: 1 Slaves of his own, which would save cost. and that assisting him always in teaching, he should give diligent eye that Theodore introduced not after the manner of the Greeks 2 Perhaps because of the Monothelite controversy. anything contrary to the true faith into the Church now subject unto him. And Theodore, being ordained sub-deacon, tarried four months until his hair should be full grown, that it might be shorn into the shape of a crown, for before he had the tonsure of the holy apostle Paul after the manner of the Easterns. 3 Who shaved the whole head; they also wore beards.

And he was ordained by Vitalian, the pope, in the 668th year of the Lord’s incarnation, the 26th day of March, upon a Sunday. And so on the 27th of May in the company of the abbot Hadrian he was directed to Britain. And when together they had arrived to Marseilles by sea, and after by land to Arles, and had delivered to John the archbishop of that city the letters of commendation from Vitalian the pope, they were held back there by him until that Ebroin, mayor of the king’s 4 Clothaire III. palace, gave them safe-conduct to pass and go whithersoever they would. Which being granted them, Theodore took his journey to Agilbert bishop of Paris, of whom we have spoken before, and was very friendly received of him and kept there a long time. Hadrian went his way first to Emme bishop of Sens, and after to