"As for me," he added, "I will put myself on my road, for the time of my passing away approacheth.

I have longed for this departure, and none can turn me from it; wherefore, my son, get all things ready, and place in the chest with my books the winding-sheet to wrap up my old body." And so he departed with some of his priests and servants to go and evangelize the Frisons, the majority of whom were still pagans and barbarians.

He pitched his tent on their territory and was arranging to celebrate there the Lord's Supper, when a band of natives came down and rushed upon the archbishop's retinue.

The servitors surrounded him, to defend him and themselves; and a battle began.

"Hold, hold, my children," cried the arch-bishop; "Scripture biddeth us return good for evil.