Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York - Definition and Overview

Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York, Bishop of London, Bishop of Worcester. Died May 28 1023 at Ely.

This Wulfstan is not to be confused with Wulfstan I, Archbishop of York or St. Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester.

Wulfstan wrote numerous works in Old English, the vernacular. His best known is Sermo Lupi ad Anglos. In Sermo Lupi ad Anglos (Sermon of Wolfy to the English), he proclaims the depradations of the "Danes" (who were, at that point, primarily Norwegian invaders) a scourge from God to lash the English for their sins. He calls upon them to repent their sinful ways. Wulfstan was very involved in the liturgical reforms of the English church, as well, and was a powerful force for setting up the power of the bishoprics of York, in particular.