110. To Abbot Henry.
The Letters of St. Anselm
110. TO ABBOT HENRY.
Anselm mistrusts the oral information that Abbot Henry has given permission for Dom Fulcerald to become a monk at Bee. He requests a written confirmation with Abbot Henry's seal attached.
TO HIS LORD AND FATHER, THE REVEREND ABBOT HENRY1:
BROTHER ANSELM, WISHING ENDURING PROSPERITY IN THIS LIFE
AND ETERNAL BLISS IN THE LIFE TO COME.
THE BEARER OF THIS LETTER reported to me that your holiness is prepared to follow our will concerning Dom Ful cerald, your son. Since I see neither your letter nor your seal, which is a reliable witness to a document, I do not en tirely trust your messenger: nor, when I recall to mind that the friend asked by a friend for three loaves of bread, although he did not get up because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity gets up and gives him as many as he needs,2 am I entirely incredulous. For if the laziness of the sleepy friend was overwhelmed by his importunity in the middle of the night, how much more will my importunity over so many years procure from your charity?
If, therefore, God has put into your heart to give your afore-named son up altogether to our church under the governance of its abbot3—for I do not ask, nor is it expe dient for him to return because of the danger and difficulties of the long way he came—I pray by that same importunity that a letter confirmed by your seal should show me your undoubted will. When we are truly certain of this it will be our responsibility to take care of him.
After Ep 55.
NOTES 1. For Henry and Fulcerald (Folcerald), see Epp 55, 111, 209.
2. Lk 11:8.
3. This general phrase with no mention of either Abbot Herluin or Ab bot Anselm may point to the period between the former's death on 26 August 1078 and the latter's consecration on 22 February 1079.