145. To Abbot R.
The Letters of St. Anselm
145. TO ABBOT R.
Anselm begs Abbot Ralph of Saint Martin of Seez to receive and assist the bearer of this letter who is to carry out some task.
TO HIS DEAREST LORD AND FATHER, ABBOT R1: BROTHER ANSELM,
STYLED ABBOT OF BEC, WISHING WHAT A SON WISHES HIS FATHER,
A FRIEND HIS FRIEND.
THE CONFIDENCE OF LOVE often makes one presump tuous. But such presumption should suffer no blows, or only a few. Wherefore, with this presumption your faith ful brother Anselm, trusting in your love, does not hesi tate to burden you and your church with the presence of his very dear messenger2 until he has brought about the change of heart for which he is being sent. To bring this about, we ask that he be assisted by your command and by your leave, however you may arrange it, and by the lov ing insistence of Dom John,3 our dearest brother and friend, however seems best. But whether or not for his presump tion the presumer is to suffer no blows, or only a few, you must judge. If none, according to your judgement, I do not disagree. If only a few, however, then let him who knows
I sin because of him meanwhile receive them instead of me.
May almighty God so guide you and the holy communi ty entrusted to your reverend paternity through the snares of this world that he may lead you to eternal bliss. Amen. c. 1090/92.
NOTES 1. Possibly Rodulf/Ralph d'Escures, Abbot of Saint Martin of Seez from 1089-1108, then Bishop of Rochester 1108-1114 and Archbishop of Can terbury from 1114-1112; see GC XE718-20; Frohlich, 'Bischofliche Kollegen', AA 2 (1970) 157-8; Barlow, The English Church 81 ff. et passim.
2. This messenger appears to be the young monk Boso; see Ep 146.
3. John, a monk of Bee at Saint Martin of Seez. He is two hundred thirtyninth in the Bee profession-roll.