25. To the Prior and Brethren of the Church at Canterbury

AT CANTERBURY.

Anselm the archbishop to the lord prior and the brethren living under his rule in the Church of Christ at Canterbury, greeting: and from God blessing, and forgiveness of sins.

Your fraternity asks me for advice as to your trouble, and particularly as to the money which the king has made you pay. You know how he has robbed me of the possessions of the archbishopric. Therefore he shall by no means get from me anything out of the whole archbishopric, unless he shall first have reinvested me according to the canons, and restored to me what he took; nor ought you willingly to give him my money without command from me. But should he force you to give it whether by fear lest he should do still worse to you or by any other compulsion, I shall cry to God alike for what he has taken and for what he shall take from me and you (for what is yours is mine) and invoke His judgment. Do not let present sufferings too much terrify nor disturb you, "for God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." God, who does not forsake those who put their trust in Him, will put an end to these evils. Master Baldwin, when he returned from Rome, brought word from the lord pope, that he will bring our affair before the Council which is to meet next Lent, that he may get advice from the said Council: and he sent word of this to the king. I beg of you to cause to be written out for me the book "Cur Deus Homo? " &c., in one volume, for I want to send it to the lord pope, and I would ask that some one who writes clearly and distinctly may transcribe them. Farewell. And do this as quickly as you conveniently can, and send it to me.