34. To Gondulph, Bishop

Anselm the archbishop to his old and ever new and true friend and beloved in the Lord, the reverend Archbishop Gondulph, greeting.

Although your constancy expects no thanks for the good deeds you have undertaken, but often puts them aside, yet lest others should think that I do not sufficiently notice the kindness and solicitude which you certainly show in your great labours for my advantage, nor estimate them highly enough: therefore I give your reverence thanks in heart and in word and by writing, for in everything belonging to me and my affairs, I perceive that you prudently and vigorously to the utmost of your power and with most true affection both speak and act as you ought. And I am also sure, that, God helping you, as long as you live, your goodwill towards me, as it has never failed since first it began, so it never will fail. Your charity laments that I have not ventured to England, on account of the words of a single clerk; but this is not the case. Read the letter which I wrote to the Lord Prior Ernulph in answer about this. I thought you had seen it. There, as I think, you will read some good reasons why I neither ought to have returned, nor, as things stand, ought to return, to England. But do not make those reasons public. The answer which the king promised to give me by the feast of St Michael, I am sure that neither Master Everard nor any messenger of mine can receive on that day, for he does not so come to me as that he could arrive on that very day. If, therefore, on that day you do not receive that answer, I pray you to demand another as quickly and earnestly as you can, and send me the king's letter, whatever it may be, and if he will not give any answer or wishes to put it off any longer, let me know even that by letter from you with out delay. And as this cannot be done so speedily through Master Everard, do it through my servant Vulgarus of Lyminge and some one companion, or by any other walking messenger; for I will neither cause nor accept further delay before beginning to take counsel of God and His Church, which ought to be done in a matter like this. But I trust in God whose cause it is that is in question, that at some time or other it will be concluded, and the Church not always suffer as it does now. I know not who it is that with evil intention, out of the malice of his heart, interpreted the letter I sent to the king as though I were boasting that whereas I had always obeyed the law of God, his father and Archbishop Lanfranc had lived wickedly outside God's law. Now of a surety the mind of those who say this is either very wicked, or very small. For Anselni to his Dearest Admin. 175 some things were done in their own days by the king's father and Archbishop Lanfranc, men of great and devout reputation, which I, in these days, am unable to do, while obeying the law of God, and without incurring the damnation of my soul. You have done well, and I am pleased at your telling me the whole business in your letter, plainly, just as it happened. I am not satisfied with having often commended to your care the possessions and family of Robert who is with me, but would again, on account of the great good-will I bear him, draw your attention to them, and beg you to keep both in peace, so far as you can. I salute your sons and mine, and your daughters, and especially by name Master Ernulph, your chaplain. May Almighty God keep you always and everywhere. Amen.