81. To Matilda, Queen of the English

To Matilda, illustrious Queen of the English, Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, sends the blessing of God and his faithful service and prayers.

I speak briefly, but from the heart, as to a person for whom I greatly desire that she should advance from an earthly kingdom to a heavenly. When I hear anything about you which does not please God nor become you, if I neglect to warn you, I neither fear God, nor do I love you as I ought. After I left England I heard that you are managing the churches which are in your hands otherwise than is good for them and for your own soul — I am unwilling to say here how you are acting, according as it is reported to me, because to none is it better known than to yourself. Therefore I beg you as my mistress, advise you as my queen, warn you as my daughter (as indeed I have done before now), to cause the churches of God which are in your power to know you as a mother, a nurse, a kind mistress and queen. And I say this not only as to them, but as to all churches in England to which you extend your help. For He who saith "he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done," excepts no one. Again I beg and advise and warn you, my beloved mistress and daughter, to turn this over diligently in your mind, and if your conscience bears you witness that you have herein anything to correct, to hasten to correct it, so that in the future you offend not God, so far as by His grace this is possible to you, and make Him merciful to you for the past if you see you have offended. For it is not, of a certainty, sufficient for any one to desist from evil, unless he takes care to make all possible satisfaction for what has been committed. May Almighty God so ever guide you as that He may repay you with eternal life.