87. To Herbert, Bishop of Thioford

Anselm, servant of the Church of Canterbury, to Herbert, Bishop of Thioford, greeting.

As to the priests about whom your prudence asks for advice, I am sure that nothing is to be relaxed of what was settled in the council. But since they prefer to resign whatever appertains to the priest's office, rather than their wives: if any who can be found are leading regular lives, let them act for the others; but if none or few such are to be found, give orders that in the meantime monks shall say mass for the people wherever they may be, and consecrate the Body of the Lord, which shall be taken by the clergy to the sick. The same clergy shall by your command receive con fessions in place of the others, and bury the bodies of the dead. All this you may enjoin even upon monks of advanced age, until this obstinacy of the priests shall, by God's visitation, yield; it will not last long if God be favourable to us, providing we persist in what has been begun. As to baptism, you know that who ever baptises, it is Christ who baptises. Enjoin earnestly all lay people, great and small, on behalf of To his Nephew. 241 God and of all us who settled this in the council, that if they call themselves Christians, they should help you to expel from the churches and from their possessions priests who are disobedient to the council, and to put worthy ones in their stead. And if those expelled break out either against those who are willing to serve the Church chastely, or in any other manner of rashness and pride, let all Christians be against them and exclude them not only from their own society, but also from the lands they hold, together with their female belongings, until they come to a better mind.