Letter XXXVII. To Theobald, Count of Champagne.2

(A.D. 1128.)

He expresses astonishment at having been refused, in the cause of Humbert, though he asked nothing but "what was right and just; he warns the Count, by the remembrance of the Supreme Judge, not to deny help and mercy to an unfortunate man.

To the noble Prince THEOBALD, BERNARD, the unprofit able servant of the servants of God who are in Clairvaux, health and peace.¹

1. I am very grateful that you have been so good, as I have heard, as to be anxious about my poor health; and while I see in this a proof of your worthiness towards me, I cannot doubt of the love that you have towards God; for unless for that reason, when would one of your high rank deign to know so humble a person as myself? Since, then, it is certain that you love God, and me because of Him, I wonder the more that a small petition, preferred through confidence in God, and neither unjust, as I think, nor unreasonable, should have been refused to me by you. If I had asked of you gold or silver, or something of that kind² [either I am much deceived as to your goodness, or I should certainly have received it]. But what, I say, had I asked? Already, without asking, I have received very many gifts of your generosity. But this one thing which I requested from you,³ not for my own sake, but in the name of God, much more in your interest than my own. What cause was there that I did not merit the granting of it? Did you think it an unworthy thing of me to ask, or of you to grant, that you should have mercy upon a Christian man, whatever might be the crime of which he was accused before you, after clearing himself of it? If you do not believe that he has fully cleared himself because he did not do this in your court, at least permit him to present himself there to establish his innocence, and thus obtain indulgence.

2. Are you ignorant of the threatenings of Him who has said, When my time shall be come I shall judge the judg ments themselves (Ps. Ixv. 2, VuLG.)? And if He judges the judgments much more the injustices. Do you not fear what is written again, With -what measure ye have •measured it shall be again measured to you (S. Matt, vu. 2)? Do you not know that if it is easy for you to deprive Humbert of his heritage, it is as easy — it is even in comparably more easy — for God to deprive Count Theobald (which may God forbid) of his? And even in such cases where the fault appears so open and inexcusable as that there is no opportunity left for mercy except at the cost of justice, even then it is only with fear and regret that you ought to punish, more because obliged by the duty of your office than from a desire to inflict punishment. But when the crime charged is either not certainly known, or is capable of excuse, not only ought you not to deny, but ought most willingly to embrace an opportunity for pardoning, and be glad that when justice is secured your mercy and indulgence have found place.

I supplicate your Highness, then, for the second time to have pity upon Humbert, as you would that God should have pity upon you; and to lend an ear either to that gentle promise of the Lord, Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy (S. Matt. v. 7), or to that terrible threat, He shall have judgment -without mercy that hath showed no mercy (S. James ii. 13). Farewell.

Footnotes

1. Many and high encomiums upon him are read in the writers of his age. Anselm of Gembloux speaks thus of him in the year 1 134: "Count Theobald of Blois, or Chartres, was distinguished among all the princes of France by his scrupulous justice. He was a pious man, a familiar associate of good monks and clergy, a defender of the Church, a helper of the poor, and consoler of the afflicted; prudent and discreet in the conduct of affairs, justly severe to offenders.'' A monk of Autun, named Hugo, renders to him the same praise A.D. 1136. As regards his zeal for justice, which Anselm specially commends, a striking example is found in Letter 39, and others, from which we learn with what vigour he dared, first of all, or among the first, to repress the single combats which were tolerated elsewhere by all other princes. The Canons had long forbidden them to Clerks, as Bishop Ivo, of Chartres, declares in his Letter 247. Ernald •of Bonnevaux, like Geoffrey, speaks with admiration of the works of charity and mercy of Theobald (Life of S. Bernard, B. ii. c. 8). Also the (new) Letter 416. He was buried in the Benedictine monastery at Lagny-sur-Marne, of which he was patron and protector, as we see from Bernard's Letter 230. This abbey was founded by Heribert, Count of Champagne, in A.D. 990, and thtre the porphyry tomb of Count Theobald may still be seen. ↩

2. So the S. Germanus MS. Others omit these words. ↩

3. Hence it appears that this was not the first Letter written on behalf of Humbert, but that Letter 39 was prior in time, and from this we learn the country of Humbert, and the punishment inflicted upon him. ↩