Letter CCLXXXV. To the Same, on Behalf of Quo,' Abbot of S. Denys

(Circa A.I). 1153.)

He recommends this Abbot to the Pope, and declares him innocent of the accusations brought against him.¹

1. 1 should not hesitate to write on behalf of the church of S. Denys, and for Odo, its Abbot, even if no one else would. The cause is a good one, and doubtful on neither account; the church is a famous one, and the Abbot is of good report. The one is known to the world, the other to us, his neigh bours. Add to this, that both he and the church have a special claim on you. And because of all this, as I have said, if need were I should not be ashamed to write for them, even though I were alone. But as it is, others are writing as well as I, who would not be disbelieved even if I did not write. They are men who have often treated of this matter. They know7 wrhat the Abbot has done, and what they know they say. My prayers for him may go forth with confidence when supported by such indubitable testimonies. With confidence I solicit and entreat you to take some thought for the property of yours which he holds, which has been wickedly attacked, and grievously harassed. I ask you, I beseech you, lift your hand, stretch out your arm, and cover him w7ith your shield. Let the sword of Peter defend the patrimony of Peter.

2. In vain have men risen against him; his reputation is his sufficient excuse, nay, the universal esteem in which he is held is his commendation. They are good sons, forsooth, who, prying too curiously into the secrets of their father, have dreamt of some crimes or other which no one else has discovered. Those who hear of this sudden and unexpected change stand amazed. They are ashamed, because nothing of this sort had ever before been said of Odo. The Abbot of S. Denys cannot be said to be hid under a bushel. He stands on a candlestick, and however much he may wish it, he cannot hide what he is. His light, and so his smoke, must be seen by all. Why have these men turned on him their lynx eyes, seeing what no one else has ever yet been able to see? Their charge, I confess, seems to me suspicious. What makes me more incredible is the fact that one of their number is a man named Raymond, who, they say, is the head of this wickedness that they have attempted: whom I have found loquacious enough face to face, but secretly a back-biter, ambitious to excess, currying favour by his flatteries, wholly set on deceit, and no less on causing confusion. I have marked the wolf under the sheep's clothing, or by certain signs I have pointed him out, so that now he may either be afraid to bite, or be powerless to do harm.

Footnotes

1. Odo, who was formerly a monk of S. Denys, near Paris, then Abbot of S. Cornelius, at Compiegne, was chosen to succeed Suger as Abbot of S. Denys, A.D. 1151. For his ordination and merits see epp. Suger, 156 ft seij., especially ep. 162, which is one of Baldwin, Bishop of Noyon, who, writing to Eugenius. says that he was " a religious and energetic man," duly elected, and blessed by ↩