Letter CCXCIX. To the Count of Angouleme, on Behalf of the Monks of S. Amand De Boissn
(Circa A.D. 1150.)
He complains of the heavy exactions J'rom his brethren by the Count.1
Do not think it strange of me if I regard as excessive the rent-charge which you demand of our brethren for the domain of Boisse, since we are not accustomed to pay anything like that amount. We have founded many Abbeys, and none of them has been rendered liable to such heavy dues. But as this is your absolute will, and as God more willingly accepts a voluntary offering than a forced one, I will ratify the agreement which my brethren have made with you, until God shall inspire you with a more indulgent spirit towards us, as I do not despair that He will do. In the meantime honour them with your affection and favour, give them your protection and support; there is no better means of enabling you to appear with confidence before the tribunal of Christ than to have the poor for your friends and intercessors.
Footnotes
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In the first Lyons edition of the Letters of S. Bernard, in 1494- reads Comiti Angelterto (perhaps the same who is spoken of in Letter 123) pro jratritus de Bruxia. In another edition, 1530, Comiti Engelterto pro fratribus de Bruxia. In another at Lyons in 1520, and in all following, except one, it stands as given in the text. The authors of our age prefer this subscription, asserting that William, surnamedTaillefer, Count of Angouleme. granted to the Cistercians in 1143 a spot situated in the territory of Boisse, where was situated the Benedictine Abbey of S. Amand, founded by Count Arnald in the tenth century. But these last having protested against the" grant made to the Cistercians, Bernard, for the sake of peace, gave it up in 1 153; but on the condition, says Picard, that the monks of S. Amand should repay sixty silver marks to those of Clairvaux for the buildings which they had raised and other things acquired by them in that place. ↩
Chapter 299 of 491