Letter CCCVIII. To Alfonso, King of Portugal

(A.D. 1153-)

Bernard replies that he has done his best to comply with the King's request, and he predicts that in a short time his brother, who was then engaged in the warfare of earth, would pass over into that of Heaven.

To ALFONSO, the illustrious King of Portugal, BERNARD, called Abbot of Clairvaux, desires all that the prayer of a sinner can obtain for him.

I have received with extreme joy the letter and greeting of your Highness, and am glad in Him who sendeth health unto Jacob. What I have done in this matter will be shown by the event, and you yourself will be able to appreciate it by that means; you will see .with what zeal and ardour I have wished to respond to your commands, and to the exigency of the case. Peter,'¹ the brother of your Highness, a meritorious and accomplished Prince, has made me acquainted with your wishes. After having crossed France with his men-at-arms, he is now carrying on war in Lorraine, but he will not be long before he is a combatant in the armies of the Lord. My son, Brother Roland, brings to you a letter bearing the liberality of the Holy See. I commend him to you, also the Brothers of my Order dwelling in your realm, and, lastly, myself.

Footnotes

1. This Peter, brother of Alfonso, King of Portugal, was one of those young men who were passionately fond of tournaments, and whom (it is said) S. Bernard prepared fur conversion by a draught of beer, which he blessed when giving it to him. Concerning this see the Life, B. i. c. ii. n. 155. What directions Alfonso had sent to Bernard about him appear in the Letter from that King to that Saint, which Henriquez prints in his Menology under May 9. This is the subject of it: After having defeated the Moors, Alfonso had assumed the title of King, which was offered by his subjects, but the King of Castile refused his consent unless a certain tribute was paid to him in return for the concession. He re quested of S. Bernard, in this Letter, to obtain for him the title of King from the Pope, preferring, if it were necessary to pay tribute to someone, to pay it to S. Peter, or to the Holy See, than to a neighbouring and jealous Prince. See Letter 419. ↩