Letter CCCXV. To Matilda, Queen of England
(Circa A.D. H34.)
Bernard begs her to receive favourably a request already presented to her on behalf of the monks of La Chapelte To the illustrious lady and beloved daughter in Christ (which I say in affection, not of presumption), MATILDA, by the grace of God Queen of England, BERNARD wishes health.*12
It is not, I trust, a matter of surprise to you if I presume somewhat in addressing your Highness. I am not alone in thinking, what indeed all are aware of, that you have some kindness towards me, and that I have in some degree your favour. Because of which I have a request to make on behalf of a certain friend of mine, the venerable Abbot of La Chapelle,3 who has asked me to remind you of a certain tithe which I have already asked from you at Boulogne, if you are kind enough to remember, and which request you then, with your accustomed kindness,4 favourably enter tained. But because what I then asked has not yet been carried out, I write to pray you that it may at length be effectually done. Let me beg that you will take good care for me of the son whom you have borne: because I also, if it will not displease the King, claim some portion in him. Adieu.
Footnotes
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Formerly No. 344; the former No. 315 is now 34.1. ↩
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This was Matilda, daughter of Malcolm III., King of Scotland; wife of the Emperor Henry V., and afterwards of Henry I. of England. She had, by the latter, Henry II., of whom Bernard speaks at the end of this Letter, which was written before the death of Henry I. There was another Matilda, daughter of Fulk, Count of Anjou, who married William, son of Henry I. Her husband perished by shipwreck; when she took the veil at Fontevraud and became Abbess of that house. Peter de Celles wrote a Letter to her (B. i. n. 10). ↩
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A house of the Benedictine Order, in the diocese of Boulogne. ↩
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Matilda had such esteem and affection for Bernard, that when she was at Boulogne, she went out of the town on foot to meet him. See Life B. iv. n. 6. ↩
Chapter 315 of 491