Letter CDLV. To the Aunt of the Emperor of Spain

Letter CDLIV in Eales's numbering.

He promises to her the intercessions of the brethren, and begs that the controversy which existed between them and the monks of Careda, may be determined by the Bishops.¹

I return thanks to God, on hearing from my brother Nivard of your devotion: and pray that He may render to you a rich return according to His goodness, with respect to the faith and confidence which you have in us. We gratefully concede to you the right of brotherhood in our house and a share in our prayers, as you have desired: and trust it may be of as much benefit to you, both in life and in death, as to any one of us. Of another matter: I have necessarily to call the attention of your Highness to the matter of the monks of Careda² because they spread calumnies against us by your niece and alsQ by themselves. Concerning the monastery It behaves us to provide things good then not only before God, but also before men, and we desire by all means thus to proceed in this business, that our good be not evel spoken of, nor that those men should have any occasion for speaking ill of us. Therefore we remit the matter to you, that you may kindly take steps to put an end to that scandal; and if they should not be willing to desist by any other means, that you would be so good as to bring the controversy to an end by the award, as is proper, of the Bishops of Zamora³ and Astorga. And when it shall be made clear, either by their own acknowledgment, or by the award of the Bishops, that they have nothing to complain of and no claim to make against us in this matter, we shall be prepared, by God’s help, so to organize the place, as that it may be a cause of rejoicing to your pious mind; and so that God may be glorified in your work.