The Letters of John of Salisbury [2:The Later Letters (1163-1180)]

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The Letters of John of Salisbury VOLUME TWO

The Later Letters (1163-1180)

EDITED BY

W. J. MILLOR, S.J. AND

C. N. L. BROOKE

OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 1 979

OXFORD NEW YORK KUALA LUMPUR DELHr

LO:-.DON

(,LA~!,O\\'

TOH.ONTO

l\lELBOt:l~NI~

SI~GAPORE

JAKARTA

BOMBAY

CAPE TO\VN

CALCUTTA KAff-1.OIH

CONTENTS

\Vl·LI !"'1.11,:, IJONL li(•Nl,

MADR,\S

Jiih\il

J{AllAl'III

DAR ES SALAA:-.t

r('.I Oxford Uni1•crsity Press 1979

All rig/,/., rrscn•cd. No part of this publ-ication

JJla\'

/Jr

n·f•rodu, ('(/, .,tortd in a retrin·al system, or trans,m:tted,

in a1ty fonn or by an_y 1neans, electronic, nzechanical, {'h,,towpying, recording, or otheri;_.- ' Formerly a protege of Becket (MB, iii. 120) and evidently a friend of Ioli n ; but a royal clerk from 11 59 or before, and much involved in royal policies 111 1his period; he succeeded Henry of Blois as bishop of Winchester in 1173/4

died in II88 (references in GFL, p. 539; see esp. Delisle, pp. 43r-4; C. Trans. Royal Hist. Soc., 5th Series, xvi (1966), 1-21; id. in Thomas R. Foreville (Paris, 1975), pp. 71-83). The identity of John's enemy is not clear and so we cannot be sure of the , ,, ,cisc meaning of this passage. 11,d

s Horace, Ep. i, 16, 60- 1 (with Loeb edn. translation, by H. R. Fairclough). 6 John, 17: 9. 7 Cf. Romans, 12: 10 ff. (and I Corinthians, 13). , s Cf. above, i. 195 , no. u8 ad fin., for a similar phrase. No. 147 refers to a

47

escape detection; grant me to pass as just and upright' 5-but the words of the Gospel, which the Son used in addressing the Father: 'I ask not for the world, but for those whom you have given me', 6 and other sayings suited to the case. But St. Paul still says and teaches us, that brotherly love is the most excellent way,7 and your thought for your outlawed brothers shows that you take this path. When a brother's love is commended, I reckon a sister's 8 too is not forgotten. Farewell.

I49

?Summer n65 (before summer n66: p. xxvii)

JOHN OF SALISBURY

I >11ggan in t;,., hl'l, ed.

THE LETTERS OF

Letter

ISO

ISO

Letter

ISO

JOHN OF SALISBURY

49

ISO

Domino Exoniensi

To Bartholomew, bishop of Exeter SummRr n65 (p. xxvii)

Post recessum domini papae nulla apud nos relatu digna emerserunt nee de curia imperatoris aliquid certum est, ideoque ah eorum quae publice dicuntur relatione desisto et propriis incumbo negotiis. Promisit michi Pictauensis archidiaconus, ut ante iam scripsi, quod reconciliationi meae operam claret, sed quatenus profecerit non respondit. Nunc autem eum et episcopum Lundoniensem,' qui regis gratiam dicitur hahere prae ceteris, iterato sollicitaui scripto, sicut uobis lator praesentium poterit indicare. Si uero alicubi in praesentia uestra de pace mea actum fuerit, ad earn quaeso formam per uos et alios laboretis, quae nee perfidiae maculam nee turpitudinis irroget notam; alioquin malo perpetuo exulare. Si enim exigeretur a me ut abnegarem archiepiscopum meum (quod null us suorum fecit adhuc, nee aliquis de tota Anglia), absit ut adquiescam tantae turpitudini primus aut ultimus ! Seruaui quidem fidem debitam domino meo archiepiscopo, sed ex conscientia mea saluo honore regis; contra quern si quis dixerit me esse uersatum, ubi hoe excusare nequiuero, ad honorem et beneplacitum eius, dictante iustitia, paratus sum emendare. Nouit enim cordium inspector 2 et uerborum iudex et operum quod saepius et asperius quam aliquis mortalium corripuerim dominum archiepiscopum de his, in quibus ah initio dominum regem et suos zelo quodam inconsultius uisus est ad amaritudinem prouocasse, cum pro loco et tcmpore et personis multa fuerint dispensanda. Credo autem indubitanter quia et michi saltem eras respondebit iustitia mea 3 per misericordiam Domini, et proculdubio domino Cantuariensi, quod ad litteraturam et mores, plurimum profuit exilium istud et aliquantulum michi ipsi, ut dispositioni diuinae gratias habeam. Nollem quidem expromittere quod Cantuariensi de cetero non seruirem, et tamen michi Deus testis est quod ex proposito non ero de cetero curialis. Si uero michi Dominus redeundi uiam aperuerit, rescribite, si placet, an me redire oporteat cum libris et tota sarcina. Nam si hoe fuerit, plures equi necessarii erunt et plura quae adhuc desunt. 150 Q; G141; MB Epp. 226 150. 2

1 Seep. xxiv. Cf. Proverbs, 24: I 2.

J

Cf. Genesis, 30: 33.

Since the departure of the Pope nothing has happened here worth the telling, nor is there any certain news of the emperor's court; and so I give over speaking of public news, and deal with my own private business. The archdeacon of Poitiers promised me, as I ~ave told you before, that he would take pains for my reconciliat10n, but he has not replied how he has prospered. Now I have repeated my petition to him and to the bishop of London, 1 who is said to be first in the royal favour, as the bearer of this letter will show you. If ever peace for me is discussed in your presence, please work by yourself and through others to achieve a formula which will not inflict on me the stigma of treachery or a stain on my honour. Otherwise I prefer to be exiled for ever. If it be demanded of me that I repudiate my archbishop (which none of his has done :1s yet, nor any in the whole of England) never may I, be I first or last to do so, submit to such dishonour. I have kept the fidelity due to my archbishop, but-by my conscience!-saving the king's honour. If any say I have practised anything against the king, when I have failed to clear myself, I am prepared to set it right for his honour as justice dictates, at his good pleasure. For God who ponders our hearts 2 and judges our words and works knows that I have reproved the archbishop more often and more bitterly than ,,ny living man on tf1e score that he has seemed from the start to have roused the resentment of the king and his associates by his zt':1l-somewhat inadvisedly, since many allowances should have IH'l'n made for place and time and persons. I believe beyond doubt I hat tomorrow at latest my justice will come home to me3 by God's 11ll'rcy; and that the exile has undoubtedly been profitable to the .,rchbishop of Canterbury both for his learning and his character, .111d I myself have profited a little, to make me grateful for God's ,li:,pensation. I would not contract not to serve the archbishop I rom now on, and yet God is my witness that of set purpose I will 111,t henceforward be a member of his household. If God opens the l"''h of return for me, please write back whether I should come \\ iI h my books and all my baggage. If so, I shall need more horses .111d many other things I lack as yet.

50

THE LETTERS OF

Letter

ISI

Letter

ISI

JOHN OF SALISBURY

ISI

ISI

Priori de Meritona 1

To (Robert), prior of Merton 1

Probably c. summer n65 (p. xxvii) Gratias ago uobis quod, sicut ex litteris uestris et pluri1;1m ~elati?ne didici, mei sollicitudinem geritis, et spero quod per m1sencordiam Dei michi proderit sollicitudo uestra. Credo iam profuisse, et uestris et amicorum ascribo precibus quod michi prospere cesserunt omnes dies peregrinationis meae. 2 Et quia me ue~trum se~per et ubique reputo, precor attentius ut pro m~ m~ercedat1s ad Dominum ne me supra id quod possum temptan patlatur, sed cum temptatione prouentum faciens, 3 quando et quomodo sibi uisum est, si tamen hoe uisum fuerit, me reducat in terram natiuitatis meae sine dispendio conscientiae et famae, et conceptam indignationem domini regis, qui me, l_)eo et ~o_nscientia tes~e'. gratis diu persecutus est et adhuc perseqmtur, m1t1g~t. Parcat ilh Deus et non sinat ut procella turbinis huius ah ammo meo excutia; caritatem. Confido autem quod dominus Lundoniensis et archidiaconus Pictauensis, si oportunitatem uiderint, agent de pace mea, nee diffido de Ricardo de Luci. 4 Precor itaque ut et uos, si oportunitatem uideritis, istos pro me sollicitetis,_ quatenus ta1:1en ecclesiae uestrae non credideritis obfuturum. Si autem hommes interpellare tutum non fuerit, Deum quaeso deuo~ius exoret~s ut gressus meos dirigat in semitis sufs. 5 _Potens emm e~t ub1que locorum michi patriam facere, et qmcqmd aufertur dom1, peregre salubriter compensare.

51

[ have learned from your letter and common report that you are taking trouble on my behalf; thank you for it, and I trust by God's mercy that your care will profit me. I believe you have had some success already, and I ascribe it to your prayers and to the prayers of my friends that all the days of my pilgrimage2 have come to a happy issue. I consider myself yours at all times and in every place, and so I earnestly beg you to intercede for me with the Lord that He may not suffer me to be tempted above that I am able, but may combine with the temptation a happy result, 3 and when and if I le sees fit, bring me to my native land again without a stain on my conscience or my reputation; and may soften the anger of the king who has persecuted me and still persecutes me without occasion;1s God and my conscience bear witness. God spare him, and may lie not permit this storm to drive charity out of my head. I am rnnfident that the bishop of London and the archdeacon of l'oitiers, if they see a chance, will sue for my peace; and I do not , lcspair of Richard de Luci.4 You too, if you see opportunity, 1wtition them on my behalf, I beg you, so long as you do not think 1t will injure your church. If it is not safe to appeal to men, I ask you to pray God in all earnestness that He may order my steps in 1 lis paths.s For He is ah;~ to make a homeland for me in any rn1111try, and to make up abroad to my profit whatever I lose at I lrn the mouth of the bearer of this letter and from letters sent me I Iv my friends in England, you will be able to perceive the state of , ,, , . ' See p. xxvii. 3 1 Corinthians, 10: 13. (:f. Genesis, 47: 9. ' Sec p. xxiv. On Richard de Luci, royal justiciar, c. 1154-1178, when he , , 111 n I or was dismissed, see Delisle, pp. 434-6; F. West, The Justiciarship in t• ,w!a11d Io66-I232 (Cambridge, 1966), pp. 37-9; Lally, esp. chap. 3. er. Psalm uS (119): 133; 16 (17): 5.

THE LETTERS OF

52

Letter r52

regno. Mitto uobis etiam litteras quas michi m1s1ta episcopus Baiocensis per nuntium meum, quern ad ipsum destinaueram, ut per eum certiorarer de statu fratris mei et rerum nostrarum. Rex enim commiserat ei redditus nostros quos in Saresberiensi episcopatu habebamus; quos autem habebamus in aliis ecclesiis, partim Londoniensi commisit, partim aliis; 1 qui tantam diligentiam adhibent, ut nichil inde possimus habere ego et frater meus, nee aliquis nomine nostro. Et, sicut referunt qui de partibus illis redeunt, res nostrae dilapidantur omnino, ut nee ecclesiae nee domus reficiantur. Ego super hoe et ipsi Londoniensi scripsi, et Herefordensi et Wigorniensi et Cicestrensi b episcopis et archidiacono Pictauensi. 2 Cicestrensis autem se a do mini regis gratia excidisse conqueritur, et haec uerba subiungit,C quia solus Londoniensis censetur nomine suo. 3 Nullus aliorum michi respondit. Expecto tamen d ut saltem uerba dent mi chi ueteri amico suo in reditu nuntii mei. De Cantia autem nichil audiui. Veruntamen postquam puer meus a uobis reuersus est, audiui quod rex Scotorum4 scripserat uobis, et quod optinuerat a rege pacem uestram. Sed non potui fidem habere uerbis, tum quia audio Scoticum regem non accessisse ad nostrum, tum quia negotium tarn acriter inceptum uideo,' ut non possit sine miraculo facile per litteras expediri. Praeterea dicitur quod comes Flandriae 5 rogatu imperatricis et reginae magnos uiros misit ad regem, agens de pace uestra, et quod redierunt. Sed quid retulerint, incertum habeo. Ad haec quidam de domesticis uestris, ut audio, ad uos ah expeditione Walliae reuersi sunt. Eapropter michi rescribi precor, et de nuntio quern ad uos transmisit rex Scotiae, et de nuntiis comitis Flandriae destinatis ad regem, et quod audistis de domino rege et Walensibus, et si quid de domino papa uobis innotuit, postquam uenit ad Montem Pessulanum. Desidero autem de co audire prospera, co magis quo illi ex magna parte inter quos moror ei uaticinantur aduersa. Dicunt enim quod Pisani et Genuenses et etiam Arelatenses mare ingressi sunt ex mandato Teutonici tyranni, ut ei tendant insidias, et piraticam exercent, ut sine manuductione e

a misit] nuper n uidero g

152. 2

3

4

b

cistrensi g

c

subiunxit b

d

tamen om. n

1 See GFL, nos. 168-9, esp. p. 227 and nn. Seep. xxiv; no. 151. The meaning is not clear. Malcolm IV (who died 9 December 1165): this is the only evidence of his

Letter r52

JOHN OF SALISBURY

53

the Church in that kingdom. I am also sending you the letter which the bishop of Bayeux sent me by my messenger whom I had directed to him, so as to assure myself of the position of my brother and of our affairs. The king had committed to him our revenues in the diocese of Salisbury; those which we had in other churches he committed partly to the bishop of London, partly to others; 1 and they take such care of them that I and my brother can get nothing from them, nor anyone acting in our name. Our properties are wholly decayed, and neither churches nor houses repaired, so those who come back from there tell us. I myself have written to the bishop of London in person, and also to the bishops of Hereford, Worcester and Chichester, and the archdeacon of Poitiers. 2 The bishop of Chichester complains that he has fallen from royal favour, and adds these words: 'The bishop of London alone is taken at his face value.' 3 None of these others have replied. But I expect that some of them will send me by my messenger on his return at least some verbal messages for their old friend. I have heard nothing from Kent. After my boy came back from you, I heard that the king of the Scots4 had written to you, and that he had won peace for you from the king. But I could not credit the 111cssage, since I hear that the Scottish king has not been to visit ours and because I perceive that an affair entered into with such bitterness could not easily be rounded off by letter save by a 111iracle. Besides, it is said that the count of Flanders,S working for yom peace, at the request of the Empress and the queen, has sent a , Iistinguished party of men to the king, and that they have returned. l:11t what they have returned with, I do not know. I hear that some of your household, furthermore, have returned to you from the Welsh campaign. And so pray write and tell me about the courier \\ horn the king of Scotland sent you, and the count of Flanders's c111bassy to the king; also what you have heard of the king and the \\' dsh, and if you have any news of the Pope since he arrived at I\ I ontpellier. I long to hear good news of him, especially as most of 1liosc among whom I am living foretell disasters for him. They say I li;1t the Pisans and the Genoese and even the men of Arles have 11 111 to sea on the orders of the German tyrant to lay an ambush for l1irn and play the pirate, so that without their safe conduct no-one 111lnvention at this stage, though it is likely enough. See G. W. S. Barrow in I, ts of Malcolm IV = Regesta Regum Scottorum, i (Edinburgh, 1960), p. 21. Philip: see no. 136 n. 6.

THE LETTERS OF

54

Letter r52

eorum nulli omnino liceat nauigare in illo mari. 6 Adiciunt etiam quod in ecclesiam Maguntinam uelit intrudere illum non Christianum, sed antichristum, 7 apostatam suum, qui Raginaldo successit in officio cancellariae et persecutione ecclesiae et collisione et strage gentium et euersione ciuitatum. Dicitur enim hoe promeruisse in eo quod Tusciam totam Teutonicis subdidit et Campaniam,8 ut Romanis nichil relictum sit, nee in agris nee in oliuetis aut uineis extra moenia urbis. Vnde, ut aiunt, inclusus populus et quasi affectus inedia optinuit multis precibus et pecunia data inducias usque ad f estum sancti Michaelis; tune, nisi dominus papa interim uenerit et subuenerit, recepturi suntf Gwidonem Cremensem et in uerba Teutonicorum iuraturi. 9 Et ne aliquid subtraham, asserunt nescio quas prophetissas Teutonicas uaticinatas esse, uncle furor Teutonicorum 10 potest amplius inflammari, et uncle scismatici animantur. Sed profecto potens est Deus conterere superbiam Moab, ualdeg aduersus Dominum superbientis, et arrogantia eius maior est quam fortitudo.u Vnde in tanto rerum turbine nichil salubrius arbitror, quam ut confugiamus ad clementiam Christi, qui, etsi iterum crucifigitur, non occiditur, sed crucifixores suos in ultionem columbae faciet acerbius crucifigi.12 Et iam crucifigit pro parte, conuocans aduersus eos pestem et f

sunt om. g

g

ualdeque b g (and? b ante corr.)

Letter r52

JOHN OF SALISBURY

55

at all may sail in those waters. 6 They say too that the tyrant would like to impose on the church of Mainz that apostate of his, not Christian but Anti-Christ,7 who is the successor of Rainald in the office of chancellor, in persecuting the Church, in conflict and carnage among the nations, and in the overthrow of cities. He is said to have earned his promotion by subduing the whole of Tuscany and the Campagna to the Germans, 8 so that there is nothing left for the Romans beyond the walls of the city, neither in the fields, nor in the olive groves, nor in the vineyards. Shut in and weakened by hunger (so it is reported), the people have gained a truce till Michaelmas by many prayers and by money: then, unless the Pope comes to help them, they will receive Guy of Crema and will do as the Germans tell them.9 And to give you the whole story, they say that some German Sibyls have been prophesying; and the result is greater ardour to the fury of the Teutons 10 and new life to the schismatics. But assuredly God is able to bruise the pride of Moab, boasting loudly against the Lord, and their arrogance is greater than their courage. r I In such a storm I consider nothing more salutary for us than to fly to Christ's mercy, who, even if he is a second time crucified, is not killed, but will have his executioners more fearfully crucified in vengeance for his dove. 12 Already he is 8 T~e chancellor and archbishop Christian laid waste parts of Campagna, took 1\nagm and other places, and neared Rome; but for the denouement, see next

note.

Pisa was the headquarters of Frederick's chancellor, Christian of l\;Iainz (see next note) in this period; Genoa had been bought to imperial alliance by a privilege in 1162, and Arles was nominally part of his Burgundian kingdom, and he was later to choose it as the scene of his coronation (1178); so that the rumours may have had substance. But other evidence suggests that it was the Pisan galleys which attempted to intercept the Pope: they actually surrounded a ship carrying four cardinals, but finding no Pope in it, let it depart (Romuald of Salerno, Rerum Italicarum Scriptores (the new Muratori), vii, Citta di Castello, n.d., 252; cf. Chronicle of Pisa, ib. vi, 2 (Bologna, n.d.), 35-7; Reuter, ii. 187 ff., esp. 188 n.). 7 The former archbishop-elect of Mainz, Conrad of Wittelsbach, was removed in II65, and went to Rome for consecration, where he joined the circle of Alexander III (see Timothy Reuter, p. 173 and refs.). Meanwhile, the German chancellor Christian I was elected archbishop between 19 and 24 September II65, and consecrated on 5 March II67; though his election was treated as null and void by Alexander III and his supporters, he held his see till his death in 1183, when Conrad was restored. See Hauck, iv. 255 ff., 910; Reuter, ii. 159 ff. John's disapproval of Christian was sharpened by his activity as imperial leader in Italy: from his headquarters in Pisa he threatened Rome and made Alexander's return dangerous; and as archbishop and chancellor he played the role, as did even more the archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel, designed by Henry II for Becket. 6

'' In the event, Christian's campaign in central Italy in 1164-5 proved relatively unsuccessful: 'he did not possess the forces either to compel Rome to submit or to garrison what he had taken. Victor IV had died in II64, and his successor ( :uy of Crema (Paschal III) whom Christian brought with him to Viterbo, rnuld not command the support enjoyed by his Roman predecessor. When ( 'liristian marched north to Tuscany in the early spring of 1165 few places seem 1" h_ave held out for Paschal III except Viterbo .... In November 1I65 Alexander, 1,avmg travelled from France to Sicily and then to Rome was able to enter his ',tT in peace'. (P. Partner, The Lands of St. Peter, London, 1972, p. 205; cf. l(rntcr, ii. 181 ff.) '" For 'furor Teutonicorum' cf. i. 207 and n. 6. The 'sibyls' have been taken to rd"r t? St. Hildegarde of Bingen and St. Elizabeth of Schiinau; and Elizabeth, "''" died on 18 June 1164, was a supporter of Victor IV, the anti-pope. But 1Iildegarde supported Alexander, and was a critic of the regime of Frederick lt:irharossa (see esp. F. W. E. Roth, Die Visionen und Briefe der hl. Elisabeth ... , "":'>'chonau (Brunn, 1886), esp. pp. xcix-c, cii-ciii, Anmerkungen, p. lv), though ,, discreet 01:e: 'de sch~smate ecclesiae non iubet me Dominus loqui' (Ep. 64 , • 1 1nl m B. Widmer, Hezlsordnung und Zeitgeschehen in der 1Vlystik Hildegards von I :111g,'n (Basel and Stuttgart, 1955), p. 259; cf. pp. 245-60). See Timothy Reuter, I' 179 and n. 4. " Cf. Leviticus, 26: 19; Jeremiah, 48: 4, 29; Isaiah, 16: 6. CL Jeremiah, 50: 15-16.

56

Letter r52

THE LETTERS OF

gladium, et alios angelos suos, per quos gloriosius punit contra eum immaniter gloriantes. Si uobish adfuerint sanctae Cantuariensis ecclesiae patroni, quorum memoriam haberi iugiter expedit, Deo auctore, utiliter sedabitur haec procella, i et nos feliciter ad optatum enauigabimus portum. Nee diffido quin eos habeamus propitios, si posuerimus corda nostra super uias nostras,1 3 et ita uersati fuerimus in exercitio legis diuinae, ut earn non minus studeamus facere quam audire. Nam ut ait sapiens quidam, 'Rerum experientia intelligentiae magistrak est.' 14 Valete, et omnes uestri. Nuntium, si placet, cito remittite.l

Letter r52

JOHN OF SALISBURY

57

crucifying them piecemeal, summoning against them plague and the sword and others of His angels, by whom in His glory He punishes those who vaunt their glory wildly against Him. If the protectors of the holy church of Canterbury are with you-and it is well to keep them always in our minds-under God, this storm will be duly stayed, and we shall make the haven we desire auspiciously. I do not despair of having them on our side, if we have set our minds on our paths 13 and so have abided in the pursuit of the divine law, that we study to perform no less than to hear it. As one wise man says, 'Experience is the mistress of understanding'. 1 4 Fare you well, and all your household. Please send back my messenger swiftly.

I5J I5J

Rogero de Sideberia 1 ?I r65-6 (p. xxvii) Rogero de Sideberia I(ohannes) sal(utem) et ad optatuma benedictionis fructum omnes alios sine praeuolantis aut praecurrentis aut praepedientis obstaculo uel molestia feliciter peruenire. Spero, dilectissime, quia desiderium meum in hac re facile adimplebitur, nisi forte Ricardus de Sideberia iuuenili alacritate diligentiae tuae praeripiat palmam. Sed si istud in mentem eius uenerit, Deus ei tantam laetitiae et iocunditatis materiam tribuat, ut ei excutiat necessitas ridendi quod tibi iuuenilis temeritas praeripere moliebatur. Si tamen in hoe uel in aliud patrem fuerit imitatus, quod etiam pertinere uideatur ad culpam, nos qui prouectiores sumus aetate et gradu et similes nostri corripiamus eum in spiritu lenitatis, 2 considerantes nos an et ipsi quandoquc temptati fuerimus. Nonne enim puero indulgendum est si semel h nobis n i proc. hec b 1 ... remittite n; om. ceteri

k

magistra intell. n

1

et omnes

153 Q; G157 (lines r-8, to necessitas, crowded into inadequate space in Q) a optandum A 13

14

Haggai, 1: 7. Walther, no. 26588a: 'rerum magistra experientia est'.

153. ' Roger of Sidbury was evidently one of the circle of John's friends at

To Roger of Sidbury 1 John to Roger of Sidbury, greetings; and I hope that the rest may successfully attain the looked-for fruit of blessing without hindrance or vexation from anyone flying or running ahead or getting in their way. I trust, dearest friend, that my wish will be fulfilled without difficulty-unless Richard of Sidbury happens to steal the prize of all your hard work by his youthful turn of speed. But if it comes to his mind, may God give him such good reason to be happy and merry that the urge to laugh drives out of his mind that his young folly was undertaking to forestall you. If to this or any other end he copies his father, and it looks like leading to mischief, we and our like who are more advanced in age and rank, will reprove him in a spirit of gentleness, 2 pondering whether we ourselves ever felt the lnnptation. Is not a boy to be forgiven if he stumbles once on a L xeter: see no. :r45; and the Richard referred to in this letter was presumably his '"'"• perhaps recently born. The letter itself is one of those personal effusions "hose key is lost (see above, i, pp. xlvii ff.). Two ideas echo through it the 'I wnedictionis fructus' and the use of 'prae', in such a way that the significan~e of 11.-ither is clear-for we could not hope to understand it without the letter to "'liich it was an answer. In the protocol, 'omnes alios' may mean the rest of their circle of friends at Exeter, or the rest of Roger's sons; or it may be a pious hope I or all mankind. '· Cf. Galatians, 6: 1.

58

THE LETTERS OF

Letter I53

inclinatur in nocte et lubrico, cum et iustus in die septies cadat ?3 Quid si incessisset iter quo alius non fuisset ingressus? Si mater iam non meminit pressurae propter gaudium quia natus est homo in mundum,4 cur amodo sentietb pater angustias parturientis? Ergo hactenus puniatur, ut uestrum 'benedicite' usque ad praefinitum diem ei praeclamare non liceat, nisi uenia impetrata, dum tamen fructui benedictionis communicet. De cetero, de honore et amore quern michi exhibetis et fratri meo uobis gratias refero. Nam quod ei fit michi fieri arbitror, adeo etiam ut de uelleribus ouium uestrarum in ipso calefacta reputem latera mea. 5

Letter r53

JOHN OF SALISBURY

59

dark and slippery way, 'when a just man falleth seven times' in broad daylight ?3 And what if the road he took had not been taken by another before him? If a mother remembers no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the world,4 ·why will a father feel the pangs of childbirth from now on? So let him be punished to this extent, that he be not permitted to ask for your 'benedicite' before the appointed day, unless he asks for pardon, so long as he shall have a share in the fruit of your blessing. For the rest, my thanks for the honour and love you show me and my brother. Whatever is done for him I reckon as done to me to the extent that I think that in him my loins have been warmed by the fleece of your sheep.s

I54

I54

.IEluredo de Cerda 1

To Alfred of Chard 1 ?n65-6 (p. xxvii)

Tanto dilectioni uestrae ad pleniores gratiarum teneor actiones quanto sinceriori et feruentiori caritate mei compassionem habuistis exilii, praesertim cum mea non praecesserint merita, licet semper affuerit uoluntas promerendi. Et quia ad praesens exulo et meritis uestris respondere non possum, interim meipsum obsequiis uestris promtissima uoluntate deuoueo, quandoque deuotioni promtae, auctore Deo, exhibiturus effectum. Deus autem proculdubio uestrae caritatis remunerabit officium, et licet nobis subtraxerit retribuendi facultatem, ipse cuius manus nee inops est nee auara nee inpotens benignitati uestrae quod ipsum decet respondebit, in misericordia uberi mensuram bonam et coagitatam et supereffiuentem refundens in sinum uestrum. 2 b

sentiat A

154 Q; G158

The more you have felt pity for my exile in the burning sincerity of your affection, the more I am bound to thank you for your love, especially since my merits have not shown the way, though the will to deserve your love was always there. Since at present I am in exile and cannot repay you your deserts, I gladly vow myself to your service in the meanwhile, and with God's aid I will give effect to my ready avowal some day. Beyond doubt God will reward the service of your love, and although we have no opportunity to repay you, He whose hand is neither needy nor miserly nor incapable will repay your kindness as befits Him, in His abundant mercy, pouring into your bosom good measure, shaken together and running over. 2 3 4

5

r S4-

Cf. Proverbs, 24: 16. Cf. John, 16: 21. Cf. Job, 31: 20. 1

For an A. of Chard, who was, however, apparently no friend of John's, see

i. 47-8. This Alfred might conceivably be the Alfred who was custos of Exeter (Morey, Bartholomew, pp. 150-3). 2

Luke, 6: 38.

60

THE LETTERS OF

Letter I55

Letter I55

I55

JOHN OF SALISBURY

6i

I55

Magistro R(adulfo) Lexouiensi 1

To Jl,faster Ralph of Lisieux 1

II64-70, ?n65-6 (p. xxvii) Diu est, amicorum karissime, quod de statu tuo et aliorum ueterum amicorum certiorari desidero, eo quidem ardentius quo rarius sollicitudinem meam uel de te uel a te certiorari contingit. De te tamen aliquid interdum audio, et hoe beneficio intermeantium, sed a te nichil unquam audiui; quod uncle contingat non plane uideo, nisi quod te conicio, quoniam dies mali sunt et tu uir prudens, ex quadam siluisse cautela. 2 Ego, ut infirmitatem meam fatear in auribus tuis et insipientiam meam amico reuelem tanquam michi, nunquam hanc potui habere cautelam, quin uellem amicorum oportunitatibus communicare et eorum pro modulo meo gerere sollicitudinem. Cum ergo tibi saepius scripserim et tu nunquam rescripseris, amplius succensa sollicitudo nequit ulterius cohiberi, quin per proprium inquirat nuntium quis tuus et ueterum sit status amicorum, nee sic ueteres dixisse arbitreris, ut inueteratos in quibus caritas refrigescit3 dictos intelligas, cum ego nee senserim nee dixerim eos aliquod caritatis dispendium sustinere. Quis enim ego sum, ut seruum iudicem alienum, qui domino suo stat aut cadit? Stabit autem, Deo auctore, et michi. 4 Vtique caritas officiosa est, ignara totius mali, fortis ut mors, 5 et sinceritatem suam multis et perhennibus prodit indiciis; habet haec iugiter testimonium maius Iohanne, 6 quod ei perhibent tarn opera quam fructus operum. 7 Si uacas et licet, et id curas, per latorem praesentium, quern ad hoe misi, de statu meo et aliorum poteris certiorari; idemque aperiet tibi quomodo me de tuo facias certiorem. N oueris autem quoniam michi licet, et ad hoe uacuus sum et tota deuotione sollicitus ut tuis et tuorum, si quid peregrinanti dignaris iniungere, mandatis libenter obediam, michique loco magni muneris erit, si me aliquo obsequio tui mandato tuo contigerit occupari. Aude 155 Q; G153 155. 1 Cf. i. 175 and no. 204; Saltman, p. 215. 2 Cf. Ephesians, 5: 16; Proverbs, 11 : 12. J Cf. Matthew, 24: 12.

I have long desired, dearest of friends, to have news of how you and my other old friends are faring, all the more since news of you, or from you, rarely comes to answer my concern. I sometimes hear of you, thanks to those who travel between us; but I have never heard a word from you. I do not clearly see how it happens, only I guess _that you have kept quiet as a precaution, because the days are evil and you are a man of wisdom. 2 To confess my weakness in your ear and disclose my folly to a friend, as if to myself: I never could ta~e that pr~caution, but. wished to share in the vicissitudes of my fnends and m my own little way to have a care of them. Since I have often written to you and you have never replied, my anxiety is ~he more ful~y aroused: it cannot be put off any further from sendmg an enqmry through a personal courier how you and my old friends are-and you are not to deduce that I called them old '.riends for yo~ to understand by the word that they are old abuses m whom chanty waxes cold; 3 since I neither meant nor said that they suffered any loss of love. Who am I to judge another man's serva1:t? Whe~her he stands or falls his own master must testify; w1~h God s help he shall stand, and I too shall testify.4 Love 1~ du~1ful, knoweth no evil, is strong as death,s and proves its smcenty by many continual signs. Love has a greater witness than John 6 which is afforded to it by its works and by the fruits of its works.7 If you are at leisure and are permitted to and care to, you can have news of me and the rest of us by the bearer of this letter, whor~ I have sent for the purpose. He will also show you how you cm give me news of how you are faring. But know that I am I1ermitted and at leisure and only anxious to show willing obedience I o your commands and your associates', if you deign to give orders a sojourner. It will be as it were a splendid gift to me if I should lllld myself busy at your command on any service for you. Be so

?ut

to

' Cf._ Romans, 14: 4; but the translation cannot do justice to John's neat .,daplat10n. ', Cf. 1 Corinthians, 13, rendering 'love' since the last phrase is an echo of ';.,11g of Solon1011, 8: 6. '' Cf. John, 5: 36.

7

Cf. Psalm 103 (104): 13.

62

THE LETTERS OF

Letter r55

ergo, amice, aude aliquid petere aut praecipere amico se et sua tota affectione animi exponenti.

I

Letter ISS

JOHN OF SALISBURY

63

bold, m?' friend, as to ask something or demand it, of a friend who offers himself and all he has with the fullest affection of his heart.

r56

r56

Roberto priori M eritonae 1

To Robert, prior of Merton 1

Probably n65-7 (see note I)

Vbi humanum consilium deficit, ex necessitate confugitur ad diuinum, quod, ut opinor, nulla uia facilius aut felicius optinetur, quam si amici Dei illud precibus studeant optinere quod culpa patrocinio indigentium demeretur. Ego quidem exulo et proscriptus sum, et quod ad hominem alterutrius poenae iustam causam non uideo, licet apud Deum me acerbioraa meruisse conscius sim, et fortasse peccatis meis exigentibus euenit ut his et flagellis acerbioribus feriar, et tamen causam percussionis ignorem. Eo autem magis timenda sunt iudicia Dei, quo de occultiori iustitia et secretiori ratione proucniunt. Est autem poena duplex, cum et ipsa sentitur, et causa ignoratur. Sib tamen diuinae miserationis est ut me pro iustitia pati uelit, gratissimum habeo, certus quoniam ita amicos beare consueuit,c quia per multas tribulationes itur ad regnum. 2 Fateor me ecclesiae Dci seruasse fidem, et archiepiscopo meo, ut oportuit, fideliter obedisse, nee me, Deo auctore, unquam seruatae fidei aut obedientiae poenitebit. Spero autem quod et archiepiscopus noster, recto callc patrum sequcns uestigia, 3 per uiam mandatorum Dei pergit ad uitam. Vnde paternitati uestrae et do minis et fratribus nostris quanta possum deuotione supplico, quatinus agonem nostrum Domino precibus commendetis, ut si in inuio sumus, 4 reducamur ad uiam; si in uia, quod utique credimus, proficiamus et perducamur ad uitam. Nichil enim aliud nobis necessarium est, nisi ut Deo placeat causa nostra. 156 Q, b g n (=X); G154; MB Epp. 261; Heading: R.Q; ... Meretonie b; Mereton' gn a acerbiora me X (me ac. 6 1 )

b

sed g

O

consueuerat g consueuerit n

Whe,n hun_ian coun~el f~ils, w~ mu~t take refuge of necessity with God s, wh~ch ; b;he~e 1s obta~ned m no way more easily or fruitfully than if _God s fnends stnve to obtain by their prayers what the s~ortcommgs of those who need their help do not deserve. I am an ex:le and an outlaw, and at the human level I see no just cause for _either penalty, although I am aware of meriting harsher p~mshment at God's hands. My sins perhaps have brought me to this pass ~hat I am beaten with these scourges, and sharper ~courges still-and yet I know not the cause of the beating. The J~dgem_ent~ of G~d a:e the more to be feared, when they proceed ft om his lud~e1:1 Justice and reason undisclosed; but the pain is t~ouble w~en 1t 1s felt and the cause is not known. If it means that (rod of His mercy would have me suffer for justice's sake I esteem rnysel~ most happy, since I know it has been His practice ~o to bless f~is fnends, for through much tribulation we must enter into the ki?gdom. 2 I profess I have kept faith with God's Church, have faithfully obeyed my archbishop (as I should); and with God's help I sh~ll never repent keeping faith or obedience. I trust that rnir archbishop, following the steps of the fathers in the strait and narrow path, 3 walks by the road of God's commandments which leads to life. _I beg you, father, ~ith my most earnest prayer, and my honoured Ii, otl:crs, that you will commend our contest to the Lord, and pray t 1,at if we are astra_y, 4 He will put us on the road again; if we are in I iil'. wa~, as we believe, that He will help us to success and lead us 11 P t~ life. We need nothing else, save that our cause should be 1>leasmg to God. ~ ~ee p. xxvii. Robert died in r 167; John was outlawed at the end of 1 r64 . - Cf. Acts, 14: 21. ' Cf. Isaiah, 26: 7. ·• Cf. Psalm 106 (107): 40; etc.-for the Vulgate use of 'in inuio'.

THE LETTERS OF

Letter I57

Letter z57

JOHN OF SALISBURY

65

I57

I57

Nicholao de Monte pro Cantuariensi 1

Archbishop Thomas Becket to Nicholas of Mont-SaintJacques, Rouen 1

Probably early n66 (p. xxvii)

Nouit fraternitas tua quam patienter sustinuerimus dampna, iniurias, et contumelias no bis et nostris illatas a dilectissimo domino nostro, illustri rege Anglorum. Ipse autem abusus patientia nostra2 ad sanctissimae matris suae prorupit iniurias, sponsam loquimur Crucifixi; et illam non est ueritus ancillare, pro cuius liberatione Filius Dei Deus mortea turpissima uoluit condempnari. Monuimus eum saepius affectu patris, b fide domino debita supplicauimus, corripuimusc auctoritate pastoris. Ipse autem in persona nostra patrem suum itidemd fidelem contempsit et pastorem; et, ne quid de cetero ueritati subtractum sit, quod ecclesiae periculosius et sibi perniciosius est, illum cuius uicem gerimus spreuit Christum. Habeantur haec uana, et contempnat, ut solet, si Filius Dei ecclesiae non as to receive m person the letter of pardon, which he was to 1 ;1rr~ to the offic~rs of the realm, so that his peace might be made 1n1hlic. On leavmg the king I sent the young man to Master \ \';1ltcr de Insula with all haste as God willed and our need re'! 11 ired ; and may he be rewarded for the truth and love he showed 11:; hy Chr_ist, the Chur~h's founder. For Christ's faith and love (as 111 1r conscience bears witness), we are glad since it is necessary to I war losses, wrongs, insults and exile, sure that 'God is faithful, ' A kading royal clerk: sec no. 180; Lally, p. 117; Delisle, p. 468. Probably d·" a canon of St. Paul's (Le Neve, i. 83; GF, p. 88).

' _\Villiam, son of Robert, grandson of Walter Fitz Other forester and castellan ,ndsor, an East Anglian tenant-in-chief, who had witnessed the Constitutions »I ( larcndon; he was apparently dead by 1166 (MB Epp. 45, p. 73; B. Dodwell ' " 11! 1 -d. Mm;eZ[any for D. M. S!enton, Pipe Roll Soc., 1962, esp. p. 152 and nn.; I. I •'";don, ; he ~arony ~f L1t_tle Easton and the family of Hastings', Trans. I '" , . . lrch . .Soc., New Senes, x1x (1930), 174-9). • ,I \:

THE LETTERS OF

Letter

I6I

id quod possumus', 5 sed de ipsa temptatione profectum salutis et anteactae uitae purgationem eliciet. De me loquor et quibusdam aliis, quos scio in hac tribulatione congratulari, ut crebro meditentur, et dicant ei: 'Secundum multitudinem dolorum meorum in corde meo, consolationes tuae laetificauerunt animam meam.' 6 Patimur enim per gratiam Dei non ut adulteri aut homicidae, non ut incendiarii aut sacrilegi, sed uelut Christiani. 7 Hane fidem nostram insaniam reputat mundus, et constantiam fidei pertinaciam uocat, profcssionem ueritatis nota et nomine uanitatis inurit, cultum religionis appellatione hipocrisis aut superstitionis aut alterius falsitatis dehonestare conatur; sed princeps apostolorum aliter sentit et contrarium docet: 'Haec est enirn', ut ait, 'gratia apud Deum, quia in hoe uocati estis a Christo, ut sequamini uestigia eius. Sed et, si quid patimini propter iustitiam, beati eritis.' 8 Aderit, dilecte mi, in breui aderit arbiter conscientiarum et iudex cuique redditurus ut meruit, 9 et tune palam fiet, quicquid modo garriat mundus, qua mente quis uixerit. Interim quaeso tuis et sanctorum quos nosti me facias precibus adiuuari, ut, si in inuio sum (quod non credo), me Christus, ma iustorum, reducat ad se uiam; si in uia sum, 10 me per prospera uel aduersa, ut sibi beneplacitum fuerit, perducat ad uitam. Si magistrum Galterium uideris, ei per te et per amicos quantascumque poteris gratias referas, et maxime per comitem Gaufridum,rr quern diligit, et, si facultas affuerit, eum recipias et ab aliis recipi facias tanquam angelum Domini, quoniam et ipse, ut arbitror, Dei minister est, et quantum licet in curia membra Christi multipliciter consolatur. Quos puer inuenerit adiutores, quisue sit meus status, pro parte poterit ~ndicarc, in~utabisque fortunac, non michi, quod in cum humamtatem amphorem non potui exercere. Vtinam amicos amodo meliores inueniat! Ego profui quatcnus tempora permittebant. Audio magistrum Galterium iuramento artari, ut neque litteras neque nuntios recipiat exulantium; ex quo patet quam misera necessitas bonis uiris immineat, quos non licet mandata diuinae legis, officia uidelicet caritatis, implere. s 1 Corinthians, ro: 13; cf. 2 Corinthians, II: 23 ff. 6 Psalm 93 (94): 19. 1 Based on 1 Peter, 4: 15-16; but 'adulteri ... uelut' seems to echo Luke,

Letter

I6I

JOHN OF SALISBURY

I('

18; II.

s r Peter, 2: 20-1; 3: 149 Cf. Matthew, 16: 27; etc.

79

who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able' s but will '."ith the temptation also make a way to salvation, and ; 0 the purgmg of our former lives. I speak of myself and of some others who I know rejoice with me in this affliction so that they often reflect and say to Him: 'In the multitude of the sorrows th;t I had in my heart, thy comforts have refreshed my soul.'6 By God's grace we suffer not as adulterers, or as murderers not as incendiaries or men guilty of sacrilege, but as Christia~s.7 The world t~inks this faith of ours madness, and calls constancy of faith pigheadedness, brands confession of the truth with the name and the ~tamp of v~nity, tries to_ ~ishonour our religious devotion by the title hypocnsy or superst1t10n or some other falsehood. But the prince of Apostles thinks otherwise, teaches indeed the exact opposite: 'This is acceptable with God; for even hereunto were you called ~y Christ, th~t you should follow His steps. But if you s1'.ffer for n~hteousncss sake, happy are you.'s Soon, soon, dear friend, the Judge of conscience will be here, the judge who will render to every man his desert ;9 then will it be made plain, whatt :vcr be now the gossip of the world, to what purpose each has Ii vcd. In the mean time I ask you to give me assistance with your prayers and the prayers of those holy men whom you know, that if I :nn out of the way (as I think not), Christ, the way of the right•·011s, may lead me back to the right path; if I am.in the way,rn that I k '.nay lead me by good fortune and ill, as He wills, up to life. If you see ~,faster Walter, you and your friends can give him 1