Letters429 Letter CDXXIX. To a certain friend.

That ecclesiastical benefices are to be accepted not from a lay hand, but from the Bishop.

When laymen are desirous of relinquishing abbeys or ecclesiastical benefices which they hold unlawfully, that is one good thing. But when they wish to transfer them to the use of the servants of God, the good is doubly great; nevertheless, since this cannot be done except by the hand of the Bishop, a prelate will approve himself either the author of evil or of good according to that which he gives or denies his assent to. That which a knight asks of you, this ought to be asked of him by you. What! Do you think it better for a church of God to be in the possession, as a family estate, of a man of war, than of the Saints of God? It will be strange if all who hear of it do not wonder. Desist I pray you, lest the sons of the uncircumcised hear and rejoice. Granted that you are able to deliver the captive church from the hand of the powerful, and to obtain her right, which, nevertheless I think by no LETTER CDXXX.

means probable: whom, I, ask you would you choose the more willingly as your heir and successor in it? One who serves in the King’s army, or one who is employed in intercession for your sins? Do then what is just, what is worthy of you, what will be the cause of rejoicing to God and men; what, finally, though it be no small matter, I might confidently ask of you on the ground of our friendship.