Letters440 Letter CDXL. To a certain prior. 1

Bernard sends to him a young man, whom he requests may be admitted into the Order.

The young man who brings you this letter I found 1 [Perhaps to the Prior of Clairvaux, as Martene supposes.]

Letter CDXLI.

waiting for me at Chalons sur Marne: and when he saw me, he asked very simply and modestly that he might become a monk and be received into our Order. He related to me that Thomas de Maren, whose esquire he had been, wished to make him a knight for the warfare of this world, but that he preferred the warfare of Christ; and had therefore left him and come to us. Upon this consult with some of the brethren, and if they approve, and it seems good to you also, receive him to probation. I make known to you that leave has been obtained from the Bishop, not by any request of mine, but by the entreaties of the lady Beatrice, 1 for me to winter near you, yet not in Clairvaux itself, but in the plain of Men-the. In the meantime, be watchful; arouse the slothful, repress the presuming, encourage the fearful: become all things to all men, make the virtues of all yours.