Letters93 Letter XCIII. To Henry, bishop of Winchester. (Circa A.D. 1132)
Letter XCIII. To Henry, bishop of Winchester. (Circa A.D. 1132)
Bernard salutes him very respectfully.
To the very illustrious Lord HENRY, by the Grace of God Bishop of Winchester, BERNARD, Abbot of Clairvaux, health in our Lord.
It is with great joy that I have learned from the report of many persons that so humble a person as myself has found favour with your Highness. I am not worthy of it, but I am not ungrateful for it. I return you, therefore, thanks for your goodness; a very unworthy return, but all that I am able to make. I do not fear but that you will receive the humble return that I make, since you have been so kind as to forestall me by your affection and the honour that you have done to me;; but I defer writing more until I shall know by some token from your hand, if you think fit to send one, how you receive these few words. You may easily confide your reply, in writing, or by word of mouth if it shall so please you, to Abbot Oger, who is charged to convey to you this note. I beg your Excellency also to be so good as to honour that Religious with your esteem and confidence, inasmuch as he is a man commendable for his honour, knowledge, and piety.
Viro illustri domino HENRICO, Dei gratia Wintoniensi episcopo, BERNARDUS abbas dictus de Clara-Valle, in Domino salutem.
Multorum jam relatione laetabundus accepi, locum gratiae non infimum humilitatem nostram apud vestram Celsitudinem obtinere. Non sum meritus, sed eo non ingratus. Itaque refero gratiam pro gratia, etsi non condignam, certe quam possum. Nec vereor, quantula sit, oblatam, vel potius relatam a vobis sperni, quam et amanter promereri, et dignanter praevenire curastis. Verum modo plura scribere supersedi, donec vestro, si dignum judicatis, agnoscam rescripto, haec pauca qualiter accipiatis. Quae autem rescribere vel injungere verbo placuerit, abbati Ogerio committere bene potestis, per quem et haec nostra recepistis. Pro quo etiam vestram Excellentiam compellamus, quatenus eum et notum ex hoc habeatis, et commendatum, utpote hominem honestate, scientia, religioneque commendabilem.