Theoderic and Theodebert, Kings of Franks→Boniface|c. 750 AD|boniface
monasticismproperty economics
To the most holy archbishop Wynfrith, called Boniface, and worthily invested with the pontifical insignia, Ethelbert, King of Kent, sends greeting in the Lord of lords.
Some years ago the venerable abbess Bugga [St. Eadburga, Abbess of Minster in the Isle of Thanet.] after a visit to the holy places of Rome for the purpose of offering prayer, returned from there to her native land and to the convent of holy women which she had formerly governed wisely under the law of the Church. At her invitation I had a conference with her, in which among other matters of importance she reminded me that while you were both in Rome and eagerly engaged in visiting the shrines of the Apostles you had given her permission to speak in familiar terms with Your Grace about her affairs. She told me further that because of our blood relationship she had asked and elicited from you a promise that you would give me, though I was absent and personally unknown to you, the same wise counsel and help of your prayers as she had received in your presence. When she told me that you had made this promise I cannot easily express the joy and comfort it gave me.
By the bearer of this letter I am sending Your Grace with my devoted affection a few gifts: a silver drinking-cup lined with gold, weighing three and a half pounds, and two woollen cloaks. I am not sending these gifts in the hope of receiving any earthly gift in return, but rather on bended knee begging from you what is far more necessary, namely, that in these days of manifold and sudden perils and in this world of scandals you would deign to help me with your prayers. And with this same purpose may Your Grace have in mind to urge others by command or persuasion to do the same, not only as long as I live, but after my death, should you survive me.
Having thus briefly mentioned these matters, there is one other favour I have to ask, which, from what I hear, will not be difficult for you to grant, namely, to send me a pair of falcons, quick and spirited enough to attack crows without hesitation and bring them back to earth after catching them. We ask you to procure these birds and send them to us, since there are few hawks of this kind over here in Kent, which produce good offspring, quick-witted, mettlesome and capable of being tamed, trained and taught for the purpose I have mentioned. Finally, I pray you to reply to my letter and be so kind as to let me kiiow whether the things I am sending have duly arrived.
May divine grace give Your Grace long life to pray for us.
To the most holy archbishop Wynfrith, called Boniface, and worthily invested with the pontifical insignia, Ethelbert, King of Kent, sends greeting in the Lord of lords.
Some years ago the venerable abbess Bugga [St. Eadburga, Abbess of Minster in the Isle of Thanet.] after a visit to the holy places of Rome for the purpose of offering prayer, returned thence to her native land and to the convent of holy women which she had formerly governed wisely under the law of the Church. At her invitation I had a conference with her, in which among other matters of importance she reminded me that while you were both in Rome and eagerly engaged in visiting the shrines of the Apostles you had given her permission to speak in familiar terms with Your Grace about her affairs. She told me further that because of our blood relationship she had asked and elicited from you a promise that you would give me, though I was absent and personally unknown to you, the same wise counsel and help of your prayers as she had received in your presence. When she told me that you had made this promise I cannot easily express the joy and comfort it gave me.
By the bearer of this letter I am sending Your Grace with my devoted affection a few gifts: a silver drinking-cup lined with gold, weighing three and a half pounds, and two woollen cloaks. I am not sending these gifts in the hope of receiving any earthly gift in return, but rather on bended knee begging from you what is far more necessary, namely, that in these days of manifold and sudden perils and in this world of scandals you would deign to help me with your prayers. And with this same purpose may Your Grace have in mind to urge others by command or persuasion to do the same, not only as long as I live, but after my death, should you survive me.
Having thus briefly mentioned these matters, there is one other favour I have to ask, which, from what I hear, will not be difficult for you to grant, namely, to send me a pair of falcons, quick and spirited enough to attack crows without hesitation and bring them back to earth after catching them. We ask you to procure these birds and send them to us, since there are few hawks of this kind over here in Kent, which produce good offspring, quick-witted, mettlesome and capable of being tamed, trained and taught for the purpose I have mentioned. Finally, I pray you to reply to my letter and be so kind as to let me kiiow whether the things I am sending have duly arrived.
May divine grace give Your Grace long life to pray for us.
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To the most holy archbishop Wynfrith, called Boniface, and worthily invested with the pontifical insignia, Ethelbert, King of Kent, sends greeting in the Lord of lords.
Some years ago the venerable abbess Bugga [St. Eadburga, Abbess of Minster in the Isle of Thanet.] after a visit to the holy places of Rome for the purpose of offering prayer, returned from there to her native land and to the convent of holy women which she had formerly governed wisely under the law of the Church. At her invitation I had a conference with her, in which among other matters of importance she reminded me that while you were both in Rome and eagerly engaged in visiting the shrines of the Apostles you had given her permission to speak in familiar terms with Your Grace about her affairs. She told me further that because of our blood relationship she had asked and elicited from you a promise that you would give me, though I was absent and personally unknown to you, the same wise counsel and help of your prayers as she had received in your presence. When she told me that you had made this promise I cannot easily express the joy and comfort it gave me.
By the bearer of this letter I am sending Your Grace with my devoted affection a few gifts: a silver drinking-cup lined with gold, weighing three and a half pounds, and two woollen cloaks. I am not sending these gifts in the hope of receiving any earthly gift in return, but rather on bended knee begging from you what is far more necessary, namely, that in these days of manifold and sudden perils and in this world of scandals you would deign to help me with your prayers. And with this same purpose may Your Grace have in mind to urge others by command or persuasion to do the same, not only as long as I live, but after my death, should you survive me.
Having thus briefly mentioned these matters, there is one other favour I have to ask, which, from what I hear, will not be difficult for you to grant, namely, to send me a pair of falcons, quick and spirited enough to attack crows without hesitation and bring them back to earth after catching them. We ask you to procure these birds and send them to us, since there are few hawks of this kind over here in Kent, which produce good offspring, quick-witted, mettlesome and capable of being tamed, trained and taught for the purpose I have mentioned. Finally, I pray you to reply to my letter and be so kind as to let me kiiow whether the things I am sending have duly arrived.
May divine grace give Your Grace long life to pray for us.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.