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English Correspondence

St Boniface, tr. Kylie, 1911

Letter 20: Ingalice, a Priest, Replies to the Deacon Lul. He Sends Gifts and Asks to Be…

To Lul, distinguished and beloved minister of God, Ingalice, an unworthy priest, but yet thy devoted servant through all things, affectionate greetings in the Lord.

Thy wise letter and generous gifts reached me as directed. In the letter which I read carefully and considered, after sending kindly greetings, thou didst tell us if I understood aright, of thy diverse trials and tribulations—such as are wont to assail the servants of God in this world according to the opinion of the apostle: “All that live godly in Christ suffer persecution.”¹ Against all the assaults thou didst humbly seek the help of our prayers, such as it is; and, indeed, all our brotherhood has been zealous in pouring out prayers to God for thy safety. But now, beloved deacon, though because of my poor ability I could not discharge my debt to thee by a worthy reply to thy learned letter, yet I know that “Charity beareth all things.”² These few words from my untrained pen together with some poor gifts, four knives made after our fashion, a silver curling iron and one towel, I have arranged to send in charge of a faithful bearer, thy, nay our brother, Aldred, to thy dear presence, merely in memory of our love. I beg thee, my brother, to receive these in the spirit in which I have sent them. To our intercessor before God, the venerable Boniface, our protector, the whole band of our brethren and the abbot desire to send greetings in the love of God.

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