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English Correspondence

St Boniface, tr. Kylie, 1911

Letter 31: Boniface Thanks Egbert, Archbishop of York, for Gifts and Books. He Requests…

To his beloved and revered brother Archbishop Egbert, Boniface, servant of the servants of God, legate in Germany of the Apostolic See, sincere greetings of spiritual kinship in Christ.

When I received the books and gifts from thy love, lifting my hands to heaven I returned great thanks to the Omnipotent God, for having suffered me in my long exile to find such a friend, who has sent me assistance in earthly things, and divine solace in things spiritual through prayer and common intercourse. And now I entreat thy loving kindness with the most heartfelt entreaties, that, along with those who work with me, I may deserve to be united to your¹ synod; that thou mayst be my counsellor and helper in searching out and investigating the ecclesiastical rules which express the will of God. Be assured that I am asking, not in a mere playful form of words, but sincerely; and do not think me arrogant or proud or unduly satisfied with my own judgment. For the Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church, when it sent me, an unworthy and lowly missionary, to preach to the erring or pagan people of Germany, enjoined me, if, as I moved among the Christians, I should see anywhere people in error, or the laws of the church misused by an evil practice, or men led aside from the Catholic faith into by-paths, on the authority of the Roman pontiff to strive with all my strength to win and recall them to the way of salvation

Desiring to keep this command I sent with the advice and consent of the bishops who are with me, a letter of admonition or entreaty to Æthelbald, King of the Mercians. This I bade to be submitted to thy sight, that whatsoever therein were badly put thou mightst change, but whatsoever were just thou mightst season with the salt of thy wisdom, and confirm by thine authority, and that shouldst thou see any shoot of these crimes, which in the letters are charged against the king of the Mercians, seeking to sprout forth among thy people, like a provident and wise farmer, with the sickle of the Lord’s authority thou mightst cut it down in time and tear it out by the roots; that it may not flourish in the vine, nor be of the tree of Sodom, nor their race be from Gomorrah, nor their wine be the poison of dragons and the cruel venom of asps.² For it is an evil unheard of in past ages, and as servants of the Lord, learned in the Scriptures, declare, surpassing three or four fold the licence of the Sodomites, that a Christian people, against the custom of the whole world, nay more against the command of God should despise lawful matrimony and practise fornication and adultery, and commit unspeakable violence upon consecrated and veiled women.

Moreover I beg thee, deign to copy and send me some portions of the works of Bede — whom lately, as we have heard, the divine grace enriched with spiritual understanding and allowed to shine forth in your province — so that we too may enjoy light from the candle which the Lord bestowed upon you.

Meanwhile, as a sign of my love, I have sent thee copies of the letters of Saint Gregory, which I have received from the library of the Roman Church; I did not think that they had yet come to Britain. I can send more of them at thy bidding, for I received many thence. I have sent also a sacramental cloth, and a towel to wipe the feet of the servants of God, when thou washest them.

It is my wish in Christ that you mayst fare well and advance in holy virtues.

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