He determines on a last effort. nor did he find it so now. But we can quite understand that, with his mind full of so much greater matters, he might think it better to let his judges settle matters as they might, for or against him, in questions as to horses and weapons and military training. The worst that could happen would be another payment of money.[1] Anselm believed that the charge was a mere pretence, devised simply to hinder him from making the appeal to the King which he designed.[2] He therefore made up his mind to make no answer to the summons, and to let the law, if there was any law in the matter, take its course.[3] When he looked around at the spoliation of the Church, at the evils of all kinds which had crept in through lack of discipline, he feared the judgement of God on himself, if he did not make one last effort.[4] His heart indeed sank when he saw that, of all the evil that was done, the King either was himself the doer or took pleasure in them that did it. But he would strive once more; if his last effort failed, he would appeal to a higher spiritual power than his own; he would see what the authority and judgement of the Apostolic See could do.[5]
- ↑ We read directly after (Eadmer, Hist. Nov. 37) what was expected to happen;—"ut culpæ addictus, aut ingentem regi pecuniam penderet, aut ad implorandam misericordiam ejus, caput amplius non levaturus, se totum impenderet." Anselm was determined to avoid the latter alternative.
- ↑ "Causa discidii utique, non ex rei veritate producta, sed ad omnem pro Deo loquendi aditum Anselmo intercludendum malitiose composita."
- ↑ Ib. "Tacuit ergo, nec quicquam nuntio respondit, reputans hoc genus mandati ad ea perturbationum genera pertinere quæ jam olim sæpe sibi recordabatur illata, et ideo hoc solum ut Deus talia sedaret supplici corde precabatur."
- ↑ Ib. "Verebatur ne hæc Dei judicio sibi damno fierent, si quibus modis posset eis obviare non intenderet."
- ↑ Ib. "Sed obviare sibi impossibile videbat, quod totius regni principem aut ea facere aut eis favere perspicuum erat. Visum itaque sibi est auctoritatem et sententiam apostolicæ sedis super his oportere inquiri." Yet that he did design a last effort with the King, before he said anything about the Pope, is plain by his actually attempting it.
