Margaret De Beaufort to Simon IV

[Margaret de Beaumont]

My lord Simon de Montfort, by grace of God Baron of Montfort-l’Amaury and by providence my esteemed nephew, greetings!

I trust your trip across the channel went as well as can be expected. As John says in his Gospel, “They were willing to take him into their boat and at once the boat reached the shore where they were headed.” I hope yours was a trip of this kind and not one as circuitous as Ulysses and his brave men.

Finding ourselves both in this grey land, though doubtless blessed by God ahead of all others, it behooves we who are family to gather again and celebrate the Mass together that we may divine our glory together arightly.

I wonder if you have heard of the tale of Abelard and Heloise? I have chanced across it while with the cousins in the land of Normandy. If indeed you have lately been in your Barony, do not your many and fine courtiers read the selfsame letters as I? As my dear husband, Sair de Quincy, says, I ken you shall indeed hold it as dear as I once you finish reading it!

I will look forward to receiving your answering missive, unless our pages do cross in the journey and our answers miss each other on the happy occasion of our meeting before they.

I shall see you soon, nephew, and remain,
By the Grace of God,
Margaret De Beaufort

[Simon IV de Montfort]

Dearest Aunt Margaret, you Nephew sends his deepest and loving regards.

In truth, this letter finds me still in France - there is still much to be done before I can set Sail for England. But it is coincidence that you would come to me quoting from John - I myself have found myself immersed in the 11th Chapter myself. After all that has happened, I cannot help but feel my own grief well at the words "Jesus wept."

I will profess this is perhaps more morose than you imagined I would write, but... why do you think our Lord allowed this violence to happen? Was it because he loves us too much to deny us when our free will turns us to sin? Did the Lord plan this, such that his loyal children be sheltered the worst of what humanity shall prove to be? I know none of us can truly know the Wisdom of the Lord, but I profess I cannot help but ask 'why', even if my faith remains ironclad and my yearning for justice ever stronger.

Forgive me - were it not for a lack of parchment at my end, I would not have forced you to witness my sorrow like this. It is unbecoming of my station as a Lord to burden you so with such doubts - I promise you, Aunt Margaret, I shall not err as such again.

That said, I do deeply look forward to seeing you and the Beaumonts once more. Alas, Uncle Amaury is unable to join us, be he has sworn fealty to the King already.

To answer your questions, I have met the collator of Abelard and Heloise's correspondences in person - it was by chance that they graced my court. It is a brave thing to exalt so heroically a man accused multiple times of heresy, but I imagine my position must be immature in comparison to the world he has seen. I believe I have heard the occasional courtier discuss it, but I have had little time for rest or literature since coronation.

If I may, how are plans sorted for accommodation for the Coronoation? Should I set aside some extra coin to cover it?

Forgive me again if any of this missive is in Err. I look forward to seeing you again, Aunt.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Simon IV de Montfort

[Margaret de Beaumont]

Dearest Nephew, your Aunt returns those feelings and adds the protection of Christ to your journey,

England grieves for a well-loved king lost in the pursuit of justice for both ourselves and France, and yet will rejoice in seeing again the glorious banner of Crusade, though I fear we shall lose many a knight that rides under that banner.

As for the rest, I am no priest nor make claim to such, but I would advise you, dear nephew, to consider the word of our own Saint Anselm of Canterbury. "Spare me through your Mercy, do not punish me through your justice" said the wise St Anselm and I fear perhaps there is a drop or more of truth in that that our beloved king found too late.

For indeed, did Henry not delay the Crusade planned so strongly by young Richard? While I fear for my husband, and indeed you, nephew, and my father and all the other noble knights, that is my place and the role given to women since the beginning: to fear for our men and keep their holdings while they war.

But it is neither of our places to question the justice of the Lord's swift actions. For myself, I shall endeavor to remember the happier times, when we were both younger and did enjoy each other's company thoroughly. I hope for a swift reprise of such when I see you next.

I do not believe money will be a concern, but I am uncertain. Father does not involve me in the finances, well though he should.

I remain, by the grace of God,
Your aunt,
Margaret de Beaumont

[Simon IV de Montfort]

Dearest Aunt Margaret, you Nephew thanks you deeply for your wisdom.

I thank you again for your insight - I am blessed to know that in the storm, there are pillars as wise and caring as you that I can rely on. I will keep your words in mind as I travel - I suspect they will return me to right of mind.

I do look forward to seeing you again - as you say, there is much to reprise, not just for myself but from my mother as well. If I may ask about family, how have you and Sair de Quincy been faring? Last I heard you were very excited about your time together, a few months ago when we last wrote.

In addition, it has been long indeed since I have seen London - how has it changed? Is it the same city we once knew?

I look forward to your correspondence on, well, anything really. It has been a nice change of pace from the hectic preparations north.

Your loving nephew shall see you soon,
Simon IV