33. to Pope Innocent (1132/40)

Fragmentary first draft.

To the highest pontiff and our father, the lord pope Innocent, the brother Peter the humble abbot of the Cluniacs sensds salutation and obedience.

An important matter drives me to speak many things, but I fear that I seem importune or excessive to the ears of your majesty. On account of this, I humbly bring up with your beloved and loveable paternity that the letter recently sent by you to me gravely wounded me, your son and the whole of [our] community, subject and devoted to you, since it exhibited things damaging to us and contrary to custom. I say, “they exhibited things damaging to us and contrary to custom” since they removed the tithe which, up to now, your church of Cluny received no differently than others for two hundred or more years, and rendered it undifferentiated from all.

Your congregation, faithful and always subject to your apostolic majesty, asks, venerable father, that your new sons do not expell the old from your paternal love…

May you remember how much was taken away from the ancient firstborns of the people of God…

Know therefore my heart…

Whence the universality of your sons beseach with repeated prayers, and I myself ask…