Bishop Walchelin's Letter

Waterford Diocese 1096-1363.

To my lord and father Anselm, by the grace of God archbishop

of Canterbury, Walchel in, bishop of Winchester ,greeting.

The king of Ireland with the bishops and clergy and people

of that country have chosen t h i s monk of mine, Malchus by

name, a native of Ireland, f o r the episcopal o f f i c e t o be

constituted i n Waterford, one of t h e i r states. From

there they sent t h e i r messengers to me, that I might

consent to t h e i r election and might send him to you to

be consecrated. I therefore with the advice of the

lord Godfrey, p r i o r o f our church, and of our seniors

and brothers, have given assent to t h e i r petition, knowing

the same to be a monk adorned with virtues, learned i n

l e t t e r s , prudent, humble, fearing God, catholic i n

knowledge and devout i n r e l i g i o n . On that account I have

sent him t o your paternity, that i n him and f o r him you

may do what i s yours. I ask you also for the sake of our

love, because he i s our monk, to deal kindly with his, and

since his countrymen are awaiting him a t B r i s t o l with ships,

to hasten his consecration. Farewell. 10