A Letter of St. John Houghton
From the Latin of Dom Lawrence Hendriks' The London Charterhouse, 1889, pp. 404-406
To the Religious Father Theodorico Loer of Stratis, Vicar of the Carthusian house in Cologne, from John Houghton.
You will perhaps wonder, most reverend father, what these unknown letters sent from a distant region to you might mean. But in order to cease wondering quickly, you should know that this most fragrant aroma is from our distinguished father Dionysius, who has already drawn my letter to you (or rather to himself hidden within you). For he has so drawn our hearts to himself through his most sacred writings and teachings that we cannot be without him without great distress.
Indeed, to us his works taste sweet and most holy above almost all other sacred writers (which statement is made with due respect to all the others whom we have read thus far). Therefore, his works are so rare among us that we can hardly attain our wishes in this regard; namely, in reading and re-reading them. For whenever some of them have arrived here, they are so quickly taken by other pious and learned men that we can acquire only a few of them and are forced to remain hungry. Furthermore, the venerable Father Prior of Hinton in that province, who was recently at our General Chapter in the larger Charterhouse, reported to us that your Paternity had promised him there to send him here as many of the aforementioned works as he desired, if he wished to purchase them. Encouraged by this news, I hoped that I would soon become a partaker of my wish. I therefore request (to be concise) or rather, I beseech your Paternity, that you might be willing to send to me as soon as conveniently possible, all the works of that same most pious Father Dionysius, tenfold, that is, ten volumes from all and each of his works thus far printed. And beyond these, if you would deign to send as well, I beg for twenty books of that small work which we call 'On Contempt for the World,' and just as many of that work which is titled 'The Ladder of Monks.' And do not doubt that in doing this, you will greatly merit in the eyes of God. And I pray that you send the prices for all of the aforementioned works individually. And towards payment for the same, I beseech you to accept from the bearer of this letter money amounting to the value of six pounds, thirteen shillings, and eight pence sterling, making, if I am not mistaken, 52 gold ducats and 5 brabanters. And whatever additional amount needs to be paid, if at your request, the Venerable Prior of your house deigns to explain it for me, I promise with much gratitude through these writings that as soon as I can, I will transmit the same money to him, after I have learned the total. Or if he prefers (which I would also prefer due to the dangers of the journey), I will pay it here to whomever he deigns to entrust to me. Furthermore, whatever subsequently of the pious works of the aforementioned Reverend Father Dionysius happens to be printed, if you would be willing to send me twelve books of each, I promise that I will promptly return the money as soon as I learn the total through your letters. Finally, dear father, continue strenuously to accomplish what you have begun, that is, let not that diligent and devoted zeal of yours, which you have exhibited thus far towards our aforementioned Saint Dionysius, grow cold in having his manuscripts printed, until we may deserve to see all of his last works as well. Having no doubt at all, I am confident that from the divine Lord, you will receive a heap of blessings as reward in the heavens. And if only an equally abundant supply of money would shine upon both you and us, as abundant as the pious will is for publishing all the aforementioned works: then I would certainly hope that our ecstatic Dionysius, like the morning star, would soon appear bright and radiant to mortals, and dispel those shadows of heretical corruption from the hearts of many; and the light of faith, adorned with these pious works, would quickly be introduced into their hearts. But enough about these matters. Farewell in the bosom of the sweetest Saviour, dearest father.
From our Carthusian abode near London in England, on the 23rd day before the Kalends of August [10th day] 1532.
Through your brother in Christ, John Houghton, unworthy Prior there.