his court, made master of his household, and highly
esteemed both by him and the courtiers. His virtue shone with bright
lustre in the world, particularly his meekness, which Christ declared to
be his favorite virtue, and the distinguishing mark of his true
disciples. The following is a memorable instance to what a degree he
possessed this virtue: a certain person of quality having insulted and
reproached him in the presence of the king, Aelred heard him out with
patience, and thanked him for his charity and sincerity, in telling him
his faults. This behavior had such an influence on his adversary as made
him ask his pardon on the spot. Another time, while he was speaking on a
certain matter, one interrupted him with very harsh, reviling
expressions: the servant of God heard him with tranquillity, and
afterwards resumed his discourse with the same calmness and presence of
mind as before. His desires were ardent to devote himself entirely to
God, by forsaking the world; but the charms of friendship detained him
some time longer in it, and were fetters to his soul; reflecting,
notwithstanding, that he must sooner or later be separated by death from
those he loved most, he condemned his own cowardice, and broke at once
those bands of friendship, which were more agreeable to him than all
other sweets of life. He describes the situation of his soul under this
struggle, and says, "Those who saw me, judging by the gaudy show which
surrounded me, and not knowing what passed within my soul, said,
speaking of me: Oh, how well is it with him! how happy is he! But they
knew not the anguish of my mind; for the deep wound in my heart gave me
a thousand tortures, and I was not able to bear the intolerable stench
of my sins." But after he had taken his resolution, he says, "I began
then to know, by a little experience, what immense pleasure is found in
thy service, and how sweet that peace is, which is its inseparable
companion."[1] To relinquish entirely all his worldly engagements, he
left Scotland, and embraced the austere Cistercian order, at Rieval, in
a valley upon the hanks of the Rie, in Yorkshire, where a noble lord,
called Walter {134} Especke, had founded a monastery in 1122. At the age
of twenty-four, in 1133, he became a monk under the first abbot,
William, a disciple of St. Bernard. Fervor adding strength to his tender
delicate body, he set himself cheerfully about practising the greatest
austerities, and employed much of