ABSTRACT
During the last years of his life, Hugh composed his final treatise.1 It was the height of summer, and he was wearied by all sorts of afflictions. Despite the infirmities of old age, he still found the strength to write to his friend, Philip, persevering in his duties as instructor and advisor:
Though at the present I am quite bothered by the heat, wearied by old age, aching in my feet and weighed down by sickness, I do not want to offend against your concern, which I proposed always to honour. Indeed, the things which we enjoin upon you are limited and brief, and we compress these matters by putting them into writing. But the things which we present to you with due charity are the greatest and most sublime with heavenly doctrine.2
