Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 232

Gregory to Maurilio and Vitalianus, masters of soldiers. Humbly through our son Vitalianus, with whom, that you might treat, we gave charge both by word and by writing, to your Glory. But on the eleventh day of the month of January, Ariulph transmitted this letter which we have directed to you. And therefore, reading it over, see whether the men of Suana have persisted in that faith which they promised to the commonwealth. And receive from them worthy hostages in whom you may be able to trust; and moreover bind them again by oaths, restoring to them what you took in place of a pledge, and healing them with your words.

But if you shall most manifestly learn that they have spoken with Ariulph concerning their submission, or indeed have given hostages to him—as the letter of Ariulph which we directed to you has rendered us doubtful—then, treating it with wholesome counsel so that neither your soul nor ours may in any way be burdened concerning the oaths, carry out whatever you shall judge useful for the commonwealth. But let your Glory so act, that there be neither anything whereby we can be reproached by our adversaries, nor anything in which, where the advantage of the commonwealth requires, it be neglected (which the Lord avert). Furthermore, glorious sons, be watchful, because, as far as I have ascertained, the enemy has a gathered force, and is said to be lodged at Narnia;

and if, God being angered against him, he shall wish to direct his course hither, do you, as far as the Lord shall help you, plunder his own places, or at least let the scouts whom you send seek diligently, lest, grieving over the deed, he run upon us. Gregory to all the soldiers of Naples. The chief praise of soldiering, among other good merits, is this: to render obedience to the interests of the holy commonwealth, and to comply with whatever has been usefully commanded to it; even as we have now learned your devotion to have done, which obeyed our letters, by which we appointed the magnificent man Constantius, tribune, to preside over the guard of the city, and displayed the fitting obedience of military devotion.

Wherefore by these present writings we have taken care that you be admonished, that to the aforesaid magnificent man, the tribune, as indeed you have done, you should render all obedience for the benefit of our most serene lords and for the preservation of the city, so that whatever is acknowledged to have been well managed by you hitherto, you may increase by the vigilance and solicitude of the present time.