Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 369

Gregory to Vincomalus the defensor. With a view to the advantage of the Church, it has been settled by our judgment that, if you are bound by no condition or to no body, nor have you been a cleric of another city, nor do the statutes of the canons in any way oppose you, you should receive the office of the Church's defensors; so that whatever shall be enjoined upon you by us for the benefit of the poor, you may execute incorruptly and vigorously, enjoying this privilege which, after deliberation had concerning you, we have conferred upon you: that you faithfully display your effort in fulfilling all things enjoined upon you by us, being about to render account of your deeds under the judgment of our God. This letter we have dictated to be written by Paterius, notary of our Church. In the month of March, in the thirteenth indiction.

Gregory to Maurice Augustus. The devotion of my lords, which is wont mercifully to cherish its servants, has here shone forth with such benign relief that the destitution of all the weak has been lifted by the consolation of its bounty. For which cause we all with tearful prayer implore that Almighty God, who has moved the hearts of your clemency to this, may keep the empire of my lords unharmed in the constancy of His love, that He may extend their victories among all nations by the aid of His majesty. And so the thirty pounds of gold which my fellow-servant Busa brought to Scribo, he faithfully distributed to priests, to the needy, and to others.

And since certain consecrated women came into this city from diverse provinces, fleeing after captivity, and of these, as far as the capacity of the places allowed, some were placed in monasteries, while those who could not be received in them, living apart, lead a needy life, it seemed good that whatever could be left over for the blind, the maimed, and other weak persons ought to be distributed to them; provided only that not merely the needy natives but also arriving pilgrims received the mercy of my lords. Whence it came about that all together concordantly prayed for the life of my lords, that Almighty God might grant you long and quiet times, and might grant your devotion a most happy offspring long to flourish in the Roman commonwealth.

The pay of the soldiers also was thus made through my aforesaid fellow-servant Scribo, the glorious Castus, master of the soldiers, being likewise present, so that all might receive the gifts of my lords under due discipline with the rendering of thanks, and might avert all murmuring—that which had before been wont to hold sway over them.