Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 704

Gregory to John, subdeacon of Ravenna. In what manner John the banker was often a remedy to the needy by giving surety, your experience well knows. Whence it has come about that now, having gone surety for a certain troublesome Importunus, he suffers no small necessity, so much so that, already long residing in the Church, he is more grievously afflicted. But because there was a suspicion in certain persons that he had gone surety for the said Importunus not simply, but for the sake of gain, at the most sacred body of blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, he offered the strictest oaths—as much as has been reported to us—that he had not only received no advantage at all from him, but had not even had anything promised, but had approached simply, as for others.

And because the simplicity of an innocent man ought not to be afflicted for so long a time, act by whatever means you can with our most eminent son the prefect, that the one station which has remained in the city of Rome ought not to be closed in his time, but that he may relieve him in this affliction for the sake of his reward, and may deign to absolve him by a direct order; and let him by no means permit that man to be any longer in this necessity, since how simple and kindly he is, and how he has often been a remedy to divers persons in tribulation, is not unknown even to him.

And therefore, as we have said, strive to act with all sweetness with him, so that in this man's absolution he may be able to bring counsel to many, and that this way of remedy, as we have said, may not be closed in his time. Given in the month of November, in the 4th indiction.