Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 733

Gregory to Menas of Toulon, Serenus of Marseilles, Lupus of Chalon, Aigulf of Metz, Simplicius of Paris, Melantius of Rouen, and Licinius, bishops of the Franks, equally. Although the care of the office you have undertaken admonishes your fraternity to concur with all effort in aiding religious men, and especially those labouring in the cause of souls, yet it is not out of place if the word of our letters should stir your solicitude, because just as fire grows greater when the breeze blows, so the endeavours of a good mind are advanced by commendation.

Since therefore, by the working of our Redeemer's grace, so great a multitude of the nation of the Angles is being converted to the grace of the Christian faith, that our most reverend common brother and fellow-bishop Augustine asserts that those who are with him cannot suffice to carry out this work throughout the various places, we have provided that some monks be sent to him, together with our most beloved and common sons, the presbyter Laurentius and the abbot Mellitus.

And therefore let your fraternity show them the charity which is fitting, and so hasten to aid them wherever it shall be necessary, that, while by your help they have no cause for delay there, both they may rejoice to be relieved by your consolation, and you, by the bestowal of comfort, may be able to be found partakers in the cause for which they have been directed.