Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 771

Gregory to Arogis, duke. Since we trust in your Glory as truly as in our own son, we are moved confidently to ask certain things of you, judging that you would by no means suffer us to be grieved, especially in such a matter whereby your soul may be greatly aided. We make known, moreover, that on account of the churches of the blessed Peter and Paul certain beams are necessary to us; and therefore we have enjoined upon Savinus, our subdeacon, that he ought to cut some in the region of the Bruttii and to drag them down to a suitable place by the sea.

And since in this matter he is in need of assistance, greeting your Glory with fatherly charity, we ask that you would appoint your agents who are in that place, that the men who are under them may, with their oxen, provide him aid, so that, with you cooperating, he may better be able to accomplish what we have enjoined upon him. For we promise that when the work is finished, we will send you a worthy gift, one that is not burdensome. For we know how to be considerate, and to make return to our sons who show good will. Wherefore again we ask, most glorious son, that you would so act that we too may be made debtors to you for a benefit bestowed, and that you may have a reward on behalf of the churches of the saints.

Gregory to Gregorius, former prefect. Knowing how great a love toward the churches of the blessed Peter and Paul abides in the mind of your Glory, we take pains, of necessity, to seek your help, next after God, by these entreating letters, confident that you would readily and devoutly bestow whatever you know to be for their advantage—things which we do not doubt your Glory is willing to grant even of your own accord.

And therefore, since beams are altogether necessary in the aforesaid churches, and we have enjoined upon Savinus the subdeacon that meanwhile he should hasten to cut up to twenty and to drag them to the sea, greeting you with fatherly affection, we ask that your Glory would, in this matter, cause the men with their oxen from the possessions which you hold there in emphyteusis to furnish aid, so that both he, upheld by your assistance, may be able to be equal to accomplishing what has been enjoined upon him, and you may be able to acquire a reward. Act therefore, as we have said, and as we trust concerning you, glorious son, that we too may render you thanks,

and that you may have the blessed princes of the apostles as helpers in all things, on account of the love and devotion which you show toward their churches.