Gregory to Maurilio and Vitalianus, masters of soldiers. Receiving the letters of your Glory, we gave thanks to God, because we have learned of your safety and have greatly rejoiced over your solicitude, and presently those things which you wrote were made ready. But Aldio, a magnificent man, wrote to us after the arrival of your men that Ariulph was already close at hand, and we feared lest the soldiers who are being directed to you should fall into his hands. Nevertheless here too, as far as God shall help, our glorious son, the master of soldiers, has prepared himself against him. But let your Glory also, if this same enemy shall proceed hither, do what you can from his rear with the aid of God, as you have been accustomed.
For we trust in the power of Almighty God, and in that of the same blessed Peter, the chief of the apostles, on whose birthday he desires to shed blood, that he will without delay find Him to be his adversary.