Letter 4058: I have sent my servant Augustine [later the first Archbishop of Canterbury] on a mission to the English people [the...

To Theoderic and Theodebert. [Summary heading:] He commends Augustine, to whom he has enjoined that he take with him from nearby some presbyters into England, and Candidus, a churchman and administrator of the patrimony. Gregory to Theoderic and Theodebert, brother kings of the Franks, jointly. After Almighty God adorned your kingdom with rectitude of faith, and made it conspicuous among the other nations for the integrity of the Christian religion, we conceived great occasion for confidence concerning you, [...] that they may deserve to find your favor. And since it is a matter of souls, let your power protect and assist them; so that Almighty God, who knows that you bring solace in His cause with a devout mind and all zeal, may dispose your causes by His propitiation, and after earthly power may lead you through to the heavenly kingdoms. Moreover we request that your Excellency hold as commended our most beloved son Candidus the presbyter, and the little patrimony of our Church which is established in those parts, so that blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, may answer for you by his intercession, you who, with an eye to reward, expend protection upon the property of his poor. EPISTLE LIX. To Brunhild, Queen of the Franks. [Summary heading:] That she may bestow protection and aid upon Augustine, who is going into England, and upon Candidus, administrator of the patrimony. Gregory to Brunhild, Queen of the Franks. The Christianity of your Excellency became truthfully known to us long ago, so that we in no way doubt of its goodness; but rather we hold it certain in every way, that in the cause of the faith you devotedly and zealously concur, and that you most abundantly furnish the supports of your religious sincerity. Well confident in this matter, saluting you with fatherly charity, we make known that it has come to us that the nation of the English, with God's assent, wishes to become Christian; but that the priests who are nearby do not have pastoral solicitude toward them. Lest the souls of these [English] should be able to perish in eternal damnation, it was our care to send thither the bearer of the present [letter], Augustine, the servant of God, whose zeal and study are well known to us, together with other servants of God, so that through them we might be able to learn their wishes, and to take thought, with you also striving, as far as is possible, concerning their conversion. To whom we have also enjoined that for carrying out these things they ought to take with them presbyters from nearby. Your Excellency therefore, who has been accustomed to be inclined to good works, both for our petition's sake and also from consideration of the fear of God, may deign to hold him commended in all things, and may vehemently bestow upon him the grace of your protection, and may bring to his labor the help of your patronage; and that he may most fully be able to have his reward, may provide that he go secure under your protection to the aforesaid nation of the English, so that our God, who in this world has adorned you with things pleasing to Himself, may here and in the eternal rest make you to rejoice with His saints. Moreover, commending to your Christianity our beloved son Candidus the presbyter, and the little patrimony of our Church which is established there, we ask that he may obtain the grace of your protection in all things. [Editorial apparatus, not part of the letters: A note on "secutellae," the dishes in which porridge is set, which on account of their round shape [the editor] calls circles. This word he renders in French as "Gussanvil. des porte-assiettes, des colliers de Muures." But the circles of which Gregory here speaks were for the uses of the poor. (Epist. LVII.—In the Corbie and Norman manuscripts, "respondeat.") And if [things] are to be preserved, they are the property of the poor; if [things] are to be consumed, [they are the property] of the clerics. Thus the poor are mocked, but God is not mocked. See Book VIII, Epistle 28. Gussanville. (Epist. LIX.—The collector of Gregory's letters has set Theoderic before Theodebert, his elder brother, both here and always elsewhere, preserving the order of the time in which the letters were drawn up. For to those coming to Rome, before Theodebert king of Austrasia, Theoderic king of Burgundy was to be approached; the royal seat of Theoderic at Chalon met them first, rather than that of Theodebert at Metz, as Adrien de Valois observed, History of the Franks, Book XVI. Gussanville. Patrologia LXXVII.)] [A fragment of a further, distinct letter of consolation, interleaved by the OCR:] [...] for, with the apostolic seat received [...] of your master, from which there the preaching of salvation arose, we feel ourselves to be carried over with all devotion. And therefore, the pages of your Holiness having been received, by as much as our heart rejoiced at your brotherly visitation, by so much is it weighed down with sorrow at the burdens you have signified that have been laid upon [you], and with brotherly compassion we groan with you over what you grieve. But because the shock extends itself everywhere in different ways, in a common necessity there is less to grieve over one's own [troubles], but one must rather strive that by patiently enduring we may overcome what we cannot altogether avoid. How much, moreover, we suffer from the swords of the Lombards in the daily plundering or mutilation and destruction of our citizens, we refuse to narrate, lest, while we speak our sorrows, we increase yours out of the compassion which you bestow upon us. Moreover, some time ago [...]. Moreover, commending our beloved son Candidus the presbyter, and the little patrimony of our Church which is established there, to your Christianity, we ask that he may obtain the grace of your protection in all things.

AD THEODERICUM ET THEODEBERTUM. Augqustinum, cui injunxit ut aliquos 8ecum e vicino presbyteros ducat in Angliam, commendat, et Can- didum Ecclesi3tic; rectorem patrimonii. Gregorius Theoderico et Theodeherto * fratribus, regibus Francorum a paribus. Postquam Deus omnipotens regnum vestrum ſidei rectitudine decoravil, et integritate Christianz reli- gionis inter gentes alias fecit esse conspicuum, ma- gaam de vobis materiam presumendi concepimus, veslri invenire gratiam mereantur. Et quia animarum causa est, vestra eos poteslas tueatur et adjuvet; ut Deus omnipotens qui vos in causa sua devota mente et tolo $sludio solatiari cognoscitl, Ccausas vestras ua < propitiatione disponat, et post terrenam potestatem ad coelestia vos regna perducat. Przlerea dilectissimum filium nostrum Candidum presbyterum , et patrimoniolum Eecclesiz nostre , _ quod in illis partibus est constitutum, ut commen- datum excellentia vestra habere debeat postwlamus, qualenus beatus Petrus apostolorum princeps $ua vobis intercessione respondeat, qui mercedis intuitu lvitionem in rebus pauperum ejus impenditis. EPISTULA LIX. AD BRUNICHILDEM FRANCORUM REGINAM. Ut Augustino in Angliam eunti et Candido rectori pa- irimonii luittonem el aurilium impendat. Gregorius Brunichild:e reginze Francorum. Excellentiz vestre Christianitas ita nobis veraci- ter olim innotuit, ut de bonitate ejus nullatenus du- bitemus; sed magis certum modis omnibus teneamus, quia in causa fidei devote et sludiose concurrat, et religiosz sinceritalis 8vz solatia copiosissime gubmj- nisiret. Ex qua re bene conſidentes, paterna charitate Salulantes indicamus ad nos pervenisse Anglorum gentem, Deo annuente, velle fieri Christianam ; sed sacerdotes, qui in vicino sunt, pastoralem erga eos Sullicitudinem non habere. Quorum ne anime in ISecutellas, in quibus'pultes apponuntur, ob ſormam Þ dorici regia quam Meltis Theodoberti sedes eis occur- rotundam circulos appellat. Vocem hanc Gallice red- dit Gussanvil. des porte-assieltes, des colliers de M uu- res. At circuli de quibus hic Gregorius, erant ad usus Pauperum. | EersT. LVII. — * In Corb. et Norm., respondeat. Suut et asserenda, res Sunl pauperum ; $i consumenda, clericorum. lia pauperes illuduntur, sed Deus non Irridetur, Vide lib. viu. epist. 28. Gussanv. Eersr, LYNE. — * Theodoricum Theodoberto ma- Jor1 fratri et hic et semper alias collector epistolarum Gregorii preposuit, servato ordine temporis quo red- vde erant liverz. Roma enim vementibus ante Theodubcrium Avusira-jorum regem Theodoricus rex Burgundiz erat adeundus; prius Cabillonum Theo- PaTroL. LXXVII. fr rebat, uti observavit Adr. Valesius, rerum Francica- rum hb. xvi. Gussavv. | - 845 praesentinm portitorem Angustinum seryum Dei, cu- jus zelus et studium bene nobis est cognitum, cum aliis servis Dei illuc dirigere, ut per eos potuissemns ipsorum voluntates addiscere, et de eorum conver- sjone, vobis quoque annitentibus, in quantum est possibile, cogitare. Quibas etiam injunximus ut ad agenda hc e vicino secum debeant presbyteros du- 'cere. Excellentia ergo vesira, que prona in bonis consuevit esse operibus, tam pro nostra petitione, quam eltiam divini timoris consideratione, eum di- gnetur in omnibus h1bere commendaium, atque ei luitionis suz gratiam vehementer impendat, ct labori ejus patrocinii sui ſerat auxilium ; et vt plenissime possit habere mercedem, ad supra scriplam Anglo- | SANCTI GREGORII MAGNI zlerna damnatione valeant deperire, curz nobis ſuit A gistri svi gremium, Þ unde illic pradicatio salutis exorta est, tota se conſerre devotione sentimus. At- que ideo $anclitatis vestrz susceptis apicibus, quau- | tum cor nosirum de fraterna visi:atione gavisum et, tantum de indictis quz significastis oneribus tristitia premitur, et fraterna compatsione vobiscum gemfi- mus quod doletis. © Sed quia diversa $e tendit ubique concussi0, in communi necessitale minus est de pro- pria dolendum, sed studendum magis est ut patienter t6- ' Ierando vincamus quod oinninodevitare non possumus, Quanta autem nos a Langobardorum gladiis in quo- lidiana nos(rorum civium depradatione vel detrunca- tione atque interitu patimur, narrare recusamus, 18 dum dolores nostros loquimur, ex compassione quam nobis impenditis vestros avgeamus. rum gentem $ua twitione securum ire provideat, qua- B B37 Przterea ante aliquantum temporis com- tenus Deus noster qui i: hoc sxculo vos bonis sibi placitis decoravit , hic et in #xterna requie cum $uis vos sanctis ſaciat gratulari. | 836 Przierea dilectum filium nostrum Candidum presbyterum , et patrimoniolum Ecclesix nosirz , quod illic con:licutum es, vestr:x Christianitati com- mendantes, petimus ut tuitionis vesirz gratiam in omnibus consequatur.