Letter 5045: **From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome

To Andreas the Advocate. He commends Castorius the chartulary [a notarial officer of the Roman Church]. Gregory to Andreas the Advocate. The quality of your acknowledged devotion, which you once displayed toward the blessed Peter, chief of the Apostles, shows how we ought to presume upon the sincerity of your Excellency. And although we are confident that you are present in mind, ready in his causes, nevertheless it is not out of place if by an abundant letter we ask for those things which you have done of your own accord. And therefore, greeting you, with the affection of fatherly charity we ask that, since we have sent the bearer of these presents, our chartulary Castorius, for the necessary business there, you assist him with your aid in all things, and that by the counsel of your goodness, wherever [...] [A run of OCR-garbled editorial apparatus intrudes here, unrelated to this letter: stray phrases concerning a public grant of provisions from the treasury (annona, fisc), a reproach of Leontius for receiving provisions from the treasury though not content with his own resources, and a note that Severus Sulpicius praises the bishops of Aquitaine, Gaul, and Britain who attended the Council of Ariminum because they refused to use the provisions and lodgings offered them by Augustus and preferred to live at their own expense, with only three excepted, from Book 1 of the Sacred History; together with a manuscript note that this letter is absent from the English manuscripts and from most copies, and is read in [...] (Letter 45 [alias 15, indiction 2]).] [...] by the comfort of your kindness, he may be able to be found skillful and suitable for accomplishing the things which have been enjoined upon him. For thus you both do those things which are yours, and compel us to pray more earnestly for you. May Almighty God fortify you with the protection of His grace, and so dispose your acts in His fear, as you desire, favorably, that He may strip you here from all evils and lead you through to eternal joys.

AD ANDREAM SCHOLASTICUM. Castorium chertularium commendat. Gregorius Audrez scholastico. Qualiter de gloriz vestre debeamus sinceritale praesumere, coguilze devolionis qualitas, quam beato Pelro apostolorum principi olim exbibujstis ostendit. Cujus licet causis mente vos adesse prompltis- gima confidamus , non tamen ab re est si ea quz $ponle egistis nostra ex abundanti epistola de- poscamus. Atque ides salutanles, paternz charitatis afſectu petimus, ut quia latorem preseutium Casto- rium chartularium nosLrum pro necess3riis illic cau- sis direximus, vestra eum ope in omnibus adjuvelis, alque j11i bonitatis vestra: consilio, quocunque ne- © [n vulgalis, aliquid te annone, de publico, hoc est de fisco. Vituperat Leontium, quod, propriis sti- ndiis non contentus, ex fisce annonam acciperet. udat Severus Sulpic. episcopos Aquitanos, Gallos, et Britanaos, qui concili» Ariminensi iterluerunt, quod annonis et cellarits, hoc est hospitiis ab Au- usto $ibi oblatis uli noluerint, Sed propriis sumpti- = ali maluerint, lribus duutaxat exceptis, lib. 1 Hist. sacr:r. Eer-r, XLV [AL.15, indict. 2]. — * Hxc episiola zbesl a Mss. Anglic. et a plerisque. Legitur in San- nitatis vestr# s0latio, ad explenda quz Sibi injuncta Sunt so0lers et jidoneus possit inveniri. Sic etenim et vos quz vestra $sunt facitis, et nos pro vobis enixius orare compellitis. Oimnipotens Deus gratie Suez vos tuitiore praemuniat, et ita actus vestros in $u0 $icut desideratis propitius timore disponat, ut a malis om- nibus hic exuat, et ad gaudia vos #lerna perducat.