Letter 2003: We informed your Glory some time ago that soldiers had been prepared to come to your parts; but, inasmuch as your letter had signified to us that the enemy were collected and were marching hitherward, we for this reason have detained them here. But now it appears to be advantageous that a certain number of soldiers should be sent to you, whom le...
Book II, Letter 3
To Velox, Magister Militum [a senior military commander].
Gregory to Velox.
We informed Your Glory some time ago that soldiers were ready to be sent to your area. However, since your letter warned us that the enemy had assembled and was marching toward us, we held them back. Now it seems beneficial to send a certain number of soldiers to you. Make sure to encourage and prepare them for hard work.
When you find the opportunity, confer with our distinguished sons Maurilius and Vitalianus [other military commanders], and carry out whatever they, with God's help, direct you to do for the advantage of the state.
If you learn that the despicable Ariulph [Duke of Spoleto, a Lombard military commander who frequently raided territory near Rome] is launching an attack toward us or toward Ravenna, strike at his rear, as brave men should, so that your reputation may, by God's help, grow even greater through the quality of your efforts.
Above all, we urge you to release without any delay or excuse the families of Maloin, Adobin, Vigild, and Grussing [Germanic soldiers or officers], who are known to be with the distinguished Magister Militum Maurilius. When Maurilius's men come to your area, they must be able to march with their families without hindrance.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Gregorius Veloci magistro militum.
Et pridem expressimus glor;z vestra quia milites
illuc erat parali venire ; sed quoniam inimicos con-
gregatos et hue discurrere epistola yestra siguiſica-
veral, hc eos hic causa retinuit. Nunc vero utile est
visum ut aliquanii illuc milites transmittantur , quos
gloria tua admonere et horltari, ut parati int ad la-
.borem, studeat, Et occasione inventa, cum gloriosis
ſiliis nostris Maurilio et Vitaliano loquere, et quecun-
que yobis Deo adjutore pro ulilitate reipublicze sta-
twerini, facite. Et si huc vel ad Ravennates partes,
nec dicendum Ariulphum cognoveritis excurrere, vos
a dorso ejus ita sicut viros decet fortes, laborate,
quatenus opinio vestra ex laboris vestri qualitale
amplius in republica, Deo auxiliante, proficiat. Il'\ud
tamen pre omnibus admonemus, JJ ut fomiliam
Maloin , et Adobin, Vigildi, atque Grussingi, -qui
cum glorioso Maurilio magistro militum esse no-cun-
tur, sine aliqua mora vel excusatione relaxes, qua-
lenus venientes illuc ' homines predicli viri cum eis
Sine aliquo impedimento debeant ambulare *.
Revision history
- 2026-05-27v2.2.34-import
Initial corpus import from New Advent / NPNF.
Fields: letter text, metadata, source links. Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360202003.htm
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