Letter 5030: The Piety of my Lords, which has been wont mercifully to sustain your servants, has shone forth here in so kind a supply that the need of all the feeble has been relieved by the succour of your bounty. On this account we all with prayers and tears beseech Almighty God, who has moved the heart of your Clemency to do this thing, that He would pres...

Gregory to the Emperor Mauricius. The generosity of my Lords, which has always mercifully sustained your servants, has shone forth here in so generous a supply that the needs of all who are weak and suffering have been relieved by your bounty. For this we all pray with tears to Almighty God -- who moved your Clemency to act -- that he may keep the empire of our Lords safe in his unfailing love, and by his own power extend your victories among all nations. The thirty pounds of gold that my colleague Busa delivered has been faithfully distributed by Scribo to priests, those in need, and others. Since a number of women dedicated to the religious life have come to this city from various provinces, having fled here after captivity -- some of whom have been placed in monasteries where space allowed, while others who could not be taken in are living in extreme poverty -- it was decided that whatever could be spared from the relief of the blind, the crippled, and the infirm should be distributed among them, so that not only our own poor but also strangers who arrive here might share in the compassion of our Lords. As a result, all alike pray with one voice for the lives of our Lords: that Almighty God may grant you a long and peaceful reign, and that the most fortunate children of your line may flourish long in the Roman republic. The soldiers' pay was also distributed by my colleague Scribo in the presence of the distinguished Castus, the military commander, in such good order that all received the gifts of our Lords with gratitude and proper discipline, and there was none of the grumbling that formerly plagued them.

Book V, Letter 30 To Mauricius Augustus. Gregory to Mauricius, etc. The Piety of my Lords, which has been wont mercifully to sustain your servants, has shone forth here in so kind a supply that the need of all the feeble has been relieved by the succour of your bounty. On this account we all with prayers and tears beseech Almighty God, who has moved the heart of your Clemency to do this thing, that He would preserve the empire of our Lords safe in His unfailing love, and by the aid of His own majesty extend their victories in all nations. The thirty pounds of gold which my fellow-servant Busa brought, Scribo has distributed faithfully to priests, persons in need, and others. And, since certain females devoted to a religious life (sanctimoniales fœminæ) have come to this city from various provinces, having fled hither after captivity, of whom some, so far as there was room for them, have been placed in monasteries, but others, who could not be taken in, lead a life of singular destitution, it has been thought good that what could be spared from the relief of the blind, maimed and feeble should be distributed to them, so that not only needy natives, but also strangers who arrive here, might receive of the compassion of our Lords. Hence it has been brought about that all alike with one accord pray for the life of our lords, that so Almighty God may give you a long and quiet life, and grant to the most happy offspring of your Piety to flourish long in the Roman republic. The pay also of the soldiers has been so distributed by my aforesaid fellow-servant Scribo , in the presence also of the glorious Castus, magister militum, that all received with thanks the gifts of our lords under due discipline, and abstained from all murmuring such as was formerly wont to prevail among them.

Gregorius Mauricio Augusto. Dominorum pietas, quz sy0s convuevit migsericor- diter famulos Þ continere, ita benigna hic subventione resplenduit, ut cunctorum debilium inopia largitatis cjus sit consolatione sublevata. Pro qua re lacryma- phuperum hospitales domus, quarum usu Priecipuo exolescente, ipsisque dirutis 2dibus, diaconize nomen ipsarum saceſlis et oratoriis mansit, a quibus carum preeſecti diaconi cardinales urbis Rom po>tra dicti sunt. Anastasius in Adriano |: [dem egregius prev... diuconias constituit, in quibus et mulla bona ſecil... concedens eis agros, vineas, olivela, servos, ancilias, el peculia diversa, atque res mobiles, ut de reditu eorum crebris exactionibus diaconie proſicientes, pauperes Christi reficerentur. Nec Rome duvtaxat ſuisse diaco- nias ostend1 hc epistola. Vide, iiufra, lib. x, episl. 21. De di«coni's plira Cangius in Glo>sario, et M.i- billonius, tomo | ac I Muse: Htalici. Erisr. XXIX [Al. 25]. — © Hac episiola contine- tur ſoruwula diplomatiis quo defensor creabatur.