Letter 13

From: Braulio of Zaragoza, bishop To: Chindasuinth, King of the Visigoths Date: ~643 AD Context: The king has requested specific books from Braulio's library; Braulio responds, cataloguing what he can send and explaining the limitations of his collection. To the most glorious King Chindasuinth, Your request for books has reached me, and I have spent several days going through what I have to determine what I can send and what I cannot. I can send you the following: a copy of Isidore of Seville's Etymologiae, which I believe is the finest work of learning produced in Spain in our lifetime and which no royal library should be without; the Synonyma of the same author, which is shorter but in some ways more immediately useful; my own copy of Cassian's Conferences, which I commend to you not as theology per se but as practical wisdom on the conduct of a virtuous life; and a collection of sermons by Augustine that I had copied some years ago and which remains in excellent condition. I cannot send you the Jerome letters that I believe you were hoping for — my copy is the only one I have and I need it for my own work. If I can arrange for a copy to be made, I will send it later. I am also aware that you mentioned an interest in materials on law and governance. I have in mind several texts that might be relevant — Augustine's City of God is obvious, but there are less well-known works that address the relationship between Christian kingship and justice. If you want me to put together a more targeted selection on this theme, write and tell me what specific questions you are wrestling with, and I will see what I can assemble. Your loyal servant, Braulio