Letter 36

From: The Austrasian Court To: [Church official] Date: ~576 AD Context: Austrasian letter 36; communication with church officials during a period of civil strife within the Frankish kingdoms, reasserting royal authority and seeking church support. To our faithful bishops and abbots, from the king of Austrasia, The troubles within the Frankish kingdoms that have brought grief to all Christians are a matter on which we seek your counsel and your prayers. The divisions within our ruling house are a scandal that we do not seek to defend; we seek, rather, to end them in a way that restores peace and allows the work of governance and Christian life to resume. We ask two things of the church at this difficult moment. First, your prayers for the restoration of peace and for God's guidance in the decisions that must be made. Second, your active mediation where you have relationships with the parties involved that give you access and credibility. Bishops have been effective peacemakers in such disputes before, and there are several of you whose standing with the relevant parties is such that your intervention might help. We also want to assure you that whatever the outcome of the current difficulties, the rights and protections of the church in Austrasia are not in question. We will honor our obligations regardless of the larger political outcome. We commend ourselves to your prayers. By order of the king of Austrasia