Letter 5036: Gregory to Severus, Scholasticus to the Exarch. Those who assist judges and are bound to them by sincere attachment ought to advise them and suggest to them what may both save their souls and not derogate from their reputation. This being so, since we know with what sincere loyalty you love the most excellent Exarch, we have been careful to info...

Gregory to Severus, Legal Adviser to the Exarch. Those who assist judges and are bound to them by genuine loyalty ought to advise them and suggest what may save their souls without damaging their reputation. With this in mind, since we know how sincerely you serve the most excellent Exarch, we have taken care to inform your Greatness of the following, so that you may persuade him to agree to what is reasonable. Know, then, that Agilulph, King of the Lombards, is not unwilling to conclude a general peace, provided the lord Patricius agrees to arbitration. He complains that many acts of violence were committed against his territories during the period of peace. Since he seeks satisfaction for these -- while also promising to make full restitution if any wrongs were committed on his side during the peace -- his request for arbitration is plainly reasonable. An arbitration should be held so that any wrongs on either side can be settled, and a general peace, with God's protection, can be established. How necessary this is for all of us, you know well. Act wisely, then, as you always have, and see to it that the most excellent Exarch agrees without delay, so that it does not appear that peace is being refused by our side -- as it should not be. If the Exarch is unwilling to consent, Agilulph has again promised to conclude a separate peace with us alone; but we know that in such a case various islands and other territories would certainly be devastated. Let the Exarch weigh these things carefully and move quickly toward peace, so that during this pause in hostilities we may at least have some measure of quiet, and the republic's forces may, with God's help, be better prepared to resist.

Book V, Letter 36 To Severus, Scholasticus Gregory to Severus, Scholasticus to the Exarch. Those who assist judges and are bound to them by sincere attachment ought to advise them and suggest to them what may both save their souls and not derogate from their reputation. This being so, since we know with what sincere loyalty you love the most excellent Exarch, we have been careful to inform your Greatness of the things that have been done, that, being aware of them, you may move him to assent to them reasonably. Know then that Agilulph, King of the Lombards, is not unwilling to conclude a general peace, if only the lord Patricius will consent to an arbitration. For he complains that many acts of violence were committed in his regions during the time of peace. And since, if reasonable grounds for arbitration should be found, he desires to have satisfaction made to himself, he also himself promises to make satisfaction in all ways, if it should appear that any wrong was committed on his side during the peace. Since then it is no doubt reasonable to agree to what he asks, there ought to be an arbitration, that, if any wrongs have been done on either side, they may be adjusted; so that it may be possible, with the protection of God, to establish a general peace; for how necessary for us all this is you well know. Act therefore wisely as you have been wont to do, that the most excellent Exarch may consent to this without delay, lest peace should appear to be refused by him, as should not be. For, should he be unwilling to consent, he indeed [Agilulph] again promises to conclude a special peace with us; but we know that various islands and other places would undoubtedly in that case be ruined. However, let him [the Exarch] consider these things, and hasten to make peace, to the end that at any rate during this cessation of hostilities we may have some degree of quiet, and the forces of the republic may with the help of God be the better repaired for resistance. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360205036.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.