Letter 6051: Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Since it had been better not to have begun what is good than to return back from it when begun, you must, most beloved sons, fulfil the good work which with the help of the Lord you have begun. Let, then, neither the toil of the journey nor the tongues of evil-spe...

Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ going to England. Since it would have been better not to have begun a good work than to turn back from it once begun, you must, most beloved sons, bring to completion the good work which with the Lord's help you have begun. Let neither the hardship of the journey nor the tongues of those who speak ill deter you; but press on with all urgency and all fervor in what you have undertaken under God's guidance, knowing that great toil is followed by the glory of an eternal reward. In all things humbly obey Augustine your superior, who is returning to you and whom we also appoint as your abbot — knowing that whatever is accomplished in you through his guidance will profit your souls in every way. May Almighty God protect you with his grace, and grant that I may see the fruit of your labor in the eternal homeland — so that even though I cannot labor alongside you, I may be found together with you in the joy of the reward; for truly I long to labor with you. God keep you safe, most beloved sons. Given the tenth day before the Kalends of August, in the fourteenth year of the reign of our lord the Emperor Maurice Tiberius, most pious Augustus, the thirteenth year of his consulship, the fourteenth indiction.

Book VI, Letter 51 To the Brethren going to England (Angliam). Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Since it had been better not to have begun what is good than to return back from it when begun, you must, most beloved sons, fulfil the good work which with the help of the Lord you have begun. Let, then, neither the toil of the journey nor the tongues of evil-speaking men deter you; but with all instancy and all fervour go on with what under God's guidance you have commenced, knowing that great toil is followed by the glory of an eternal reward. Obey in all things humbly Augustine your provost (præposito), who is returning to you, whom we also appoint your abbot, knowing that whatever may be fulfilled in you through his admonition will in all ways profit your souls. May Almighty God protect you with His grace, and grant to me to see the fruit of your labour in the eternal country; that so, even though I cannot labour with you, I may be found together with you in the joy of the reward; for in truth I desire to labour. God keep you safe, most beloved sons. Given the tenth day of the Kalends of August, the fourteenth year of the Emperor our lord Mauricius Tiberius, the most pious Augustus, the thirteenth year of the consulship of our said lord, Indiction 14.