Letter 2029: I am astonished that Your Holiness, after receiving the opinions — I should say the formal judgments — of so many...

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Euphrasius, bishop Date: ~496 AD Context: Ruricius expresses surprise at being consulted on a matter after so many distinguished bishops have already given their opinions. Bishop Ruricius to his dear Euphrasius — greetings. I am astonished that Your Holiness, after receiving the opinions — I should say the formal judgments — of so many and such distinguished men, would also seek the view of my ignorance. I suspect you did this more out of friendship than necessity, not wanting to seem to have overlooked my consent in a matter where you hold my esteem so dear. I give thanks to your brotherhood, inseparable from me in Christ, for thinking well enough of me to presume and judge that we have nothing in love that should not be shared in counsel.

XXVIIII. RURICIUS EUFRASIO SUO SALUTEM. Miror sanctitatem uestram post tantorum et talium uirorum indicia potius quam rescripta etiam inscitiae meae quaesisse sententiam. quod uos magis pro necessitudine quam necessitate fecisse conicio, ne, cuius tanti habetis praecipuum in animo tenere cultum, uideremini in negotio praetermisisse consensum. unde gratias ago indiuiduae mihi in Christo germanitati uestrae, quod ita de nobis praesumere et iudicare dignamini, ut nihil habeamus aut in caritatis simplicitate subdolum aut in ueritatis puritate fucatum. reddo itaque debitum unanimitatis officium et de causa, qua mihi scribere dignati estis, idem me quod et fratres nostros sentire significo. sed, quid facto opus sit uel quid mihi potissimum fieri debere uideatur, per diaconem uestrum uerbo fideliter intimaui, quae longum fuit litteris indicari. ora pro me.