Letter 2

From: Desiderius of Cahors, bishop To: Queen Nanthild, Queen of the Franks Date: ~635 AD Context: Desiderius writes to Dagobert's queen regarding the construction of the cathedral at Cahors, seeking her personal support for the project. To the most serene and Christ-devoted Queen Nanthild, from her faithful servant Desiderius, bishop of Cahors, The queen's reputation for generosity toward the works of God has preceded her, and I write with some confidence that this request will receive the sympathetic hearing that such a reputation promises. The cathedral of Cahors, dedicated to Saint Stephen, is under construction. The king has generously supported this work, and progress has been made, but the scale of what is needed — a church worthy of this city and this diocese, and of the faith of the people who will worship in it — requires resources beyond what a single grant can provide. I ask the queen to join the king in supporting this work, not because the cathedral needs the queen's gold in addition to the king's, but because a work of this importance is enriched by the prayers and the association of those who are most honored in the kingdom. When future generations worship in this cathedral, they will know that it was built with the support of the royal house. That is a legacy worth having. I include with this letter a description of the work as it currently stands and an account of what remains to be done. Your faithful servant and chaplain in spirit, Desiderius