Letter 9117: Whereas for the government of a kingdom valour stands in need of justice, and power of equity, nor for this purpose can one suffice without the other, with what great love your care for these things is resplendent is shown plainly enough by the fact of your governing crowds of nations so laudably. Who then, considering this, can distrust the goo...
Pope Gregory the Great→Brunichild|c. 599 AD|gregory great
barbarian invasion
Military conflict
Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks.
When governing a kingdom, valor needs justice and power needs equity — neither can stand without the other. How greatly your care for these virtues shines is made plain enough by the fact that you govern so many peoples so commendably. Who, then, knowing this, could doubt the goodness of Your Excellency or hesitate to bring a request before you, when he knows he is asking for the kind of thing you would willingly grant to your own subjects?
The bearer of this letter, Hilarius, a servant of Your Excellency, has asked us to support him with a letter of commendation, believing that our intercession with your authority will help his cause. He is confident that he will more readily obtain those favors you grant to others if our word speaks on his behalf.
Accordingly, greeting you with the affection of fatherly charity, we ask this: since he reports that he is suffering adversity at the hands of certain unjust persons, let the protection of Your Excellency defend him. By your command, see that he is kept safe from being oppressed without reason. In this way, no one's hostility will prevail unjustly or by mere caprice. We will give thanks for having obtained what we request — ultimately for the benefit of your own reward — and the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, whom you honor in us with Christian devotion by granting what we ask, will repay Your Excellency.
Book IX, Letter 117
To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks.
Gregory to Brunichild, etc.
Whereas for the government of a kingdom valour stands in need of justice, and power of equity, nor for this purpose can one suffice without the other, with what great love your care for these things is resplendent is shown plainly enough by the fact of your governing crowds of nations so laudably. Who then, considering this, can distrust the goodness of your Excellency, or be doubtful of obtaining his request, when he thinks it right to ask for what he knows you would willingly bestow upon your subjects? The bearer, then, of these presents, Hilarius , a servant of your Excellency, supposing that our intervention with your power will aid him, has requested to be supported by letters of commendation from us; holding it as certain that he will more abundantly obtain such favours as you grant to others if our intercession should speak for him. Accordingly, paying you our address of greeting with the affection of paternal charity, we beg that, as he states that he is labouring under adversities from the iniquity of certain persons, the protection of your Excellence may defend him; and, lest he should possibly be oppressed against reason, that by your command you would order him to be kept safe; that so, while no one's opposition shall have place unjustly and of mere will, both we may return thanks for having obtained what rather for your own reward we request, and that the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, whom you will venerate in us with Christian devotion by granting what we ask, may recompense your Excellency.
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Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360209117.htm>.
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Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks.
When governing a kingdom, valor needs justice and power needs equity — neither can stand without the other. How greatly your care for these virtues shines is made plain enough by the fact that you govern so many peoples so commendably. Who, then, knowing this, could doubt the goodness of Your Excellency or hesitate to bring a request before you, when he knows he is asking for the kind of thing you would willingly grant to your own subjects?
The bearer of this letter, Hilarius, a servant of Your Excellency, has asked us to support him with a letter of commendation, believing that our intercession with your authority will help his cause. He is confident that he will more readily obtain those favors you grant to others if our word speaks on his behalf.
Accordingly, greeting you with the affection of fatherly charity, we ask this: since he reports that he is suffering adversity at the hands of certain unjust persons, let the protection of Your Excellency defend him. By your command, see that he is kept safe from being oppressed without reason. In this way, no one's hostility will prevail unjustly or by mere caprice. We will give thanks for having obtained what we request — ultimately for the benefit of your own reward — and the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, whom you honor in us with Christian devotion by granting what we ask, will repay Your Excellency.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.