To Severus, the Exarch’s Adviser, on Peace with the Lombards

Gregory to Severus, scholasticus to the exarch. [a]

Those who assist judges and are bound to them by sincere attachment ought to advise them and suggest to them what will both save their souls and not detract from their reputation. Since this is so, and we know how sincerely and loyally you love the most excellent exarch, we have taken care to inform your greatness of what has been done, so that, knowing it, you may move him to agree to it, as is reasonable.

Know, then, that Agilulf, king of the Lombards, is not unwilling to conclude a general peace, if only the lord patrician will agree to an arbitration. For he complains that many acts of violence were done in his territories during the time of peace. And since he wants satisfaction made to himself, if reasonable grounds for arbitration are found, he also promises on his part to make satisfaction in every way, if it appears that any wrong was done on his side during the peace. Since it is no doubt reasonable to agree to what he asks, there ought to be an arbitration, so that any wrongs done on either side may be set right, and so that, with God’s protection, a general peace may be established; and you know well how necessary this is for us all. So act wisely, as you always have, so that the most excellent exarch may agree to this without delay, for fear that peace should appear to be refused by him, as it should not be. For if he is unwilling to agree, Agilulf promises once again to conclude a separate peace with us; but we know that in that case various islands and other places would without doubt be ruined. Still, let the exarch consider these things and hurry to make peace, so that at least during this pause in the fighting we may have some quiet, and the forces of the state may, with God’s help, be the better restored for resistance. [b]