To Kings Theodoric and Theodebert, on the Mission to the Angles

Gregory to Theodoric and Theodebert, brothers, kings of the Franks. Sent in identical copies. [a]

Almighty God has adorned your kingdom with an upright faith and has made it stand out among the other nations by the purity of its Christian religion. So we have formed great hopes of you: that you will surely want your subjects to be converted to that faith by which you are their kings and lords. That being so, it has come to our knowledge that the nation of the Angles, through the mercy of God, wants to be converted to the Christian faith, but that the priests in their neighborhood neglect them and are careless about kindling their desire by exhortations of their own. For this reason we have taken care to send to them the servant of God Augustine, who brings this letter, whose zeal and earnestness are well known to us, together with other servants of God. We have also charged them to take with them some priests from the neighboring parts, with whose help they may be able to find out the disposition of the Angles and, as far as God grants it to them, help their wishes along by their counsel. [c]

Now, so that they may be able to show themselves effective and capable in this work, we greet your excellency with fatherly love and beg that those we have sent may be counted worthy to find the grace of your favor. And since it is a matter of souls, let your power protect and help them, so that Almighty God, who knows that you take up his cause with a devout mind and with all your heart, may graciously direct your own causes and, after earthly rule, bring you to the kingdoms of heaven. Further, we ask your excellency to hold our most beloved son Candidus, a presbyter and the rector of our church’s patrimony, as commended to you. So may the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, make you a return by his intercession, as you look to the reward and give your protection in the affairs of his poor. [e]