To Agilulf, King of the Lombards, on the Peace

Gregory to Agilulf, and so on.

We thank your excellency that, listening to our request, you have made a peace that may benefit both sides, as we trusted you would. For this we greatly praise your good sense and your goodness, since in choosing peace you have shown that you love God, who is its author. For if, unhappily, peace had not been made, what else could have followed but the shedding of the blood of the wretched peasants, whose labor profits both sides, with sin and danger on both sides? But so that we may feel the benefit of this peace, as you have made it, we ask you, greeting you with a father’s love, to instruct your dukes in various places by letter, whenever an opportunity arises, and especially those stationed in these parts. Tell them to keep this peace unbroken, as has been promised, and not to look for any occasions from which any quarrel or ill feeling may arise. Then we may be able to give thanks still more for your goodwill. We received the bearers of this letter with the affection that was fitting, as being truly your own people, since it was right both to receive and to send off with love men who are wise and who announced that by the favor of God peace had been made. [b]