To Queen Brunhild, Commending the Monks Sent to Augustine

Gregory to Brunhild, and so on. [a]

We give thanks to Almighty God, who, among all the other gifts of his loving kindness that he has bestowed on your excellency, has so filled you with love for the Christian religion that whatever you know to serve the gain of souls, whatever serves the spread of the faith, you never stop carrying out with a devout mind and godly zeal. Report had already not been silent about the great favor and help with which your excellency aided our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Augustine on his way to the nation of the Angles; and afterward certain monks, returning to us from him, gave us a full account of it.

Let others, to whom your kindnesses are less known, marvel at these proofs of your Christianity. To us, who know them by experience, they are not a matter for wonder but for rejoicing, because by what you give to others you delight yourself. Your excellency already knows what kind of miracles, and how great, our Redeemer has worked in the conversion of the nation named above. You ought to have great joy on this account, since the help you gave claims the larger share in it: it was through your aid, after God, that the word of preaching became widely known in those parts. For whoever helps another’s good work makes it his own. But so that the fruit of your reward may grow richer and richer, we ask you kindly to give the support of your patronage to the monks who bring you this letter. We have sent them, with our most beloved sons the presbyter Laurentius and the abbot Mellitus, to our most reverend brother and fellow bishop named above, because he tells us that those who are with him are not enough. We ask you also to be pleased to stand by them in all things. Then, when under the favor of your excellency they have fared the better and have found no delays or difficulties in your regions, you may call down the mercy of our God on yourself and your dearest grandsons, in proportion as you have acted with compassion for love of him in causes of this kind. [c]

In the collection of Paul the Deacon: Given on the tenth day before the Kalends of July, in the fourth indiction. [d]