To Queen Brunhild, on a Synod Against Simony

Gregory to Brunhild, and so on. [a]

What good gifts have been given you from above, and with what godliness heavenly grace has filled you, is made plain to all, among all the other proofs of your merits, by this: that you govern the savage hearts of barbarians with the skill of wise counsel, and, what is still more to your praise, adorn your royal power with wisdom. And since, just as you surpass many nations in both these respects, you also excel them in the purity of your faith, we have great confidence that you will correct what is unlawful. For the contents of the letters you have already sent us bear witness how your excellency has embraced our exhortation, and with what devotion you long to carry it out. But since he who gives good dispositions is accustomed to be their helper too, we trust that in his loving kindness he will direct your affairs all the more favorably as he sees you diligent in his cause. Do God’s work, and God will do yours. So order a synod to be assembled, and, among other things, as we have written before, carefully forbid the sin of the simoniac heresy in your kingdom by the decree of a council. Offer a sacrifice to God by conquering the enemy within, so that by his help you may conquer the enemies without, and so that you may find him as ready to help you as you are zealous against his foes. Believe me, moreover, that, as we have learned from the experience of many, whatever is gathered with sin is spent with loss. If, then, you wish to lose nothing unjustly, try to the utmost to have nothing gained by injustice. For in earthly matters loss always has its origin in sin. So if you wish to stand above hostile nations, if you would quickly, with God’s leave, be victorious over them, receive with trembling the commands of the same Almighty God, so that he himself may fight for you against your enemies, he who has promised in Holy Scripture, saying, “The Lord will fight for you, and you will hold your peace.” [b]

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