Epistle
L.
To Queen Brunichild.
Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks.
The tenor of your letters, which evinces a
religious spirit and the earnestness of a pious mind, causes us not
only to commend the purpose of your request, but also to grant
willingly what you demand. For indeed it would ill become us to
refuse what Christian devotion and the desire of an upright heart
solicits, especially as we know that you demand, and embrace with your
whole heart, what may both protect the faith of believers, and work no
less the salvation of souls. Accordingly, greeting your
Excellency with befitting honour, we inform you that to Leuparic, the
bearer of these presents, through whom we received your communication,
and whom you described as a presbyter, we have handed over, according
to your Excellency’s request, with the reverence due to them,
certain relics of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. But, that
laudable and religious devotion may be more and more conspicuous among
you, you must see that these benefits of the saints be deposited with
reverence and due honour, and that those who serve in attendance on
them be vexed with no burdens or molestations, lest perchance, under
the pressure of outward necessity, they be rendered unprofitable and
slow in the service of
God
, and (which
God
forbid) the benefits of the saints that
have been bestowed sustain injury and neglect. Let, then, your
Excellency see to their quiet, to the end that, while they are guarded
by your bounty from all disquietude, they may render praises to our
God
with minds undisturbed, and that reward
may also accrue to you in the life eternal.