Letter 2030: Gregory to Maurilius and Vitalianus, magistris militum. We have entreated your Glory through our son Vitalianus both by word and letter, charging you to communicate with him. But on the eleventh day of the month of January Ariulph sent us this letter which we forward to you.

Book II, Letter 30 To Maurilius and Vitalianus [senior military commanders]. Gregory to Maurilius and Vitalianus, Magistri Militum. We have communicated with Your Glory through our son Vitalianus, both by word and by letter, urging you to coordinate with him. On the eleventh day of January, Ariulph [the Lombard Duke of Spoleto] sent us a letter which we are forwarding to you. When you have read it, determine whether the people of Suana [a town in central Italy] have kept the loyalty they promised to the state. Take adequate hostages from them -- people you can rely on. Bind them again with oaths, return what you took from them as a pledge, and bring them back to a right mind through your negotiations. However, if you clearly establish that they have negotiated with Ariulph about surrendering to him, or have given him hostages -- as Ariulph's letter that we are forwarding leads us to suspect -- then, after careful deliberation (so that neither your conscience nor mine is burdened regarding our oaths), do whatever you judge to be to the state's advantage. But act so that our adversaries cannot blame us for anything, and (may the Lord prevent it) nothing that the state requires is neglected. Furthermore, my distinguished sons, take anxious care. The enemy, as far as I have determined, has gathered an army and is reportedly stationed at Narnia [modern Narni, a strategic town in Umbria controlling the approach to Rome]. If, by God's opposition, he decides to march toward us, plunder his positions as far as the Lord aids you. Or at least ensure that those you deploy maintain strict night watches, so that no news of any disaster reaches us unprepared.

Book II, Letter 30 To Maurilius and Vitalianus. Gregory to Maurilius and Vitalianus, magistris militum. We have entreated your Glory through our son Vitalianus both by word and letter, charging you to communicate with him. But on the eleventh day of the month of January Ariulph sent us this letter which we forward to you. Wherefore, when you have read it, see if the people of Suana have stood fast in the fidelity they promised to the republic, and take adequate hostages from them, such as you can rely on; and moreover bind them anew by oaths, restoring to them what you took from them in the way of a pledge, and bringing them to a right mind by your discourses. But, should you quite distinctly ascertain that they have treated with Ariulph about their surrender to him, or at any rate have given him hostages, as the letter of Ariulph which we have forwarded to you leads us to suspect, then (after wholesome deliberation, lest your souls or mine be burdened with respect to our oaths), do whatever you may judge to be of advantage to the republic. But let your Glory so act that neither anything be done for which we could be blamed by our adversaries, nor (which may the Lord avert) anything neglected which the advantage of the republic requires. Furthermore, my glorious sons, take anxious heed, since the enemy, so far as I have ascertained, has an army collected, and is said to be stationed at Narina ; and if, God being angry with him, he should resolve to bend his course hitherward, do you plunder his positions so far as the Lord may aid you, or certainly let those whom you send carefully require night-watches , lest news of any sad event should reach us.

Gregorius Maurilio et Vitaliano magistris militum. Suppliciter gloriz vestrae per filium nostrum VYi- talianum cum quo ut tractaretis et verbo et scripto mandavimus. Undecimo. autem die mensis * Janu- rii Ariulphus hanc epistolam quam vyobis direximus lrausmisit.. Et ideo relegentes eam, videte si in lide Su2 » Suanenses quam reipublice promisere persti- lerunt. Obsidesque. dignos de quibus possitis conſi- dere ab eis percipile ; et insuper eos denuo Sacra- mentis obstringite, reddentes eis quod Joco pignoris Sustulislis, etl sermonibus vestris eos sSanantes. Si autem maniſestissime cognoveritis eos cum Ariulpho - de ssna subditione loentos fuisse, vel certe obsiiles et dedisse, gicut nos Ariulphi epistola quam vobis direximus dubios reddidit, salubri consilio pertra- 4 In Collect. Pauli additur : data die xv Kalend. Junii, indict. 10 Eer>r. NXXIX (Al. legebatur, Mauricio.