Letter 514: Letoius is a friend of mine because he is a good man and better than the station in life he occupies.

How do you think my heart was pained at hearing of the slanders heaped on me by some of those that feel no fear of the Judge, who shall destroy them that speak leasing? I spent nearly the whole night sleepless, thinking of your words of love; so did grief lay hold upon my heart of hearts. For verily, in the words of Solomon, slander humbles a man.

I certainly wish you such abundant wealth that you can buy the finest estates — but I would prefer that you do so...

It is my invariable custom to protest at every synod and to urge privately in conversation, that oaths about the taxes ought not to be imposed on husbandmen by the collectors. It remains for me to bear witness, on the same matters, in writing, before God and men, that it behooves you to cease from inflicting death upon men's souls, and to devise...

Every day that brings me a letter from you is a feast day, the very greatest of feast days. And when symbols of the feast are brought, what can I call it but a feast of feasts, as the old law used to speak of Sabbath of Sabbaths? I thank the Lord that you are quite well, and that you have celebrated the commemoration of the economy of salvation ...

Hear what the bearer of this letter says: he accuses the negligent servants and asks you to correct what has gone wrong.