Although I have earned no writings of your apostolate by which I might be provoked to presume this very office, nevertheless you compel me by your opinion to offer a page of the service I owe, even when you have not bidden it by a summons. For to run to meet your minds, if we do not deserve it by sight, we are drawn by fame, even while we are held back by absence. To this is added that you so console the distresses of the unhappy Gauls by consolation of counsel and by bounty, that under the appearance of that mercy which I have learned, those hastening into Italy to acknowledge the necessity of their own, after a long pilgrimage, when with Christ their guide they have been able to see your person, deservedly believe that they are entering their own homeland.
I commend the presbyter who remains of our region, namely the bearer of the present homage. Who, although he has undertaken the labour of fatigue for the redeeming of the daughter of a certain kinsman of his, has nevertheless been directed with my escort by a certain noble provincial man, that he may, under the aid of your intercession, seek out and recall the son of the aforesaid man — by name Avulus, taken by a certain count Betanco about four years ago as a pledge of hostageship. For what remains I beseech, that by the gracious rescript of your beatitude you would teach both those there exulting that the estate of freeborn status is recoverable, and those here desiring it that the approach of writing is held in common.