Gregory to John, former consul, and patrician, and quaestor. Having experienced the goodness of your Excellency, I am bound by so great a love toward you that the memory of you can by no means be effaced from my breast. But against love I am not a little saddened, because you knew me to be seeking quiet, and have led me to disquiet. To you indeed may Almighty God, because you did this with good intent, repay eternal good things; but from so great a peril of this place may He absolve me as He shall have willed, because, as my sins deserved, I have been made bishop not of the Romans but of the Lombards, whose spathae are truces, and their favour a punishment. Behold whither your patronage has led me. I groan daily, pressed by occupations, and I am unable to breathe.
167:2
Sedros, qniadhucvaletis, rmundihujusoccupalioorsfugite, quiaquantumineoquisqueprofecerit, tanto, utvideo, abamoreDciampliusdecrescit. PrætercasacratissimamclavemabeatiPetriapostolorumprincipiscorporevobistransmisi, quaesuperægrosmultissoletmiraculiscoruscare, nanetiamdeejuscatenisinteriushabet. Eædemigiturcatenæ, quaeinasanctacollatenucront, suspensccollaveslrasanctificent. (Cf. Joan. Diac. I. I, c. 51.)
But you, who are still strong, flee the occupations of this world, because the more anyone advances in it, the more, as I see, he decreases from the love of God. Moreover, I have transmitted to you the most sacred key from the body of blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, which upon the sick is wont to flash with many miracles; for it also has within it something of his chains. These same chains therefore, which held that holy neck, being hung upon your neck may sanctify it. (Cf. John the Deacon, bk. I, ch. 51.)