The Wounds Of War

Letter 2,38 - to John, bishop of Ravenna. July 592

"But as for your saying that alms should be sent to the burnt city [Grado] of Severus the schismatic, your Fraternity has these thoughts for the reason that you do not know what sort of presents he sends against us in the palace. Even if he was not sending them over there, we have to consider that alms should be given to the faithful first, and to the Church's enemies afterwards.
Nearby of course is the city of Fano, in which many people have been captured. I have wanted to send someone there for the past year now, but I did not dare do so in the middle of enemy troops. And so it seems best to me that you should send the Abbot Claudius there with some money to buy back with it any free men he finds there, held for ransom in slavery, and any who are still captives. But as for the total of that money which should be sent, you can be certain that I am happy with whatever you decide. But if together with this excellent man, the patrician Romanus, you are arranging for us to make peace with Ariulf, I am prepared to send another person to you, with whom the business of expenses should turn out better.."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 215.