Epistle VII.

To Candidus, Presbyter.

Gregory to Candidus, Presbyter, going to the patrimony of Gaul.

Now that thou art proceeding, with the help of our Lord God Jesus Christ, to the government of the patrimony that is in Gaul, we desire thy Love to procure with the money thou mayest receive clothing for the poor, or English boys of about seventeen or eighteen years of age, who may profit by being given to God in monasteries, that so the money of Gaul, which cannot be spent in our country^16381638    Probably because of the inferior value in Italy of Gallic gold.  “Nullus solidum integri ponderis calumniosæ approbationis obtentu recuset exactor, excepto eo Gallico cujus aurum minore æstimatione taxatur.”  Novella Majoriani., may be expended profitably in its own locality.  Further, if you should succeed in getting anything from the moneys accruing to revenue which are called ablatæ^16391639    Some kind of due, so-called.  See Du Cange under Ablata:—“Ablatio, Exactio, Tolta…‘Liberos deinceps esse constituimus ab omni tallia, ablatione et exactione, et questu.’  (A. 1173).’, from this too we desire thee to procure clothing for the poor, or, as we have before said, boys who may profit in the service of Almighty God.  But, since such as can be found there are pagans, I desire that a presbyter be sent hither with them to provide against the case of any sickness occurring on the way, that he may baptize those whom he sees to be about to die.  Wherefore let your Love so proceed as to lose no time in accomplishing these things diligently.