E06233: The Formulary of Marculf includes a template for a letter of recommendation for a pilgrim heading to Rome to visit the shrines of the Apostles *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008). Written in Latin in Gaul, probably c. 650/730.

The Formulary of Marculf, II. 49

Indeculum a generali ad omnes homines
Domno nostro ortodoxo, Romanae sedis apostolicae a Deo instituto illo pape, vel omnibus apostolicis domnis et patribus seu abbatibus vel Deo decatas caenobiis degentibus, necnon et inlustribus viris, patriciis, ducibus, comitibus vel omnibus christianae cultu divine relegione sectantes, ille peccator vilissimus omnium in Domino presumo mitte salutem. Quatenus presens portitur ille, radio inflammantem divino, non, ut plerisque mos est, vacandi causa, sed propter nomen Domini itinera ardua et laboriosa parvi pendens, ob lucranda orationi limina sanctorum apostolorum domni Petri et Pauli adire cupiens, meae parvitatem se petit vestre conmendare almitate ac industriae litterolas, per quas vilissimus omnium tamquam vestris provolutus vestigiis singulorum supplecare presumo, ut pro me minimo exorare iubeatis et eidem euntem vel redeuntem, si Dominus permiserit, propter nomen Domini solita pietate et commendatum recipiatis et quod necesse habuerit inpertire tanti habeatis, quatenus ab ipso mereamini mercedem recepere comolam, que sibi dixit implere, quantum quis in suis pauperibus visus fuerit erogare.

'General letter to all men
To our orthodox lord Pope A, placed by God in the Roman apostolic see, and all the apostolic lords and fathers, or abbots and [women] dedicated to God living in monasteries, and illustrious men, patricii, dukes, counts and all those following the Christian religion in the divine cult, I, A, the lowliest sinner of all, presume to send my salutation under God. Since the present bearer B, inflamed by divine rays, [and] desiring to go to the threshold of the holy apostles, the lords Peter and Paul, so as to flourish through [his] prayer, not, as is the habit for most people, in order to be idle, but for the name of God, [and] counting for little the difficult and painful journey, asked my littleness to recommend him by this little letter to your kindness and industriousness, by which I, the lowliest of all, presume to beg you, as if prostrated at the feet of each of you, to agree to pray for me, the smallest [of all], and to receive him, whom I recommend, on his way there and, if God allows it, on his way back, with [your] accustomed piety and for the name of God, and to give him as much as he needs, so that you may deserve to receive added mercy for Him who said that whatever one was seen to spend for His paupers was [also] paid to Him.'

Text: Zeumer 1886, 104-5. Translation: Rio 2008, 227, lightly modified.