Hormisdas to Bishop Germanus, Deacons Felix and Dioscorus, and Presbyter Blandus,

The prolonged silence of your affection greatly distresses our hearts, as much as the absence of so many seasons, especially since the magnificent patrician Symmachus and the illustrious Roman, our son, master of the soldiers, have promised the return of your charity to us without delay. Yet we do not know whether it is the nature of the circumstances there or some feigned fraud under the guise of necessity that keeps you detained. Although we have constantly shown our concern and inquired almost from everyone in those parts, we receive different and conflicting reports.

Therefore, since you can better understand and perceive the reasons for such a delay, you ought to have informed us about those matters that trouble our minds. Or, if there is a valid reason for the delay, as was established, it was proper that someone from your ranks should have been sent to us. Lest perhaps, through schemes or some contrived situation, delays and hindrances are caused to you, write to us promptly, so that with a rational order, we may direct our petition for your return to our most merciful son, the emperor. Therefore, inform us fully about both the persons involved and the matter of the faith, on account of which you have delayed so long, and write back to us in full detail about everything so that, knowing all, with the favor of our God, we may determine how mercy may assist both your persons and the matter at hand. Given on the Ides of July, in the consulship of the illustrious Rusticus (year of our Lord 520).