The new Pope, Gregory “the Great,” was a genuinely pious man who was reluctant to accept the office: “He wanted very much to avoid the highest honour, lest as a result of his being elected the worldly pomp which he had renounced should invade once more his public life” (544). A Frankish official named Grippo had been sent on a diplomatic mission to Maurice, emperor of the Byzantine Empire. While stopping in the city of Carthage, a servant of one of the officials, Evantius, stole from a merchant. When the merchant later confronted him, the servant killed the merchant. A group of soldiers confronted the diplomats and, in the confrontation, killed Evantius and another official, Bodegisil.

Upset by what had happened to a diplomatic mission, Emperor Maurice gave gifts to Grippo. Later, Maurice sent a number of prisoners, claiming these were the men who killed Bodegisil and Evantius, although Grippo did not recognize them. Still, once again at the prompting of Emperor Maurice, Childebert II went to war against the Longobards of Italy. Through the mediation of King Guntram, a truce was soon agreed upon.

Gregory tells the story of Count Eulalius of Clermont-Ferrand, who was guilty of murdering his mother.