Letter appealing for money to help Pamonthios, whose children were seized by creditors TM 16854Herakleopolites bzw. Kynopolites

[recto, centre] To the all-holy, beloved and most sweet Paieous the presbyter and Dioskoros and Hierax and […] and Apa Sourous and all the brothers and all those with you by name, Moses and Herieous, your inferiors in the Lord, greeting. First of all making our obeisance to you, beloved patrons, we wish to inform you about this beloved Pamonthios, that he is in great need and has suffered most shamefully at the hands of certain merciless and godless men, so that you too may be zealous for him […] and that the love of your excellence may dwell in heaven. So of necessity be very zealous for him without hesitation, because the moneylenders have seized his children into slavery. If you hold me as a brother, help this man together, beloved, because he pressed us very urgently in this way about this need, and we shall not hesitate. Whatever we found we handed over to him, and indeed we did beyond our power. Whatever you can, collect money, weigh it out, and write to me about what you have given, so that we may learn the certainty and may be persuaded, since he owes a very great deal of money. See that you do not neglect it, beloved, since the brother will fall into such need. I pray for your health […] [recto, margin] Show therefore your inborn love and compassion and the affection of your fatherhood. [verso] So I write to you, brother Paieous, […] this need, so that […] in every way, and establish […] for him among the brothers, so that […] they may give; for I know that much […] and send to the brothers […] I wrote to you a sure (letter?). Whatever you can collect from the neighbouring brothers […] a sure (letter?) and seal it […] his […] I received him as surety from the soldiers for 500 talents, capital and interest, 800 talents.