Letter 10009: Ten pounds of gold are to be paid to the bishop Basil of Capua [for the ransom of captives — ransoming Christians...

To John, Bishop of Syracuse. [Summary rubric:] Let him pay out ten pounds of gold to Basil, prelate of Capua, on behalf of Cethegus and Flora, through Maximus. Gregory to John, Bishop of Syracuse. Our glorious children Cethegus and Flora, a married couple, sending the most distinguished man Maximus, an official of the department of private affairs [the palatine office of the comes rerum privatarum], to Sicily for certain matters of their own, have desired that ten pounds of gold be given, from the rents of the church patrimony, to our most reverend brother Basil, bishop of the city of Capua, who is recognized to be already there, to be of profit to his needs. So that no delay might occur in repaying these sums, or any difficulty perchance arise, they have handed over that amount to our most beloved son the deacon Boniface. And therefore, since it is not fitting that we should grieve our children, especially in a matter where the Church suffers no loss at all, we charge your Fraternity by these letters that, in accordance with the wish of our aforesaid children Cethegus and Flora, those glorious persons, you ought to give the ten pounds of gold to our aforementioned brother and fellow-bishop Basil and to the most distinguished man Maximus, without delay, after a receipt of acknowledgment has been duly subjoined; so that, since no delay shall have arisen for them in receiving it, both they may usefully carry out the instructions given to them, as they shall know to do, and the interest of the Church may be reasonably safeguarded.

AD JOANNEM EPISCOPUM SYRACUSANUM. Basilio Capuano antisliti, pro Cethego et Flora, auri libras decem per Maximum $olvat, Gregorius Joanni episcopo Syracusano. Gloriosi filii nostiri Cethegus atque Flora jugales, pro certis causis suis Maximum virum clarissimum « palatinum privatarum ad Siciliam transmiltentes, decem libras auri reverendi>simo Þ fratri nostro C Basilio Capuanz civitatis episcopo, qui illic jam esse dignoscitur , $uis utilitatibus profuturas dari de pen- Sionibus ecclesiaslici patrimonii yoluerunt. In qua- run restitutione, ne qua mora fieret, aut diſficultas ſorte contingeret, quanlitalem ipsi dilectissimo filio nostro Bor iſacio diacono [radiderunt. Et ideo quia nostros nos lilios, el prasertim ubi damnum minime Senlit Ecclesia, non convenit contristare, his. ſrater- nitati fue mandamus apicibus, ut snpraseripto ſra- tri coepiscopoque nostro Basilio et Maximo viro claris>imo, Secundum voluntatem predictorum filio- rum nosirorum Cethegi atque Flore gloriosarum personarum, decem libras auri sine tarditate post Subditam desuscepto paginam dare debeat's, quate- nus dum nulla in accipiendo eis mora provenerit, et illi mandala $ihi, ut noverint, utiliter exsequaniur, et pars Ecclesiz rationabiliter $it munita. dere omnes sacrarum largitionum - palatinos , qui quidem perlinebiant ad comitem sacrarum largitio- num. Eorum munus erat urgere, instare, etc. Vo- cantwr eliam PRO munerationum $acrarum apud Symmachum, lib. 1, c. 29, quo in loco dicun'ur questus ,eruere publicos. Gussaxv. Palatinus priva- larum idem nobis videtur ac. comes privatarum, cu- jus dignilas et oflicia explicantur apud Cassiodurum, I. vi, form. 8. | m0Go manu<criptorum Rhemensis, et Vossiani, l:cet - in aliis Mss. el in Editis omnibus antea legeretur fito. Sed conjectura polior esl. Quis enim nesciat Gregorium 3agnum nunquam ita compellasse epi- scopos ? (USSANV. ny o& as «a N EPISTOLA X. AD ROMANUM DEFENSOREM. Pasilium episcopum forenses causas aclitantem ultra quatuor dies in Sicilia morari non 8imal. Gregorius Romano deſensori nostro Sicili. Perlatum ad nos est (Grat. dis!. $8, c. 4) reve- rendissimum ſfratrem .nostrum Basilium episcopum velut * unum JO&S de uliimis in causis occupari, et Þ pretoriis inutiliter observare. Quz res quoniam et ipsum. vilem reddit, et reverentiam $acerdotalem annihilat, $Statim ut experientia tua hc praecepium susceperit, eum ita ad revertendum districta exse- * 4074 A Nam commotionis tempore justum putat ira qu eutione compellat, quatenus ei illic te insislente- quinque diebus $sub qualibet excusatione immorari non liceat-; ne $i quolibet modo cum ibidem moram hahere permiseris, cum ips0 apud nos graviter incipias esse culpabilis. © Datum mense Decem- bris, indict. 3, (Cf. Joan. Diac. |. 1m, c. 36, Vide ep. 9.) |