Letter 11125: Gregory to Bonifatius, defender of Corsica.

To Boniface, Defensor in Corsica. He is to see to it that bishops for Aleria and Ajaccio are elected as quickly as possible. Let him not allow the poor to be oppressed, nor clerics to be held by lay judges. Gregory to Boniface, Defensor of Corsica. Your Experience [the official's title] is not without fault, in that, although you knew that the cities of Aleria and Ajaccio in Corsica had long been without bishops, you have delayed admonishing their clergy and people to elect a priest for themselves. Since these cities ought no longer to be without a ruler of their own, take up the present authority and hasten to exhort the clergy and people of each city, so that they may not disagree among themselves, but that each city may, with one accord, elect a priest to be consecrated. And when the decree has been made, let the one who has been elected come to us. But if they are unwilling to agree on one man, and divide themselves in the election of two, in like manner, with the decrees drawn up according to custom, let them come to us, so that, inquiring into the life, conduct, and character of these men, the one who shall seem [more worthy] may be ordained. And because many poor people there are reported to be oppressed and to suffer prejudice, let your Experience exercise solicitude, and not permit them to be burdened contrary to justice; but let him so take care that neither those who act against reason be hindered, nor that those against whom action is taken should unjustly suffer loss. Moreover, it has come to us that certain clerics [...], with you stationed there, are held by laymen. If this is so, you shall know that this is to be reckoned to your fault, because this would not have happened if you had been a man [had acted as a man should]. And therefore henceforth it is necessary for you to take care that you do not permit this to happen; but if anyone has a case against a cleric, let him approach that cleric's bishop. And if perhaps he [the bishop] is suspected, an executor is to be appointed either by him, or, if the plaintiff also refuses this, by your Experience, who shall compel the parties to choose judges by mutual consent. And whatever shall be determined by these, so it shall be settled [...] either, or [by] the bishop [...], so that there may be no occasion from which they can wear themselves out in lawsuits. Epistola LXXVII. To Barbara and Antonina. He prays for divine protection upon them. He rejoices that they desire to come to Rome. He has commended their cases to Bishop John and to Romanus, the defensor, on their behalf. He has gladly accepted their gift. Gregory to Barbara and Antonina. Having received your letters, and having learned in every way of your wellbeing, I rejoiced, and I beseech almighty God, who guards you both from malignant spirits in your thoughts and from perverse men and from every adversity by His protection: and that He may so join you, with the grace of His fear, to worthy unions, that He may gladden all of us in your arrangement [marriage]. But you, sweetest daughters, place your hope in His aid, and under the shadow of His protection always, both by praying and by acting well, avoid the snares of evil men. For whatever human comforts or adversities there may be, they are nothing, unless either His grace protects, or His displeasure disturbs. Therefore place your hope in no man, but bind your whole mind in trust of almighty God. For while we sleep, He will protect you, of whom it is written: Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4). And as for your saying that you are hastening to the thresholds of blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, I desire it greatly, and with burning longing I await that I may see you joined to worthy merits in His Church, so that both you may gain some little comfort from me, and I no small joy from your presence. And to my most reverend brother John the bishop, and to Romanus the defensor, I have taken care to commend your cases, so that what they have begun, God being the author, they may bring to completion. As for your gift, the two pieces of cloth which you indicated were the work of your own labor, I have gladly accepted. Yet know this, that I did not believe what was told me. For you seek praise from another's labor, since perhaps you have never yet put your hand to the spindle. Nor, however, does this matter sadden me, because I desire that you may love to read Holy Scripture, so that, as long as almighty God shall join you to men [in marriage], you may know how to live and how you ought to order your household. Book Twelve. In the fifth indiction, the twelfth year of his ordination.

AD BONIFACIUM IN CORSICA DEFENSOREM. Alerie et Adjacii episcopos quan!ocius eligi curet. Ne- que opprimi pauperes, neque clericos a laicis judici- bus teneri palialur. Gregorius Boniſacio defensori Corsicze. Experientia tua non sine culpa est, quod Aleriam atque * Adjacium civitates Corsicz diu sine episco- pis esse cognoscens, clerum et populum earum ad eligendum sibi 8acerdotem distulerit commonere. Quz quoniam $ine proprio amplius non debent esse rectore, presenti auctorilate guscepta, clerum et tur, ut non Sit unde $e possint litigiis ſatigare ". EPISTOLA LXX YI. AD BARBARAM ET ANTONINAM. Divinam prolectionem eis adprecatur. (Juod Roman venire cupiant gaudet. Commendatas Joanni episcopo ac Romano deſensori illarum causas. Accepta liben - ter zenia. Gregorius * Barbarz et Antonin. Susceplis epistolis vestris, omnimodo cognita ves- tra $0$pitate lzetatus sum, atque omnipotentem Deum deprecor, qui vos et a malignis spiritibus in cogita- tione, et a perversis hominibus atque ab omni con- trarietate, Sua protectione custodiat : sicque vos cum timoris sui gratia dignis conjunctionibus ordinet, ut omnes nos in vestra ordinatione l:#1ificet. Vos autem, populum singularum civitatum hortari ſestina ut inter B quicissime filie, in ejus adjutorio 8pem vesiram 8 dissenlire non debeant, $8ed Þ uno $ibi consensu unaquzque civitas consecrandum eligat sacerdutem. Et, facto decreto, ad nos is qui ſuit electus, adve- niat. Si autem in uno consentire noluerint, sed in duorum $e electione diviserint, similiter, decrelis ex more ſactis, ad nos adveniant, ut requirentes de vita, actu et moribus eorum, is © qui visus ſuerit L178 ordinetur. Quia vero multi illic pauperes oppfimi ac pali prejudicium perbibentur, experientia tua $ol- licitudinem gerat, et gravari eos contra justitiam non permittat; sed ita studeat, ut nec agentes contra ra- tionem impediri , nec hi conira quos agitur injusle valeant dispendium sustinere. Przterea pervenit ad nos quoda% quidam cleri- ponite, et 8ub umbra defensionis illius semper, et orando et bene agendo, malorum hominum insidias declinate. Quecunque enim humana solatia vel ad- versilates fueriat, nulla sunt, nisi aut ejus gratia protegat, aut ejus offensa perturbet. In nullo jigitur hominum spem ponatis, $ed totam mentem in fidu- cia Dei omnipotenlis astringite. Nobis ergo dormien- tibus, ille vos proteget, de quo LI I'7Y scriptum est : Ecce non dormilabit, neque dormiet, qui cuslodit Israel (Pal. cxx, 4). Quod autem ad beati Petri apostolorum principis li- mina ſeslinare vos dicitis, opto nimis, et z$tuanti de- siderio exspecto, ul dignis meritis junctas vos in ejus Ecelesia videam, qualenus et vos de me 80lamen ali- corum, te illic posito, a laicis teneantur, Quod $i ita C quantulum, et ego de vestri praesentia non parvain la- est, tuz hoc culpez noveris repulari, quia hoe fieri si homo esses, © non habuit. Et ideo de czlero $0l- licitudinem te habere necesse est, ut hoc lieri non permittas; sed si quis contra clericum causam habue- rit, episcopum ipsius adeat. Qui 8i forle $suspecius ſuerit, exsecutor vel ab jipso, aut $i et hoc actor reſugerit, a tua est experientia deputandus, qui partes Sibi mutuo consensu judices compellat eligere. A qui- bus quidquid fſuerit definitum, ita vel wa, vel episcopi gorius lilleras ad Augustinum dedit x Kalend. Julii, zeu die 22 Julii. Ipsi enim tunc daiz $unt novem illz ad Galliarum prelatos et principes epistole; sup., litiam acquiram. Viro autem reverendissimo fratri meo- Joanni episcopo et Romano deſensori causas vesbras studui commendare, ut quz ceperunt, Deo auctore, debeant perſicere. 1180 Xenium autem vestrum duas Þ racanas, quas de labore vesiro esse mandastis, libenter accepi. Sed tamen cognoscite quia non. mibi mandatum credidi. Nam vos de labore alieno laudem quzritis, quia ſortas- se adhuc ad fusum manum nunquam misistis. Nec —_— Rhemensi. - Recentiores habent non de- uit. Julij, etiam in Collectione Pauli Diaconi. Igitur non ty D, pro mense Augueto, legitur, mense Mario. xy, Sed post x Kalend. Julii scripta est hazc ad Mel- litum. Eeisr. LXXVII | Al. 74]. * Vulgo Adjazzo, urbs ad- hue episcopalis, insulz Corsicz in ora uccidua, sub ditione Genuensium. In rebus tamen ecclesiasticis Pisauo Subest archiepiscopo; olim Ursinium diceba- lur, Gus5anv. in Turun.et Norm. legitur Ajaciun. © Excusi, qui utihior visus ſuerit. « Clericos vlim a laicis judicari neſas; Cod. Theo- dos., leg. ultim., de episcopis: Clericos etiam quas in- discretim ad 8@culares judices deduci debere inſauslus prezumplor edixerat, episcopali audientie rezervamus. Fas enim non est ut divini muneris 1inist1i tempora- lium potestalum subdanitur arb.trio, Idem videre est apud Avitumn Viennensem episcopun, epist, v4. Alii SUNL lemporum nuslForum mores. GUSSANY. * ha vei. Editi cum Mss. Norm., plerisque Vatic., Eeisr. LXXYHI [AL 75]. — © Vide supra epist. 35 et epist. 30. 'Þ *Paxn, Pparn, pexos, pax, genus vestimenti ex pilis ; pllivim tam wonachorum quam monastriarum; unde fexodurar, el gaxrvdura, dicti monachi, palliali apud Nizephorum Lanthonntom, Nicetam Chonjatem, et Balsamonem. Keperimu> etiam page el facopopav. A quibusdam dicuntur racking. Suni et qui putent racanas et rachinas $ignificare stragula seu operimenta lecto- rum. Vide Joannem Filesacum, comment. in Commonit, Vincentii Lirjnensis, num. 9, Rachacnam Germani Paris.2c.sis episcopi memorat Fortunatus in ejus Vite, cap. 45, ubi febricitantem virum, Det 8ervi rachaena undique obvolutum diligenter componit in ejus lec- tulv diaconus. GUssaNv. Alias hujus yOcis notiones require in nviis ad epist. 1 hbujus hibri. Consule quo- que Unomastcon Rogweydi, ad Vitas Patrum, et Glos= sarium Gracum Cangii, ad yocem "Puxcg. $219 SANCTI CREGORN MAGNI lamen me res ista contrislat, quia opto ut Sanclam A Deus viris conjunxerit, sciatis qualiter vivere et do- Scripturam legere ametis, ut quandiu vos omnipotens mum vestram quomodo disponere debealis. LIBER DUODECI MUS. Indictione 5, anno ordinationis ejus duodecimo.