Letter 12034: Ciridanus, I write to you concerning the matter I have discussed with you before.

To Ciridanus. Since what he himself had ordered was provided in the matter of the grain-supply [sitonicum, the public corn-purchase], the Church ought no longer to suffer loss on his account. Gregory to Ciridanus. Some time ago we received the letter of Your Glory, in which you indicated that, by command of the most serene princes, the charge of the grain-supply had been entrusted to your care, and that it had been ordered that the whole quantity of wheat which had been received into the granaries of our Church should in every respect have been handed over to you; and you wrote that we should have this same wheat made ready in kind. And since we know that this was indeed not your doing -- you, of whom such great reports of goodness have been brought to us -- and since you know how hard and altogether difficult it is that goods which could neither be preserved nor be found for purchase at that time should be required to be restored in kind. Nevertheless, in order that we might be relieved of the anxiety of this matter, it was our concern that, even at greater expense, we should have those very grains, just as you wished, prepared in kind. But afterwards, through the bearer of the present letter, Eutychius, a magnificent man, who recalls that he is the illustrious prefect, you sent us another letter, to the effect that the sum of that same grain-supply which had been received from the granary-keepers of the Church ought to have been published among the public acts. And therefore, lest through the occasion of the Church some occasion or excuse should seem to arise for anyone, the defenders of the Church both published the quantity, just as you wrote, and requested what they thought useful. Let Your Glory diligently and carefully consider this, and not neglect their words. For whatever loss may hereafter befall in respect of the aforesaid grain-supply, know that it in no way pertains any longer to the Church's detriment, since not even the inhabitants of that city -- men truly afflicted -- assert that they can undertake the aforesaid grain-supply to their own loss. Therefore, Your Glory, knowing all these things, should so apply itself concerning the matters committed to it, that it may both act for the public benefit, and that the burden of this work may not weigh down again upon our Church to the grievance of the poor. Epistle XXXV. To Desiderius, bishop of Vienne. That he should not call back his deacon Pancratius from the monastic life. Gregory to Desiderius, bishop in Gaul. Pancratius, the bearer of the present letter, a deacon, as he asserts, presenting himself at the thresholds of the apostles, was [...] by us. Wherefore, pricked by divine inspiration, he sought the grace of the monastic way of life, and desiring there to remain in the same habit which he assumed, he also recalls that he was made deacon of that same monastery. From the service of which place he suffers himself by no reasoning to be torn away. But now, so far as he asserts, Your Fraternity wishes -- not indeed with the intent of hindering, but from the affection of benevolence -- to recall him to the office of your Church. We exhort you therefore that Your Fraternity be by no means a hindrance to so prompt a devotion as he strives to maintain in his holy purpose; but rather, by such exhortations as you are able, with pastoral admonition kindle him, so that the fervor of this desire may not grow lukewarm in him; that he who, separating himself from the turbulent tumult of secular cares, sought with desire of quiet the harbor of the monastery, may not again be implicated in the disturbances of ecclesiastical cares, but may be permitted, secure from all these things, to remain, as he requests, in the praises of God. Epistle XXXVI. To Bonitus the defender. That he should bring aid to the monks gathering their fugitive slaves. Gregory to Bonitus the defender. Our son Fortunatus, abbot of the monastery of Saint [...], placed [...], and bringing consolations in this cause [...], so that more wholesomely they may the sooner be able, God being the author, to bring to effect those things which have been enjoined upon them.

AD CIRIDANUM. Cum pro. Sitonico id prestitum 8it quod ipse jusseral, non perſerendum jam ab Eecclesia illius defrimentum. Gregorius Ciridano. Gloriz vesire dudum scripta suscepimus, in qui- bus indicastis s0llicitudini vestre serenissimorum principum jussione * curam $itonici fuisse mandatam, - atque preceptum esse ut omnis tritici quantils, 1205 quz in horreis nostre Ecelesizz suscepia ſuerat, vobis tradi per omnia debuisset, et scripsisis ut hoc ipsum Þ parari in specie faceremus. Quod qui- dem quia vestrum, cujus ad nos quidera bona tanla perlata sunt, non ſuerit novimus; et scitis quam du- rum quamque omnino difficile sit ut res quz nec servari, nec eo tempore ad emendum -poterat inve- niri, in specie restituj peteretur. Verumtamen, ut exui ab hujus rej 80llicitudine valeremus, studii no- S$tri ſuit ut etsi cum majori dispendio omnino fru- menla ipsa, sicut voluistis, in specie faceremus pre- parari. Post vero per latorem presentium Eutychium virum magnificum, qui se illustrem przxfectum esse © lia Turon., Remig., Norm., etc., ubi Editi habent animas inficiunt. * Excusi, gravius a ſorti supereris; optime quidem, nisi Mss. contradicerent, ® Norman., Corb., Vatic. A et nonnulli, non debet. Caroli Magni : Ornatus rel paratura. Gussanv. Para- tura est limbus textilis, vel nina, quod apponitur vesli, ornatus causa. Matth. Paris. in Vita Richard quindecimi abbatis sancti Albani, abbas, duas cum p4- raluris brudatis. Papias, paramentum paratum. ALTES- 8 In vet. Colb. legitur mense Maio, in alio mens? Ang. EeisT, XXXIV [ Al. 38], — © Þe Sitonico dictum lib. 1, epist. 2. &S 4245 EPISTOLARUM LIB. Xl. — INDICT. V. — EPIST. XXXVIN. commemorat, aliam nobis epistolam transmisistis, A 8iasticarum curarum non debeat perturbationibus ut quze $urama ejusdem sitonici ab © horreariis Ec- elesiz $it suscepla prodi inter acla publica debuisset, Et ideo ae per occasionem Ecclesiz quzedam cuiguam nasci videatur occasio, Seu excusatio, et quanlitatem, sicut scripsistis, defengores Ecclesiz prodiderunt, et quze pvtaverunt ulilia petiverunt. Quod gloria vestra diligenter solliciteque periractet, et verba eorum non negligat. Nam quidquid post hc ig praedicti sitonici zpecie damni- contigerit, amplius jam ad Ecclesie dispendium sciatis nullo modo pertinere , quia nec habitatores civitalis istius , afflicti revera homines, predictum sitonicum in $u0 $e asserunt deirimento posse 8uscipere. Hzc igiltur omnia gloria veslra Co- gnoscens, ita de his que sibi Sunt commiss3, Studeat implicari, sed in Dei laudibus permitiatur secure ab his omnibus, ut postulat, remanere. DN EPISTOLA XXXVYI. AD BONITUM DEFENSOREM. = M onachis ſugitiva mancipia 8ua colligentibus opem ſerat. Gregorius * Bogilo deſensari. Filius nosler Fortunatus, abbas monasterii gancti cogitare , ut et utilitatem publicam ſaciat, et hujus B cram posito, atque in hac causa ſerente solalia , operis pondus Ecclesiz nosire denuo ad gravamen pauperum non incumbat. EPISTOLA XXXY. AD DESIDERIUM VIENNENSEM eFscoyun. Ne Pancratium diaconum suum a monaslica vita revocet. Gregorius Desiderio episcopo in Gallia. Pancratius lator prxsentium, ut asserit, diaconus, * apostolorum $e liminibus reprzgentans', a nobis cipatus. Unde, divina inspiratione compunctus, gra- - liam monastice conversationis appeliit, illicque in eodem quem $sumpsit babitu desiderans permanere, etiam diaconum se cjusdem monasterii ſactum esse commemorat. De cujus loci servitio avelli nulla pa- litur ratione. Nunc vero, quantum asserit, fraterni- las vestra non quidem impedientis intentu, sed af- ſectu benevolentiz, in officio eum suz vult Eccle- 82 revocare. Hortamur jgitur ut tam promptze de- votioni ejus, quam in $ancto studet habere propo- ito, minime vestra $it impedimento fraternitas; magis autem quibus valetis adhortationibus pasto- rali admonitione 1 20G +<uccendite, ut fervor hujus desiderii in eo non tepescat ; ut qui, a turbulento cu- rnrum s2cularium tumultu se Segregans, quietis de- Siderio portum monaslerii appetiit, rursum in eccle- 8alubriter hzc citius valeant que $ibi ipjugcta- sunt ad effectum, * Deo auctore, perducere.