Letter 13023: I have heard that you have taken it upon yourself to beg alms on behalf of the poor in a manner that reflects poorly...

Receiving Your Glory's [a courtesy title for a distinguished correspondent] writings, I opened them gladly to be read, but I rolled them up again in sorrow once they had been read through. For in them it was said that it had been on account of shame that, for a long time, you kept silent toward me about those things that ought to have been spoken. And it is certain that one who is still felt as a cause for blushing is loved less, and in every way I was saddened, because I learned that I was loved by you less than I had reckoned. In this matter, however, you greatly oblige me: if you diligently seek out from me that the grounds for charitable support be continually provided to you; nor ought it to be a matter of bashfulness for anyone to speak importunately about alms, who, it is agreed, holds not his own goods, but the goods of the poor to be dispensed. Concerning the grounds for support, therefore, you ought to have dealt freely with the bishop, even if you did not know my disposition, of what kind it might be in my love for you. Since both we wholly cherish Your Glory and hold the place of a dispenser in the affairs of the poor, as you know, your bashfulness, I confess, was greatly to be blamed. And for that reason I pursue it, rebuking it with so many words, that I may drive it utterly from your heart and may have great comfort of your foresight in the matters of charitable support. Therefore, for your monastery, which was built by you in the city of Catana, through Adrian the notary and rector of the patrimony we have appointed, by a written page of precept issued, that ten gold solidi be given yearly, which we ask be received without offense, because this offering is presented to you not by us, but as the blessing of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles.

Gloriae vestrae scripta suscipiens* legenda laetus aperui, sed tristis perlecta replicavi. In eis quippe dicebatur, quod pudoris causa fuerit mihi vos ea quae dicenda erant tempore longo ^ tacuisse. Et certum est quia minus amatur qui adhuc erubescitur, atque omni*^ modo contristatus sum, quia me a vobis comperi minus quam aestima- verim® amari. In hoc autem valde me continetis^, si« mercedis causas** mihi adsidue providendas^ studiose requiritis^; nec* debet" esse verecundiae ei aliquid de elemosinis importune dicere, quem" constat non res suas, sed ad dispensandum ° res pauperum habere. De causis itaque mercedisP apud episcopum libere agere debuistis, etiam si meum animum, qualis in amore vestro existeret*!, nesciretis. Postquam et nos omnino gloriam vestram diligimus et dispensatoris' locum in rebus, sicut scitis, pauperum tenemus, vestra, fateor, verecundia valde accusabilis fiiit. Quam ideo tot verbis incre- pando insequor, ut hanc a corde vestro funditus repellam et in mercedis causis magnum solacium vestrae* provisionis habeam. Monasterio itaque vestro, quod a vobis in Catenensi* urbe constructum est, per Adrianum" notarium et rectorem patrimonii^ ^ emissa praecepti pagina decem annuos solidos dari deputavimus quos' f^etimus sine iniuria suscipi, quia non haec vobis nostra oblatio, sed sancti Petri apostolorum prin- cipis benedictio offertur. •) praofita Q*l. *) habere (pro ab eo) Rl. ex gramiiie corr. q1. XIII, 23 titulum om. Q*1.4 — luliano q3 et edd. ») Biiscipientes Rl. loco Q*l. ^) esRl. oiiini om. Q.Q*1. ®) estimarini q1. ') continentis Rl. «) me add. Rl. **) causam (om. mihi) Q*l; causa mihi q3. *) providenda Rl.Q. ^) requiretis q*2.3. *) ne Q. ") ipse ocW. q3. Bationig q.q*. «) vri -fli. *) Catin. q3. ^) ita Rl.Ql; Hadr. q*.q3. ▼) patri raonasteria ^) quos putavimus hic add. Q*l. ») Verba quos petimuH uaqtie ad finem inserta mnt epistulae, quam Vnt. 5001 exhihet; de qua cf. ep. XIII, 26. Xni,23. Etcald contendit hanc ep. ad lulianum datam esse eumque eundem ense, quem in ep. XIII, 37 noster cammemorat. 1) De Adriano cf. ep. IX, 110 n. XI, 30 n. GREGORII I. REGISTRI MENSE FEBRUARIO INDICTIONE VI. Xni, 24. Oregorius L papa Honorio, episcopo Tarentino, baptisterii in ecclesiu S. Mariae ab eo construcH usum permittit, 603, Fehr. Codd. B: Indictio l—VI. cap. 260; q: cap. 249. Edd. M: Lib. XIIL ep. 20; G: Lib. XL ep. 24. — laffi Beg. 1889 (1504). GREG0RIU8 HONORIO EPISCOPO TARENTINO. Fratemitate tua indicante didicimus in civitate Tarentina, in qua praeesse dino- sceris^, in ecclesia sanctae Mariae baptisterium ^ te noviter construxisse. Et ideo, frater carissime, praesenti auctoritate suscepta tui desiderii complebis effectum, quatenus per sacrum lavacrum peccatorum illic maculae deleantur.