Letter 2079: Sicily is the most important of the church's provincial patrimonies [the church's landed estates in Sicily were its...

To Peter, Subdeacon of Sicily. Gregory to Peter, Subdeacon of Sicily. Through information given to me by Romanus the defensor, I have learned that [...] suffered violence from a certain estate belonging by right to the monastery, which is said to have been left to that same monastery. If this is so, let your Experience restore both the estate to them and the rents of that same estate for the two indictions which you have exacted. And because many of the Jews remain on the farms of the Church, I desire that, if any of them should be willing to become Christians, some part of their rent be remitted to them, so that, drawn on by this benefit, others too may rise up to the same desire. As for the cows which are now by reason of age barren, or the male oxen which seem to be altogether useless, they ought to be sold, so that at least their price may grow into some useful purpose. But the herds of mares, which we keep most uselessly, I wish to have all sold off, and only four hundred of the younger ones kept for breeding, of which four hundred let single ones be allotted to single tenants, as we have said; sell off the rest, and turn it into money. As for the herdsmen themselves, distribute them among the estates, so that by the cultivation of the land they may be able to render some profit. And all the bronze implements which may belong by right to the Church, whether at Syracuse or at Panormus, are to be sold off before they perish utterly from old age. Now when brother Cyriacus, the servant of God, came to Rome, I inquired carefully of him whether he had spoken with your knowledge about accepting a bribe in the case of a certain woman. And this same brother says (according to your account) that he learned this, namely that he was sent in by you, in order that he might test who it was that would be the agent for conferring the bribe. This I believed, and presently I received him in a friendly manner into favor; before the people and clergy I brought him forward, and increased his presbyterium [stipend] to him, and set him in a higher place among the defensors, commending before all his fidelity, in that he had so faithfully conducted himself in your service; and for that reason I have sent him back to you with all speed. But because you are in great haste, and I, although sick, desire to see you, whom you yourself hold proved in all things, leave a substitute for yourself in the district of Syracuse, and yourself hasten to come to me, so that, if it shall please Almighty God, we may consider by common counsel whether he himself ought to return thither, or another ought to be ordained there in your place. I have likewise sent the notary Benenatus, so that in the district of Panormus he may keep your place in the patrimony, until Almighty God shall ordain what may please Him. Romanus I have vehemently rebuked for his fickleness, because, as I have now found, in the hospice which he held he was occupied rather with his own advantages than with the revenues. And therefore, if perhaps it shall seem good to you, leave him in your place. See that you forearm him by both frightening and admonishing him, so that he may know how to act piously and carefully toward the country folk, and to show himself in all things changed and energetic toward outsiders and townsmen. Yet in saying this I choose no person, but leave this to your judgment. But in the district of Panormus it suffices me to have chosen me a keeper [substitute] for you. And I wish to see whom you yourself shall have provided in the district of Syracuse. When you come, bring with you the moneys and ornaments from the share or estate of Antoninus. The rents also of the ninth and tenth indictions, which you have exacted, and all the accounts likewise convey hither. Take care, if it please God, [to come] before the feast of blessed Cyprian, lest from the sign which in these days always threatens at sea, something of danger may, which God forbid, come about. Besides, you should know that, because I have set myself heavily against Pretiosus the servant of God, not for a grave fault, and have driven him from me sad and embittered, I am not lightly stung in my own thoughts. And I have written to the lord bishop that he ought to send him, if he were willing, but he altogether refused. Him I neither ought nor am able to make sad, because, being occupied in the affairs of God, he ought to be supported by consolation, not depressed by bitterness. But this same Pretiosus, as I hear, is altogether saddened that he does not return to me. Yet I, as I have said, cannot make the lord bishop sad, who is unwilling to dismiss him, and between the two I remain in doubt. Do you therefore, if indeed in a small little body you have the greater wisdom, so arrange this same affair that both my wish may be done, and the lord bishop be not saddened. Yet if you see that he is lightly saddened thereby, say nothing at all about it. I have, however, taken it ill that he excommunicated the lord Eusebius, a man of such great age and of such great infirmity. Wherefore it is necessary that you say secretly to this same lord bishop that he be not headlong in pronouncing sentences, because cases which are to be decided by sentence must first be measured by careful and most frequent consideration. Moreover, when the recruiting officers [scribones] come, who, as I hear, are already gathering recruits there, depute the keeper of your place [your substitute] so that he may offer some small gift, in order to render them favorable to himself. But also to the office of the praetor, before you come, grant something according to ancient custom, by the hand however of him whom you leave behind, that you may conciliate their goodwill toward him. And that we may not seem altogether inhuman toward them, the things which are to be given by precept to each several person or to the monasteries I have enjoined upon your Experience: command your substitutes that they fulfill them in every respect. But these things, the Lord helping, when you come, we will consider how they ought to be arranged. As for the three hundred solidi which I sent through you for the poor, I do not think they ought to be committed to their discretion. Let them therefore fulfill those concerning the several places and persons. But before this time I remember that I already wrote that the legacies which are owed by us out of the will [tenor] of Antoninus the defensor should be paid to the monasteries or to others, as was appointed. And why I know not your Experience has delayed to fulfill this. Therefore we wish that, for our portion, out of the moneys of the Church you fulfill those same legacies, so that when you come to me, you may not leave behind you there the groaning of the poor against you; and the bonds [securities] which are found among the property of that same Antoninus, convey likewise. Now I have learned, Romanus reporting it, that the dying wife of Redemptus directed by bare words that one silver shell be sold and given to her freedmen, and that she left a silver dish also to a certain monastery; in both of which we wish her will to be fulfilled in every respect, lest from the smallest things we contract greater sins. But from the report of brother Marinianus the abbot, I have learned that the building in the praetorian monastery has not yet even been brought to half completion. From which matter what else should we do but commend the fervor of your Experience? But, admonished even now, rouse yourself, and as much as you can, show yourself in the construction of that same monastery. I said that nothing should be given for the expenses, but I did not forbid a monastery to be built from them. But so act that you enjoin in every way upon him whom you leave in your place at Panormus, that he build this same monastery out of the ecclesiastical expenses and provision, and that the complaint of the private abbot return not to me. Besides, I have learned that you know certain properties or several of the estates to be of another's right, but, through the protest or fear of certain persons, you are afraid to restore them to their men [the rightful owners]. But if you were truly a Christian, you would fear the judgment of God more than the voices of men. Take heed that I too unceasingly admonish you concerning this matter. And if you neglect to fulfill it, you will have even my voices against you in testimony. But if, concerning laymen who fear God, you find that they ought to be tonsured and made agents [actionarii] under the rector, I altogether gladly allow it. To whom it is necessary that letters also be sent. Concerning the case of the son of Commissus the scholasticus you have consulted me, and the things which he demands back are not just according to the laws: we are unwilling to burden the advantage of the poor; but because he has wearied himself here, we wish you to give him fifty solidi, which it is certain are to be charged to your accounts. But in the case of Prochisus, whatever expenses you have made out of the property of the Church, either satisfy him there out of the income of his rent, or, if indeed his incomes are by no means sufficient for recompense, it is necessary that this be received here from the deacon. But of Gelasius the subdeacon do not presume to say anything, because his crime needs the most grievous penance even to the end of his life. Besides, you sent us one wretched horse and five good asses. That horse I cannot ride, because it is wretched; and those good ones I cannot ride, because they are asses. But we ask that, if you are arranging to keep us [content], you convey to us something worthy. To Eusebius the abbot we wish you to give a hundred gold solidi, which it is certain are to be charged to your accounts. We have learned moreover that Sisinnius, who was judge of Samnium, labors under grave want in Sicily, to whom we wish you to administer twenty decimates of wine and four solidi yearly. And Anastasius, a religious man, is said to dwell near the city of Panormus in the oratory of Saint Agnes, to whom we wish six gold solidi to be given. And to the mother of Urbicus the provost we wish six solidi to be given, which shall be charged to your accounts. But concerning Honorata the handmaid of God, this seems to me, that you bring with you all the property which is established to have belonged, before the time of the episcopate of John bishop of Laurinum [Carinum], [to her]. And let the same handmaid of God come with her son, that we may speak with her, and do what may be pleasing to God. And the codex of the Heptateuch from the property of Antoninus we wish to be given to the praetorian monastery; the rest are to be conveyed with you. Letter XXXIII. To Justinus the Praetor. Gregory to Justinus the Praetor. The envy of the ancient enemy has this for its peculiar property, that, when it cannot deceive him who resists, it tears apart their reputations by feigning false things for the present. Since therefore a sinister rumor had spread certain things against the priestly purpose concerning Leo our brother and fellow bishop, we caused it to be examined for a long while by strict inquiry whether they were true, and we found in him no fault concerning those things which had been said. But lest anything should seem to have been omitted, or a doubt could remain in our heart, we caused him out of abundant caution to offer strict sacraments [oaths] at the most sacred body of blessed Peter. These being performed, we rejoiced with great exultation, that by an experiment of this kind his innocence shone forth evidently. For which reason let your Glory receive the aforesaid man with all charity, and show him reverence, such as befits a priest, nor let any doubtfulness remain in your hearts concerning those things which are now cleared. But it behooves you so devotedly to adhere in all things to the above-written bishop, that you may seem fittingly and becomingly to honor God in the person of him whose minister he is. Letter XXXIV. To Maximian, Bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to Maximian, Bishop of Syracuse. I recall that I have frequently admonished you that you ought by no means to be headlong in pronouncing sentence. And now, behold, I have learned that your Fraternity, moved by fury, has excommunicated the most reverend man, the abbot Eusebius. At which I have wondered greatly, that neither his old manner of life, nor his long age, nor his lasting infirmity, bent your mind from anger. For whatever excess there was in him, the affliction of his very infirmity ought to have sufficed for him as a scourge. For him whom divine discipline crushes, to add human scourges was superfluous. But perhaps for this reason you were permitted to err in such a person, that you might become more cautious in lesser matters, and long weigh it, when you dispose to strike anyone by sentence. Yet console with as great sweetness now that same aforesaid man, as the fury with which you exasperated him; because it is very unjust that those who have loved you more should feel you, without cause, more cruel against them. Letter XXXV. To John, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna. By the Lord's commands we are enjoined to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to suffer with their languors as with our own infirmities. Mindful of these, your Fraternity, in a manner befitting you, took care, having first felt compassion, to visit Castorius our brother and fellow bishop, and afterwards, on account of the increasing trouble of his body, to receive him in the city of Ravenna. Whence you have made not only us a debtor of bestowed charity, but also God without doubt, you who are proved to have suffered with our brother in his infirmity, and to have not only visited but also received the sick man himself in the trouble of His member. Whom indeed I myself, in my simplicity, altogether refused to ordain there; but the importunity of those petitioning made it so that I could by no means contradict it. But if it can be done, you will much benefit both me and himself, if you transmit him to me, whether through Sicily, if however you judge it to be not grievous to him. But concerning the bishops belonging to us, who however cannot come hither because of the interposition of the enemy, let your Fraternity take care. Yet in such a way that they be by no means recalled to the city of Ravenna for their causes, lest we should seem at this time to vex or weary them in anything. But if there are any matters in which they seem to be justly reprehended, they ought always to be admonished through the letters of your Fraternity. But if, which God forbid, any graver things should occur, we wish you to refer these to us in detail, so that, strengthened by the testimony of your inquiry, we may dispose, by wholesome counsel, the Lord helping, those things which agree with the laws and canons. In the month of July, the tenth indiction.

AD PETRUM SUBDIACONUM SICILIE. De patrimonii regimine plurima precipit, in quibus elucent juslitia, religio, prudentia, et liberalis erqa egenos animus; ſamiliaris quoque in Petrum dile- clio facile advertiiur. Gregorius Petro $ubdiacono Sicilize, Indicante mihi Romano defensore, cognovi quia 4 Paul. Diac., Nardias. © Ilem, depredate. { Sic Mss. \all., Corb. , qui sic legunt, sculcas quas milleris. Similiter apud Simocalitam , qui bb, v1, cap. 9, ait Romanos posl victorian ad delicias et compotationem convrers's oblitas e$8ggeus!odice, 1,» e225) 2av guvidi; TH TUATPUX pwvii pw/LUOES UNE) 509. Fader vox oz94xa. habetur aput Leonem, conslit, 17, orovizarmpes 0v0)z594:y, el apud Constanti- num, de adwimst. inp. £5z0viratw.ts, excubilores, et fExovhnevery, OCxplorare. Vide Glossar. Meursit, Rigaltii, et Lindeburgh ad leges aniiquas, GUs- $avv. In lege Langobard., lib. 1, lit. 144, 4 G:.. Si qnis. in exercitu ambulgre contempserit aut in Scaſcam. Ii exercitiis et 8culca pro militari $servi- lio ad quod tenchantur vassalli. Scultas lamen le- unt nonnulli quos countutal Cangius in utroque los-ar 8 In Colbert. vet. additur, Die 14 Kalend, Junii, mdict.10. | EelsT, XXXI (A. 24, indict. 7). — © Haze epMola D joribus utilitatibus occup. Cap. notheo, ab Ecclesia nostra de Villa nova, de ſundo juris $ui violentiam periulit, qui eidem monasterio dicitur dimigssus. Quod si ita est, experientia tna eis et ſuudum reslitua, et ejusdem ſundi de duabus © quas exegisli indictionibus peusiones restituat, Quia au- tem 4 multi Judzorum in missis Ecclesiz commanent, volo ul $i qui ex eis Chrisliani volueriat fieri, ali- quantum eis pensi relaxetur, quaienus isto benelicio provocati, tali desiderio et © alii assurgant. Vacce autem quz jam $unt tate wieriles, vel boves masculi qui omnino inatiles esse videntur, vendi debent, ut saltem eorum pretium ad aliquam utilitatem crescart. Greges vero equarum quas valile inutiliter-habemns, omnes volodistrahti, et tantumme - do quadringentas juniores $ervari ad ſetum, ex qui- bus quadringentis $ingulis conductoribus singzulz Sicut diximns, partiantar, alia disffabe, et in num- mum redige. Pastores vero ips08 Per pos8es*iones or- dina, ut ex cultura terrz# ferre aliquid ulilitatis pos- gint. /AEramenta vero omnia que vel in Syracusis, vel in Panormo, juris ecelesiasliei esse pos$unt, disira- henda $unt priasquam ipsa Yelustale ſunditus per- eant. 59J Veniente autem fratre Cyriaco servo Dei Roman, de illo subtiliter requisivi si cum tua con» SCientia [uerit de accipiendo premio in causa mulic- ris c1jusdam locutus, Quod idems frater ita 8e dicit, te reſerente, cognovisse, quia ex te immissus est, ut quis esset ail conferendum premium immissor pro- barei. Quod ego credidi, moxque eum in gratiam fa- miliariter recepi, coram populo et clero evuin per- duxi, 8 presbyterium ei auxi, in loco superiori *»ter omiltitur in plerisque Mss.:, precipue Norm. et An- _, ut observat Thom. Jamezius. Est in collect. auli Diac. et laudatur causa 23, q. 1, can. 7. EersT. XX XII (Al. 50, indict. 7). — * In plur, Mss. desideratur. In coilect. Pauli Diac., es! : Vatiic. A, Monaslterio, vel Monotheo. © Idem, quas egis/i. Consentium Vatic. D et Regii. 4 De Judzis, quibus, $i fiant Christians, afiquid " relaxandunm, vide infra, lib.-v, epist. 8. © ta Mss.. at Excusi, urgeantur. $67 SANCTI GREGORIL MAGNI 56g deſensores posui, collaudans coram omnibus fidem A ut in hanc urbem * ante natalei beati Cypriani trang- ejus, quia ita se in obsequio tuo ſideliter gesserit, quem idcirco ad te celeriter retransmisi. Quia vero multum festinas, et ego quamvis zgrotus videre te desidero, quem ipse. in omnibus probatum habes, loco tuo Þ in Syracusana parte derelinque, et ipse ad we venire ſestina, ut, si omnipotenli Deo placue- rit, communi consilio pertractemus utrum ipse illuc reverli, an alter in loco tuo illic debeat ordinari. Benenatum vero notarium pariter transmisi, ut in Panormilana parte locum tuum in patrimonio, quoa- dusque omni;otens Deus ordinet quod ei placuerit, ipse conservel. | Romanum de levitate sua vebementer increpavi, quia sicut nunc reperi, in xenodechio quod tenuit magis $uis ulilitatibus quam mercedibus occupatus ſuit. Et ideo $i ſoriasse tibi visum fuerit, loco tuo ipsum relinque. Vide quemadmodum eum ter:endo et admonendo pramunias, ut sciat se circa ruslicos Pie et sollicite agere, et circa extraneos et urbanos se in omnibus mulatum et slrenuum exhibere. Ego tamen hac loquens, nullam personam eligo, $ed tuo hoc judicio derelinquo. In Panormit:ina autem parte loci i servatorem tui me sufficit elegisse. Et videre volo quod ipse in Syracusana parte provideris. Ve- niens autem , pecunias et ornamenta de Antonini parte vel substantia tecum deſer. Pensiones quoque nonz et decime indictionis, quas exegisti, et ratio- nes omnes pariter deporta, Stude, si Deo placuerit, tionem secunde affinem profert sancins Gregorius, presbyterium non de ccetu, non de pre>byteratu stri- cte inlelligens, $ed de parte quadam regimizis, de honore , de officio, de cursa seu de gubernatione Ecclesiz, ut loquitur Sanctus Paulus | Cor. xn, 28. Canon 2 Chalcedon. concedit defensoribus xe: coroviav xatl aieav, atque adeo dignitatem in presbyterio. Lege Sidonii Apoll. epist. ultimam lib. 4, ubi de di-cono gecundi ordinis $acerdote, quem auxerant dignilate. Istjus autem regiminis ratio nostris temporibus $ub- obscurior est, novo jure introducto. Esset notior, si canonem 8 Ephes. retinuissemus, et unaquzeque pro- vincia Servisset jus vetus purum, et nullam vim pas- s8um $Secundum consuetudinem veterem, etc. Vide epist. 77 lib. 1. Gussaxv. Per presbyterium, infra, lib. v, epist. 35, consuetum clericorum 8$tipendium presbyterii nomine designat. Vide tom. Il Musei Ita- lici Ordinem Rom.12, cuzus secunda pars (ola fere est de presbyteriis per annuum erogari s0litis. Significa- bant quoque pre>byterii nomine donativum; SCilicet pontifex recens consecratus singulis e Senatu ct clero uniam erogabal, idque jam Gregorii Mag. vo. 'ide aSium, in Deusdedit, Bonifacio V et Seve- rino. | - —__ illam pecuni:e, quz certis etiam per aunum $Solemnitatibus fiebat , presbyt-rium vulgari nomine appellabam. Vide ubi supra, Ord. Rom, 11, 22, 23, 56. Ubservandum legi in Iegiis Mss. et ”aulo Diac., coram populo et clero polyplicum deduzi, presbyt., etc. Polypiictum est commentarius in quein acta reſeruntur. Vide lib. 1 Viz, cap. 24, et epist. 40 libri 1x.” Sicilia, una Panorini , altera Syracu>lis , lib. x, epist. 49. ALTESERRA. Lieutenants. De hac voce jam in Dialogis egimus, lib. :v, cap. 02. Apud Grzcos dicitur code Sensu Tore Taprtis. ExStat epistola Theodori Studia Nevwnra ronotnonty, exique 120 lib. 11. induxerit. eas, ne ex $igno quod FYg diebus istis mari $em- per imminet, quod absitl, aliquod periculum possit evenire. Praterea cognoscas quia pro eo quod Pretiosum Nei servum non pro gravi culpa graviter adversatus SUM, eumque a me [ristem amaricatumque repuli, ! non leviter in mea cogitatione mordear. Et scripsi domno episcopo ut eum transmittere debuisset, si vellet, sed omnino noluit. Quem contristare ego nec deheo nec possum, quia in causis Dei occupatus, consolatione fulciri debet, non amaritudine deprimi. Idem vero Pretiosus, sicut audio, omnino contrista- tur quod ad me non revyertitur, Ego vero domnuum episcopum, ut dixi, contris!are non pos$Sum, qui eum B non vult dimittere, et inter utrosque anceps maneo. Tu ergo, $i quidem in parvo corpusculo majorem $+ pientiam habes, eamdem causam ita dispone, ut et mea voluntas fiat, et domnus episcopus non contristetur, Quem tamen si leviter contristari videris, omning exinde nibil loquaris. gre tamen tuli quod domuum Eusebium excommunicavit, virum tlantz ztalis, et lantze Z#gritudinis, Unde necesse esl ut eidein domno episcopo secrete dicas, quatenus in proferendis sen tentiis praeceps non Sit, quia caus?e que per $enten- tiam decidendz $unt, necesse est ut prius $studiosa et frequentissima consideratione mensurentur. (Vide ep. 34.) enientibus ® scribonibus, qui sicut audio jam illic Libyes in perpetuum celebrari debere statuerunt. lia verlit Musculus. Greca paulo aliter se habent, ut observabunt curiosi. Per hiemem intellige proceliam maris $£vam, xsaova. GUSSANV, ; | Summus pontiſex pro culpa non gravi graviter adversatus ſuerat, servumque Dei a se repulerat tri- Stem; hinc conscientiz morsus gravis, qui fuit hac epistola consignandus. Grave ut:que documentum prelatis, $i qui Sunt, qui cum ausleritale imperant - el cum poteſſſha, $u0sque subditos quasi pitas habent. Illis forte loquitur sancltus Ambrosius in apologia David cap. 9 : Audiant ergo vulnusque 8entia't peccatt, nam inmedicabilis @gritudinis est vulneris acerdilatem non $entire. Sanctum Gregorium virum prudentia, SCientia, verilale Spectalissimum hoc {n negolio fuisse SU erStitivsum, SIv:, ul vulgo vocant, Scrupulosum, -vel, ut Latini, pro nimi: religione anxium, Laidum, hasitabundum, vix cordatus ullus in animunm Sum Certe credibilius minus ſore religios0s ejus qui exemplum $equi defugerint. GUssAaNv. bheod EPISTOLARUM. LIB. 1. — INDICT. X. — EPIST. XXX. tirones colligunt, loci tuj servalori depula, ut parum A quia fabrica * in pretoriano monasterio nec ad me- . aliquid xenii offerat, quatenus $ibi eos placabiles reddat. Sed et officio pretoris, prius quam venias, aliquid Secundum antiquam consuetudinem tribue, per manus lamen illius quem dimittis, ut ei gratiam eorum concilies. Ne et nos omnino eis inhumani esse videamur, ea que danda per preceplum singulis quibusque personis vel monasteriis lu experientie injunxi, loci Servatoribus tuis pr:rcipe, ut per omnia impleant. * Hzc vero auxiliante Domino cum vene- _ ris, qualiter disponenda $unt, periractabimus. Tre- centos vero s0lidos quos per te pauperibus direxi, eorum arbitrio non arbitror commiltendos. Z95 llla ergo de singulis locis et personis impleant. Ante vero hoc tempus jam scripsiss memini, ut legala que ® ex Lenore Antonini defensoris P a nobis debentur, monasl[eriis vel aliis , prout slatutum ſuit, s0lverentur. Et quare nescio tua experientia hoc im- plere tardaverit. Proinde volumus ut pro portione nos([ra ex pecuniis Ecclesiz eadem legata impleas, ut cum ad me veneris, illic contra te gemitum pauperum non relinquas; 4 cautiones vero que in ejusdem Antonini substantia Sunt inventz, pariter deſer. Cognovi autem, Romano reſerente, quia moriens uxor Redempti unam concham argenteam nudis ver- bis dixerit venundari et libertis suis dari, scutellam quoque. argenteam ” monasterio cuidam reliquerit; in quibus utrisque voluntatem ejus per omnia volu- mus impleri, ne ex rebus minimis peccala majora . capiamus, Fraire autem Mariniano abbate indicante, cognovi In Vatic. et apud Paulum periodorum ordo in- yertitur; Sicque legitur : impleant trecentos..... come» miltendos. llla erqo.... impleant; haec vero, auxiliante Domino..... pertractemus. Ante hoc vero lempus. P In Vatic. D, nobis debentur. Seu ins rTumenta debiti. Luc xvi, 6, accipe cautio- nem [uam. Vide Greg. Tur., |. 1x H&t:, c. 18. SerSus, ubsrurum est. De laicis res est, qui Deun limeant, quique Ltonderi debeant- ut fiant actionarit Sub rectore. Reclor apuil jureconswHios Sumitur pro eo qui provincian regit, Sive pralecti pretorio ti- tulo, sive comilis, Sive proconsulis, $ive legali, sive correctoris nomine. Activnarium $ive actorem intelli- gunt sy«.dicum, qui res altorum apud judicem procu- Tat. Eos autem qui Ecclesiz causas agerent, forsan twuderi oportebat, ut quasi clerici viderentur, non quidemw proprie, sed ascCilitii, quales fuerant Fossa- dielatem quidem adhuc perducta est. Ex qua re quid alind * quam fervorem tuz experientiz collau- demus? Sed vel nunc admonitus excitare, et, quan- tum poles, in ejusdem monasterii constructione te exhibe. Ego nihil dari es in expensis dixi, non au- tem monasterium de eis ſabricare prohibui. Sed ita fac ut ei quem loco tuo Panormi dimiseris modis omnibus injungas quatenus expensis et annona ec- clesiastica hoc idem monasterium construat, et ad me privali abbatis querela non redeat. Praxterea cognovi quod quasdam res vel plures fundorum alieni Juris esse cognoscis, $sed, pro quo- rimdam obtestatione vel metu, hominibus $vis resti- tuere ſormides. .Qui si veraciter Christianus esses, B plus Dei judicium quam voces hominum ſormidares. Attende quia ego te quoque hac de re indesinenter admoneo. Quod si implere neglexeris, etiam meas voces contra te in testimonium habebis Si vero * de laicis Deam timentibus inveneris ut tonsurari debeant , et actionarii sub rectore fieri, omnino libenter ſero. Quibus necesse est ut etiam epistolze transmittantur. be * causa vero filii Commissi scholastici consu- Juisti, et non $unt legibus justa quz repetit : uti- litatem pauperum gravare nolumus, $sed pro eo 596 quod se hic ſatigavit, quinquaginla Solidos ci dare te volumus, quos tuis certum est rationibus imputari. In causa vero Y Prochisi quas expensas de rebus Ecclesiz fecisti, aut illic de pensione redi- C tuum ejus libi satisſacito, aut si certe ipsi reditus minime ad recompensandum sufliciant, hic necesse rii, Psalmistz, Diacone, Ascetrix, etc., quales etiamnum exsSlant apud Patres Oratorii, Doctrine Christian:x, Missionis, plerique ſamuli puri laici, de- tonsi tamen et habitu clericatum pre $e ſerentes. Alium sensum exhibeo. Quosdam fuisse patrimonil Romany Ecclesiz rectores, planum est. Sub illis erant actores, Sive actionarii quasi precipui admini- Siri, quibus negotiorum pondus incumbebat ; quod quidem apud auctore3 classicos et jureconsultos no- lissimum. Servi autem erant ut plurimum, quan quam <servis aliis preficerentur. Hac ergo in epistola videtur sanctus Gregorius vel ut tales actionarii e laicis as$umpti capillos ponant quasi in libertatem vendicandi, et ad clericorum $sortem utcunque trans- ſerendi, quo majori Supra cz1leros auctorilate polle- rent. Conjecturam confirmat subjecta necessitas transmillendarum epistolarum, quibus nempe de eo- rum libertlate caveretur. Tuum est, lector, censere. Gussanv. Hac in nota Gussanvillzeus, antequam de tonsuratis loquatur, pro $uv more de tonsuratoribus Seu tonsoribus et tonstricibus disserit que resecanda judicavimus, 8ervalis alits in quibus a scopo non ita aberrat. Censemus autem laicos hic tonsurari juss0s vere clericos effectos esse. Nimirum, ut docet Joan. Diac., lib. u Vite c. 15 : Nemo laicorum quodlibet palatii minislerium, vel ecclesiaslicum patrimonium procurabat, sed omnia ecclesiaslict juris munia, eccle- $iaslici viri subibant; nimirum laicis ad armorum $s0lam militiam..... deputalts. $71 SANCTI GREGORIL MAGN $79 2st ut a diacono hoe recipiatur. De Gelasio avlem A quos in prayorum actanm perpetfationem, Deo sibj $nbdiacono loqui aliquid non prasumas, quia scelus illius * usque ad finem vitz gravissima pcenitentia indiget. Przterca unum nobis caballum miserum, et quin- que bonos asinos transmisisti. Caballum il'um sedere non possum, quia miser est; illos aulem bonos $e- dere non possum, quia asini sunt. Sed petimus ut $i ** nos conlinere disponitis, aliquid nobis >» condi- gnum deſeratis. Eusebio autem abbati dare te volu- mus auri solidos centum, quos tuis certum est ra- tionibus impultari, Cognovimus autem Sisinnium qui. judex Samnii fuit, gravi inopia in Sicilia laborare, cui volumus ©*© xx decimatos vini et qualuor $olidos annuos debeas ministrare. Anastasſus autem religio- 8us juxla Panormitanam civitatem dicitur habitare in oratorio sanct:e Agnz, cui dari volumus auri solidos sex. Matri autem Urhici przpositi dari volumus $oli- /dos $ex, qui Luis rationibus imputabuntur. De Hono- ral vero ancillz Dei caus2 hoc mihi videtur, ut omnem s$ubs1antiam quz conslat quia ante tempus episcopatus Joannis episcopi 44 Laurinensls ſuit, ve- niens tecum deſeras. Eadem vero ancilla Dei cum filio $uo veniat, ut nos cum ea loqui, et quod Deo placitum fſuerit facere debeamus. Codicem autem Heptatici ** de substantia Antonini dari volunus in monaslerio pretoriano, reliquos tecum deferri. EPISTOLA XXXNIII. AD JUSTINEM PRETOREN. Ut, deposita omni suspicione, Leoni episcopo a ſalsis criminationibus plentssime purgato charitatem omnem et congriiam reverentiam exhibeat. Gregorius * Justino prelori Habet hoe proprium antiqui hoslis invidia, ut = Reg. et duo Valic., usque ad gravissimum finem pit penitentia ind'gel. *a 14 est, nos contentos ſacere. bb Yatic. A, aliquid vobiscum digne deſeratis. D, ali- quid vobiscum dignum deſeralis. ec Regi xx decimutos vinum. Valic. D, quatuordecim batos rini, : "Dp dl [ta legitur in Valic., Reg., Teller., Thuan. Eviti autem habent Larinensis. Holstenius, Annot. in Geo- graph. 8acram, pag. 21, censet legi debere Carinen- 8is. Objicit Gussanv. unilam fuisse Carinensem Ec- clesiam Regiensi, ut patet ex epist. 9 lib. v, nunc epist. 10 lib, vi, proindeque tunc non habuisse epi- s&copum, At unio Ila facta est lantum an. 6 pontifi- cats 8wneti Gregorii, defuncto Carinensi antistite, ee Pro hep'atenchi, scilicet Codicis Seplem priores $gacr# Scrivtur:e libros conlinentis. Eersr. XX XI [ Al. 25). * Non presbytero, ut autca legebatur, sed pretori, ut docet contextus epist»l:r, et epistola 2 lib. 1. Et ita reposui ex 16 saltem mss. Codd. Justious ille idem et al quem jam $cripsit epist. 2, lib 1, et de quo epist. 57, nunc 58, ind. 11, apid Libertinum ejus snccessorem conqueritur quod ' Fit. Gus8anv. In mss. 7 Norm., Vatic., elc., 0 legitur pretori. In Vatic. D tamen babes tantum, ad Justinian»m, de Leone 8nscipiendo, Legilur etiam Ju- Sinianum in duvbus Teller., Colb., et in coll. Pauli. quem plures Gregorius epistvlas direxil, nempe 54, lib. m1, 32; lib. y, 8, lib. vii, etc., quia Catana erat urbs Sicili:e, cujus praſecturam gerebat Juslinus. Gus8Aaxv: resistente, decipere non valet, opiniones eorum $97 ſalsa ad prisens simulando dilaceret. Quo- niam igitur quedam contra $sacerdotale propositum de » Leone ſratre et coepiscopo nostro Sinister ru- mor asperserat, utruim vera e:sent districta diutius ſec;imus inquisitione perquiri, et nullam in eo de jis que dicta fuerant culpam invenimus. Sed ne quid videretur omissum, aut nostro potuisset dubium cordi remanere, ad beati Petri sacratissimum cor- pus © dis(ricta eum ex abundanti ſecimus 84cramenta przebere. Quibos preslitis, magna sumus exs0ltatione gavisi, quod hujuscemodi experimento intiocentia ejus. evidenter eEnituit. Pro qua re gloria vestra predictum virum cum omni ckaritate $uscipiat, et reverentiam ei, qualem $acerdoti decet, exhibeat, nec quxedam cordibus remaneat de iis que $unt jam purzata dubietas. Sed ita $uprascripto vos episcops devotissime oportet in omnibus adhzrere, ut con- grue decenterque Denm in ejus p*rsona cujus mini- ster est videamini honorare 4. (Vide 8p. 1. 1, ep. 2.) EPISTOLA XXXIVY. AD MAXIMIANUM EPISCOPUM SYRACUSANUM. Eusebium abbatem, quem imprudenter aſſlizerat, onsoletur. Gregorius Maximiano episcopo Syracusano. Frequenter me adinonuisse vos recolo ut in pro- ferenda sententia esse precipites nullalenus debere- tis. Et nunc. ecce cognovi quia reverendissimun Vis rum abbatem * Eusebium commota furore vestra C ſraternitas excommunicavit. Quod ego valde miratus Sum, ut Non antiqua ejus conversalio, non las longa, non wgritudo diuturna ab ira vestrum ani- Evangelis aut reliquias, aut quid simile, ne scilicet, ut ait Hincmarus, caus. 2, q. 5, c. Si mala ſama, relatus, inflrmorum corda de mala presbyteri fa- ma percutiantar, ne vituperetur minister:tm no- £lrum, »tc. Imo frrep<erat in Ecclesiam vulgaris, ut vocant, purgatio per lactum ſerri canden'is, per aquam ferventem aut frigidam, per monomachiam eliam campo vel cruce contendebant ; Ansegisus, lib. m. cap. 46; et per alfas istiusmodi yanas et ma- las observationes, quas tandem falce canonam opor- tuit resecare. $anctns Gregorius ad sancti Petri cor- pus volebat sacramenta przstari. Sic Ambr-$ii tem- pore Mediolani ad $+nctorum corpora jurabant. Sic Augustinus ad sanctum Felicem Nolanum mittebat. | Gregvrius YI 8acra ad eam purgationem Eucharisiia utebatur. Cone. Meldense, can. 38, vetat episcopum Super $acra jurare. Videat lector Extra,, lib. v, tt. 34 et 35, et caus. n, q, 5. Porro initium bojus epi- Stole videtur desumptum ex enist.. 78 sancti. Augy- Slini, ubi de presbytero Bonifacio. Grssanv. De va- riis judiciis $en probationibus, ad detegenda occulta aut dubia criwina, , uberrime noster Edm. Martens, de antiq. Eccl, Ritibus, 1b, 11, cap. 7. 4 1a collect. Pauli, Data die 3 Non. Junii, in- dict. 10. Eet>r. XXXIV (Al. 26, indict. 7]. — * De Eusebio jam epist. 52, $up. Czterum ex brevi hac epis'ola, quatu ad exiiniz sanclitatis episcopum, et quidem -”- 375 EPISTOLARUM LIB. it. — INDICT. X. — EPIST. XXXVI. | 18 mum flecteret. Quilibet enim in eo fuerit excessus, A absit, aliqua graviora contigerint, he ad aos s1bti- ipsa Zgriludinis aſflictio ei debuit pro flagelilo suſſi- cere. Quem enim diviaa disciplina conterit, ei hu- mana flagella addi superfluum ſuit. Sed fortasse ideo excedere in tali persona permissus es, ut cautior in vilioribus fias, et diu trutines, cum aliquem per sententiam ſerire disponis. Eumdem tamen prefa- tum virum quanto ſurore exasperasii, lanta nunc dulcedine consolare, quia valde injustum est, 59g ut qui te plus amaverunt, ipsi te Sine causa atrocio- rem contra $e Sentiant. EPISTOLA XXXY. AD JOANNEM EPISCOPUM RAVENNATENM. Gratulatur ob exhibita Cas(orio episcopo infirmo ch1- ritatis officia., Hunc ad 8e per Sicliam franemitti petit. Sufſraganeorum antislitum, quos a Roma di- videbant hostes interposilti, Ravennati,curam com- millit. Gregorius Joann? episcopo Ravennati. Dominicis mandatis precipimur proximos sicut nosmetipsos diligere, ecorumque languoribus lanquam propriis infirmitatibus condolere, Quorum memor ſraternitas vesira competenti sibi more * Castorium ſratrem coepiscum nostrum, et prius compassione habita studnit visitare, et eum postinodum pro ex- crescenti molestia corporis in Ravennati urbe susci- pere. Unde non solum nos impensz charitalis; sed et Veum vobis ſecistis procul dubio debitorem , qui in ſratris infirmitate condoluisse probamini, ipsum- que zgrum in Sui membri molestia non solum visi- lasse, sed etiam suscepisse. Quem quidem ipse pro $va simplicitate illic ordinare omnimode renuebam, sed Þ petentium importunitas ſecit ut contradicere nullatenus poluissem. Si autem fieri potest, multum mihj et ipsi consuletis, si eum © ad me vel per Sici- liam transmillatis, $1 tamen ei grave non esse per- penditis. De episcopis vero ad nos pertinentibus; qui lamen huc pro interpositione hostium venire non possunt, curam vestra fraternitas gerat. Ita tamen ut pro causis Suis ad Ravennatem urbem nullatenus revocentur, ne eos hoc tempore vexare aut ſaligare in aliquo videamur. Sed si qua Sunt, quz in cis vi- deantur jusle reprehendi, debent semper'per ſrater- nilatis veslre evistolas admoneri. Sin vero, quud liter reſerre yos volumus, ut inquisitionis Yeslrs teslimonio roborati, quz legibus canonibusque con- veniunt, 4 galubri, juvante Domino, consilio dispo- namus. * Mense Julii, indictione decima, (Cf. Joan. Diac. |. tv, c. 52; 8np., ep. 12; inf., ep. 41 et 42, indict, 11, ep. 24 et 25, indict. 13, ev. 44, in- dict. 15.)