Letter 10002: **From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome

Gregory to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples. We do not think it is unknown to your fraternity that Romanus, of distinguished memory, by the decision of his last will, appointed that a church be built in a house of his own right, which is situated in your city. And since, by God's mercy, the will of the deceased is known to have been fulfilled, let your holiness proceed there without reluctance; and if no body is buried there, and the place is found to be suitable, consecrate the aforesaid church in the honor of the Lord without public masses, and without a baptistery or a cardinal presbyter being assigned there, so that its consecration may serve the monks who are to be gathered there for the service of God.

AD FORTUNATUM NEAPOLIT. EPISCOPUM. Ecclesiam pro monachis, absque migsis publicis, baptis- terio et presbytero cardinali consecret. | Gregorius Fortunato episcopo Neapolis. Fraternilati vestrz esse non pulamus incognitum quia Romanus clarissime memoriz vir, per ullime5uz. voluntalis arbitrium, in domo juris sui ecclesiam , quz in ciyilate yeslra sita est, edilicari deputavit. Et B quia, Deo miseraite, deſuncii noscitur yoluntas im- pleta , sanctilas yestra illic ingravanter accedat ; el si nullum ibidem corpus constal humatum, locum ipsum in ionorem $sanctorum Hermelis, Þ Sebasliani, atque Cyriaci, necnon et Pancralii solemniter $tudeal abs- que missis publicis cum yeneratione debila couSecrare; ita ut in eodem loco baptislerium nunquam conslrua- tur, nec presbyterum conslituas cardinalem. Sed quo- ties missas ibi degentes illic monachi fieri voluerint, latenus prasumatur. EPISTOLA WI. AD FANTINUM DEFENSOREM. Colligat Romani mancipia, atque illorum laboris C ſructus ad constructum a Romano ipso monasterium millal. Gregorius Fantino deſensori, Mancipia juris Romani, * spectabilis memorize viri, qui in domo sua que Neapoli sita est monaslerium ordinari constituit , habitare in Sicilia perhibentur. Et quia monasterium jipsum juxta voluntatem ejus, Deo auctore, noscitur ordinatum , experieniia tua presentium portitoribus, qui Þ ad recolligenda man- cipia ipsa illuc directi sunt, omni studio s80latiarj ſestinet, et recollectis eis, possessiones jllis ubi labo- rare debeant, te solatiante, conducat. Et quidquid corum labore accesserit, reservato unde ipsi possint $ubsislere, reliquum ad prexdictum monasterium ex- perientie tu;e cura annis singulis, auxiliante Domino, D transmittatur. © quo sequens eliam epistola legitur, quam Supralau- dati Mss. non exhibent. Eeisr. II [Al. 4].—* Non erat vagns honoris litulus quem cuilibet ad arbitrium conferre olim liceret. Spectabi;ulatis honorem militi@ gudore delersis jusla de- pulavit antiquitas, inquit Cassiodorus, lib. 1 Variar., epist. 28. I'rivilegia buic dignitati annexa infra prose- quitur in eadem episl. et lib. vt, ce. 57, exh b-t for- mulam $spectabilitatis 8eu yerborum ſormam qua hic bonor concedebatur. » Id esl, ad requireados fugitivos servos, et denud cogenidos ac congregandos, 4169 EPISTOLARUM LIB. X. — INDICT. IM. — EPIST. VI.