Letter 11052

**From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome **To:** Adrianus, Notary **Date:** ~601 AD **Context:** Instructs him to pursue enchanters and sorcerers (practitioners of forbidden arts). I require you to take action against those practicing enchantments and divination in your area. These practices are contrary to Christian faith and their persistence is a sign that proper oversight has been lacking. Identify who is engaged in such things, bring appropriate pressure to bear, and see that they either abandon these practices or face the consequences of their continued pursuit. The Church cannot govern a Christian people while tolerating paganism in its midst.

AD ADRIANUM NOTARIUM. Incantatores &t sortilegos insequi pergat. Cregorius Adriano notarjio. ny Pervenit ad nos (Gret. 26, q, 5, c. 8) quod quos- dam * jincantatores atque sorulegos ſueris insecutus. Et omnino nobis sollicitudinem zelumque tuum gra- tum fuisse cognoscas; sed molesle tulimus quod te dubitare ne ab eis nobis contra experientiam tuam subripi potuisset didicimus, cum certus esse ac scire debueris hoc tibi apud nos ad commendationem wagis proſicere, non ad culpam ascribi. Ei ideo stu- dii wi it gollicite querere, et quoscunque hujus- modi inimicos Chrisfi jnaveneris, ita districta ultione corrigere, ut et nos de experientia tua melius de- beamus habere judicium, et Deo nostro te, quod maxime studendum esl, valeas commendare ».