Letter 13046: Brother, I must ask you to attend more carefully to the material well-being of your clergy.

The desires of petitioners are always to be fulfilled, as often as those things are sought which do not depart from reason. And therefore, since we are asked by your clergy to confirm by our authority certain articles which you promised your clergy, at their request, that you would observe, we exhort your Fraternity by these words to observe, without any opposition, those things which the present writing contains. First, that from the revenues of the church you should without any delay supply to the clergy of your church the full fourth portion, according to each one's merit or office or labor, just as you yourself shall have determined to give to each. As for that which shall accrue from the offering of the faithful, likewise do not defer to give to them the fourth part, in coin or in the storeroom, according to the former custom; but retaining all the rest of the movable goods in your own power. For let the immovable goods be added to the ecclesiastical revenues, so that, the quantity having been multiplied, the fourth part of your clergy may, by God's bounty, increase. Be mindful, moreover, that a registrar is to be appointed, with the consent of the elders and the clergy, who each year, to cut off all suspicion of fraud, ought solemnly to render his accounts. And at the time of the vintage let this same clergy obtain the relief of buying wine from the possessions of your church at just prices, to the extent that it is to be sold. For it is quite contrary to reason that what can be sold to outsiders should be denied to the clergy at a fixed price. Therefore make haste, with all diligence and with civility preserved, to restore into the right of your church the possessions, or if there are any other things belonging to ecclesiastical right and unduly held by outsiders, so that you may not be seen to be negligent in any matter. If, then, anything concerning any cleric whatever should reach your ears which might justly offend you, do not readily believe it, nor let an unknown matter inflame you to vengeance; but in the presence of the elders [...] let canonical discipline strike the fault of the offender. So therefore let it be the care of your zeal to keep watch over all these things so carefully and so gently, that neither may you appear to have been unmindful of your promise, nor may they be able to find a just occasion against you for murmuring. IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, IN THE SIXTH INDICTION. [XIII, 47 — Gregory I, pope, instructs John the defensor, setting out to Spain, by a capitulary, what is to be observed in the case of Januarius, bishop of Malaga, and of Stephen and of Comitiolus, the glorious man. The year 603, August.] GREGORY, TO JOHN THE DEFENSOR GOING TO SPAIN IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. A CAPITULARY: WHAT IS TO BE OBSERVED BY JOHN THE DEFENSOR. In the first place, inquiry must be made concerning the person of the presbyter, the most beloved brother and our fellow-bishop Januarius; and if the truth is so, as the petition of the same bishop sets forth, let this same presbyter be by all means restored to the church and to his own place. But if it shall be said that some case has been brought or proved against him, then, with himself present and rendering account for himself, subtle inquiry must be made both into the kind of the case and the manner of the proof, so that from this you may be able to gather whether he ought still to remain in exile or rather to be recalled to the church and to his office. Concerning the person of the above-mentioned bishop this is to be determined: that, if no criminal case which is worthy of exile or deposition has been brought or proved against him, then he who, while that bishop yet survived, perversely and contrary to the canons presumed to be ordained in his church, shall be deprived of his priesthood and repelled from all ecclesiastical ministry. He is also to be handed over to that same most beloved Januarius, our brother and fellow-bishop, so that he may either be held in custody by him or else be transmitted by him to us in every respect. For the bishops who ordained him, or who took part as consenting to his ordination, shall be decreed, deprived for six months of the communion of the Lord's body and blood, to do penance in a monastery; and the above-mentioned Januarius shall by all means be restored to his place and order. But if there should befall, to those deprived of communion, the imminent peril of death, let the blessing of the viaticum not be denied. If therefore the bishops, in the prejudgment of the condemnation or deposition of the aforesaid bishop, shall have confessed that of their own accord they consented through fear of the judge and did such things, the time is to be shortened for them and the measure of penance moderated. But if he who invaded his place shall perhaps have departed from this light and another has been ordained, since the fault seems lighter, inasmuch as he did not, as it were, succeed a living man but a dead one, let the office of episcopacy be forbidden to him only from that same church, so that he may be a bishop in another church which shall be vacant of a priest, if he be elected, yet in no way ever to return to the church of Malaga. But let the glorious Comitiolus be condemned to restore to that same bishop whatever the aforesaid bishop shall confirm under oath that he expended, or what loss he suffered, through his violence and persecution. But if it is perhaps alleged that the matter was done otherwise than the petition of the aforesaid bishop sets forth, subtle inquiry must be made; and the truth being known, judgment must be given, with the fear of God, according to what the order of justice shall advise. Since therefore Stephen the bishop asserts that, out of hatred, certain things were feigned against him, and that he was accused on false articles, and that nothing was done in due order, but that he was unjustly condemned, diligent inquiry must be made: first, whether the judgment was held in due order, or whether there were some accusers and other witnesses; then the quality of the cases, whether it was worthy of exile or deposition; or whether, in his presence, testimony was given against him under oath, or whether it was done in writing, or whether he himself had liberty of answering and of defending himself. But also concerning the persons of those accusing and testifying subtle inquiry must be made: of what condition and of what reputation, and whether they may be paupers, or whether perhaps they had held any enmities against the aforesaid bishop; and whether they gave testimony from hearsay, or rather testified that they specially knew, or whether judgment was given in writing and the sentence read out with the parties present. But if perhaps these things were not solemnly transacted, nor the case proved which is worthy of exile or deposition, let him be by all means restored to his church; but those who, contrary to the fear of God and the statutes of the canons, condemned him are, excommunicated, to be sent into a monastery to do penance for six months, in such wise indeed that, if to any of them the danger of death should befall as imminent, the blessing of the viaticum be not denied to him. But he himself, who while the other was living rashly aspired to his place, deprived of his priesthood, shall be repelled from all ecclesiastical ministry and handed over to that same most beloved brother and our fellow-bishop, so that he may either transmit him to us himself or keep him in custody with him. And the bishops who presumed to ordain him, or who gave their consent to his perverse ordination, these likewise, deprived of communion, shall for six months be assigned to do penance in a monastery. But if the bishops, in the prejudgment of the condemnation or deposition of the aforesaid Stephen, shall have professed that of their own accord they consented through fear of the judge and did such things, the time is to be shortened for them and the measure of penance moderated. If therefore he who invaded the place of the aforesaid Stephen is perhaps dead, and another has been ordained bishop in his church, this is to be determined concerning him which we said above concerning the case of our brother and fellow-bishop Januarius. But if perhaps some of the things objected against the said bishop Stephen have been proved, but others could by no means be demonstrated, it must be weighed with altogether cautious consideration whether the lighter articles or rather the graver ones have been proved, so that from these you may be able to know how you ought to form your decision. But let the glorious Comitiolus, if the above-mentioned bishop shall have shown himself to be innocent, restore to him without any delay whatever he took of his goods or of his church's. And also whatever the said bishop shall have sworn that he expended in his persecution and violence, or what loss he suffered, let the said glorious man likewise repay and make satisfaction. But if it shall be established that the aforesaid bishop committed such a fault, which God forbid, that it is evident he was not unreasonably deposed, then let his deposition be confirmed, and let all the goods of his church which shall be shown to have been carried off be restored, because the offense of a person is not to be turned into the loss of the church. For if, as is said, Comitiolus is dead, let those things which were unjustly taken by him be restored without excuse by his heir.

Implenda semper sunt postulantium desideria, quotiens illa poscuntur quae a ratione non deviant ^ Et ideo quia quaedam capitula, quae servaturum te clericis tuis petentibus promisisti, nostra ab eis postulamur*^ auctoritate firmare, fratemitatem tuam his hortamur afFatibus, ut ea quae praesentia scripta continent sine aliqua debeat refragatione servare**. Primum, ut de reditibus ecclesiae quartam in integro*^ portionem^ ecclesiae tuae clericis secundum meritum vel officium sive laborem suum^, ut* ipse unicuique dare prospexeris, sine aliqua praebere debeas' tarditate. De hoc vero quod ex fidelium oblatione accesserit item* quartam partem in solidis vel cellario* eis** iuxta pristinam consuetudinem dare non difFeras, reliqua autem' omnia mobilia in tua^ retinens potestate. Inmobilia enim ecclesiasticis reditibus adgregentur, ut multiplicata quantitate clericorum tuorum quarta^ Deo largiente proficiant. Tabularium^ autem una cum consensu seniorum et cleri memineris ordinandum, qui annis singulis ad amputandam fraudis™ suspicionem sollemniter suas debeat rationes" exponere. Vindemiorum vero tempore isdem clerus° emendi vinum de possessionibus ecclesiae tuae ad iusta pretia, in quantum vendendum est, remedium consequantur Nam satis contra rationem est, ut quod potest extraneis^ venundari' clericis dato pretio denegetur. Possessiones" igitur*, vel si qua sunt alia" ecclesiastico iuri^ com- petentia et ab extraneis indebite detinentur, cum omni studio servata civilitate in ius ecclesiae tuae reparare^ festina, ut neglegens in aliquo videri* non valeas. Si quid^ igitur de quocumque' clerico ad aures tuas pervenerit, quod te iuste possit offendere, facile non credas, nec ad vindictam te res accendat* incognita; sed praesentibus seni- 0 eulogia q*1. 8) ex Jtl. eonim Bl. *) referimur lil. ita q*2.3.q3; ex terioribus (om. ex) R2.Q1; ex iBterioribas et exterius (> *I. ^) qxutliB Rl.Q. ™) interiussistis Rl. XIII, 46 in titulo: episcopo om. q*2.3 — Panormitano Rl.Ql; Panormo Q*1.4; Panormo q*2.3.q3. Q*l. *>) si add. R2.Q1. c) perscrutandum Rl; perscrutandam q1, ^) tua (om. et tunc) Rl, 9) Similia nosfer saepissitne cum in aliis tum in episttUis ad Eulogium datis scrHnt. XIII, 46. De lohanne cf. ep. XIII, 40 n. 1) Cf, simHes arengas in f. Diumi 15. 16. 32 et saepiiis. 2) De quartis ecclesiasticis cf. ep. IV, 11 n. 3, V, 12 n. 3. VIII, 7 n. 4, 3) Cf. ep. I, 42 p. 65 n. 7. I, 63 n. 5. 4) Cf. ep, IX, 83 n. 3. Reg. Qreg. II. 52 GREGORn I. REGISTRI scerit, canonica® districtio culpam foriat delinquentis. Ilaec itaquo onmia sic sollicitc ac mansuete studii tui sit^ custodire, quatenus nec tu promissionis tuae videaris inmemor extitisse nec illi^ iustam contra te occasionem invenire valeant murmurandi^. MENSE AUGUSTO INDICTIONE VI. Xni, 47. Crregorifis I. papa lohannetn defensarem in Hispaniam proficiscefntetn capittdari docet, quid in causa lanuarii, episcopi MaUicUani, et Stephani et Comitioli, gloriosi viri, observandum sit. 603, Aug. Codd. B et q: Indictio J — VL cap. 273. Edd. M: Lib, XIIL ep. 45; G: lAb. XI ep. 52. — laffe Beg. W12 (15S0). GREGORroS lOHAITNI DEFENSORI IN NOMINE DOMINI EUNTI SPANIA. CAPITULARE, QUID OBSERVANDUM SIT A lOHANNE DEPENSORE. In primis requirendum de persona presbyteri dilectissimi fratris* et coepiscopi nostri lanuarii^, et si ita se veritas habet, sicut eiusdem episcopi petitio continet, in ecclesia atque loco suo isdem presbyter modis omnibus revocetur. Si autem dictum fuerit, quia contra ipsum causa aliqua mota sive probata est, suptiliter ipso praesente et pro se rationem*» reddente quaerendum est et genus causae et modus*' probationis, ut ex hoc tu^ colligere valeas, utrum adhuc in exilio demorari an certe in ecclesia et officio suo debeat revocari. De suprascripti® episcopi persona^ hoc statuendum*^ est, ut, si nulla contra cum criminalis causa, quae exilio vel depositione digna est^, mota sive probata est, is qui eo superstite^ episcopus perverse ac^ contra canones in ecclesia eius ordinari prae- sumpsit sacerdotio* privatus ab omni ecclesiastico ministerio repellatur. Qui etiam eidem™ dilectissimo lanuario fratri et coepiscopo nostro tradendus est, ut aut ab ipso in custodia habeatur aut certe ab eo ad nos per omnia transmittatur. Episcopi enim qui eum ordinaverunt vel ordinationi eius consentientes interfuerunt in" sex mensibus dominici corporis et sanguinis communione privati agere paenitentiam in monasterio decemantur**, et suprascriptus ^ lanuarius loco et ordini suo modis omnibus reformetur. Si vero de communione privatis mortis contigerit inminere periculum, benedictio ci viatici*»*' non negetur. Si^ igitur episcopi in praeiudicio condemnationis vel depositionis canonice RL 0 studiis tuis sic Ul; studio tuo nit qS, 8) \\\\% Hl. fiiiem payinae et pagincmi aeq. vacuam reliquit q1. Mense eet: ags abbr. q*L4 — VU BL XIII, 47 in titalo: natale {pro nomine) R*l — Spania RLqLq*L4; Spaniam R2.q*2.3 — capi- tulum q3 — quid RL2; quod (qd) q*L4.q3; qualiter q*2.3 — a om. q1 — defensori Rl. M Rl. *>) TKtione Rl. c) modis JRi. ^) ita R2.q3; recte p*2..5; hoc te R1.qLq*L ®) suprascripti om. Rl; suprascripta Q*2.3; supscripti q1. 0 persona om. Rl. 8) fatendum Rl. *») sit q*L ») ex eum s. corr. q1; eum superstitem q*; eum suppressit R2. ^) at RL ^) ordinatus est (om. praes. sacerd.) q3, XIII, 47. De lohannis itinere cf. ep. sequentes; de persona lohannis ep. II, 47 n. l.J — De rerbo capitulare cf. ep. I, 39<^. I, 40. IX, 131. 1) lanuarius, episcopus MaJacitanus, Severo successerai. Cf. Gams, Kirchengeschichte von Spanien II, 1, 419 et Mdor. de vir. Ul c. 43. memorati episcopi se metu iudicis^ consensisse" ac talia fecisse sua sponte confessi fuerint, tempus eis^ adbreviandum est et modus paenitentiae temperandus^. Si vero ille qui locum eius invasit de hac fortasse luce migrayerit et alter est ordinatus, quia levior culpa videtur non quasi isti superstiti, sed successisse defuncto, episcopatus illi officium ab eadem tantum modo^ ecclesia interdicatur, ut in alia ecclesia, quae a sacerdote vacaverit, si electus fuerit, esse possit episcopus, ad Malacitanam^ tamen ecclesiam numquam aliquo modo reversurus. Qloriosus autem Comitiolus*', quicquid praedictus episcopus per violentiam atque insecutionem ipsius expendisse vel damnum pertulisse dato sacramento firmaverit, eidem episcopo restituere condemnetur. Si autem aliter, quam antefati episcopi petitio continet, actum esse forsitan perhibetur, suptiliter quaerendum est et cognita veritate cum Dei timore quod iustitiae ordo suaseri iudicandum. Quia igitur Stephanus episcopusy^ in odio suo quaedam ficta et de falsis se capi- tulis accusatum neque aliquid ordinabiliter &ctum', sed iniuste se* asserit condemnatum, diligenter quaerendum est primo^, si iudicium ordinabiliter est habitum aut si alii accusatores^, alii testes fuerunt; deinde causarum qualitas, si digna exilio vel depositione fuit; aut si eo praesente sub iureiurando^ contra eum testimonium dictum est seu* scriptis actum est vel ipse licentiam respondendi et defendendi se' habuit. Sed et de^ personis accusantium ac testificantium^ suptiliter quaerendum est, cuius condicionis cuiusve^ opinionis aut^ ne inopes sint autne forte aliquas contra praedictum episcopum inimicitias habuissent, et utrum testimonium^ ex auditu dixerunt™ aut certe specialiter se scire testati sunt vel si scriptis iudicatum est et° partibus praesentibus sententia recitata est°. Quod si^ forte haec sollemniter acta non sunt neque causa probata est, quae exilio veH depositione digna sit, in' ecclesia sua modis omnibus revocetur; hi vero qui eum' contra Dei timorem et statuta canonum condemnaverunt excommunicati in monasterium^ ad agendam paenitentiam in^ sex mensibus sunt mittendi, ita sane ut, si cuiquam^ eorum mortis'' contigerit inminere discrimen, viatici ei benedictio non negetur. Ipse autem, qui eo vivente locum eius temerarie ambiit, privatus sacerdotio ab omni ministerio ecclesiastico repellatur atque eidem* dilectissimo fratri et coepi- scopo nostro tradatur, ut eum aut ipse^ ad nos transmittat' aut apud se in custodia habeat. Episcopi vero qui eum ordinare praesumpserunt vel perversae ordinationi ipsius praebuere consensum, idem*^ communione privati in sex mensibus ad agendam >) consensisset El. ^) ei Bl, ^) temperandum q1. officium a habet tum modo Bl. ^) Malicitana q*1; Malicitanam Ql.g*2,3; Malaortana Bl; Malatitanam R2. Commitiolus q*1. 2) ScU. Camitioli: cf. not. seq. 3) Comitiolus in tittdo Nova -Cartagenensi a. 689—590 (C. I. L. II, 3420) a Gams, Kirchengeschichte von Spanien II, 2, 35, et Fhrez, Espafia sagrada V, 75, citato patricius et magister militum didttM'. Equidem credo hunc cUium esse atque KofieyrioXog, qui etiam nttxQixioq xal <nQaTrjXartig (Chron. Pasch. p. 694 B) cum Mauricio interfectus est, postquam ex scribone ctQaTrjyog Maurido imperante contra Persas pugnaverat (cf. de eo Euagr. VI, 15. Theophyl. 8im. J, 4. II, 6. IV, 10. VII, 13. VIII, 1. 4. 8). Alius Comitiolus excubitor commemoratur m ep. IX, 89. 4) Ubinam hic Stephanus episcopus fuerU, non constat; sed intra fines imperii eum resedisse certum est. Varia coniecerunt viri docti : cf. Gams 1. 1. II, 2, 36. 52* GBEGOEII 1. BEGISTRI pacnitentiam in monasterio ^ deputentur. Si autem episcopi in praeiudicio condemnationis vel depositionis memorati Stephani se metu iudicis consensisse*' ac talia** fecisse sua sponte professi fuerint, tempus eis® adbreviandum est et modus paenitentiae tempe- randus. Si igitur is qui praedicti Stephani locum invasit fortasse defunctus est atque alius in ecclesia eius est episcopus ordinatus, illud de eo statuendum est, quod superius de causa fratris et coepiscopi nostri lanuarii' diximus. Quod si forte aliqua de obiectis contra memoratum Stephanum episcopum probata sunt, aliqua vero doceri minime potuerunt, cauta omnino ^ consideratione pensandum est, utrum leviora capitula an certe graviora probata^ sint^, ut ex eis, qualiter definitionem tuam formare debeas, possis scire. Gloriosus vero Comitiolus, si^ suprascriptus episcopus innocens esse claruerit, quicquid de rebus eius vel ecclesiae ipsius tulit, ei^ sine aliqua dilatione restituat. Sed et quaeque se in persecutionem ac violentiam eius expendisse vel damnum isdem episcopus pertulisse iuraverit°, item^' memoratus gloriosusi' reddat ac satisfaciat. Si autem talem culpam antedictum episcopum, quod absit. commisisse constiterit, ut constet eum non inrationabiliter esse depositum, eademque ^ eius depositio confirmetur, ecclesiae ' res suae omnes quae ablatae claruerint^ restituantur, quia delictum personae in dam- num non est ecclesiae convertendum. Si enim, ut dicitur, Comitiolus defunctus est, ab herede eius quae ab illo iniuste tulta sunt sine excusatione reddantur.