Letter 5031: Although you find yourselves placed amid the turmoil of foreign peoples, reason itself compels us to believe that...

TO THE LESSEES OF THE ESTATES. Until the rector of the Gallic patrimony arrives, let them obey the patrician Arigius. Gregory to the lessees of the estates throughout Gaul. Although you are set in the midst of the disturbances of the nations, nevertheless reason itself compels us to suppose that you differ greatly from others in good conduct. For just as the patronage of blessed Peter, the chief of the apostles, shows his household more renowned to so great a multitude of the Church, so you ought to surpass the rest in the distinction of your character, and to admonish constantly those over whom you are set, that they may act well, that they may acknowledge whom they serve, that they may abstain from the plunderings and depravities of the nations, and that the household of the Church may be honored not only in name, but also in merits. But know that we think most attentively concerning you. For we have determined to send a man of ours, who may be able to protect and govern you, with letters of commendation to the most excellent king, with Christ's help. But the season of winter has hindered the journey. We have therefore provided that you be commended to the glorious man Arigius the patrician, whom in the meantime, with all kindness and obedience, as befits the servants of blessed Peter, strive to obey, and whatever things are enjoined upon you for ecclesiastical advantage, fulfill them. But it has seemed good to us that, his own advantage being excepted, you ought to render to him the customary dues. The rents, however, faithfully and with all diligence of collection, let them lie deposited with each one of you, whom by common consent you shall have chosen; from whom, when he comes whom we shall send from our side, he may be able to receive them. For we have no doubt that through him who shall seem fit to you they can be faithfully preserved. So therefore in all things show yourselves blameless and obedient, so that when he who is to govern the patrimony itself comes to you, he may know how he ought to recompense each one of you according to his diligence. (See book VI, letter 57; book IX, letter 118.) LETTER XXXII. TO CYPRIAN THE DEACON. Maximianus the bishop having died, certain of the clergy who had been cast by him into prison on account of sorcery, let him afflict with heavy penalties. Gregory to Cyprian the deacon. The most holy man Maximianus, our fellow-bishop, was, as you know, commendably solicitous concerning the life of ecclesiastics. While he attended vigilantly with pastoral care to their deeds, he learned that certain men were stained by the sorcery which is commonly called "canterma." These men also, as the letter of your charity has reported, he gave over to be kept in custody. But since, our sins causing it, being overtaken by death, he was not able to avenge that very crime, it is necessary that your charity hasten to investigate this matter with all subtlety, and strive to take vengeance upon them according to the enormity of the crime, in such a way as the aforesaid bishop, by his zeal for correction and justice, in this punishment for God's sake, would, if he were living, have known himself able to be moved. With all virtue therefore and all your earnestness let your charity take care to show its zeal toward almighty God in this cause, and to display upon his enemies an adversity worthy by the punishments inflicted, that you may fulfill what is written: Did I not hate them, O Lord, that hate thee, and pine away because of thine enemies (Psalm 138:21)? If therefore your charity is kindled with this zeal, let punishment be shown upon those who have forsaken God and have done anything by sorceries against him. But if it cannot rightly be carried out there, those who are such ought to be sent to us, if nevertheless it can be shown here whence they may there without difficulty be convicted. But since I judge this to be impossible, there through you a strict and strong correction ought to come forth. Yet I trust that you have as your helper, through contemplation of almighty God, the glorious man the lord Libertinus the praetor in such a place. In this cause, however, you ought by no means to have grown soft, even if any secular judge whatsoever might have been able to stand against you as an adversary. Moreover, let your charity reasonably protect the possessions of Archelaus the physician, so that it permit him by no means to be unjustly burdened by any persons. LETTER XXX [XXXIII]. TO GAUDENTIUS THE BISHOP. Let him distribute a fourth part to the Capuan clergy ministering at Naples. Let him restore ten solidi to the needy archdeacon. Gregory to Gaudentius bishop of Nola. Those who serve in ecclesiastical duties ought, as ability demands, to obtain ecclesiastical supports. Accordingly we exhort your brotherhood by the present address that, to the clergy of the Capuan Church who reside in the city of Naples, you strive to distribute a fourth part into their stipend, out of that which each year shall have accrued to the aforesaid Church, according to the ancient custom, in accordance with the quality of the persons, so that, having some solace of stipends, they may be incited to render their ministry and office around that same Church with devoted mind. Moreover, the ten solidi which Fuscus, formerly bishop of the aforesaid Church, took away from Rusticus his archdeacon, let your brotherhood, all ambiguity ceasing, restore, because he is said to have come into such great poverty that something ought rather to be conferred upon him than anything taken away from him. For it is hard, and far from the office of a priest, both to neglect a person placed under necessity, and to gape unbecomingly after money out of zeal for amassing it. (See book I, letter 32.)

AD CONDUCTORES MASSARUM. Donec adveniat Gallicani patrimonii reclor, Ariqio pa- tricio obediant. | Gregorius * conductoribus massarum per Gal- liam. Quamvis inter medias sitis turbas gentium consti- uti, tamen ralio nos ipsa S8uspicari compellit multum vO0s$ ab aliis bona actione distare. Sicut enim appel- epistola desi 'eratur in Vatic. B, C, D. In Normannis _ inter pretermissas. Reperitur in Collectione ani. ct 45, et bon. 20 in Evang. © Hae vox Romana & oxpibuva pojato: xatoves uatouor, Theophylact. Simocatia, lib. i i.ist. May- ric, Cc. 4, el lib. vn, c. 3, Apud Suidam preſectus protectorum inperatoris. Seu comes domesLicorunmn 7. equicum Et peditum ozpitoy xara Lativoug Gnuxtopu darwv vnepyeoouevrg. Apud Agathiam, lib. wm Hist. SuMmitur pro excubitore palalii. Legitur apud Ana- Slasium in Vigilio, in Theodoro. Gussaxv. 4 Sensum hujus vocis-repele ex epist. 46 lib. 1. In vet. Ed. et in Vatic. male legitur (0ge. Eeisr. NXXI [A/. i2, ind. T7]. — * In Collect. Pauli, et in Vatie. D, conductoribus massarum $eu ſundorum per Gallias conslitutis, Argumento est piti- monium $sancli Petri in Gallia non tam in elecm 18y- Nis aut pecunia quam in pos$Sessionibus consliliss0- latio sancti Petri apostolorum principis familiam Ee- A Ecclesiam Dei pravis hominibus purgare desiderans, clesi;e tante multitudini clariorem demonstrat, ita debetis ceteros morum claritate przecedere, atque eos quibus praestis, ut bene agant, ut agnoscant cui serviunt, assidue commonere, ut a rapinis gentium alque pravitatibus abstiacant, et familia Ecclesie non solum nomine, sed et merilis honoretur. Nos autem de - vobis cogno-cite $ludiosissime Ccogitare. Disposuimus enim hominem nostrum , qui Yos possit tveri et regere, > cum liveris comnendatitiis ad ex- cellentissimum regem, Chrislo auxiliante, transmit- lere. Sed viam tempus hiemis impedivit. Viro ergo glorios0 Arigio palricio vos previdimus commen- dandos, cui interim summa cuin benignitate atque obedieatia, sSicut beati Petri ſamulos decet, obedire studete, aique ex quz pro ecclesiastica utiltitate vo- consuetudinaria excepla ejus utilitale debeatis in- ſerre. Pensiones vero fideliter cum omni collect diligentia apud unumquemque vestrum, quem com- muni consensu elegeritis, rejaceant; a quo cum ve- nerit is © quem a latere nostro transmiserimus, eas possit accipere. Non enim s8umus dubii quod per eum qui vobis visus ſuerit possint fideliter conservari. Ita ergo in omnibus irreprehensibiles atque obed:entes existite, qualenus THY veniens ad vos is qui patri- monium ipsum recturus est, sciat quemadmodum unicuique vesirum pro $ua debeat $Strenuitate repen- dere 4. (Vide l. vi, ep. 57; l. 1x, ep. 118.) EPISTOLA XXNII. AD CYPRIANUM DIACONUM. Deſuncto Maximia"o episcopo, nonnullos e clericis ab eo propler maleficium in carcerem conjectos, gravi- bus afficial penis. Gregorius Cypriano diacono. . Yir sanctissimus Maximianus, coepiscopus noster , Þ In Valic. A, cum hominibus commendAatitiis. Sanctum Hilarium , ſragmento 4, rova Edit. col. 4527 : Secutus traditionem majorum, presbyteros ur- bis Rome Lucium, Panlum, et Hehlianum e latrre meo, ad Alexandriam , ad gupradictum Athanasium di- reri. Sanctus Leo, epist. 28 : Cum propter causam fidei..... de laltere meo mitterem. Et epist. 31 : Julium episcopum , et Renatum presbyterum, sed et filium meum diaconem lilarium , quos e latere meo, vice mea misi. Vide nGtas Quesnellii, p. 8:0. Legesis capitula Caroli Calvi, tir. 3, cap. 2. Hinc legati svm:mi pon- lificis dicti-a latere. Snos etiam legatos a latere im- peratores habuerunt : Willelmas Tyrins, lib. xv1i1, c. 24.1 18uper et de latere imperiali mit:itur illustris apo- cri8harins. d4 ſn Yatic. D additnr, mense Marti», die 12, in- dict. 15. In Collect. Pauli as$ignatur male indictio 5, nee melius in Colbert., indict. & - - Eersr. XXXII [AL, 13, indict. 7]. — * Vide caus. 26, q. 5, mulios canones; Sanctum Augnstinum de Civitate Dei lib. vin, c. 19; Narbon., c. 14, an. : 89; Leptin., c. 5, an. 743; Turon. m. c. 42, an. 815, elc. Et imiter recentiores Costanum Tolosatem , Quiestio- yum juris memorabiliun lib. 1, c. 16. GussAavv. ckarme. Apud lhtalos stregaria o malia, ex Dominico © Magro in vocabulario. E>t autem species male" ci quod per carmina quzdam operabantur incantatores. fa laudabiliter erga ecclesiasticorum vitam, sicut aosti, s0llicitus ſuit. Qui dum eorum actus vigilanter Cura pastorali intenderet, © malelicio quod vulgo Þ can- terma dicitur, quosdam didicit maculat»s. Quos etiam, 8icut et dilectionis tue nuntiavit epistola, dedit © in custodia retinendos. Sed quia, peccatis nostris ſa- cientibus, morte preventius, crimen ip-um ulcisci non valuit, necesse est ut dilectio tua cum omni hoc sub- lilitale indagare ſcstinet, atque in eos Secundum im- manitatem facinoris studeat vindicare qualiter 8@- cundum leges suprascriplum episcopum zelo corre- ptionis ac juslitize in hac ultione propter Deum novit poluisse, $i viveret, commoveri. Omni ergo virtute omnique inslantia tua dilectio in hac causa zelum B sunm erga omnipotentem Deum curet ostendere, ct bis praecipiuntur implete. Visum autem nobis est ut . inimicis illius adversitatem dignam inflictis ultioni- bus exhibere, ut impleas quod scriptum est : Nonne qui oderunt te, Domine, oderam, et super inimicos tuos tabescebam (Pal. cxxxvin, 21)? Si ergo hoc zelo dilectio tua accenditur 4 in corum qui Deum dereli- querunt et contra eum maleſiciis aliquid egerunt, pena monstretur. Quod si recte illic ex$equi ® non valet, nobis qui tales sunt transmitti debent, si ta- men hic monstrari potuerit unde illic possunt absque diſſicultate convinci. Sed quia hoc impossibile esse - existimo, .illic per te debet district» atque fortis correctio provenire. Virum autem gloriosum dom num * Libertinum pritorem in tali loco per con. templationem omnipotentis Dei adjutorem te habere . C conſido. In hac tamen causa mitescere TGQ minime debujsti, etiamsi tibi quilibet sxcularis iudex adver- sarius potuisset existere. Possessiones prterea Archelai medici dilectio tua rationabiliter tueatur, ut ab aliquibus injuste eum minime gravari permillat. Quodnam autem esset isiud maleſicii genus non re- peritur apud scriptores. Putat vir cl.- Cangius pro Canterma legendum forte Canterina, ut vox Itala reddita $it. Nam Canterini lalis dicuatur qui crebro et ultro cantant. Notum autem incaitationem a Can- libus magicis dici. Gussaxv, Vide lib. 1x, episl. 65, al. lib. vu, epist. 67. Slatula pullulent, disciplinaque clericalis tam $olli- cite reſormetnr. Consonat lex ultima Codicis, Lit. de custod. reorum, nt Supra notatum lib. 11, epist. 52, nune lib. x11, epist. 45. Olim catechumena, decani- cum, vel scevoplylacium reis detinemlis inservie- bant, Id exhiibet epist. 12, alias 3, Gregorii I ad Leonem Is:urum imp., initio concilii Nic «ni 1, pa- latii et ecclesiarum reſerendo discrimen in plectendis reis : Pont:ifices non ita; zed ubi peccavit quis, et con- ſess8us ſrerit , cuspendii vel ampulationis capitis loco Evangelivum et crucem ejus cervicibus circumponunt, eumque lanquam in carcerem in 8ecretaria 8acrorum - que vasorum @raiu conjiciunt, in Ecclesi@ diacoma ct in catechumena ablegant, ac visceribus eorum Jeju- nium, oculi>que vigli:s, et laudationem 0ri ejus i» di- cunt. Cumque probe cas/igarint, probeque ſam? afflize- rint, tum pretiosum il.i Domini corpus impartiunt, et sanclo illum sanquine. polint; el cum illuin. vas elect. 9- nis re>titu.rint, ac immunem peccati , sic ad Dominium purum insontemque lransmillunt. GUsSANY. EPrSTOLx XXX. AD GAUDENTIUM EPISCOPUM. Capuanis clericis N-apoli ministrantibus quartam dis- tribuat. Archidiacono inopi reslituat s0lidos de- cem. Gregorius * Gaudentio episcopo Nolano. Qui ecclesiasticis ſamulantur obsequiis, ecclesia- $tica, ut possibilitas exigit, debent adipisci subsidia. Proinde fraternitatem tvam presentibus hortamur aſſatibus ut c'ericis Capuanze Ecclesi:e, qui in civi- late Neapolitana consistunt, quariam in presbyterium eorum de hoc quod anle dicte Ecclesie singulis annis accesserit juxta antiquam concuetudinem dis- tribuere » gecundum personarum studeat qualita- tem, quatenus aliquod stipendiorum habentes $0- latium, minislerium officiumque $uum circa eam- dem Ecelesiam devoticri mente provocentur impen- dere. Preterea decem $olidos, quos Rustico archidia- - cono $uo Fuscus quondam episcopus suprascripte Ecclesiz abslwlit, ſraternitas tua omni cessante am- biguitate restituat, quia in. tantam dicitur eum pau— periem pervenisse, ut conſerendum illi potius esset quam aliquid ab eo auſerendum. Durum enim esl et procul a sacerdotis officio et personam posilam $ub necessitale negligere, et Studio congregandi indecen- ter inhiare pecuniis ©, (Vide (. 1, ep. 32.)