Letter 6030: Gregory to Secundus, servant of God at Ravenna. Now that Castorius has returned and made known to us all that has been done between you and King Agilulph, we have taken care to send him back to you with all speed, lest any one should find an excuse against us on the ground of delay. Having learned then from him all that is to be done, give the ...

Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Cagliari. The distinguished lady Pompeiana has informed us that a certain property belonging to her has been unjustly seized. Since justice must be maintained in all cases, I direct your Brotherhood to examine the matter carefully. If her complaint is found to be true, see that the property is restored to her without delay. Do not allow anyone to profit from injustice, and do not permit the powerful to oppress the weak.

Book VI, Letter 30 To Secundus. Gregory to Secundus, servant of God at Ravenna. Now that Castorius has returned and made known to us all that has been done between you and King Agilulph, we have taken care to send him back to you with all speed, lest any one should find an excuse against us on the ground of delay. Having learned then from him all that is to be done, give the matter your earnest attention, and press in all ways for this peace to be arranged, since, as report goes, there are some who are trying to hinder it. On this account make haste to act strenuously, that your labour may not remain without effect. For both these parts and various islands are already placed in great danger. Stir up with such words as you can use our brother the bishop Marinianus : for I suspect that he has fallen asleep. For certain persons have come to me, among whom were some aged mendicants, who were questioned by me as to what they had received and from whom they had received it; and they told me particularly how much had been given them on their journey, and by whom it had been given. But, when I enquired of them what my aforesaid brother had given them, they replied that they had asked him, but had received nothing at all from him; so that they did not get even bread on the way, though it has always been the familiar usage of that Church to give to all. For they said, He answered saying, I have nothing that I can give you. And I am surprised, if he who has clothes, money, and storehouses, has nothing to give to the poor. Tell him, then, that with his place he should change his disposition too. Let him not believe reading and prayer alone to be enough for him, so that he should think to sit apart, and nowise fructify with his hand; but let him have a liberal hand; let him succour those who suffer need; let him believe the wants of others to be his own; since, if he has not these things, he bears but a bishop's empty name. I did indeed give him some admonitions about his soul in my letter; but he has sent me no reply whatever; whence I suppose that he has not even deigned to read them. For this reason it is needless now for me to admonish him at all in my letter to him; and so I have written only what I was able to dictate as his adviser in worldly matters. For it is not incumbent on me to tire myself, by dictation for a man who does not read what is said to him. Let, then, your Love speak to him about all these things privately, and admonish him how he ought to demean himself, lest through present negligence he lose the advantage of his former life, which God forbid.

SECUNDUM. Pacem cum Agilulpho rege procurare feslinet. Mari- nianum episcopum ad migericordiam in pauperes er- citel, Gregorius * Secundo servo Dei Ravennz. Postquam revertens Castorius omnia nobis que inter vos et Agilulphum regem acta sunt indicavit, ne excusationem contra nos de mora potuisset ali- quis invenire, sub omui eum celeritate illuc retrans= milttendum previdimus. Ab eo ergo ea que sunt agenda cognoscens, esto Sollicitus , et omni modo immine ut pax isla debeat ordinari, quia, quantum dicitur, aliqui hoc impedire conantur. Pro qua re divers insul:z in gravi sunt periculo posilz. ' Fratrem nostrum Marinianum episcopum (Cratr. dist. 86, c. 6) verbis quibus vales excita, quia ob- dormisse eum Suspicor. Nam venerunt quidam ad me, in quibus erant quidam senes mendicantes, qui a me discussi sunt a quibus et quid acceperint , et per singula retulerunt quanta eis et a quibus in itinere dala sint. Quos dum sollicite de predicto fraire re- quirerem quid eis dedisset , respond-runt se eum rogas8e, sed ab eo £e oumnino Nibil accepisse; ita ut neque panem in via acceperint , cum dare omnibus illi Ecclesize semper familiare ſuit. Dixerunt enim : Respondit nobis, dicens : Non habeo quod yobis da- re possim, Et miror si is qui vestes babet, argentum B habet , cellaria habet , quod pauperibus vebeat dare non hahet. Dic ergo ei ut cum loco mutet et mentem (16bid.). s17 Non sibi cred: solam lectionem et orationem suflicere , ut remotus studeat sedere , et de manu minime ſructificare; ssed largam manum habeat, ne- cessilatem patientibus concurrat, alienam inopiam Suam credat , quia si haxc non habet , vacuum epis- copi nomen tenet. Quzdam vero cum per epistolam meam de anima sua admonui, sed nihil mihi omnino respondit, unde credo quia ea neque legere digna- tus est. Pro qua re jam necessarium non ſuit ut eum per epistolam meam admonere aliquid debuissem, sed tantum illa scripsi que in causis terrenis consi- liarius dictare potui. Nam ego ad hominem non Jle- C gemiem ſatigari in dictatu non debuj. Tua ergo di- lectio secrelo ei omnia loqualur, et admoneat qua- liter se disponere debeat, ne per prasentem negli» genliam, vitam, quod absit, priorem perdat.