Letter 7022

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Fortunatus and Anthemius [bishops or officials] Date: ~597 AD Context: Gregory instructs about Stephana, who is to restore her promised property and enter the monastery she was previously promised to. Gregory to Fortunatus and Anthemius. The woman Stephana made a commitment both to provide certain property and to enter a monastery. She is to fulfill both commitments. First, the property she promised is to be properly conveyed as she committed. Second, her entrance into the monastery is not to be further delayed or avoided. When a person makes commitments of this kind, the church takes them seriously. Help her fulfill what she has promised. Gregory

AD FORTUNATUM ET ANTHEMIUN. Slephanum, ut desponsale 8ibi monasterium ingress3 res ablatas res!ituat, hortentur. Si renual, indicent, ut reddere cogatur. Gregorius Fortunato episcopo, et Anthemio *® de- ſensori. Catellus prasentium lator nobis innotuit $ororem Snam, que Stephano cuidam fuerat desponsala, di- vinze propitiationis inslinctu Neapoli in monasteria ſuisse conversam, atque eumdem Stephanum Þ do- mum et rez ejus aliquas indebite detinere. At quia C decreta legalia (Caus. 27, q. 2, c. 28) desponsatam s| converli yoluerit nullo omnino © censuerunt «dam- no mulectari , fraternitas tua una cum Anthemio Subdiacono veritalem diligenti curiositale stndeat perscrutari. At si, ut edocti sumus, domum vel quid aliud suprascriptum Stephanum injuste tenere co- gnoscitis, eum adhortatio vevtra instanter admo- neat, ut quz indebite detinet sine FG aliqua mora vel altercatione restituat, ne rerum alienarum re- sLtilutionem Sub qualibet excusationis specie diſſe rat. Quem $i adhortationem vestram pegligere for- lasse cognoscitis, nobis tam hoc quam etiam qualitet $e causz verilas habeat, $subtiliter indicate ; quate- nus cognito negotii merito, aliter cogatur, 2quitale Suadenle, restiluere quod facere propria sponte ho- neslatis consideratione contemnit. Latorem verc przxsentium fraternitati tuz commendantes, hborta additur- per Campaniam. © Vatic. A, consueverunt damno multare, Quam I& ctionem probamus. Ms. 4 "O__ L SHR AY _£2S_A©7 OE St *- —_ 877 EPISTOLARUM LIB, VE. — INDICT. XV. — EPIST. XXV. | $78 mur ut enm ilflic moras pati hac pro caus2 diutivs A (atis Dei fuit, ut ex ore mulieris nuntfaretur vita, non permittas.