Letter 9057: **From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome

To Praiecta the Illustrious. He approves a settlement made between her and Fantinus the defensor [legal agent of the Church]. Gregory to Praiecta the Illustrious. As often as our assent is looked for in certain agreements, the arrangement, in order that the things which are transacted may not come into doubt, ought to be confirmed and made firm for the security of the parties. Therefore, since we know what has been agreed between your Affection and Fantinus our defensor and administrator of the patrimony of the district of Palermo concerning the portions belonging to you in Masgalena and Samauterium [estates], in the province of Sicily, in the territory of Palermo, and concerning a house situated in the city of Palermo, which you had some time ago offered to our Church under title of donation: we grant our assent in these matters, and we confirm, through this document of protection, all things just as they have been transacted between you; nor do we profess that any of these things shall be brought to nothing by us or by our successors, because it is greatly fitting to ecclesiastical moderation that those things which have been ordained or decided ought in no way to be opposed hereafter. To Martin the Scholastic. Having been informed by him only too lightly concerning the cases of the bishops, he says he cannot pronounce sentence. Let him deal with John, bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to Martin the Scholastic. Since a dispute arising from civil affairs, as is known to your Magnitude, requires a greater inquiry, let your Wisdom consider with how much care and with how much vigilance the cases of bishops ought to be scrutinized. Now in that letter which you sent through the bearer of the present letters, for which causes you have been referred to us by Crementius our brother and fellow bishop, you indicated the matters only on the surface, and you passed over their root entirely in silence. If the origin or the character of these matters had been more inwardly made plain to us, what ought to be determined concerning them we would assuredly confirm to the mind of our aforesaid brother by a clear and fitting response. Yet this displeased us altogether: that you signify that certain of the bishops have set out to court without the letters of their primate, or that they hold unlawful assemblies. But because, as we have said before, the origin or the character of the cases is entirely unknown to us, we cannot pronounce anything definitively, lest, which is exceedingly reprehensible, we should seem to deliver a sentence concerning matters not well known. Hence it would have been very necessary that your Magnitude, in order to give us the fullest instruction, in answer to our questions, should have come here at the time when it was delayed in Sicily. But nevertheless, after you saw John our brother and fellow bishop, we believe that in him we too have seen you. And therefore, because he too took pains to write to us concerning these same cases, we have written back to him the things which seemed good to us. Since he is a priest of mature and provident counsel, if you are willing to treat with him the cases for which he was sent, we are certain that in him you will find both what is useful and what is reasonable. (See Book 12, Letter 32.) I have received the writings of your Fraternity, in which you transmitted to us in the present letters [...] I undertook the things present, for which causes [...] you have indicated only on the surface, and have passed over their root entirely in silence. If the origin or character of these had been more inwardly made plain to us, what ought to be defined concerning them, we would surely confirm the mind of our aforesaid brother by a clear and fitting response. But seeing the contrarieties of men, we were unwilling to bring that same case to an end. Now, however, the same primate speaks of something concerning his own counsel. And it is very doubtful whether he speaks to us purely or rather, because he is being assailed by his fellow bishops, he now says such things to us; for as to what he says of himself, that he is subject to the apostolic see, if any fault is found in the bishops, I know not what bishop is not subject to it. But when fault does not require it, all are equal according to the principle of humility. Nevertheless, do what pleases your Fraternity: speak with the aforesaid most eloquent Martin. For do you discuss what he ought to do; to whom we have written back briefly concerning the case, because we ought not to trust ourselves indiscriminately to unknown men. If, however, you who behold him in person judge that something more fixed is to be said to him, this shall be of your Charity[...] [The following are editorial footnotes from the critical edition (Patrologia Latina, vol. LXXV), interleaved with the letter text in the source:] Letter LIV [alias 58]. Remigius: "Deo juvante valebitis" ["by God's help you will prevail"], which was previously read. This single codex from the Vatican collection contains the letter, which is also found in San Vittorino, but scarcely in any other. Letter LV [alias 59]. Here and below toward the end of the letter, "praeiudicium" is the same as detriment, damage, loss, inconvenience. In the same sense Gregory of Tours, Histories, Book 9, chapter 18: "And, sureties having been given and bonds subscribed, they promised that they would give [...] thousand solidi [...] in compensation." In nearly the same meaning the word is used by Cicero for his own house, and by Seneca in Book 3 of On Benefits, chapter 7. Letter [LVI, alias 60]. Vatican A: "quam debuerat" ["than he ought to have"]; likewise below, "et cunctis debitis," etc., for "a cunctis" in the editions. But "tulta" is an ancient barbarous word from "tollo," used for "sublata" ["taken away"]. Thus in Book 18 of the Morals, chapter 41, alias 16, where one reads: "But raised up from the earth, etc." Pope Zacharias also used this word, in Letter 11 to the bishops of the Franks, where, concerning Saint Benedict: "that he himself returns to his own tomb from which you were secretly taken away." I find it also in Anastasius, in the life of Hadrian, twice: "cities taken away." Gussanville. See Book 11 of the Morals, number 22, note f (Patrologia, vol. LXXV, col. 151, note e). Letter [CV, alias 61]. In two of the Tellerian codices, "vel praelecte"; Vatican A, "praefecte." Otherwise, in the editions: in the title "On pacts," Book 1, title 35, chapter 2, "that ratification ought to confirm a pact for security."

AD PRAJECTAM ILLUSTREM. Geala inler ipsam et Fantinum deſensorem approbat, Gregorius * Prxjectz illustri. Quolies in conventionibus quibusdam noster ex- Syeclatur As$Sensus, ne in dubium veniant > quz ge- runtur, © ratio ea-pro Securilate partium debet ha- bita 80lidare. Proiade cognoscentes quid inter dile- ctionem luam et Fantinum deſensorem nostrum ac . rectorem patrimonii partium Panormitanarum BJ convenerit de portionibus tibi competentibus ia 4 Masgalenas et Samauteria, in provincia Sicilia, territorio Panormitano, et domo in Panormitana civitate sita, quam Ecclesiz nosire dudum titulo donationis obluleras ; nostrum in his accommoda- mus as8ensum, atque omnia Sicuti inter vos gesta Sunt, per hujus tuitionis paginam confirmamus, nec Tow: LIV [Al. 58], — * Remig., Deo juvante va- D bitis, quod prius legebatur. Hic solus codex e Vati- Eeisr. LV. | Al. 59]. —* Hic et infra sub finem epi- Stole prejudicium idem est ac detrimentum, dam- num, incommodum. Editionibus. Tulta autem est vox antiqua barbara a tollo, pro sublata. Sic libro xvm Moralium, cap. 415, alias 16, ubi legitur : Sed de terra sublatus et. Hac etiam voce usvs esl Zacharias papa, epist. 15 ad epi- $copos Francorum, ubi de sancto Benedicto : Ipsum . ad suum reverti tumulum ex quo clam tultus es. Re- perio et apud Anastasium in Adriano bis, abstultas civitates. Gus8anv. Vide lib. 11 Moral., n. 22, no- lam f (Patrol, tom. LXXV, col. 151, nota e). Eersr. LVI [Al. 60]. — * Valic. A, quam debuerat: Ibid., infra, et cunctis debitis, etc., pro a cunctis de- canis eam continet epistolam, que etiam in San Victorino habetur, +ed vix in aliquo alio. Eodem sensu Gregorius Turon., lib. 1x Hist., c. 18: Et datis fidejussoribus, atque subscriptis cautionibus promizerunt se —_— millia solidorum. . . in compa- zitionem daturos. In eadem pene significatione uvur- patur a Cicerone pro domo $ua, et a Seneca lib. ut de Beneſiciis, C. 7. Eersr. CV [Al. 61]. — * In duobus Teller., vel preelecte. Valic. A, prefecte. Editis. Aliler extr. de pactis lib. 1, tit. 35, c. 2, ratihabitio ea debet pro securitate pactum 80lidare. SANCTI GREGORII MAGNI quidquam eorum a nobis Successoribusque nostris A Fraternitatis veare Scripta Suscepi, in quibus in- deduci in irritum prolilemur, quia valde Ecclesia- slicz est moderationi conveniens, ut que ordinala ſuerint * vel decisa, nulla in pusterum debeant re- ſragali i (Grat. 25, 9. 2, c. 12). cs STOLA Cn hy AD MARTIXUM SCHOLASTICUM. Se ab illo de episcoporum causis levixs insiructum 5en- tefitiam proſerre non posse. Agat cum Joanne Syrd cusano episcopo. Grezorius Martino Scholastico. Cum de negotiis © civitibus exorta causatio, ma- joris, ut magnitufin! 10x notum est, requisiionis indigeat, quanta cura, quantaque vigilafitia episco- porum caus#x debeant » perscrutati, sapientia tua consideret. Iti ca vero epistola quam per latorem dicastis Martinum virum * eloquentissimum 97G de Alricana provincia Syracusas venis8e, vobisque ali- quid secretum Jocutum ſuisse. Et quidem ſratcrvilas vesira, quoties occasionem reperit, amorem $uum erga beatum Petrum apostolum non cessat osten-« dere. Unde omnipotenti Deo gratias agimus, quia ubi illa et, nos illic absentes non invenimur. Cau- 8am tamen de qua agitur, necdum $anctitas vestra Sublilius agnovit. In quodam enim crimine Þ Byza- cenus primas fuerat accusatus, et piissimus impe- rator evm juxta $latula canonica per nos voluit judicari. Sed acceplis decem auri libris, tune Theo- dorus magister © militum obslitit ut minime fieret, Tamen piissimus imperator admonuit ut Lransmilte- pr:rsentiiim trarisinisiti, pro quibus ad nos causls a 3 Femus, et quidquid esset canonicum faceremus. Sed Crementio ſratr# et coeptscopo nostro transmissus "ſueris, $uperficie tenas indicasti, et earum radicem penitus tacuisti. Quarum $i nobis origo vel ſuisset qualitas interius maniſesta, quid de his definiendum esset, predicti ſratris nostri animos responsione utique paſenti ac congrua firmaremas. HNlad tamen nobis omnino displicuit quod aliquos episcoporum sine primatis 8vi epistolis © ad comitatum profectos esse, vel conventus significas illicitios celebrare. Sed quia, Sicut praſati samus, causarum origo vel qua- litas - omnino nobis ignota est, pronuntiare aliquid definitive 4 non possumus, ne, quod reprebensibile nimis est, de rebus non bene cognitis proſerre £sen- tentiam videamur. Unde valde necessariam fuerat videntes contrarietates hominuin, * eamdem causam ſinire noluimus. Nune autem idem primas aligua de consilio guo loquitur. Et valde dubium est virem pure an certe, quia a coepiscopis suis impetitur, nobis modo talia loquatur ; nam quod $e dicit sedi apestolice subjici, si qua culpa in episcopis inveni- tur, nesCcio quis ei episcopus subjectus non Sit. Cum vero culpa non exigit, omnes $ecundum rationent humilitatis zquales sunt. Tamen quod vesirz ſre- ternitati placet, cum pradicto eloquentissimo Mar- tino loquimini. Vos enim tractate quid agere debeat: cui nos de causa breviter rescripsimus, quia e@t ho- minibus incognitis passim nos credere non debemus. Si tamen vos qui eum in prasenti eonspicitis, ei lo- 8si buc pro plenissima ins(ructione nostra Magnitedo C quendum fixius aliquid judicatis, vesire hoc chari- twa, vosfris interrogationibus responsura, tempore quo in Sicilia dilala est, perrexisset. Sed tamen postquam fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum *® Joan - nem vidistis, in eo et nos vidisse vos credimus. Et ideo quia de eisdem nobis et ipse causis 8cribere $tuduit, ei que nobis sunt visa rescripsimus. Qui quoniam maturi providique consilii sacerdos esl, s| cum ips0 causas pro quibus missus est, tra- etare volueris, certi $umus quia in eo et quod utile et quod rationem habet javenies. (Vide lib x11, ep. 32).