for the first army of Italy a treasurer (sacellarium) to defray the daily expenses for recurring needs, so I also in this city am their treasurer for such purposes And yet this Church, which at one and the same time unceasingly expends so much on clergy, monasteries, the poor, the people, and in addition on the Lombards, lo it is still pressed down by the affliction of all the Churches, which groan much for this pride of one man, though they do not presume to say anything.

being disallowed by the Apostolic See, the most serene Lord gives me a somewhat distressing intimation, in that he has not rebuked him who is acting proudly, but endeavours to bend me from my purpose, who in this cause of defending the truth of the Gospels and Canons, of humility and rectitude; whereas my aforesaid brother and fellow-priest is acting against evangelical principles and also against the blessed Apostle Peter, and against all the churches, and against the ordinances of the Canons. But the Lord, in whose hands are Further, a bishop of the city of Salona has all things, is almighty; of Him it is written, been ordained without the knowledge of me There is no wisdom nor prudence nor counsel and my responsalis, and a thing has been done against the Lord (Prov. xxi. 30). And indeed which never happened under any former my often before mentioned most holy brother princes. When I heard of this, I at once sent endeavours to persuade my most serene Lord word to that prevaricator, who had been of many things: but well I know that all those irregularly ordained, that he must not presume prayers of his and all those tears will not allow by any means to celebrate the solemnities of my Lord to be in any thing cajoled by any one mass, unless we should have first ascertained against reason or his own soul. from our most serene Lords that they had ordered this to be done; and this I commanded him under pain of excommunication. And yet, scorning and despising me, supported by the audacity of certain secular persons, to whom he is said to give many bribes so as to impoverish his Church, he presumes up to this time to celebrate mass, and has refused to come to me according to the order of my Lords. Now I, obeying the injunction of their Piety, have from my heart forgiven this same Maximus, who had been ordained without my knowledge, his presumption in passing over me and my responsalis in his ordination, even as though he had been ordained with my authority. But his other wrong doings-to wit his bodily transgressions, which I have heard of, and his having been elected through bribery, and his having presumed to celebrate mass while excommunicated--these things, for the sake of God, I cannot pass over without en quiry. But I hope, and implore the Lord, that no fault may be found in him with respect to these things that are reported, and that his case may be term nated without peril to my soul. Nevertheless, before this has been ascertained, my most serene Lord, in the order that has been despatched, has enjoined me to receive him with honour when he comes. And it is a very serious thing that a man of whom so many things of such a nature are reported should be honoured before such things have been enquired into and sifted, as they ought in the first place to be. And, if the causes of the bishops who are committed to me are settled before my most pious Lords under the patronage of others, what shall I do, unhappy that I am, in this Church? But that my bishops de pise me, and have recourse to secular judges against me, I give thanks to

Still it is very distressing, and hard to be borne with patience, that my aforesaid brother and fellow-bishop, despising all others, should attempt to be called sole bishop. But in this pride of his what else is denoted than that the times of Antichrist are already near at hand? For in truth he is imitating him who, scorning social joy with the legions of angels, attempted to start up to a summit of singular eminence, saying, I will exalt my throne above the stars of heaven, I will sit upon the mount of the testament, in the sides of the North, and will ascend above the heights of the clouds, and I will be like the most High (Isai. xiv. 13). Wherefore I beseech you by Almighty God not to allow the times of your Piety to be polluted by the elation of one man, nor in any way to give any assent to so perverse a title, and that in this case your Piety may by no means despise me; since, though the sins of Gregory are so great that he ought to suffer such things, yet there are no sins of the Apostle Peter that he should deserve in your times to suffer thus. Wherefore again and again I beseech you by Almighty God that, as the princes your ancestors have sought the favour of the holy Apostle Peter, so you also take heed both to seek it for yourselves and to keep it, and that his honour among you be in no degree lessened on account of our sins who unworthily serve him, seeing that he is able both to be your helper now in all things and hereafter to remit your sins.

Moreover, it is now even seven years that we have been living in this city among the swords of the Lombards. How much is expended on them daily by this Church, that we may be able to live among them, is not to be told. But I briefly indicate that, as in the regions of Ravenna the Piety of my Lords has

Almighty God that I attribute it to my sins. This however I briefly intimate, because I am waiting for a little while; and, if he should long delay coming to me, I shall in no wise hesitate to exercise strict canonical discipline in his case. But I trust in Almighty God, that He will give long life to our most pious Lords, and order things for us under your hand, not according to our sins, but according to the gifts of His grace. These things, then, I suggest to my most tranquil lady, since I am not ignorant with how great zeal for rectitude the most pure conscience of her Serenity is moved.

EPISTLE XXIII.

TO CASTORIUS, NOTARY. Gregory to Castorius, &c.

EPISTLE XXV.

TO SEVERUS, BISHOP.

Gregory to Severus, Bishop of Ficulum. The report that has been sent to us has informed us of the death of the bishop John 5. Wherefore we solemnly delegate to thy Fraternity the work of the visitation of the bereaved Church: which work it becomes thee so to execute that no one may presume to interfere with respect to the promotions of the clergy, the revenues, ornaments, ministrations, or whatever else belongs to the patrimony of the same Church. According to custom.

EPISTLE XXVI.

TO THE PEOPLE OF RAVENNA. Gregory to the clergy, gentry, and common people of Ravenna 6.

usurped by any one. It is for you to render obedience to his assiduous exhortations. According to custom.

EPISTLE XXIX.

To VINCOMALUS, GUARDIAN (Defensorem) 7.
Gregory to Vincomalus, &c.

Our hearing of the death of our brother and fellow-bishop John 3 has greatly saddened us, especially as that city at this time has lost the Having been informed of the death of your solace of pastoral care. Wherefore, since very bishop, we have taken care to delegate to our many advantages to the Church itself demand brother and fellow-bishop Severus of Ficulum that, under the guidance of Christ, a priest the visitation of the bereaved Church, to whom should be ordained without delay, we accord- we have given in charge to allow nothing with ingly charge thy Experience to exhort the respect to the promotions of the clergy, the clergy and people with all urgency that they revenues, ornaments, and ministrations, to be delay not to elect for themselves a priest to be consecrated. This however, and before all things, we desire thee to press upon them, that in the general cause they regard not their own private interests. Let there be no venality, then, in this election, lest, while they covet rewards, they lose their discrimination of choice, and think that man worthy for this office who may have pleased them, not by his merits, but by his gifts. For let them especially and absolutely know this, that he is not only unworthy of the priesthood, but will also certainly become further culpable, whosoever may presume to make merchandise of the gift of God by thinking to purchase it for a price. Wherefore let not him that is liberal in bribes, but him that is worthy for his merits, be chosen. For the penalty will affect both the elected and the electors, if they attempt with sacrilegious mind to violate the purity of the priesthood. Moreover, whether one or two may have been elected, by all means warn five of the senior presbyters and five of the leading people to come to us together. But with respect to the clergy, if, besides those who determine to come, you are of opinion that the presence of any others is necessary, send them to us without delay, that there may be no plea of excuse, nor any delay ensue, in setting the Church in order. of Defensor Ecclesia. Cf. XI. 38. From IX. 62 it appears that

3 Viz. John, bishop of Ravenna, as to whom see III. 56, 57; V. 11, 15. Marinianus was elected in his place. See VI. 34, 61. 4 De præcedentibus. Al. de præcedentibus diaconibus.

With a view to the advantage of the Church it is our will and pleasure, that, if thou art held bound by no condition of, or liability to, bodily service, and hast not been a cleric of any other city, and if there is no canonical objection to thee, thou take the office of guardian of the Church, that thou mayest execute incorruptly and with alacrity whatever may be enjoined thee by us for the benefit of the poor, using this privilege which after deliberation we have conferred upon thee, so as to do thy diligence faithfully in accomplishing all that may be enjoined on thee by us, as having to render an account of thy doings under the judgment of our God. This epistle we have dictated, to be committed to writing, to Paterins, notary of our Church; In the month of March, Indiction 13.

5 Viz. John, bishop of Ravenna. See Ep. 23.
6 Cf. II. 6, note 3.

7 We have in this epistle the form of appointment to the office

the functions of the office had in some cases been usurped by persons not duly authorized, as it is there ordered that none should be recognized but such as possessed letters of appointment. The only duties of the office specified in this form of appointment have reference to the poor-pro pauperum commodis;" but it is evident from the many epistles addressed to defensores, that they had a much wider scope. See Prolegomena, p. vii.

EPISTLE XXX.

TO MAURICIUS AUGUSTUS.

Gregory to Mauricius, &c.

8

what sincere loyalty you love the most excellent Exarch, we have been careful to inform your Greatness of the things that have been done, that, being aware of them, you may move him to assent to them reasonably.

The Piety of my Lords, which has been wont mercifully to sustain your servants, has Know then that Agilulph, King of the shone forth here in so kind a supply that the Lombards, is not unwilling to conclude a need of all the feeble has been relieved by the general peace, if only the lord Patricius will succour of your bounty. On this account we consent to an arbitration. For he complains all with prayers and tears beseech Almighty that many acts of violence were committed God, who has moved the heart of your Cle in his regions during the time of peace. And mency to do this thing, that He would pre- since, if reasonable grounds for arbitration serve the empire of our Lords safe in His should be found, he desires to have satisunfailing love, and by the aid of His own faction made to himself, he also himself majesty extend their victories in all nations. promises to make satisfaction in all ways, The thirty pounds of gold which my fellow- if it should appear that any wrong was comservant Busa brought, Scribo has distributed mitted on his side during the peace. Since faithfully to priests, persons in need, and then it is no doubt reasonable to agree to others. And, since certain females devoted what he asks, there ought to be an arbitration, to a religious life (sanctimoniales fœmina) have that, if any wrongs have been done on either come to this city from divers provinces, having side, they may be adjusted; so that it may fled hither after captivity, of whom some, so be possible, with the protection of God, to far as there was room for them, have been establish a general peace; for how necessary placed in monasteries, but others, who could for us all this is you well know. Act therenot be taken in, lead a life of singular desti- fore wisely as you have been wont to do, that tution, it has been thought good that what the most excellent Exarch may consent to this could be spared from the relief of the blind, without delay, lest peace should appear to maimed and feeble should be distributed to be refused by him, as should not be. For, them, so that not only needy natives, but also should he be unwilling to consent, he indeed strangers who arrive here, might receive of the [Agilulph] again promises to conclude a special compassion of our Lords. Hence it has been peace with us; but we know that divers islands brought about that all alike with one accord and other places would undoubtedly in that pray for the life of our lords, that so Almighty case be ruined. However, let him [the Exarch] God may give you a long and quiet life, and consider these things, and hasten to make grant to the most happy offspring of your peace, to the end that at any rate during this Piety to flourish long in the Roman republic. cessation of hostilities we may have some The pay also of the soldiers has been so dis- degree of quiet, and the forces of the republic tributed by my aforesaid fellow-servant Scribo, may with the help of God be the better rein the presence also of the glorious Castus, paired for resistance. magister militum, that all received with thanks the gifts of our lords under due discipline, and abstained from all murmuring such as was formerly wont to prevail among them.

EPISTLE XXXVI.

TO SEVERUS, Scholasticus.
Gregory to Severus, Scholasticus to the
Exarch 9.

EPISTLE XXXIX.

TO ANASTASIUS, BISHOP '. Gregory to Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14), because that great river which once had left the rocks of Antioch dry has returned at length to its proper channel, and waters the subject valleys Those who assist judges and are bound to that are near, so as also to bring forth fruit, them by sincere attachment ought to advise some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, and some them and suggest to them what may both save an hundred-fold. For now there is no doubt their souls and not derogate from their reputa- that many flowers of souls are growing up tion. This being so, since we know with in its valleys, and that they will come even to ripe fruit through the streams of your tongue. Wherefore with voice of heart and mouth from our inmost soul we render due

8 Or Scribo may be the official designation of the officer commissioned to distribute the imperial bounty. Cf. 11.

note 7.

32,

9SCHOLASTICUS-Quivis eloquens, disertus, oratoriæ facultatis et politiaris literaturæ studiis eruditus.-Advocatus, patronus, qui causam in foro agit; sed proprie peritus, eloquens, disertus patronus (Cod. Theod)." [D'Arnis' Lexicon Manuale.] Severus may be concluded to have been the Exarch's legal adviser.

I suffer.

praise to Almighty God, and rejoice in your Amen. Grace. These words, as Blessedness, not with you only, but with all you see, taken from what you had written, who are subject to you. I have received the I insert in my epistles, that your Blessedness letters of your Holiness, to me most sweet may perceive with regard to Saint Ignatius and pleasant, while we ourselves, if I may so that he is not only yours, but also ours 2. speak, are sweating under the same toil with For, as we have his master, the Prince of the you. And indeed I know how heavy must apostles in common, so also no one of us be to thee the burden of external cares after ought to have to himself alone the disciple of those heights of rest, wherein with the hand this same Prince 3. Moreover, we have reof the heart thou wert touching heavenly ceived your blessing, which is of sweet smell secrets. But remember that thou rulest an and of a good savour, with the feelings that Apostolic See, and assuagest sorrow the more were due to it. And we give thanks to readily from being made all things to all men. Almighty God that what you do, what you In the Books of Kings, as your accomplished say, and what you give, is fragrant and savoury. Holiness knows, a certa n man is described For your life therefore let us say together, let who used either hand for the right hand us say all, Glory to God in the highest, and (1 Chron. xii. 2). And, with regard to this, on earth peace to men of good will.

I am not doubtful about the lord Anastasius, of old my most sweet and most holy patron, that, while he draws earthly works to heavenly profit, he turns the left hand to the right hand's use; so that his heavenly intentness may accomplish its work, so to speak, with the right hand, and also, when he is led in his care of temporal things towards the interests of justice, the left hand may acquire the strength of the right.

EPISTLE XL.

TO MAURICIUS AUGUSTUS.
Gregory to Mauricius, &c.

The Piety of my Lords in their most serene commands, while set on refuting me on certain matters, in sparing me has by no means spared me. For by the use therein of the term simplicity they politely call me silly. It is true And indeed these things cannot be without indeed that in Holy Scripture, when simplicity heavy labour and trouble. But let us remem- is spoken of in a good sense, it is often careber the labours of those who went before us; fully associated with prudence and uprightness. and what we endure will not be hard. For Hence it is written of the blessed Job, The We must through many tribulations enter into man was simple and upright (Job i. 1). And the kingdom of God (Acts xiv. 22). And, We the blessed Apostle Paul admonishes saying, were pressed out of measure, yea and above Be ye simple in evil and prudent in good strength, insomuch that we were weary even Rom. xvi. 19). And the Truth in person) of life. But we ourselves, too, had the answer admonishes saying, Be ye prudent as serpents, of death in ourselves, that we should not trust and simple as doves (Matth. x. 16); thus shewin ourselves (2 Cor. i. 8, 9). And yet The ing it to be very unprofitable if either prudence sufferings of this present time are not worthy should be wanting to simplicity, or simplicity to be compared with the supervening glory which to prudence. In order, then, to make His shall be revealed in us (Rom. viii. 18). How servants instructed for all things He desired then can we that are weak sheep pass without labour through the heat of this world wherein we know that even rains have suffered under heavy toil?

them to be both simple as doves, and prudent as serpents, that so both the cunning of the serpent might sharpen in them the simplicity of the dove, and the simplicity of the dove temper the cunning of the serpent.

Further, what tribulations I suffer in this land from the swords of the Lombards, from I therefore, who am denounced in the most the iniquities of judges, from the press of serene commands of my Lords as simple withbusiness, from the care of subjects, and also out the addition of prudence, as having been from bodily affliction, I am unable to express deceived by the cunning of Ariulph, am either by pen or tongue. Concerning which plainly and undoubtedly called silly; which things even though I might say something I also myself acknowledge to be the case. briefly, I hesitate, lest to your most holy For, though your Piety were silent, the facts Charity, while afflicted by your own tribulations, I should add mine also. But may Almighty God both in the abundance of His loving-kindness fill the mind of your most holy Blessedness with all comfort, and grant at some time, on account of your intercession, to unworthy me to rest from these evils which

held to be the genuine, epistles of St. Ignatius.

The expression is found in the spurious, but not in what are

3 For Gregory's view of Antioch having been St. Peter's see of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch jointly representing the ee of previously to his presiding over that of Rome, and of the sees the Prince of the Apostles, see especially VII. 40. Cf. also VI. 60; VIII. 2; X. 35. 4 Benedictio, meaning a present. See IV. 31, note 9.

cry out. For, if I had not been silly, I should by no means have come to endure what I suffer in this place among the swords of the Lombards. Moreover, in what I stated about Ariulph, that he was prepared with all his heart to come to terms with the republic, seeing that I am not believed, I am reproved also as having lied. But, although I am not a priest 5, I know it to be a grave injury to a priest that, being a servant of the truth, he should be believed to be deceitful. And I have been for some time aware that Nordulph is believed before me, and Leo before me, and that now easy credence is given to those who seem to be in your confidence more than to my assertions.

gods, constituted by the true God. Go, and settle your causes among you, for it is not fit that we should judge gods. Yet in this sentence, my pious Lord, he conferred more on himself by his humility than on them by the reverence paid to them. For before him there were pagan princes in the republic, who knew not the true God, but worshipped gods of wood and stone; and yet they paid the greatest honour to their priests. What wonder then if a Christian emperor should condescend to honour the priests of the true God, when pagan princes, as we have already said, knew how to bestow honour on priests who served gods of wood and stone?

when the commands of my Lords came in addition, I found consolations that I was not hoping for. For, if I can, I will briefly enumerate these blows.

These things, then, I suggest to the piety of And indeed if the captivity of my land were my Lords, not in my own behalf, but in behalf not increasing day by day, I would gladly pass of all priests. For I am a man that is a sinover in silence contempt and ridicule of my-ner. And, since I offend against Almighty God self. But this does afflict me exceedingly, incessantly every day, I surmise that it will be that from my bearing the charge of falsehood some amends for this at the tremendous judgit ensues also that Italy is daily led captive ment, that I am smitten incessantly every day under the yoke of the Lombards. And, while by blows. And I believe that you appease the my representations are in no wise believed, the same Almighty God all the more as you more strength of the enemy is increasing hugely. severely afflict me who serve Him badly. This however I suggest to my most pious For I had already received many blows, and Lord, that he would think anything that is bad of me, but, with regard to the advantage of the republic and the cause of the rescue of Italy, not easily lend his pious ears to any one, but believe facts rather than words. Moreover, let not our Lord, in virtue of his earthly power, too hastily disdain priests, but with excellent consideration, on account of Him whose servants they are, so rule over them as also to pay the reverence that is due to them. For in Holy Writ priests are sometimes called gods, and sometimes angels. For even through Moses it is said of him who is to be put upon his oath, Bring him unto the gods (Exod. xxii. 8); that is unto the priests. And again it is written, Thou shalt not revile the gods (Ib. 28), to wit, the priests. And the prophet says, The priest's lips shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth; for he is the angel of the Lord of hosts (Malach. ii. 7), Why, then, should it be strange if your Piety were to condescend to honour those to whom even God Himself in His word gives honour, calling them angels or gods?

First, that the peace which without any cost to the republic I had made with the Lombards who were in Tuscany was withdrawn from me. Then, the peace having been broken, the soldiers were removed from the Roman city. And some indeed were slain by the enemy, but others were placed at Narnii and Perusium (Perugia); and Rome was left, that Perusium might be held. After this a still heavier blow was the arrival of Agilulph, so that I saw with my own eyes Romans tied by the neck with ropes like dogs, to be taken to France for sale. And, because we who were within the city under the protection of God escaped his hands, a ground was thence sought for making us appear culpable; to wit, because corn ran short, which cannot by any means be kept in large quantities for long in this city; as I have shewn more fully in another representation. On my own account indeed I was in no wise disturbed, since I declare, my conscience

Ecclesiastical history also testifies that, when accusations in writing against bishops had beene ring me witness, that I was prepared to offered to the Prince Constantine of pious memory, he received indeed the bills of accusation, but, calling together the bishops who had been accused, he burnt before their eyes the bills which he had received, saying, Ye are

sutier any adversity whatever, so long as I came out of all these things with the safety of my soul. But for the glorious men, Gregory the præfect, and Castorius the military commander (magistro militum), I have been distressed in no small degree, seeing that they in no way neglected to do all that could be

5 This may be an ironical allusion to something the Empero done, and endured most severe toil in watching

had said in his letter to Gregory.