Moreover I have discovered that certain men of perverse mind in your parts have tried to insinuate that I am moved against Maximus by some grudge, and that I desire to carry out not what is canonical, but what anger dictates. But far, far be this from the priestly mind, that it should be moved in any cause by private animosity. But as for me, it is as taking thought for the people dwelling in those parts and for my own soul, and as fearing the judgment of Almighty God, that I wish to have the cause of this Maximus enquired into, and, God shewing me the way, to decide

But I have been greatly astonished that and altogether shun those whom the Apostolic among so many clergy and people of the See does not receive into the fellowship of its Church of Salona hardly two in sacred orders communion, lest any one should stand guilty have been found-to wit our brother and in the sight of the eternal Judge from that fellow-bishop Paulinus and my most beloved whereby he might have been saved. son Honoratus, archdeacon of the same Church-who refused to communicate with Maximus when he seized the priesthood, and who remembered that they were Christians. For you ought, most dear sons, to have considered your own orders, and recognized as rejected him whom the Apostolical See rejected, that he might first be purged. if he could be, from the charges brought against him, and that then your Love might communicate with him without being partakers in his liability. We however are bound to your Charity in the bowels of loving-kindness; and, since we have learnt that some of you were canonically. Now, inasmuch as I have written pressed by force to accept him and communicate with him, we implore Almighty God to absolve you from all guilt of your own sins and from all implication in the liability of others, and to give you the grace of His protection in the present life, and grant to us to rejoice for you in the eternal country.

EPISTLE XXVII.

TO THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE OF JADERA 6. Gregory to the presbyters, deacons, and clergy, nobles and people, dwelling at Jadera, and who have communicated with the prevaricator Maximus.

mus.

to him frequently that he was not to celebrate the sacred solemnities of mass until I had been able to obtain knowledge of his case, he would in any case be deprived of communion; and now his sin of pride is openly shewn from this,-that, having (as I have said) been often admonished to come to us, under various excuses he refuses, he shuns, he fears coming. What then is he afraid of, if his conscience that have been said? Since then you know does not accuse him with regard to the things these things, now that you can make no excuse on the plea of ignorance, I beseech, I exhort, I warn you, that you altogether refrain from fellowship with forbidden communion, and It has come to my knowledge that some that not one of you presume, against his own of you, deceived by ignorance or under com- soul, to communicate with any priest who pulsion, have communicated with those who, communicates with the above written Maxitheir fault as you know requiring it, have been deprived of communion by the Apostolic See, Since however I hear, as I have said before, but that others, with wholesome discretion, that some of you fell in ignorance, and that have under the Lord's protection abstained; some were even driven by force to communiand as much as I rejoice in those that have cate, I implore the Almighty Lord, that He been constant so much do I groan for those would keep with His perpetual protection, who have gone astray, since they have par- and answer with His wished for bounty, those taken of the mysteries of holy communion, who have given no assent to this iniquity; which have been granted to us by Divine and as to those whom either party spirit, or loving-kindness for absolution, rather to the ignorance, or any other cause soever, has detriment of their souls. And because (as I drawn into a fault, that He would absolve pray Almighty God to make known to you) them from all guilt of their sins, and from all I earnestly and from the bottom of my heart implication in the liability of others, and both sympathize with your Charity, I adjure and give them all the grace of His protection entreat you with fatherly affection, that every in the present life, and grant to me to rejoice one of you abstain from unlawful communion, for them in the eternal country. Wherefore, that this intercession may avail for you with God our Saviour, do ye shew obedience to our exhortations for the weal of your souls, and receive the holy communion from those whom ye know to have abstained, and to abstain still, from communion with the aforesaid Maximus.

6 See III. 47, note 2. Jadera was one of the sees in the province of Dalmatia of which Salona was the Metropolis. The ishop of Jadera, Sabinianus, had communicated with Maximus, and probably assisted in ordaming him, but afterwards repented. See below, VII. 17; VIII. 10, 24. It may have been because Gregory had heard that there was already a party in Jadera prepared to renounce Maximus that he wrote this letter to strengthen it.

EPISTLE XXIX.

To MARINIANUS, BISHOP.

tion ought to be made in a spirit of kindness that they be urged to come back to their duty. The month of April, Indict. 14.

EPISTLE XXX.
TO SECUNDUS.

Gregory to Secundus, servant of God at Ravenna 3.

Gregory to Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna7. We wonder why the discernment of thy Fraternity should have been so changed in a short time that it does not consider what it asks for. On this account we grieve, since thou affordest manifest proof that the words of evil counsellors have availed with thee more Now that Castorius 9 has returned and made than the study of divine lore has profited thee. known to us all that has been done between And, when thou oughtest to be protecting you and King Agilulph, we have taken care to monasteries, and with all thy power congre- send him back to you with all speed, lest any gating the religious therein so as to make gain one should find an excuse against us on the from the gathering together of souls, thou art ground of delay. Having learnt then from on the contrary desiring to exercise thyself in him all that is to be done, give the matter oppressing them, as thy letters testify; and, your earnest attention, and press in all ways what is worse, art trying to make us partakers for this peace to be arranged, since, as report in thy fault; to wit, in wishing, with our con- goes, there are some who are trying to hinder sent, to oppress the monastery which thy it. On this account make haste to act strenupredecessor founded under the name of looking after its property and business affairs.

ously, that your labour may not remain without effect. For both these parts and various islands are already placed in great danger.

For thou oughtest to call to mind that, in thy presence, and in the presence also of Stir up with such words as thou canst use sundry of thy presbyters, deacons, and clerics, our brother the bishop Marinianus': for I we granted, as they requested, a precept con- suspect that he has fallen asleep. For certain trary to the testament of thy predecessor. persons have come to me, among whom were Yet, though the disposition he had made with some aged mendicants, who were questioned regard to the monastery itself was still therein by me as to what they had received and from confirmed, thou now dissemblest this, and whom they had received it; and they told me demandest of us that we should order the particularly how much had been given them contrary. And indeed we know that this de- on their journey, and by whom it had been vice is not thine own; but, when thou refusest given. But, when I enquired of them what not to listen to those who say incongruous my aforesaid brother had given them, they things, thou injurest not only thine own reputa- replied that they had asked him, but had tion, but also souls. Since, then, I love thee received nothing at all from him; so that much, I urgently admonish thee--consider this attentively-that thou care not more for money than for souls. The former should be regarded collaterally; but the latter should be regarded with the whole bent of the mind, and venemently striven after. On this spend vigilantly thy labour and solicitude, since our Redeemer seeks from the priest's office not gold, but souls.

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 beFurther, it has reached our ears that monas- lieve reading and prayer alone to be enough teries which are constituted under thy Fra- for him, so that he should think to sit apart, ternity are oppressed by importunities and and nowise fructify with his hand; but let various annoyances from the clergy. That him have a liberal hand; let him succour this may no longer be so, restrain it by strict prohibition, to the end that the monks who live therein may be able to exult freely in the praises of our God.

With regard to the clerics Romanus and Dominicus, who presumed with rash daring to depart from this city without our blessing, though they were to have been stricken with heavier punishment, nevertheless such relaxa

7 Cf. above, VI. 1.

those who suffer need; let him believe the wants of others to be his own; since, if he has not these things, be bears but a bishop's empty name. I did indeed give him some admonitions about his soul in my letter; but he

rather than with the bishop of Ravenna, for reasons which appear 8 Gregory appears to have communicated with this Secundus, below, and to have employed him in negotiations with the Exarch for peace with the Lombards.

9 A Castorius is mentioned in Gregory's letter to the Emperor as having been the magister militum in command at Rome during its siege by Agilulph. This may be the same person. For his appointment to the see of Ravenna, cf. V. 48.

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 wordly 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, thy I ove 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.

EPISTLE XXXII.

TO FORTUNATUS, BISHOP. Gregory to Fortunatus, Bishop of Neapolis (Naples).

of freedom; since he (i.e. the master) is in such case understood to have acquired him not for sale but for his own service. Let, then, your Fraternity so vigilantly observe all these things that neither the supplication of any nor respect of persons may avail to inveigle you 2.

EPISTLE XXXIV.

TO CASTORIUS, NOTARY.

Gregory to Castorius, our notary at Ravenna. When Florentinus, deacon of the Church of Ravenna, treated with us in behalf of our most reverend brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus concerning the use of the pallium, on our asking him what was the ancient custom, he replied that the bishop of the Church of Ravenna used the pallium in all litanies 3. But that this was not so we both We have written before now to your Frater- learnt from others, and it appeared evidently nity that, if any [slaves] by the inspiration of from the letters of the former bishop John, God, desire to come from Jewish superstition which we shewed to him. But he said what to the Christian faith, their masters have no he had been ordered to say. For, at the time liberty to sell them, but that from the time of when this same John was inhibited by thee from their declaring their wish they have a full presuming to use the pallium out of order and claim to freedom. But since, so far as we unadvisedly, he wrote to us that the ancient have learnt, they [i.e. Jewish masters], weigh- custom had been this; that the bishop of that ing with nice discrimination neither our wish city should use the pallium in solemn litanies. nor the ordinances of the law, think that they We send thee, for thy information, copies of are not bound by this condition in the case of his letters. But when Adeodatus, deacon of pagan slaves, your Fraternity ought to attend the aforesaid Church, at the time when he was to such cases, and, if any one of their slaves, here, in like manner pressed ús strongly conwhether he be a Jew or a pagan, should wish cerning this use of the pallium, we, desiring to become a Christian, after his wish has been to ascertain the truth, in like manner had him openly declared, let not any one of the Jews, questioned as to what the custom was: and he, under cover of any device or argument what- that he might persuade us to believe him, and ever, have power to sell him; but let him who succeed in obtaining from us what he sought, desires to be converted to the Christian faith testified under oath that it had been the be in all ways supported by you in his claim ancient custom for the bishop of his city to to freedom. Lest, however, those who have use the pallium in four or five solemn litanies. to lose slaves of this kind shouid consider that Let therefore thy Experience look to the their interests are unreasonably prejudiced, it matter diligently, and enquire with all carefulis fitting that with careful consideration you ness how many solemn litanies there have should observe this rule ;—that if pagans when been from ancient times. Take care also to they have been brought out of foreign parts make enquiry by calling them, not the solemn, for the sake of traffic should chance to flee to but the greater litanies; that when, through what the Church, and say that they wish to become the aforesaid deacon Adeodatus, testified to us Christians, or even outside the Church should and what the letter of the aforesaid bishop announce this wish, then, till the end of three months during which a buyer to sell them to may be sought for, they [the Jewish owners] may receive their price; that is to say, from a Christian buyer. But if after the aforesaid three months any one of such slaves should declare his wish and desire to become a Christian, let not either any one afterwards dare to buy him, or his master, under colour of any occasion whatever, dare to sell him; but let him unreservedly attain to the benefit lium, see above, 111. 56, 57; V. 11, 15, and below, VI. 61.

John acknowledges, it shall appear how many of these solemn litanies there were, we, knowing how often the pallium used to be worn in litanies, may most willingly grant the privilege. But do not make this enquiry of those who are put forward by the ecclesiastics,

2 As to ownership by Jews of converted slaves, see Prolegom., p. xxi., and other Epistles there'referred to.

3 Marinianus had succeeded John as bishop of Ravenna For Gregory's dispute with John concerning the use of the pal

anus.

EPISTLE XXXV.

but of others whom you know to be impartial: sweetness, we have received at the hands of and whatever after careful investigation you Rogatianus the deacon, the bearer of these discover communicate to us with accuracy, presents. And their kind expressions rejoiced that having ascertained the truth, as we have us much, especially as we were informed said, we may relieve the mind of our brother through them of what we long to hear of, your and fellow-bishop, the most reverend Marini- welfare. But the devotion of your Holiness we have both known of old; and as you now write, so we hold it to be. For of what kind the sincerity of your Fraternity towards us is we need nothing to satisfy us, since we know it from the love of our own heart which encircles you. We have given to the above-named bearer, whom you commended to us by letter, writings addressed to the Rector of the patri mony of Sicily, bidding him urge the opposite party to do what is just, to the end that, idle excuses being put aside, the whole case in dispute may be speedily brought to an end.

To ANTHEMIUS, SUBDEACON. Gregory to Anthemius, our Neapolitan Subdeacon 4.

How great is our grief, and how great the affliction of our heart, from what has taken place in the regions of Campania we cannot express; but thou mayest thyself gather it from the greatness of the calamity. With regard to this state of things, we send thy Experience We now inform your Holiness that a certain by the magnificent Stephen, bearer of these man has come to us, Peter by name, who presents, money for the succour of the asserted that he was a bishop, and requested captives who have been taken, admonishing from us a remedy of his complaint. And at thee that thou give thy whole attention to the first indeed he related things that might have business, and carry it out strenuously; and, in been deserving of pity; but on enquiry we the case of freemen whom thou knowest to found things to be very different from what he have no sufficient means for their own redemptold us, and his behaviour has exceedingly tion, that thou make haste to redeem them. distressed us. But, inasmuch as, separated as But, should there be any slaves, and thou we are by so great a distance, we could by findest that their masters are so poor that they no means learn thoroughly the gist of his ca e, cannot come forward to redeem them, hesitate we have been unable to determine it, being in not to recover them also. In like manner also doubt. But now, seeing that the aforesaid thou wilt take care to redeem the slaves of the deacon, who is returning to you, has asked Church who have been lost by thy neglect. that this person should be allowed to go with Further, whomsoever thou shalt have redeemed, him, and he himself has requested to be sent thou wilt by all means be at pains to make to you, both of them knowing that your out a list, containing their names, and a statement of where each is staying, and what he is doing, and where he came from; which list thou mayest bring with thee when thou comest. Moreover, hasten to shew thyself so diligent in this business that those who are to be redeemed may incur no risk through thy negligence, or thou come afterwards to be highly culpable before us. But work especially for this also; that, if possible, thou mayest be able to recover those captives at a moderate price. But set down in writing, with all clearness and nicety, the whole sum expended, and transmit to us this thy written account with speed. The month of May, Indiction 14.

Holiness has, as becomes you, zeal for the faith and a love of justice, the proposal has been acceptable to us, and we have granted what they asked. Since, then, you being on the spot can ascertain the merits of the case more thoroughly, we exhort you so to observe what is just and canonical towards the same Peter that both the requirements of rectitude may be fulfilled by you in all respects, and his case may be seen to have been judged after the fear of God and the rules of the Church. But, if any one is said to have been privy to, or a partaker in, the things which the aforesaid Peter is accused of, accurate enquiry must be made, and, when the truth is known, judgment in like manner pronounced canonically.

Fanthermore, a thing altogether hard to be borne, and hostile to the right faith, has come awful to be told) and religious persons (which to our ears; namely that catholics (which is is worse) consent to their children and their slaves, or others whom they have in their

Religiosi. See I. 61, note 7.

EPISTLE XLIV.

power, being baptized in the heresy of the God forbid) you are at variance with your Donatists. And so, if this is true, let your priest? Wherefore, putting away swelling of Fraternity study with all your power to correct spirit, try ye so to transact the causes that it, to the end that the purity of the faith may ye have one with another that both charity through your solicitude stand inviolate, and may remain inviolate, and what is to your innocent souls who might be saved by catholic mutual advantage may be peaceably attained. baptisin perish not from the infection of heretics. Whosoever, then, of the persons above mentioned has suffered any one belonging to him to be baptized among the Donatists, study with all your power, and with all urgency, to recall such to the catholic faith. But, if any one of such persons should under any pretext endure the doing of this thing in the case of such as are his in future, let him be cut off entirely from the communion of the clergy.

EPISTLE XLIII.

TO VENANTIUS, PATRICIAN.

TO JOHN, BISHOP.

Gregory to John, Bishop of Syracuse 3.

Although there may have been cause to provoke the spirit of your Fraternity not unreasonably to anger, so that you would neither receive the offerings of the lord Venantius nor allow the sacred solemnities of mass to be celebrated in his house, yet, inasmuch as our earthly interests should be prosecuted in such a manner that no quarrel may avail to sever us from the bond of charity, we therefore exhort

Gregory to Venantius, Patrician, and Ex- your Holiness, as we have already written, monk 7.

that you should both receive the offerings of the aforesaid man with all sweetness and Godpleasing sincerity, and allow the mysteries of the mass to be performed in his house; and that, as we have written, you should, if perchance he should wish it, go there in person, and by celebrating mass with him renew your former friendly feeling. For it is your duty to bestow priestly affection on sons, though still, in causes that may arise, by no means to pretermit, as reason approves, the jurisdiction of your Church. Wherefore, considering this, it is necessary that your Fraternity should try so to demean yourself with discreet moderation. with respect to these matters as both to transact advantageously what the nature of the business requires, and not to recede from the grace of paternal charity.

Your communication to us has found us much distressed from having become aware that offence has arisen between you and John our brother and fellow-bishop, in whose agreement with you we were desirous of rejoicing. For, whatever the cause may have been, rage ought not to have broken out to such a pitch that your armed men, as we have heard, should have burst into the episcopal palace, and committed divers evil deeds in a hostile manner, and that this affair should meanwhile separate you from his paternal charity. Could not the dispute, whatever it may have been, have been quietly arranged, so that neither party might suffer disadvantage, nor good feeling be disturbed? Now it is not unknown to us of what gravity, of what holiness, of what gentleness, our above-named brother is. Whence we gather that, unless excessive force of vexation had compelled him, his Fraternity would by no means have resorted to the measure by which you say that you are aggrieved. We however, on hearing of it by letter from him, We wonder at your Fraternity, that, disat once wrote to him, admonishing him to regarding the tenor of the precept given you receive your offerings as before, and not only by our predecessor of holy memory, you should to allow masses to be celebrated in your house, consecrate the monastery constructed by John, but, if you wish it, even to officiate himself, the bearer of these presents, otherwise than and that he ought to have prosecuted his as ancient use demands. For, while it is cause without breach of charity. And, inas-ordered among other things in the said precept much as we wish none to come or continue to that you should dedicate the place itself withbe at variance, we have taken care to renew out a public mass, still, as we have heard, your this same admonition. Hence it is necessary, chair has been placed there, and the sacred dearest son, that you, as becomes sons, should solemnities of mass are there publicly celeshew him the reverence due to a priest, and brated. If this is true, we hereby exhort you not provoke his spirit to anger. For with that, putting aside all excuse, you cause your whom will you have assured goodwill, it (which)

7 Cí. 1. 34, note 8.

EPISTLE XLVI.

TO FELIX, BISHOP OF PISAURUM (Pesaro)..
Gregory to Felix, Bishop, &c.

8 Cf. preceding Epistle. John, previously archdeacon of Catana, had been elected in the previous year (594) with Gregory's approval as the successor of Maximianus of Syracuse (V. 17), and had recently had the pallium sent him (VI. 18.)