Gregory to Peter, subdeacon of Sicily. Upon Romanus the defensor informing me, I have learned that the monastery of the handmaids of God which is on the estate of Monotheus has suffered violence from our Church of Villa Nova concerning an estate of its own right, which is said to have been left to that same monastery. If this is so, let your Experience both restore to them the estate, and restore the rents of that estate for the two indictions which you have exacted. And because many of the Jews dwell on the estates of the Church, I wish that, if any of them shall be willing to become Christians, somewhat of their rent be relaxed for them, so that, provoked by this benefit, others too may rise up with a like desire.
But as for the cows which are barren by reason of age, or the male oxen which appear altogether useless, they ought to be sold off, so that at least their price may increase toward some utility. But the herds of mares which we keep very unprofitably, I wish all to be disposed of, and only four hundred of the younger to be kept for breeding; of which four hundred, single ones ought to be granted to single lessees, so that from them they may render something each year, since it is very hard that we should expend sixty solidi on shepherds and not have sixty denarii from those same herds. So then let your Experience so act that some be divided among all the lessees, as we have said, and others be sold off and turned into money.
But settle those shepherds themselves upon holdings, so that from the cultivation of the land they may be able to bring some profit. But all the bronze goods which may be of ecclesiastical right, whether at Syracuse or at Palermo, ought to be sold off before they utterly perish by their very age. But when brother Cyriacus, the servant of God, came to Rome, I inquired of him carefully whether it was with your knowledge that he had spoken about accepting a bribe in the cause of a certain woman. And this same brother says, on your report, that he had thus come to know, that he had been sent by you, that he might test who would be a suborner for conferring a bribe.
Which I believed, and presently received him familiarly into favor, ordained him before the people and clergy, augmented his rank to that of the presbyterate, placed him in a higher place among the defensors, commending before all his fidelity, because he had thus faithfully conducted himself in your service; and for that reason I have sent him back speedily to you. But because you are greatly hastening, and I too, though ailing, desire to see you—whom you yourself have proved in all things—leave in your place in the Syracusan district, and yourself hasten to come to me, so that, if it shall please Almighty God, we may treat by common counsel whether he himself ought to return thither, or another be ordained there in your place.
But I have likewise sent Benenatus the notary, that in the Palermitan district he may himself preserve your place in the patrimony, until Almighty God shall ordain what may please Him. As for Romanus, I have vehemently rebuked him for his levity, because, as I have now found, in the hospice which he held he was occupied rather with his own advantages than with the incomes. And therefore, if perchance it shall seem good to you, leave him in your place. See how you may fortify him by frightening and admonishing, so that he may know how to act piously and carefully toward the country folk, and to show himself in all things changed and diligent toward strangers and townsmen. Yet I, in saying these things, choose no person, but leave this to your judgment.
But in the Palermitan district, it suffices me to have chosen a keeper of your place. And I wish to see what you shall have provided in the Syracusan district. But when you come, bring with you the moneys and ornaments from the portion or substance of Antoninus. Bring likewise the rents of the ninth and tenth indiction which you have exacted, and all the accounts together. Take pains, if it shall please God, that you cross over to this city before the birthday of blessed Cyprian, lest from that sign which in these days always threatens the sea, some peril (which God forbid) be able to befall. Furthermore, you should know that, because I set myself heavily against Pretiosus, the servant of God, not for a grave fault, and drove him from me sad and embittered, I am not lightly stung in my thought.
And I wrote to the lord bishop that he ought to send him, if he were willing; but he was utterly unwilling. Him I neither ought nor am able to sadden, because, being occupied in the causes of God, he ought to be sustained with consolation, not depressed with bitterness. But this same Pretiosus, as I hear, is altogether saddened that he does not return to me. Yet I, as I have said, cannot sadden the lord bishop, who is unwilling to release him, and between the two I remain in suspense. Do you therefore, since indeed you have in a small little body a greater wisdom, so dispose this same matter that both my will may be done and the lord bishop be not saddened. Yet if you see that he would be even slightly saddened, say nothing at all thereupon.
I took it hard, however, that he excommunicated the lord Eusebius, a man of such age and of such infirmity. Wherefore it is necessary that you say to this same lord bishop secretly, that in pronouncing sentences he be not precipitate, because causes which are to be decided by sentence must needs first be weighed with studious and most frequent consideration. (See letter 51.) When the scribones come, who, as I hear, are already levying recruits there, assign to the keeper of your place that he offer some little gift, so that he may render them favorable to himself. But also to the office of the praetor, before you come, grant something according to the ancient custom, yet by the hand of him whom you are leaving, that you may win for him their favor.
Lest we should appear altogether inhumane to them, those things which I have enjoined to your Experience to be given by precept to each several person or monastery, command to the keepers of your place that they fulfill in all respects. But when, with the Lord's aid, you come, we shall discuss how these matters are to be arranged. But the three hundred solidi which I directed to the poor through you, I do not think ought to be committed to their discretion. Let them therefore fulfill those things concerning the several places and turns. But before this time I remember having already written, that the legacies which by the tenor of Antoninus the defensor's will are owed by us to monasteries or others, according as was determined, should be paid. And I do not know why your Experience has delayed to fulfill this.
Accordingly we wish that, for our portion, out of the moneys of the Church you fulfill these same legacies, so that when you come to me, you leave not there behind you the groaning of the poor against you; but bring likewise the receipts which are found in the substance of the same Antoninus. But I have learned, on the report of Romanus, that the dying wife of Redemptus by bare words directed a certain silver shell to be sold and given to her freedmen, and left a silver dish to a certain monastery; in both of which we wish her will to be in all respects fulfilled, lest from the smallest things we should take on greater sins. And on brother Marinianus the abbot informing me, I have learned that the building in the praetorian monastery has not yet been brought even to the half.
On which account, what else should we do than praise the fervor of your Experience? But even now, being admonished, bestir yourself, and as much as you can, show yourself in the construction of that same monastery. I said that nothing should be given them in expenses, yet I did not forbid a monastery to be built from those funds. But so act, that to him whom you shall leave in your place at Palermo you in all ways enjoin, that from ecclesiastical expenses and provisions he build this same monastery, and that the complaint of the private abbot come not back to me. Furthermore I have learned that you know certain things, or several holdings of estates, to be of another's right, but that, on account of the adjuration or fear of certain persons, you dread to restore them to their owners. But if you were truly a Christian, you would dread the judgment of God more than the voices of men.
Take heed, because I too admonish you unceasingly on this matter. But if you neglect to fulfill it, you will have even my own words against you as testimony. But if you shall find among the laity men fearing God who ought to be tonsured, and to be made agents under a rector, I altogether willingly allow it. To whom it is necessary that letters also be transmitted. Concerning the cause of the son of Commissus the scholastic you consulted me, and the things which he demands back are not just according to the laws: we are unwilling to burden the advantage of the poor, but because he has wearied himself here, we wish you to give him fifty solidi, which it is certain are to be charged to your accounts.
But in the cause of Prochisus, whatever expenses you have made from the goods of the Church, either satisfy yourself there from the rent of his incomes, or if indeed those incomes by no means suffice for recompense, here it is necessary that this be received from the deacon. But concerning Gelasius the subdeacon presume to say nothing, because his crime needs the most grievous penance even to the end of his life. Furthermore you have transmitted to us one wretched nag and five good asses. That nag I cannot ride, because it is wretched; and those good ones I cannot ride, because they are asses. But we ask that, if you dispose to keep us in mind, you convey to us something worthy.
But to abbot Eusebius we wish you to give one hundred gold solidi, which it is certain are to be charged to your accounts. But we have learned that Sisinnius, who was judge of Samnium, labors under grievous want in Sicily, to whom we wish you to supply one hundred and twenty decimated measures of wine and four solidi yearly. But Anastasius, a religious man, is said to dwell near the Palermitan city in the oratory of Saint Agnes, to whom we wish six gold solidi to be given. But to the mother of Urbicus the provost we wish six solidi to be given, which shall be charged to your accounts. But concerning the cause of Honorata, a handmaid of God, this seems to me, that you bring with you all the substance which is established to have belonged, before the time of the episcopate of John, bishop of Laurinum.
But let the same handmaid of God come with her son, that we may speak with her, and may do what shall be pleasing to God. But the codex of the Heptateuch, from the substance of Antoninus, we wish to be given to the praetorian monastery, and the rest to be brought with you.