Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 822

Gregory to Pantaleo the notary. Your Experience is mindful of what and what kind of oath you took at the most sacred body of the blessed apostle Peter. Whence we too, secure of your discussion, committed to you the cause concerning the patrimony of the Syracusan district. It behooves you therefore always to have your faith and the fear of that same blessed apostle Peter before your eyes, and so to act that you may be reproached neither by men in the present life nor by almighty God at the last judgment. For from the account of Salerius our chartulary we have learned that you found the measure by which the tenant-farmers of the Church were compelled to give grain to be of twenty-five sextarii.

This we have thoroughly abhorred, and yet we were grieved that you conducted this same investigation so late. Since therefore you relate that you broke that same measure and made a just one, we rejoiced. But since the aforesaid chartulary was eager to make known to us also the sum which, concerning the frauds of the lessees, has already been collected before Your Experience from two territories—just as we rejoice that you diligently acted by breaking the unjust measure, because we look to our future—so also we think about past sins, lest, if those things which the lessees fraudulently took from the peasants come to us, the sins that were perpetrated by them be drawn upon us.

And therefore we desire that with all faith, all purity, with a considered fear of almighty God, calling to mind the strictness of the blessed apostle Peter, Your Experience should register through each estate the poor and needy tenant-farmers, and from those monies which have been found in the frauds, buy cows, sheep, and pigs, and distribute them to the individual poor tenant-farmers. This we wish you to do with the counsel of the most reverend man lord John the bishop, and of Hadrian our chartulary and rector. But if it be necessary on account of counsel, our son lord Julian too ought to be called in, in such a way that no one else may know of it, but it be altogether secret.

Do you therefore deliberate among yourselves whether this same allowance ought to be given to those poor tenant-farmers in gold or rather in money. But whatever be commonly agreed, first make the register, as I have said, and afterward be zealous to distribute to each according to the degree of his poverty. For I, as the Teacher of the Gentiles testifies, have all things and abound; nor do I seek monies, but a reward (Phil. iv). So then act, that on the day of judgment, concerning the cause of the reward which has been committed to Your Experience, you may show me the fruit which you shall have produced. And if you act purely, faithfully, and strenuously, both here you will receive that reward in your children, and afterward you will have full recompense at the examination of the eternal Judge.