Letter 5035

Gregory to Cyprianus, deacon. It has come to our attention, through the report of Theodosius, abbot of the monastery of Saint Martin, that three monks whom he had sent to Sicily on business for his monastery have remained there and refused to return. He has petitioned us to have them recalled to his monastery with your assistance. Your Dilection, who knows well how zealously and fervently we concern ourselves with matters of this kind, should have a careful search made for them, and once found, have them sent back to the aforementioned abbot — to whom they have been disobedient — under suitable safeguard and discipline. Be attentive, therefore, that monastic discipline is not undermined either by any delay or by the negligence of those assigned to the task. As for the bearers of this letter, who have been sent by the aforementioned Abbot Theodosius to conduct the business of his monastery, we wish you to give them your ready support in all things, so that with your assistance they may properly carry out what has been entrusted to them. Furthermore, regarding the slaves [*mancipia*, property-bound laborers] belonging to that same monastery, which the abbot reports are being unlawfully held by men of our Church — you must investigate this matter thoroughly. And if you find it to be so, see to it that they are restored without any delay.

AD CYPRIANUM DIACONUM. Monachos tres ad monasterium 8ancti Martini cog'tt redire ; ſaveat ejusdem monasterii proeuratoribus ;- eidem reddat mancipia. Gregorius Cypriano diacono. Pervenit 'ad nos, insinuante Theodosio abbate monasterii sancti Martini, * tres se illic in Sicili: mo- nachos, quos pro ulilitate monasterii $uj transmise- ral, retinuisse, et peliit,a nobis ut cuin tno cos 81a. tio in $suum debeat monasterium revocare. Dilectio ergo tua, quz nos hnjusmodi causas zelari valde ſerventerque cognovit, eos sohicita faciat indagatione perquiri, et jinventos ad suprascriptum abbatem, cui contumaces exsUlerunt, sub competenti cautela atl- que districtione transmilti. Exto itaque 8ollicitus ne regularis districtio, vel dilatione aliqua, vel deputatorum remissione ledatur. Prasentium vero portitoribus, qui pro agendis ejus- dem monasterii utilitatibus a supradicto Theodo-io abbale noscuntur esse tran<missi, in omnibns te in- slanter volumus przbere solatia, quatenus, te con- currente, rationabiliter quz $ibi injuncta $unt valeant explicare. Mancipia autem ejusdem monasterii, que przedictus abbas ab hominibus Ecelesie nostra inde» bite perhibet detineri, necesse est le modis omnibus perscrutari. Et si ita repereris, sine aliqua ea facito dilatione restitui.