Letter 6035: Gregory to Anthemius, our Neapolitan Sub-deacon. 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 you may yourself gather it from the greatness of the calamity. With regard to this state of things, we send your Experience by the magnificent Stephen, bea...
Pope Gregory the Great→Anthemius|c. 595 AD|gregory great
famine plagueproperty economicsslavery captivity
Slavery or captivity; Military conflict; Trade & commerce
Gregory to Anthemius, our subdeacon at Naples.
How great our grief is, and how deeply afflicted our heart by what has taken place in the regions of Campania, we cannot express — but you may judge it yourself from the magnitude of the disaster. In view of these circumstances, we are sending you by the distinguished Stephen, bearer of these presents, money for the relief of those who have been taken captive. We urge you to devote your full attention to this business and carry it out with energy. In the case of free persons whom you know to have insufficient means to pay for their own ransom, make haste to redeem them. Should there be any slaves, and you find that their masters are too poor to come forward to redeem them, do not hesitate to recover these as well. Similarly, take care to redeem the Church's own slaves who have been lost through your negligence.
Furthermore, for all those whom you shall have redeemed, take pains without fail to draw up a list recording their names, where each is staying, what he is doing, and where he came from. Bring this list with you when you return. Moreover, press forward in this business with such diligence that those who are to be redeemed incur no risk through any negligence of yours, and that you do not afterwards stand greatly at fault before us. Work also toward this: that, if possible, you may be able to ransom these captives at a reasonable price. Set down in writing, with full clarity and precision, the entire sum expended, and send us this written account without delay.
The month of May, the fourteenth indiction.
Book VI, Letter 35
To Anthemius, Subdeacon.
Gregory to Anthemius, our Neapolitan Sub-deacon.
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 you may yourself gather it from the greatness of the calamity. With regard to this state of things, we send your Experience by the magnificent Stephen, bearer of these presents, money for the succour of the captives who have been taken, admonishing you that thou give your whole attention to the business, and carry it out strenuously; and, in the case of freemen whom you know to have no sufficient means for their own redemption, that you make haste to redeem them. But, should there be any slaves, and you find that their masters are so poor that they cannot come forward to redeem them, hesitate not to recover them also. In like manner also you will take care to redeem the slaves of the Church who have been lost by your neglect. Further, whomsoever you shall have redeemed, you will by all means be at pains to make 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 you may bring with you when you come. Moreover, hasten to show yourself so diligent in this business that those who are to be redeemed may incur no risk through your negligence, or thou come afterwards to be highly culpable before us. But work especially for this also; that, if possible, you may 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 your written account with speed. The month of May, Indiction 14.
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Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360206035.htm>.
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Gregory to Anthemius, our subdeacon at Naples.
How great our grief is, and how deeply afflicted our heart by what has taken place in the regions of Campania, we cannot express — but you may judge it yourself from the magnitude of the disaster. In view of these circumstances, we are sending you by the distinguished Stephen, bearer of these presents, money for the relief of those who have been taken captive. We urge you to devote your full attention to this business and carry it out with energy. In the case of free persons whom you know to have insufficient means to pay for their own ransom, make haste to redeem them. Should there be any slaves, and you find that their masters are too poor to come forward to redeem them, do not hesitate to recover these as well. Similarly, take care to redeem the Church's own slaves who have been lost through your negligence.
Furthermore, for all those whom you shall have redeemed, take pains without fail to draw up a list recording their names, where each is staying, what he is doing, and where he came from. Bring this list with you when you return. Moreover, press forward in this business with such diligence that those who are to be redeemed incur no risk through any negligence of yours, and that you do not afterwards stand greatly at fault before us. Work also toward this: that, if possible, you may be able to ransom these captives at a reasonable price. Set down in writing, with full clarity and precision, the entire sum expended, and send us this written account without delay.
The month of May, the fourteenth indiction.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.