Letter 12020: I need a small but important favor.

To Maurentius, Master of Soldiers. [Summary heading:] That he should send his letter to Aroge concerning aid in conveying to the sea the beams [to be carried] by Sabinus the subdeacon. Gregory to Maurentius, Master of Soldiers. Because beams are needed in the Churches of the blessed Peter and Paul, we have by all means charged Sabinus the subdeacon to cut a number of them in our regions [of the Bruttii] and to drag them to the place from which they can be brought hither by sea. But since he does not rise to accomplish this by himself alone, we have written to Aroge that he should appoint the men who are under him, with their oxen, to go to his assistance, promising that, once the matter has been completed, we will send him a worthy gift. Let Your Glory therefore take care to forward our letter to him with speed by means of some urban person, a letter which is to convey to him what we have written, so that the aforesaid subdeacon may be able to learn his will. But if, the prosperity of a sailing having been found, he [Sabinus] has set out, let Your Glory make all things known to him [Aroge] through his own letters, so that he may know what he ought to do; and likewise inform us as well of what shall have been done. [...editorial apparatus omitted: footnotes from Baronius, manuscript notes, and column/page numbers, which are not part of the letter text...] LETTER XXI. To Aroge the Duke. [Summary heading:] That he should command Sabinus, who is dragging beams to the sea for the churches of the holy Peter and Paul, to be assisted; he promises a gift. Gregory to Aroge the Duke. Since we have confidence in Your Glory just as truly as in a son of ours, we are moved to ask certain things of you with assurance, judging that you will by no means allow us to be saddened, especially in such a matter whereby your soul will be able to be much helped. Now we make known that, on account of the churches of the blessed Peter and Paul, a number of beams are necessary to us; and therefore we have charged Sabinus our subdeacon to cut a number of them in the regions of the Bruttii, and that he ought to drag them as far as the sea, to a suitable place. And because in this matter he is in need of assistance, saluting Your Glory with fatherly charity, we ask that you appoint to your agents who are in that place, that the men who are under them, with their oxen, should furnish him their assistance, so that, with your help, he may be better able to accomplish what we have charged him. For we promise that, once the matter has been completed, we will send you a worthy gift, one that will not be burdensome. For we know how to consider [our own interests], and to respond to those of our sons who show good will. Wherefore again we ask, most glorious son, that you should so act, that both we may be able to be your debtors for the benefit bestowed, and you may have a reward on behalf of the churches of the saints.

AD MAURENTIUM MAGISTRUM MILITUM. Ad Arogem mittat epis!olam suam de juvando m vehendis ad mare (rabibus Savino subdiacono. D CGregorius Maurentio magistro militum. Proplerea quod in Ecclesiis beatorum Pelri et Pauli trabes sunt necessarie, omnino Sabino sub- diacono injunximus ut aliquantas *® de partibus nosiris Mss. epistolam hanc complectitur. Eeisr, XX [Al. 24]. — * Baronius, tom. VIII An- nal., ad an. 602, contendit legi debere Brutiorum , licet reclament omnia fere tam mss. quam edila exemplaria, nisi ſorte duo Mss. Voss. et Rhem. , quie legit Bricttorum. Sanior tamen videtur lectio Baro- nit, et favet conjectura. Quid enim Sahino subdia- cono regionario, Maurentio magistro militum haliz, et Arogi duci Beneventano, de quo epistola sequenti, comimu:1e cum Brilannis ? etc, Czterum Brutii ſuere olim !ialize populi contra Siciliam inter Lucaniam et 1231 SANCTI. GREGORIMM MACNI 4239 Brutiorum incidere et ad locum unde huc per mare A vestrum nobis post Deum adjutorium 8criptis deeur- duci possint trahere debeat. Sed quoniam golus hoc ſacere non assurgit, Arogi scripsimus ut homines qui sub eo sunt, cum bobus svis, in ejus deputet ire Solatiis, promittentes quia dum res perſecta ſucrit, diguum ei xenium transmiltemus. Gloria ergo vesira epistolam nostram ad eum 8ub urbana persona stu- deat 8vb celeritate transmittere, quz ei hoc quod scripsimus deferat, ut anledictus subdiaconus volun- tatem ipsius possit agnoscere. Si vero navigii pro- speritate inventa discesserit, cuncta ei gloria vesira 1193 per snas epistolas innotescat, ut sciatquid agere debeat, sed et nobis similiter quz acta ſuerint indicale. EPISTULA XXI. AD AROGEM DUCEM. Ut Savinum incizas pro ecclesiis sanctorum Petri et Pauli trabes ad mare trahentem juvari precipiat , zenium spondet. | Gregorius * Arogi duci. Quia sic de gloria vestra sicut revera de ſilio nostro confidimus, petere aliqua a vobis fiducialiter provo- camur , arbitrantes quod minime nos patiamini con- tristari, maxime in lali re unde anima vestra multom | Poterit adjuvari. Indicamus autem propter ecclesias beatorum Petri et Pauli aliquanitas nobis trabes ne- Ces8arias es8e ; et ideo Savino gubdiacono nostro in- junxzimus de partibus Brutiorum aliquantas incidere, et usque ad mare in locum aptum trabere debeat. Et quia in hae re $0latiis indiget, salulantes gloriam veslram paierna charitate, pelimus ut actionariis ve- tris, qui in illoloco sunt( deputetis, ut homines qui sub eis sunt cum bobus suis in ejus iransmitlere debeant golatium, quatenus, vobis concurrentibus , metius quod ei injunximus possit perſicere. Nos enim pro- mittimus quia dum res perſecta ſuerit, dignum vobis xenium, quod non sit injuriosum, transmiltemus. Nam scimu3 nos considerare, et fil:is nostris qui bo- nam voluntatem exhibent respondere. Unde iterum petimus, glorivsissime filj, ut ita ſacere debeatis, ut et nos vobis possimus esse przs1ito benelicio debitores, el vos mercedem pro 8anctorum ecclesiis babeatis.