Epistle XVIII.
To Agnellus, Bishop of Terracina.
Gregory to Agnellus, &c.
It has come to our ears—a thing shocking to
be told—that some in your parts worship trees, and perpetrate
many other unlawful things contrary to the Christian faith. And
we wonder why your Fraternity has delayed correcting this by strict
punishment. On this account we exhort you by this present writing
to cause these persons to be sought out by diligent enquiry, and such
vengeance to be executed on them that both
may be pacified and their punishment may be an example of rebuke to
others.
We have written also to Maurus the Viscount that he
should afford aid to your Fraternity in this matter, that so you may be
unable to find
any excuse for
not apprehending them. Further, as we find that many excuse
themselves from keeping watch over the walls, let your Fraternity be
careful to suffer no man, either under the name of our or your Church, or under any other pretext, to be exempted from keeping watch: but let all generally be compelled, to the end that, while all keep watch, the custody of the city may, by the help of the , be the better provided for.