To Fortunatus, Bishop of Naples, on Christian Slaves Bought by Jews

Gregory to Fortunatus, and so on. [a]

We have learned with what zeal your fraternity burns on behalf of the Christian slaves whom Jews buy from the lands of Gaul. We let you know that your concern has pleased us so much that it is also our own considered judgment that they should be forbidden this kind of trade. But we learn from Basilius the Hebrew, who has come here with other Jews, that various judges of the state order them to make such purchases, and that Christians along with pagans come to be acquired in this way. So the matter has had to be settled with such careful arrangement that neither those who give such orders are thwarted, nor those who say they obey them against their will bear any expense unjustly. [b]

So let your fraternity watch carefully and see that this rule is kept and observed. When the Jewish dealers return from that province, any Christian slaves they happen to bring with them are either to be handed over to those who gave the order, or at any rate sold to Christian buyers within forty days. And once this number of days is complete, let none of them remain in any way whatever in the hands of the Jews. But if any of these slaves should happen to fall so sick that they cannot be sold within the appointed days, care must be taken that, when they have recovered their former health, they are by all means disposed of as we have said. For it is not right that anyone should suffer loss for a transaction that is free of blame. But whenever anything new is ordained, it is usual to lay down the rule for the future in such a way as not to condemn the past with heavy costs. So if any slaves have remained in their hands from the previous year’s purchase, or have recently been taken from them by you, let them be free to dispose of them while they are with you. In this way they may not be made to suffer loss for what they did in ignorance before the ban, as it is right they should once they have been forbidden.

Further, it has been reported to us that this Basilius wants to hand over certain slaves, under the title of a gift, to his sons, who by the mercy of God are Christians. His aim is that, under cover of the opportunity this gives, the slaves may serve him as their master in all but name; and that if any of them afterward should happen to think they could flee to the church for refuge in order to become Christians, they might be claimed back, not to freedom, but to the ownership of those to whom they had earlier been given. In this matter it befits your fraternity to keep a proper watch. And if he does wish to give any slaves to his sons, so that every occasion for fraud may be removed, let them by all means become Christians, and let them not remain in his house. But when circumstances require that he should have their services, let them be told to give him what, in any case, it is fitting for his sons to supply to him for God’s sake. [c]