E05478: Pope Pelagius I, writing in Latin in Rome in 556, refers in two letters to a gift of relics of the Apostles *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008), and other *unnamed saints and martyrs (S00518), to King Childebert I of the Franks, via the bishop of Arles, Sapaudus.

Epistolae Arelatenses 48 (Pope Pelagius I to King Childebert, 'Rufinus vir', JK 942/JH 1895)

Letter from Pope Pelagius I to King Childebert, dated 11 December 556. Most of the letter is concerned with informing Childebert about the aftermath of the Second Council of Constantinople. At the end of the letter Pelagius adds the following:

... Reliquias vero tam beatorum apostolorum, quam sanctorum martyrum iam quidem per servos Dei monasterii Lyrenensis direximus; sed et nunc, quas legati vestri poposcerunt, nos misisse signamus, deputantes hominem Bonum subdiaconum ex clero ecclesiae nostrae, a quo usque ad fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum Sapaudum, iubente Domino, deferantur.

'We have already dispatched relics, both of the blessed apostles and of the holy martyrs, via the servants of God of the monastery of Lérins; but we now also affirm that we have sent those your ambassadors requested, entrusting them to the man Bonus, a subdeacon from the clergy of our church, by whom they may be brought, God willing, as far as our brother and fellow bishop Sapaudus.'


Epistolae Arelatenses 49 (Pope Pelagius I to Bishop Sapaudus of Arles, 'Quia legati', JK 943/JH 1896)

This is the opening of a letter from Pelagius to Bishops Sapaudus of Arles, dated 14 December 556.

DILECTISSIMO FRATRI SAPAUDO PELAGIUS.
Quia legati filii nostri gloriosissimi, regis Childeberti, beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli et aliorum sanctorum martyrum reliquias poposcerunt, necesse habuimus, hominem Bonum subdiaconum de clero nostro dirigere, qui eas usque ad fraternitatem tuam cum reverentia deportaret. Et ideo salutantes hortamur, ut, quęsita occasione sive navis, sive terreno cum talibus personis, de quibus nulla periculi possit esse suspicio, ad nos eum, iuvante Domino, remittatis. ...

'PELAGIUS TO HIS DEAREST BROTHER SAPAUDUS
Because the ambassadors of our most glorious son King Childebert requested relics of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and of other holy martyrs, we have held it necessary to send the man Bonus, a subdeacon of our clergy, who will carry them with reverence as far as Your Fraternity. And so, greeting you, we ask that, having sought an opportunity, you send him back to us, with God's help, either by ship or by land with such persons as to whom there can be no suspicion of danger. ...'

The letter goes on to deal with other matters.


Text: Gundlach 1892, 72-73. Translation and summary: David Lambert.