Letter 8050: A man named Felix has come to my attention.
AD JOANNEM EPISCUPUM SYRACUSANUM.
Felicem Christianis parentibus nalum a Samar@i
servitio liberet.
Gregorius Joanni episcopo Syracusano.
Felix prasentium portitor questus nobis est, cum
zit de Christianis natus parentibus , a quodam Chri-
ztiano, * Samarzo, quod dici scelus est, cs8e do-
natum. Et dum hujusmodi superstitionis homines
Christiana quolibet modo mancipia possidere nec
ratio legis, nec reverentia religionis admittat, se ta-
men per decem et octo annos in cjus asserit servitio
permansisse ; sed cognoscente hoc sanctz memoriz
decessore vestro Maximiano, ab eo se, zelo, sicut
decuit, sacerdotali commoto, de Samarzi servitio
nefario dicit liberatum. Sed quia ejusdem Samarzi
filivs post quinque annos ſactus dicitur Christianus ,
et supradictum Felicem in ejus servitium , quantum
ipse dicit, quidam nituntur redigere , sanclitas ve-
sira hec quz edocti sumus diligenter inquirat ; et si
ta ej esse consliterit, eum tweri sludeat. et a nullo
Sub qualibet occasione- gravari permiltat, quiz dum
vupersiitiosz seclze mancipia domings $uos ad fidem
przecedentia servitio corum aperlte redigi jura prohi-
beant, quanto magis hic de Christianis parentibus
natus, ect ſactus a parvulo Christianus,
debet quzstionem aliquo modo sustivere, maxime
quia nee palris ejus esse Servus poluit, quem liquet
ex prava polius presumplione penam posse venien-
tew de legibus susſinere ? Et ideo, sicut diximus,
ita eum ganclilaltis vestre deſensio rationahiliter
lwealur, ut vulli eum sub quolibet argumento $it ali-
quatenus aſſligendi licentia. (Cf{. Joan. Diac. l. iv,
n, 47, Vide lib, vi, ep. 55, indict. 14,)
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