The Book of the Popes is a series of biographies beginning with Peter and continuing down to the fiteenth century. The earliest part seems to have been compiled in the first half of the sixth century.
| (xxviii) Eodem tempore fecit Constantinus Augustus basilicam in civitate Hostia, iuxta portum urbis Romae, beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli et Iohannis Baptistae, ubi et dona obtulit haec: patenam argentam, pens.lib. XXX; calices argentos X, pens.sing.lib. II; amas argenteas II, pens.sing.lib. X; fara cantara argentea XXX, pens.sing.lib. quinas; scyphos argenteos II, pens.sing.lib. VIII; patenam argenteam chrismalem singularem, pens.lib. X; pelvem ex argento ad baptismum, pens.lib. XX; insulam quae dicitur Assis, quod est inter Portum et Hostia; possessiones omnes maritimas usque ad Digitum Solis, praest.sol. DCLV; possessio Grecorum, in territurio Ardeatino, praest.sol. LXXX; possessio Quirinis, territurio Hostense, praest.sol. CCCXI; possessio Balneolum, territurio Hostense, praest.sol. XLII; possessio Nymfulas, praest.sol. XXX. |
Then the emperor Constantine built in the city of Ostia close to Portus Romanus the basilica of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul and of John the Baptist, where he presented the following gifts: a silver paten [the plate for holding the eucharistic bread] weighing 30 lb; 10 silver chalices each weighing 2 lb; 2 silver amae [vessels to receive the wine] each weighing 10 lb; 30 silver chandeliers each weighing 5 lb; 2 silver scyphi each weighing 8 lb; a single silver chrism-paten [the dish containing the oil of chrism] weighing 10 lb; a silver basin for baptism, weighing 20 lb; the island called Assis between Portus and Ostia; all the coastal properties as far as Digitus Solis, revenue 300 solidi; the property of the Greeks, territory of Ardea, revenue 80 solidi; the property Quiriti, territory of Ostia, revenue 311 solidi; the property Balneolum, territory of Ostia, revenue 42 solidi; the property Nymfulas, revenue 30 solidi. |
| (xxix) Item dona quae obtulit Galicanus basilicae suprascriptae sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli et Iohannis Baptistae; obtulit hoc: coronam argenteam cum delfinos, pens.lib. XX; calicem argenteum anaglyfum, pens.lib XV; amam argenteam, pens.lib. XVIII; massam territurio Sabinense Mallianum, praest.sol. CXV et tremissium; fundum Picturas, territurio Velliterno, praest.sol. XLIII; fundum Surorum, via Claudia, territurio Vegentano, praest.sol. LVI; massa Gargiliana, territurio Suessano, praest.sol. DCLV. |
Also what Gallicanus presented to the above basilica of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and of John the Baptist; he presented the following: a silver crown with dolphins, weighing 20 lb; a silver chalice decorated in relief, weighing 15 lb; a silver ama weighing 18 lb; the estate Mallianum, Sabine territory, revenue 115 solidi, 1 tremiss [one third of a solidus]; the farm Picturas, territory of Velitrae, revenue 43 solidi; the farm of the Suri on the Via Claudia, territory of Veii, revenue 56 solidi; the estate Gargiliana, territory of Suessa, revenue 655 solidi. |
| (i) Hic constituit ut episcopus Hostiae qui consecrat episcopum palleum uteretur et ab eodem episcopus urbis Romae consecraretur. | He decreed that the bishop of Ostia, who consecrates the bishop, should use the pallium, and that the bishop of Rome should be consecrated by him. |
| Pelagius, natione Romanus, ex patre Iohanno vicariano, sedit ann. XI mens X dies XVIII. Et dum non essent episcopi qui eum ordinarent, inventi sunt duo episcopi, Iohannis de Perusia et Bonnus de Ferentino et Andreas presbiter de Hostis et ordinaverunt eum pontificem. | Pelagius, born in Rome, son of the vicarianus John, held the see 11 years, 10 months, 18 days. Since there were no bishops who would ordain him, two bishops were found, John of Perusia and Bonus of Ferentinum, and Andrew a priest from Ostia; these ordained him pontiff. |
| (iii) Hic consecratus est a tribus episcopis, Hostense, Portuense et Belliternense, sicuti prodecessor eius Leo Papa. | Like his predecessor pope Leo, he was consecrated by three bishops, those of Ostia, Portus and Velitrae. |
| Hic basilicam sanctae Aureae in Hostis, quae similiter fuerat distecta vel disrupta, cooperuit suoque studio renovavit. | The basilica of St Aurea at Ostia had also been roofless and damaged; he roofed it and attentively renovated it. |
| Hisdem temporibus misit suprafatus imperator ad Constantinum pontificem sacrum per quam iussit eum ad regiam ascendere urbem. Qui sanctissimus vir iussis imperatoris obtemperans ilico navigia fecit parari, quatenus iter adgrederetur marinum. Et egressu a porto Romano die V mens. Octob., indictione VIIII, secuti sunt eum Nicetas episcopus de Silva Candida, Georgius episcopus Portuensis, ... | At that time the emperor sent the pontiff Constantine a mandate in which he bade him go up to the imperial city. In obedience to the emperor's commands the holy man immediately had a fleet prepared to tackle the journey by sea. He left Portus Romanus on the 5th day of October in the ninth indiction [710 AD]; in his retinue were Nicetas bishop of Silva Candida, George bishop of Portus, ... |
| Alias vero tres domocultas, videlicet Galeria, posita via Aurelia, miliario ab urbe Roma plus minus decimo, ad sanctam Rufinam, cum fundis et casalibus, vineis, olivetis, aquimolis vel omnibus ei pertinentibus. Reliquas vero duas, id est aliam Galeriam posita via Portuense, miliario ab urbe Roma plus minus duodecimo, cum fundis et casalibus, vineis, aquimolis, seu monasterio beati Laurentii, posito in insula Portus Romani, cum vineis ei pertinentibus, simulque et lecticaria qui vocatur Asprula. | The other three domuscultae are: Galeria, on the Via Aurelia at St Rufina about 10 miles from Rome, with farms and homesteads, vineyards, olive-groves, watermills and everything pertaining to it. The other two are: the other Galeria, on the Via Portuensis about 12 miles from Rome, with farms and homesteads, vineyards, watermills and St Lawrence's monastery on the island of Porto Romano, with vineyards pertaining to it and the lettuce farm called Asprula. |
| Et quoniam huius sacratissimi patris ac papae temporibus impia atque nefaria et Deo odibilis Aggarenorum gens a finibus suis consurgens pene omnes insulas et omnium regiones terrarum circuiens, depraedationes hominum et locorum desolationes atrociter faciebat et usque actenus facere nullatenus cessat; de quibus quoque insolitis atque cavendis periculis misericordissimus praesul magnum habens timorem ne populus a Deo sibi et beato Petro commissus apostolo, qui in Portuensi vel Hostiensem civitatibus habitabant a Sarracenis nefandissimis tribulationibus ac depraedationis sentirent iacturam, intimo trahens ex corde suspiria, coepit prudenter exquirere quo modo civitate Hosti adiuvaret et liberare potuisset. In cuius statim omnipotens Deus hoc dedit in corde consilium ut civitatem ibidem, si populum salvare vellet, a fundamentis noviter construere debuisset; quoniam ea quae priori tempore aedificata fuerat longo quassata senio, tota nunc videtur esse diruta. Fecit autem, iuxta quod ei fuerat divinitus inspiratum, in praedicta civitate Hostensi civitatem aliam a solo valde fortissimam, muris quoque altioribus, portis simul ac serris et cataractibus eam undique permunivit, et super, at inimicos, si evenerit, expugnandos, petrarias nobili arte composuit. Et a foris non longe ab eisdem muris ipsam civitatem altiori fossato praecinxit, ne facilius muros hostis contingere voleat. Quando autem saepedicta civitas novae fabricae initium meruit, ipse ibidem sanctissimus papa, per se multis residens diebus, partem quadam murorum non modicam cum suis hominibus, quasi in sorte percipiens, a fundamentis erexit. De qua, donec, Deo prosperante, crebro dicta civitate ad legitimam totius fabrice finem perducta est, multos exinde labores in suo sancto pectore vel certamina indifferenter sustinuit. Cui etiam a noviter civitati constructae hoc nomen in sempiternum statuit ermanendum scilicet ut ab hominibus, sive Romanis sive aliis nationibus, a proprio quod ei erat nomine, id est Gregorio, Gregoriopoli vocitetur; et revera nec inmerito, hoc a conditoris sui nomine vocabulum sumpsit. Quia quodnullum legimus fecisse pontificem, iste, Dei omnipotentis auxilio simulque virtutem munitus, pro popoli ac liberatione patriae, ante iam nominatum opus mirabili decore et fabricae construxit atque composuit ... Post haec namque omnia ipse venerabilis pontifex in curte quae cognominatur Draconis domum satis dignam, undique porticibus ac solariis circumdatam a solo noviter fieri statuit; inqua tam ipse quamque etiam futuri pontifices cum omnibus qui eis obsequentur, quamdie eis placuerit, ibidem statiose immorare valebunt. Fecit autem similiter et incurte alia, quae Galeria vocitatur, domum aliam, largam ac spatiosam satisque praecipuam, ad opus atque utilitatem pontificum, ubi, quotiens oportunum fieri, cum omnibus qui eis famulantur amplissime hospitentus. | In this holy father and pope's time the ungodly, wicked and God-hated race of the Agareni were rising up from their own territory and compassing nearly every island and mainland district, and atrociously causing - and are still to the present day never ceasing to cause - the looting of men and the devastation of places. So, in view of these unaccustomed and alarming perils, the merciful prelate was much afraid that the people committed to him by God and St Peter dwelling in the cities of Porto and Ostia would feel the detriment of trouble and looting at the hands of the wicked Saracens; and he drew sighs from his inmost heart and wisely began to find out how he could assist and deliver the city of Ostia. Straightway almighty God put this scheme into his heart: if he wanted to save the people, he had to construct the city there anew from its foundations, since what had been built aforetime was now shaken by old age and wholly destroyed. In pursuit of what God had inspired in him he built from the ground at this city of Ostia a second very solid city; he fortified it all round with higher walls, and with gates and crenellations and trap-doors, and on top he arranged catapults with noble artfulness to fight off the enemy if necessary. On the outside, not far from these walls, he encircled the city with a deeper ditch, to stop the enemy reaching the walls too easily. When the work of new construction on this city was due to start, the holy pope resided there many days himself and with his men he erected no small part of the walls from their foundations, practically taking his allotted turn. From then on, without distinction, he endured in his sacred breast much effort and struggle, until with God prospering it this city was brought to the correct completion of all its building. For this newly constructed city he laid down this name that should endure for ever - Gregoriopolis; all men whether of Roman or of other birth should call it this after his own name Gregory. And it truly deserved to take this title from its founder's name; for with almighty God's help and strengthened by his power he did what we read that no other pontiff has done: he built and designed this work with wondrous beauty and construction for the deliverance of the people and of the fatherland ... After this this venerable pontiff decreed that a suitably worthy house surrounded on all sides with porticoes and galleries be newly built from the ground in the manor surnamed Draco's; in this, both he and also future pontiffs with all their retinues will be able to stay in residence as long as they are pleased to do so. In another manor called Galeria he built another house, large and spacious and suitably distinguished, for the need and requirement of pontiffs where they may spaciously lodge with all their servants whenever convenient. |
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[XLIV] Huius praefati pontificis tempore, cum ista ita gererentur Adelvertus comes, vir strenuus, hic cum esset marcensis et tutor Corsicanae insulae, cognita necessitate reipublicae, misit epistolam Romae, continentem quod multitudo gentis Sarracenorum ad XI milia properantes venirent cum navibus LXXIII, ubi inessent equi D, et quod se dicerent Romam properare; et ut certarent liberare beati Petri apostoli et Pauli thesauros ecclesiarum, et, si fieri potuisset, ipsorum apostolorum corpora intro inferrent Roma, ne de tanta salute tra gens nefandissima paganorum exultare potuisset. Quae missa est X die mens. augusti. Quod leviter et quasi parvipendenfes susceperunt, propter mutabilem et inefficacem praedictorum potestatem, quoniam et apud omnes tam inopinata res incredibile fieri posse arbitrabantur. Tamen prudentiores Romanorum consilio inito miserunt missos et epistolas ad subiectas civitates et adiacentiis eorum, simul cum epistola quam Adelvertus miserat, ut omnes hostiliter festinantes venirent ad maritima litoralia custodienda. Qui iussa contemnentes noluerunt venire, nisi perpauci ex aliquibus civitatibus qui sub more interrogandi venerunt. [XLV] Transacto vero duodecim dierum spatio, die mensis augusti XXIII, feria II, indict. VIIII, pervenerunt ipsi nefan dissimi Sarraceni ad littus Romanum, iuxta civitate quae dicitur Hostia. Et exeuntes venerunt ad praedictam urbem, quam illi habitatores obstruserunt et effugerant, et caeperunt eam. Tunc vero caeperunt exploratores cum aliis illorum gyrantes circuire et invadentes quicquid invenire poterant. Pervenientes namque ad civitatem quae vocatur Portus, quae iuxta erat, invenerunt eam ab habitatoribus derelictam; et subreptis inde victualibus et ea quae necessaria habebant, secunda et tertia feria Hostiam revertebantur. [XLVI] Cognitis autem ista Romanis, consilium visum est eis ut mitterentur Saxi et Frisones et schola quae dicitur Francorum ad Portum. Qui venientes illuc feria II et illic vigilantes illam noctem, in crastina vero, quae est III feria, et ex eisdem Sarracenis venientes propter praedam; qui fuga capti per quendam pontem evaserunt; et occiderunt ex eis XII; alii vero navigia evaserunt. Ex quo autem Romani talia senserunt, portas civitatis Romanae non parum fatigabiliter vigilantes custodiebant. Tunc demum cum non reciperent auxilio destinatos et non erat qui in tanta necessitate subveniret, confisi auxilio Dei apostolorum, in eadem III feria exeuntes cum his quos secum habebant, praeparati more exercitati venerunt ad Portum civitatem, ubi plures inerant praedones Sarracenorum. Ex quibus occidentes VII, alii per supradictum pessimum pontem fugientes evadere potuerunt. Tunc vero tota die in circuitu illius civita tis et intro equitantes et gyrantes ut pugnam excommittere possent laborabant. Cum enim agnoscerent illorum multitudinem et suorum paucitatem, visum est eis periculosum illa notte illic immorari. Recolligentes vero Saxones et Frisones et reliquos, constituerunt ut custodirent et vigilarent civitate propter praedones, et reversi sunt Romam. [XLVII] In crastina autem feria IIII, cum securi esset praefati custodes et sedentes ut cibum sumerent, irruerunt repente super eos Sarraceni et circumdantes occiderunt eos, ut pauci ex eis remansissent. Et insecuti sunt eos qui evaserant usque Galeriam. Et iter assumentes navigio et pedestres simul et equestres coeperunt Romam festinare. Qui tota die simul cum navibus properantes, diluculo venerunt ad loca ubi constituerunt; ibique ex navibus examinantes equestres, ecclesiam beati Petri apostolorum principis nefandissimis iniquitatibus praeccupantes invaserunt. Tunc omnes coetus Romanorum sine capiti positi, campo qui dicit Neronis, armatos obviati ... |
[XLIV] While this was going on in this pontiffs time, count Adalbert, an active man who was margrave and guardian of the island of Corsica, realizing the need the state was in, sent a letter to Rome with the message that a multitude of the Saracen race up to 11,000 strong were on their way and coming with 73 ships, on board which were 500 horses, and were saying they were making for Rome; they should try to rescue the treasures of the churches of St Peter the apostle and St Paul, and if possible bring these apostles' bodies inside Rome, so that the wretched breed of pagans could not rejoice over so great a source of succour to us. This was sent on the 10th day of August. Thanks to the fickle and ineffectual power of the above-mentioned men, they received it lightly and as reckoning it of little account, since everyone thought so surprising an event was incredible. Yet the more prudent of the Romans entered on a plan and despatched messengers and letters, along with the letter Adalbert had sent, to the outlying cities and their environs, so that everyone should hasten and come under arms to guard the seashore. They spumed the orders and refused to come, except a very few from some of the cities who came just to investigate. [XLV] A period of twelve days passed and on the 23rd day of August, a Monday, in the 9th indiction [846], the wicked Saracens reached the Roman shoreline close to the city of Ostia. Disembarking, they came to that city - its inhabitants had shut it up and fled - and captured it. Then their scouts and others of them began to wheel round and attack anything they could find. Reaching the nearby city of Porto, they found it abandoned by its inhabitants; and purloining supplies and anything they thought they needed from there, on Monday and Tuesday they returned to Ostia. [XLVI] When the Romans knew of this, the plan they decided on was to send to Porto the Saxons, the Frisians and the Schola called that of the Franks. These got there on Monday and spent that night there on watch. Next day, Tuesday, some of these Saracens came after plunder. They were captured in flight but escaped across a bridge. They killed twelve of them but the rest escaped on a boat. Once the Romans realized this, they kept a most wearisome watch over the gates of the city of Rome. At last, when no one sent to help them arrived and there was no one to aid them in so great a need, trusting in the help of God and the apostles, they came out that Tuesday with those they had with them, and equipped in military fashion they came to the city of Porto in which there were many Saracen raiders. They killed seven of them, but the others were able to flee across that same wretched bridge and escape. Then all day, around that city and inside it, on horseback and wheeling round, they strove to join battle. When they saw their large numbers and their own small numbers, they decided it would be risky to spend that night there. Regrouping the Saxons, the Frisians and the rest, they set them to guard and watch over the city on account of the raiders, and returned to Rome [XLVII] Next day, Wednesday, when these guards were recklessly sitting down to a meal, the Saracens suddenly fell on them and surrounded and slaughtered them, so that few survived. Those who had escaped they pursued as far as Galeria. Taking to their ships, their footmen and horsemen started hurrying to Rome. All day they journeyed with their ships, and at twilight they came to the locations they had decided on; and there the horsemen swarmed from the ships, and made a surprise attack on St Peter the prince of the apostles' church with unspeakable iniquities. Then all the companies of Romans, left leaderless, came out to the Campus Neronis to face the armed men ... |
| Ea igitur quae inter cetera per sanctissimi praesulis assiduas preces ac lacrimas, Domino auxiliante, duodecima siquidem insistente indictione mirabiliter acta vel gesta sunt, non inutiliter agimus si ob aeternam memoriam huic operi luce clarius inserere studemus, ut quantae sanctitatis in hac erumnosa vita vir iste extitit praesentes atque futuri facilius agnoscant. Denique post nefandam et lucubrem omnique plena miseria Sarracenorum depraedatione quam in primo ecclesiarum omnium capite, sancta scilicet Romana ecclesia, ortatu diabolico peregerunt, voluerunt item ipsi Satana filii similia in Romanos fine et ecclesia beatissimi apostoli Petri ut olim dampna inferre, et deinde victores ad loca quibus egressi fuerant destinare. Sed cura ac studio summi praefulgente atque vigilante pastoris, haec nullo modo perficere potuerunt tamen ut fideles in Domino amplius fidele iure existant et illius signa atque miraculo ex veteribus noviter aemanasse non dubitent, a principio nunc recidendum est quid de eis divina eo tempore misericordia venerabiliter egit, quantisque miseriis atque calamitatibus gens illa pestifero merito protrita dilapsa est. Quam ob rem pristinum reminescentes lucrum vel predam quam fecerant, multiplicata iterum perversorum hominum manu, multisque cum navibus ad urbem expugnandam Romanam, duodecima indictione vigente, venire crudeliter decreverunt. Multisque etiam diebus in loco qui Totarum dicitur, iuxta insula Sardiniae demorati sunt. A qua digressi, Romanum Portum, Deo illos non adiuvante, exire conati sunt. Quorum inicus ac nefandus adventus Romanos non mediocriter terruit. Sed quia ecclesiam suam Deus omnipotens semper inviolatam custodivit et deinceps custodire non desinit, excitavit tunc inter ceteros omnium Neapolitanorum, Amalphitanorum Cagetaronumque corda, ut una cum Romanis contra eos insurgere ac dimicare fortiter debuissent. Mox etenim a locis propriis egressi, ante Sarracenos inutiles ipsi cum suis navibus coniunexerunt, suumque repente adventum beatissimo Leoni quarto pontifici notum fecerunt, et quod se ab nullam rem venisse alia sunt professi, nisi ut de paganis, Domino auxiliante, victores existerent, tunc demum venerabilis papa aliquantos ex eis prius ad se Romam venire praecepit, volens ad eos spetialiter scire si eorum pacificus esset adventus, vel non; sicuti et factum est. Inter quos tunc filius Sergi magistri militum, qui erat ordinatum super exercitum, nomine Cesarius, advenit. Quos benigne palatio Lateranensi suscipiens, causam pro quam venerant inquisivi. Illi autem ob aliud non venisse testati sunt nisi ob hoc quod superius legitur exaratum. Quorum pius apostolicus credulus verbis, cum magno armatorum procinctum mox civitatem Ostiam properavit, omnesque Neapolitanos grandi atque eximia devotione suscepit. Qui ut summum pontificem conspexerunt, ad pedes eius humo prostrati, venerabile sunt osculati, gratiasque omnipotenti Altitrono retulerunt, qui ad se confortando talem dirigere decrevit antistitem. Qui ut meliores de Belial filiis victor existerent, summopere deprecati sunt ut de suis sacris manibus dominicum percipere mmeruissent. Quibus ore suo missam in ecclesia beatae Aurae decantavit, atque universi ex illius, ut dictum est, manibus communionem sumpserunt. Et ante quam haec fierent, usque ad praefatam ecclesiam, cum hyminis et letanies canticisque praecipuis, simul cum ipsis Neapolitanis, Christo auxiliante, profectus est. In qua etiam flexis genibus Altissimum deprecatus est quatinus orationibus suis ipse christianorum hostes in manus resistentium tradere dignaretur; super quos etiam multis cum lacrimis hanc orationem obtulit, dicens: "Deus cuius dextera beatum Petrum apostolum ambulantem in fluctibus, ne mergeretur, erexit, ut quo apostolum eius Paulum tertio naufragantem de profundo pelagi liberavit, exaudi nos propitius, et concede ut amborum meritis horum fidelium tuorum brachia contra inimicos sanctae tuae Ecclesiae dimenticantia omnipotenti dextera tua corroborentur et convalescant; ut de recepto triumpho nomen sanctum tuum in cunctis gentibus appareat gloriosum." Per die vero altera postquam a iamdicta civitate venerabilis reversus est presul, ipsi sceleratorum socii sive participes iuxta litus maris Ostensis mutis cum navibus paruerunt. Contra quos Neapolitani impetum facientes, dimicare fortiter voluerunt, etiam aliquantos vulneraverunt ex illis; et inde triumphum acceperant, si unum non citius impedimentum accidisset. Quam ob rem, dum ad invicem adtentius dimicarent, subito tam validus ac supereminens excitatus est ventus, qualem quis his temporibus meminisse valet, qui utrasque naves confestim divisit, tamen Sarracenorum amplius. Veniebant itaque usque ad ora maris; deinde, vento flante mareque elevato procellis, dispergebantur, et iterum post aliquantulum confractis viribus revertebantur. Deus enim omnipotens, pro certo credimus, hunc ex tesauro suo produxerat ventum, qui eos ad nocendum minime permittibat exire. Super his novis misticisque miraculis quae nostris, licut non meritis, divina ostende ac demonstrare nostris est indignata temporibus, semper glorificanda et conlaudanda est veri Dei nostri clementia, qui eos et locum quem desiderabant permisit aspicere, et tamen, ne capere potuissent, virtutis suae potentia longius expulit, multosque postea, non tantum per intercessionem et merita beatissimorum Petri ac Pauli principum apostolorum maris profunditas, verum etiam famis et gladius indesinenter extincxit. Ex quibus per quasdam insulas nostras famis laborantes penuria plurimi a nostris hominibus interfecti sunt, ceteros autem vivos, cuasa veritatis ac testimoni, vivos comprehendentes, Romam duxerunt. Quorum Romani proceres, ne multiplicatus numerus videretur, multos prope Portum nostrum Romanum in ligno suspendi iusserunt; aliquandos etenim nos ferro constricti vivere iussimus, pro hac solummodo causam ut et spem nostram, quam in Deum habemus, et illius ineffabilem pietatem, nec non et propriam tyrannidem luce clarius scire voluissent. Et post haec, ne otiose aut sine angustia apud nos viverent, aliquando ad murum quae circa ecclesia beatissimi Pietri apostoli habebamus inceptum, aliquando per diversa artificum opera, quicquid necessarium videbatur, per eos omnia iubebamus deferri. Pro his ideo beneficiis, ut iam enarratum est, eos fecimus reservare. | These things, then, amongst others, were wondrously done and achieved in the current 12th indiction [848-9] with the Lord's help through the assiduous prayers and tears of the holy prelate, and it is not superfluous if we endeavour to include them clearer than light in this work, for the sake of his eternal memory, so that men of the present and of time to come may more readily acknowledge how great was this man's sanctity amidst this dismal life. Then after the wicked, lamentable and utterly wretched looting that the Saracens accomplished with the devil's encouragement on the first head of all the churches, that is, the holy Roman church, those sons of Satan again meant to inflict similar loss as before on Roman territory and on St Peter the apostle's church and then head back victorious to the places whence they had come. But the supreme shepherd's care and endeavour shone forth and was vigilant, and they were totally unable to achieve it. But so that those faithful to the Lord might rightly be yet more faithful and not doubt that his signs and wonders from of old freshly spring forth, there must now be an abridgment from the beginning of what God's mercy venerably achieved for them at that time, and in what great wretchedness and disasters that plague-bearing race were justly crushed and dissolved. So, remembering their former profit and the plunder they had had, they cruelly decided to come again to storm the city of Rome during the 12th indiction with a teeming band of perverse men and with many ships. For many days they lingered at a place called Totarum close to the island of Sardinia. Leaving thence, they essayed to depart to the Port of Rome, with no help from God. Their hostile and wicked arrival frightened the Romans in no small way. But because almighty God has always kept his church inviolate and afterwards does not stop doing so, he then stirred up the hearts of all the men of Naples, Amalfi and Gaeta amongst others, that they too, along with the Romans, had to rise up and contend mightily against them: then they left their own localities, came with their ships ahead of the unwanted Saracens, suddenly informed the blessed pontiff Leo IV of their arrival, and professed that they had come for no other reason than to win a victory with the Lord's help over the pagans. Then the venerable pontiff bade some of them come on ahead to him in Rome, as he particularly wanted to know from them whether their arrival was peaceful or not; and so it happened. Among them then was one who had been appointed over the army, Caesarius by name, the son of Sergius master of the soldiers. Giving them a kind reception at the Lateran palace, he inquired the motive for their arrival. They swore they had come for no other purpose than that which can be read set down above. The godly Apostolicus believed their account, then made his way to the city of Ostia with a great retinue of armed men, and welcomed all the Neapolitans with grand and notable devotion. When they saw the supreme pontiff they prostrated themselves on the ground at his feet, kissed them reverently, and gave thanks to the Almighty throned on high, who had decided to send such a bishop to strengthen them. That they might better be the victors over the sons of Belial, they begged him earnestly that they might deserve to receive the Lord's body from his sacred hands. With his own lips he chanted mass for them in St Aurea's and from his hands, as has been said, they all took communion. Before this happened, with Christ's help he made his way to that church with the Neapolitans, accompanied by hymns, litanies and distinguished chants. In it he knelt and besought the Highest that by his prayers he might see fit to hand over the enemies of Christians into the hands of the defenders. His prayer waxs: '0 God, whose right hand raised up St Peter the apostle lest he sink when walking on the water, and delivered from the depths of the sea his fellow-apostle Paul when three times shipwrecked, graciously hear us and grant that, by the merits of them both, the limbs of these thy faithful, contending against the enemies of thy holy church, may be fortified by thy almighty right hand and gain strength; that by their gaining triumph thy holy name may be seen glorious among all races; through [our Lord Jesus Christ]'. Next day, after the venerable prelate had returned from that city, those allies of and consorters with evil men appeared with many ships close to the seashore of Ostia. The Neapolitans launched an attack on them, meaning to contend mightily, and even wounded some of them - and they would have been triumphant, had it not been for one hindrance that speedily occurred. This was, that while they were contending earnestly with each other a very mighty and overpowering wind was suddenly stirred up, such as no one in these times can remember, and it immediately scattered both fleets, but that of the Saracens more so. So they came to the seashore; then, with the wind blowing and the sea billowing in the storms, they were scattered, and after a time they retreated with their strength broken. Almighty God, as we truly believe, had 'brought forth this wind from his storehouse', and it would not let them sally forth to cause harm. For these new and mystical wonders which in our times our true God has seen fit to display and manifest for us, though we deserve it not, his clemency is to be glorified and praised for ever, in that he let them behold the place they desired and yet the force of his power drove them far away to prevent their capturing it, and later, through the intercession and merits of SS Peter and Paul princes of the apostles, many of them were all the while extinguished not only by the depth of the sea but by hunger and the sword. Many of them were killed by our men while they endured hunger and want on certain of our islands, while others were taken alive and, to witness to the truth of the event, brought living to Rome. In case their number might appear too large, the Roman dignitaries ordered that many be hanged on trees near our Port of Rome. We ordered that some should live, bound in iron, but for one reason only, so that they could know clearer than light both our hope, which we have in God, and his ineffable piety, and also their own tyranny. After this, to stop them living among us idly or without distress, we were bidding them carry out everything, sometimes at the wall which we were beginning round St Peter the apostle's church, sometimes at various manufacturers' tasks, whatever seemed necessary. These, then, as has now been told, were the advantages for which we kept them. |