THE EPISTLE FROM POPE ELEUTHERIUS TO KING LUCIUS (British Library)

Anno centesimo sexagesimo-nono a Passione Christi, scripsit Dominus Eleutherius, Papa, Lucio Regi Britanniae, ad correctionem Regis et procerum regni Britanniae:

In the 169th year since the Passion of Christ, wrote Lord Euletherius, Pope, to Lucius King of Britannia, for the improvement of the King and of the nobles of the kingdom of Britannia:

Petistis a nobis leges Romanas et Caesaris vobis transmitti, quibus in regno Britanniae uti voluistis. Leges Romanas et Caesaris semper reprobare possumus, legem Dei nequaquam.

You desired from us the Roman and Caesar’s laws to be sent to you, which you wished to make use of in the kingdom of Britannia. The Roman and Caesar’s laws we can always reject, the law of God we cannot.

Suscepistis enim nuper, miseratione summa, in regno Britanniae legem et fidem Christi. Habetis penes vos in regno utramque paginam ex illis, Dei gratia.

Indeed you received recently, through the greatest compassion, the law and faith of Christ in the kingdom of Britannia. You have in your power, by the grace of God, in your kingdom either of the scriptures.

Per consilium regni vestri sume legem, et per illam de patientia vestrum rege Britanniae regnum. Vicarius vero Dei estis in regno, juxta Psalmigraphum Regem,

You accept the law through the counsel of your kingdom, and through that law, with sufferance, you rule your kingdom of Britain. For you are the Vicar of God in your kingdom, according to the King who is the Psalm-writer.

[Psalm, xxiv. I.] ‘Domini est terra, et plenitudo ejus orbis terrarum, et universi qui habitant in eo;’ et rursum, juxta Psalmigraphum Regem,

‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the abundance of the world, and all who live in it and again, according to the King, the Psalm-writer,

[Psalm, xlv.7.] ‘Dilexisti ~justitam, et o[disti] I[mprobitatem]; propterea ‘u[nxit] te Deus, Deus tuus o[leo] l[aetitiae] p[rae] ‘co[mitantibus] te;’ et rursum, juxta Psalmigraphum Regem

‘You have loved justice, and hated dishonesty, therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows;’ and again, according to the King, the Psalm-writer

[Psalm, lxxii. I.] ‘Deus,judicium tuum, etc.’

‘God, your justice, etc.’ [God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son]

Non enim dixit ‘judicium’ neque ‘justitiam Caesaris’. Filii enim Regis gentes Christianae et populi regni sunt, qui sub nostra protectione et pace in regno degunt et consistunt,juxta Evangelium,

Indeed he did not say ‘judgement’ and neither ‘justice of the Caesar’. In fact the King’s sons and the people of the kingdom are the Christian people, who under your protection and in peace live and remain in your kingdom, according to the Gospel, just as

[Matt. Xxiii.37.] ‘Quemadmodum ‘gallina congregat pullos sub alis.’

‘a hen gathers chickens under her wings’

Gentes vero regni Britanniae et populi vestri sunt; quos divisos debetis in unum ad concordiam et pacem, et ad fidem et legem Christi, et ad Sanctam Ecciesiam, congregare, revocare, fovere, manutenere, protegere, regere, et ab injuriosis et malitiosis, et ab inimicis semper defendere.

Indeed the people of the kingdom of Britannia are your people; whom if divided you ought to gather as one and in concord and peace, and recall to the faith and law of Christ, and to the Holy Church, to cherish, maintain, protect, and rule, and to always defend them from injury, wickedness and from enemies.

De regno - [Eccles. X. 16.] cujus Rex puer est, et cujus ‘principes mane comedunt’, non voco Regem propter parvum et nimian aetatem, sed propter stultitiam, et iniquitatem, et insanitatem, juxta Psalmigraphum Regem,

Concerning the kingdom, whose King is a boy, and whose ‘princes eat in the morning’, I do not call King because he has a small and insignificant[?] lifetime, but because of folly, and iniquity, and insanity, according to the Psalm-writer who is King,

[Psalm, lv.23] ‘Viri sanguinum et dolosi non dimidicabunt dies suos, etc.’

‘Men of blood and the deceitful will not live half their days, etc.’

Per commestionem intelligimus gulam, per gulam luxuriam, per luxuriam omnia turpia, et perversa, et mala, juxta Salomonem Regem

We understand appetite through mingling/carousing [intercourse], through appetite luxury, through luxury all shame, and corruption, and evil, according to King Solomon

[Wisdom, i.4.] ‘In malevolam animam non introibit sapientia, nec habitabit in corpore subdito peccatis.’

‘Wisdom will not enter the malevolent soul, neither live in a body smited by sins.’

Rex dicitur a regendo, non a regno. Rex eris dum bene regis; quod nisi feceris, nomen Regis non in te constabit, et nomen Regis perdes, quad absit.

He is called king by ruling, not by the kingdom. You shall be king while you rule well; but if you do not do this, the title of King shall not remain with you, and you will lose the title of King, God forbid.

Det vobis oninipotens Deus regnum Britanniae sic regere, ut possitis cum eo regnare in aeternum, cujus vicarius estis in regno praedicto. Qui cum Patre, etc.

Onmipotent God grant to you the kingdom of Britannia so to rule, so that you may with him reign in eternity, whose vicar you are in the aforesaid kingdom. Who with the Father, etc…