Letter 4044: King Theodoric to Antonius, Venerable Bishop of Pola [modern Pula, on the coast of Istria].

King Theodoric to Antonius, Venerable Bishop of Pola [modern Pula, on the coast of Istria]. A complaint against a man who ought to be treated with reverence is inherently troubling, since when silence is not maintained toward such persons, something serious is believed to have occurred. Stephanus has come before us with a tearful plea: a house that was lawfully his, possessed by his predecessors for a long time before your predecessor's predecessor, was seized roughly nine months ago by servants of the church you head, in contempt of civilized order. If you find this to be true, restore it to the petitioner in the interest of justice and by right of possession. It is fitting that you should correct what your own people should never have permitted. However, if you believe your side has justice in either the possessory or the principal action -- having first carefully considered and examined the case, since a bishop should not pursue an improper lawsuit -- send an authorized representative to our court, where the nature of the case may be heard and concluded. Let Your Holiness not be troubled or distressed at being accused through false words: a reputation that has been cleared is far greater than one that has never been challenged.

XLIIII. ANTONIO VIRO VENERABILI POLENSI EPISCOPO THEODERICUS REX. [1] Invidiosa est contra eum querela, cui sunt reverentiae iura servanda, quia nescio quid admissum grave creditur, ubi contra tales silentium non tenetur. Stephanus siquidem flebili aditione conquestus est casam iuris sui ante decessorem prodecessoremque vestrum longa aetate possessam ante hos fere novem menses ab hominibus ecclesiae, cui praesidetis, despecto civilitatis ordine fuisse pervasam. quod si ita factum esse cognoscitis, eam iustitiae consideratione momenti iure restituite supplicanti. decet enim a vobis corrigi, quod a vestris familiaribus non debuisset admitti. [2] Verumtamen si partibus vestris in causa momentaria vel principali iustitiam adesse cognoscitis, tractato prius diligenter inspectoque negotio, quia sacerdotem protendere non decet improbam litem, instructam legibus ad comitatum nostrum destinate personam, ubi qualitas negotii agnosci debeat et finiri. quapropter sanctitatis vestrae animus non gravetur nec se fallacibus verbis doleat accusatum: multo maior est opinio purgata, quam si desinentibus querelis non fuerit impetita.