Letter 15

From: [Visigothic church officials] To: [Visigothic court and church] Date: ~604 AD Context: Epistulae Wisigothicae letter 15; on the election and installation of a new bishop, addressing the canonical procedures and the respective roles of clergy, people, and crown. To our lord the king and to our brothers in the faith, The election of the new bishop for the see of [the vacant diocese] has been completed according to the canonical procedure, and we write to report the outcome and to seek the royal confirmation that the law requires. The clergy and people of the diocese assembled as directed. After prayer and deliberation, they presented two candidates to the metropolitan [the senior bishop of the region, responsible for supervising episcopal elections]. The metropolitan examined both candidates and, having considered their qualifications carefully, determined that [the selected candidate] is the more suitable choice. The election has been confirmed by the metropolitan. We now seek the royal confirmation of this election and the royal investiture of the bishop-elect with the temporal aspects of his office. He is prepared to receive the royal blessing and to swear the oath of loyalty to the crown that the law requires. The bishop-elect is a man of good character, sound learning, and genuine pastoral commitment. We believe he will serve the church and the kingdom well. From the bishops of the province