Letter 10124: A dispute has arisen between the bishops Sabinianus and Theodorus about expenses incurred for hospitality, and also...

To Fantinus the Defensor. That he should settle the cases between Sabinianus and Bishop Theodorus, both concerning the expenses laid out on guests and concerning other matters, by his own judgment. Gregory to Fantinus the Defensor. Sabinianus, a most distinguished man, the bearer of these presents, has informed us that this custom had once been agreed upon there: namely, that, when various persons arrived, the citizens of that same city should defray the expenses out of their own means. And while they were complaining that they were burdened by this matter, [it was arranged] with Theodorus, [the bishop of] his church, that certain fixed portions of his substance should be assigned by a deed of gift, and that he should take this burden upon himself, and that, once they had been freed [of the obligation], he himself should disburse from the church whatever might be necessary; but that he himself [Sabinianus], throughout the thirteenth and the first indictions, during which he held the office of defensor of the aforesaid city, the bishop being absent, had laid out from his own means what ought to have been disbursed from the church. And because he demands that what he has expended ought to be restored to him, we therefore charge your experience that you should be diligent to press upon our most reverend brother and fellow-bishop Decius, to the end that either he settle it by a peaceful arrangement with him, if it is so; or else, if by any reasoning he believes he can defend himself against the restitution of the expenses, that he present himself at your tribunal. And the truth having been more carefully sought out, settle whatever the order of equity shall advise you, all delay being set aside, so that both the case may reasonably reach its end, and no postponement may weary the parties before you in their attendance. But if he considers the donations, of which it has been spoken, to be burdensome to his church, and should perhaps wish to return them to the donors, then, if any of those who receive them are clerics, let them likewise be admonished by you either to pay according to their portions which they had been accustomed to give, or else, if they should wish to plead a cause, it is necessary that the contentions of the parties be determined by your cognizance, so that no party, unheard, may complain that it sustains prejudice. But the other cases which the above-written carrier asserts that he has presently with the aforesaid most reverend man, our brother, we likewise wish to be settled by your judgment, the holy Gospels being set in the midst.

AD FANTINUM DEFENSOREM. Causas Sabinianum inter et Theodorum episcopum , tum de impensis in hospites, tum de alits 8u0 judicio definiat. Gregorius Fantino deſensori, Sabinianus vir clarissimus, prasentium lator, no- bis indicavit hanc olim jbi consueludinem convenisse, ut, diversis supervenientibus , cives ejusdem Ci- lilatis * de proprio expensas impenderent. De qua re dum $e quererentur aſſligi, hoc illis cum Theo- Ecclesia ejus eerlz portiones $ubstantiz suz Jdona- tione conscribereatur, et hoc in Se onus SuSCiperet, atque, Securis eis redditis, ip+e de Ecclesia quidquid essel necessarium , erogaret, Se vero per tertiam decimam et primam indictiones, quibus predieiz ci- vitati deſensoris officium tenuit, absente episcopo,, de proprio expendisse quod de Ecclesia puterat ero- gari. Et quia $ibi quod expendit postulat debere re- $lilui, idcirco experientie luz pracipimus ul reveren- dissimo fratri et coepiscopo nostro Decio $tndeat imminere, quatenus aut pacifica, $i ita est, cum eo ordinatione decidat ; aut certe $i qua $e ratione a restitutione expensarum credit deſendere posse, Þ in judicio tuo assislat. Et exquisila LOGO diligentius B veritale, ita quidquid Ubi zquitatis ordo suaserit, mora poslposila delinito , ut et rationabiliter causa finem accipiat, elpartesapud tenulla ſatiget *in observatione dilatio. Si autem donationes, de quibus dictum est, Ecclesizz $uxz ess& Onerosas Cxistimat , et reddere eas donatoribus forlasse voluerit , si qui ex eis qui cas recipiunt clerici Sunt, a le Similiter moneantur ut aut 8ecundum portiones $uas quze erant $oliti dare persolvant, aut certe si causari voluerint, contentio- nes parlium tua necesse est Cognitione disLlingui , ut nulla se pars inaudita queratur prajudicium $usti- nere. Alias vero causas quas cum memoralo reve- rendissimo viro ſraltre nostro suprascriptus portitor habere prasentes 8e asserit, tuo similiter volumus , mediis 8acris Evangeliis, judicio deſiniri.