Letter 3001: What a crime has been committed in the Lucullan fort against our brother and fellow bishop Paul the account which has been sent to us has made manifest. And, inasmuch as the magnificent Scholasticus, judge of Campania, happens at the present time to be with us here, we have especially enjoined on him the duty of visiting the madness of so great...

Gregory to Peter, Subdeacon of Campania. The account sent to us has made clear what a crime has been committed in the Lucullan fort against our brother and fellow bishop Paul. Since the distinguished Scholasticus, judge of Campania, happens to be with us here at present, we have specifically charged him with the duty of punishing this outrageous lawlessness with strict correction. But because the bearer of the report requested that we also send someone to represent us personally, we are dispatching the subdeacon Epiphanius, who together with the judge can investigate and determine who raised or instigated the sedition, and impose suitable punishment. Your Experience should make every effort to lend your full support in this matter, so that the truth may be established and punishment carried out against the guilty. In particular, since the slaves of the distinguished lady Clementina are said to have been involved in this crime and to have used language designed to stir up the mob, subject them immediately to strict punishment. Do not soften your severity out of consideration for their mistress's rank -- on the contrary, they deserve to be struck all the harder because they transgressed out of sheer arrogance, emboldened by being servants of a noble lady. You should also conduct a thorough investigation into whether the lady herself was aware of this atrocious crime and whether it was carried out with her knowledge, so that through our action all may learn how dangerous it is not only to lay hands on a priest but even to speak offensively against one. If anything in this case is handled carelessly or overlooked, know that you above all will bear the blame and the consequences. You will find no excuse with us. Just as thorough investigation and correction of this matter will commend you to us, so know that our anger will turn sharply against you if the case is smoothed over. Furthermore, if any slaves from the city have taken refuge in the monastery of Saint Severinus or in any other church of this fort, do not allow them to remain there once you become aware of it. Have them brought to the church within the city. If they have a legitimate complaint against their masters, they must leave the church only with proper arrangements made for their safety.

Book III, Letter 1 To Peter, Subdeacon. Gregory to Peter, Subdeacon of Campania. What a crime has been committed in the Lucullan fort against our brother and fellow bishop Paul the account which has been sent to us has made manifest. And, inasmuch as the magnificent Scholasticus, judge of Campania, happens at the present time to be with us here, we have especially enjoined on him the duty of visiting the madness of so great perversity with strict correction. But, since the bearer of the aforesaid account has requested us to send some one to represent ourselves, we therefore send the subdeacon Epiphanius, who, together with the aforesaid judge, may be able to investigate and ascertain by whom the sedition was raised or investigated, and to visit it with suitable punishment. Let your Experience then make haste to give aid in this case with all your power, to the end both that the truth may be ascertained, and that vengeance may proceed against the guilty parties. Wherefore, since the slaves of the glorious Clementina are said to have had to do with this same crime, and to have used language calculated to stir up the sedition, do thou subject them strictly to immediate punishment, nor let your severity be relaxed in consideration of her person, since they ought to be smitten all the more as they have transgressed out of mere pride as being the servants of a noble lady. But you ought also to make thorough enquiry whether the said lady was privy to so atrocious a crime, and whether it was perpetrated with her knowledge, that from our visitation of it all may learn how dangerous it is not only to lay hands on a priest, but even to transgress in words against one. For, if anything should be done remissly or omitted in this case, know that thou especially will have to bear the blame and the risk; nor will you find any plea for excuse with us. For in proportion as this business will commend you to us if it be most strictly investigated and corrected, know that our indignation will become sharp against you, if it be smoothed over. Moreover, for the rest, if any slaves from the city should have taken refuge in the monastery of Saint Severinus, or in any other church of this same fort, as soon as this has come to your knowledge, by no means allow them to remain there, but let them be brought to the church within the city; and, if they should have just cause of complaint against their masters, they must needs leave the church with suitable arrangements made for them. But, if they should have committed any venial fault, let them be restored without delay to their masters, the latter having taken oath to pardon them. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360203001.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.