Letter 1: Symmachus, bishop, to the most beloved brother Aeonius, archbishop of Arles.

Of Pope Symmachus to Aeonius, bishop of Arles. That the bishop of Vienne should himself send to Rome trustworthy men, instructed concerning the disputes, who may submit the matters to be referred to the Apostolic See. Symmachus to his most beloved brother Aeonius. The report which your Charity's letter set forth has indeed moved us; for it declared that, contrary to the rules of ecclesiastical ordinance and against the [...] treatment of the canons, by stealth, from the [...] pontiff of Vienne, while our predecessor presided some time ago, certain things were blamefully obtained. And if the complaint be true, those things cannot be frivolously held when obtained, nor will anything be able to be ordained by us, except such things as shall have been shown to have been established by the fathers and our predecessors in this cause. Nevertheless, lest we should seem to have decreed anything prejudicially in the absence of the other party, we have judged it better to ordain this: that your Brotherliness, at a suitable time and instructed concerning the ecclesiastical order, should not delay to send from every cause one who may fittingly plead before us the truth of the case; so that, when all things have been thoroughly examined, whatever is to be established may be sanctioned under the strength of deliberation. This also we command your Charity ought to do: that, by a messenger sent and by a writing, you admonish our brother and fellow-bishop, the prelate of the city of Vienne, that on the appointed days he too send his own man, who may fittingly set forth the allegations of his party; so that, the submissions having been brought forth from both sides, those things which are to be preserved in perpetuity may be more securely arranged; for he is always judged suspect who chooses to sanction by lamentation that which seems to favor one party only. May the Lord [...]. [Subscriptions:] [...] Tertullus, deacon of the first region. John, deacon of the second region. Likewise [...] of the deacon John which I presented, etc. [...] John the deacon [...] I have subscribed, set in the fifth place. [...] Ennodatus [...]. [...] Given on the twelfth day before the Calends of [...], in the year 499; after the consulship of Paulinus, a most illustrious man.

%i^ct Symmachi papae ad Aeonium Arelatensem episeopuBL Ut ipse ei episcopus Viennenns Romam eertos homines mUtani, qui de ipio coniroversiis insiructi, sedi aposioticae alteganda suggerani, Dilectissimo fratri Aeonio Symmachus. Movit equidem nos^ quod dileetionis tuae relatio declai namque contra regulas ecclesiastici constituti et adyersus rey dum^) canonum tractatum per subreptionem Viennensis ecd pontificem^) de apostolica; dudum praesidente decessore nostro, culpabiter aliqua' meruisse; quimi; si sit yera conquestiO; effe non possint impetrata frivole possidere^ nec a nobis aliquid poterit ordinari^ nisi quae a patribus praedecessoribusque nosti hac causa statuta claruerint. Tamen ne facile alterius partii sentia praejudicabiliter videremur aliqua decrevisse; id magis dnx ordinandum, ut fratemitas tua competenti tempore de ecclesift ordine instructum non moretur ex') omni causa dirigere, qui ( nos veritatem causae competenter alleget; quatenus pertrac omnibuS; quod statuendum est^ sub deliberationis robore sanci( Hlud etiam dilectionem tuam facere debere praecipimus^ ut frai et coepiscopum nostrum Yiennensis urbis antistitem misso ni et scriptura commoneat^ ut constitutis diebus is quoque homi proprium dirigat^ qui partis ejus allegationes competenter insii ut depromptis ab utraque suggestionibuS; securius quae in perpei seryanda sint disponantur; quia semper suspectus judicat^ qui unius quod^) videtur eligit deploratione sancire. Dominus i nis e. Tertullus diaconus regionis a. Johannes diaconus regioms B. liem H Johannis diaconi quem ohtulii etc. Ex his oltimiB flEictam patamnB, ut e^ Johannes diaconus ... subscripsi loco quinto poduerit. — H* Ciiodatus, ') L' L^ pontificis sede apostolica (L^ sedi apostoHcae) dudum praesidaU i sore nro se inculpabiiiter aliqua ... conquisitio (L^ conquesiio), L* et editot ■ mur, niBi quod hi omisso dudum scripserimt praedecessore (c^^ deceuore) mo nostris hac causa, Non alium hic SymmachuB decessorem notat, at ex Mqi epistola apertum fiet, niai Anastasium. ') L' ex omni, L' L^ et omni, c^ seq. de omni, Petit Syminachiis, nt •& in urbem destinetur clericus de tota causa probe instnictat. EPISTOLAE 1—3. 655 m DQem custodiat; frater carissiine! Data sub^) die XTT Calendas a. 499. embris; post consulatum Paulini viri clarissimi.