Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 282

Gregory to Honoratus, archdeacon of Salona. Some time ago the decree of our predecessor and our own had gone forth to your love, in which you had been acquitted of the charges slanderously laid against you, and we appointed you to be restored to the rank of your grade without any dispute. But because again, not long afterward, coming to the city of Rome, you complained of certain things there done improperly, concerning the alienation of the sacred vessels; and while, for this matter, we were detaining in this city the persons who could have answered to your objections, Natalis your bishop departed from this light. We judged it necessary

—by these present writings to confirm those same injunctions, both of our predecessor and our own, which some time ago, as has been said, we sent forth for your absolution. Wherefore, absolving you more fully from all the charges laid against you, we will that you remain in the rank of your order without any dispute, so that no question whatsoever raised by the aforesaid man may in any way, on any occasion, prejudice you. But concerning those charges of which you complained, we have earnestly enjoined Antoninus the subdeacon and rector of the patrimony there of the holy Church over which, God being its author, we preside, that if indeed he shall find ecclesiastical persons involved in them, he may determine the cases themselves with the utmost strictness and authority.

But if the matter is conducted with such persons as those over whom the force of ecclesiastical jurisdiction cannot be extended, let him take down proofs concerning each and every one of the charges among the public records and transmit them to us without any delay, that, thus instructed, we may know with subtlety what we ought, with Christ's help, to arrange concerning these things. (See bk. I, ep. 19 and 20; bk. II, ep. 17 and 18. Cf. John the Deacon, bk. III, c. 9.)