Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 368

Gregory to Castorius the deacon. Certain things concerning the bishop of Pesaro have reached us, which by no means ought to be left uninvestigated. Therefore we charge your experience to strive to search out his life and acts by subtle investigation. And if perchance you shall find anything which might—which God forbid—stain the integrity of the priesthood, transmit him to us by every means, under fitting security, together with your writings concerning those things which you shall have come to know in truth, so that, being informed, God revealing it, we may more subtly deliberate concerning the truth what ought to be done. Not only concerning him, however, but also concerning the life of the other priests it becomes you to be solicitous.

And if concerning anyone you shall be able to perceive something sinister, hasten to report to us, so that the depravity of deeds may salubriously, with God's help, be amended. It has also reached us that a certain Adeodatus, a citizen of Pesaro, having instituted as heirs his son and his home-born slave, appointed Thomas as guardian, adding this condition: that if perchance his heirs should pass from this life in their minority, all his substance should have been distributed to the poor by the hands of the aforesaid guardian. But those who were instituted as heirs having died, the aforesaid guardian is said to be impeded by certain persons, so that the will of the deceased cannot be fulfilled.

Therefore, if you shall find it to be in truth as we have been informed, let it be the object of your care and solicitude reasonably to protect and defend the aforesaid guardian, so that he may be able to carry into effect whatever things have been enjoined upon him. But since that same guardian is said to wish to buy something in the diaconia which is there established, hasten with the utmost effort to assist him, so that those things which have been left, with a view to reward, to pious causes may, with your concurrence, be fulfilled without any man's impediment. But Valerian the monk, whom, being amended, you handed over to the monastery of blessed John situated in Classis, we without doubt wish to remain in that same monastery.

Moreover, lest your experience suffer any want in expenses, we wish you to make all your expenses from the revenues of the holy Roman Church which have there been gathered by your provision. And if anything shall remain over, bring it to us when you come.