Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 563

I have received your Fraternity's writings, in which you indicated that Martinus, a most eloquent man, had come from the African province to Syracuse, and had spoken something secret to you. And indeed your Fraternity, as often as it finds occasion, does not cease to show its love toward blessed Peter the Apostle. Whence we give thanks to almighty God, because where that love is, there we, though absent, are not found absent. Yet the matter of which we treat your Holiness has not yet more subtly recognized. For the primate of Byzacena had been accused in a certain crime, and the most pious emperor wished him to be judged by us according to the canonical statutes. But, ten pounds of gold having been received, Theodorus, the master of the offices, then secretly stood in the way, that it should by no means be done.

Nevertheless the most pious emperor admonished that we should send [the matter on], and do whatever was canonical. But seeing the contrarieties of men, we were unwilling to conclude that same case. But now this same primate speaks certain things about his own counsel. And it is very doubtful whether he now speaks such things to us purely, or rather because he is being assailed by his fellow bishops; for as to what he says, that he is subject to the Apostolic See, if any fault is found in bishops, I know not what bishop is not subject to it. But when fault does not require it, all are equal according to the rule of humility. Nevertheless, what pleases your Fraternity, speak of it with the aforesaid most eloquent Martinus. For you consider what he ought to do:

to whom we have briefly written back concerning the matter, because we ought not to trust ourselves here and there to unknown men. Yet if you, who see him in person, judge that something should be spoken to him, we commit this to your Charity, of whose love we are certain in the grace of almighty God. And do not doubt that the things which you do, we too have done.